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The Relic Keeper
By Heidi Eljarbo
By Heidi Eljarbo
Publication Date: 18th November 2025
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 162
Genre: Historical Fiction
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.
The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo — a book that casually stole my heart and then refused to give it back.
I went into The Relic Keeper thinking I’d read a few chapters, get cosy, and be a productive human the next day.
Narrator’s voice: She was not productive.
This book has that sneaky kind of magic where you think you’re just enjoying a nice little read, and then suddenly you’re emotionally attached, wildly invested, and whispering “okay but WHAT happens next?” at 1 a.m.
Eljarbo has a real gift for atmosphere. Everything feels rich, textured, and alive — like you could reach out and touch the world she’s created. There’s mystery, heart, longing, quiet tension, and that delicious sense that every object, every moment, and every choice matters.
And the characters? I cared. A lot. The sort of caring that makes you pause mid-chapter just to emotionally process. The sort of caring that makes you slightly cross with a book for making you feel things — and then immediately grateful it did.
The writing is the kind that sneaks up on you. One minute you’re calmly reading, the next you’re far too emotionally invested and wondering how this book got permission to make you care this much. It’s smooth, engaging, and dangerously easy to read “just one more chapter” until you realise it’s somehow the middle of the night.
This is the kind of story that lingers. The kind that leaves a soft ache when it’s over because you’re not quite ready to let go yet.
Five stars, no hesitation. Would happily lose sleep again.
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I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book which you can find on Amazon. And get this, if you have #kindleunlimited subscription then you can read for free. So what are you waiting for?
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Heidi Eljarbo
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.
Social Media Links:
Website • Instagram • Twitter / X • Facebook • BookBub • Goodreads • Amazon Author Page
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