Scan barcode
asn22's review
3.0
3.5. this was neat! I’ve never read anything like it. Set in medieval Italy where normal people are at the whims of the ever powerful Catholic Church — with a twist. Of course, the church has wealth but it’s main power? Magics from art.
We follow Artemisia Gentileschi, a talented painter who was raped by her teacher and went through a grueling, abusive trial. Her abuser was ultimately condemned for his crimes, but for less than a half year. She’s taking justice into her own hands by using necrotic magics to inflict justice on her abuser.
All about power, and the price people can pay for wielding such power, the reader is taken on a journey with Artemisia while she establishes herself as a female artists in Florence.
The novel had some good commentary on institutions (and their lack of moral direction) as well as a band of colorful characters, I felt like I was living in Florence during the early 1600s.
All in all, a refreshing concept with a never-before seen magic system.
We follow Artemisia Gentileschi, a talented painter who was raped by her teacher and went through a grueling, abusive trial. Her abuser was ultimately condemned for his crimes, but for less than a half year. She’s taking justice into her own hands by using necrotic magics to inflict justice on her abuser.
All about power, and the price people can pay for wielding such power, the reader is taken on a journey with Artemisia while she establishes herself as a female artists in Florence.
The novel had some good commentary on institutions (and their lack of moral direction) as well as a band of colorful characters, I felt like I was living in Florence during the early 1600s.
All in all, a refreshing concept with a never-before seen magic system.
ohnoitskylie's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
I read the Lights of Prague a while back and loved it. So I put this historical fantasy (Renaissance Florence in the time of the Medicis and Michaelangelo) instantly on my TBR pile where it languished...mostly because my library didn't carry it and there was no ebook version to buy. Thankfully, an ebook version just came out so I was able to buy and read it.
Jarvis definitely does her research. Details of food, religious prayer, fabrics, paintbrush styles, glueing of canvas before oils, and of course famous historical figures such as Galileo, Michaelangelo, fiery priests, etc. all come alive. Even historical details that never were...like the burning of artists during the Grave Age after an artist-witch made plague swept through Europe seem real and a logical part of history.
This is Renaissance Florence where artists literally make magic by painting it on canvas (or sculpting it into marble). And into this male-dominated world of artists and patrons comes Artemisia Gentileschi, a real historical figure, who is escaping from scandal and tragedy in Rome to be a penniless artist in a sketchy neighborhood in Florence.
She is talented, and catches the eye not only of the Medicis, but also the ear of scientist and philosopher Galileo Galilei, who gives her entre to a glittering world of power...as long as she paints her own vitality into the portraits commissioned.
Along the way, she makes friends: a market herbalist, an orchard worker who serves as her model, Galileo, and a friendly, teasing merchant who keeps popping up.
But she'll also make enemies, an influential Florence artist in the Artist Accademia who thinks her very existence will ruin art, and a fiery preacher out for notoriety and power.
But mostly Artemesia's story is about wanting more-- more than just what is allowed women and to be seen and heard when a victim of crime. And art, and what kind of legacy we are allowed to have.
Jarvis definitely does her research. Details of food, religious prayer, fabrics, paintbrush styles, glueing of canvas before oils, and of course famous historical figures such as Galileo, Michaelangelo, fiery priests, etc. all come alive. Even historical details that never were...like the burning of artists during the Grave Age after an artist-witch made plague swept through Europe seem real and a logical part of history.
This is Renaissance Florence where artists literally make magic by painting it on canvas (or sculpting it into marble). And into this male-dominated world of artists and patrons comes Artemisia Gentileschi, a real historical figure, who is escaping from scandal and tragedy in Rome to be a penniless artist in a sketchy neighborhood in Florence.
She is talented, and catches the eye not only of the Medicis, but also the ear of scientist and philosopher Galileo Galilei, who gives her entre to a glittering world of power...as long as she paints her own vitality into the portraits commissioned.
Along the way, she makes friends: a market herbalist, an orchard worker who serves as her model, Galileo, and a friendly, teasing merchant who keeps popping up.
But she'll also make enemies, an influential Florence artist in the Artist Accademia who thinks her very existence will ruin art, and a fiery preacher out for notoriety and power.
But mostly Artemesia's story is about wanting more-- more than just what is allowed women and to be seen and heard when a victim of crime. And art, and what kind of legacy we are allowed to have.
hcor's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
califrey99's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ellie_p's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In an alternate past, artists pour their souls into their creations, providing them with healing or necrotic magic. In Florence, in the 17th century, a young female painter is confronted with her haunting past, prejudice, discrimination, and delusional men greedy for power. Through her struggles, she will realize her dream of being an established artist and reinvent herself.
Honestly, this book needs more hype!
cosmoscommmander's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hannah29's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
I love Nicole Jarvis' writing and when I saw this book I just had to request it! It definitely did not disappoint. It has art, a beautiful city, magic and an interesting heroine, everything needed for a good book.
The first half did feel a bit slow to me, but the pace picked up again in the second half and came to a spectacular close. I had to push myself a bit to get through the first half, but it was so worth it in the end.
I love Nicole Jarvis' writing and when I saw this book I just had to request it! It definitely did not disappoint. It has art, a beautiful city, magic and an interesting heroine, everything needed for a good book.
The first half did feel a bit slow to me, but the pace picked up again in the second half and came to a spectacular close. I had to push myself a bit to get through the first half, but it was so worth it in the end.
bubblewombat's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really hope Nicole Jarvis keeps setting her books in cities I've been to, because it's always fun when she names something and my brain is like "AHA, I'VE SEEN THAT/I'VE BEEN THERE". If you're reading this Miss Jarvis please give me 3/3 for your next book, thanks!!
So we have Artemisia who's trying to make a name for herself in a man's world. They refuse to accept a female painter, but Artemisia is determined to succeed. Will she?
A lot of the book is based on historical events, and some of it is completely fictional. There's also magic, griffons and blood drakes (which I imagine to be like dragons, but smaller).
The magic is either healing, or something that could harm a person, and it's in nearly every art piece an artist produces. Each time they do they give a bit of themselves to it and as a result they end up dying young.
I like this system, but I wish it was a bit more complex than that, it feels almost out of place. I think it gets better near the end, when we see more of the darker side of it.
Artemisia is interesting as a character. For the whole book you can feel her rage building up due to the injustices she faced in her past and present and you're just waiting for her to go off (especially knowing she has magic). So if you like female rage you'll probably like this book.
It's also a character driven story, much like one I read the other day, so don't go into this expecting non stop action, it's more internal development until it can no longer be contained.
The writing improved from Jarvis' first book, it flows better, and the descriptions are just as wonderful as they were in The Lights of Prague. And even though this one is longer than that one, it felt shorter, so bonus points for that.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
So we have Artemisia who's trying to make a name for herself in a man's world. They refuse to accept a female painter, but Artemisia is determined to succeed. Will she?
A lot of the book is based on historical events, and some of it is completely fictional. There's also magic, griffons and blood drakes (which I imagine to be like dragons, but smaller).
The magic is either healing, or something that could harm a person, and it's in nearly every art piece an artist produces. Each time they do they give a bit of themselves to it and as a result they end up dying young.
I like this system, but I wish it was a bit more complex than that, it feels almost out of place. I think it gets better near the end, when we see more of the darker side of it.
Artemisia is interesting as a character. For the whole book you can feel her rage building up due to the injustices she faced in her past and present and you're just waiting for her to go off (especially knowing she has magic). So if you like female rage you'll probably like this book.
It's also a character driven story, much like one I read the other day, so don't go into this expecting non stop action, it's more internal development until it can no longer be contained.
The writing improved from Jarvis' first book, it flows better, and the descriptions are just as wonderful as they were in The Lights of Prague. And even though this one is longer than that one, it felt shorter, so bonus points for that.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*