Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

59 reviews

jkeishia's review

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Gaslighting

amberk032's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

vedpears's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

2.0

This book is somewhat difficult for me to rate. I liked the characters, loved the setting, and enjoyed the pace and motion the story was told through. I could easily imagine myself bustling along with the characters. I enjoyed the portrayal of someone of higher class status completely mucking things up for themselves and everyone around them because they felt entitled to something. 

However, the book completely got muddled up because Penner decided to use that awful story telling element - drama ensues because characters refuse to say one simple line that would clear up the whole misunderstanding! I hate this with a passion, so automatically loses 2 stars for that. 

Another star is lost because Caroline doesn't make sense/is not well written and she takes up half the pages. She is passionate about history so when starting her life over, she decides to pursue... literature? Police are cautioning her to better safeguard toxic substances and she instead worries about how she doesn't have a child to worry about poisoning? It seems Penner was hinting that James was manipulative and employed gaslighting and emotional abuse when interacting with his wife, so Caroline should be written with that in mind. She was angry and was sharp with James. When he said "you're the one who tore up your college application," Penner should have had Caroline react how a woman in that relationship would have reacted at that point. If she is fighting to get away and divorce him, she would be arguing with him or making him see that he made it into an ultimatum. In regards to her relationship with James, Caroline was simply not fleshed out enough. She was angry enough to flee the country just to get away from him. She would definitely still have that anger and react accordingly upon seeing him. Poor writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Blood, Infidelity, Death, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Drug use, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Classism

spootilious's review

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.0

 

Read: December 13, 2022 

Title: The Lost Apothecary 

Author: Sarah Penner 

 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Rating: 2/5 

Review: 

I really wanted to love this book. I went into it excited about the history, adventure and the numerous female main characters. What was there not to love regarding a story about a woman who runs an apothecary that helps women murder men that have jaded them? 

 

First thing I noticed is that present day main character is extremely melodramatic and puts far too much of her self-worth on whether or not she can have a baby. Then Nella, one of the main characters in the late 1700s is mirrored in this… along with one of her clients. It felt as if each of these women portrayed themselves as useless if they could not have a child. I suppose this makes sense in the 1700s for the wealthy but rubbed me the wrong way. 

 

One the opposite side, every man in this story (with the exception of the bachelor that goes mud larking and the bookshop attendant (that may or may not end up murdered, so I rather not count him)) are all described in disgusting manners and are outright manipulative, feral, or aggressive. While I understand why this is the case I would have liked to see one (supporting) male character to cling to and be reminded that not all men are that terrible. 

 

I also found the story to be extremely predictable along with the ‘happy’ ending that felt far too unrealistic. It wasn’t HOW everyone was saved but rather that they were saved. I think the story would have had more substance if there were consequences to the actions of our main characters rather than these happy endings (specifically Eliza and Nella). 

 

Overall, the 2-star rating is taking into account that I can see why others like it. The premise is good, the message of choosing yourself, and your passion, over what society would force upon you is great. The book has a steady pace and is easy to read. Those that want to get into historical fiction or just enjoy slice of life reads would enjoy this. It is simply not for me. 

 

 

Quotes: 

N/A 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Child death, Infidelity, Incest, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Rape

vanesst's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Death of parent, Murder, Suicide, Death, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Grief

Moderate: Infertility, Classism, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Child death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Medical content

sven47's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Gaslighting

trisarahtopps06's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abortion

Minor: Child abuse and Rape

erikalv97's review

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I was really excited to read this book, so I had high hopes for it, while it wasn’t exactly what I expected, it was not a bad read.

I don’t particularly enjoyed the “present” story, but I enjoyed the eighteenth century one. 

Overall, it’s a book with a great concept and it had some plot twists that surprised me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

idun_aurora's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This took me a while to finish, but despite the feeling of swimming in syrup at times, I also found myself raging passionately at the story at times, which was a good sign. I loved the portrayal of female friendship, and having gotten out of a toxic relationship myself, this book hit spots and gave courage. All in all, it was okay.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

allycat21's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, and Miscarriage