Anne Rasche's debut novel is magical!
This debut novel, set in 14th-century Italy, is full of vivid imagery and a magic system that harnesses the power of gemstones. Ginevra is a gifted healer who can make gemstones unleash their power to heal, yet she was condemned as a witch and banished. The Black Plague has ravaged the land, and she is summoned back to Florence. She thinks to help heal, but her true task is much different. She must help track down a thief who is stealing relics.
This plot is intriguing, with magic, religion, folklore, medicine in the late Middle Ages, and a mystery. The world-building is excellent. This was well-written and engaging, with a lot of historical detail and vivid imagery. The author is a gemologist and jewelry historian, and this shines through, as does all the research the author did on Florence during the plague. The gemstone lore is super interesting, and I enjoyed how the magic system used gemstones.
The magic was sprinkled throughout in an organic way, and Ginvera had to rely on her perseverance and wits as much as her magic. Ginerva was a strong FMC, and I rooted for her as she faced an uphill battle on many fronts. The supporting characters were interesting and compelling, with a few that pleasantly surprised me. There were some pacing issues, but overall, I enjoyed this and thought it was a solid debut. I will keep this author on my radar. And I love this stunning cover!
The Stone Witch Of Florence by Anna Rasche
Pub date: October 8, 2024
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row Books and The Hive for the gifted review copy!
My steep was Carnelian Gemstone Wellness tea from www.clubmagichour.com
an herbal Apricot Amaretto blend.
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
A woman's secret. A deadly Plague. Unleash the hidden magic…
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 when word spread of her unusual abilities, she was condemned as a witch and banished. Now the same men who expelled Ginevra are begging for her return.
Ginevra obliges, assuming the city’s leaders are finally ready to accept her unorthodox cures amid a pandemic. 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—the city’s only hope for protection. If she succeeds, she’ll be a recognized physician and never accused of witchcraft again.
But as her investigation progresses, Ginevra discovers she’s merely a pawn in a much larger scheme than the one she’s been hired to solve. And the dangerous men behind this conspiracy won’t think twice about killing a stone witch to get what they want…
Comments