Book Review: 5 Stars
I don’t think I’ve ever connected so deeply with a supporting character the way I did with Padre Benedetto in The Relic Keeper. Angelo is already such a compelling character, struggling to survive in a harsh world, but it’s Benedetto who truly transforms the story for me. From the moment he appears, there’s this calm, steady presence about him — he doesn’t scold or lecture, he simply sees Angelo for who he could be, not who he has been.
Benedetto’s kindness is quiet but incredibly powerful. He offers shelter, trust, and guidance at exactly the right moments, and watching Angelo respond — slowly, cautiously, but genuinely — is incredibly satisfying. It’s the little things that stayed with me: breakfast offered instead of punishment, patience when Angelo falters, encouragement when he shows a glimmer of hope. Benedetto doesn’t just give Angelo a safe place; he gives him the tools to understand that his past doesn’t define him and that he can make different choices.
I also loved how Benedetto’s influence ripples through the story. He’s the reason Angelo begins to see the world differently, to notice beauty and possibility where he had only seen survival before. His wisdom and steady heart feel like a lifeline, and it reminded me how one thoughtful, compassionate person can change the course of someone’s life entirely.
If you enjoy stories about growth, hope, and the quiet power of compassion, this is absolutely a book to pick up. The Relic Keeper isn’t just about Angelo’s journey — it’s about the people who help us become the best version of ourselves, even when we don’t realise it at the time. Padre Benedetto alone makes this one unforgettable.
About the book
The Blurb
Italy, 1620.
Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo.
Angelo knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence. When he loses his master, his livelihood is shaken. Tozzo’s plunder is hidden in a safe place, but what will happen if someone comes after Angelo to get their hands on the stolen relics? More than that, he feels threatened by words he’s heard too many times; that he’ll always remain unforgiven and doomed.
One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about the hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.
With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy—an artistic and audacious tale that crosses paths with art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani and the powerful Medici family.
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HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
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