4.5 stars, rounded up.

Herman has created a work that is morbid, disgusting, and details the ways that our own past cures and accoutrements could kill us, whether administered by our own hand or by our enemies. Perhaps it says something about me as a person, then, that I enjoyed this so much.

This book is not for the squeamish; however, it is also well-researched, flows well, and has some quietly funny moments. To be fair, I am predisposed to enjoy books about royalty and socio-political intrigue, but I think anyone who is remotely interested in history should give this a try.