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Three Fires
From the award-winning master of crime fiction, Denise Mina re-imagines the "Bonfire of the Vanities,” a series of fires lit throughout Florence at the end of the fifteenth century—inspired by the fanatical Girolamo Savonarola.
Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar living in Florence at the end of the fifteenth century. An anti-corruption campaigner, his hellfire preaching increasingly spilled over into tirades against all luxuries that tempted his followers toward sin. These sermons led to the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities”—a series of fires lit throughout Florence for the incineration of everything from books, extravagant clothing, playing cards, musical instruments, make-up, and mirrors to paintings, tapestries, and sculptures.
Railing against the vice and avarice of the ruling Medici family, he was instrumental in their removal from power—and for a short time became the puritanical leader of the city. After turning his attention to corruption within the Catholic Church, he was first excommunicated and then executed by a combination of hanging and being burned at the stake.
Just as in Rizzio—her latest novel with Pegasus Crime—Denise Mina brings a modern take to this fascinating historical story, drawing parallels between the febrile atmosphere of medieval Florence and the culture wars of the present day. In dramatizing the life and last days of Savonarola, she explores the downfall of the original architect of cancel culture and, in the process, explores the never-ending tensions between wealth, inequality, and freedom of speech that so dominate our modern world.
Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar living in Florence at the end of the fifteenth century. An anti-corruption campaigner, his hellfire preaching increasingly spilled over into tirades against all luxuries that tempted his followers toward sin. These sermons led to the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities”—a series of fires lit throughout Florence for the incineration of everything from books, extravagant clothing, playing cards, musical instruments, make-up, and mirrors to paintings, tapestries, and sculptures.
Railing against the vice and avarice of the ruling Medici family, he was instrumental in their removal from power—and for a short time became the puritanical leader of the city. After turning his attention to corruption within the Catholic Church, he was first excommunicated and then executed by a combination of hanging and being burned at the stake.
Just as in Rizzio—her latest novel with Pegasus Crime—Denise Mina brings a modern take to this fascinating historical story, drawing parallels between the febrile atmosphere of medieval Florence and the culture wars of the present day. In dramatizing the life and last days of Savonarola, she explores the downfall of the original architect of cancel culture and, in the process, explores the never-ending tensions between wealth, inequality, and freedom of speech that so dominate our modern world.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
85 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Denise Mina
109 books2,521 followersDenise Mina was born in Glasgow in 1966. Because of her father's job as an Engineer, the family followed the north sea oil boom of the seventies around Europe
She left school at sixteen and did a number of poorly paid jobs, including working in a meat factory, as a bar maid, kitchen porter and cook.
Eventually she settled in auxiliary nursing for geriatric and terminal care patients.
At twenty one she passed exams, got into study Law at Glasgow University and went on to research a PhD thesis at Strathclyde University on the ascription of mental illness to female offenders, teaching criminology and criminal law in the mean time.
Misusing her grant she stayed at home and wrote a novel, 'Garnethill' when she was supposed to be studying instead.
She left school at sixteen and did a number of poorly paid jobs, including working in a meat factory, as a bar maid, kitchen porter and cook.
Eventually she settled in auxiliary nursing for geriatric and terminal care patients.
At twenty one she passed exams, got into study Law at Glasgow University and went on to research a PhD thesis at Strathclyde University on the ascription of mental illness to female offenders, teaching criminology and criminal law in the mean time.
Misusing her grant she stayed at home and wrote a novel, 'Garnethill' when she was supposed to be studying instead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
August 2, 2023
Denise Mina's Three Fires is going to be sticking with me for a long time. Like its protagonist, the novel has its flaws, but it is consistently interesting, getting readers to rethink assumptions and examine their own values.
That protagonist is Girolamo Savonarola, best known as the force behind the late 15th Century Bonfires of the Vanities. Telling the story of Savonarola through fiction is challenging: parts of his life are amply documented in the historical record, but there are gaps that require Mina to draw her own conclusions and paint a portrait of the man as she thinks he may have been.
In Three Fires, Savonarola's story is told by an omniscient narrator—one whose role is a bit uneven. At times, that narrator seems to be dedicated to helping readers see inside Savonarola. At other times, that narrator is musing on political and religious power and drawing connections between Savonarola's time and our own. Readers and reviewers have had mixed responses to these musings. Some have felt they detracted from the novel, making the narrative uneven and injecting an unwelcome didacticism. I enjoyed them. I didn't feel as if Mina were forcing her views upon me—I felt she was inviting me to muse along with her in order to draw my own conclusions. And musing along with smart, interesting thinkers is always interesting, even when one doesn't necessarily embrace their views.
The three fires of the title are the burning of a house and its residents during riots, which Savolarola witnessed as a young man; one of the Bonfires of the Vanities, though during the second year of these events, when participation was lower and the religious commitment of participants less genuine; and the fire by which Savonarola was executed, along with two of his fellow Dominicans.
I came into this novel knowing little about Savonarola other than that he was the power that inspired the bonfires. Mina's Savonarola views himself as a prophet and "asks how he could be shown all these visions of how the world could be—honest, pious, faithful—and then be condemned to live in the world as it is." She paints him as a supporter of democracy who "doesn't understand that—as much as most people love belonging and worshiping God and feeling part of a giant glorious enterprise—theocracy and democracy are always in tension. He can't understand because puritanism and pluralism are not in opposition for the vocationally religious."
One can understand why Mina considers Savonarola's story to be an interesting lens through which to view our own time, but the problem (to the extent that there is one) is that, yes, parallels exist, but they aren't tidy point-by-point equivalencies. At times, she depicts Savonarola's followers, who were mockingly referred to as "the Snivelers" as analogous to today's "Deplorables," populists hungry for conflict who see this intended insult as a badge of honor. Related, but not truly analogous.
At the book's close, Mina becomes increasingly present as a modern-day narrator with a specific purpose. She tell us "The oratorical tricks and ticks Savonarola learned... are monkied by populists to this day: opposing scientific evidence with faith, strong leaders offering intoxicating absolutes who will not be questioned, who deflect dissent with grim warnings of enemies within and without. Followers will again reject the evidence of their own eyes to enjoy the luxury of belonging, ignore the despotism they support in the name of decency and national pride, while warm water laps at their feet, icebergs crash into the sea, journalists are executed and cattle trucks stand idle, doors yawning open for the gays and Jews, for the natives, the refugees, and the poor, and all the noncompliant women." Well, yes and no. Yes. And no. Or, at least, not yet.
Readers may find Mina a heavy-handed narrator at times, but one of the values of good fiction is that fiction removed from our own lives by historical distance can speak to us about our own times and not just the about the times of the era in which the fiction is set. The value of Three Fires lies not in the particular lessons Mina wants to push, but in the pathways it can open within our own thinking to lead us along new paths.
A received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
That protagonist is Girolamo Savonarola, best known as the force behind the late 15th Century Bonfires of the Vanities. Telling the story of Savonarola through fiction is challenging: parts of his life are amply documented in the historical record, but there are gaps that require Mina to draw her own conclusions and paint a portrait of the man as she thinks he may have been.
In Three Fires, Savonarola's story is told by an omniscient narrator—one whose role is a bit uneven. At times, that narrator seems to be dedicated to helping readers see inside Savonarola. At other times, that narrator is musing on political and religious power and drawing connections between Savonarola's time and our own. Readers and reviewers have had mixed responses to these musings. Some have felt they detracted from the novel, making the narrative uneven and injecting an unwelcome didacticism. I enjoyed them. I didn't feel as if Mina were forcing her views upon me—I felt she was inviting me to muse along with her in order to draw my own conclusions. And musing along with smart, interesting thinkers is always interesting, even when one doesn't necessarily embrace their views.
The three fires of the title are the burning of a house and its residents during riots, which Savolarola witnessed as a young man; one of the Bonfires of the Vanities, though during the second year of these events, when participation was lower and the religious commitment of participants less genuine; and the fire by which Savonarola was executed, along with two of his fellow Dominicans.
I came into this novel knowing little about Savonarola other than that he was the power that inspired the bonfires. Mina's Savonarola views himself as a prophet and "asks how he could be shown all these visions of how the world could be—honest, pious, faithful—and then be condemned to live in the world as it is." She paints him as a supporter of democracy who "doesn't understand that—as much as most people love belonging and worshiping God and feeling part of a giant glorious enterprise—theocracy and democracy are always in tension. He can't understand because puritanism and pluralism are not in opposition for the vocationally religious."
One can understand why Mina considers Savonarola's story to be an interesting lens through which to view our own time, but the problem (to the extent that there is one) is that, yes, parallels exist, but they aren't tidy point-by-point equivalencies. At times, she depicts Savonarola's followers, who were mockingly referred to as "the Snivelers" as analogous to today's "Deplorables," populists hungry for conflict who see this intended insult as a badge of honor. Related, but not truly analogous.
At the book's close, Mina becomes increasingly present as a modern-day narrator with a specific purpose. She tell us "The oratorical tricks and ticks Savonarola learned... are monkied by populists to this day: opposing scientific evidence with faith, strong leaders offering intoxicating absolutes who will not be questioned, who deflect dissent with grim warnings of enemies within and without. Followers will again reject the evidence of their own eyes to enjoy the luxury of belonging, ignore the despotism they support in the name of decency and national pride, while warm water laps at their feet, icebergs crash into the sea, journalists are executed and cattle trucks stand idle, doors yawning open for the gays and Jews, for the natives, the refugees, and the poor, and all the noncompliant women." Well, yes and no. Yes. And no. Or, at least, not yet.
Readers may find Mina a heavy-handed narrator at times, but one of the values of good fiction is that fiction removed from our own lives by historical distance can speak to us about our own times and not just the about the times of the era in which the fiction is set. The value of Three Fires lies not in the particular lessons Mina wants to push, but in the pathways it can open within our own thinking to lead us along new paths.
A received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
June 12, 2023
"Abruptly, Savonarola is shouting at these important men, shouting that he has visions and the Apocalypse is coming and Florence will fall to famine, war and plague. The Church will be cleansed. Lorenzo the Magnificent will die this year. The pope will die this year. The King of Naples will die but I, Savonarola, I will still be here."
Holy (three) smokes, this taut little novella is absolutely fantastic. I'm normally not a historical fiction reader (I tend to rather want to read a non-fiction book on the subject), but I am a Denise Mina reader, and she skillfully weaves a tale about a Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, alive in Renessaince Italy, the time of city-states, the Medici and Borgia families (who make their appearances). He's very disappointed in the church (including the pope, especially in the pope) - it's brimming with corruption, it doesn't adhere to the real tennets of the Bible, and so on.
"Savonarola is not about to forgive those who trespass against him. Anger is his engine. He’s so angry that he has no option: he writes a poem about it."
He's not wrong, but the powers that be like to keep it that way. Then Savonarola starts speaking to God, and starts to prophecise. At first everyone ignores him, he's kind of a bad showman, but then his prophecies start to come true, and he spends time on improving his oratory skills.
"The light is harsh and hurtful as they walk out. A hiss rises up from the crowd like a murmuration of starlings, rising as of one, twisting and bending and taking off."
The novella charts his rise, and the inevitable (horrific) downfall. The impressive thing about the book is its writing - Mina must have done a load of research, and it shows, but never gets in the way of the storytelling. Personally, I'm very allergic to fancy writing, where the style gets in the way of the story. Mina's voice is contemporary and direct, which doesn't mean it also isn't lyrical, because it is. But it creates a certain distance, which allows humour to come in, and it makes the twists and turns of the story more poignant. Her storytelling reminds me of an excellent professor of history, giving a great lecture on Savonarola. It feels like a storyteller in complete control of her storytelling prowess.
"The oratorical tricks and ticks Savonarola learned during his years in the wilderness are monkied by populists to this day: opposing scientific evidence with faith, strong leaders offering intoxicating absolutes who will not be questioned, who deflect dissent with grim warnings of enemies within and without . Followers will again reject the evidence of their eyes to enjoy the luxury of belonging, ignore the despotism they support in the name of decency and national pride, while warm water laps at their feet , icebergs crash into the sea, journalists are executed and cattle trucks stand idle, doors yawning open, waiting for the gays and the Jews, for the natives, the refugees and the poor, and all the noncompliant women."
Excellent work, I can't recommend it enough.
(Thanks to Pegasus Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
Holy (three) smokes, this taut little novella is absolutely fantastic. I'm normally not a historical fiction reader (I tend to rather want to read a non-fiction book on the subject), but I am a Denise Mina reader, and she skillfully weaves a tale about a Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, alive in Renessaince Italy, the time of city-states, the Medici and Borgia families (who make their appearances). He's very disappointed in the church (including the pope, especially in the pope) - it's brimming with corruption, it doesn't adhere to the real tennets of the Bible, and so on.
"Savonarola is not about to forgive those who trespass against him. Anger is his engine. He’s so angry that he has no option: he writes a poem about it."
He's not wrong, but the powers that be like to keep it that way. Then Savonarola starts speaking to God, and starts to prophecise. At first everyone ignores him, he's kind of a bad showman, but then his prophecies start to come true, and he spends time on improving his oratory skills.
"The light is harsh and hurtful as they walk out. A hiss rises up from the crowd like a murmuration of starlings, rising as of one, twisting and bending and taking off."
The novella charts his rise, and the inevitable (horrific) downfall. The impressive thing about the book is its writing - Mina must have done a load of research, and it shows, but never gets in the way of the storytelling. Personally, I'm very allergic to fancy writing, where the style gets in the way of the story. Mina's voice is contemporary and direct, which doesn't mean it also isn't lyrical, because it is. But it creates a certain distance, which allows humour to come in, and it makes the twists and turns of the story more poignant. Her storytelling reminds me of an excellent professor of history, giving a great lecture on Savonarola. It feels like a storyteller in complete control of her storytelling prowess.
"The oratorical tricks and ticks Savonarola learned during his years in the wilderness are monkied by populists to this day: opposing scientific evidence with faith, strong leaders offering intoxicating absolutes who will not be questioned, who deflect dissent with grim warnings of enemies within and without . Followers will again reject the evidence of their eyes to enjoy the luxury of belonging, ignore the despotism they support in the name of decency and national pride, while warm water laps at their feet , icebergs crash into the sea, journalists are executed and cattle trucks stand idle, doors yawning open, waiting for the gays and the Jews, for the natives, the refugees and the poor, and all the noncompliant women."
Excellent work, I can't recommend it enough.
(Thanks to Pegasus Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
August 16, 2023
I had never heard of Denise Mina until I read the ultrashort Rizzio last year, about the shocking 16th century murder of the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots.
´Three Fires´ is equally short, but set during Florence´s golden age in the middle of the Renaissance and the protagonist is more famous: the preacher of doom Girolamo Savonarola, who managed to expulse the ruling Medici family and ruled the Florentine Republic for four years at the end of the 15th century. The three fires refer to the Bonfire of the Vanities, the ´trial by fire´ and ultimately the pyre on which Savonarola will burn.
Savonarola is a complex character. He inspires sympathy for his unflinching quest for purity and his justified criticism of the Church, at the time a deeply corrupt institution led by debauched popes. The novel makes the case that Savonarola´s criticism inspired Martin Luther. On the other hand, his core principles included the expulsion of Jews and homosexuals as well as the marginalisation and subordination of women.
In about 100 pages Denise Mina manages to bring 15th century Florence to life. It is essentially a short and accessible biography. The language is so fluid and simple that it sometimes makes you wonder how thoroughly researched it all is – and I do not know the answer to that. But I do know that it makes for a fascinating reading experience.
´Three Fires´ is equally short, but set during Florence´s golden age in the middle of the Renaissance and the protagonist is more famous: the preacher of doom Girolamo Savonarola, who managed to expulse the ruling Medici family and ruled the Florentine Republic for four years at the end of the 15th century. The three fires refer to the Bonfire of the Vanities, the ´trial by fire´ and ultimately the pyre on which Savonarola will burn.
Savonarola is a complex character. He inspires sympathy for his unflinching quest for purity and his justified criticism of the Church, at the time a deeply corrupt institution led by debauched popes. The novel makes the case that Savonarola´s criticism inspired Martin Luther. On the other hand, his core principles included the expulsion of Jews and homosexuals as well as the marginalisation and subordination of women.
In about 100 pages Denise Mina manages to bring 15th century Florence to life. It is essentially a short and accessible biography. The language is so fluid and simple that it sometimes makes you wonder how thoroughly researched it all is – and I do not know the answer to that. But I do know that it makes for a fascinating reading experience.
February 26, 2024
I would give this one more than 5 stars, if I could. This short novel tells the story of Friar Savonarola in Florence, Italy in the late 1400’s. He preached against the corruption in the Catholic Church and the sinful behavior of the citizens of Florence. He had many followers and many enemies. It was a brutal world. What a powerful little book. I highly recommend this one!
August 30, 2023
Three Fires is Historical Fiction. It’s actually more like an account of what happened with Girokam Savonarola, in the late 1400s. There is no thrilling plot arc, no twists, no real climax. It’s just Savonarola’s journey from nothing to self proclaimed prophet, and then his downfall. There were definitely parallels to the politics of today and cancel culture, making the book completed relevant.
The story reads like a stream of thought. Like he was telling his own story, but in spurts. There is a bit of time jumping and a few random side stories, which we found distracting. But for such a short novella, at only 135 pages, it might not have been such a quick read if the narrative had been different. There is so much historical information provided, that it creates such a heavy vibe.
Discussion lead to comparing church and religion, cults, symbolism and history. Three Fires is an amazing conversation starter.
The story reads like a stream of thought. Like he was telling his own story, but in spurts. There is a bit of time jumping and a few random side stories, which we found distracting. But for such a short novella, at only 135 pages, it might not have been such a quick read if the narrative had been different. There is so much historical information provided, that it creates such a heavy vibe.
Discussion lead to comparing church and religion, cults, symbolism and history. Three Fires is an amazing conversation starter.
September 6, 2023
Now this is a short, sharp shock to the system: a modern retelling of the life of a man who seems to fit right in to the post-Trump nightmare of the early 21st century. This is condensed wisdom and warning, with a nice line in modern, cutting insults and insinuations at just the right moments.
April 3, 2024
Savonarola was a fascinating nutjob and I've been interested in him since watching The Borgias. This tiny book is full of things to think about as the omniscient narrator compares Savonarola times to today's.
January 8, 2024
This book could not tell what it wanted to be. Too "this happened then this happened then this happened" to truly be a novel. Too much editorializing to be a history. The fictionalization/dramatization of the account of Savonarola is largely just including things that have never been verified. The inclusion of modern vernacular was grating. I did not appreciate the handholding and the assuming the reading audience was too dull to make connection to present day themselves. A historical parable relating to the problems with the world today is more successful, in my opinion, if it evokes the readers into making those connections -- not going "see this is just like today" within the text itself.
2 stars because it did inspire me to do my own research into both Savonarola and also medieval calendar systems and the trajectory of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar which was fascinating. and because I managed to finish it.
Read for the theme "One for the History Books" -- Branch Out Reading Challenge
2 stars because it did inspire me to do my own research into both Savonarola and also medieval calendar systems and the trajectory of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar which was fascinating. and because I managed to finish it.
Read for the theme "One for the History Books" -- Branch Out Reading Challenge
November 18, 2023
I was really not a fan of this writing style of throwing in modern slang and comparisons out of nowhere, and I only finished because it was short and I had nothing else on hand to read.
November 25, 2025
Picked this book up from my library because it was short and I didn't know anything about the Bonfire of the Vanities. With that being said, I didn't have any expectations going into this book. It was definitely interesting and I was invested in how Savonarola quickly rose to power and lost it just as quickly. In a broader sense, the novel seemed like it was commenting on the relationship between power and society. While in this novel we are concerned with religious power, it is easy to see how it also translates to political and societal power.
Maybe I'll watch a TEDed video on the Bonfire of the Vanities because I felt like I didn't learn much about the history with this novel.
Maybe I'll watch a TEDed video on the Bonfire of the Vanities because I felt like I didn't learn much about the history with this novel.
March 4, 2024
kind of obsessed w this. idk why I like books about old timey monks/nuns/priests so much but I’ve yet to pick one up that didn’t work for me. I think maybe it’s that I like reading about people who are wrestling with a vision for the world and the power structures that organize their belief system… catholicism is cool except that it’s real :/ anyways this was great, the modernity of the writing mixed perfectly with the 15th century subject matter and it made me laugh frequently. wouldn’t say I had much of an emotional connection to this book and the last paragraph was a little too This Is What The Book Is About Just FYI for me but otherwise hell yeah brother
February 6, 2024
Savonarola is a historical figure that I'm hearing about for the first time, but his character influenced the making of many dictators. This short yet powerful book tells his story in a funny and flowing prose, exposing what does faith mean to different people.
(I might be biased by loving any book that is set in Italy and especially Florence).
I will be reading more of Mina's work in the future for sure!
(I might be biased by loving any book that is set in Italy and especially Florence).
I will be reading more of Mina's work in the future for sure!
March 26, 2024
I really enjoyed the audiobook of Rizzio, Denise Mina's previous book so I thought I'd give this one a go. It's just about as good. A historical fiction of the man who brought the Bon Fires of the Vanities to Florence, deposed the Medici's and introduced a more democratic governing body. Unfortunately, it doesn't last after he falls foul of the Pope.
July 28, 2024
Still not sure how to feel about this one but I had a good time
April 7, 2024
Wow! That last page really sold this for me. Also, Mina has such a talent for turning what could be a dry, dense piece of history into a storytelling event! Every high school History textbook author should take notes.
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August 6, 2023I thoroughly enjoyed Mina’s ‘Rizzio’ and was so excited to see she’d written another historical novel - however, this one didn’t work for me. The subject is fascinating and she had me hooked immediately…but the biggest issue for me was the writing. I found the narration very distracting and jarring. It was conversational and casual, using modern terminology that felt out of place. Reading through some other reviews, this worked for some people but it really bothered me and, come the end, frustrated me. I’d be interested to see if she continues to write historical fiction and will definitely keep an eye out for her next book - I just hope I like it more than this one.
September 24, 2024
No idea what this is supposed to be and I suspect the author doesn’t either - maybe these are notes for a novel she couldn’t be bothered to write properly. The pov is all over the place with jarring modern references and clumsy expository passages.
Example: ‘across the road, the garden gives off the smell of honeysuckle. He thanks God, prays he will be useful and goes in. Savonarola is right to be impressed. San Marco is state of the art.’
It didn’t work for me. 2 points for getting me to the end, although it’s very short.
Example: ‘across the road, the garden gives off the smell of honeysuckle. He thanks God, prays he will be useful and goes in. Savonarola is right to be impressed. San Marco is state of the art.’
It didn’t work for me. 2 points for getting me to the end, although it’s very short.
July 7, 2023
In a word Excellent. A precise historical novella that tells the story of Savonarola a Dominican friar and self proclaimed prophet of God. Was he a prophet or just a superb manipulator? This will give you a small glimpse of the man and encourage further reading. The story is told through modern eyes and has a relevance to dictators benign and malignant. Eg Trump and Hitler Etc.
October 3, 2023
i don’t think this book knew what it wanted to be—nor do i know if the author took her main character seriously. there were some moments of excellent prose, but they’d be cut off with pithy, undermining sections. the constant shift in tone made for a disorienting read—so, while this book was an interesting bit of historical creative nonfiction (?), i can’t recommend it.
December 9, 2024
I am more familiar with church history than most, so it's not surprising that I opted to read a book about the 15th century Florence cleric, Girolamo Savonorola. What IS surprising is how relevant Savonorola is to today's culture wars. And kudos to Denise Mina for illuminating his life for our generation.
Savonorola identified and preached against many of the abuses in the Catholic Church, 40 years before Martin Luther railed against the same abuses and created a split in Christendom. Savonorola correctly identified how those with wealth use banks and privilege to keep the poor in their place, and he encouraged generosity and a more socialist approach to government. In addition to some of these laudable views, his teaching also placed the blame for many social ills upon Jews, gays, and women. He was always serious, depressing, and a complete buzz-kill. After a few years controlling Florence, the middle ground eventually had him tried, tortured and killed.
There are aspects to Savonorola's impact that ring true today: religious extremism takes on a blinding power that induces many to join the movement, even when there are parts of the teaching that seem obviously wrong. There is over-certainty in the rightness of the cause, a black-and-white worldview which brooks no compromise with those who see ambiguity and grey in life.
Having been part of a religious sect in my 20s, I was familiar with the fervor of Savonorola's followers as well as the harm that fundamentalism brings in its wake. Mina seemed to understand the attraction of being "right" without being judgmental about their choice. It's so much easier embracing someone else's certainty rather than trying to discover truth on your own.
For myself, I liked seeing that Aquinas' followers were uncomfortable with Savonorola. Aquinas believed that there were good things in the natural world, that we could see God at work in loving relationships, in art, beauty and ingenuity. Sure, there were things that needed to be fixed within and outside the church, but all was not dark or lost.
I liked how Mina's short history brought all these ideas to mind. A great book.
Savonorola identified and preached against many of the abuses in the Catholic Church, 40 years before Martin Luther railed against the same abuses and created a split in Christendom. Savonorola correctly identified how those with wealth use banks and privilege to keep the poor in their place, and he encouraged generosity and a more socialist approach to government. In addition to some of these laudable views, his teaching also placed the blame for many social ills upon Jews, gays, and women. He was always serious, depressing, and a complete buzz-kill. After a few years controlling Florence, the middle ground eventually had him tried, tortured and killed.
There are aspects to Savonorola's impact that ring true today: religious extremism takes on a blinding power that induces many to join the movement, even when there are parts of the teaching that seem obviously wrong. There is over-certainty in the rightness of the cause, a black-and-white worldview which brooks no compromise with those who see ambiguity and grey in life.
Having been part of a religious sect in my 20s, I was familiar with the fervor of Savonorola's followers as well as the harm that fundamentalism brings in its wake. Mina seemed to understand the attraction of being "right" without being judgmental about their choice. It's so much easier embracing someone else's certainty rather than trying to discover truth on your own.
For myself, I liked seeing that Aquinas' followers were uncomfortable with Savonorola. Aquinas believed that there were good things in the natural world, that we could see God at work in loving relationships, in art, beauty and ingenuity. Sure, there were things that needed to be fixed within and outside the church, but all was not dark or lost.
I liked how Mina's short history brought all these ideas to mind. A great book.
October 15, 2025
I won’t lie, I picked this book up after reading Rizzio because I really loved the author's way of storytelling and the way she brought that part of history to life. It made me curious to see which historical figure was being brought to life in this story because I was sure it was going to be intriguing.
As someone who is not well-versed in history, it is unsurprising that I had never heard of Girolamo Savonarola before, but it was fascinating to see the parallels between events that occurred then and those happening in the world today. I must say that I found this book quite difficult to read at times, primarily because it forced me to confront many of the negative feelings I am currently facing regarding the state of the world in everyday life, and I usually enjoy reading as a means of escape from that.
It was, of course, well written and engaging and painted an interesting picture of how a persuasive voice can upend an entire way of living. I did feel like I was starting to enjoy the story more as things started to fall apart for Savonarola, which sounds terrible, but there was just so much about that part of the story that was more interesting, I think, because there was a lot more action at that part of the story. It was also a little gruesome, and even though I didn’t like him, I did start to feel a little sorry for him, especially with what he went through at the end.
I was surprised to hear how his legacy has survived and been used to inspire people in positions of power to this day, quite remarkable in some respects and chilling in others. Even though it wasn’t always an easy read for me, I can appreciate the work that has gone into this book, and it is certainly thought-provoking.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
As someone who is not well-versed in history, it is unsurprising that I had never heard of Girolamo Savonarola before, but it was fascinating to see the parallels between events that occurred then and those happening in the world today. I must say that I found this book quite difficult to read at times, primarily because it forced me to confront many of the negative feelings I am currently facing regarding the state of the world in everyday life, and I usually enjoy reading as a means of escape from that.
It was, of course, well written and engaging and painted an interesting picture of how a persuasive voice can upend an entire way of living. I did feel like I was starting to enjoy the story more as things started to fall apart for Savonarola, which sounds terrible, but there was just so much about that part of the story that was more interesting, I think, because there was a lot more action at that part of the story. It was also a little gruesome, and even though I didn’t like him, I did start to feel a little sorry for him, especially with what he went through at the end.
I was surprised to hear how his legacy has survived and been used to inspire people in positions of power to this day, quite remarkable in some respects and chilling in others. Even though it wasn’t always an easy read for me, I can appreciate the work that has gone into this book, and it is certainly thought-provoking.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
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January 3, 2024"Three Fires" is a slight re-imagining of "Bonfire of the Vanities" with a focus on our "protagonist" Girolamo Savonarola, a friar living in Florence at the end of the fifteenth century.
This novella is a snippit of the history, and I did enjoy the (semi) vignette style that shared a glimpse into this vast history. I also loved learning more on the Italian setting, culture and events of this time.
I was interested enough in the story to finish the book, though if it was longer I am not sure I would have. I felt like "Three Fires" only gave me fragments of what was happening during these events, this time and who these characters were. I have not read "BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES" & my knowledge of this time in history was not strong enough for me to see the full picture. It felt lacking and I wanted more.
This novella is a snippit of the history, and I did enjoy the (semi) vignette style that shared a glimpse into this vast history. I also loved learning more on the Italian setting, culture and events of this time.
I was interested enough in the story to finish the book, though if it was longer I am not sure I would have. I felt like "Three Fires" only gave me fragments of what was happening during these events, this time and who these characters were. I have not read "BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES" & my knowledge of this time in history was not strong enough for me to see the full picture. It felt lacking and I wanted more.
September 6, 2025
“No one likes walking with him because he walks too far too quickly and won't compromise. If a companion gets hurt, he won't stop for them. Bleeding feet feel like a sensory expression of his emotional state.He offers up his swollen knees and ravaged feet as an emulation of Christ's suffering, but it's still not enough.
His desperation reaches ever new lows, and this is when God first gets in touch.”
4/4.5
Picked this up at the library and had no idea what I was getting into but enjoyed it immensely. An interestingly written historical narrative on the life of Dominican friar Savonarola in Renaissance Florence, did not know much about the history of time and area but left knowing more. I liked the writing style, lyrical but succinct, it was a shorter book but it flew by regardless. The use of religion as a tool of control and corruption is a theme carried through, but it was interesting to see a man who became so powerful start so small.
The only thing about the book that kept throwing me off was the use of “stuff”. I could get behind everything else but everytime I read that IDK, it took me out of it.
His desperation reaches ever new lows, and this is when God first gets in touch.”
4/4.5
Picked this up at the library and had no idea what I was getting into but enjoyed it immensely. An interestingly written historical narrative on the life of Dominican friar Savonarola in Renaissance Florence, did not know much about the history of time and area but left knowing more. I liked the writing style, lyrical but succinct, it was a shorter book but it flew by regardless. The use of religion as a tool of control and corruption is a theme carried through, but it was interesting to see a man who became so powerful start so small.
The only thing about the book that kept throwing me off was the use of “stuff”. I could get behind everything else but everytime I read that IDK, it took me out of it.
July 22, 2024
That was a challenge! First up i'd say if you want to read a good review on this book go to Sarah-Hope.
I know little of italian history and less so of the 1400s. Savonarola a pious monk is seemingly a for-runner to Martin Luther who noted Savonarola's ideas and reportedly was influenced by them. This story however demonstrates the violence, depraved and shocking way of life back then. Savonarola preached all over Italy against it including against the debauched church in Rome. One must bear in mind that the author has filled in her own imaginative gaps in the real life records of Savonarola. He had his followers and his dissenters. He paid with his life in the end but his writings and works have been recorded in history. Well, I never knew it but have been a little educated this week.
I know little of italian history and less so of the 1400s. Savonarola a pious monk is seemingly a for-runner to Martin Luther who noted Savonarola's ideas and reportedly was influenced by them. This story however demonstrates the violence, depraved and shocking way of life back then. Savonarola preached all over Italy against it including against the debauched church in Rome. One must bear in mind that the author has filled in her own imaginative gaps in the real life records of Savonarola. He had his followers and his dissenters. He paid with his life in the end but his writings and works have been recorded in history. Well, I never knew it but have been a little educated this week.
September 21, 2023
In her perfectly researched retelling of the life of Savonarola, Denise Mina weaves a tale for today, specifically for religiously-inspired, polarized nations ruled in recent days by people who dismss evidence in favor of faith, and who allow cults of personality (and really, just cults) to carry the argument while those who disagree get backfooted into arguing outside of terms which are logical, instead being boxed into black and white situations dominated by dogmatic points of view espoused by the loudest and shrillest and not those who truly lead.
A short, pithy tale of import. What a sci-fi author can do for the present by forward-looking, a historian can do likewise with an empathic and informed backward glance.
A short, pithy tale of import. What a sci-fi author can do for the present by forward-looking, a historian can do likewise with an empathic and informed backward glance.
April 18, 2025
It's not the type of thing I'd usually read but actually, the book really worked for me. I found the ideas and people intriguing, on top of the effective writing style. The ending was particularly powerful, highlighting the importance of Savonarola, whose work inspired Martin Luther, leading to the split from the Roman Catholic Church and future wars in Europe, making the story seem even more important - I want to find out more now.
December 12, 2025
In an effort to read different genres, I tried this historical fiction novella. It's not that I don't like historical fiction, but I prefer more modernized versions. This one is set in the 1400's and it didn't quite hit for me as I hoped. It's the first novel I can recall that which the dialogue was not in quotations. That was a little weird for me, but it didn't cause confusion. I am going to try another one of her historical fiction novels that has many positive reviews.
July 11, 2024
Girolamo Savonarola!!!! If I ever catch you, it’s on SIGHT. Literally a nutjob, but a weirdly influential one at that. Learned a lot about Italian history that I honestly didn’t know…the history of Popes scare me a bit.
3.5!
Quick 100 page read. Enjoyed this, but I was sitting there like 😧 a lot.
3.5!
Quick 100 page read. Enjoyed this, but I was sitting there like 😧 a lot.
February 11, 2024
I enjoyed this novella immensely. It’s witty, wild, and tells a fictional untold story of a Dominican friar, Savonarola, whose legacy continues to impact the Western world today. Mina does a great job of showing Savanorola’s complexity and absurdity.
March 6, 2024
3.5⭐️
I know it very much was not the point of this book, but having watched a whole TV series on the Medici followed by mucho googling of the history behind it, the part where Cosimo de Medici was referred to as Lorenzo the Magnificent and Guiliano’s father totally rubbed me up the wrong way. He was their grandfather!! I know Piero Snr was a bit of a flop by all accounts but this was a crime annoying enough to merit a term in historical accuracy jail.
I know it very much was not the point of this book, but having watched a whole TV series on the Medici followed by mucho googling of the history behind it, the part where Cosimo de Medici was referred to as Lorenzo the Magnificent and Guiliano’s father totally rubbed me up the wrong way. He was their grandfather!! I know Piero Snr was a bit of a flop by all accounts but this was a crime annoying enough to merit a term in historical accuracy jail.
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