The Girl in His Shadow is a hit or miss. If you are fond of historical fiction and the power one woman has, then this is a hit. If you want a historical fiction novel that is a bit more intense and emotionally deep, then this may be a miss. If that is what you are searching for, check out The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

This novel was so fast to read and is written intentionally to create that speed. The novel contains short sentences and varying viewpoints to propel the story forward but lacks depth that you may crave due to that speed. I normally wish for more depth as historical fiction to me is really dense emotionally and The Girl in His Shadow was not but, I liked that. This was lighter than I expected and was a different type of read and ended up being an aspect I considered beneficial. It is a component to consider when determining if this is worth your time. Overall, a hit or miss novel that as always, is up to you to choose if it's worth an hour.

The plot is predictable but not unenjoyable. It starts with Daniel's arrival at the practice and Nora transforming herself into a lady to hide the fact she's been practicing medicine for years. A very illegal thing for a woman to do in England in the 1800s.

The outcome of Daniel's arrival and Nora's decision is the plot. I really cannot give more away but it is a straightforward story that is pleasant and conclusive when finished.

The characters in The Girl in His Shadow are a hit. They are multidimensional and demonstrate the emotional turmoil between being progressive and wanting to fit into society. These emotions are toyed with well and assist in developing the characters making them enjoyable to read.

Vickey was the absolute worst and you will understand that if you read The Girl in His Shadow. Great characters worth your time.

Expected. A comfortable ending to a predictable book. Overall, The Girl in His Shadow is a novel for those craving something fun with an easy to understand plot and an insight into the advancements of medicine and a woman's role in it but not for those wanting something to cry about.

The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake was a quicker read than I expected. Whenever I pick up historical fiction I automatically anticipate a long and emotionally draining read. The Girl in His Shadow was not emotionally draining and instead written breezily and that contrast I found quite enjoyable. Because it was written with such secular focus, it was a small snapshot into the 1850s and its history, extra focus wasn't required on the outside world but instead the world that revolved around Nora. I have never read something so quickly and I found that speed to be so awesome; in and out, I was finished in three hours. I liked that as sometimes you want something fast to read and this novel is that.

Being a woman in modern day is tough enough, I cannot imagine living in the past nor would I ever wish to be transported there. Nora was subjected to, like the majority of women, discrimination based on gender and UGH, I forgot how mad that makes me when I read it. It was illegal for her to practice medicine and if found out, prison or asylum life was threatened and we all know both choices were terrible for women. It seriously made me thankful for how far we have come but also how far we need to go.

I liked how the line was toyed between progression and remaining a woman of the times. Nora had a fascination in medicine but also craved to become a wife. I think the relationship between her and Daniel was so predictable but how she handled her desires definitely showed the contrast between "normal" and "progressive," for that time period. Daniel's proposal as a way to stop her from leaving to practice medicine absolutely encapsulated this dichotomy. "Can I have both?" - such a good line. I found her emotions to be practical and understandable, a great component of the novel even if much of it was more romance heavy than I anticipated.

I wish the novel had taken longer to reveal to Daniel that Nora was a practicing doctor. I am not sure what her official classification would be during that time but I think it was doctor then surgeon. The novel started with a bang - her parents died, she survived cholera, she learnt medicine, and then Daniel came and found out immediately. I feel a bit more back and forth could have spiced up the novel.

Like I said, I also did not expect it to be so romance heavy. I thought it was going to be a more spy-like story but in all, did not hate the romance but combined with the quick start, is why I placed this as a hit or miss novel. I craved just a bit more confusion and antagonisation between Daniel and Nora. Overall, this was a different type of historical fiction novel then I am used too that I enjoyed reading despite being able to predict the plot.