What I lost most about Amanda Skenandore’s historical fiction novels is that she takes us to events, places, and times in history that are unique, that might not be well-known, or that we might have forgotten. In the Medicine Woman of Galveston, we are taken to the fascinating world of the traveling medicine show in the year 1900. When we meet our heroine Trucia, she is facing desperate times. Although she is a female doctor, she is unable to practice medicine due to a traumatic experience, and has cobbled together a paltry living to support herself and her disabled son. When she meets charismatic showman Huey, he offers her a way out of debt and destitution—as a doctor, she can give legitimacy to his traveling medical show, and in return he can give her a chance at a better life for herself and her son. We are then swept away into this world of snake oil and deception, and we are introduced to this bedraggled yet talented troupe of fascinating characters. As a reader, I was not just an observer, I felt part of this show—watching the performances, feeding off the desperation tinged with hope that the yokels bring with them. This is a fast-paced story, and yet the author takes the time to introduce all of the characters to us in such a way that we see beyond the talents and skills they bring to the medicine show—their secrets and pasts are revealed to us so that we understand how they all came to be traveling with Huey. This compelling book will take readers deep into the world of the seediness of the medicine show, while at the same giving us unique characters who add many layers of compassion, talent, and determination that takes us beyond the tents and wagons of the traveling show.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore is a fictional story that outlines the early days of Tucia’s medical career. Tucia is one of the first women to enroll and graduate in medical college. While the story is fictional I thought that the research gone into writing this was spot on. One can only imagine the hardships that early women pioneers in the field of medicine faced from their peers, the existing medical community, and the public. Amanda Skenandore presented the story in such a believable way.

I enjoyed the medicine show storyline way more than I expected to. There are backstory chapters given to each character in the show Tucia joins. I had wished we’d had a little more to each of these stories, as I could have easily continued on with each one. Though the author did an excellent job of later explaining through conversations the characters had and gave me most of the answers I was looking for on each character.

If you pick this up expecting most of the story to be about the Galveston Hurricane, note that happens later in the book. Most of the book is setting up the scenes for that tragic disaster. Early on I was confused and disappointed that it didn’t hit right away, but found that the structure of the book wouldn’t have worked any other way. This is a story of hope and future chances, and the title is looking towards that hope!

Overall, this book started as a 3 as I did have to push to read some of the earlier chapters. It seemed to drag on just a bit too much. The moment I read Fannny’s story the book flipped for me. After completing it and reflecting on the character building and the story building this easily hit a 5 in my book. Excellent read and I’d like to thank Kensington Books, The Author, and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Amanda Skenandore has done it again! I always find her writing beautiful, meticulously researched, and interestingly informative. I enjoyed the premise of the novel—a down-on-her-luck female doctor with a child to support and a traveling medicine show. I learned a great deal, and it was a great read!

I read the first few chapters and I had to push myself to even read that. I didn’t like this book and it wasn’t very good. I’m sorry but I didn’t like this book and can not post a review on it.

historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, PTSD, medical-doctor, physical-attack, misogyny, friends, friendship, frustration, triggers, hucksters, unpleasant-boss, trauma, travel, family-by-choice, family-history, family*****

From medical school in Chicago with double trauma and shame, to having a young son with physical limitations, to being deep in debt and fired from a sweat shop, to reluctantly joining a travelling medicine show. Her PTSD has taken the form of Trichotillomania and Hemophobia. Despite having an MD license, she has no desire to ever do a surgical procedure again but is roped into sham performances to sell snake oil/nostrums. She becomes friends with the other nonstandard people working for the charlatan as they travel onward with the eventual destination of Galveston just before the historic hurricane. Well written with just the sort of characters and behaviors you'd expect. I really enjoyed the story and the well researched history.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley.Thank you!
Pub Date 21 May 2024

The Medicine Woman of Galveston
by Amanda Skenandore
Pub DateL May 21, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A downtrodden female doctor takes up with a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son, joining a German giantess, a bowlegged musician, an indentured Creek poet, and a handsome tinker under the thumb of a charismatic but menacing swindler on a collision course with the deadliest natural disaster in American history – the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Readers of Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.
The synopsis and title is misleading as the story doesn’t even arrive in Galveston until 80% of the book is over. The story focuses on Tucia—a licensed physician who has sworn off doctoring after a horrible debacle in a surgery room that has left her with severe PTSD. Her fight for survival for she and her Down syndrome son is the crux of the story. She also does self harm of pulling her hair out to cope with stress.

For those who like to know—There are times of cruelty in the story, abuse, sex, and heavy innuendo.

So for me... this was just an ok book.

I was anticipating an interesting read when I requested this book from NetGalley. A woman in medicine called a “trailblazer” in the description makes a mistake in surgery and now works in a corset factory. And … ends up traveling in a medicine show with her son along with a German giantess, a bow-legged musician, an American Indian poet, and a can-fix-anything man.

What I liked about the story …

- The characters of the giantess, the musician, and the fix-it man. These are not dumped on the reader with full descriptions of each but the characters are built much as a person getting to know more about them as time goes on.
- Huey who was not mentioned above. He is the lead of the medicine show. You know from the beginning that he is lying all the time. And he gets worse as the story goes. His character is key to what happens to everyone else. You will not like him; I didn’t.
- Life in a traveling medicine show. What it took to put up the stage at every stop. What kinds of acts would appeal to people. Huey’s ways of getting poor people in his audience to spend when they shouldn’t. About the care and feeding of people in the traveling caravan (not that Huey cared all that much). And why Huey wanted a “real” doctor in the group.
- The handling of what a hurricane would be like in 1900.
- The friendship that developed among the caravan (sans Huey) and how they found ways to support each other.

Now that’s a good list. BUT … What I did not like …

- The title of the book is The Medicine Woman of Galveston. In the description, “When the show reaches Galveston…” should have read “When the show FINALLY reaches Galveston …” I expected a good section about the book being about how she becomes a “real” doctor in Galveston, the challenges, and yes, triumphs, there. Instead, they arrive just before the end which makes the title — well, flat wrong. It was in THIS section that the book became compelling.
- The name of the doctor — Tucia. Authors, if you want the reader to identify with your lead character, do not give her a weird name. I *still* don’t know if I’m pronouncing right. Maybe if the author had explained why she had such a name … Tucia is also a surname. I know, I know. You probably won’t agree but I never got used to the name all 409 pages.
- Tucia’s panic attacks. There were just too many of them and they sorta got old. The author does explain why she has them.
Tucia’s pulling out her hair leaving bald spots. I’ve heard of people doing this but like the panic attacks — just too many.
- I kept waiting for Tucia the Real Doctor to show up. Appreciated her workaround to give REAL information out, but longed for a “will the real doctor please stand up” moment.

The five-like list, for this reviewer, did not outweigh the five did-not-like list resulting in a three-star rating. I leave it up to you future reader. You may like this story tremendously. I kept waiting for it to get better.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of The Medicine Woman of Galveston via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Books | Kensington. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3 stars
Cover: Fits the story.
Pages: 409
Publish Date: 21 May 2024
#TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #NetGalley #AmandaSkenandore

A compelling novel of a female physician and her journey to self discovery, confidence, and forging her way in a male dominated world. Dr. Tucia Hatherley makes a fatal mistake during her medical training. She ends up going to work in a corset factory and then joins a traveling medicine show in order to dissolve her debts. Readers are sent on a journey alongside Tucia while she learns how to gain her confidence and self worth back. I fell in love with the relationship between her and her son. This story also offers an inside look into the lives of those who worked in medicine shows which adds to an already interesting premise. I really enjoyed this and couldn't help but continue to cheer on Tucia.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books | Kensington for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Medicine Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore is an informative and emotional read. The story incorporates social issues that are still relevant today: single parenthood, care for the special needs child, the difficulties of a woman in a "man's" job, etc. I especially enjoyed the real life events and people that were incorporated into the story. The medicine show setting was unusual, outlining the lives of those forced to live on the fringes of society due, in part , to physical abnormalities.

What I most enjoyed was how Tucia, a former female doctor, lost faith in herself and her abilities at the beginning of the book, but slowly began to fight for herself. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at turns Tucia finds herself in adversity.

The only con is that the title led me to believe the story was set in Galveston , yet most of the book occurs elsewhere. The hurricane of 1900 is a focus after the group arrives on the island. I made many trips there for summer swimming as a child, hence my interest. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you for the advance reader's copy, #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #Kensington All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #NetGalley

I enjoyed the historical fiction, The Medicine Woman of Galveston by new to me author, Amanda Skenandore. I am going to give it five stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From publisher Kensington Books: Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.

Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater.

When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
*******************************
My review: Tucia is stuck in between impossible choices and the poor house. To save herself and her young son she agrees to join a traveling medicine show. Everyone in Huey’s show has a story and the build up to learning all of them was worth it. Great characters who have something to teach about how the world was is one of my favorite things about historical fiction. And this novel by Skenandore is no different. I have been a fan of her work for a while (Mirielle West, anyone?) and Medicine Woman delivers. With determination, intelligence and creativity Tucia forges forward, finds ways to survive, to protect her son, and to help those around her that she can. Darl, Lawrence, Cal and Fanny are all heart wrenching and heart warming characters.
Although Galveston and the storm are relegated to the last part of the story, Tucia's trials, travels and work kept me interested and reading.
Another great one from Skenandore about a string, determined woman.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy of the book in exchange for my review.

I absolutely love Amanda Skenandore's becautiful writing, so I was trilled to get an ARC of this book! Thank you to the author, publisher & netgally!

The story was really good, and true to Skenandore's style, touches on a variety of interesting topics that taught me a lot & also made me want to research them more: the 1900 Galveston hurricane, traveling medicine shows of the time, female physicians of the time, etc. I think the main character ends up really showing her strength and intelligence by the end - something pretty hard for a woman to do in the 1900s (but also something I find so important in novels - I can't stand it when women are portrayed as idiots!).

The only slightly disappointing thing was that based on the title I spent the entire book waiting for the troupe to get to Galveston - but they didn't make it there until 80% of the way through the book. I wish all the characters had arrived in Galveston much earlier & that more of the book was about the city! I understand the title now, having read the book: Tucia DOES in fact become "the medicine woman of Galveston" - but that only really happens in the last chapter or two.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore was an interesting historical novel that explores life in the times of traveling medicine shows. This medicine show also felt like a carnival and shows how easy it was to take advantage of people and their trust, shilling out treatments that didn't really treat. Tucia and her son join the medicine show after Huey, swindler and leader of the show, pay off debts that Tucia has incurred. He dishonestly states terms that will allow her to pay him back and she finds that she will seemingly always be in his debt.
Having Tucia and her medical license as part of the show allows the troupe to meet legal requirements as they scam their way across the country, much to Tucia's dismay. She finds friendship and love along the way. Once the show arrives in Galveston, they face even bigger problems as they find themselves in the middle of a hurricane and its aftermath.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore is filled with twists and sadness. Outcasts traveling in a medicine show all have something in their past that they want to stay hidden. Lucia, a rare female doctor in that age, is running from being a doctor. When the hurricane hits Galveston, will she be able to overcome her past? Will she reclaim her position as a doctor?
A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

Womderful, evocative historical novel. I’m generally fond of circus novels and this one (well, set in a medicine show, but close enough) was a terrific example. Highly, highly recommended.

After a botched surgery that left a woman dead, Dr. Tucia Hatherley gives up the medical profession and goes to work in a corset factory. Tucia is barely scraping by, staying one step ahead of the poorhouse and her disabled son out of an orphanage or asylum. With no other options, Tucia takes a job with a traveling medicine show despite her abhorrence of snake oil salesmen and their bogus medicines. Huey, the leader of the medicine show, is a conman who has no problem threatening Tucia into helping him sell his tonics and backing his outrageous medical diagnoses. Tucia finds small ways to rebel against Huey. Along with reading palms, Tucia passes along basic hygiene and medical advice to the yokels that visit her tent. During her time with the medicine show, Tucia bonds with the other performers—people who have also been blackmailed into staying with Huey. After months on the road, the medicine show settles in Galveston and the performers prepare to go to work in a museum. Saving Tucia from further disgrace at the museum is the Galveston Hurricane. With her young son missing, Tucia braves the storm to find him. She also rediscovers her passion for medicine and helps save the lives of other hurricane victims.

I’m a big fan of Amanda Skenandore and have enjoyed all of her historical novels. She delivers again with THE MEDICINE WOMAN OF GALVESTON. The story takes place in 1900, and follows a young woman who was determined to be a doctor against all odds until a botched surgery costs Tucia her future as a doctor. Tucia has suffered from PTSD since the incident, and she continues to battle it during her time with the medicine show. The other members of the medicine show are also running from their pasts, and they made for a great cast of secondary characters. Huey is clearly a conman from the beginning, but he continues to grow more unlikable and depraved as the story goes.

The title is a little misleading as the majority of the novel takes place on the road. It’s not until the final few chapters that Tucia and the medicine show arrive in Galveston. The hurricane proves to be the final climactic event that forces Tucia to return to being a doctor. This novel is about a woman who battles her past to overcome her past traumas and mental illness all the while raising a disabled child.

I was captured by Tucia's story as soon as I started reading "The Medicine Woman of Galveston". From trailblazer to terror....her career in medicine is short-lived. But a solo mother has to make a living and this is the story of her decision to sign a contract and what transpires.

The rag tag group of oddities she joins in the travelling circus/medical show are fascinating. All with sad histories but hearts of gold. There traveller life is interesting but the drama really lifts once the troupe locates to Galveston for the winter. Tucia's real character comes through...without paralysing fear and without hesitation.

This was my first book by Amanda Skenandore. And she will definately be on my radar in future. I was never bored and loved the substories of the fellow travellers....their telling didn't detract from the richness of Tucia's story and became more relevant as they leaned on at each other at the climax in Galveston.

If you like historical fiction set in USA, with a complex female lead character, you will enjoy this trip through a few years of her life....crazy circus and medicine show life and a nasty ringleader add to Tucia's story. Galveston comes in at the end of the book, so do not read too much into the title which I think should be more like "The Travelling Medicine Woman".

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Book and Amanda Skenandore for my copy.

The synopsis is misleading as the story doesn’t even arrive in Galveston until 80% of the book is over. The story focuses on Tucia—a licensed physician who has sworn off doctoring after a horrible debacle in a surgery room that has left her with severe PTSD. Her fight for survival for she and her Down syndrome son is the crux of the story. She also does self harm of pulling her hair out to cope with stress.

For those who like to know—There are times of cruelty in the story, abuse, sex, and heavy innuendo.

Scattered through the plot are mini stories of the people with her in the Medicine show. They are kind of out of place with the story.

Tucia finally gets her redemption and chance for a new life—-but she has to scratch and claw her way for it.

I just was at Galveston in September so it was nice to “revisit” The Strand. But I expected the story to spend wayyyy more time there.

3 stars tops.

*I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I wasn’t required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This is really about the traveling medicine show. We have a struggling doctor (the title character, Tucia), her son (Toby), a giantess, a poet, a musician, and a tinker. And don't forget Huey, the swindler bad guy we love to hate. This is quite the cast of characters, and they are all headed for the terrible hurricane that is about to hit Galveston. But it's going to take them a while to get there.

I felt for Tucia as she struggled with her flashbacks and nervous tic and as she got entangled with Huey. She is also trying to do her best as a mother to Toby. The other members of the traveling show are big parts of the novel.. I was surprised that each of them had POV chapters. It's almost like the author wanted this to be a story about the members of the show whereas her publisher, or at least the marketing department, wanted to focus on Tucia.

It does take a while to get to Galveston, and this is not a suspenseful or fast-paced book. Some parts could have been tightened to keep the reader's interest.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

2.5 stars

Dr. Tucia Hatherley was trained in medicine, but left the field after a fatal accident during her internship. It became difficult for her to find and hold a job with debilitating flashbacks from the event. Tucia eventually found employment working in a medicine show. The owner, Huey Horn, agreed to pay off her debt to loan sharks and in turn she would work for him. It took her a long time to become comfortable helping to sell “miracle cures,” but with the help of the others working alongside her, Tucia eventually made peace with her job. The troupe traveled to Galveston for an opportunity to work in an oddity museum. Unfortunately, their arrival was closely followed by the devastating 1900 hurricane that ended up wiping out most of the city and its inhabitants.

My thoughts about this book will contain spoilers.

What worked for me: Once Tucia was able to handle her emotions and fears, the story was more interesting. The show’s time in Galveston was the best part of the book. The details of their experience weathering the storm and its aftermath were well written. I loved the members of the show outside of Huey. They were essential to moving the plot along and had interesting back stories. Each one had a brief chapter where they were able to tell their story.

What did not work: The book spent a huge amount of time on Tucia’s flashbacks and nervous tic. The first 60% of the book was the doom and gloom of Tucia's life. I felt the title of the book was misleading as Tucia didn’t set foot in Galveston ever until the last 25% of the book. Overall, while I enjoyed reading the last one third of the story, too much of it dragged for me to rate it any higher.

I received an e-ARC for The Medicine Woman of Galveston and want to thank Amanda Skenandore, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to voluntarily read and give an honest review of this book. The Medicine Woman of Galveston will be published on May 21, 2024.