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Turning the World to Stone: The Life of Caterina Sforza Part One (1472 to 1488) Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

Vilified by history, Caterina Sforza learned early that her life was not her own. Married at age ten, she was a pawn in the ever-changing political environment of Renaissance Italy.

Resigned to her life as a fifteenth-century wife, Caterina adapted to the role she was expected to play: raising and educating her children, helping the poor in her new home, and turning a blind eye to her husband’s increasingly shameful behaviour. But Fate had other plans for her, and soon Caterina’s path would be plagued by murder, betrayal, and heartbreak.

“Could I write all, the world would turn to stone.”

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C1HZHT93
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 2, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 389 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

About the author

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Kelly Evans
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Kelly Evans

Award-Winning Author

Kelly Evans writes historical fiction about real but little-known women from history. She earned a degree in medieval history before moving to London, England where she could usually be found ambling about one of the many museums. While continuing her historical studies, Kelly fell into investment banking and still has no idea how it happened. After a successful career, she moved back to Canada where she gave up corporate life to write full time. When not working on her novels, Kelly writes Audio Description scripts for visually impaired individuals. She enjoys studying medieval medicine and gardening, and watching old sci fi movies.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
245 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was surprised at how easily this story just flowed from chapter to chapter (or disaster to disaster depending on how you look at it). I cannot get over the sheer brutality of the ruling families of the Italian Renaissance (and don't even get me started on ROME). I don't know why, but I am fascinated by this particular period in time. What a horrible era to have been alive, but alas, I'm sure they'll say the same of us 600 years from now. Excellent writing and the details are amazing. I must have said to myself "Poor Luisa" every other paragraph. (Ah, to be the unfortunate "Lady in Waiting") lol. I couldn't put it down, it's that good. If you like historical re-story telling, you'll love Caterina.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love reading about lesser known people, particularly women. Catarina was a very determined woman whose start to life was unbelievable and very sad. She made the best of a difficult situation and it's great watching her grow. The author does a remarkable job of keeping the historical facts integrated into the story. I took one star off because it did slow down around the middle of the book. Looking forward to the next book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction, and finding another author is exciting! I’ll be looking for more in the future! On to book 2…
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a great novel about Caterina Sforza, one of history's underrated heroines. I can't wait to read part 2.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2023
    Format: Kindle
    From my earlier reading, my impression of Caterina Sforza was of a feisty, outrageous hellcat. But I forgot that it takes a lot of tribulation to turn a woman into a She-Wolf. Or was Caterina a She-Wolf at all? This book give us her early years and the beginning of her troubles. Married at the ripe young age of thirteen, Caterina suffered the misfortune of being bedded immediately by a coarse, unsympathetic boor who neither knew nor cared whether she had a brain in her head. Only a resourceful, courageous woman could turn such disadvantages into strengths, and Caterina managed to overcome her husband’s ill-judged offenses against his subjects and herself. By the time she was a grown woman, people looked up to her and trusted her judgment, to the chagrin of her spouse. By then, she knew what she had to do, and no treacherous consort was going to stand in her way. As usual, Kelly gives us a well-researched and fascinating tale of a relatively obscure historical woman.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • M J Porter
    5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging tale, sure to delight.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Turning the World to Stone follows the life of young Caterina Sforza through her marriage to the nephew of the current pope. It is a story of the city-states of Italy, told through the eyes of one girl as she becomes a young woman in a world where family names are important.

    Her husband, chosen for her by her father, is not at all a dashing figure of early Renaissance Italy but rather a bit of a fool who thinks more of himself than he should, relying on his relationship with the pope until the pope's death plunges him, and his ever-growing family into strife, which his wife, Caterina, is unprepared to accept.

    This is a story of its time when women were ruled by their fathers and then their husbands, expected to do little more than breed and look pretty. Still, Caterina has other plans and, while saddled with a useless and politically inept husband, can make much of her birth family to ensure the survival of her and her children.

    It is an engaging tale, sure to delight fans of stories concerning the forgotten women of history and those interested in Italian history.
  • Christine Boos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating life
    Reviewed in Germany on August 23, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A very good insight into Caterina Sforza's life! This novel was very pleasant to read and extremely interesting as to Italian politics in the 17th century. I found it surprising to learn about a ten-year-old girl (Caterina) getting married, and her acceptance of being raped by her husband , her acceptance of the ways of the times as a woman. It doesn't mean though that she did not fight to make her voice heard ..... A fascinating character! I can't wait for book two!
  • W. Bayne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful
    Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An Outstanding book of political intrigue that is central to the life and love of a woman who had been a pawn all her life and who finally took a stand for herself and her family against the most powerful men of her time, including the Pope.
    It is an inspiring and tantalizing tale that gives you a deeply personal look into the life of medieval aristocracy.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in Canada on May 30, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Like the rest of Kelly Evans books, this story keeps you trapped, turning the pages. It starts out very sad but as Caterina gets older and matures, we see her emotional and political strength grow to help her deal with her life. I am not going to tell you about the story because it is important to read it for yourself and form your own impressions. The end leaves us wondering what will happen and urging Kelly Evans to write quickly to get Part 2 published.
  • dreamflower
    1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Regret spending nearly £12 on this - against my better judgement - which proved correct: poorly written, looks self published, cover curls badly but above all this is very amateur and spends far too long getting nowhere with very poor use of language snd no story telling skill. Caterina Sforza such an interesting person but this does not do her justice at all - save your money - the Wikipedia entry is very good! Puzzled why such great reviews.

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