Touchstone Books, May 16, 2017.
Four Stars
Beatrice Trovato is a successful neurosurgeon living
in New York. Orphaned at birth, Beatrice was raised by her older brother
Benjamin, who named her after Dante’s muse. He insisted they honor their
Italian heritage and learn to speak the language, which came in handy when Ben
moved to Siena three years ago. Beatrice has never visited him there, and she
is ready to change that – but before she can go, she receives the devastating
news that Ben has died suddenly of a heart condition.
Since childhood, Beatrice has always had a powerful
sense of empathy. It often connects her to her patients, and being able to feel
what they feel has occasionally helped her to save lives. However, her empathic
feelings are growing stronger, and beginning to impede her work. It seems like
the perfect time to take a leave of absence and travel to Siena to deal with
Ben’s estate, including the mysterious research he was involved with at the
time of his death.
Benjamin was a microbiologist, but his interest in Italian
history led him to research 14th century Siena and its fall from
power during the aftermath of the plague. When Beatrice reads through Ben’s
papers, she finds intriguing clues that point towards a conspiracy to decimate the
city – Siena’s decline might have been a political powerplay, caused by the
city’s enemies and their intentional spread of the plague.
Also included in Ben’s research are the journals of
Medieval painter Gabriele Accorsi, who seems to be somehow involved in the plot
against Siena. Beatrice immediately feels a connection to the artist, and when
she uncovers one of his paintings on the walls of Ben’s home, she finds an image
of her own face painted by Gabriele. Inexplicably, her empathic connection to
Gabriele draws her back in time, and she arrives suddenly in the year 1347. She
is still in Ben’s neighbourhood, but nothing else is familiar, and it’s not
long before her modern sensibilities get her into trouble. Fortunately, Suor
Umilta from Siena’s Ospedale della Scala is in search of a scribe, and Beatrice
takes the job in exchange for a sense of security in this unknown world.
Through her work as scribe, Beatrice soon meets
Gabriele – and their connection in person is just as strong as it was through
his painting. However, happiness is fleeting as they are threatened not only by
the impending plague but also by the ruthless Florentine men who wish to
destroy Siena’s political power. The details of Medieval life are intriguing
and thoroughly researched, and the collision of art and science (and artist and
neurosurgeon) is fascinating.
The Scribe of
Siena is immersive historical fiction, seen from the
modern perspective of Beatrice, a strong, capable woman who is able to deal
with extraordinary circumstances. Of course it is not always realistic, and the
time travel aspect is mostly left unexplained, but it is well worth it to
suspend disbelief and enjoy this clever, entertaining novel. It will inevitably
be compared to Outlander because of
the plot, but I also think it is very similar in tone and character. I’m curious
to see whether this novel is also expanded into a series, as I think it would
work very well.
I received this book from Touchstone Books and
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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