Who Would Like This Book:
If you're a fan of time travel, sweeping romance, and meticulously researched historical fiction, this one is a treat! Melodie Winawer brings medieval Siena to life, blending mystery, intrigue, art, and a touch of magic into a compelling story. Readers who enjoy strong female leads with real agency, immersive settings, and a plot that weaves medical drama into the fabric of 14th-century Italy will eat this up. The engrossing journey of Beatrice Trovato, a modern neurosurgeon cast into the chaos and beauty of the past, is perfect for lovers of Outlander, art history buffs, or anyone craving a fresh spin on the time-slip genre.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Those seeking a dense, atmospheric plunge into the sensory experiences of the Middle Ages might find the world-building a bit lacking. Some readers felt that Siena's gritty reality could have been evoked more vividly - it's a little light on grime and a bit too easy for the heroine to fit in. If you like your historical novels slow-burning, deeply detailed in period smells and textures, or want more plague-heightened tension, this might fall short. The pace slows near the end, and romance takes a back seat to mystery, so pure romance fans may feel underwhelmed.
About:
Transported back to the past and trapped in the Middle Ages, New York surgeon, Beatrice Trovato, navigates the arteries of Siena, Italy on the verge of the plague. A newly developed empathic power gives her more information than she knows what to do with, forcing her to seek answers beyond her normal world of intellect and science. The Scribe of Siena weaves time travel, suspense, history, political intrigue, murder, and romance into a captivating story that explores identity, belonging, and the transcendence of love across time and space.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of grief, the plague, and historical violence.
Has Romance?
The book presents a medium level of romance intertwined with its main plot.
From The Publisher:
"Like Outlander with an Italian accent." -Real Simple
"A detailed historical novel, a multifaceted mystery, and a moving tale of improbable love." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
A NEW YORK POST MUST-READ BOOK
Readers of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring…will be swept away by the spell of medieval Siena" (Library Journal, starred review) in this transporting love story and gripping historical mystery.
Accomplished neurosurgeon Beatrice Trovato knows that her deep empathy for her patients is starting to impede her work. So when her beloved brother passes away, she welcomes the unexpected trip to the Tuscan city of Siena to resolve his estate, even as she wrestles with grief. But as she delves deeper into her brother's affairs, she discovers intrigue she never imagined-a 700-year-old conspiracy to decimate the city.
As Beatrice explores the evidence further, she uncovers the journal and paintings of the fourteenth-century artist Gabriele Accorsi. But when she finds a startling image of her own face, she is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.
Yet when Beatrice meets Accorsi, something unexpected happens: she falls in love-not only with Gabriele, but also with the beauty and cadence of medieval life. As the Plague and the ruthless hands behind its trajectory threaten not only her survival but also Siena's very existence, Beatrice must decide in which century she belongs.
The Scribe of Siena is the captivating story of a brilliant woman's passionate affair with a time and a place that captures her in an impossibly romantic and dangerous trap-testing the strength of fate and the bonds of love.
Ratings (3)
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (14):
Read It (3) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (5) |
What can you read after
The Scribe of Siena?
About the Author:
Melodie Winawer is the author of The Scribe of Siena, which has been translated into German, Czech, Polish, and Norwegian to critical acclaim. She is also the author of the forthcoming Anticipation. A physician-scientist and associate professor of neurology at Columbia University, Melodie has published over fifty articles and contributed to several anthologies. To find the energy to write, she relies on unflagging enthusiasm and green tea. Melodie lives with her spouse and their three children in both Brooklyn, New York and Ludlow, Vermont.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
