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A review by megelizabeth
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
"..the hardest truths never rest on the surface. They must be dredged up, held to the light and rinsed clean."
There's so much I loved about this book. The story is intriguing and well-paced, the characters are compelling, and the overall themes of female solidarity and the importance of history are super powerful. I loved both the unlikely friendships that develop between the characters who are together in time, and the sense of some kind of bond between those living centuries apart. There's a strong and haunting sense of place and time, a brilliant build-up of tension, and a satisfying ending.
Although I loved this on the whole, I did find some elements a little far-fetched and unbelievable, and found Caroline's character frustrating at times as some of her decisions just make no sense. I also wasn't a fan of the romance that's alluded to; it gets barely any page time and isn't a huge part of the plot, but it bothered me that the older character's age is never specified. It would've been so easy not to include it, so it bugged me that it was there at all if a key element wasn't going to be made clear.
I'd still recommend this, as it's such an interesting read and certainly one that will stay with me. It's heavy and often bleak - definitely check content warnings - but its subtle messages of hope and solidarity make it wonderfully bittersweet, and I'm keen to see what Sarah Penner comes out with next.
There's so much I loved about this book. The story is intriguing and well-paced, the characters are compelling, and the overall themes of female solidarity and the importance of history are super powerful. I loved both the unlikely friendships that develop between the characters who are together in time, and the sense of some kind of bond between those living centuries apart. There's a strong and haunting sense of place and time, a brilliant build-up of tension, and a satisfying ending.
Although I loved this on the whole, I did find some elements a little far-fetched and unbelievable, and found Caroline's character frustrating at times as some of her decisions just make no sense. I also wasn't a fan of the romance that's alluded to; it gets barely any page time and isn't a huge part of the plot, but it bothered me that the older character's age is never specified. It would've been so easy not to include it, so it bugged me that it was there at all if a key element wasn't going to be made clear.
I'd still recommend this, as it's such an interesting read and certainly one that will stay with me. It's heavy and often bleak - definitely check content warnings - but its subtle messages of hope and solidarity make it wonderfully bittersweet, and I'm keen to see what Sarah Penner comes out with next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Infidelity