Description

Rome 1494: Giulia Farnese has risen to heights of power and influence as mistress to Pope Alexander VI, her beloved Rodrigo, but storms loom on the horizon. A French army is marching toward the Kingdom of Naples, and all that stands in their way are the fragile Papal States. If Rodrigo won’t surrender to the French, he has enemies who are eager to see him deposed – even if that means the French sack the city of Rome and kill thousands.

Yet an even darker threat is growing. In Florence Friar Savonarola’s movement is burning books and priceless works of art, determined to purify society and destroy the Renaissance itself. Giulia’s own abilities as a seer make her a target for Savonarola’s purifying zeal. The repentant concubine of a Borgia Pope would be the perfect tool to bring Pope Alexander VI to his knees.

In a web of deceit, assassination and betrayal, Giulia must face her most dangerous enemies without Rodrigo by her side. To prevail, she will need all her wits and courage to descend into the darkness of the underworld – and return if she can

“Exquisitely timely, Jo Graham’s The Blood of the Bull continues this three-book historical fantasy centered around one of the most colorful and controversial popes in Renaissance history, as seen through the eyes of Giulia Farnese, concubine, and some say witch. This unputdownable novel is graceful, vivid, and passionate, infused with a kerygmatic hint of the numinous.” – Sherwood Smith, creator of the Sartorias-deles universe, Nebula Award finalist

“I love Jo Graham’s Giulia Farnese and this is my favourite of the series yet! Graham’s meticulous research not only sets the stage but shapes the story of a woman overlooked or reduced to a pope’s bit of fluff in most historical accounts, despite the compelling contemporary evidence of her intellectual attainments and prominent role in the political world of early Renaissance Italy. Giulia’s vivid personality, combined with Graham’s blending of history and Renaissance magic, makes for a compelling story as the French king asserts his claim to Naples, bringing war to the Papal States on his march south. Giulia herself is in the thick of things, as historically she was, not merely reacting to events to survive but seizing control and shaping them, her dedication to the humanist side of the conflict with the Catholic hierarchy never wavering. Throughout this phase of her story we see her maturing, reassessing her choices and considering them from new angles, while finding a way to shape not only her own fate, but the course Rome will follow. I’m already impatient for the next instalment in Giulia’s saga.” – K. V. Johansen, author of the Gods of the Caravan Road series and The Wolf and the Wild King

Title: The Blood of the Bull
Author: Jo Graham
Publisher: Candlemark & Gleam
Publisher site: https://www.candlemarkandgleam.com
Publication Date: July 7, 2025
ISBN: Print 978-1-952456-29-9, ebook 978-1-952456-30-5
Price: $20.00 (paperback), $7.00 (e-book)
Page count: 304
Genre: Fantasy/history/adventure/romance/magic/religious mysteries/myths & legends
Cover artist: Alexael (https://linktr.ee/Alexael)