the_bookish_fiend's Reviews (55)

I was expecting a book ridden with adventure, a fascinating tale woven about an apothecary and poison laced revenge. Instead I was met with a slow and at times frustrating read. 

I did enjoy the three point narration, Caroline's modern day struggles navigating the world as a women were cleverly juxtaposed against Nella's and Eliza's experiences. I feel like the book was trying to deliver a powerful message of women taking control of their lives, but it fell flat in places.

The story dragged, Caroline's character was riddled with "not like other girls"  syndrome and weighed down by severe "girl boss vibes" which made it hard to empathise with her as a character. Beyond a couple of core traits, the characters weren't fully fleshed out, and I often couldn't link any motivation to their actions.

The book could have been great, which is why it made for such a disappointin  read. The topic was fascinating and the intention behind the message was strong, but it got lost in the execution of the story.