## The Stone Witch of Florence: A Gem of a Story

Anna Rasche's The Stone Witch of Florence, is a wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy that transports readers to 14th century Florence. The novel introduces us to Ginevra, a woman with a unique gift: the ability to harness the power of gem stones to heal. Ginevra's talent sets her apart, but also marks her as an outsider.
The backdrop of the Black Plague adds a layer of historical authenticity and heightens the stakes for Ginevra and her community. The author skillfully weaves together the historical context with elements of magic, creating a believable world where superstition and faith intertwine with scientific inquiry.
While the novel explores themes of gender inequality, prejudice, and the power of belief, it also delivers a thrilling mystery. The search for the stolen relics keeps the reader engaged and guessing until the end.
Overall, The Stone Witch of Florence is a gem of a story that combines historical accuracy, interesting characters, and a touch of magic to create a truly engrossing reading experience. Fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike will be captivated by this tale of a woman who defies expectations and harnesses the power of nature to heal and protect.
Written by me with the help of Gemini AI

3-3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book but sadly I wasn’t super-wowed by it.

I liked how well the author balanced the historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy aspects of this book. That can be hard to do, and I think she did it well.

However, while I praise her for that, I think that’s exactly what preventing the story from wow-ing me. I wish she had leaned more heavily into one of those genres over the others as the balancing act didn’t seem to allow me to feel super involved in the story as I might have been if the mystery were deeper and more complex, the magic stones utilized even more, etc.

I also think trying to balance the genres prevented me from feeling like I knew the characters. For example, apparently Ginevra was the love of Ludovico’s life, but because we don’t get really long or deep scenes between them, the vibe I actually got was that he, the rich boy, was using her, essentially a servant, as a fling.

I did really enjoy Lucia and Becchino—I wish we had gotten more of them. (Becchino pretty much made the finale scene with his taunts and jokes towards the bishop lol.)

So while I enjoyed the story, I most likely won’t be buying the book when it comes out. However, if the author decides to write a series where Ginevra and Fra Michele solve mysteries together, sign me up!

In 1348 the Black Plague is decimating Italy. After eight years of banishment as a witch, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned back to Florence because she can heal the sick with her ability to use the hidden powers of gemstones. However, when she arrives in Florence, she must use her jewels for another purpose.

The first pages of this book were charming. Ginevra's predicament drew me in. As I read farther, the story began to drag, and I lost interest in the plot. To me, the dialogue was uneven, mixing time-appropriate wordage with present-day phrases. I kept reading because I loved the history and Anna Rasche's knowledge of gemstones.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. The comments expressed are my own.

Ginerva di Gaspsro has a gift, she can heal the sick with her mystical powers from gemstones. She is condemned as a witch and is exiled from Florence. When the black plague hits she is summoned back to Florence. Upon returning, she is requested to track down a thief who is stealing relics from the churches of Florence.
The premise of the Stone Witch intrigued me. I couldn’t wait to read this book. I love Historical Fiction and mysteries.
I was captivated by the magic of the stones, but at times this story dragged on. I wasn’t that interested that much about the relics.
Anna Rasche did extensive research to transport her readers back to medieval Florence and the history of the stones. Her writing was beautiful. I felt though the ending was rushed and not satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for this advanced copy of this book.

The Stone Witch of Florence takes place during and in the time leading up to the Black Plague in Europe. Ginerva is a woman skilled in using herbs and stones to cure people of various ills, something that she learns the hard way (on several occasions) that she has to be careful about sharing. I like the idea of a female doctor during these years in Europe, but admittedly, the fact that stones actually can cure things in this book takes something away for me. I don't doubt that during that time people thought they could, but I would have enjoyed a story more that was historical fiction about a very real, devastating event, than historical fantasy. And while it serves as an underlying storyline in the present tense part of the book, Ginerva is summoned back to Florence from exile (see above) not to help find a cure for the plague, but to hunt down relics that are disappearing from churches. I know that many people during this time also wholeheartedly believed in the power of the relics, but it just seems like a big waste of creating a woman doctor right smack dab in the middle of one of worst pandemics in history. In trying to hunt down where the relics have disappeared to, Ginerva sees some of the best and worst of humanity along the way - one of the redeeming elements to this story for me. This book will be much more appealing to a different audience than me. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Stone Witch of Florence is like stepping into a darkly enchanted Renaissance painting where every brushstroke hides a secret. Ginevra di Gasparo is the kind of fierce, complex heroine you want to root for—caught between a city that both fears and needs her, she’s trying to use her gemstone magic to help during the plague while being roped into a conspiracy that’s way over her head. The atmosphere is chef’s kiss—Florence during the Black Plague? Yes, please—but the plot, while intriguing, felt a little slow at times. Still, the mix of magic, history, and mystery totally worked for me, and if you love your historical fiction with a touch of dark fantasy, this book will cast a spell on you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers below!

This book has a very promising premise but just falls short of delivering a punch. I desperately missed something exciting in the first 75% of this book. I couldn’t tell you what it should have been, but its (lack of) presence felt more and more obvious the further I dove into it.

Make no mistake: this book is well-written. The author is a gem historian and explored Italy as she wrote this book—you can feel it in the rich history of this world. I remarked a few times in my version of “liveblogging” the book that there’s a depth to this historical time period that feels very lived in and very appropriate to the story. I feel like I learned a lot.

But that’s where it fell off for me. This book gives the reader a ton of information, but it also tells the reader what’s happening, and we don’t always see what the characters are seeing. There were plenty of times when I wanted to be inside Ginevra’s head, but we just weren’t permitted to be there for long. They were momentary stops along the way. We also shuffled through a few characters’ headspaces, which I loved, but I never got to bite down on anything for long.

I did appreciate the commitment to using stones as a magic system. It’s totally unique, and totally within the author’s wheelhouse. I could tell when the author was experiencing joy writing this novel and it’s great to see how their life’s work comes into play here.

The mystery also really only took up a small space in this novel, as a lot of the front half was Ginevra’s history. So everything felt a little rushed for me at the end as things tidied up. I did like the magical elemental to this fantasy and the way it played with Italian folktales and mysteries.

Overall, I felt like this book has great bones and was really rich in detail. There were some times when I told my wife it felt like I was reading a grocery list, but Ginevra is a character I’d like to know more about some day. I’m glad she got her moment in the sun!

Check this book out for yourself on October 8, 2024!

The year is 1348. Italy is beset by the black plague. In Florence not only are people dying but the holy relics they turn to for hope are being stolen. The bishop of Florence and his inquisitor are desperate. The Pope wants the relics found. Years earlier, Ginevra, a stone witch who channeled the magic of gemstones, was driven from Florence. Now the desperate Florentine clergy want her back, They don't want her to use her skills to heal people but to find the stolen relics and the thief. This was a very nice work of historical fiction- a good presentation of the plague period.

Italy is in the midst of the Black Plague and Ginevre can help protect and heal people with her stones. Instead of welcoming her help, she is banished from Florence to live for many years in Genoa. While in Genoa, she hones her skills and, when she is called back to Florence to help solve a mystery, she finds it hard to keep them hidden. Her dilemma is that if she cures people, she will be branded a witch and, well, we know what happens to witches.

Upon arrival back in Florence, she learns that the Bishop wants her to find the person who is stealing the relics of the city, leaving the people bereft and believing that the Saints have abandoned them.

On her hunt for the relics, Ginevra meets interesting people, encounters difficult situations, and uncovers a nefarious plot by a surprising individual. She does this all while trying to avoid the Mallocchio (the dreaded evil eye).

I was transported to another time - a very dark one - and felt the pain and triumph. The author, Anna Rasche, immersed me in the magic of stones and the tug between the Church and the traditional healing methods of the 15th century. I was engrossed in this book from beginning to end, enjoying Ginevra’s journey through Italy and the unfolding mystery of the missing relics.

Really engaging story, set in the days of the bubonic plague around 1348, mostly in Florence. Well researched too, judging by the author's note at the end. I really liked the small fantasy addition, of her use of gem stones for healing. This is a real tradition, and the conceit here is that it works, causing no end of trouble with the church for our hero. It missed 5 stars because it's a little too neatly resolved, with a couple of characters becoming nice a little too suddenly and the story wrapping up too cozily.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I really enjoyed this work. Ginevra's stoicism and self-assurance throughout the challenges of dealing with an inquisitor created a backbone for me to lean on while the magic of the stones produced a fantasy-like whirlwind. Anything set in plague years draws me immediately, so it is no wonder that I found this magical re-telling of Florence under plague devastation so enchanting. The mix of the fantastic with realism rendered the story near-believable. Rasche's elevated writing style echoes those of historical scholars such that the addition of a fantasy element did not feel out of place. I never found myself questioning the plot, the magic system, or the motives of the Inquisitor. The entire storyline felt well-woven. This novel presents a spellbinding middle ground where fans of fantasy and historical fiction can meet.

4.0. An enjoyable historical fiction novel about a young woman who has certain healing powers using stones and remedies in medieval Italy during the floods in Florence and later the plague, in Genoa and Florence, but who also was deemed a heretic by the religious authorities. A tale about her quest to redeem herself by looking for stolen relics from churches in Florence. The novel has a bit of Alice Hoffmans magical side with a strong woman as the protagonist. A very engaging tale. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Our story begins as a cautionary tale about the woes and burdens of being a witch hiding in plain site in the 1300s. However, quickly evolves into a story of intrigue, faith and friendship as we follow Ginevra di Gasparo and her journey to regain her reputation, thwart a scheming bishop and reclaim Florence as her home. The way I flew through this book. Not only is the story exceptionally interesting and historically functional, but it is heartfelt and kind and full of humanity. Rasche's writing has a beautiful way of making you see all sides of every character so even the bad guys seemed like lost children. I cared about each and every one, good and bad. The pacing was fantastic, I never hit a dreaded lull. The mystery was everything I'd want it to be. I had no idea what was happening right until the very end. The details given were just the right amount, not too overly done, but enough to really allow the reader to immerse into the landscape of the setting. I'm honestly very impressed with this book and am in awe to find out it's Rasche's maiden novel. Brava. I will read whatever she releases next without hesitation.

This book captivated me from the first page--the vivid imagery, the subtle-but-effective use of magic, the mystery. So well-researched. I felt like I was transported back in time, and man, am I glad I don't live in the 1300s. This book is slightly triggering if you're still not ready to read about widespread viruses, but I found the enchanting storyline overrode my triggers, and I enjoyed it through to the end.

I'd like to thank Netgalley for the this fantastic advance copy of The Stone Witch of Florence.

This was a fun read. My actual favorite part was all the descriptions and lore around the usage of gems. I looked it up and apparently the author is an actual gemologist and jewelry historian according to her bio. So thats cool, and that passion really shined and enriched the story. There were a few pacing issues for me and some down right silly plot points that were hard to "stay in" the the story, but overall I enjoyed.

Wow, this certainly was different from what I’ve been reading recently and I found that very refreshing! I love a good historical fiction book but this had an air of mystery that even when pacing was a little slow it kept me curious.

Set during the mid 1300’s Italy- Ginevra is a healer who finds herself being summoned back to Florence where she was formally exiled. After spending years away, alone in exile, she answers the city’s cry for help despite all the unknown ahead. Unbeknownst to her she is not there to cure the people but to help solve the thefts that have taken place. Many have succumbed to the Black Plague and the city needs her help with finding the local churches’ stolen relics, which are found to hold significant value in keeping people safe.

The writing was very readable, clear and descriptive. I enjoyed following Ginevra on her quest to find the stolen relics, manage the relationships she’s made and the overall theme of helping one another through difficult times.

I enjoyed this book. I love the history in this book and it drew me in from the beginning. I also really enjoyed the magic system and felt it was different than so many of the books I've read.

The story is sound and has been clearly thought out. I loved the progression. I did feel like the pacing is slow in the first half of the book and sometimes struggled to continue reading. The second half of the book really picked up and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love the FMC, Ginevra, is so strong. I love her arc and felt very connected to her. I also loved how she never ever gives up despite the time period she lives in. She really makes this story as great as it is. Without her, all would be lost. Such a great character.

The ending was great. I loved seeing everything come together but in a way that was surprising and also thrilling. I think so many readers will enjoy reading this book!

Highly recommend!


Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Rasche, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

A deadly Plague hits Florence Italy, killing all but a few. Ginevra, immune from the Plague has a hidden gift, she can heal the sick with various colored gem stones. She has to keep her powers hidden or she maybe labeled a witch and face death. Ginevra is commissioned by a powerful in commissioner to find a thief who is stealing precious artifacts from church’s in the surrounding areas. Can Ginevra solve the thefts or will it be cause her to lose her powers and be put to death?

Was excited about the premise of the story as I collect stones and crystals myself. The storyline was a bit slow in places and there were a few places where the author stepped out of the time period with comments appropriate to present day. Overall, a good read, and historically informative.