Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier (audiobook)

 genre: historical fiction

Eleanore wants to spend her life healing people. She knows she can't be a physician, because as a woman in Provence in 1347, this path is forbidden to her. But she is already an experienced herbalist and midwife and she's seen her share of suffering. When an opportunity arises that will allow her to have more training, it's like a dream come true until the murmurs of plague become more than rumors. When the Black Death arrives, Eleanore will be on the front lines.

Why do I love a plague story so much? Especially now, post-Covid, you'd think I'd be sick to death of plague but I am for sure not. The medieval setting, Eleanore's capability and compassion, the political landscape with both the Pope and the Queen in Avingnon along with some Black Death in there just made for a really captivating story. Between the anti-Semitism and witch hunts and quarantines, I found several disquieting parallels to the modern day. I genuinely loved learning about the body and treating ailments along with Eleanore, this is one of the plot's most interesting bits.  The only thing I didn't love about this book was the romantic storyline - the Eleanore of this thread didn't mesh well with the Eleanore of the rest of the story, but it wasn't horrible.  I'm glad it was there, I just think it could've been done a little better.