Historical Leanings & the Healing Arts

Here’s the next book I hope to read, Immortal, by Traci L. Slatton. Her bio reads that she used to do hands-on healing. I’m fascinated to see how this ancient healing method merged with art history will develop into a plot. I have tried doing both, myself, in a fashion. I’ve mixed the theme of herbal medicine with Renaissance history, and I loved the result.

Here is an efficient summary, thank you Goodreads reviewer Julie Lovisa:

This is an amazing debut novel! The story of Luca Bastardo who is born of parents he can’t remember and sold into prostitution by his best friend, takes place in renaissance Italy. Luca inexplicably discovers that he has a much longer than average life span and wanders through the years searching for the woman he has seen in a vision and who will be his soul’s mate. Along the way, he befriends Giotto and DaVinci, works for the de’Medici family, becomes a physician, and learns of his Cathar heritage, which may explain much about his life and history. This novel may not be for the faint of heart, however. Slatton pulls no punches in the scenes of prostitution, violence, and revenge. Even when things are going well for Luca, you get the impression that more darkness is right around the corner. I’d highly recommend this to readers who enjoyed Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue or The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman, both also portrayals of the seamy underside of society.

Recently, Tia Neavit interviewed Slatton on her blog, Fantasy Debut. I was fascinated that the author was so steeped in Renaissance art and I shall be reading several of her titles very soon. See the interview at this link:

http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/2008/05/interview-with-traci-l-slatton.html