Review of The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Lasch

Trigger warning: Description of death, epidemic/plague, sick/dead

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It’s officially horror season, so it’s time to start reading about witches and magic and all things dark and creepy… assuming you haven’t been reading that all year long. We at Feminist Book Club know there are many offerings in the magical storytelling space. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day, and some of them you may not even be allowed to read! fear! Let me help you make the most of your time.

stone witch of florence

stone witch of florence The story takes place during the worst period of the great plague in Italy in the Middle Ages. We meet our protagonist Ginevra in a small village where she lives after being publicly expelled from the city of Florence for apparently being a stone witch. Ginevra’s ability to heal people with gemstones is unsettling to some. As we later learn, there are ulterior motives for banishing Ginevra, and those motives are ultimately designed to work against her in order to get her back.

Back in Florence, tasked with using her gems to hunt down a thief of ancient antiquities, Ginevra meets Lucia, a wealthy Florentine whose cowardly husband fled and left her for dead. . Initially, Lucia is afraid of Ginevra because she knows what she is. But during their relationship, they established a deep friendship, which made Lucia brave and independent.

Throughout the book, we follow these two women from different perspectives as they try to solve the mystery of who stole Florence’s religious artifacts. Ginevra is promised that if she solves the mystery, she will be given a reprieve and recommended to join the Guild of Doctors, a hitherto male-only, upper-class institution that she has long since given up on joining.

My thoughts on The Stone Witch of Florence

Although I do enjoy stone witch of florenceI do find this story’s exploitation of plague victims to be gratuitously horrific. Nonetheless, the period and setting are extremely well researched, and Rasche’s expertise in gemology is fully demonstrated.

Many of the themes – from female ambition to the whole book are neatly tied together, but I would have loved it if the healing aspects and gem lore were delved into more deeply. After all, stone witches are specialized healers. However, while she was in plague-ridden Florence, she healed few. There is some brief background on Ginevra’s reluctance to use her healing powers, but these details don’t seem to fit with her defiant personality and her need to help others, especially since her ultimate goal is to join the Doctors’ Guild and use her abilities. Magic that heals people. And, thanks to her exile, everyone already knew she was the Stone Witch. still, Stone Witch Still fairly firmly in the realm of historical fiction, with only a smattering of magical realism. The focus of the plot is not the opportunity to explore her powers, but the mystery of the stolen artifacts and the intrigue surrounding Ginevra’s invitation to return to Florence.

What makes this book feminist?

The theme of female ambition throughout is very strong stone witchstrong women and strong female friendships serve as catalysts for the plot. The women in the story are successful in spite of the men around them, not because of them. This was despite the restrictions traditionally placed on women during this period.

Ginevra and Lucia battle wits with those far more powerful and ruthless than themselves, and even encounter women who try to subdue them out of ignorance or self-preservation. But they persisted.

Courage, ambition, and tenacity were exemplified in the context of a time when history would have you believe that these traits were largely unheard of among women, especially independent and lower-class women. Despite this, both Ginevra and Lucia are written as three-dimensional, fallible people with human flaws and clear character development.

Who will like this book?

I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, fans of European culture, and anyone who doesn’t need a magical story to always be magical. if you like relativesyou might like this one because it’s committed to historical realism and it doesn’t shy away from the unpleasant. like relatives, stone witch of florence also echoes with a strong will for justice and a dedication to correcting the abuse suffered by the protagonist (although in relatives more heartfelt).

If the book looks like A very secret society of irregular witches Better for you – because you dig strong magical themes and find an atmosphere of family and comfort – this one may not be for you. Although some of these themes are touched on, they don’t become central to the plot in the same feel-good way. So if you’re looking for a cozy read or a magical story for your fall reading, then be sure to look for our other seasonal recommendations.