What do readers think of The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer? Write your own review.

The Scribe of Sienna is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction. The book moves back in forth in time from the modern day Tuscan city of Siena, Italy to Siena, Italy in 1347. I am a huge fan of the Outlander series, so my expectations were high; however, I found the time travel of Beatrice, the main character, and the romance between the artist Gabriele Accorsi and Beatrice was awkward, and although it was fantasy, contained difficult to believe plot lines. The details of the Plague, clothing, architecture, people, sounds, and lack of modern conveniences, transport you to Siena in 1347! The overall …more plot of the book is well done and keeps you guessing until the end. (less)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the first page to the last. If a reader is interested in history, fascinating characters, and a storyline that moves from one time period to another, then this book is for you. It would be a good choice for Book Clubs.

I was disappointed with "The Scribe of Siena." As an avid reader of a certain time-travel/romance series that's very popular right now, I thought that the premise for this book sounded intriguing. However, I felt that there was very little development of the characters and the underlying plot. The method of time travel that the author constructs seemed to be original and unique, but everything else rushed past so quickly that when I finally reached the conclusion, I felt both relieved and empty.

I requested The Scribe of Siena as I am traveling there soon and enjoy historical fiction. The plot was interesting historically about the conflict between Florence & Siena and the impact of the major plague in the 1300's. However, the time travel aspect, a challenge for most authors, felt artificial and contrived. It just did not come together for me and I found it difficult to forge ahead. It is a long read but the reader will learn some interesting facts of this period in Italy.