Published in 2023
432 pages
Nicole Jarvis writes historical fantasy novels. A graduate of Emory University with degrees in English and Italian, she lives in Georgia. Her debut novel was The Lights of Prague and her latest is a fantastical reimagining of the life of Artemisia Gentileschi in A Portrait in Shadow. Nicole loves listening to musicals, learning strange histories and thinking about the inner lives of superheroes, and tweets @nicolejarvis.
What is this book about?
Enter the sumptuous world of 17th century Florence, where art and magic are interwoven. Artemisia Gentileschi is a bright talent mired in shadows and will stop at nothing to make her mark, or exact her revenge – perfect for fans of Susanna Clarke.
When Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking a haven for her art, she faces instant opposition from the powerful Accademia, self-proclaimed guardians of the healing and necrotic magic that protect the city from plague and curses. The all-male Accademia jealously guards its power over art and architecture, and has no place for an ambitious young woman arriving from Rome under a cloud of scandal.
Alone and fighting for every commission, Artemisia begins winning allies among luminaries such Galileo and Michelangelo the Younger, as well as the wealthy and powerful Cristina de’ Medici. But when the shadow of her infamous rape trial in Rome turns her thoughts to vengeance, and an incendiary preacher turns his ire from Galileo to Florence’s art world, Artemisia must choose between revenge and her dream of creating a legacy that will span the generations.
