mattiedancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- Fans of historical books that have a split POV with modern perspective
- Someone looking for a cool concept over everything else
- Fans of witchy history who are looking for an easy read
- Pregnancy, adultery, murder, sexism, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of parent, self-harm, suicide, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, terminal illness, poison, gun violence, medical trauma, classism, injury, injury detail, fire, pedophilia, incest, infertility
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Infertility, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Child death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
taylortome's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
lyfeistrip's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Infertility, Incest, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cancer, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Vomit, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Death
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I think I'm just too gay for this. The whole thing is that women are upset with men for their wrong-doings but the author tried so hard to make Caroline go back and forth about what she was going to do about her husband's infidelity: did she still want to be with him, did she still love him, etc. and all I could think is "just leave him!" He was an absolute bastard especially when
Spoiler
it was revealed at the end that he drank the oil on purpose to manipulate herOn another note, I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's wrongs! Nella and Eliza's story was arguably the most compelling part of this book. Poor Eliza went through so much at such a young age but I'm so glad that her mistress had her back and was willing to kill her husband in order to protect Eliza.
Spoiler
And then to get her first period shortly after he dies and not knowing what it was was so heartbreaking and proves how important sex ed isAnd Nella
Spoiler
deciding to help her lover's wife kill him after he made both of them miscarrySpoiler
Nella almost seeing Eliza as the daughter she never got to have was cute,So yeah, I liked the premise of this story but the execution could have used a little more work I think.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage
theclandestinequill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Murder, Abortion, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
graceert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Infertility and Miscarriage
Minor: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
mbutler5693's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child death
gabydoesgrowth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It fell into the same pitfalls as a lot of books. There was no follow through - the characters didn’t seem to grow even when it seemed like it was the only thing that could happen next.
The historical aspect was the most interesting for me, but it felt very hollow - as if the author didn’t quite research it well enough.
Spoiler
I really hated the narrative of the piece of shit husband that kept her from following her dreams and what felt like blatant elitism surrounding her expectations of higher education. It was annoying. Also annoying was how conveniently she was able to find the lost apothecary.Moderate: Emotional abuse