A Blackened Mirror
As she struggles to unearth answers, Giulia finds herself drawn to her mother-in-law's cousin, Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia. Ruthless, sophisticated, and old enough to be Giulia's father, Rodrigo is a humanist, a collector of pagan art and heretical writings, and a loving father to his illegitimate children. He is a bright spot in Giulia's chilly life-but to Bracciano, he's a political rival to be removed. Bracciano's dark rites to summon demons may make Giulia the instrument of Rodrigo's destruction.
Dealing with demons is a mortal sin. Refusing Bracciano would be a fatal mistake. And Giulia's growing attraction to Rodrigo might be her downfall-or the key to her salvation. To defy the demon's power and seize control of her life, Giulia will need to cross the line between innocence and dangerous knowledge. And once she's descended into that underworld, she is not coming back unchanged.
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"Graham (Black Ships) recalls the midcentury legacy of Taylor Caldwell and Mary Renault in this smart series launch, humanizing history from the perspective of deeply imagined, unironically presented characters." - Publishers Weekly
"Ancient Greek and Roman rituals lie like a palimpsest beneath the streets of a Rome resplendent in full Catholic regalia in this tale of ambition, desire, intrigue and enchantment. La Bella Farnese is a compelling heroine, and author Jo Graham casts her Renaissance spell with a deft hand." - Jacqueline Carey, author of the Kushiel's Legacy series
"An addictively rich, vivid and lushly written Renaissance fantasy, with all the intrigue, scheming, blood magic, assassinations, and scandalous passion that you could hope for in a story involving the Borgias." -- Stephanie Burgis
"Jo Graham returns to magical history with a fresh take on some of Rome's most notorious. Witty and loving, with sharp edges in all the right places". -- EK Johnston, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
"Vivid characters, especially the charming and indomitable young Giulia Farnese herself, bring to life a story of conspiracy, intrigue, and Renaissance magic -- Jo Graham's A Blackened Mirror is a wonderful adventure." -- K.V. Johansen
"Once again, Graham proves herself a master of historical fantasy - this time, the Italian Renaissance, portrayed in all its glorious complexity. Giulia Farnese is the ideal protagonist, ardent, ambitious, sharp of wit and tongue, willing to risk everything." - Melissa Scott
"Graham gives us a fresh and underappreciated perspective on the life and times of late 15th century Rome, with a strong heroine, rich worldbuilding and language clever, refined and immersibly readable." - Paul Weimer
"...her sense of world-building and character development allows us to sit on the shoulders of the Borgias and their contemporaries and to delve into the complexities and struggles of the Renaissance. It is a highly enjoyable read, perfect for those who want to get to grips with the skullduggery of life in Renaissance Rome and the Curia." - Dr. Katharine Fellows
