Review: The Blackest Time by Ken Tentarelli
- Merissa
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Book details:
Book Title: The Blackest Time
Series: n/a
Author Name: Ken Tentarelli
Publication Date: September 25, 2025
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 268
Genre: Historical Fiction
Any Triggers: n/a
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It's Europe in the 1300s, and Gino, a young man living in rural Italy, leaves behind the familiarity of his family's farm to seek a new life as an apprentice in an apothecary shop in Florence.
But Gino's dream quickly becomes a nightmare as relentless rain destroys crops in the countryside, leading to famine and despair in the city. He is grief stricken to lose contact with his family when they are forced to flee their farm.
Just as the rains end, the devastating Black Plague sweeps through Florence. Fear and superstition consume the city, targeting priests, immigrants, and women accused of practicing witchcraft.
Even with his own challenges, Gino offers help to the suffering—a woman left alone in the city, a young girl orphaned by the plague, and people who have lost everything. And just as he's providing hope to others, glimmers of happiness come his way as well, even in a world teetering on the edge.
The Blackest Time is a powerful tale of compassion, love, and the human spirit's ability to endure immense adversity.
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4 out of 5 (very good)
THE BLACKEST TIME tells the story of Florence in the 1300s, mainly from the viewpoint of Gino, a young man who leaves his farm and works in an apothecary. Through a series of events, he leaves his home village and goes to the city, where he meets a variety of characters along the way.
The story details just what it was like, and how hard it was to survive, during a two-year famine, followed by the plague. You will see it not only through Gino's eyes, but from others in various positions throughout the city.
There were a few threads left unfinished, one of them being the healer, Masina. Gino helps her escape Florence when she is being hunted as a witch and takes her to Poppi, but even though he returns to the village on occasion, they never meet up, so you never find out if she survived the plague or not.
This was an interesting read based on a city I don't know much history of. I enjoyed the story and definitely recommend it.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Ken Tentarelli is a frequent visitor to Italy. In travels from the Alps to the southern coast of Sicily, he developed a love for its history and its people.
He has studied Italian culture and language in Rome and Perugia, background he used in his award-winning series of historical thrillers set in the Italian Renaissance. He has taught courses in Italian history spanning time from the Etruscans to the Renaissance, and he's a strong advocate of libraries and has served as a trustee of his local library and officer of the library foundation.
When not traveling, Ken and his wife live in beautiful New Hampshire.
Author Links:
Website: https://KenTentarelli.com
Amazon Author Page:
Tour hosted by: The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thank you so much for hosting Ken Tentarelli today, and for your lovely review of his new novel, The Blackest Time. Take care, Cathie xx The Coffee Pot Book Club