The Apothecary's Daughter

The Apothecary's Daughter is a historical fiction story based in the 1660's and written by Charlotte Betts. It was first published in 2011 and it got a 3.9/5 on Goodreads which I think is perfectly acceptable for what a good novel it was.

The book is told from Susannah Leyton's point of view as she struggles with life in 1665 London during the height of the plague.

Susannah is Cornelius Leyton's daughter and has learnt at his side since she was a child, she is learned in all manner of apothecary cures as well as how to make the potions and brews of the trade. She is highly intelligent and it grates against her temper that she has to be seen as less than any man which she knows she is not.

One day her father tells her that he is to remarry and that his future bride has three children whom she will enjoy making friends with, he did not mention that his bride-to-be was about the same age as his daughter and that her children were the spawn of Satan.

Susannah then struggles to adjust to this new life of hers as she watches her step-siblings wreak havoc and how her step mother squanders away her father's savings. She resents the fact that her step-mother has no interest in disciplining her children and it is therefore left to her to do.

One day, a handsome young gentleman visits the apothecary shop where Susannah is busy working and begins to court her covertly, so covertly that she doesn't even realizes it until he proposes to her.

She ends up marrying him despite my suspicions that she had feelings for his cousin who just so happened to be a strong, independent doctor.

Terrible lies come to light after Susannah's young husband dies tragically and suddenly, leaving her to make plans for her future. She ends up working for her late husband's aunt as a waiting lady as they expect the arrival of Susannah's child.

This book was amazingly written. The way that the characters are described and brought to life is very well done. I often felt their fear as the pestilence came closer and closer to their doors, probably because of the pandemic in which we are living through now as well.

I liked the writing style and the vividly explained emotions and surroundings as well.

For anyone who likes historical fiction, this one is definitely one for the TBR (To be read) pile.

Thanks for reading xx