The Secret Healer

The Secret Healer, Book 1

By: Ellin Carsta, Terry Laster - translator

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

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.

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.

Entertaining Read

I struggled between a 4 and a 5 rating because I a so picky about books. The book is actually very well written. The story keeps moving along without any boring or lagging pieces. There are good reliable and relatable characters. The time setting was a little weird for me and I had to suspend disbelief at the end with the sheriff's agreement of Madeline's speech, especially considering the time period. But overall I would definitely recommend this book.

More

I enjoyed the book but I felt that telling the story with more adventure within the context of a full trilogy would have been better.

Worth listening to

Exciting and enjoyable read, if slightly predictable at the end. Recommend to all women who have felt persecuted at some point in their lives.

Wonderful Story

I absolutely loved this story. A great story about a Christian healer. This is during a time where people were hung for crimes, including dark magic. Now we have young a herbalist with a gift, who is misunderstood by certain people after a death. They make her life unbearable, and she has to run. This book has prejudices mystery and love all wrap up into this story. A must read about faith and how God will work it out.

Omg. most fantastic experience.

Loved the story line and details given. excellent delivery and suspense. love love and sad its over.

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.

The outstanding courage of women

I felt like I was right there , to the point of being sick to my stomach in some of the chapters. History has repeatedly shown us that fear and ignorance of those things that people don't understand, have always cost innocent women pain and their lives.

omg good

I've listened to it twice!!!! so so so good my mom and I can't wait to listen to the sequel!

Interestingly page turner.

the struggling life of a female who loves to help others. With the unfortunate time she was born in she was deemed to be a witch. Her willingness to heal others shows her strength and determination, to overcome any adverse effect brought upon herself to help others. she is a hero to many and the love shown for her is great.