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katelynprice's review
3.5
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Murder, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual assault
ems_rxlibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This novel is, at its core, a story of a woman scorned. Nella is an apothecary who learned everything she knows from her mother. They treated women’s ailments up until a man came into Nella’s life and turned it upside down. Now she helps women murder their adulterous husbands via poisons.
Caroline has just found out an awful secret about her husband right before their 10th anniversary trip to London, so rather than cancel, she takes the trip on her own. On her first day she stumbles upon a mysterious vial with an engraving on it and decides to investigate it. While doing so she uncovers the secrets of the past.
I loved Nella and Eliza’s storyline. Caroline’s wasn’t my most favorite, but I did like how it aligned with the past narrative.
For being a debut novel I felt the writing was pretty strong. I sometimes feel that debut novels suffer from clunky dialogue or robotic storylines, but this one didn’t. I also appreciated the content at the end- the apothecary of poisons was just fun to read.
Graphic: Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Incest, Cursing, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Miscarriage
brittneyw9's review
3.25
Minor: Death, Cursing, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
bookishgoob's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit