A mystery in Florence during the Middle Ages amidst the Black Plague.

Ginevra has the special ability to use magical gemstones to aid in healing. She also can’t get sick thanks to her ancient, magical necklace.
She’s been banished for the past 10 years after having been publicly disfigured for using magic. Then she is summoned back to Florence to help solve the mystery of the disappearance of religious relics.

Florence is being ravaged by the plague and now the religious relics that people believe have miracle properties are going missing. Ginevra returns and immediately begins sleuthing.

This was a fun read and I enjoyed that it was a standalone. A historical fantasy mystery. You get dual POVs and dual timelines in the chapters as you follow the characters through solving the mystery.

I absolutely loved all the interesting information on the plague and the use of different gemstones. The magical system was simple, but unique. I would absolutely have loved it if there was a little glossary in the back that listed each stone, what it looks like and what its fictional magical abilities are. I just think that would have been a nice touch to further bring this book to life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the free early access read in exchange for an honest review.

The Stone Witch of Florence is a vividly imaged tale that blends magical realism with historical fiction. The subject matter deals with the arrival and aftermath of a plague, the corruption of the Church, and the persecution of "witches" and "heretics." Ginevra is a compelling FMC, who starts off as a sensitive and big-hearted teenager and slowly navigates her way to the wisdom of adulthood. I really enjoyed the magic system in this book that was tied to divine aspects of gemstones. I did have some trouble with the pacing, which could get rocky at times and disrupt the reading experience. That being said, there was so much about this book that did work well, and that I enjoyed. I would recommend it to those who enjoy a historical fiction with a dash of magic, a Western European setting, and the exploration of deeper and darker societal themes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Anna Rasche for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishigg by for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I enjoyed the book but there were a couple of overall choices made that just brought down the entire book a couple of notches for me. First is that the vibes were much more cozy and comedic the second half of the book compared to the first half, and that mood change was very unexpected and threw me off. Similarly, the first part of the book is told in a dual timeline that switches back and forth between chapters which I found very confusing, but then that ended abruptly in chapter two. Both of these just made the book feel disjointed and a bit non-cohesive for my tastes. The premise was interesting though and entertaining for sure.

I felt this one was a good take on the witch genre set during a time period we don’t hear a lot about. I loved the gem aspect of the story and felt it was well researched.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

"The Stone Witch of Florence" by Anna Rasche is an immersive mix of historical fiction and fantasy, where 14th-century Florence is brought to life with Rasche's meticulous attention to detail. The protagonist, Ginevra di Gasparo, is both relatable and enigmatic, her struggle with her gift of gemstone sorcery adding depth to the tale. Rasche's portrayal of Florence during the Black Plague is hauntingly vivid, effectively transporting readers to a time of turmoil and resilience.
The book stands out for its unique blend of magical realism and historical accuracy. Rasche's narrative is rich with historical authenticity yet doesn't shy away from weaving a compelling fantasy. The author's ability to balance these elements while keeping the plot engaging is commendable. The magical elements are seamlessly integrated, enhancing rather than overpowering the historical setting.
One potential drawback is that the pacing may feel slow at times, especially for readers seeking a more action-driven plot. However, the character development and atmospheric world-building make up for these lulls, rewarding patient readers with a deeply satisfying story.
In essence, "The Stone Witch of Florence" is a well-crafted tale that will appeal to fans of both historical fiction and fantasy, offering a fresh perspective on a well-trodden period of history. Anna Rasche's debut novel is a promising start to what could be an exciting series or future works

The Stone Witch of Florence is an excellent debut novel by Anna Rasche. I am easily giving it 5 stars and adding Anna to my list of authors to watch.

I love when books pique my curiosity with interesting facts that seem like they couldn't possibly be true and this one is full of them.
Let's just say I went down the rabbit hole more than once while reading this one.

Thanks to the magical elements, the black plague, and the many references to relics, also known as the body parts of saints, this book will do nicely for a spooky season read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Stone Witch of Florence tells the story of Ginevra di Gasparo, a woman born with the gift of healing in the early 14th century. Told through two different timelines, we follow Ginevra as a young girl learning to harness her gift using magical gemstones and finding her place in the world, and as an adult returning to the place of her demise on orders from a Cardinal to help solve a mystery. The holy relics of Florence are disappearing one and one, each time condemning a part of the city and its inhabitants to die of the Plague.

I was very excited by the premise of this book, but found the execution lacking. Although I really enjoyed the flashbacks, I wasn't invested in the main storyline about the mystery of the relics. The book was very episodic and the pace of the investigation was repetitive. Despite the fact that there were very few characters, they felt very surface-level. Finally, the resolution was too quick and out of left field.

The Stone Witch of Florence is a well-researched book for fans of historical fantasy.
3.5 stars rounded up.

1348. As the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after nearly a decade of lonely exile. Ginevra has a gift—harnessing the hidden powers of gemstones, she can heal the sick. But upon arrival, she is tasked with a much different mission: she must use her collection of jewels to track down a ruthless thief who is ransacking Florence’s churches for priceless relics.

This story started really strong and I was enjoying it. But then it sort of went off the rails. It started dragging. And the ending…it just did not fit.

That being said, there are quite a few things that I did enjoy. I loved Ginerva and the time period. Ginerva has a backstory that is very intriguing. I also loved the religion aspect of this novel. I always learn something new when relics and healing are involved and this story led me down a rabbit hole. The stones used for healing are fascinating. I just hate the story died down for me. As I always say…read the book yourself and form your own opinion.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I remember when this book passed my FYP on TikTok and I was interested in it. I left a comment and the publisher said do you want to review this book. I was Like yes please so I started a little bit apprehensive because sometimes you hype a book in your mind and it can let you down. And it didn't let me down which is always amazing.

This book combines all the things that are amazing in a book witches, gems and medieval Florence. all wrapped up in detective like story.
The thing what really got me out of the story was the weird switches of pov and time jumps but that is often more a me. problem because it's something that happens often to me.

But I loved it and definitely would recommended.

My bookshelves are filled with fantasy, historical fiction, and books centered on witches, witchcraft, or magic. So I was obviously excited to get my hands on The Stone Witch of Florence. It’s fair to say I squarely met the “target audience.”

What I loved most about this book was how transportive it was. The author paints a truly rich historic landscape. The author’s background as a jewelry historian and gemologist is evident and adds depth and legitimacy to the story. Blending in folklore, medicine, religion, mystery, redemption, and multiple pressing stakes, this story kept my interest.

There are multiple timelines and the switches could be a bit jarring, but the characters were all fascinating.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that whisks you off to a different place in time. I would most definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to @By_AnneRasche, @ParkRowBooks, and @NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title:  The Stone Witch of Florence  
Author:   Anna Rasche       
Genre:  Fantasy, historical fiction   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ancient sorcery. Magic gemstones. Only one woman can save a city in ruins…

1348. As the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after nearly a decade of lonely exile. Ginevra has a gift—harnessing the hidden powers of gemstones, she can heal the sick. But when word spread of her unusual abilities, she was condemned as a witch and banished. Now the same men who expelled Ginevra are begging for her return. Ginevra obliges, assuming the city’s leaders are finally ready to accept her unorthodox cures amid a pandemic. But upon arrival, she is tasked with a much different she must use her collection of jewels to track down a ruthless thief who is ransacking Florence’s churches for priceless relics—the city’s only hope for protection. If she succeeds, she’ll be a recognized physician and never accused of witchcraft again. But as her investigation progresses, Ginevra discovers she’s merely a pawn in a much larger scheme than the one she’s been hired to solve. And the dangerous men behind this conspiracy won’t think twice about killing a stone witch to get what they want…

This was a tiny bit slow at first, but it grew on me quickly. Pretty depressing setting, unfortunately—I mean everyone is dying horrifically of the plague—but it’s well-done. Ginevra is an interesting character, if a bit naïve, but I enjoyed reading both of her timelines and seeing what made her the way she was. A solid historical fiction read.

Anna Rasche lives in Brooklyn. The Stone Witch of Florence is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

This one starts out slow, but definitely gets really good in the second half. I enjoy the magic system involving gems and different stones having different potential abilities if used by those capable of accessing the power. And I really loved where the story went once the two time lines converged. I thought there was really good progression of both the story arc and of Ginevra’s character. However, it took a good amount of trudging through the first third to half of the book for the reward of the second half of the book.

I did consider DNFing at one point but was listening to it while cleaning and could not stop it at the time. I’m glad I stuck with it but wish the first part had a bit more going on.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to Park Row and @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this book - I thought it was interesting from the jump and kept my attention throughout - I really like the characters and their development throughout

I am going to give a fairly brief review because so many of this book are eons long. This book is perfect for this Autumn time of year. As a person that loves Italy, history, and witches, this book is perfect. History, magic, mystery, what more could you want? If you want to be transported to medieval Italy and see it through the eyes of a strong MC, read this!

Thank you to Park Row, HTP Books, and Anna Rasche for this ARC.

Fun fact: during COVID, I listened to a 55-hour course on the Black Death. Yes, I am that person. Ever since then, I have been fascinated with this specific time period and was so excited to see that a historical fiction book about gemstones and witches set during the bubonic plague was coming out.

I find that historical fiction books are super successful when you don’t feel like you are reading about history anymore; instead, the focus is on the people and their stories. “The Stone Witch of Florence was very successful in this regard. I was intrigued by Ginerva’s entire story, from her exile to her forbidden love to how she came to know the powers of gemstones. It was all extremely original and certainly a twist on the classic “witch” tale that I have never seen done before.

Also, the gemstones themselves felt like supporting characters. Rache’s background as a gemologist shines throughout the vivid narrative, as she easily weaves magical realism into the plotline that centers on death and corruption.

Overall, I liked this novel. The Black Death creates such a grim, disgusting environment that it is hard not to be addicted to see what will happen next in this grisly reality. If you enjoy historical fantasy novels or want a book where the author’s passion for the subject shines brightly through the prose., then “The Stone Witch of Florence” is a must-read.

💎 Book Review 💎

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche
💎
This book was an intriguing and completely captivating example of storytelling. The characters are complex, the historical setting is vibrant and believable, and the way Anna Rasche weaves together a tale of devastating plague, clerical corruption, and the persecution of witches and heretics was masterful. My favorite part of the story was the history and knowledge of gemstones and how they were used during this time period for healing, protection, and magic. If you like historical fantasy and want one set in Florence during the 1300s, you would love this book!
💎
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
💎
Read if you like:
▫️historical fantasy
▫️Florence 1300s
▫️witches, medicine, and magic gemstones
▫️ inquisitors and clerics
▫️dual timeline
▫️dual POV
💎
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, The Hive, NetGalley, and Anna Rasche for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Stone Witch Of Florence
By: Anna Rasche

4 Stars

This is a book of magic and persecution. It was steeped in mythical descriptions that make you fall in love with the story. The characters, the scenery, all done well. Ginevra has been exiled and persecuted. She has also been the only one to survive plagues that have taken whole villages out. A witch, she is called. In Florence, magic is hated until it is all that can save.

This was a slow but interesting tale of a witch in a time of plagues and persecutions. It held a mystery that was full of adventure. It was a very good and interesting story that presented a look at gems in terms of "magic" and it did it well. It was also a mystery that kept me guessing, even though it's set in an older time period. I was left shocked by the ending, but I enjoyed it.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

I liked this magical historical fiction novel set during the time of the Black Plague in Italy. It tells the story of Ginevra di Gasparo, who has been trained as a lapidary who uses gemstones to treat medical conditions- the story recalls how she became educated, and eventually banished from Florence because her knowledge and her use of the stones contradict the Church and its teachings among other conflicts. I liked this debut, and it had enough folklore and magic that gave it the vibe of a Katherine Addison or Naomi Novik folktale with a historic slant. The ensuing quest that Ginevra must resolve to restore herself to society added action and entertainment as she encountered many colorful characters who became her allies.
A solid debut, and I’d read another by this author.

I love witches, crystals, stones and I love history.
So this book was great!! At times it was quite a bit hard to follow, at one point it was following 3 different time lines (I thjnk) I loved the rich descriptions of the landscapes and I thought the characters truly came to life in a magnificent way. 3.75/5 stars!!

I would definitely read more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley & HarperCollins for the e ARC!

This is the story Ginevra di Gasparo who has a power which is displayed when she uses gemstones, and she can use them to heal people. She was expelled from the city of Florence, and after years of exile she is summoned back to Florence during the Black Plague, but they aren’t bringing her back to heal people, but rather because their relics are disappearing from the churches and Ginevra isn’t getting sick like the other people. But there are many barriers, and Ginevra’s ultimate goal is to be accepted into the physician’s guild, which never accepts women and certainly not a “witch”.

This tale dragged some in places, but it ultimately picked up again and went on to a satisfactory ending. I’m rating it as 3.5 stars rounded up!