Lent

A fascinating premise. I had to stop between chapters to let my head go and look up the referenced historical events.

Enjoyable protagonist - I don't think a reader could avoid rooting for him...and plot twist, well - get ready for a doozy. I love books where you do not know what is going to happen the whole time.

Walton writes very different books, you never know what you're in for, but it's always a treat. So in this book, which for the first half seems like a retelling of historical events, then takes a sharp turn and becomes a fantastic groundhog day story. Also really makes me want to see Florence, as if My Real Children hadn't done that already.

This book was on display at my library, and I just read Jo Walton for the first time a couple of months ago ([b:Among Others 8706185 Among Others Jo Walton https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317792367l/8706185.SY75.jpg 6449955]) and I really liked it–so I thought I'd give it a try. It starts out strong with this opening in Chapter 1.Have the gates of Hell been opened? This promises a good pace–a welcome change from another book that I'm currently reading ([b:The Yiddish Policemen's Union 16703 The Yiddish Policemen's Union Michael Chabon https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557172798l/16703.SX50.jpg 95855]) which bores me with its slow pace.Jo Walton did a wonderful job simplifying the politics in Florence–I have very little knowledge of medieval Italy and it would be really easy for me to get lost on who's who, and it did not happen here.A couple of chapters in, I found myself in wikipedia reading up on Girolamo–and spoiled myself of the story by learning that Girolamo was hanged and then burned at the stake. Or so I thought. As I continued reading, I was thinking this is a solid, enjoyable historical fiction that tracks really closely with the historical account (that I learned from Wikipedia), but with the additional perspective that Girolamo can actually see demons. Then I realized the narrative is moving really quickly, Girolamo is about to be hanged but it's only halfway through the book–And then we found Girolamo in Hell. He was actually a demon, and when he had lost hope in Hell, he began the cycle anew–which was how he prophesied future events. But the next time he returned to Earth, he learned about his true nature. His decisions and his attempts to use the Holy Grail to Harrow Hell over many lifetimes alters the course of history. Until he finally succeeded in the end? The last chapter he finally fell forward on his face from the stake. And the Gates of Hell have been opened.