During the story we are also introduced to Isabel, the local midwife who feels a strong attachment to Mae. As Isabel was Mae’s mothers friend she too feels protective of her and is constantly worried for her safety. As a woman in the 1600’s though there is little she can do without causing too much distress on her own family. I adored the relationship between these two women and it was my favourite part of the story.

The Hemlock Cure by Joanne Burn | Waterstones

Hoewel dit boek qua premisse helemaal mijn ding zou moeten zijn vond ik het wat all over the place. Het rare perspectief van Leah had weinig meerwaarde en er zijn heel veel plotlijnen die slechts traag worden afgehandeld. Tegen het midden van het boek weet je nog altijd precies niets en dat was redelijk frustrerend. This book has me on the fence. I really enjoyed the story, it’s set in England in the 1600’s when the Plague is running rampant. The story is intriguing and there’s a focus on religion, and the superstitions it brings with it. The characters were all well written and thought out.And meanwhile another danger is on its way from London. One that threatens to engulf them all . . . An intricate, detailed and beautifully written story of the women of Eyam. It’s vivid and poetic, powerfully building tension as their secrets unravel.’ When the plague hits their village, Mae's father, the apothecary becomes more powerful. Mae tries to be helpful, but despite her keen intellect, she is limited by her gender.

The Hemlock Cure by Joanne Burn - Fantastic Fiction The Hemlock Cure by Joanne Burn - Fantastic Fiction

An intricate, detailed and beautifully written story of the women of Eyam. It's vivid and poetic, powerfully building tension as their secrets unravel.” As well as Eyam, we get to travel to the plague capital city of London. This brings the small and isolated village into stark contrast and it shows how the plague ravaged the streets, people’s lives and the entire country as a result. Those poor villagers, miles away, were never far from my mind. Mae, Wulfric’s youngest daughter, dreads her father’s rage if he discovers what she keeps from him. Like her feelings for Rafe, Isabel’s ward, or that she studies from Wulfric’s forbidden books at night. I could not help but feel for Mae throughout the story. I was constantly worried what was going to happen to her and did not trust her father at all. At points I was almost scared to read on for fear of Mae’s life! This was a slow burning read where all the small events lead up to a dramatic finale. I kept hoping and praying that Mae would finally be free of that dreadful home but I hadn’t quite imagined events to unfold as they did.Unfortunately, I found this book very boring. Nothing happens in the plot, and because of ghost-Leah's narration, all of the characters are held at a distance, and I never felt connected to any of them; and they could not carry the story through the many lulls. Mae, Wulfric's youngest daughter, dreads her father's rage if he discovers what she keeps from him. Like her feelings for Rafe, Isabel's ward, or the fact that she studies from Wulfric's books at night. People are looking for answers. It's also a time with great political and religious unrest; not to mention what they consider the real threat of witches. Most of the secondary characters are based on actual people who lived there at the time, but for artistic licence the author has based the main storyline around fictitious characters. For me it didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping it would but I enjoyed it for what it was, a good historical fiction.