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stacydodds's review against another edition
emotional
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
danika004's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
violentlyagitated's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
keowolf_09's review against another edition
2.0
The Apothecary’s Daughter by Charlotte Betts
Format: Physical copy , thrifted via masters library
Rating : 2 stars
Genre :
Light spoilers
It’s a no from me dawg.
There were so many points throughout the book that I just wanted to dnf but kept powering through. This really had so little that I enjoyed in this tale. Definitely not a story I’d recommend especially if someone’s tastes are similar to mine I’m genre.
A lot of the reasons certain aspects (racism, slavery and sexism) where included will be attributed to the story being set in the 1600s. However reading it with a 2022 mindset it was difficult to look past/understand why certain characters reacted in the ways they did. Especially since I came to this book just looking for a period romance piece.
Just to highlight some good, the story is written and paced well. The final conversation with Phoebe and Susannah was lovey! That was absolutely my favourite part . The breaking down of barriers between these two was great to see . The ending love story between William and Susannah was lovely to watch unfurl.
Overall the privilege and above stated aspects just made me uncomfortable throughout hence the reason of my low rating of two stars .
Format: Physical copy , thrifted via masters library
Rating : 2 stars
Genre :
Light spoilers
It’s a no from me dawg.
There were so many points throughout the book that I just wanted to dnf but kept powering through. This really had so little that I enjoyed in this tale. Definitely not a story I’d recommend especially if someone’s tastes are similar to mine I’m genre.
A lot of the reasons certain aspects (racism, slavery and sexism) where included will be attributed to the story being set in the 1600s. However reading it with a 2022 mindset it was difficult to look past/understand why certain characters reacted in the ways they did. Especially since I came to this book just looking for a period romance piece.
Just to highlight some good, the story is written and paced well. The final conversation with Phoebe and Susannah was lovey! That was absolutely my favourite part . The breaking down of barriers between these two was great to see . The ending love story between William and Susannah was lovely to watch unfurl.
Overall the privilege and above stated aspects just made me uncomfortable throughout hence the reason of my low rating of two stars .
hezzann's review against another edition
2.0
It started promisingly enough, but quickly became predictable and overwrought.
rosiev425's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anovelstart's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this book on a whim; I was looking for a new book in the historical fiction genre when I came across this book. The blurb sounded very interesting so I took a chance; thankfully after finishing it I'm able to give it five stars. It's one of the best books I've read in a while.
The novel is set in the Victorian period in London. Plague is rife, there is smog everywhere and eventually even the Great Fire makes an appearance. This is the story of a young woman who is very independent; her life is turned upside down when her father re-marries after 11 years of widowhood. She has three choices; stay in the cramped apothecary's shop with her father, step-mother and her new step-brothers and sisters, move out and become a servant in another household, or marry.
There's always something going on in this book and the author really knows how to make you care for the main character Susannah. Her worries are your worries. The author has an amazing insight into the world during this period (e.g. ash falling from the sky and constantly getting soot on your face from the dirty air). She also brings amazing clarity to those who do not have kids by describing Susannah's pregnancy in such detail that it makes you squirm.
I really liked this book mainly because of the good storyline; the author doesn't keep repeating the same thing over and over again but is constantly pressing forward with the story. This is very good because it feeds the readers excitement and anxiety for the main characters.
This book is only 400 pages and I finished it in two days, I really couldn't put it down. If you like historical fiction, a bit of heartbreak, romance and well-developed characters, this book is definitely for you. I highly recommend The Apothecary's Apprentice!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
The novel is set in the Victorian period in London. Plague is rife, there is smog everywhere and eventually even the Great Fire makes an appearance. This is the story of a young woman who is very independent; her life is turned upside down when her father re-marries after 11 years of widowhood. She has three choices; stay in the cramped apothecary's shop with her father, step-mother and her new step-brothers and sisters, move out and become a servant in another household, or marry.
There's always something going on in this book and the author really knows how to make you care for the main character Susannah. Her worries are your worries. The author has an amazing insight into the world during this period (e.g. ash falling from the sky and constantly getting soot on your face from the dirty air). She also brings amazing clarity to those who do not have kids by describing Susannah's pregnancy in such detail that it makes you squirm.
I really liked this book mainly because of the good storyline; the author doesn't keep repeating the same thing over and over again but is constantly pressing forward with the story. This is very good because it feeds the readers excitement and anxiety for the main characters.
This book is only 400 pages and I finished it in two days, I really couldn't put it down. If you like historical fiction, a bit of heartbreak, romance and well-developed characters, this book is definitely for you. I highly recommend The Apothecary's Apprentice!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
jsuispoesie's review
1.0
Nonostante le buone premesse questo libro non mi è piaciuto.
L'autrice ha scelto un'epoca molto particolare, ricca di spunti, ma non è riuscita a sfruttarli. La peste è un mero pretesto di sfondo, la religione non viene minimamente presa in considerazione, mentre viene dato largo spazio alla storia d'amore con l'aitante e bellissimo protagonista maschile. Nelle prime 100 pagine succedono un'infinità di cose, dopodiché la narrazione rallenta tanto da diventare stagnante e ripetitiva. Nessuno dei tanti personaggi è ben caratterizzato, tranne la protagonista che comunque risulta un po' fuori dal mondo: per fare un esempio a un certo punto vuole trovarsi un lavoro e sono gli uomini a doverle dire che, da donna, certe cose non le può fare, lasciandola di stucco. Perché? Una donna nel XVII secolo davvero non sapeva quale era il suo ruolo e quali cose poteva o non poteva fare? Sembrano escamotage usati solamente per dimostrare che la protagonista è combattiva e moderna, ma sono totalmente irrealistici. Come ho detto la scrittrice accenna tante tematiche ma non ne sviluppa nessuna: la schiavitù, la peste, il ruolo della donna, l'aborto. Se si fosse concentrata su meno personaggi e meno tematiche forse il libro sarebbe stato migliore.
L'autrice ha scelto un'epoca molto particolare, ricca di spunti, ma non è riuscita a sfruttarli. La peste è un mero pretesto di sfondo, la religione non viene minimamente presa in considerazione, mentre viene dato largo spazio alla storia d'amore con l'aitante e bellissimo protagonista maschile. Nelle prime 100 pagine succedono un'infinità di cose, dopodiché la narrazione rallenta tanto da diventare stagnante e ripetitiva. Nessuno dei tanti personaggi è ben caratterizzato, tranne la protagonista che comunque risulta un po' fuori dal mondo: per fare un esempio a un certo punto vuole trovarsi un lavoro e sono gli uomini a doverle dire che, da donna, certe cose non le può fare, lasciandola di stucco. Perché? Una donna nel XVII secolo davvero non sapeva quale era il suo ruolo e quali cose poteva o non poteva fare? Sembrano escamotage usati solamente per dimostrare che la protagonista è combattiva e moderna, ma sono totalmente irrealistici. Come ho detto la scrittrice accenna tante tematiche ma non ne sviluppa nessuna: la schiavitù, la peste, il ruolo della donna, l'aborto. Se si fosse concentrata su meno personaggi e meno tematiche forse il libro sarebbe stato migliore.
claretevans's review against another edition
3.0
A very interesting first novel from an author local to me. Competent, and the apothecary detail was very well researched.