This book is a pretty solid 3-star read for me.

Anna Rasche does a beautiful job with the historical aspect of this historical fiction. As a historian, Rasche has a solid foundation in this regard. Rasche paints the world of 14th century pandemic Florence. From the descriptions of architecture, to the prevalence of the plague, to the sheer desperation of people in the city, I found no fault with her writing. It is well informed and well done.

Rasche’s unique background as a gemologist, as well as a historian, lends this storyline an interesting and unique personality. The use of stones and gems, combined with witchcraft, in this setting is incredibly interesting.

I found the main character, Ginevra, exceptionally naive, and had a nard time relating to her as a character. Contextually, I understand that she lived a mostly sheltered upbringing, but even as an adult, I found some of her thoughts and actions frustratingly naive.

There is a lot of exposition in this book- the majority of the first half is just building and building and building. It’s not a very fast-paced book, and I found my mind wandering during some of the more foundational areas. While it is important for much of this to be laid, I find there may have been a more efficient way to incorporate the information we needed, without losing forward momentum.

Where this book was the most disappointing for me was the dialogue. Compared to the author’s writing of the historical aspects, the dialogue lacked the same sophistication. Again, there was a level of naivety.

I will say, the physical copy of this book is beyond beautiful. The flowered pattern, the blue-sprayed edges of the first edition copies, the end papers - all of them are visually stunning.

Long blocks of text for 400 pages is a tough sell, and I found myself skimming more often than not, especially the first chapters before Ginevra reaches Florence and the mystery begins. Definitely an original idea and a great witchy vibe--but it was just tough to physically get through.

Most of my hgh school students probably don't have the stamina to keep plodding through this one, but I'm adding it to my classroom library for the girls who devour anything witchy, mysterious, and magical!

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

When I read the description of the this book, I was so excited! But this one just didn't do it for me. It was very wordy and seemed to meander through the story. I also got confused with some of the time jumps. I see the potential though and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Historical fiction but make it witchy? Sign me up. I knew from the get-go that I was going to enjoy this. I loved everything about it, from the historical setting, to the writing style, to the magic. Easy 5 stars!

"A woman's secret. A deadly Plague. Unleash the hidden magic…"
The Stone Witch of Florence was one that drew me in by the intruging plot, but sadly this one was not for me. I struggled to get through this book because of how slow it seemed and at times it was confusing. The author did a good job with the world building and the historical details. The characters I could not connect to and I did not like. Sadly, this one was not for me but if you like fantasy or historical fiction then give this one a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for this one in exchange of my honest review of The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche.

THE STONE WITCH OF FLORENCE is a beautifully written tale steeped in history and magical lore. Rasche effortlessly weaves together mysticism and intrigue with the reality of what a woman could go through once being forced into exile. It instantly transports the reader to a place in time where all of this seems very possible.

With this story, the author delivers a compelling and all-consuming read. I was pulled into Ginevra’s world from beginning to end, and I didn’t want to leave without knowing how her story would end. The secrets she had to keep, combined with the emotions of love, loss, and perceived betrayal, made this world come alive.

This book has heart, magic, and a mystery to solve surrounding what is going on with the missing relics. To make it better, the historical setting enriches the plot and creates an atmosphere ripe for duplicity and hidden truths. And this is why it was so good.

I usually enjoy reading books set in this time frame. I was pretty disappointed by this novel. It is set in the 1300's, in Italy. Genevra has been taught in the ancient ways of healing and heals through the power of stones. This part of the book was compelling--I believe in magic. My problem with this book is that I could not FEEL the times--too many parts of this book didn't fit the times. One thing that didn't shout fourteenth century was in the way the characters spoke to each other. The dialogue was straight out of the twentieth century.The other thing that didn't work for me: Genevra has been appointed to find out where the stolen religious artifacts went and who took them. In return, she would be safe to practice "medicine." Women did not do things like that in those times. I understand that this book was researched and I believe it was BUT I don't think that research went far enough to paint an accurate picture of Florence during the plague in 1330. I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. This opinion is my own.

This was such an emotional and devastating book! The story is so strong and pulls you in immediately, and I loved the found family/sisters aspect so so much. The last 100 pages flew by because I was so anxious/excited, and I did not see that ending coming!

Witchy historical fiction? Yes please! This impressive debut had my attention from the get-go and clearly shows how well versed Anna Rasche is with this time period, especially for women and healers along with religious & magical superstitions and fear, at that time. In many ways it's eerily relevant to our present day.

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche is a richly atmospheric historical novel that captivates with its blend of magic, mystery, and the dark backdrop of 14th-century Italy. Ginevra di Gasparo, a woman with the ability to heal using gemstones, is summoned back to Florence during the Black Plague after being exiled for her unorthodox powers. Instead of the healing work she expects, she is tasked with finding a thief who is stealing sacred relics. What follows is an engrossing mystery that reveals dangerous conspiracies and forces Ginevra to confront her past.

Rasche excels at creating a vivid historical setting, using the plague and medieval Florence as a chilling yet fascinating backdrop. Ginevra is a compelling protagonist—brave, intelligent, and determined to prove her worth despite being branded a witch. The pacing is solid, and while some plot twists are predictable, the suspense and intrigue keep the reader engaged.

For fans of historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural, The Stone Witch of Florence is an enchanting, well-crafted read.

This was an impressive debut novel. It is clear that Anna Rasche did her research to create an immersive picture of renaissance Italy. This story follows Ginerva di Gasparo as she returns to Florence during the plague. She has been enlisted to solve the mystery of who is stealing religious relics around the city, as the plague ravages the population. Ginerva's magic is very subtle, and I liked learning about the different kinds of stones and the "powers" associated with them. Fundamentally it is a story about one woman fighting for a life on her own terms at a time when women were not given much autonomy or power. I really enjoyed reading about her developing friendship with Lucia, an abandoned nobelwoman. The politics of the church, as exemplified in the character of Michele, the inquisitor, were also very interesting. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction, the fantasy elements were very subdued.

I enjoyed how Anna Rasche's set out a steady, engaging mystery plot. I am interested in reading whatever she comes out with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an eARC in return for my honest thoughts.

This book captivated me from the first page. Historical time piece, Italy, plague - say less. I ate it up. Easily a 5 star read.

3.5 || This started off strong, but it didn't stick the landing.

I was thoroughly enjoying this until quite literally the second half. From the 51% mark onwards, the main plot kicked off and unfortunately disappointed me.

So what is the plot?

Well, we mainly follow Ginevra, a young woman that has been called back from her exile to the city of Florence in the late 1340's—AKA: peak Black Death time. As pestilence takes the lives of many, another thief stalks the streets of Florence taking something else almost just as valuable to the Florentines: their relics. The holy relics that the many churches of Florence keep safe. That is until this mysterious thief starts collecting them, stripping the city of its holy protectors.
This is why Ginevra has been summoned from her hometown of Genoa—to find the culprit and return these most scared items to the Florentines. The reason she was given this task being the very reason she was banished in the first place. Ginevra is a woman with a special touch—a magic touch some might say—who can heal people in miraculous ways. The Inquisitor hopes that this woman who appears to be immune to the incurable disease can do her sleuthing without dying on him, as all of his men have. He also secretly hopes that someone learned in more mystical arts might be able to understand how exactly this thief has managed to steal the relics with ease and without getting caught. And so we follow Ginevra in her quest all the while learning about her past and her "heretical" practice.

Let's start with some pros shall we?

🔮 I really enjoyed Ginevra's characterization (which was mainly focused on in the first half) and her backstory—specifically the part where she learns about her magical ability and how to use it. I enjoyed reading about her dynamics and interactions with the other characters.

🔮 The magic in this book, which as the title suggests, has a lot to do with stones/gems and the many properties they possess. This was particularly interesting to read about and I think Rasche did a good job of setting up this magic system in that she explained everything well and at a decent pace.

🔮 The setting was particularly interesting in that anything set so far back as the 1300's is going to pique my interest, but it is also the fact that I happen to live in Florence that I found myself captivated by the descriptions of this historic city. Many of the piazze and its churches and other landmarks described in this novel are very familiar to me. I can attest that Florence is a magical city, making it all the more believable to this reader that a city such as Firenze can hold all kinds of secrets. I enjoyed reading about a city I am personally attached to, as well as being able to conjure up the streets I walk on daily, with it's river Arno that I depend on to guide me back home.

Alas, the big, bad con

⚰️ After the novel finishes with Ginevra's backstory, it becomes entirely plot-focused. Sadly, I found myself trudging along, getting through unnecessarily lengthy scenes that didn't appear to be of any importance until the very end. Instead of maintaining a good pace all throughout, the second half was repetitive and tedious in nature. There was a lot of back and forth that stole away a lot of the initial excitement, and it all led to what I found to be quite an anticlimactic ending.
I think many readers might find the ending to be satisfying, and objectively, so did I, but the novel lost its momentum as the pace slowed. This also affected my overall enjoyment of the "mystery" we are introduced to at the very beginning.

I think this can be a perfect book to many readers, and I hope in falls into those hands!

✨Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.✨

Representation: Not much of note

Ginevra di Gasparo has been exiled from Florence for nearly a decade, simply because she has the ability to harness the magic of gemstones to heal the sick. Plague has struck everywhere, and times are desperate. Except when she arrives, she’s tasked with finding the thief who’s been taking all the relics that supposedly protect the city, and only by finding that person will she be able to get recognition as a physician. Dark secrets lurk below…

Rating: 3.5/5 I enjoyed this read, but the story felt a little slow at times. The gemstone aspect was really interesting, and I wish that had been more prominent throughout the story. Ginevra doesn’t do much actual magic, this was more of a historical fiction/mystery than magical fantasy. I did enjoy the little detective work that she was doing along with her little group that she gathered on her arrival in Florence, and the twist towards the end. You can tell this book was very well researched, on the gemstones and on the plague, what it was like back then for the city residents. However, despite the plague being central to the plot, that aspect felt a little gratuitous at times, with how people were being portrayed and described. Overall, this was a decent read.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Set in Florence during the 1340s, Ginevra is secretly summoned back to help solve a series of thefts of religious relics. Some consider her a witch, and others a healer, but Ginevra uses the power of stones to heal and protect herself from the plague and has desires of her own to be recognized as the first female doctor and apothecary in Florence.

With a mix of religion, mystery, and mysticism this is a good read.

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Even though I was recently in Florence and do my own dabbling with crystals, it took me several tries to get into this book, but now I’m glad I did. While the writing is a bit clunky at times with some uneven pacing, it definitely picks up as the story gets moving. I appreciated the historical fiction of it all and the author’s mini bibliography at the end very much.

"The Stone Witch of Florence" is an intriguing blend of history, magic, and mystery. The setting of Florence is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in its rich culture and architectural beauty. The plot weaves an interesting tale of secrets and supernatural forces, with well-developed characters who bring depth to the story. However, at times, the pacing feels uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush through pivotal moments. Some plot twists are predictable, but the writing is strong, and the world-building is immersive. While not without its flaws, it’s an enjoyable read for those who appreciate atmospheric historical fiction. 3.5 rounded to 4

We all know that there are quite a few topics that I never tire of reading about, and for some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by the Black Plague, and seeing a book that combines both mystery and magical realism during this period, I couldn’t wait to start it. Once I had a nice cup tea and a cozy throw blanket, I was comfy and ready to read. Which worked out beautifully, because I didn’t want to put this one down.

It’s no surprise to see that the author is a gemologist and a jewelry historian, and she puts that knowledge to exceptional use in this story. I had no idea how heavily gemstones played into the beliefs of 14th century Italy, especially when it came to the healing properties attributed to gemstones. As someone who has dabbled in crystals for a while now, these healing properties are still attributed to crystals and gemstones. The magic system wasn’t really explored, other than explaining how the healing qualities of gemstones can be harnessed by someone with a gift … in this case, Ginevra di Gasparo.

Ginevra was a fascinating character. Despite knowing that she needs to keep her gift a secret, she has an innate sense of the Hippocratic oath, and is driven to save every life that she can. As a young woman, she wasn’t as concerned about consequences of using her gift to heal people, and her abilities came to the attention of the Church, she was labeled a witch and forbidden to enter the town of Florence again. But when she is summoned to Florence after ten years of banishment, she thinks that they’re ready to rely on her talents to help save Plague victims. However, that isn’t the task that is given to her, but she has a lot of motivation to complete their task so that she could be pardoned and even clear the road towards her becoming an actual physician. This is Ginevra’s goal, despite the fact that women were not typically physicians at this point in time.

With a decade between the past and present versions of Ginevra, there’s a lot of maturing that she underwent. Ginevra goes from the idealistic young woman with rose-colored glasses to a more adult version of herself, with more patience and more cynicism after living more life. She is pushed into choosing who she can save while balancing her own life and safety by the closed minds of the era, particularly those involved in church management, who maintained immense amounts of control over the daily lives of the people of the region.

We get a view into how quickly and easily social order breaks down in the presence of a mysterious plague, similar to what we’ve seen in our own lives during the COVID pandemic, but much worse. Medieval people had no knowledge of how the plague was spread, how to stop it, and even where it came from. As such, the church was able to consolidate influence over the population by explaining the plague as coming from God, and that the way to combat it is prayer and the holy relics the churches maintain. But when facing a disease that is spread by close contact with infected people, with a death rate of about 60%, rapidly killed people after infection, and a history of affecting the vast majority of people it came in contact with. Obviously, we know today that the plague isn’t caused by a lack of attention to prayer or cured by relics, but back then, it must have seemed like a visitation by a harsh and judgmental god.

Since the plague killed so widely and so quickly, clergy and physicians were getting sick from visiting ill people in the community, they stopped making it a habit to visit and pray with sick people. Additionally, with more than half of the population getting sick and dying, there wasn’t anyone left to do anything about it. Social order broke down almost as quickly as the plague killed—no one was worried about consequences, stealing from the rich and indulging themselves with luxury food and clothing, while enterprising peasants saw a chance to move their social station, charging extortionate prices to remove the dead.

There are plenty of church politics that play out in the story, and this is important because at the time, Italy was the center of the Holy Roman Empire, and consequently, the church had even more influence over basically every aspect of life. Ginevra finds herself caught up in these same church politics when she is told she needs to find out who is stealing the priceless relics from churches in Florence, rather than saving the life of the sick. Naturally, being a healer at heart, she can’t quite turn her back on the sick, and saves the life of a woman named Lucia, who becomes quite the sidekick in this story. However, there are other cases where she can’t provide the help that she needs, and seeing how deeply she reacts to all of these situations really showed a side of Ginevra that demonstrated all the growth she experienced in her decade of banishment.

While Ginevra and Lucia try to track down the relic thieves, it places them directly in danger. These two women rely on all the resources between them, including their wits and brains, to navigate the dangerous place their city has become, along with facing down threatening criminals who have no fear of consequences. I loved seeing how brilliantly they brainstormed solutions and ways to track down who is behind the thefts, while seeing a whole new side to the city they love.

I found this to be a fascinating read, although at times the pacing was a little inconsistent. However, it was full of incredibly detailed research, allowing me to feel as though I was walking through the deserted and dangerous streets of Florence right beside Ginevra, and couldn’t wait to find out what she would discover next. Granted, there were a few times in which I struggled to stay focused on the story, but seeing the way that Rasche wove in her knowledge about gemstones and medieval jewelry history to the plot, giving us just enough magic to not make things over the top, this was well worth the read. You’re most likely to enjoy this book if you like historical fiction, books featuring the Black Plague, magical realism, gemstones, and Medieval mysteries.

This was a very interesting book that was perfect for fall. I thought the story was unique and original and the voice fresh throughout. I will be reading more from this author.