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kelly_e's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Author: Audrey Blake
Series: Nora Beady #1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Unique β’ Interesting β’ Detailed
π S Y N O P S I S
After a cholera epidemic claims the lives of her entire family, the orphaned Nora Beady is taken in by Dr. Horace Croft. Being raised in the home of a surgeon, Nora takes a keen interest in the world of medicine, eventually developing an extensive knowledge base. 1840s London had no place for women in medicine, and the consequences of a woman practicing were very grave. For this very reason, only a selective few are aware of Nora's work as a medical assistant. The Girl in His Shadow follows Nora's journey of pushing boundaries, and self-discovery
π T H O U G H T S
I've never read anything quite like The Girl in His Shadow! This novel opened up a whole new world of medical history I know very little about, and offered a storyline that was so entirely different. This book felt like a breath of fresh air in the historical fiction genre.
Audrey Blake's writing offered vivid descriptions, to the point I often felt like I was in the room with the characters. There is no denying the plot was extensively and carefully researched, although it did seem long winded and overly scientific at times. The cast of characters were well-round, and Nora is a heroine unlikely any other.
It came as somewhat of a shock when I learned that Audrey Blake is the pseudonym for a writing duo, and that this was co-wrote. There is absolutely no way of knowing it was penned by multiple authors while reading. The Girl in His Shadow is a fascinating account, and I look forward to writing book two in the Nora Beady series, and will be curious to know if there will be more.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ historical fiction lovers
β’ readers who love a strong female lead
β’ fans of medical dramas
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"That is the great benefit of being a man, with every opportunity in the world before you. You cannot understand."
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Abortion, Death, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
pooogsz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Abortion, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Suicide attempt, Violence, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and War
emmagee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Alcoholism
miggyfool's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Body horror, Medical content, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Child death, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, and Abortion
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use
tina_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Rape
feverdreamhigh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Abortion and Miscarriage
Detailed descriptions of surgeries, autopsies and dissections throughout the book.msjk427's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death of parent