I absolutely loved Eleanore of Avignon!! This historical fiction novel is set in 14th century France, just as the plague begins to roll through Europe. Eleanor (Elea) is an herbalist and midwife - both very dangerous professions during this time frame. When she meets Guy de Chauliac (Guigo) he recognizes her extraordinary abilities and takes her under his wing, helping her strengthen her skills. As the plague rages on, Elea life is in danger. While she tries to heal a dying nation, she is pursued by a priest who believes her to be a witch.

I thought this story was beautifully researched and brought to life. Not only is this a great story, but it is also quite thought provoking and a reminder that life moves on, but, sadly, nothing really changes.

Wow - this debut author knocks her first book out of the park. The book is about the plague in 1300's France with a healer working with a papal physician to help find ways to ameliorate the conditions of the plague victims. I was drawn into the characters from the first page and the book did not let me go until I got to the final page. This book was extremely well researched and it shows in the writer's use of the information. I enjoyed how she intermixed real and fictional characters to create her story. A powerful book and very highly recommended.

Thank you to Penquin Group Dutton and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in my review are entirely my own.

“Eleanore of Avignon” by Elizabeth DeLozier is a captivating historical debut novel. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is a must-read. The beautifully detailed writing and unexpected ending immerse you in the plague’s impact on the characters. The portrayal of doctors and healers during the Black Death feels authentic. While fictional, the themes resonate deeply, especially in 2020 amidst the pandemic.

Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. I love a medieval setting, and a medieval setting in France is almost too much for me to ask for. I loved Elea's drive and determination to have the life she wanted for herself, which is to be a physician. Guigo is a very lovable character, both his charmingly huge size and the opportunities he offers Elea. This is a well written story but I was disappointed by the ending. It felt like Elea was cheated when she came so close to seeing her dream come true.
I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written story of Elea, a young woman carrying on her late mother’s role as midwife of Avignon dispensing herbs and curing ailments. A chance encounter with the Pope’s physician introduces her to the world of formal medicine and religious politics. With the backdrop of fourteenth century Europe besieged by the Black Plague, this is a vivid and captivating story set in a fascinating time in history. I am absolutely looking forward to more by this author! Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book!

ELEANORE OF AVIGNON is historical fiction at its best. Highly engaging, the narrative is both propulsive and immersive. The author has done a wonderful job of weaving her research into the story so that it informs the action but does not get in the way of it. The 14th century time period is beautifully conveyed. Eleanore is en engaging main character especially when she takes risks to carry on her mother's work in Avignon. I enjoyed how she learned more about medicine as the Black Plague decimated society. She faced many serious obstacles, leading to a powerful journey.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Compelling story of a courageous young healer in Avignon during the time of the black death. Eleanore is a healer and midwife with limited formal training but a magical skill; she can lay her hands on a patient and feel what is wrong. As the daughter of a skilled healer, Eleanore is inspired to help people, but she wants more; she wants to be a doctor. She meets the doctor to the Pope, who sees her talent and takes her on as his assistant. But talented women who can heal are viewed as unnatural and likely witches, and a particular threat to the church who would like to burn them all.
I really loved this book; Eleanore is a wonderful character who wins you over from the very start, and her story is inspiring. Don’t miss this one!

Excellent historical fiction. Well researched and engaging. Felt a little too modernized in speech but that made it highly readable. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a debut! DeLozier has just the kind of prose to make you feel you've truly stepped into another world. A few real historical figures round out a mostly fictional cast in a well-researched, pull-no-punches depiction of the plague.

Though very well executed, this book is not for the faint of heart or squeamish of stomach! Graphic medical descriptions abound -- including dissection of animals and humans, childbirth and stillbirths, and every bodily fluid one can imagine.

The story also depicts severe antisemitism to the point of mob violence. Far from being gratuitous, this added a really interesting dimension to the text, giving us poignant corollaries not just between bubonic plague and our own Covid-19 pandemic, but also to the fear and hatred such forces of nature often bring in their wake.

Eleanore of Avignon completely swept me into 14th-century Provence with its rich, atmospheric storytelling. Elea, a young midwife and herbalist, takes on her late mother’s work in Avignon despite the risks, especially since outspoken women like her often face accusations of witchcraft. Her story takes a big turn when she’s taken on as an apprentice by Guigo de Chauliac, the Pope’s physician. Through his guidance, she learns not only about medicine but also how to blend her traditional healing with surgical techniques.

Elizabeth DeLozier’s research shines through every page, making the beauty of the region and the fear and devastation of the Black Plague feel strikingly real. I loved seeing Elea’s determination as she pursued her calling, facing down societal prejudice and even danger, and the camaraderie among healers added warmth to the darker moments of the story.

For a debut, Eleanore of Avignon really impressed me. The feminist undercurrent in Elea’s journey felt powerful, and the way DeLozier balanced historical accuracy with a fresh, modern voice made it feel both relatable and authentic. If you’re into historical fiction with a strong female lead, herbalist lore, and a storyline that keeps you hooked, I’d definitely recommend this one.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group, Dutton, for the chance to read an early copy!

I never could’ve imagined myself being sucked into a historical fiction but here we are.
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier is well written, gripping, shocking, and thought provoking.
The characters are fully fleshed out and feel real. I felt for them, rooted for them, and cried with them.
Not only is it a captivating story with strongly developed characters, but it also recognizes the selflessness, strength and resilience of a strong and courageous female protagonist.
This is a great debut with wonderful descriptive writing.
Highly recommended.

“Rich with unforgettable characters, gorgeously drawn, and full of captivating historical drama, Eleanore of Avignon is the story of a healer who risks her life, her freedom, and everything she holds dear to protect her beloved city from the encroaching Black Death.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Let me just start things off by saying wow! What an impressive debut novel!

Eleanore is a midwife and herbalist, who learned everything she knows from her late mother. She still references her mother’s teachings and notes but also understands better than most that she must be careful and stay under the radar. A chance encounter has Eleanore meet Guy de Chauliac, “Guigo,” the personal physician to the powerful Pope. Eleanore takes this opportunity and turns it into an apprenticeship with Guy. Soon after she begins her training, the Black Death arrives in Avignon and changes everything.

This novel does a great job of blending fact and fiction. I found there to be strong character development and the description throughout brought the story to life. The author did a great job with the volume of medical information they included as well. I felt the emotion of the moment, but never overwhelmed or lost by the medical elements.

If you’re a fact of historical fiction, you should definitely add this novel to your TBR!

A stunning work of historical fiction, this novel engrossed me from start to finish. Eleanore is such a likable character, fully formed, brilliant and compassionate. She is alive at a time when Avignon is one of the seats of the papacy and plague is about to strike Europe. Her training under her mother as a midwife brings her to the attention of Guigo, the physician of Pope Clement as well as Queen Joanna, pregnant with her second child. Amidst all of this, Eleanore seems to find her true calling - learning as an apprentice to Guigo and helping the afflicted in Avignon. But an intelligent woman with power during the 14th century - what else could she be but a witch? A fascinating look at a life in Avignon during the plague, rife with intrigue and knowledge of how those attempted to stave off the terrifying disease. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title!

Highly recommend this 4.5 star historical read!
It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel for Elizabeth DeLozier, it was so well written!
The book opens in Avignon in 1347 with Eleanore, a young practicing healer, herbalist and midwife mourning the recent loss of her mother, whom she learned her trade from.
The book then portrays the political, religious and cultural events that swirl around Eleanore as she continues to practice with vivid imagery that pull you into the story. When taken into an unconventional apprenticeship by the Pope's physician as the Black Plague descends, the various beliefs, prejudices and treatments of the time are fascinating to read. While story remains focused on Eleanore, her family members with other fictional characters, the author seamlessly weaves in several real historical people and events.
There is tragedy, building suspense, family love and loyalty, intrigue and romance brought beautifully to life in 14th century France. The only area I would have like to have seen fleshed out more was the end. While satisfying, it seemed a bit rushed in comparison to the overall paving of the book.
Nonetheless, a highly recommended book for those interested in beautifully written, well researched historical fiction with a strong and courageous female protagonist, medical practice during the Black Plague set in medieval France. A big thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a privilege, all opinions expressed are my own.

The Provençal city of Avignon in 1347-48 is rife with tension and drama, with the Catholic popes in residence, Queen Joanna of Naples seeking exoneration from her first husband’s murder, the arrival of the plague, and a stressed-out, decimated populace looking for someone to blame. In her debut, DeLozier takes full advantage of her setting’s potential with her exciting story. It’s a quest novel in a sense, encompassing a young woman’s mission to fulfill her calling as a healer while holding her family together in a perilous time.

Eleanore (Elea) and Margot Blanchet are the twin daughters of a papal notary and his late spouse, a talented midwife. One day while seeking herbal remedies outside the city gates, Elea runs into Guy “Guigo” de Chauliac, a man of modest birth who rose to become Pope Clement’s personal physician. Through a combination of chance and clever negotiations, Elea becomes Guigo’s apprentice and, later, midwife to the expectant Queen Joanna while the deadly pestilence rages through the city. As Guigo and Elea pore over medical texts and tend to patients, desperate to discover a cure, she strives to juggle her multiple responsibilities.

As with other novels where invented characters play big roles in the lives of real people, some plot elements may raise eyebrows, and Elea, while courageous and resourceful, takes some careless risks. The pacing never flags; DeLozier paints the atmosphere clearly without weighty exposition, and the novel’s historical scaffolding shines, especially the details on the two types of plague and their symptoms (as was documented by the real Chauliac, an eminent medieval surgeon). Elea faces personal danger in the form of a fanatical priest who once targeted her late mother, raising the stakes even higher. An entertaining novel about a woman’s strength and selflessness, unfair prejudice, and the sisterly bond. (from the Historical Novels Review, Nov. 2024)

An absolutely wonderful read! This opens in 1347, when Avignon is on the cusp of tremendous trouble and young Elea is mourning the death of her mother, a talented healer and midwife. A chance meeting with Guigo, physician to the Pope, in a meadow changes her life. He takes her on as an apprentice but then both the plague and Queen Joanna arrive in town. As does a hateful priest who declared her mother a witch. Elea has a lot to balance but never neglects her family, especially her twin sister Margot. This is a tale of science, prejudice, politics, and family. It's incredibly atmospheric, suspenseful, and emotional. The characters leap off the page but it's the storytelling that made this a page turner for me. Don't miss the afterword. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Fans of historical fiction will really enjoy this but highly recommend to all.

The protagonist of Elizabeth DeLozier’s debut novel Eleanore (Elea) of Avignon, is a young, ambitious skilled midwife and herbalist. She dreams of becoming a doctor, however, in 1347 France such ideas went against the norms of society.

Nonetheless, by a stroke of luck, she meets Guigo de Chauliac, a most distinguished physician, who serves Pope Clement as his personal physician. Guigo agrees to take Elea on as his assistant and instructs her in anatomy and the techniques of surgery. Together they fight an uphill battle against the plague, but trouble from the past looms over Eleanor.


First off the story has potential, except its slow pace doesn’t always allow the reader to fully engage. Also the plot development is a bit unrealistic, for instance, Guigo de Chauliac accepting Eleanore Blanchet as his apprentice based purely on her elixir made from hawthorn berries stretch the bounds of believability . Furthermore, she is a 17 year old woman in an era when women weren’t accepted into such positions. Therefore, it undermines the strong authenticity the author’s research brings to the story.

At times Elizabeth DeLozier's prose offers some glimpses of beautifully descriptive language and well developed settings. The novel is readable and will likely find its audience . The author’s research and descriptive abilities provide a solid foundation for future works.

Readers familiar with European history will recognize the date that appears at the beginning of the first chapter of Eleanore of Avignon, by Elizabeth DeLozier: 1347, the year the bubonic plague began to spread rapidly throughout Europe after appearing in Italy. It’s only a matter of time before our healer protagonist, Eleanore Blanchet, will find herself battling with every scrap of knowledge she has to relieve suffering and hold off death.

In spite of her talent and intuitive knowledge of diagnosis, Eleanore is (of course) held back because of her sex. Like other young women of her age, she is expected to marry and raise children—not do dissections or conduct medical research or even read the foundational medical texts of her time. There are even a few people who look askance at her for her interest in medicine. They whisper that she might be a witch, like her deceased mother. If Eleanore hadn’t met Guy de Chauliac, Pope Clement VI‘s physician, she might’ve had to give up her dream of learning how to be a doctor. (Guy is an important secondary character and Pope Clement and Joanna of Naples have extensive cameos.) Guy invites Eleanore to the Papal Palace after she impresses him with one of her mother’s remedies.

Luck plays an important role in Eleanore’s rising career as a doctor’s apprentice. Her remedies reliably work. Her intuition guides her toward the correct diagnosis every time (in spite of Guy’s notions about humors and astrology). The pope allows Eleanore to examine and treat him, a surprising act considering how misogynistic the era was. To be honest, I had to skim over a lot of details that I saw as anachronisms to get through the book. Pickier readers might want to give this book a pass. I was invested enough in Eleanore that I wanted to see what would happen to her when the Plague really hits her city and things get really bleak, what with all the flagellants and rising antisemitism. I had a surprisingly good time with Eleanore of Avignon given how much I had to suspend my disbelief.

What an absolutely fantastic debut novel! One of my favorite books this year; I flew through it in a day as I couldn't put it down.

Eleanore lives in Avignon with her father and twin sister in 1347. Her mother was an herbalist and midwife (so of course she must have been a witch) from whom Eleanore learned her trade. Armed with her mother's journal for natural remedies, Eleanore becomes the assistant to the Pope's physician, Guy de Chauliac (Guigo), the most famous physician in Europe, as the Black Plague strikes. Eleanore is an entirely fictional character though the major characters and events surrounding her are not. I enjoyed learning more about the time period and was fascinated with the medical research and techniques used in an attempt to find a cure.

I absolutely adored spending time with Eleanore - we follow her as she begins her nascent career as a midwife and herbalist in Avignon in 1347, right before the Black Plague rages throughout Europe. One fun, relevant fact to the story that I learned - there is a whole period called Avignon Papacy where from 1309 to 1376 seven successive popes resided in Avignon rather than in Rome. Eleanore befriends the personal physician of Pope Clement VI, Guigo de Chauliac (based on the real Guy de Chauliac), by providing an herbal tonic that helps the pope and spins that into an apprenticeship with Guigo.

Eleanore and Guigo's relationship as the plague progresses was phenomenal - I loved reading about the mutual respect and the intertwining of herbalism and humour-based medicine. They both felt incredibly grounded and I was delighted to learn that Guy de Chauliac was a very real person who indeed wrote influential books surrounding the plague and medicine at the time.

I also felt the echoes of the COVID pandemic within this book and Eleanor and Guigo's struggles as they tried to figure out how to deal with the Black Plague, the tireless research and feelings of helplessness with the people who succumbed. One of my favorite glimpses of this is Elea's attempt at encouraging herself after searching through Guigo's books: "Surely medicine has come so far in the last five hundred years, all it will take is one breakthrough--one brilliant reading of an ancient text in which a cure or cause is illuminated--and we shall stop this disease in its tracks." That same helplessness will feel so similar to any reader with even an ounce of empathy. I should not have been surprised to read in the Author's Note in the end that this was in fact quite intentional by Elizabeth DeLozier, even if the idea of the novel came before the pandemic.

In the shadows of the pandemic though, we get to know Elea and the people that surround her so much more - her sister, Margot, her house keeper, Anes, the Queen, Paolo. There is a rich cast of characters and you grow to care about each one so much.

Even as someone who is not usually a huge historical fiction fan, this book completely won me over and I highly recommend to anyone - part coming of age, part historical novel, part love story and so much more than can be categorized. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Dutton for the advanced copy.