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paper_dragon'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? Yes
2.0
Which includes somehow discovering an entirely untouched, unexplored, two hundred year old apothecary that no one else in London has discovered or entered in all these years. And that she could acceptably keep hidden when it contains books and notes still in decent enough condition to be read and recorded, but they're fine to keep secret. As a fan of historical texts, and the proper recording of them for prosperity, this was infuriating.
The largest conflict, seemingly ham-fisted to juxtapose the two timelines, regarding the police felt rather forced solely so that there could be tension in an otherwise quiet story. They would not immediately jump to assuming she had poisoned her husband with Eucalyptus oil and then continue like an ominous television cop regarding her innocence in the situation.
With two timelines and three focal characters, there was always going to be some sense of shortness with the story being told. But the introspective nature of the tale meant much of the forward moment was lost to repetitious self reflection. From Nella and Caroline this was often thoughts about children, it was weirdly obsessive in some of its fixation on women as child bearing persons and the influence of that on their life
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
ahoijules's review against another edition
2.0
Ich empfand das Buch als furchtbar langatmig mit vielen Beschreibungen und Erklärungen, die nicht nötig gewesen wären, um das Buch zu verstehen. Ich hatte Probleme mit den Protagonistinnen warm zu werden und fand keine so richtig spannend. Auch dauerte es bis gut zwei Drittel des Buchs bis die Handlung langsam an Fahrt aufgenommen hat.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death, and Infertility
junglejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Someone of the writing near the end was a bit clumsy and the characters stereotypical. But Penner knows exactly how to write mysteriously and have you hooked, I needed to know what happened to the two 18th century characters, and this alone is what kept me reading.
Overall a below average book for me hence the rating.
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Vomit
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcoholism, Grief, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
bambifaun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Infertility, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Death, Grief, and Murder
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
jkohls's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Murder, Grief, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Incest, Infidelity, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, Medical content, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Rape
whatthekatdraggedin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide attempt
murve's review against another edition
2.75
Moderate: Pregnancy
suchallie'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Chronic illness, Murder, Drug use, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Blood
Specific trigger content re: abortion/miscarriage/pregnancy:lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Sexual harassment