This is a debut novel by Anna Rasche. I picked it up because I enjoy reading about witches and I don't think I've ever read one about a stone witch.

Description:
A woman's secret. A deadly Plague. Unleash the hidden magic…

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…

My Thoughts:
This one held my attention throughout with a strong main character and an interesting plot. The gemstone magic was fascinating to me and I loved the way gemstones were used to heal. The mix of historical fiction and fantasy worked well to produce a great story. There are church politics and relics here as well, and the church brought danger to Ginevra. I found Ginevra's life story totally captivating. The history was obviously well=researched, and I'm sure the author's background as a gemologist and jewelry historian was helpful to her. Loved the writing - very well done.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing - Park Row through Netgalley for an advance copy.

This is medieval mystery filled with magical stones and magical healers during the black plague in Florence Italy around 1348. The Stone Witch, Ginerva, must unravel the mystery of the missing church relics to save Italy from the plague. I was absorbed from page 1 – read it in 3 days. This is an engrossing story with a satisfying ending. My favorite kind of book. I highly recommend this book and hope Ginerva has more adventures in the future!

I highly recommend this book for historical fiction with a touch of magic lovers or just those who like a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for an early read in exchange for a fair review. The privilege was mine!

Thank you, Park Row and NetGalley, for my free E-book for review.

Magic and religion intertwine seamlessly in this captivating historical fantasy adventure, weaving a tapestry of enchantment and intrigue. While the rich historical elements and the mystical power of the stones create a vivid backdrop, it is the protagonist Ginevra's journey that truly anchored me in this mesmerizing medieval world.

Ginevra, a woman driven by an altruistic desire to help others, finds herself forced to operate in the shadows of society. Her unorthodox methods, misunderstood and feared by many, brand her a heretic in the eyes of a superstitious populace. As I read, I couldn't help but champion her cause, my heart stirring with indignation at the men who exploit her talents for their own gain.

Set against the backdrop of a plague-ravaged landscape, Ginevra's tale of resilience and friendship is particularly poignant. Having lived in solitude, her gradual formation of bonds with people she meets along the way adds a touching dimension to her character, making her journey all the more compelling to me.

The author's prose is nothing short of enchanting, infused with a delightful blend of humor and wit. The narrative flows with a natural rhythm, effortlessly carrying me through the twists and turns of Ginevra's adventures.

In conclusion, I found this novel to be a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience, culminating in a satisfying denouement where the intrepid heroine finally attains her long-held dreams. To me, it's a testament to the power of perseverance and the enduring nature of hope, even in the darkest of times.

I don't think I have enough words to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As usual for me, I started off as a bit of skeptic - do I really want to read a historical fiction about the plague? about a 'witch'? But it wasn't too long before I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. An interesting mix of the historical setting, church and gemology, this was a well-written and thoughtful description of those times and the lower role that women played in that society. The plot was well thought out, the story felt very real in spite of the magic that Ginevra was capable of performing. I love that the author is a gemologist and was able to combine the real and the fantastic in the stones that Ginevra had. And that name - love it! I can't recommend this book strongly enough - it has history, it has fantasy and never does it seem TOO fantastic.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Florence, 1348.
This history in Stone Witch of Florence is very cool. Well researched and filled with plague and the ways in which humans adapt to death: in this case clinging to their religious beliefs. A solid round up for both the era and the city in crisis.

Unfortunately I found the pacing rather difficult. Parts 1 and 2 seesaw between Ginevra's childhood in Genoa, her late teens in Florence, and her return to Florence in 1348 when plague ravished the city. I found this very difficult to follow, particularly with a few additional POVs scattered in. The driving plot piece is about stolen relics, but the balance of the first half of the book focuses so much on the plague and Ginevra's healing abilities that the first half lacks forward momentum.

As a debut book, this could have used a heavier hand in editing, but if the author were to write more in the era, or more about jewelry, I'd pick it up!

In 1348, as the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after having been exiled nearly a decade prior., and she is being summoned for the very reason she was exiled in the first place. Ginevra has a gift—harnessing the hidden powers of gemstones, she can heal the sick. When word spread of her unusual abilities last time, 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 when she arrives, she is given an entirely different mission: 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 book goes back and forth in the beginning between past (before she was exiled) , and present. It was interesting reading all that they could do using various stones. Reading the author's note at the end, those were all things that they actually believed in back in those times. I really didn't have a lot of knowledge about gemstone magic before this, but it is a fascinating subject. Reading about the black plague, all of the superstitions surrounding that time, and just the horrors of that disease was gruesome, but also educational. The book is a good combination of historical fiction, fantasy and mystery, and the story progresses rapidly. It was definitely an enjoyable and enlightening read!

In 14th century Italy, the plague is destroying life. Ginevra di Gasparo has a secret skill - she can heal people through the power of gemstones. But she had been banished from the city of Florence for her so-called witchcraft. With the plague ravaging Florence, she’s beensummoned to return for the powers that be are desperate to stem the tide of death. She is also charged with finding out who is stealing precious relics from the city’s churches under the cover of the plague. The premise of the book was intriguing and the first few pages started out well, when Ginevra is summoned to return to Florence. Then we go back in time. Two or more timelines in books now seem to be a current trend these days. In some cases they work well and complement the storyline, in others not so much - as in this book. The continued switching of timelines didn’t flow well and frankly wasn’t necessary. I wasn’t pulled into the story and the book dragged. I wasn’t wowed by the characters and somehow I didn’t feel the book had a great sense of place even though it was set mostly in Florence - it felt like it could have been any city. Hopefully others will enjoy the book more than I did. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Stone Witch of Florence" offers an intriguing blend of historical fiction and fantasy, set against the backdrop of plague-ridden Italy. While the rich historical detail and unique premise captivated me, the pacing felt somewhat slow, particularly in the earlier parts of the book. The character development was a highlight, with Ginevra's journey and her forming of strong friendships adding depth to the story. The mystery element kept me engaged, and the last portion of the novel delivered exciting twists. Despite my wish for a brisker pace throughout, the unique storyline and atmospheric setting made it a worthwhile read, earning it a solid three-star rating.

This is a really good book, even if historical stories aren't your thing, this one will keep you reading, it is so good. Ginevra is living in exile in a small community where she provides healing for the sick, until she is summoned back to Florence where she had been exiled from. The plague is running rampant through Florence in 1348 and many residents are either dead or very sick. But Ginevra was not summoned to deal with the sick, instead she is tasked with tracking down relics (religious artifacts) that have gone missing from Churches, the Inquisitor wants her to try to find out where they went. Ginevra agrees to the task and quickly meets a lady, Lucia, who is deathly ill alone in a house, Ginevra heals using stones that have magical powers and the lady is grateful and allows her to use the house as a base for her search and agrees to help when she can. Ginevra is immune to the plague due to the magical stones she carries, and so off she goes to try and find out why and where they went. Along the way she runs into some people from when she used to live in Florence, though many don't want to be near her as they are afraid they would be exiled as well. Ginevra had been in a relationship with young man and had thoughts that they may marry, even though he had been promised to another, while back, she goes looking for him, only to find out he too has passed. She does investigate and using her stones is able to track down where the relics are, saying much more would really spoil the story, I will just say the ending was really good. I highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Park Row for the ARC.

A tale of mystery, gems, and a witch set in Florence during the Plague. This is a well researched and engaging tale that surprised me. Ginerva, the stone witch, is a well rounded character with, oddly enough, a good sense of humor. She sets out to discover who has been stealing from churches-a quest which, once the villain is found, will see her able to once again practice in the city. It's nicely atmospheric (without getting as grim as other novels with the plague as a plot element) and informative (I learned a bit about the various stones). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. While fans of "witch" books might be the first to pick this up, recommend to all readers of historical fiction.

Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned back to Florence when the black plague spreads through the city. The same people who called upon her are the same that banished her for being a witch, now they need her gemstone magic to stop the plague.

Rating: 4/5 stars

I enjoyed this story for multiple reasons. The writing is a nice and has an “old” story type vibe to it. I felt like I was reading an old historical novel.

The magic system with the gemstones was interesting as I’ve never read a story where they are used the way they are in this story.

Ginevra was a great character and I loved following her story.

Lastly, on a more personal note, Florence Italy is like my second home, so I loved that the majority of the story was set there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing Park Row for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Historical FictionMystery, Witches
Spice Level: Closed-door
Language: Sometimes crude

THE STONE WITCH OF FLORENCE is an interesting read about Italy during the Black Plague. The gems have magical properties that we learn about through the main character, Ginevre. There magic is subtle because it centers around the belief in the gem stones.

Another interesting thing about this book is that it's not centered around a romance. There are romantic thoughts and such, but it's not a romance. I would say it's more about Ginevre coming to grips with who she is and what is important to her. Even that is not quite giving the texture I want readers to understand—the novel deals with prejudice, found family, family, corruption, politics, and more.

I think people who love historical novels will love it even if they don't love fantasy because the magic is so subtle.

Also, the author is highly qualified to write this (as noted in her bio).

Happy reading!

I absolutely love historical fantasy and this was sooo good! I enjoyed the characters and the dialogue was amazing! This was very engaging. It did drag a bit but it was still enjoyable to me! I also enjoyed the the jump between flashbacks and the present.

Folk healers, religion, medicinal practices, and magic intertwine to create a transportive tale back in time to the 1300s, in Florence, Italy. I savored every minute of this medieval mystery. I tend to be drawn to ancient magic in my witchy reads, but have never read about gemstones as the primary source of magic. This was so beautifully done, blending historical fiction with fantasy, while the author utilized centuries old records and lapidary texts to inspire the majority of the content in this book.

“𝑇𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑐 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠— to 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡-𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡.”

Set in 14th century Florence, through the eyes of Ginerva, an exiled gemstone healer, transported me straight to this time period-when church politics governed all, superstitions ran high, and women practicing alternative healing methods outside of medicine were condemned. Astrology, alchemy, and folklorish superstitions are other occult themes interwoven throughout.

“𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑒𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑖𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤.”

Because this was set against the Black Plague, it was fascinating to learn about the traditional medicinal methods of the time compared to the alternative “witchcraft.” Women have been underestimated for centuries, and Ginerva and those brave women she worked alongside get the recognition they deserve in this book! The author’s background and passion for the subject matter in this made for a spellbinding debut and one I highly recommend to all this fall season!

"𝒴ℴ𝓊 𝓀𝓃ℴ𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒷ℯ𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓉𝒾ℯ𝒹 𝓉ℴ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓉𝒾ℯ𝒹 𝓉ℴ ℯ𝓋ℯ𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ. To 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒻𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇ℯ, to ℴ𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝓅ℯℴ𝓅𝓁ℯ, to 𝒸𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇ℯ𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉ℴ 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉ℴ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓃ℯ𝓈."

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ set in Florence, Italy, 1348
+ gemstones that possess magic
+ a mystery involving missing relics
+ set during the Black Plague
+ slow burn
+ medieval historical fantasy plus content inspired by ancient records
+ medical, folk healers, religion, and magic intertwine
+ ancient, ancestral magic & witches
+ read if you collect crystals or gemstones
+ read if you like bold women in HF such as The Lost Apothecary or The Frozen River

𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 8, 2024
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: HF • Mystery • Magical Realism • Debut
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Physical ARC 📖 (368 pgs)
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★ 𝟓
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: I loved it!

✨Thank you @htp_hive @parkrowbooks @netgalley for my #gifted ARC!

Historical fantasy can be hit or miss for me, but this story drew me in with the interesting magic.of the stones. I appreciated the author's note at the end explaining about the various magic books from the time period that inspired her character's magic abilities. The mystery aspect as the characters searched for the relic thief also kept the story moving to a definitive climax. I think this book would make a great book flight with Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar with another aspect of hidden magic under the Inquisition. (3.5 stars)

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche tells the story of Ginevra di Gasparo who was exiled from Florence for using stones to heal. But when the plague is devastating Florence, she is called back. The church wants her to find the thief who is stealing holy relics.

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters and the dialogue between the characters was fun to read. If you like Florence and a bit of witchcraft, this is a good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The narrative is skillfully crafted and consistently engaging, with particular commendation for its well-executed temporal context. The inclusion of flashbacks to the protagonist's formative academic years, seamlessly interwoven with the present timeline, adds a compelling layer of depth to the story.

I found this story very difficult to follow and sadly cannot recommend. I usually enjoy historical, not sure how to describe this genre., mystical perhaps. Sure many will enjoy but it was not my type of story

"The Stone Witch of Florence" is a captivating blend of fantasy and historical fiction that immerses readers in a richly imagined world. The narrative weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and the supernatural, all set against the backdrop of Florence’s colorful landscape. The author is adept at balancing creativity and realism, delving into the mysticism of healing power of gemstones and the bleak reality of The Plague. The characters are well-developed, each with their own intricate backstories that add depth to the plot. The writing is evocative, bringing the city and its magical elements to life. While the pacing may lag at times, the overall experience is engaging and thought-provoking.

4 ⭐️ I loved this tale of a plague stricken Florence, Italy, set in 1348. Ginevra de Gasparo is a healer armed with magic gemstones. She’s is tasked with finding the culprit behind the theft of relics from various churches in the area, in exchange for a recommendation for admission to study medicine.

I was immersed in the story of a plague ridden city, the hold of the Catholic Church, the roles of women in healing, magic, and the many unique characters that all played into the great ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row Publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.