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.

This book follows a Florentine healer during the early part of the Italian Renaissance when Florence is mysteriously stricken by plague and the people live in terror. Ginevra is called back from exile to help solve a mystery that may save the city, but could also put her back in the line of fire with the Inquisition.
The Stone Witch of Florence did a good job of examining the lives of women of low socioeconomic status and the early witch hunts. A mix of historical fiction, magical realism and mystery, I found that the story, although well written, just failed to hook me. However, if Renaissance Italy or historical fiction are areas of interest for you, consider giving this book a try.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc!

I really wanted to enjoy this but sadly I just didn't. I was super bored the entire time.

This absolutely riveting story will be welcomed by fans of Madeline Miller and M.J. Rose. Strong, clever female characters drive the action forward and the story is at turns gripping and poignant.

This book was such a great read. I loved reading about Ginevra ahead of was such a strong woman and so wise. I loved the fact that she works with stones. I admire my stones and felt a sort of kinship with her.

The journey she had to take was a tough one and she stayed true to herself. I honestly could not stop reading this book and felt sad it was over when I hit the last sentence.

I want to thank NetGalley and Herpequin Trade Publishing for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

The characters are all engaging. The descriptions of the cities and the life of survivors during the plague gave the story depth. The idea of Stone Witches is intriguing. It just took a little too long to bring the story together.

I can be one when books are hyped up that I wait to read it. I was originally interested in the Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche when I saw this as an option for Book of the Month, but wasn't sure how I felt about it originally. Turns out, it's one of my favorite reads this year so far. I will probably end up purchasing a physical copy.

The last few years, there has been a resurgence in interest about witches and witchcraft, especially with the sharing of information on apps like TikTok. It can be hard to find a new story to tell. The story takes place during the 1348 Black Plague. This book explored the idea of stones as healing tools, set during a time prior to the worst of the persecution of witches, but not so far ahead of the persecution that witches were not viewed with suspicion and subject to horrible ends. Ginevra was made well aware of the consequences of using witchcraft, and punished leading to her exile from Florence.

When she's requested back, Ginevra has big dreams and hopes. The hopes are immediately dashed, but the dreams remained. I loved watching her character develop from a young and impulsive character to a much more thoughtful and intentional witch at the end. Ginevra was a character with her own flaws and personality, and I could feel that from the page. The book also explores the themes of death and is very timely as it explored how people react to the mass death of a plague. No idea how someone could relate to people living through a plague (cough). This book also felt real, it did not sugar coat or romanticize the plague. Overall, I really did enjoy this book, and I tried very hard to write this without giving away too many specific plot points. I really recommend The Stone Witch of Florence.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I thought that The Stone Witch of Florence was an enjoyable book. There's a lot of interesting thoughts about the effect of Christianity on pagan or heathen religion. I really liked that Ginevra's gift is working with gemstones and the author used that in interesting ways throughout the story; a lot of the time I feel you have this interesting aspect but it is only mentioned a few times. This is prevalent throughout and quite a driving force of the story. There was a bit of repetitiveness in the story, mostly to do with Ginevra being thwarted (can't this woman catch a break!?) but still enjoyed it.
I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely story to get lost in during the 'spooky season' preceding All Hallow's Eve. I am a sucker for Historical Fiction, especially the Medieval period of history, and Fantasy. Rasche did a fabulous job of blending the two genres, creating a unique magical system, and transporting the reader to 1300s Italy. I found the narrative compelling and enjoyable. Additionally, I did not find the premise of witchcraft to feel contrived or otherwise unoriginal. I enjoyed the great detail that goes into the world-building and other fantastical elements. However, I appreciate that non-fantasy readers might find the action is not paced quickly enough. If you are a reader who enjoys immersing yourself into the literary world you are entering and getting lost in a great story - the pacing shouldn't detract from the overall reading experience.

In the summer of 1348, the Black Plague is sweeping Italy. An unexpected messenger shows up at Ginevra’s door in Genoa with a message summoning her to Florence – the place from where she was exiled seven years before. Back to 1320, we learn about Ginevra’s special connection to the ancient wisdom inaccessible to others and her healing abilities through stones. Agnesa, the local healer, has taken the young girl in as apprentice, but strictly forbids her to use magic, instead to use herbs, patience, and time for healing. But Ginevra can’t hide her talents, so her punishment is facial disfigurement and exile.

Now back in Florence, the bishop needs her help to catch the thief who is stealing relics and leaving small bottles of holy water in their place. In return, the bishop promises his influence to facilitate Ginevra’s acceptance into the Florentine Guild of Doctors – forbidden to women. Why Ginevra is the only one for the job is unclear. Without the protection of the relics, people are dying in unprecedented numbers. At a loss as to where to begin and no place to stay, Ginevra follows a herd of scraggy goats who have adopted a goose as their leader to the palatial home of Lucia, dying of Plague and abandoned by her husband. Ginevra uses her bloodstones to heal Lucia, and they become friends. The kind-hearted Ginevra is trying to save the dying she meets, as she and Lucia run into an assortment of rogues and scoundrels while tracking down the thief in a city of decaying bodies – all while making use of the gemstones.

Using her interest in medieval lapidaries, “books about the magical and medicinal powers of gems,” the author, a gemologist, combines medieval religion, medicine, and gemstone magic to create this adventurous romp peppered with humor, action, and intrigue. Perfect for lovers of a witchy fantasy.

Historical Novels Review, 2024

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance. I enjoyed this book. Ginevra was a great character, and the plot was captivating. As a fan of historical fiction, I find this book to be good and garnered. My only issue was that the pacing was sometimes a little slow in some areas, making it hard to read.

Thank you to Kathleen Carter Communications, Park Row Books, #partner, for an advanced copy of The Stone Witch of Florence in exchange for my honest review.

I’m so glad this showed up in my mailbox because it had not been on my radar and I would have missed it if publicist extraordinaire Kathleen Carter didn’t hook me up! This was the perfect book for this spooky season, especially if you don’t like really scary books or just need a change of pace from the really dark ones!

I’m not sure I’ve read many books set in the 1300s, and I was originally worried about the time period yet I should not have given it a second thought. I was totally swept up in this story from the outset and loved every minute I spent reading this one. I became completely invested in Ginerva’s life. I loved seeing how she came to know about the powers of the gemstones. This was such an intriguing aspect of magic I’ve not seen used before and I loved that. And having it all set against the backdrop of the Black Plague gave it a somber tone, though still deeply atmospheric.

This book was a pleasant surprise and as a debut, I’m quite impressed. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next…I’ll certainly be eager to read it, that’s for sure!

Historical fiction, but make it fantasy is a favorite of mine. 'The Stone Witch of Florence' offers just that, set against the atmospheric backdrop of plague-ravaged 14th century Italy. The unique magical system based on gemstones adds a fresh take on magical powers that I haven't seen before and genuinely loved. Ginevra emerges as a compelling, strong FMC caught between her healing gifts and others' dangerous ambitions. I really loved all of the historical detail with supernatural elements, which created an incredibly immersive mystery that kept me guessing until the end. While I always love witch-y fantasy reads, this is definitely one I recommend for the spooky season.

Yet another book where the setup was fantastic, but the pacing ruined the book. Now, it's not terrible, but it absolutely knocked down my personal rating. 3.5 but I'm rounding up to 4.

an intriguing story, lots of twists and turns, conspiracy and mayhem, this witty entertaining story will capture you and not let go. This is a real page turner and a must read!