Loved it! I started reading it last November but couldn’t really get into it, until now. I started it again and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It made me realize that it all depends on right timing!

I loved the stoned magic and how cleverly it was used. From dark and gory sometimes to hilarious, I enjoyed the banters between characters. And even the shifting point of view didn’t feel jarring (as it does in other books). My interest my piqued all the way till the end, and visiting Florence and Italy was a plus!

If you like history mixed with fantasy and some mystery, this one is for you!

**Thank you, NetGalley, Anna Rasche, and Park Row for the e-copy.**

The concept was interesting and I loved the character of Ginerva, but I found (at least for me) that it dragged a little.

Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for this ARC in return for an honest review.

The Stone Witch of Florence is my first read by Anna Rasche. I don’t think I’ve ever read a medieval mystery steeped in the church, the plague, magic and gemstones before. This was very well written and I could see in every word how passionate the author is about gemstone healing.

If you’re looking for a book about a female physician who solves a mystery with help from her friends, gemstones and overcomes a life of not fitting in for being who she is and what she does, this read might be for you.

The Stone Witch of Florence weaves the magical historical fiction tale of Ginevra, a healer, in 1300’s Italy. Though banished, she has been summoned by her former love back to Florence to help deal with a plague.

I was very drawn to the premise of this book. I enjoy books set in Italy. I like magic in stories, and I enjoy natural healing. Overall, though, this didn’t hold my attention. I think the writing is good and descriptive, but the plot dragged a bit and it felt long.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Absolutely enchanting. The Stone Witch of Florence is a rich, atmospheric blend of historical fiction and magical realism that completely swept me away. Set in plague-ridden Florence, this novel follows Ginevra, a brilliant healer and accused witch, who is called back to the city that once exiled her, and only to find herself at the center of a deadly mystery.

Anna Rasche’s writing is lush and immersive. The gemstone magic was so beautifully imagined, and clearly grounded in real gemological knowledge, and it felt fresh, mystical, and totally believable. I loved how Rasche wove together themes of female power, science vs. superstition, and redemption, all against the backdrop of a vividly drawn and hauntingly real medieval Florence.

Ginevra is a fierce and unforgettable heroine. The supporting cast, especially the grumpy Inquisitor and the wine-loving gravedigger with added depth, charm, and just the right amount of humor.

If you love smart, gorgeously written historical fiction with a feminist edge and a touch of magic, The Stone Witch of Florence is a must-read. One of my favorite reads of the year.

LOVED LOVED LOVED I was drawn in from page and one. Ginevra is such a well-developed character with a distinct worldview and voice. All of the characters were well done and easy to imagine as real people. There is a true authenticity and reality to the time and place that the author creates. I loved every minute of it.

I think what made this book work for me is that I'm actually pretty good at engaging with books on their own terms. The premise of this book made it sound very Leigh Bardugo's THE FAMILIAR-adjacent (indeed that's why I requested it originally) but after reading a few pages I realized that this was not going to be that so I adjusted my expectations. It's a slow meandering literary story that builds tension subtley. I think it could have gone a bit darker to really be a five-star read but overall I enjoyed it.

Such an interesting book! I found this book to be enchanting and loved the overall scenery. I was excited to pick this book up and saved it knowing I had a trip to Florence coming up. Thanks Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was an enjoyable story. I liked the mixture between reality and fantasy. The historical touches were very nice. The characters were beautifully flawed and I felt so much for them. The plot tugged at my heart strings. I highly recommend this story.

I really wanted to like this, as the premise seemed right up my alley and very promising.
However, the execution left a lot to be desired. There was a lot of "showing not telling", which made it very difficult to completely invest in the story and characters.
The timeline shifts also felt clunky and negatively effected the pacing for me.
Unfortunately this one just didn't live up to the hopes and expectations I had for it.

The Stone Witch of Florence is a beautifully written blend of historical fiction and feminist fantasy. Set in Renaissance Florence, it follows Artemisia, a gifted sculptor's apprentice who uncovers a buried statue tied to ancient women's magic. As the past awakens, so does her power and the danger that comes with it.

Rasche delivers a richly atmospheric story full of mystery, myth and empowerment. This novel explores art, memory and what happens when women reclaim the magic they were forced to forget.

A haunting, lyrical and deeply satisfying read.

I loved the historical aspects of this story, but ultimately it moved a bit too slowly for me.

We follow Ginerva, a girl with the ability to heal through the use of gemstones. I'm immediately pulled in by the 1300s setting and witch aspects of her story. The storyline itself was truly a fun and unique read with beautiful writing that made medieval Florence seem like a gorgeous place to be.

My issues lie with the pacing.. about halfway through we lost momentum and the story started to drag. I was particularly saddened by this because I loved the premise! The plague, healing, gemstones, a witch hunt- it has all the makings of a perfect book for me.

Overall, I believe that Ms. Rasche has great talent with detailed historical stories, but could use some structural editing to hold readers captive for longer.

I truly enjoyed these characters and love the time period they are in! This author is a tremendous writer and I will be reading other books they’ve written and future one thank you NetGalley!

This book was just okay for me. I love historical fiction and mysteries. I feel that the story dragged on without really advancing the story any. I gave this one 3 stars and although it wasn't my cup of tea, I know its readers are out there.

There's so much to say here...

First, I have been enthralled with gemology since childhood and when I read the description of the book, I had to read it. And what a wealth of lore it had! Who knew that stones were purported to have so many powers?

The powers of the malocchio were frightening and so was the horror of the Black Plague. The unregulated power of the church was also shocking.

My only complaints about the book: first, the gore, which was off-putting. Isn't there a way to be less gross but still obvious?

Second: there were some oddly modern words used by the characters. "Go get that guy!" (What?)

A historical fiction novel with plenty of drama and intrigue. An interesting and believable story of a woman in the Middle Ages during the time of plague in Italy. Told with multiple interwoven story lines this kept my attention throughout.

Ginevra is a woman who can harness the power of gemstones to heal the sick. After being exiled from Florence for witchcraft, she's asked to return as the plague has decimated a large swath of Italy. However, she's not asked to heal the sick, but find out who's been stealing the religious relics from the city. Ginevra's past and present are told in alternating parts as we see her training, younger years in Florence, and her current objective. I enjoyed this book, it was an interesting look at 14th century Florence and the ideas of gems having certain properties to heal.

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

This was such a great and enchanting story. I loved the way in which the story was told and wanted to know all about the stone magic and how it worked. I loved this book and enjoyed it so much.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, HTP Hive, and Anna Rasche for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I unfortunately did DNF this book after realizing I was not the target audience for it.

Based on the description, I anticipated a unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy with hints of mystery and an interesting magic system. The gemstone magic was very intriguing, which initially pulled me in. However, I had trouble getting invested in the characters, and I struggled with the pacing of the story.

While this book was not for me, I would recommend to readers who like:
Morally grey characters
Medieval setting
Witchcraft
Mystery