The Lost Apothecary
By Sarah Penner
Rating: a solid 5/5
Genres: Historical fiction, 18th century England, magical realism, awesome read, 2021-read, reviewed
My God! What an amazing book. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started on this one but I just couldn't put it down. I usually read multiple books together but after I picked this one - I could focus only on this till I finished it! Its just very gripping!
This is a story of uncovering some mystical events that happened during the late 18th century in England with a fictitious female apothecary, Nella. She inherited and learnt her trade from her late mother who wanted her shop to be a rescue from women's maladies. When Nella is young, she is betrayed by a man and later when chance presents, she dispenses her medicine in heavy dose leading to his death. This starts her journey in which not only helping and healing the physical ailments of women, she also becomes the dispenser of poisonous potions,tinctures and vials to cure the pains of their hearts. She befriends a young girl Eliza who one day visits her shop to buy a potion on behalf of her mistress to get rid of her master. She sticks with Nella by coming back after the master is murdered. Eliza becomes a partner in Nella's next and last crime. She inadvertently becomes the cause for Nella's burdensome and guilt operations to come to end through an almost exposure and punishment at the gallows. She also becomes the means by which Nella's escape is solidified and her name hidden forever from scrutiny. So what has transpired? Some really amazing set of events mixed with magical overtures.
This story is told through alternating journals of Eliza and Nella to the reader. The actual events and extrapolation of what occurred is research by Caroline in the present day after she finds a vial leading her on the trail of an 18th century apothecary. Through the help of old British newspaper articles and a librarian, she uncovers a lot of factual information while speculating the rest. Her marriage is also on the rocks and we see her donning new wings at the end taking an inspiration from Eliza from the past..
The past and present come together so beautifully making this a definite must read. It is one of the best books I have read this year!!
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