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Holly B (slower pace!)'s Reviews > The Lost Apothecary
The Lost Apothecary
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Holly B (slower pace!)'s review
bookshelves: enjoyed-the-setting, library-loan, read-in-2021, historical-fiction, a-bit-bored-with-it
May 09, 2021
bookshelves: enjoyed-the-setting, library-loan, read-in-2021, historical-fiction, a-bit-bored-with-it
3.5 STARS
I'm torn between two timelines...
1791 Timeline was much more enjoyable for me.
18th century London, an apothecary (Nella) who creates poisons to help women who need to "rid" themselves of husbands who have harmed them in some way. Her hidden shop is located in a secret wall on a dark alley where she creates her concoctions, creating a legacy of revenge. Her visitors know of her and come knocking.
The modern day timeline about Caroline felt disconnected and foriegn to the historical storyline. It didn't seem necessary. It felt almost like I was reading a different book, it didn't work for me.
Promising premise, but lacking the suspenseful, gothic atmosphere that I was expecting. My favorite character was the dramatic Lady Clarence, wife of Lord Clarence. Now she was a real hoot!
Still a unique read that many have loved.
Library Loan 5/9/2021
I'm torn between two timelines...
1791 Timeline was much more enjoyable for me.
18th century London, an apothecary (Nella) who creates poisons to help women who need to "rid" themselves of husbands who have harmed them in some way. Her hidden shop is located in a secret wall on a dark alley where she creates her concoctions, creating a legacy of revenge. Her visitors know of her and come knocking.
The modern day timeline about Caroline felt disconnected and foriegn to the historical storyline. It didn't seem necessary. It felt almost like I was reading a different book, it didn't work for me.
Promising premise, but lacking the suspenseful, gothic atmosphere that I was expecting. My favorite character was the dramatic Lady Clarence, wife of Lord Clarence. Now she was a real hoot!
Still a unique read that many have loved.
Library Loan 5/9/2021
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Reading Progress
March 7, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 7, 2021
– Shelved
May 7, 2021
–
Started Reading
May 7, 2021
–
16.61%
""For my mistress's husband, with his breakfast." A little poison mixed in....
February 1791"
page
50
February 1791"
May 8, 2021
–
33.22%
""I took my place at the edge of the dining room and waited, still as a stone, for what would come next.""
page
100
May 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
enjoyed-the-setting
May 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
library-loan
May 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
read-in-2021
May 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
May 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
a-bit-bored-with-it
May 9, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)
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ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
May 08, 2021 05:01PM
I’m on page 10 lol how’s it going
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Sue wrote: "I’m on page 10 lol how’s it going"I enjoyed it, Especially, the past chapters!
I always have a little trouble with the two timeline stories too - because I always find one more enjoyable than the other
Yay for library loans! I'm on the fence about this one, but if I do read it I have mediocre expectations.
I don’t mind dual time lines if there a connection. Doesn’t sound like there was one here . Hope your next one is better, Holly.
Glad you at least enjoyed one timeline, Holly! Great review!
Wonderful review, Holly!! Sorry it fell flat, though. 💖
Susanne wrote: "Hope you enjoyed!"It was an okay read for me! Thanks Susanne :)
Holly wrote: "I always have a little trouble with the two timeline stories too - because I always find one more enjoyable than the other"I tend to always like the historical timeline!
Great review! I hate when I only enjoy one of the two timelines! 😞
Great review, Holly.
Great review Holly, I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this one! Sometimes I’ll like both timelines in a story with multiples but usually there’s one I prefer over the other.
I had a very similar experience when I read Plain Bad Heroines. I loved the historical timeline, but the modern-day one just did not work. Excellent review, Holly. :)
I agree - I liked the early timeline better too. Great review Holly 🌺
Great review Holly, a shame the modern time line wasn't as good as the historical one!
Regina wrote: "Yay for library loans! I'm on the fence about this one, but if I do read it I have mediocre expectations."It was still an okay read!
Angela M wrote: "I don’t mind dual time lines if there a connection. Doesn’t sound like there was one here . Hope your next one is better, Holly."Thanks Angela, it felt disconnected.
Michael wrote: "Glad you at least enjoyed one timeline, Holly! Great review!"Thanks Michael!
Julie wrote: "Wonderful review, Holly!! Sorry it fell flat, though. 💖"Thanks Julie!!
Jayme wrote: "Great review! I hate when I only enjoy one of the two timelines! 😞"Thanks Jayme! Right? every now and then it will work for me.
Farrah wrote: "Fair review Holly! 🙂"Thanks Farrah!
Sheyla � wrote: "Great review, Holly."Thanks Sheyla!
Brandice wrote: "Great review Holly, I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this one! Sometimes I’ll like both timelines in a story with multiples but usually there’s one I prefer over the other."Yes, so many mixed reviews, I'm in between somewhere. Thanks Brandice!
Melissa wrote: "I had a very similar experience when I read Plain Bad Heroines. I loved the historical timeline, but the modern-day one just did not work. Excellent review, Holly. :)"Hope you enjoy it Melissa!
Ceecee wrote: I agree - I liked the early timeline better too. Great review Holly 🌺I enjoyed that one much more!
preoccupiedbybooks wrote: Great review Holly, a shame the modern time line wasn't as good as the historical one!I know, the premise was so good!
This one I plan to get to sometime... great review, Holly. Glad it’s still a unique one
Jen wrote: "This one I plan to get to sometime... great review, Holly. Glad it’s still a unique one"I can see why so many loved it. Hope it works for you too Jen!
Deanna wrote: "Great review, Holly : )"Thanks Deanna!
I felt guilty for liking it so much. All the books from the 1700s or 1800s when women were treated like possessions instead of people make my blood boil. Dark as it was, there was something satisfying about the idea of this shop.
Denise wrote: "I felt guilty for liking it so much. All the books from the 1700s or 1800s when women were treated like possessions instead of people make my blood boil. Dark as it was, there was something satisfy..."Glad we aren't in that century. Glad you enjoyed this one Denise!
You reviewed this well, and fairly, Holly ........ I'm on the fence with this one :)
Great review, Holly! We're pretty much in agreement here, and I also didn't get much out of Caroline's story. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed this a bit more than me! :)
Great review Holly! I often find in dual timelines that I don’t care for the modern one. This is one trend I wish would disappear.
Richard wrote: "You reviewed this well, and fairly, Holly ........ I'm on the fence with this one :)"Curious what you'd think about it Richard!
Yun wrote: "Great review, Holly! We're pretty much in agreement here, and I also didn't get much out of Caroline's story. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed this a bit more than me! :)"No, Caroline's story didn't work for me. Thanks Yun!
JanB wrote: "Great review Holly! I often find in dual timelines that I don’t care for the modern one. This is one trend I wish would disappear."I'm leaning that way too!
Your thoughts are fair and honest, Holly! Too bad both timelines weren't more to your liking...
Terrie wrote: "Your thoughts are fair and honest, Holly! Too bad both timelines weren't more to your liking..."Thanks Terrie!
I didn't know the premise was a diabolical place to get poison! It sounds intriguing. Fantastic review Holly.
