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The Secret Healer  By  cover art

The Secret Healer

By: Ellin Carsta,Terry Laster - translator
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
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Publisher's summary

In the fourteenth century, opportunities for women are limited to the home. But spirited young Madlen finds her calling as assistant to the city's trusted midwife, Clara. Working alongside Clara, Madlen develops a surprisingly soothing technique and quickly becomes a talented healer.

After Clara's tragic death, Madlen alone rushes to assist the birth of a local nobleman's child. But rather than the joy of birth, Madlen walks into an accusation of murder and witchcraft because of her extraordinary gifts. Forced to flee her own town, she establishes a new identity in the home of her aunt. Yet even though it endangers her life, she cannot resist the urge to help the sick patients who seek out her miraculous treatment. When she meets handsome Johannes - an investigator hired by the Church to bring her to justice for sacrilegious acts - she becomes drawn to the very man that could destroy her.

Will Madlen's gifts bring about her downfall? Or can love and reason prevail in a time of fearful superstition?

©2015 Ellin Carsta. Translation © 2016 Terry Laster. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Secret Healer

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This book is terrible!

The story is silly and dull. The language is awkward. The dialogue is stilted. It is not culturally or period appropriate in any way. I can't figure out why anyone would like this. Fake reviews, maybe.

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3 people found this helpful

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My First Audible Experience

This was the first book I listened to on Audible. I thought the story and the presentation of the characters was superbly done. When I found the second in the series, I listened to that one too, and found it to be a great read also. Well done!

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting, but not great

I really, really liked the characters in this novel, and I felt that it was a good story overal, especially the scenes with Johannes and Andreas together. That part was my favorite. However, I felt like it was a little like a Disney movie and it followed a pretty predictable arc. Another con is that the book used modern phrasing and words which would not have been in the vocabulary of people in Madlen's time. That took away from the realism. Overall, though, I thought it was a good summer read. As for the narration, I don't think it added or took away from the book. Very standard, but enjoyable.

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    4 out of 5 stars

The Secret Healer was an enjoyable summer read

The story was fairly predictable. It is in the Victorian era when health care was limited, and was always delivered by men. Child birth, a "Women's Issue" or Bloodletting! Which do you choose? There is a bit of feminism..., and women helping women...great that era is gone.

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Compliments!! Glorious women of the past

Ellin Carsta tells unjustly circumstances women were treated in the medieval time in Europe. It is difficult for the new generations and our present lifestyle to understand the burdens women had to face in the previous centuries. Like Iny Lorentz and many others, that have described women’s life in the medieval time, it still remains incredibly to digest the unjustified distinction that was drawn between men and women, poor and rich. Women were considered objects and subordinate by the man’s conduct. Another aspect that Ellin has great-fully achieved to present is that women are not helpless. They can live a desirable and happy life.

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Love this story!!

Such a captivating tale of love, intrigue, and hope. I enjoyed the development and creative weaving between characters. Loved it!!

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Very good

This was a good story and kept me interested to the end. However, it ended very abruptly. It was like the author realized the book was getting too Long and needed wrap everything up quickly. Still good though.

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Worth a read...interesting story

Enjoyed the plot and the way it was woven through a picturesque countryside. The narration was hard to accept and I would possibly suggest that one might prefer reading it. All that said I am beginning book 2 now. Listening at the gym is easier!

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it's not great

the narrator was great, but the writing was meh. I really wanted to like this book because the premise was so amazing. But I felt like the writing was sub par, I couldn't get through 3 chapters. It's not awful, just not great.

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First book I read where lies were the norm

Especially so for a book that spoke of the Bible, faith and God. I think there where lies on every page. Disappointed.

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