I liked this historical fiction novel for many reasons, including: 1) I recently visited Florence and was introduced to the story of the monk Savonarola, so I enjoyed the mentioned sights and historical context, 2) as a writer I appreciated the structure of the novel, with the main point of view being a young well-to-do woman married off to a much older man. Through the conversations of husband and wife, and those of the wife and her slave/maid, the political, religious and societal events unfold. There's tension throughout as the rising puritanical tide overwhelms Florentine society. Really well done and a fascinating story of the Renaissance.