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heathers426's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Blood
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Abortion
megs1370's review
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a great read! It was fast-paced but not plot-driven. The medical content was graphic-ish (not too gory, but not vague) and seemed very accurate; it was detailed without being too much.
I listed this book as inspiring because of the main character's growth, but it certainly doesn't pull any punches with the reality of Victorian England.
I listed this book as inspiring because of the main character's growth, but it certainly doesn't pull any punches with the reality of Victorian England.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
sharebear431's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death, Excrement, Blood, Gore, and Medical trauma
writteninmagic's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting read with a lot of research done by the authors on medical practices of the time. I enjoyed reading about Nora's journey from being saved by Dr. Croft to her learning and becoming a skilled surgeon in her own right. She faces obstacles as a female studying medicine, such as hiding her skills, helping Dr. Croft with surgeries in secret, not being taken seriously, and her inability to become a licensed practitioner.
As I got to know more of the characters (Nora, Dr. Croft, Daniel, and Mrs. Phipps), I grew to really like them. They were all different from each other and the interactions between them made the characters feel real.
The only inconsistent part of the writing was, after Daniel had left for Richmond for a while, Nora refers to Daniel by his first name (even though up to that point in the story she'd only refer to him as Dr. Gibson) and it flips back to addressing him as Dr. Gibson. A few chapters later it states she started referring to him as Daniel because of Dr. Croft and Harry.
Overall, the story was well-written and well-researched. The characters were varied and made the story more interesting.
As I got to know more of the characters (Nora, Dr. Croft, Daniel, and Mrs. Phipps), I grew to really like them. They were all different from each other and the interactions between them made the characters feel real.
The only inconsistent part of the writing was, after Daniel had left for Richmond for a while, Nora refers to Daniel by his first name (even though up to that point in the story she'd only refer to him as Dr. Gibson) and it flips back to addressing him as Dr. Gibson. A few chapters later it states she started referring to him as Daniel because of Dr. Croft and Harry.
Overall, the story was well-written and well-researched. The characters were varied and made the story more interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death and Death
troxelm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
beccamlvn's review
So badly wanted to finish this but I couldn’t get past the first few medical procedures. I’m not good with hearing about injuries and this was so well described, I just couldn’t handle it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
neilsonhr's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
kelly_e's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
Title: The girl in His Shadow
Author: Audrey Blake
Series: Nora Beady #1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Unique • Interesting • Detailed
📖 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
💭 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.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• readers who love a strong female lead
• fans of medical dramas
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • 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."
Author: Audrey Blake
Series: Nora Beady #1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Unique • Interesting • Detailed
📖 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
💭 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.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• readers who love a strong female lead
• fans of medical dramas
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • 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."
Content Warnings
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
kbrsuperstar's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Child death, Death, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Gore
Minor: Excrement and Pregnancy