When I was younger and just getting into history, I used to think a lot about which time and place I might travel to if I ever got the chance. (Before I got older and realized that I would be burnt as a witch in most times and places.) One of the last times and places I ever wanted to go was 1348 in Europe. Unfortunately for the protagonist of Melodie Winawer’s The Scribe of Siena, that’s exactly where she ends up when she suddenly slips through time.

Dr. Beatrice Trovato has just left a career as a neurosurgeon to take care of her recently deceased brother’s affairs in Siena when, one fine day, she finds herself in 1347. All she knows is that an artist’s journal and one of his surviving frescos has somehow pulled her through the past. Otherwise, Beatrice manages to cope fairly well in the medieval city (barring a few mishaps with sumptuary laws). She lands a job as a scribe—being one of the few people the brothers and sisters at the Ospedale (hospital and pilgrim hostel) who can read and write—after a nun takes pity on her. Beatrice desperately wants to go home. She knows that in only a few months the Black Death will arrive and hit Siena hard.

When she meets the artist who painted the fresco (which has a figure with her face in it), everything changes. Gabriele is a kindred spirit for Beatrice, and it isn’t long before they fall in love. At this point, anyone who’s read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander is going to start making comparisons. Both female protagonists are doctors who fall through time. Their lovers are curiously understanding men from the past. Beatrice is different from Claire Fraser in that she seems to have a mystical sort of empathy (which ends up being a deus ex machina more than once). Beatrice is also different from Claire in that she seems to travel through time more easily, so The Scribe of Siena has a bit more back and forth with the present than Outlander.

Winawer clearly did a lot of research, but has a light touch with the information. This book is rich with detail. So much that I felt like I was traveling with Beatrice and enjoying the food of pre-tomato Italy. The Scribe of Siena is also jam-packed with plot. Once it gets going, this book races along and Beatrice and her Gabriele have to contend with Yersina pestis and Medici schemes. In spite of its similarities to Outlander and loosey-goosey approach to time travel, I enjoyed The Scribe of Siena.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration. It will be released 16 May 2017.

I loved this time-travel, medieval Italian tale with its trifecta of love, science and art, combining together for some fantastic historical fiction. Winawer has done her homework and she brings the time of 1347 to the reader in fascinating and accessible way. I loved the mystery that brought present and past together in the centuries old rivalry between Siena and Florence. There is a little magic, and a lot of intrigue, danger and passion, and I found myself loathe to put this book down as the hours dwindled late into the night. I've seen other descriptions of the novel in how it will "sweep you away" and it is true. Scribe of Siena is a wonderful, must-read novel.

I gave up on this after reading about 10% because the writing style was amateurish.

DNF 51%!

I so wanted to like this book since time travel books are a favorite genre of mine. But, the more I read the more I started to get annoyed with the book and at this point, I can't see how it could get any better.

Some thoughts I had about the book:

* I can't see how a modern woman can adjust to Italy in the 14th-century so well. Just understanding the language or being understood should be hard.
* Did she magically transport back in time? No clue since no explanation is given, perhaps it will come at the end of the book, but I'm not really that eager to find out.
* The painter is living in the house Beatrice lived in the future. And, they seem to be fated to be together. Too bad that their romance is lacking all the chemistry needed for it to work. And, that the whole fated thing is bothering me.
* The Medici murder thing and pestilence plot felt unnecessary and boring and the "villain" is so inept that it's laughable. Is she sent back in time to stop this or what? I don't care.
* The author absolute done a great job with the research, but the story is wordy and slow and I failed to connect with the characters. Honestly, as I wrote this little "review" did I have to think for a couple of seconds to remember Beatrice name. Oh, and Beatrice is apparently psychic also. Can feel others feelings and see things.

Perfect next book to read for fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Great blend of history, art and time-travel.

This is a great read for anyone interested in romantic Italian history and time travel. It did remind me quite a bit of "Outlander," but didn't have the same depth of history that book does. I find stories about medieval history and the plague period fascinating (morbid, I know), so this was a natural pick for me. The writing is well done, and I quite liked and enjoyed the main character Beatrice.

Beautifully crafted tale that blends modern day with 14th century Siena. Beatrice has just lost her only family- her older brother that has raised her. She travels to Siena where Ben has lived for years researching the great plague that almost killed the entire city and its orgins. As Beatrice reads an old journal of a 14th century painter named Gabriele Accorsi and sees herself in his painting she is transported back in time. She becomes a scribe and soon becomes comfortable in her surroundings and the people of Siena. Beatrice finds herself learning more about Gabriele and the terrible plague that she is powerless to prevent or protect her new friends. The language is lush and you will easily see yourself in old Siena alongside Beatrice. Add to this the political intrigue, a new romance and the deadly threat that will soon take over Italy and you will be transported. This is "The Borgias" meets "Outlander". My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I absolutely love time-travel stories and this one didn't disappoint! Melodie Winawer has that special combination of being highly educated/intelligent and a gifted author, endowing her with both knowledge and the ability to express it successfully to others. The setting was fresh and original (it actually wasn't set in Scotland!) and obviously well-researched.