Beautifully written and compelling story. It breaks my heart how difficult life is and has been for women, especially in the early centuries. The author’s note at the end detailing the fate of Lucrezia’s sisters is at once dark, depressing, and unsurprising. 

Throughout the novel, I wished that our protagonist stood up for herself more, or intuited better ways to navigate the life she was given. However, I cannot imagine being 15, married, and flung into a new life in a new city where I know no one and have no true allies. She did the best she could with the life she was given. I’m just glad this novel had a happy ending.