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v171's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a captivating story about sisterhood, friendship, and women supporting women. It was fast paced and gripping from start to end. Though it was a bit one-note, I thought it was overall enjoyable.
On paper, this book ticks all the boxes of an excellent story. Great construction, good writing, great pacing, and good character development. However the themes of the book were just so heavy handed that it was almost boring to read despite doing everything else fine. The overall theme of the book is women supporting women. All the women in the book were either great or redeemed, and all of the men of the book were pretty much trash. That's great, I love that. I can get down with that. However, it seemed that just about every chapter it had to be spelled out how important it was for women to support women. For some reason the author felt it necessary to both show and tell this central theme over and over again. It required no critical thinking of the reader. I found my eyes glazing over as I took in all of the information at face value. I didn't need to think about it twice, and at the end of the book I thought to myself "well that was nice."
This is a good story, but what you see is what you get. Don't expect anything particularly thought provoking because what you're supposed to think is spelled out for you in the pages over and over again.
On paper, this book ticks all the boxes of an excellent story. Great construction, good writing, great pacing, and good character development. However the themes of the book were just so heavy handed that it was almost boring to read despite doing everything else fine. The overall theme of the book is women supporting women. All the women in the book were either great or redeemed, and all of the men of the book were pretty much trash. That's great, I love that. I can get down with that. However, it seemed that just about every chapter it had to be spelled out how important it was for women to support women. For some reason the author felt it necessary to both show and tell this central theme over and over again. It required no critical thinking of the reader. I found my eyes glazing over as I took in all of the information at face value. I didn't need to think about it twice, and at the end of the book I thought to myself "well that was nice."
This is a good story, but what you see is what you get. Don't expect anything particularly thought provoking because what you're supposed to think is spelled out for you in the pages over and over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Incest and Pedophilia
wai's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I was really excited for this book when I saw it listed as an option for Book of the Month as the summary was really compelling. Unfortunately that wasn't true of the novel. I did finish it since it was relatively short and easy to read, and it wasn't the worst book I've ever read. But it just felt so shallow. Primarily I felt like things were far too easy for the main character Caroline regarding figuring things out about some random apothecary from the 1700s. I know it was implied at the end that this was because of ~magic~ it really didn't come off like that, it came off as if the main character was a Mary Sue to the point of total disbelief. Although I guess if you read it as like "look how easy it is for a mediocre white woman to be lauded" critique of white liberal feminism, which this book feels very steeped in.
Secondarily I just felt like there was such inconsistency with how the child character Eliza was written. She was 12 but the voice felt very similar to how the older apothecary Nella was written, making her sound much older than that. I could forgive just that, but it's almost like the author knew this and tried to backtrack it by having her not know random things. She had no idea about menstruation, despite having grown up on a farm tending to the animals ????? I find it hard to believe she had never been told that or heard about it in other contexts - yes there was prudishness during this era but it was still discussed particularly between mothers and daughters. It just felt not very well thought out to me.
I wish this was just a historical fiction about Nella and the young girl Eliza. Caroline bored me so much, and I couldn't find her relatable at all. I found myself thinking "thank god I am not cisgender or heterosexual" so many times during her sections. Boring, miserable "I gave up everything for my husband who clearly hates me and still cheated on me" like I feel so harsh but it's true. I hate that kind of stereotype of cishet relationships and I refuse to live like that.
Anyways it was just a mediocre book, I do not recommend it.
Secondarily I just felt like there was such inconsistency with how the child character Eliza was written. She was 12 but the voice felt very similar to how the older apothecary Nella was written, making her sound much older than that. I could forgive just that, but it's almost like the author knew this and tried to backtrack it by having her not know random things. She had no idea about menstruation, despite having grown up on a farm tending to the animals ????? I find it hard to believe she had never been told that or heard about it in other contexts - yes there was prudishness during this era but it was still discussed particularly between mothers and daughters. It just felt not very well thought out to me.
I wish this was just a historical fiction about Nella and the young girl Eliza. Caroline bored me so much, and I couldn't find her relatable at all. I found myself thinking "thank god I am not cisgender or heterosexual" so many times during her sections. Boring, miserable "I gave up everything for my husband who clearly hates me and still cheated on me" like I feel so harsh but it's true. I hate that kind of stereotype of cishet relationships and I refuse to live like that.
Anyways it was just a mediocre book, I do not recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest
spinesinaline's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Thanks to the publisher for an e-ARC!
If you like a bit of mystery and are a lover of historical fiction, you’re going to love this book, and I can see why there are so many fans already. I’m incredibly impressed that this is a debut because the author has a very strong narrative voice and I’m looking forward to reading more of her writing.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this apothecary who offers poisons to help women, but even more pleased with the inclusion of research and libraries that takes over much of the present-day chapters.
The narrative is presented in shifting perspectives, Nella and Eliza in the 1700s and Caroline in the present. Their worlds start to connect quite early in the book but it’s only when Caroline really stumbles on some key records in her research that the pace picks up and characters in both time periods are fighting against time to survive.
Many readers are calling it fast-paced and it is in terms of the plot of both past and present perspectives, especially with how quickly Caroline is able to do research, but I actually found it overall to be more of a medium-paced read because we keep switching back and forth between the past and present. With each switch, those stories are paused so it slows down the reveals quite a lot.
I did enjoy the back and forth to some extent, as I loved the inclusion of the British Library and getting to uncover this mysterious history vicariously through Caroline’s research, but I much preferred the historical chapters. The characters and their story were much more enjoyable and engaging, where the present-day was more explicitly focused on the apparent feminist theme of the book.
Caroline and her struggles with her marriage, as well as her attempts to create a life for herself, are in quite obvious contrast to the desperate attempts that women in the 18th century had to go through to find peace and safety, but it pulled too much focus from the mystery of the apothecary. I think there could’ve been improvement if there had been more chapters from Nella and Eliza’s perspectives, or even if Caroline had been written out entirely.
The main thing that was upsetting for me is how convenient the research process was. While I loved that the author made use of the British Library and makes mention of the online databases available, as well as the unpredictable wait times for physical documents, the fact that all the answers they’re seeking are conveniently digitized and found within minutes was too oversimplified for my tastes.
I can totally understand that this simplification can be necessary in containing the story, and I see how this would be a thrilling story for the general public and folks who may have no experience with archival research or academic programs, but as someone all too familiar with those things, the fantastical versions of these for popular literature was a bit too much for me.
I still loved being immersed in historical England and learning more about women of the past, and this intriguing mystery was a great first taste of what some of those hidden secrets could be.
If you like a bit of mystery and are a lover of historical fiction, you’re going to love this book, and I can see why there are so many fans already. I’m incredibly impressed that this is a debut because the author has a very strong narrative voice and I’m looking forward to reading more of her writing.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this apothecary who offers poisons to help women, but even more pleased with the inclusion of research and libraries that takes over much of the present-day chapters.
The narrative is presented in shifting perspectives, Nella and Eliza in the 1700s and Caroline in the present. Their worlds start to connect quite early in the book but it’s only when Caroline really stumbles on some key records in her research that the pace picks up and characters in both time periods are fighting against time to survive.
Many readers are calling it fast-paced and it is in terms of the plot of both past and present perspectives, especially with how quickly Caroline is able to do research, but I actually found it overall to be more of a medium-paced read because we keep switching back and forth between the past and present. With each switch, those stories are paused so it slows down the reveals quite a lot.
I did enjoy the back and forth to some extent, as I loved the inclusion of the British Library and getting to uncover this mysterious history vicariously through Caroline’s research, but I much preferred the historical chapters. The characters and their story were much more enjoyable and engaging, where the present-day was more explicitly focused on the apparent feminist theme of the book.
Caroline and her struggles with her marriage, as well as her attempts to create a life for herself, are in quite obvious contrast to the desperate attempts that women in the 18th century had to go through to find peace and safety, but it pulled too much focus from the mystery of the apothecary. I think there could’ve been improvement if there had been more chapters from Nella and Eliza’s perspectives, or even if Caroline had been written out entirely.
The main thing that was upsetting for me is how convenient the research process was. While I loved that the author made use of the British Library and makes mention of the online databases available, as well as the unpredictable wait times for physical documents, the fact that all the answers they’re seeking are conveniently digitized and found within minutes was too oversimplified for my tastes.
I can totally understand that this simplification can be necessary in containing the story, and I see how this would be a thrilling story for the general public and folks who may have no experience with archival research or academic programs, but as someone all too familiar with those things, the fantastical versions of these for popular literature was a bit too much for me.
I still loved being immersed in historical England and learning more about women of the past, and this intriguing mystery was a great first taste of what some of those hidden secrets could be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Incest, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Death of parent
mochi21's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this in one sitting. It's just that kind of story. It's not my usual choice for genre either.
The ending is lovely as well. Satisfying, left me with a smile.
I couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried.
Oh, and can we talk about that gorgeous cover art? It should get an award just for that.
The ending is lovely as well. Satisfying, left me with a smile.
I couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried.
Oh, and can we talk about that gorgeous cover art? It should get an award just for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism and Incest