One of the best things about the Historical Fiction community is that it is a community. Through it, I've discovered some fantastic authors, who write some amazing works of art. I'm delighted to share a review today from one lady who I met through the online Historical Fiction community, and whose fabulous new book Hiding the Flame launched on Monday. I was fortunate enough to have a sneak peek of the book before it was released, and it's been great to share in some of the excitement about this new novel. But, before I share my thoughts, let's meet the book... Florence, 1497. A city ablaze with religious fear. A woman forced to hide her art. And a love so dangerous it could cost her everything. Francesca Rosini, a gifted but silenced painter, lives under the strict rule of her husband - a man whose devotion to Savonarola’s puritanical revolution leaves no room for beauty, tenderness, or truth. While Bonfires of the Vanities burn paintings, books, and anything deemed ...
This is a fascinating book, blending history and fantasy in a way which makes each seem somehow more believable. Marie Powell uses historical figures and settings to give an expert voice to her work and makes the reader believe that they could be reading an exciting history of Welsh culture rather than simply a work of fiction.
Powell’s descriptive writing is beautiful and evocative, although sometimes I feel a Young Adult audience may have preferred a slightly different descriptive to dialogue ratio.
Overall, a clever mix of fantasy and history to shed new light on a dark period of British history.
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