A Girl With A Knife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Girl With A Knife by Alina Rubin

G👀dreads

Women could not be surgeons. She did it anyway.

After the heartbreaking loss of her mother and a cruel attack by her drunken father, Ella Parker decides that dishonesty is fine when it serves her needs. At a time when wealthy young ladies do little more than embroidery, Ella escapes her luxurious but lonely life, and meets an eccentric ship surgeon who—once she impresses him with her quick-thinking and empathy—allows her to assist him during a surgery.

Compelled by Ella's intelligence and interest in medicine, the doctor prepares her for a medical career, but there's a catch: in early 19th century England, women are not accepted into universities. To fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, Ella must disguise herself as a young man with aspirations of becoming a doctor. After changing her look and name, Ella finds her jogging as she performs dissections, conducts experiments, and cares for patients. She also tutors Oli, a kind but struggling fellow student, but she must take caution. Even in her loneliest moment, she cannot trust anyone or make friends.

As Ella continues to excel in her studies, brilliantly saving the life of a patient, she becomes a top contender for the apprenticeship with a famous professor. Dogged by fear of discovery, she must choose between truth and lies, and distinguish between real and false friends, before her pretense is uncovered.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Medical, British Literature
Circa: early 1800's

The How/Why: I saw an ad for A Surgeon and a Spy . It interesting sounded but it's book 3 in the series and wasn't available. Book 1, A Girl With A Knife, was available so I decided to start there and then I'll determine if I want to listen to the others. There are currently four. I don't usually like to get sucked into a series so we'll see if it knocks my socks off to determine if I'll add the others to my TBR list. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎉 Overall Enjoyment?  🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention?  🎣 🎣 🎣 🎣 🎣

🗣️ Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? Yes ➕ Adding the rest of the series to my TBR.

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author?  Yes ➕

💣💥 📢 Sort Warnings? DɇaṪh, Abuseɇ, Mɇdical Gorɇ It wasn't bad IMO.

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Good

💻 Tidbits ~ I loved it! Escaping her abusive father (an Earl) 17 year old Ella impresses the ship's doctor with her abilities and the desire to become a surgeon. Women weren't allowed in medical school so the ship's doctor and his midwife sister hatch a plan for her to disguise herself and enroll as a male (Alan). They also help her financially since she left the castle with limited funds.  
She quickly impresses the professor and moves to the head of the class. She becomes friends with Oliver (Oli) who she ends up tutoring, being extra careful to keep her secret. 
The story elaborates on medical procedures at the time so if you are squeamish this might not be for you. Ovarian Cyst Removal, Dissections, Bloodletting, Amputation, Wound Suturing, Postmortem Exam, Emergency Childbirth. 
I found it fascinating compared to modern medicine.  

I don't typically like getting sucked into a series but I'll be adding the others to my TBR list. 

Extra Tidbit: In the early 1800's, s anitation wasn't a thing which Ella/Alan and Oli found troubling. The doctor would enter the surgery room in his blood stained apron and pick up tools from the last procedure that weren't cleaned. When Oli brought it up, the doctor was offended. 
In real life Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that handwashing prevented the spread of germs and infections in 1847. It was a hard sell because nobody believed him. He is credited for the practice of scrubbing to the elbows before surgery. There is a statue dedicated to him in the courtyard of a medical museum in Budapest Hungary. 

🎧Ana Clements 👍

🎧7.38 hours 🕮 468 pages

Extra Extras . My friend Connie and I went on a Danube River Cruise in 2016. It ended in Budapest where we extended the trip a couple of days. During our adventures and exploring one day with a private guide, he took us to a medical museum where we were able to get in before they opened. That's where I learned about Dr. Semmelweis. Here's a picture of the statue in the courtyard that referenced above. 

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