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Description
Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle AgesMedieval beliefs about the body were drastically different from ours today: Hair was thought to be a condensation of fumes emitted from the pores, ideas were supposedly committed to memory by being directly imprinted on the brain, and the womb of a goat was believed to function as a contraceptive. But while this medieval medicine now seems archaic, it also made a critical contribution to modern science. Medieval Bodies guides us on a head to heel
Medieval beliefs about the body were drastically different from ours today: Hair was thought to be a condensation of fumes emitted from the pores, ideas were supposedly committed to memory by being directly imprinted on the brain, and the womb of a goat was believed to function as a contraceptive. But while this medieval medicine now seems archaic, it also made a critical contribution to modern science.
Medieval Bodies guides us on a head-to-heel journey through this era's revolutionary advancements and disturbing convictions. We learn about the surgeons who dissected a living man's stomach, then sewed him up again; about the geographers who delineated racial groups by skin color; and about the practice of fasting to gain spiritual renown. Encompassing medicine and mysticism, politics and art--and complete with vivid, full-color illustrations--Medieval Bodies shows us how it felt to live and die a thousand years ago.
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 11/12/2019
ISBN: 9781324002161
Pages: 352
Weight: 1.50lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.80w x 1.00d
Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2019
Publishers Weekly 10/14/2019
Booklist 10/15/2019 pg. 13
BookPage 11/01/2019
Library Journal 09/27/2019 pg. 1
Shelf Awareness 12/27/2019
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4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 493 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
😍😍 BEST DEBUT NOVEL EVER
Format: Paperback
I’m having trouble finding accurate words to describe the way this book made me feel, but I am going to do my best.
To start off with basic elements, the character and world building are phenomenal. I feel a strong bond to not only the two main characters, Ara and Rogue, but to each and every character introduced throughout the book. The author did a stellar job of giving each of them unique personhood. All of the scenes are beautifully described. So much so that throughout the entirety of the book, I could see every scene: the towns, the castles, the meadows, the landscape. I have had difficulty with this and with distinguishing between outlying characters while reading in the past, but I did not have to think to remember details of world or character building because they flowed naturally within the story and were described well. I have read book series before that made me want to be a part of that world, but I actually felt like I got to step into Auryna and Ravaryn!
The plot twists!! Although this is not a suspense novel, it still had me on a rollercoaster of emotions and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I haven’t cried actual tears over a book since I was in high school (and I’ve read a LOT). This book finally broke the floodgates in the final few chapters. Multiple times. And we love a good cliffhanger. It truly made me FEEL.
THE SPICE is a solid 3.5/5. Some of the scenes had me flushed, some had me taking notes, some just had my jaw slack and my mouth hanging open. Bravo, JD Linton, bravo.
The relationships: friendships, family, romantic, ALL of the relationships in this book have so much meaning. The author does a great job at making you feel the love, the anger, the peace, the frustrations, the safety, the familiarity, etc. between the characters.
Ara and Rogue. I can not say enough and I also do not want to say too much. Just know that I feel like I know them both, to their core. I know what their childhood looks likes, their darkest moments, their biggest fears, their dreams and passions, what they want in life… The POV switches were seamless. I am so happy this author decided to let us see from both sets of eyes.
I can not wait for book two after that cliffhanger. And there is SO much potential for at least one prequel, I can’t wait to see where this author goes! I hope this series continues and flourishes. Fingers crossed!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Amazing!
Format: Kindle, Format: Kindle
This book was phenomenal, I devoured it within a few days! For this being a debut novel, it is fantastic and I would’ve thought the author was a seasoned author. I have zero complaints about this book.
Let me start by saying that the world building was phenomenal. I could picture everything in my head because of how detailed it was — that’s how good it was written. And I absolutely love the “captive/captor” trope so much, it’s become one of my favorite tropes, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book had that.
I loved the banter between Rogue and Ara — they’re both snarky and witty, plus with the romantic tension, it made the dialogue that much better. Speaking of romantic tension, yes there is spice but not so much of it that it overrides the plot, which I loved. For me, this would probably be on the 3/5 level of spice.
This book had a ton of plot twists and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024
★★★★★ 4
High on Tropes and Satisfaction
Format: Kindle
This is a great Romantasy book full of action, adventure, and everything you look for in this genre.
I won’t lie: it does kinda feel like the author found every common trope from every successful book of this kind and threw them all into this novel. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Especially in romance, there’s a large audience who has specific expectations, and they want them every time. Nothing wrong with that and many times I’m one of them.
I have no idea what defines a spoiler honestly, so
spoiler alert!!!!!!!
Tropes include:
Only one bed at the inn/bar
Dissatisfaction with life before hunk appears
Lost royalty
The chosen one
Montage of dress up time followed by shocked hunk
Forbidden romance between two from rival peoples
Power that cannot be controlled, simply guided/asked
Gathering intel at the inn/bar
FMC who knows how to fight/use weapons well
There’s probably more but no need to list them all.
Good story and I would recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful, Lovely, Nearly Perfect Fantasy Romance (with Mature FMC!!)
Format: Kindle
Man. I am just so incredibly touched and impressed and just blown away by this book. I picked up Preistess by Kara Reynolds after a glowing recommendation from the r/fantasyromance subreddit. I was immediately sold on the fully mature, 38 year old female lead, but if that's not enough for you, there is a richly detailed, original world, a lively cast of characters, queer rep, and a male lead who is all about consent. My expectations were high based on the reviews on Reddit, and this book lived up to and even smashed them.
I will say that at first I was not sure I was going to like the book. In the beginning, I don't know exactly what it was, but I had a hard time with the author's tone. The lack of paragraph indentions drove me nuts for awhile, but by the end of the book I didn't even notice it anymore. And while I wasn't fond of the author's style to start with, now that I've finished the book, I honestly don't remember what I didn't like about it. In my opinion, it takes around the first 10 - 15% for the story to really find its way, but once it did, I was captivated.
One thing that put me off initially, but that I came to love, was the large cast of characters. Edie, the main character, is with a group of eight other women, and at first it was hard to keep them all straight and remember who was who. Before long I was able to tell them all apart easily, as they all have distinct personalities and individual characteristics. I quickly became invested in all of the women, and the men when they were introduced as well. Each of the couples was adorable in its own way, and each had their own difficulties to overcome. We see everything about the secondary couples through the eyes of Edie, the POV character, but their stories are still sweet and fun to see.
Something that I really loved about this story was the worldbuilding and the depth with which the author went into describing Tintar and its traditions and religion. Edie's becoming a Preistess plays a large role in this book, and the message contained in these pages is so beautiful and relatable and heartwarming. I don't want to give anything away but this is the kind of positivity that SHOULD come from religion. The themes of acceptance and love contrast with the oppression often associated with religion in the real world.
I mentioned the themes a little bit above, acceptance and love being two of them. But there are many themes and concepts reiterated in this book. Independence and self worth. Female friendship and found family. The value of consent and the joy of giving pleasure to someone you love. There are a few spicy scenes but I found them all to be in good taste and they added to the story instead of distracting from it (don't get me wrong, I like smut as next as the next person, but not when it comes at the cost of plot). What we have here instead of a lot of smut is the development of a relationship between two people who are slowly falling in love with one another. The relationship between Edie and Alric feels realistic and develops organically. When they finally confess their love for one another, I really, truly believed that they were in love. This is that rare find in romance books these days: true, sweet, romantic love. (As opposed to instalove and lust.)
Overall, I am so glad I picked this book up. Endlessly grateful to the person who recommended it to me on Reddit. This is a beautiful adult love story, with main characters who are in their late 30s/early 40s. It is a story filled with found family and female friendships, with mystery and excitement. All in all I found Preistess to be such a treat. There are a few grammatical issues (and the missing indentations), but I would have put up with much more because the story itself was so engrossing and enjoyable. I will recommend this story to anyone who will listen and I will absolutely be looking for more from this author.
If you are a middle aged woman, like me, who longs for a well written fantasy romance with a fully mature heroine, with romance that actually feels like romance and the type of worldbuilding that *should* be in a fantasy novel, then Preistess by Kara Reynolds just may be the right book for you.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025
★★★★★ 5
A moving homage to women everywhere that you are enough
Format: Kindle
This standalone story is a moving homage to women everywhere that you are enough; and that it is ok to be selfish, to love yourself, and you are deserving of love. I have read this book twice now and both times I cried and laughed. It is a moving story about how a selfless woman who not only perseveres through many challenges that she faces both past and present, but also learns to live rather than just survive; and enjoy what life and her new religion have to offer.
As a woman in my later years, I found Edie Finch’s journey profoundly moving and deeply affirming. Seeing a heroine in her late 30s was not only refreshing, but it gave me someone to truly relate to—her tenacity, selflessness, gentle humor, and resilience struck a powerful chord. Despite enduring unimaginable hardships—an abusive ex-husband and family, becoming a prisoner, forced into a marriage, the sudden awakening of earth magic, and navigating a bond with a new goddess —Edie remains grounded, compassionate, and brave. And through all of that, she still manages to find something rare and beautiful: real love, inner peace, and a chosen family that cherishes her.
Reynolds masterfully crafts a slow-burning romance rooted in emotional truth, layered with rich, believable magic. There are no shortcuts—no instant attraction, no overdone tropes, no sudden omnipotence or conveniently accepted lore. Everything unfolds with care and intention. Each revelation feels earned, each relationship feels real. I was fully immersed in Edie’s world from beginning to end, and left feeling both heartened and inspired. This story didn’t just entertain—it stayed with me.
And I also need to point out that Alric Angler should be a standard for which men/partners should be held to. As a private man of few words he expressed his love not through dramatic declarations, but through quiet, meaningful actions. It wasn’t about grand, expensive gestures (though there were a few); it was the thoughtful, everyday things—like replacing Edie’s worn comb or getting her bookends to support her growing collection—that spoke volumes. Watching his relationship with Edie unfold with such tenderness and patience was a joy.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2025
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