I waited a long time for this new title (The Surgeon’s Daughter) to be available on my Libby account. Totally worth it. I loved the first book in this duo (The Girl in His Shadow). And this book continues the story, following Nora on her quest for a medical degree from The University of Bologna, where women in the 19th century were allowed (barely) to study medicine.

Following a calling is one of my favorite literary themes. Nora definitely knows what she is called to, and she has a cheering section behind her. Additional themes about loyalty, integrity, women’s roles, scientific discovery, family and relationships add texture and emotion to the story line. This series matched well with my own science/medical background and with my love for exploring different historical time periods. And the love story woven in was well-done.

If you are a bit squeamish about anatomical things, or are sensitive to issues related to childbirth, you may want to read cautiously, but otherwise I think you will also enjoy this. It certainly hit all the right notes for me. Read “The Girl in His Shadow “ first.