Hiding the Flame
is a richly atmospheric historical novel set in
Florence, 1497
, during Girolamo Savonarola's religious revolution and the infamous
Bonfires of the Vanities
. At the heart of the story is
Francesca Rosini
, a talented but silenced painter whose life is defined by obedience, secrecy and fear.
Married to a rigidly devout merchant, Francesca hides her artistry in small sketches and washed-out pigments kept behind locked drawers. Her world changes when she meets
Vittoria
, a merchant's wife with an independent spirit and a compassionate, knowing gaze. What begins as friendship blooms into something far more dangerous: a forbidden relationship that awakens Francesca's passion for art, truth and selfhood.
As Florence's political climate grows increasingly volatile, the crackdown on
"sinful"
expression intensifies. Paintings are burned, books are destroyed and women are expected to remain silent and dutiful. Francesca must decide whether to continue living in hiding, or risk everything to follow the calling she can no longer ignore.
Exploring themes of
queer identity, female agency, artistic resistance, religious repression
and the personal cost of courage,
offers a moving portrayal of love in an era where such emotions were condemned. The novel will appeal to readers of
Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, Jessie Burton, Sue Monk Kidd
and
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
- particularly those who seek lyrical, emotionally resonant historical fiction with LGBTQ+ representation.
With its evocative setting, compelling character dynamics and nuanced exploration of secrecy and self-expression,
stands as a powerful depiction of the risks faced by women - and queer women especially - during one of Europe's most turbulent cultural shifts.