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A review by plantladyreader
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
5.0
While I went into this book expecting more of a fantasy read, I was in no way disappointed! CW: adultery, fertility issues, abuse, murder.
Told in dual timelines, we follow Caroline in present day, trying to cope with her "perfect" husband cheating on her, and losing the vision of the life they were trying to build. While this event initially rocks Caroline, it also allows her to take some time for herself, and really think about her life and if it went the way she had initially thought. Jetting off to London on a trip that was supposed to be for two, Caroline stumbles across a group of "mudlarkers" combing the river at low-tide, looking for treasure. A blue glass vial ignites the old historian in Caroline, and she begins to attempt to discover where it came from, and how it ended up in the river.
1791: Nella is an apothecary, like her mother before her. Having taken over the store, Nella assists the women of London with their ailments and pains. When she is scorned by the man she loves, Nella's apothecary shop takes a dark turn: she'll still provide her usual tinctures, but she will also help dispose of men who deserve it. Providing hidden poisons to the women who know to ask, Nella keeps a log of all those men who have met a wicked end by the hand of her poisons. When spunky young lady's maid, Eliza, comes into her shop, seeking poison on behalf of her mistress, a series of events results in an unlikely friendship and a run for their lives.
I loved the stories of the women in this book. Caroline fell into a life she thought she wanted, blinding herself to everything she was giving up in herself for the benefit of her husband. While she was devastated by the adultery, it helped show her the man she had given up so much for, and helped her find her way back to herself. Nella's turn into the wicked side of herbal remedies was an interesting story to read about, and the relationship that she and Eliza grew to have was also really lovely. Reading how the two stories were inevitably going to intertwine was a great historical fiction twist, and I could definitely relate to Caroline's obsession with finding the origin of the vial - I would definitely want to do the same!
Overall, I definitely thought this was going to be a fantasy novel, but it was more an historical novel with a finding-yourself twist that was thoroughly enjoyable. I'll definitely be seeking out more from this author!
5
Told in dual timelines, we follow Caroline in present day, trying to cope with her "perfect" husband cheating on her, and losing the vision of the life they were trying to build. While this event initially rocks Caroline, it also allows her to take some time for herself, and really think about her life and if it went the way she had initially thought. Jetting off to London on a trip that was supposed to be for two, Caroline stumbles across a group of "mudlarkers" combing the river at low-tide, looking for treasure. A blue glass vial ignites the old historian in Caroline, and she begins to attempt to discover where it came from, and how it ended up in the river.
1791: Nella is an apothecary, like her mother before her. Having taken over the store, Nella assists the women of London with their ailments and pains. When she is scorned by the man she loves, Nella's apothecary shop takes a dark turn: she'll still provide her usual tinctures, but she will also help dispose of men who deserve it. Providing hidden poisons to the women who know to ask, Nella keeps a log of all those men who have met a wicked end by the hand of her poisons. When spunky young lady's maid, Eliza, comes into her shop, seeking poison on behalf of her mistress, a series of events results in an unlikely friendship and a run for their lives.
I loved the stories of the women in this book. Caroline fell into a life she thought she wanted, blinding herself to everything she was giving up in herself for the benefit of her husband. While she was devastated by the adultery, it helped show her the man she had given up so much for, and helped her find her way back to herself. Nella's turn into the wicked side of herbal remedies was an interesting story to read about, and the relationship that she and Eliza grew to have was also really lovely. Reading how the two stories were inevitably going to intertwine was a great historical fiction twist, and I could definitely relate to Caroline's obsession with finding the origin of the vial - I would definitely want to do the same!
Overall, I definitely thought this was going to be a fantasy novel, but it was more an historical novel with a finding-yourself twist that was thoroughly enjoyable. I'll definitely be seeking out more from this author!
5