Hiding the Flame is a deeply evocative LGBTQ+ historical novel set during the religious and political turmoil of Florence, 1497. The story follows Francesca Rosini, a gifted but repressed painter whose life has been shaped by duty, silence and fear under the rising influence of Girolamo Savonarola.

As Savonarola’s supporters denounce beauty, burn paintings and destroy works of art in the notorious Bonfires of the Vanities, Francesca secretly continues her craft, sketching by candlelight and hiding her unfinished work behind false panels. When she meets Vittoria, a confident merchant’s wife whose compassion and quiet bravery offer a glimpse of another life, Francesca’s world changes irrevocably.

Their relationship grows into a forbidden love that challenges everything Francesca has been taught to fear. As Florence becomes increasingly oppressive, Francesca must confront impossible choices about identity, loyalty, art and desire.

Blending rich historical detail with emotional depth, Hiding the Flame will appeal to readers of Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, Jessie Burton, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Sue Monk Kidd. It explores themes of queer identity, female autonomy, artistic freedom and the risks of self-expression in a society defined by religious extremism.

Ideal for readers seeking a literary LGBTQ+ historical novel rooted in real events, Hiding the Flame ffers a powerful portrait of love and defiance during one of Florence’s most turbulent eras.