Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

97 reviews

celestialg's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I love a story based in real history. Add in a little medical drama alongside the “magic” apothecaries were accused of conjuring and AUGH!! This was a real treat. Lovely quick little read, despite the novel’s subject matter. 

PS FURTHER PROOF THAT WE DON’T TRUST MEN WITH J NAMES.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Infertility, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicide and Infidelity

peytonktracy's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

A little trite and on the nose, but mostly enjoyable. I felt like there was so much happening that nothing ever truly landed except the author really driving home the point about women not being recorded in history, and even that felt a little forced. Mostly accurate historic research experience, and the premise was super interesting. Also, the little feminine satisfaction that there was not one redeemable male character in this book…

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, and Pedophilia

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

annniina98's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

evhanson's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

blewballoon's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This wasn't bad, but it had a lot of tropes I'm a bit tired of. I wouldn't recommend this book to men, since most of them are portrayed in a cartoonishly villainous way. I find it boring when women character arcs are focused on motherhood/pregnancy, men, and not much else.

In a ridiculous example, A 12 year old girl's plot and decisions mostly revolve around not knowing what a period is and assuming the blood is caused by a dead man haunting her.

There are 3 POV characters, and I felt like they all over-explained what was going on. I feel like there should have been more trust in the reader to understand the nuances of the situations and emotions. I listened to this on audiobook and the narrators did a great job with their characters, though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide and Pregnancy

melanieripple's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicide

Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment

hales_1243's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical content, Gaslighting, and Infertility

Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment

andloveistoolong's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Pregnancy

bzliz's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

In the present, Caroline is dealing with processing her husband’s infidelity and the possibility she might be pregnant when she finds a blue vial marked with a bear that leads her into a whirlwind research journey to discover its origins and secrets. In the past, Nella dispenses poisons to women looking to off men in their lives who had wronged them, set off by her own betrayal at the hands of a man she had loved and trusted. Eliza comes into her life as one such customer, on behalf of her employer, and is endlessly curious about Nella’s work. 

If you can overlook the sheer luck Caroline has with her research, this is perfect for any fans of forgotten history who also search for answers in historical texts and can formulate theories but will never be able to fully corroborate their findings. The Lost Apothecary does not mince words here- so many women have been forgotten by history without any record of their existence. At times, it re-treads conflict already in motion and gets the tiniest bit repetitive but I still found the story satisfying and

I’m so delighted that Caroline is leaving the man who cheated on her, then gaslit her about it and the poisoned himself to try to trap her into staying with him.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, Pregnancy, and Infertility

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Infidelity, Alcohol, Death, Sexual harassment, Blood, and Gaslighting