The Apothecary’s Poison

A good book ruined by unexpressed love/turning away from love “for the good” of the other person; I know that other fans got frustrated by this issue in the Necromancer series; good book with excellent, filled-in characters, good plot, moves along, but it just gets so annoying-the whole non-love-story love story.one thing that I loved about Emily Chambers series is that the main characters express their love and add their issues to solve. There’s enough plot that it doesn’t need the endless relationship downer

I started this series with a sense of hope, but like that hope, my patience is bogging down. Far too much of this series involves conversations that go nowhere, and the constant lack of forward progress gets on my nerves. While I appreciate the niceties of Victorian society, I wish the characters would either go forward with their romance or end it. Secondary characters who were fun when first introduced have barely been any further developed (I’m looking at YOU, Duke and Willie) and the pace is maddeningly slow.

Why am I still reading it? Because the world-building is marvelous, as is the initial concept that has the hero on his quest. Ms Archer’s imagination is rich and fun; I hope there is more to come and at a faster pace given the cliffhanger ending of this one.

Yes. This book hit just the right spot! After feeling like book two stalled the over arching story of Matt’s watch, and any tension between Matt and India, this book brought it all back into motion. Once again, I found myself smiling through their exchanges and thoroughly enjoying each page of the book. The specific mystery of this book had me guessing and I did not predict the answers. I love the setting of smog filled London, how magic is subtle and hidden, but around when you look for it, and the blending of a fun mystery plot with learning about all the great characters. We had some great moments of learning more history of a few of the residents in the Mayfair home. I absolutely love how Archer has allowed there to be the sweetness and tension of romance while still being clean and not too “steamy”. I have to admit, I read it in one evening (into the late night), and then re-read it again more slowly the next day. (Thankfully life allowed the brief distraction!)

OH.MY. GOD. So many feels right now guys! That ending?!How can you end it on such a cliffhanger and why was I silly enough tonot order the next in the series BEFORE I was on the last few chapters?! Rookie mistake…

A local doctor has been murdered, poisoned in fact, shortly after Matt and India paid him a visit to inquire about a recent “miracle” that had occurred and was reported on in the local papers. As Matt and India were some of the last people to see Dr. Hale alive, they are suspects in his murder. In an effort to help clear their names, the two embark on their own investigation to find the real killer. As they discover that he was murdered with an elixir infused with magic, the two investigate the apothecary’s guild, customers, and business partners alike. Suspects are piling up, and Matt and India find themselves in increasingly dangerous situations as someone tries to get them to back off the investigation. The twomust race the clock (quite literally as Matt has yet to locate the mysterious Chronos to fix his life giving watch) and locate the real killer before they are taken in by Scotland Year or worse, murdered by the real killer.

Holy geez guys. This series continues to grow and expand in ways that leave me an insane reading machine, tearing through chapters with abandon. The Matt/India relationship is literally KILLING ME. I will seriously spontaneously combust if this next book doesn’t have them communicating their feelings. And fracking Miss Glass! Can you please just give India your blessing already and cut it out with the “you have to marry into society crap”?! You’re killin me smalls!They compliment each other so well and their loyalty and devotion to one another is so apparent. Stupid high society London….

I enjoy watching these two work cases together andI can see the beginning to a great segue into a career for the two of them together. They are both smart and clever, balancing out each others shortcomings and drawing on each others strengths to make a pretty dynamic duo. As far as the plot, the plethora of suspects kept my wheels turning and there was no lack of action in this book. Our main characters were placed in plenty of heart stopping (some quite literally) situations which left me sweaty and anxious. You know that’s some good writing when you feel physical symptoms after an intense scene.

I suppose I will now be forced to stalk my mailbox as I anxiously await the delivery of book 4! With that shocking cliff hanger I would suggest just going ahead and buying the next one before you start this one!

Spoiler Alert! Don’t read this if you don’t know to know what happens. I really enjoyed the first book, and the second book was very good also. This one? Basically the first two, blended together. The story goes no where until the end. I think the ending was supposed to shock, but since the characters had already discussed it and came to heir own conclusions, it wasn’t shocking at all.

There is, finally, a kiss. And yet, of course, India is filled with pages (and pages!) of doubts and comes right around the same mountain to the exact same conclusion she has reached many times before about getting involved with Matt. Matt is just as sick. He has to use the watch more often, every character says, though it seems he has been using it as much for three books and the frequency does not seem to be increased to me. How on earth can he keep going on like this? How much longer until he just can’t anymore? And will he ever get fully healthy again?

Tired, worn out plot devices and no character development. Same old conversations between secondary characters. We did learn one name – everyone just calls him Cyclops. Seriously, is the author going to drag all these tired plot devices and characters through book after book with no forward motion? Snails move faster than the plots of these books!

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