Reviews

Nightshade by E.S. Thomson

Only show reviews with written explanations

richmondo's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

elrose20's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I had great expectations for this book. I really love books that take place in the 1800 in England, and books talking about apothecarys.
But I personally struggled with this book and found it hard to get through it.
The setting was really good. The characters seemed nice and friendly.
But I found the book to be a bit dense with a lot going on but at the same time not much going on ?

At the end I ended skipping a few pages just to see what had happened and get the book over with.

boandr's review

Go to review page

4.25

For me, the entire series of Jem Flockhart Mysteries is a five-star, and I’m forever lamenting that they are not more widely read.

Everything about this series, from the rich history and knowledge-driven environment-building, to the relationships between different characters, and the pervasive theme of gender equality and role of women, compels me completely and I’d easily talk about it for hours.

The writing style, too, is so unique in how it intertwines the present and past to provide further clues for the reader to make their guesses. Continually, you’re reassessing your judgements and finding just how messy a mystery can be- as a reader, it keeps you intrigued, and also emphasises Jem’s keen deductive logic by contrast.

I really adore this series, it may be one of my all-time favourites, and I couldn’t recommend it more!

traceychick's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

alcea's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

gregoreads's review

Go to review page

5.0

Another excellent edition to the Jem Flockhart series. Mystery, murder, poisons, and my favourite little found apothecary family!

julesbarthe10's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Overall a good YA victorian style mystery. Nothing too boring or confusing and offers informative tidbits on apothecary plants. Also enjoyed that you don't have to read the books in an order each is its own mystery. This go around Jem an apothecary shop owner and hobby detective finds his life full of questions when he finds a body in his garden that links possibly to his dead mother. Jem needs to find who the body is and how it links to a mother he hardly knew.