Reviews

1/3 of the way through and no sign of anything actually *happening*. Could not take to any of the characters either. Usually things I could look past but was not taken with this book at all

historybooksandtea's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cathy_alice's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

salemnities's review

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5.0

Key ideas: Black plague, realism of growing up as a girl, strength of women as individuals and as allies, midwifery, and some very satisfying revenge.

I loved this book and the true-to-life language it's written with. especially compelling in the world we live in now, and the similarities between responses to covid and to the bubonic plague.

also very fun and INTERESTING read, heaps of cool information and a riveting plot.

cin19's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kellyvandamme's review

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2.0

2.5

I was really looking forward to reading The Hemlock Cure, I've been enjoying histfic tremendously, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I won't say it's a bad book, and it's certainly not badly written either, but it just never grabbed me. I failed to connect with any of the characters, I was never invested in their story and for a book such as this, more character-driven than plot-driven, that's a vital connection that I just didn't have. I would say it felt a little predictable and it was much less atmospheric than I'd hoped it would be but I can't stress enough that there is nothing "wrong" with this book, I just didn't gel with it and for me it missed that certain je-sais-quoi that I can't quite put my finger on but that I clearly needed.

hellywelly64's review against another edition

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hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I’m not a fan of historical novels and this was so not what I was expecting. Set in the famously altruistic Derbyshire village of Eyam at the height of the great plague it follows 14 year old Mae, who has synaesthesia, living with her strict and abusive father. Her only friends are the Frith family, with Isabel the village midwife. The story is narrated by Leah, Mae’s older, deceased sister. Joanne Burn writes beautifully and has obviously researched really well, though you never feel like it’s history lesson, it just makes it all the more believable. Going to read Joanne Burns other novel Petals and Stones.

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