The Apothecary’s Curse (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Lucinda Morton-Phillips
The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Alchemist Gaelan Erceldoune is dying of the Plague in the 16th-century when he turns to an old manuscript passed down in his family for a cure. He gets more than he bargained for when not only does the strange remedy cure the Plague but also renders him immortal.
A couple of centuries later, Gaelan is working as an apothecary in the downtrodden streets of London, when Dr Simon Bell persuades him to make a cure for his wife Sophie, who is dying of breast cancer. Unfortunately, the incorrect handling of the cure causes Sophie to die. In despair, Simon drinks the rest of the remedy, hoping to be reunited with Sophie in death, only to find himself unable to die, no matter how hard he tries.
The story moves between modern day Chicago and Victorian London as Gaelan and Simon search for the manuscript that had been lost, in an attempt to find a way to reverse the effects and allow Simon to die. They try stay one step ahead of an unethical pharmaceutical company that wants to exploit Gaelan’s rapid regenerative properties for financial gain.
This book has a steampunk vibe to it with elements of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror and thriller. It does start off a bit slow, but becomes engaging. The ending is a little open-ended, which allows for a sequel, but satisfying enough.
