Fans of Hamnet and Judith might like this latest historical fiction by O’Farrell as well. Set in the same Renaissance time period, but now in Italy, she brings us the story of Lucrezia de’ Medici, Duchess of Ferrara. O’Farrell is at home and comfortable writing in this era and clearly has done extensive research into the story and the setting. O’Farrell immerses the reader in another world like none other–I was captivated.
Lucrezia is a willful precocious child right from the beginning. But as a younger, almost overlooked sibling, she is also free to wander and hone her skills of observation and follow artistic pursuits. When her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight. The duke requests her hand in marriage instead, and her father is quick to accept. What Lucrezia thinks about it is neither here nor there, and there is only one thing required of her in her new role as duchess–to produce an heir.
Full of suspense, there is a delicious tension between slowing down to savour O’Farrell’s rich descriptions and speeding up to find out what happens. The ending is breathtaking!
Note: The author’s portrait of Lucrezia is handled very sensitively and beautifully, but I should say that because this is a story of a young woman’s battle for survival in a domestic abuse situation, it may be triggering for some. Historians should know that O’Farrell takes liberties with some of the details (as authors do with fiction) so there may be some disagreement with other historical accounts.
Here is a short interview with the author about the writing of the novel.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
This was the first book I read this year, and I have no doubt it will be on my 2023 Favorites list. Soooo good.