Anna Rasche

When I began planning this review, the first word that came to mind was "tale." The Stone Witch of Florence isn't exactly a fairy tale, but a tale that reads almost as if you were hearing a great storyteller recount it. It has a bit of magic—but not too much, if that makes sense. It's set in a long ago period (the 1340s) that could be "once upon a time." And, as in many tales, our heroine faces threats of multiple types: epidemic diseases, poverty, accusations of heresy, and romantic show more betrayal.

That heroine is Genevra di Gasparo, a fisherman's daughter with an untapped connection to the world around her. A female healer arranges with Genervra's parents to begin to teach her healing skills. Genevra is a quick learner, but also headstrong—and she doesn't want to heed warnings about keeping her abilities secret.

When accused of heresy Genevra finds herself exiled from Florence. She returns to her home of Genoa, determined to live a quiet life. Then, an unexpected messenger arrives at her door with a letter begging her to return to Florence. She's promised a retraction of the exile and, perhaps, an opportunity to train as a "real" doctor.

There are so many ways this story could have gone wrong—particularly in terms of tone—but Rasche handles it ably, letting readers relax on the boundary between real and magic, historical and imagined.

I highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries or fantasy that keeps it feet on the ground, so to speak.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own. show less

Anna Rasche’s The Stone Witch of Florence is a vivid mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Set in plague-stricken 1348 Florence, it follows Ginevra di Gasparo, a healer who wields gemstones for cures and is called back from exile to aid the dying city and recover stolen relics. Rasche excels at atmosphere—the dread of the Black Death, the clash of superstition and faith, the shimmer of gemstones used as both medicine and magic. Religious tensions and fears of witchcraft lend show more the story depth. The pacing sometimes falters, and the magical elements could feel more fully realized, but the world is rich and the heroine compelling. A strong debut: gritty, mystical, and steeped in history. show less

I went into this one not quite sure what I was getting.

I got a rich story, a fun and funny main character - Ginevra - and a fascinating story about stones with powers, saints, plagues and thieves. I loved getting to know all the characters, the interjected humor, and the final conclusion. This was such a fun adventure of a story and one that I loved from start to finish. Fast read, characters to love and a great ending. I'm so glad I gave this one a chance, I loved it!

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 upon arrival, she is tasked with a much different mission: she must use her collection of jewels to track down a ruthless thief who is ransacking Florence’s churches for priceless relics.

This story started really strong and I was enjoying it. But then it sort of went off the show more rails. It started dragging. And the ending…it just did not fit.

That being said, there are quite a few things that I did enjoy. I loved Ginerva and the time period. Ginerva has a backstory that is very intriguing. I also loved the religion aspect of this novel. I always learn something new when relics and healing are involved and this story led me down a rabbit hole. The stones used for healing are fascinating. I just hate the story died down for me. As I always say…read the book yourself and form your own opinion.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less