The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gaelan Erceldoune is an alchemist and is part of the scientific circles of Victorian London in which he meets fellow scientist Simon Bell, so when Simon’s wife falls ill with cancer and no other medical interventions working, he goes to see Gaelan who provides him with a last resort potion, however, it doesn’t work and a distraught Simon drinks what is left in hopes of joining his deceased wife.

Unfortunately for Simon, this doesn’t work and he wakes up a few days later and finds that he is changed and is no longer able to die! Fast forward five years and he hears of a patient in Bedlam, a hospital for the mentally infirm who resembles his own situation, however, when he finds out it is Gaelan, he is determined to ask questions and so he enacts a daring rescue.

As the years pass and the two physicians fall into a cycle of daily life, a pharmaceutical firm, Transdiff Genomics come across some diaries buried in what used to be Bedlam, and they begin to put prices together which should never have been unearthed and so Simon, Gaelan and a disgruntled Transdiff employee who questions their morals Dr Anne Shawe have to work together to stop certain information from landing in the wrong hands.

Can the intrepid trio do this all while Gaelan and Anne try to deny a growing attraction, or will life be changed forever more? This is a historical fiction which has some roots in reality, while creating fantastical elements throughout which will keep you on your toes throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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