The Relic Keeper – Late-Renaissance Historical Fiction by Heidi Eljarbo
- Books and Benches
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo is a richly imagined work of historical fiction set in seventeenth-century Italy. Blending art, history, and literary inspiration, this novel follows a young orphan whose life is shaped by loss, danger, and the fragile promise of hope. With evocative imagery and emotional depth, the story weaves together fictional lives and real historical figures into a compelling journey.
At a Glance
Genre: Late-Renaissance Historical Fiction
Setting: Italy, 1620
Tone: Atmospheric, emotional, literary
Best for: Readers who enjoy art-inspired fiction, richly detailed historical settings, and stories of resilience and redemption
About the Book
The Relic Keeper
Inspired by Gerrit van Honthorst’s masterpiece, The Adoration of the Child, and the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
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 rectoryand, 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.
Using invisible threads, Heidi Eljarbo weaves together her fictional stories with historical figures and real events.
Get the Book
At the time of this posting, this title is available to read on KindleUnlimited.
(Affiliate links may be used.)
About the Author
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.
Website: www.heidieljarbo.com
Book Information/Metadata
Book Title: The Relic Keeper
Author Name: Heidi Eljarbo
Publication Date: 18 November 2025
Publisher: independently published
Pages: digital 142 / paperback 162
Genre: Late-Renaissance historical fiction
This tour is hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club.
Thank you for visiting Books & Benches.
If you enjoy immersive historical fiction inspired by art, literature, and real history, consider adding The Relic Keeper to your reading list — and sharing this spotlight with a fellow reader who loves richly told stories from the past.
Comments