The Stone Witch of Florence

by Anna Rasche

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Ginevra di Gasparo has learned the hard way about the price of practicing magic where others may see her. She did it once, long ago, to save those falling ill in a horrible sickness. Since saving the villagers shamed the church, she was exiled.

Now the church was Ginevra back, promising to remove her exile if she solved one teeny, tiny problem. Naturally, nothing is what it appears, but Ginevra can’t leave her home to suffer. In the process, she will uncover many dark secrets.

My Review:

Whew. The Stone Witch of Florence is a lot, and I mean that in a largely good way. This book is as emotional as it is complex, with a wide range of characters, motivations, and magical stones.

The story is set in Italy during the Black Plague. Ironically, it also hops between two points in time—Ginevra's younger life and her present. I'll be honest: It took me a little bit to get used to the jumping back and forth.

The pacing of The Stone Witch of Florence is pretty slow at times. The author included a lot of details that absolutely made scenes drag, but then something would change, and everything would kick off. It was a strange balance and probably my only real complaint.

The Stone Witch of Florence is a solid read that blends magical realism with history. I would love to see another stone with adventure, if only because I still want to see so much of this magical system. Maybe another tale set in a different historical period? That'd be fascinating.

Highlights:
Historical Fiction
Fantasy & Witches
Curing Illnesses

Trigger Warnings:
Extreme Illness
Witch Burning

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