I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Set in Florence during the 1340s, Ginevra is secretly summoned back to help solve a series of thefts of religious relics. Some consider her a witch, and others a healer, but Ginevra uses the power of stones to heal and protect herself from the plague and has desires of her own to be recognized as the first female doctor and apothecary in Florence.

With a mix of religion, mystery, and mysticism this is a good read.

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Even though I was recently in Florence and do my own dabbling with crystals, it took me several tries to get into this book, but now I’m glad I did. While the writing is a bit clunky at times with some uneven pacing, it definitely picks up as the story gets moving. I appreciated the historical fiction of it all and the author’s mini bibliography at the end very much.

"The Stone Witch of Florence" is an intriguing blend of history, magic, and mystery. The setting of Florence is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in its rich culture and architectural beauty. The plot weaves an interesting tale of secrets and supernatural forces, with well-developed characters who bring depth to the story. However, at times, the pacing feels uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush through pivotal moments. Some plot twists are predictable, but the writing is strong, and the world-building is immersive. While not without its flaws, it’s an enjoyable read for those who appreciate atmospheric historical fiction. 3.5 rounded to 4

We all know that there are quite a few topics that I never tire of reading about, and for some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by the Black Plague, and seeing a book that combines both mystery and magical realism during this period, I couldn’t wait to start it. Once I had a nice cup tea and a cozy throw blanket, I was comfy and ready to read. Which worked out beautifully, because I didn’t want to put this one down.

It’s no surprise to see that the author is a gemologist and a jewelry historian, and she puts that knowledge to exceptional use in this story. I had no idea how heavily gemstones played into the beliefs of 14th century Italy, especially when it came to the healing properties attributed to gemstones. As someone who has dabbled in crystals for a while now, these healing properties are still attributed to crystals and gemstones. The magic system wasn’t really explored, other than explaining how the healing qualities of gemstones can be harnessed by someone with a gift … in this case, Ginevra di Gasparo.

Ginevra was a fascinating character. Despite knowing that she needs to keep her gift a secret, she has an innate sense of the Hippocratic oath, and is driven to save every life that she can. As a young woman, she wasn’t as concerned about consequences of using her gift to heal people, and her abilities came to the attention of the Church, she was labeled a witch and forbidden to enter the town of Florence again. But when she is summoned to Florence after ten years of banishment, she thinks that they’re ready to rely on her talents to help save Plague victims. However, that isn’t the task that is given to her, but she has a lot of motivation to complete their task so that she could be pardoned and even clear the road towards her becoming an actual physician. This is Ginevra’s goal, despite the fact that women were not typically physicians at this point in time.

With a decade between the past and present versions of Ginevra, there’s a lot of maturing that she underwent. Ginevra goes from the idealistic young woman with rose-colored glasses to a more adult version of herself, with more patience and more cynicism after living more life. She is pushed into choosing who she can save while balancing her own life and safety by the closed minds of the era, particularly those involved in church management, who maintained immense amounts of control over the daily lives of the people of the region.

We get a view into how quickly and easily social order breaks down in the presence of a mysterious plague, similar to what we’ve seen in our own lives during the COVID pandemic, but much worse. Medieval people had no knowledge of how the plague was spread, how to stop it, and even where it came from. As such, the church was able to consolidate influence over the population by explaining the plague as coming from God, and that the way to combat it is prayer and the holy relics the churches maintain. But when facing a disease that is spread by close contact with infected people, with a death rate of about 60%, rapidly killed people after infection, and a history of affecting the vast majority of people it came in contact with. Obviously, we know today that the plague isn’t caused by a lack of attention to prayer or cured by relics, but back then, it must have seemed like a visitation by a harsh and judgmental god.

Since the plague killed so widely and so quickly, clergy and physicians were getting sick from visiting ill people in the community, they stopped making it a habit to visit and pray with sick people. Additionally, with more than half of the population getting sick and dying, there wasn’t anyone left to do anything about it. Social order broke down almost as quickly as the plague killed—no one was worried about consequences, stealing from the rich and indulging themselves with luxury food and clothing, while enterprising peasants saw a chance to move their social station, charging extortionate prices to remove the dead.

There are plenty of church politics that play out in the story, and this is important because at the time, Italy was the center of the Holy Roman Empire, and consequently, the church had even more influence over basically every aspect of life. Ginevra finds herself caught up in these same church politics when she is told she needs to find out who is stealing the priceless relics from churches in Florence, rather than saving the life of the sick. Naturally, being a healer at heart, she can’t quite turn her back on the sick, and saves the life of a woman named Lucia, who becomes quite the sidekick in this story. However, there are other cases where she can’t provide the help that she needs, and seeing how deeply she reacts to all of these situations really showed a side of Ginevra that demonstrated all the growth she experienced in her decade of banishment.

While Ginevra and Lucia try to track down the relic thieves, it places them directly in danger. These two women rely on all the resources between them, including their wits and brains, to navigate the dangerous place their city has become, along with facing down threatening criminals who have no fear of consequences. I loved seeing how brilliantly they brainstormed solutions and ways to track down who is behind the thefts, while seeing a whole new side to the city they love.

I found this to be a fascinating read, although at times the pacing was a little inconsistent. However, it was full of incredibly detailed research, allowing me to feel as though I was walking through the deserted and dangerous streets of Florence right beside Ginevra, and couldn’t wait to find out what she would discover next. Granted, there were a few times in which I struggled to stay focused on the story, but seeing the way that Rasche wove in her knowledge about gemstones and medieval jewelry history to the plot, giving us just enough magic to not make things over the top, this was well worth the read. You’re most likely to enjoy this book if you like historical fiction, books featuring the Black Plague, magical realism, gemstones, and Medieval mysteries.

This was a very interesting book that was perfect for fall. I thought the story was unique and original and the voice fresh throughout. I will be reading more from this author.

Historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read. I loved getting caught up in this story and being transported to this part of history. The beautiful cover is a great touch as well!

The Stone Witch of Florence, Overall good book.. Magical Realism and Historical Fiction, a little heavy for me. I was really intrigued by the story in the beginning but became too slow for me at the halfway point. I did finish it though. I enjoyed the healing through gemstones and the knowledge the author had.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting subject matter and unique main character. I enjoyed Genevra and her perspective, pushing norms for women and persevering both in medieval times and during the plague. Appreciated that there wasn't a focus on romance, and more of resilient characters bonding to survive everyday life during a dangerous time while also solving the overarching mystery. The prose felt a little stilted at times, but I liked the story overall. I'd also recommend this to anyone who loves crystals/gemstones, legends of their properties, and is interested in learning more. As a crystal enthusiast who doesn't know a whole lot about what they were/are used for, I think those were the most fascinating parts. And I want my own little mano figa now.

The Stone Witch of Florence is a unique and fascinating take on the Black Plague (with touches of magical realism). Ginerva is a healer - a witch - in exile - punished for her gift of using stones in a time when the church would crack down on any power that threatened its grip. But as the plague ravages Florence, Ginerva called back by a letter from a former lover, begging her to solve a mysterious series of thefts of precious relics that Florentines believe is leaving them unprotected. Anna Rasche pulls from her gemology expertise to deliver a well-researched, lived-in world that is as dangerous and frightening as it is mysterious and magical. I loved the dive into the underworld of parties and raids – people with little to lose who had somehow survived, romping through the abandoned wealthy palazzos. Ginerva is someone you want to root for (even if maybe you don’t like her all that much) and the people who help and hinder her efforts are pitched perfectly with the sense of terror and gallows humor that suits the story. The mystery of the stolen relics was resolved in a satisfying (if not totally surprising way).

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This historical fiction is told using multiple timelines to reveal Ginevra’s past as she returns to Florence in the primary timeline and a secondary POV is added in later in the book. Both protagonists were well written and relatable. I enjoyed how different they were and the different perspectives they added to the story. The secondary characters were also strongly written, helping to bring the plot and setting to life. The author leans a little heavily into telling rather than showing, which often slowed the work down and kept some things from being as emotionally impactful as they could have been. The multiple timelines also be came a little clunky in some places, not only slowing down the pace but making it difficult to stay interested at times.

The author succeeded in bringing fourteenth century Florence to life. From everyday details to more specific ones, the setting felt vibrant and alive. I also loved the magical realism that was incorporated through stone magic, and the details included about how the stones gained their powers, what they could do, how to use them, etc. This element was really well done.

While this work of historical fiction is quite slow and lags in some places, I do think it’s worth the read. My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 stars.
The Black Death cut a swath through Europe and the Muslim world in the mid-1300s, resulting in a terrific number of deaths. People were desperate for anything to save them from an invisible killer that could destroy entire households, praying to god and saintly relics, and if possible, escaping to the countryside. The plague resulted in fear, mass graves and eventually, many years later, left the Western world with a charming little rhyme that originated during one of the successive waves of the plague.

Author Anna Rasche sets her story in 1349 Florence and Genoa, and tells the story of Ginevra di Gasparo, daughter of a fisherman, and a powerful stone witch. Taught the basics in working the magic of gemstones from a healer in Genoa, Ginevra eventually heads to Florence and a nunnery which provides healthcare for pregnant women and those in the sex trade. The nunnery has a powerful relic, made of bread, safeguarded within, and Ginevra learns basic healing from the nuns, and she begins investigating healing with gemstones on her own.

An ill-advised infatuation with the scion of a wealthy family leads Ginevra to mistakenly believe that she is somehow untouchable from the religious edicts against witchery, and destined for a cozy life as his wife. When an illness afflicts many in the city, Ginevra begins healing all she can, making use of her magic. All seems well at first, but things come crashing down when she offends a supposed medical man, and the convent that has been her home and safety for years is punished. Ginevra is then arrested and mutilated by the Inquisitor's men, then banished from Florence.

Living a small, careful life subsequently in Genoa, Ginevra provides small herbal cures to people who come to her door. Years later, sailor arrives at her door, suffering a strange illness which produces large boils at his neck, and Ginevra is unable to heal him. He and the ship he came from were stranded in Kaffa. In the end, every sailor landing in Genoa infected everyone he came into contact with, and soon Genoa was a city of the dead. At which point, Ginevra received a summons from her former love in Florence, stating her banishment was rescinded.

Ginevra is horrified on her arrival, as the city is hollowed out--the plague is here, also--and no amount of praying to saintly relics has prevented sickness and death.

Ginevra is soon disabused of her belief that her adolescent love is eager to make amends; instead, the Inquisitor says she is allowed back in the city because he needs her to do something for him: find out who has been stealing relics from churches, as it is believed that these disappearances have allowed the plague to come to Florence. Being less naïve than before, Ginevra extracts a promise from the Inquisitor in exchange for her task, then she begins searching for the culprit.

This was an enjoyable story, with Rasche populating her novel with interesting characters and conversations set against a horrifying backdrop. The gem-based magic was a nice touch, allowing Ginevra to focus her innate magical ability and pair it with her strong desire to help and heal others.

People have long believed in the magic properties inherent to gemstones, and Rasche gave her story a believable history of the beliefs and practice, including selected texts.

Ginevra is a likeable, though occasionally too single-minded once set on an idea, putting herself at risk frequently, and sometimes needlessly. I loved the relationships she built once returned to Florence, particularly with the lonely widow Lucia. Interactions with Ginevra drew out a strength heretofore unknown in Lucia, allowing her to enter into productive investigations alongside Ginevra for the missing relics.

I also liked how the author balanced the fantastic with the historical, horrific and humorous, crafting a Florence steeped in religion, superstition, fear, pride and decadence.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I really struggled with this one and just couldn't get into it at all. The characters seemed very juvenile and young adult books just aren't my thing so that might be why I didn't care for this one. I typically adore books about magic and witches but this one just dragged on to me. I had to make myself finish it.

Thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing read. There were some words that I'm pretty sure they didn't use in the 1300s, but that was a minor detail. Going between the two timelines was a little confusing at times. The characters were well developed and the storyline was solid. The descriptions of the time and places showed a remarkable attention to detail and research, though the timeline was a little funny. All the traveling and events happened over four days? It didn't quite fit. The ridiculousness of the church's actions during these times was spot on and, honestly, I could compare it to today's church as well. This is a good read and I do recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author

An intriguing historical fiction novel.
I had a bit of a difficult time getting into this and distinguishing the characters. Part of this was also the dual time lines.
Otherwise I found this to be an intriguing take on Late Medieval/Early Renaissance Italy and the plague. The magic in The Stone Witch feels lived in, and less flashy displays of magic, but more practical everyday magic. This makes it believable, hardening back to the days of wise women and healers. The characters were well-done, and the plot twists were surprising.
Overall I felt this was a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

If you love historical fantasy with magical realism, then you'll likely love The Stone Witch of Florence. For me, its often a mixed bag; had there not been magic this would've be a harder read for me.
The characters are likable, the environment, and the travesty of the times felt very realistic (as far as my knowledge goes). I enjoyed the magic system involving the stones and really just wanted like 30% more of that.
Rasche's writing is effortless, though at times it feels a bit weighed down with too much detail, too much "telling."
A solid witchy/healer tale.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the eARC!

I was so intrigued by the premise, but the execution fell flat for me.
I had such a hard time getting invested in the story. It almost felt like I was reading a detailed outline, or that I was being told about the story rather than being immersed in it.

There was so many extra details that did nothing to drive the plot or story - it felt like the author wanted us to know how much research was done for this story. So we got detailed descriptions of architecture or clothing or food, but surprisingly little about the actual magic system except when it was directly relevant - which in turn made the ending much more predictable. (Although I'd rather the ending be predictable and actually make sense than it be a twist with no lead up, so there's that.)

The timeline bouncing was also very weird, and made the pacing that much more strange. Bouncing back to her origins didn't build any suspense about how she was sent away / we didn't learn anything extra from it because she also thought about those events in the later timeline.
The random POV's from Lucia and Piero thrown in when it was convenient for the plot was also a little jarring since we had been exclusively with Ginevra up until those two random chapters.

This is probably a problem related to the inability to immerse myself in the story, but the relationships all felt extremely one dimensional. Taddea and Ginevra were friends I guess? I was told they were, until they had their falling out. But then they made up, but then Taddea blamed her again I guess for some reason. I don't know why any of these things happened.
Lucia as an entire character felt more like a plot device than a person. Their friendship was just Ginevra explaining what she needed to do to her and by extension the audience.
Zenobia / that family storyline was such a roundabout way for her to accidentally discover the cure. The gravedigger coming out of nowhere to save them at the trial with his jokes...okay, sure?

I read and loved The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, and this book did have a lot of similarities when it came to themes (religious persecution, the intertwining of magic and luck) I just wish it had been executed better.

Historical fiction set in Florence, Italy, during the 14th century. Ginevra is a "witch" who uses gemstones to heal people. Even though she has been exiled for her witchcraft, the Black Plague has the church desperate enough to call for her return. I really enjoyed the history portrayed here, as well as the characters and the mystery Ginevra has to solve.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I ended up grabbing this for my November Book of the Monday pick so I would have a physical copy to annotate in when I read again!

Ginerva has the ability to heal using gemstones. In the 1300’s thus resulted in her being condemned as a witch and exiled from Florence. When the plague is running rampant through Florence she gets an opportunity to return home and maybe be accepted back into the community. I liked that this book has a bit of medicine, mysticism and mystery. It took a bit for me to get into but I enjoyed the bit of a historial look at Florence and being able to see the hold that religion had yet at the same time the fear of anything fantastical or mysterious outside of the church.