I should have known by the cover that this book was alittle over the top. Everyone who saw me reading it was also slightly disturbed and had lots of questions. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the book and being an OB/GYN nurse, the midwifery parts, too. The details of the torture scenes and the sadistic personality of the Inquisitor were too graphic and upsetting to me to allow me to relax and enjoy the story. I've already sold it back to the used bookstore that I purchased it from.