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A review by ashley_mrose530
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I didn't really care for this one. I like stories that connect to history and everything so I thought it would be good, but I could not empathize with the main character in this one at all.
I think I'm just too gay for this. The whole thing is that women are upset with men for their wrong-doings but the author tried so hard to make Caroline go back and forth about what she was going to do about her husband's infidelity: did she still want to be with him, did she still love him, etc. and all I could think is "just leave him!" He was an absolute bastard especially when it was revealed at the end that he drank the oil on purpose to manipulate her . I was definitely not surprised by that at all. I just had no empathy for her and her wishy-washy feelings about him.
On another note, I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's wrongs! Nella and Eliza's story was arguably the most compelling part of this book. Poor Eliza went through so much at such a young age but I'm so glad that her mistress had her back and was willing to kill her husband in order to protect Eliza. And then to get her first period shortly after he dies and not knowing what it was was so heartbreaking and proves how important sex ed is .
And Nella deciding to help her lover's wife kill him after he made both of them miscarry was fantastic honestly. He deserved nothing less imo. I also liked seeing these two come together and Nella almost seeing Eliza as the daughter she never got to have was cute, but again there was a disconnect even in these parts of the story where it didn't really make me feel as strongly as it should have.
So yeah, I liked the premise of this story but the execution could have used a little more work I think.
I think I'm just too gay for this. The whole thing is that women are upset with men for their wrong-doings but the author tried so hard to make Caroline go back and forth about what she was going to do about her husband's infidelity: did she still want to be with him, did she still love him, etc. and all I could think is "just leave him!" He was an absolute bastard especially when
On another note, I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's wrongs! Nella and Eliza's story was arguably the most compelling part of this book. Poor Eliza went through so much at such a young age but I'm so glad that her mistress had her back and was willing to kill her husband in order to protect Eliza.
And Nella
So yeah, I liked the premise of this story but the execution could have used a little more work I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault