First thing I want to say: it was entirely coincidence that I read Lent during the season of Lent. It did not cross my mind until a friend pointed it out.
Jo Walton, as always, is really big on all things Florence. This book is set at the end of the 15th century, beginning at the time of the death of Lorenzo de' Medici. It’s historical fiction as much as it is fantasy; the main character is Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar who became de facto leader of Florence after Lorenzo’s son Piero fucked things up and fled the city. At least, that is how it starts.
As in real life, Girolamo is eventually convicted and burned for heresy (there’s a memorial plaque marking the spot in the Palazzo Vecchio). And here is where things diverge; Girolamo finds himself in Hell, enduring pain and despair until he starts his life again at the beginning of the book, the day before Lorenzo’s death. But this time, he remembers the life he lived before, and resolves to do better. He wants to do a better job of protecting Florence, and he wants to save more souls, and he wants to find his own redemption. So he tries again.
And then he tries again. And again. And again. Groundhog Day is the obvious and entirely appropriate comparison.
On the whole, I rate this as four stars. I enjoyed the journey immensely. Reading Girolamo’s struggles, his determination, and his despair was a very moving experience. And I enjoyed Walton’s meticulous research, even if it did slow down my progress in the book when I kept being distracted by looking things up on Wikipedia.
Loses a star for the ending. It felt like a Deus ex machina, on more than one level.
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