Recs if you like Opium and Absinthe...

Fiction (and some non-fiction) across genres featuring plagues, poisons, palace physicians, healers, and pre-antibiotic chaos. If it involves herbs, plagues, questionable remedies, court intrigue, or a morally complex healer experimenting in the corner, I want it.

red herring: 1. a dried smoked herring, which is turned red by the smoke. 2. a clue or piece of information that is, or is intended to be, misleading or distracting. these will make you go on a fishing expedition, if you will. this list will feature books highlighting the second definition.

Standalone books worth a read or repeat!