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!

Ancient sorcery. Enigmatic gemstones. One woman’s journey to save a city in ruins… The premise of "The Stone Witch" immediately captured my attention. As a fan of historical fiction and mysteries, I was eager to dive into this world.

The magic of the stones was truly enchanting, and I appreciated the depth of Anna Rasche's research, which vividly transported me to medieval Florence. Her writing is beautifully crafted, rich with detail that brings the setting to life. However, I found that the story occasionally dragged, particularly in the sections focused on the relics, which didn’t hold my interest as much as I had hoped.

While the foundation of the plot was compelling, the ending felt rushed and left me wanting more. I expected a more satisfying resolution to the journey. Overall, "The Stone Witch" offers a fascinating glimpse into a mystical world, but it could benefit from a tighter pace and a more developed conclusion.

This was my first historical fantasy that I went into completely blind. AND I loved it!

The Stone Witch of Florence follows Ginevra who was previously banished from Florence, Italy for her use of witchcraft. You see, Ginevra has the ability to harness the attributes and powers of gemstones to heal the sick. When a plague is taking over Italy, Ginevra is summoned back to assist with the plague. Ginevra thought she’d be using her abilities to heal but it turns out she has to locate the individual who has been stealing relics from Florence’s Churches. But the story behind these thefts is MUCH bigger than it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the journey and magical system. To see Anna Rasche is a gemologist made the story that much more interesting! The growth in all of the characters and Ginevra continuing to be true to who she is was beautiful and at times funny.

I would definitely recommend especially if you are looking to expand your fantasy reads.

Thank you to the Hive and Anna Rasche for the ARC!

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn't work for me. It has all the right elements of a book I'd love—a "stone witch" who uses magical gemstones to heal people in 13th-century Florence being ravaged by the Black Plague—but I found it to be so, so slow, and the dialogue to be very choppy.

I did enjoy the beginning of the book (first 1/4 or so) when Ginevra is younger and apprenticing with the older witch. The rest dragged for me, and I was not interested at all in the stolen religious relics (which take up most of the book) and truly did not care who did it or why. I also wish that Ginevra's magic as a witch was used more than mostly just placing gemstones on people.

Overall, it was okay for me, but hopefully, others like it better!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this historical fantasy! The writing was fantastic and the characters were even better! I have already recommended this book to all of my friends. I have a feeling this will be a book that blows up!

In 14th century Italy medicine is primitive and wise women healers are often condemned as witches. When the deadly Black Plague strikes Florence and surrounding area with a devastating blow condemned stone healer Ginerva is brought out of banishment by the very man who sentenced her. Her unique method of healing using her collection of gems is the last resort. A thief is stealing the holy relics from local churches and the Bishop tasks her with catching the thief and returning the relics which the populace depends on. Frustrated to be sidetracked from her healing Ginerva suspects a deeper darker conspiracy and realizes her life is at risk. Being vaguely aware of the belief in the powers of crystals and gems to heal both mind and body I found the lore and explanations of Ginerva's stones informative and interesting. Ginerva is a well developed strong character and the supporting cast of characters enrich the story line. Rich in historical detail the city of Florence and its citizens sprng to life in the reader's imagination. This well plotted narrative blends history with elements of sorcery and the supernatural without detracting from the underlying theme of the resilience of the human spirit. As Ginerva and the Inquistitor Michele join forces and work together for the greater good their animosity turns to respect. Church politics played a huge role in the history and development of the medieval world and this novel reflects the impact it had on people's lives. If you are a reader who enjoys a historical novel spiced with a dash of witchcraft and fantasy dip into this engaging tale.

I found this book to be disappointing. Although the premise initially interested me, I struggled to engage with the story, and I found the plot too confusing. I had to reread several sections multiple times to ensure I was following the different timelines correctly. Maybe this book just isn't my style, but I really wanted to enjoy it.

I found this story to be an accessibly written and engaging read that pleasantly surprised me, especially since I don’t often gravitate toward historical fiction/historical sci-fi fantasy/historical anything. The story drew me in with its intriguing premise and kept me invested for most of the journey. However, the momentum of the plot did falter toward the end, making the final stretch feel slower and more challenging to get through. Despite that, I still found it to be an enjoyable experience overall, and I appreciated how the author brought the historical setting to life.

It took me a bit longer to get through this story only because I'm the type of person who needs to look up every historical event and site mentioned. The Stone Witch of Florence follows Ginerva, a women exiled for witchcraft, as she is summoned back into the city of exile during the black plague to solve the mystery of missing church relics. This story was well researched, decently paced with the perfect amount of magic, mystery and an unexpected humor. I really enjoyed it!

A very strong start. Italy during the black plague, magical healing, a an accessible but not predictable mystery. Rasche is a fantastic writer and I loved her descriptions. Despite the heavy topics there is also a good amount of humor spread throughout that doesn't take away from the greater narrative. Ginevra is written in a very relatable and accessible way despite her extreme circumstances and her story line makes sense given the circumstances she is in. My only real complaint is that it seemed to peter out a bit and slow down towards the end. This stopped it being a higher rating for me but overall did not keep me from enjoying the book as a whole.

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**TL;DR**: What a sleeper hit - This deserves so much more hype!
**Source**: NetGalley! Thank you so, so much!

**Plot**: Ginevra returns to the city that banished her to try and stop the Black Plague but instead ends up hunting a thief.
**Characters**: We switched PoV’s a few times and consequently I loved so many of these characters. Anna Rasche did a great job connecting us to the character.
**Setting**: I loved Florence in this. I’ve never been an Italy girl but this had me sold.
**Fantasy:** It’s just a drop, Ginevra’s ability to use the magic of the stones, but it’s well woven in.

**Thoughts**:

I’ve been in a slump, well and truly for the first time in years. But this book - WOW. This book knocked my socks off. My husband had to force me to put it down for bed, I was so invested I wanted ‘just 15 more minutes!’. It got me good.

Ginevra returns to Florence after receiving a letter from an old lover. He wants her help to stop the plague, and in return she may gain admittance to the Doctor’s guild and her exile from years before rescinded. Of course there is far more to this request than she thought and she ends up hunting a thief that’s stealing the holy relics from the churches. Along the way she meets the few people left in the city, she discovers new uses for her magic, and she faces her past.

Ginevra is a complicated, very real feeling woman. She’s got backbone and she’s smart, but she’s also a bit bullheaded and naive. Just enough that you’re left wondering if she’s going to get herself into more trouble or if it’s going to work out at all. We get some secondary characters as well, a noblewoman she saves who becomes her partner and a gravedigger I loved with everything in me.

The characters and setting are both strong, Florence felt grounded (which I’ve never been so take that with a grain of salt) and I ate it up. There were a few moments in here that had me laughing out loud, while others had me glued to the page. I loved it a lot, what can I say?

6 out 5 Bloodstones - this is going on my favorites of the year list.