Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - The Lost Apothecary

Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

265 reviews

evaporeon's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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an_a_list_alias's review against another edition

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hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Interesting premise and easy read, could be a tad faster at times. I believe the POV of the twelve year old could have been written better, too much telling (I.e 'in my TWELVE years of life...') instead of showing (acting or thinking like someone of that age).

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julbel's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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? It's complicated

3.0

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hello_lovely13's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book was very good at intrigue; when the POVs changed, I usually wanted to know what happened next. However, I wasn’t as connected to the main characters as I wanted. Caroline was my favorite, but I didn’t like that

she threw the vial back in the river (so stupid, it could have been important evidence for her research; I get protecting Eliza’s story, but still; also, isn’t the point of the register that their stories are usually forgotten or erased from history, and she just did that? I get protecting this secret, but currently a bit on the fence whether I agree with it)

. I also didn’t like

the part of the pregnancy, for Caroline and the emphasis on motherhood in general in the book. It’s just not for me. Also, if she took James back, I would have been SO ANGRY. Thankfully, she didn’t, though.

Nella was all right to follow, though not written as the most interesting character, despite her premise being the most interesting. It often came off to me as the person keeping the plot together, which is unfortunate. Eliza, though sweet, was my least favorite perspective to read in. I personally am not a fan of reading about that sort of youthful naïveté.

However, her not understanding periods and thinking it a ghost, resulting in a bunch of drama??? This felt very silly, a bit enduring at first, but quickly turned into frustrating.

For the ending, I was happy for all of the characters, but the slight twist it added at the end felt a bit out of place. I know the author probably wanted it to come off as whimsical, and it sort of did, but the tone just didn’t match the rest of the book, so I didn’t like it very much.

I mean, out of nowhere magic is real? With no display of it for more than 90% of the book? There are 3 scenes with it display (more like 2.5): the bookshop boy telling Eliza about being a stillborn and a potion reviving him, the reveal that Eliza survives the jump with the potion she made, and the ending scene. Making Eliza sort of right is just weird and doesn’t fit the rest of the book. Real magic and ghosts? Really? Kind of a ridiculous ending, if you ask me. Those things didn’t need to be included. If she added just the two women walking along the river and disappearing when Caroline throws there vial in the river and Eliza surviving (though not implying with MAGIC), then that would have been okay, not precisely ideal, but fine. But everything? Not for me. I would have preferred no implication at all that ghosts and magic were real in this world. It makes more sense for the story, as well as the story’s tone. Eliza was supposed to come off as a naive child for a reason (because she is), not for a twist at the end that she was right!

Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one I’ll be gushing about.

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temeade's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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paigecrichards's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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eberlin's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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mmesa1020's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-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

I listened to this as an audiobook and it felt QUITE slow, especially the ending.

The plot was relatively good, but I felt that the writing style made the story drag on during certain parts of the book.

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reka111's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other.

Honestly, even though this book used to be a DNF for me, I liked it immensely now. It was so lifelike, and I would even say modern, in a word, brilliantly written.

The characters were lovable, each in their own way (well, except for James, he was more of a toxicer) little Eliza was a staple of my heart, but Nella was still my favourite. The tremendous helpfulness, acceptance, and struggle that burned within her was extremely inspiring.

Although the plot ran on two time threads, it was not confusing, the events followed each other nicely, it was understandable and simple. Basically, it took place over a few days (both modern and past) so I think the time was right. I really liked the wording, it was a bit like reading a diary, and even the first-person POV didn't bother me. The end was closed nicely, albeit slightly open.

Overall, I really liked it and recommend it to anyone who loves history and poisons, but doesn't want anything big.

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basimmons2020's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious slow-paced

2.75

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