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As Old As Thyme
Brunehaut lives a dangerous existence as her village wise woman, brewing abortion potions and body-altering elixirs for women like her, despite the townsfolk's growing suspicion of her unconventional ways. When her childhood best friend Théoderic suddenly crashes back into her life after years of separation, everything she's built threatens to crumble.
Like Brunehaut, Théoderic has shed his past, but he's chosen a more dangerous path, now posing as nobility while peddling false remedies to her very clients, threatening to shatter the delicate trust she's worked years to build. Yet beneath his deception, Théoderic is captivated by Brunehaut's transformation into the woman she was always meant to be, and desperately longs for the same miraculous change for himself.
As Brunehaut rediscovers the boy she once loved in the man he's become, they must navigate a world that would condemn them both. Together, they'll risk everything for love, authenticity, and the chance to build a life where they can finally be themselves.
As Théoderic embraces his true identity, Brunehaut finds herself drawn to her old friend in ways she never expected, rediscovering the boy she once knew in the man he's becoming. Their time together reawakens feelings long buried, but as their bond deepens, they must navigate a world that would condemn them both for daring to live as their authentic selves.
A T4T F/M childhood best friends to lovers medieval romance novella between a HRT-brewing bisexual wise woman and the gray-aroace scammer who walks back into her life.
Like Brunehaut, Théoderic has shed his past, but he's chosen a more dangerous path, now posing as nobility while peddling false remedies to her very clients, threatening to shatter the delicate trust she's worked years to build. Yet beneath his deception, Théoderic is captivated by Brunehaut's transformation into the woman she was always meant to be, and desperately longs for the same miraculous change for himself.
As Brunehaut rediscovers the boy she once loved in the man he's become, they must navigate a world that would condemn them both. Together, they'll risk everything for love, authenticity, and the chance to build a life where they can finally be themselves.
As Théoderic embraces his true identity, Brunehaut finds herself drawn to her old friend in ways she never expected, rediscovering the boy she once knew in the man he's becoming. Their time together reawakens feelings long buried, but as their bond deepens, they must navigate a world that would condemn them both for daring to live as their authentic selves.
A T4T F/M childhood best friends to lovers medieval romance novella between a HRT-brewing bisexual wise woman and the gray-aroace scammer who walks back into her life.
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2026
3 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Alix Nicoud
4 books4 followersAlix is a French lesbian writer, who only writes when they’re not too busy in the lab. You can find him on Twitter under @AlixNicoud
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 19, 2026
3.5⭐️
so much sweetness packed into so few pages 🥰
I adored Brunehaut & Théoderic and would read more of their story in a heartbeat! I loved Brunehaut and how she knows her way around herbs so she can brew up remedies for people in her village. There was once or twice where we were described things in detail that I didn’t care about and would’ve rather used those pages to get to know Théoderic better. This was genuinely a fun novella and hope to read more by this author soon!
so much sweetness packed into so few pages 🥰
I adored Brunehaut & Théoderic and would read more of their story in a heartbeat! I loved Brunehaut and how she knows her way around herbs so she can brew up remedies for people in her village. There was once or twice where we were described things in detail that I didn’t care about and would’ve rather used those pages to get to know Théoderic better. This was genuinely a fun novella and hope to read more by this author soon!
January 3, 2026
- 3.5 stars -
This book was short and sweet with a hint of spice. I loved following Théodoric and Brunehaut on their journey back to one another. It was very interesting reading a medieval romance retelling which explored trans identity and queerness in a society which is not yet willing to accept those who are different and I believe this was done very well. I do wish it was a bit longer as I would have loved to learn more about the dynamic between the couple and their shared past.
I love Brunehaut, she is a feminist icon.
I am so thankful to Alix Nicoud for sending me a copy of this eArc 🩷
This book was short and sweet with a hint of spice. I loved following Théodoric and Brunehaut on their journey back to one another. It was very interesting reading a medieval romance retelling which explored trans identity and queerness in a society which is not yet willing to accept those who are different and I believe this was done very well. I do wish it was a bit longer as I would have loved to learn more about the dynamic between the couple and their shared past.
I love Brunehaut, she is a feminist icon.
I am so thankful to Alix Nicoud for sending me a copy of this eArc 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novella wasn't necessarily terrible, but the romance, its main plotline, also simply didn't make me feel much, either positively or negatively. I think the best way I can describe it is dull. Brunehaut and Théoderic meet again after not having seen each other for years, and they're now both living as their true selves. They spent time together while Brunehaut teaches Théoderic about her craft. There is some village drama that felt very rushed and unremarkable. Other than that, it's just two people spending time together, which was written in a way that didn't move me in the slightest.
The editing of As Old As Thyme also leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not one to complain about some typos and a grammatical or punctuation error here and there in self-published works, but this book is full of punctuation errors, with lots of missing commas, as well as some in places where they don't belong. There's also a side character, a former lover of Brunehaut's, whose name is Galswinthe in chapter one, but who's referred to as Théodelinde in the remainder of the book, which is just a sloppy mistake. These are not the kinds of things that should still be present in a book when you send them to ARC readers.
Furthermore, while this book has no external transphobia, as announced in the Trigger Warnings section at the start of the book, Théoderic does struggle with some serious internalized transphobia, as well as internalized ableism about his wrist issues. He thinks of himself as a "worthless man" and wonders if he's ever going to be man enough. He also thinks of himself as a "crippled man" who can't really perform any useful labor, which seems to tie into his internalized transphobia as well. Some of his feelings were very recognizable for me as a trans man, but I found myself annoyed by how this is brought up once or twice but never really seems to be properly addressed. He's clearly struggling with himself and his identity, but his story ultimately seems to be reduced to his love for Brunehaut. As he thinks of it himself, "loving her was all he had ever known." I wish some more attention and room had been given to his dreams and desires outside of loving Brunehaut. He's clearly struggling a lot with himself, but this seems to be forgotten in the story when Brunehaut tells him he's fine as he is and he starts to realize he's in love with her. I just think he deserved better as a character, especially because we do get to see more of a resolution for Brunehaut's struggles with herself and the village.
All in all, this novella was simply a disappointment. I didn't really feel much, if anything, about the romance, the editing left much to be desired, and I was disappointed in Théoderic's character arc, especially because his character was quite relatable to me in some ways. A rating around 1.5 stars (rounded down) feels about right.
I was sent an advance reader copy by the author for reviewing purposes. This did not influence my review in any way.
The editing of As Old As Thyme also leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not one to complain about some typos and a grammatical or punctuation error here and there in self-published works, but this book is full of punctuation errors, with lots of missing commas, as well as some in places where they don't belong. There's also a side character, a former lover of Brunehaut's, whose name is Galswinthe in chapter one, but who's referred to as Théodelinde in the remainder of the book, which is just a sloppy mistake. These are not the kinds of things that should still be present in a book when you send them to ARC readers.
Furthermore, while this book has no external transphobia, as announced in the Trigger Warnings section at the start of the book, Théoderic does struggle with some serious internalized transphobia, as well as internalized ableism about his wrist issues. He thinks of himself as a "worthless man" and wonders if he's ever going to be man enough. He also thinks of himself as a "crippled man" who can't really perform any useful labor, which seems to tie into his internalized transphobia as well. Some of his feelings were very recognizable for me as a trans man, but I found myself annoyed by how this is brought up once or twice but never really seems to be properly addressed. He's clearly struggling with himself and his identity, but his story ultimately seems to be reduced to his love for Brunehaut. As he thinks of it himself, "loving her was all he had ever known." I wish some more attention and room had been given to his dreams and desires outside of loving Brunehaut. He's clearly struggling a lot with himself, but this seems to be forgotten in the story when Brunehaut tells him he's fine as he is and he starts to realize he's in love with her. I just think he deserved better as a character, especially because we do get to see more of a resolution for Brunehaut's struggles with herself and the village.
All in all, this novella was simply a disappointment. I didn't really feel much, if anything, about the romance, the editing left much to be desired, and I was disappointed in Théoderic's character arc, especially because his character was quite relatable to me in some ways. A rating around 1.5 stars (rounded down) feels about right.
I was sent an advance reader copy by the author for reviewing purposes. This did not influence my review in any way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!
Childhood sweethearts Brunehaut and Theodoric have long gone their separate ways, as Brunehaut left the town where they grew up to live as her authentic self and became an herbalist and midwife, and Theorodic abandoned the destiny his birth sex would force him into for a life of swindling. But when one of Theodoric's deceptions goes wrong in Burnehaut's own town square, she steps in to save him from punishment, and takes him under her wing. As the two old friends share what has changed in the years since they parted, old feelings spark again, but is their room in their new lives for the other person?
When I first heard of this book and read the synopsis, I was so excited; representing trans, bisexual and graysexual characters in the past is no small feat, and I don't know of any other book set in the Medieval period who has been so ambitious. In that regard, I though the author's incorporation of Hormone Replacement Therapy was innovative, and fit Brunehaut's role as the town's healer well. The first few paragraphs showed both the author's writing talent and the research they put into this novella:
How I wanted more scenes about this! But when Theodoric comes into the picture, the focus is shifted to him, and we see little more of Brunehaut's medical expertise. My favorite scenes were the ones where more historical detail was given, such as when the couple visit the ruins of a Roman Villa and discuss the effects of the fall of the Empire. Theodoric comments that:
Unfortunately for me, a lover of historical fiction, the real focus of this novella is its romance, and I (as I am ace) don't really read that genre. I was excited to see that Theodoric was gray-ace, but although he admits that "lust had never ensnared him, neither women nor men captivated his attention," he still feels desire for Brunehaut, and there are two explicit sex scenes. But there's no discussion of how his libido might be lower than Brunehaut's, so it feels more like he "found the right person" for whom he does feel attraction. Ultimately, their was more focus on building their chemistry than fully delving into these complexities which would have made the story more interesting to me.
Still, for romance-lovers who like a loose historical setting, I think you should totally pick this up! It's a quick, light read, well-written despite multiple typos (which hopefully will be polished in the published edition.) I hope Nicoud continues to hone his craft, and I look forward to their future releases!
Childhood sweethearts Brunehaut and Theodoric have long gone their separate ways, as Brunehaut left the town where they grew up to live as her authentic self and became an herbalist and midwife, and Theorodic abandoned the destiny his birth sex would force him into for a life of swindling. But when one of Theodoric's deceptions goes wrong in Burnehaut's own town square, she steps in to save him from punishment, and takes him under her wing. As the two old friends share what has changed in the years since they parted, old feelings spark again, but is their room in their new lives for the other person?
When I first heard of this book and read the synopsis, I was so excited; representing trans, bisexual and graysexual characters in the past is no small feat, and I don't know of any other book set in the Medieval period who has been so ambitious. In that regard, I though the author's incorporation of Hormone Replacement Therapy was innovative, and fit Brunehaut's role as the town's healer well. The first few paragraphs showed both the author's writing talent and the research they put into this novella:
"Women came to Brunehaut when they wanted to kill their husbands. Desperate souls knocked at her door with bruises hidden under their shawls, crying babes strapped to their backs, each whispering, I cannot live this way anymore. Brunehaut's reputation spread far beyond the village borders. With her brews, so potent, they said, that they could bring back babes from the dead."
How I wanted more scenes about this! But when Theodoric comes into the picture, the focus is shifted to him, and we see little more of Brunehaut's medical expertise. My favorite scenes were the ones where more historical detail was given, such as when the couple visit the ruins of a Roman Villa and discuss the effects of the fall of the Empire. Theodoric comments that:
"I don't envy their life. I am free from the shackles of the past. And even if we had lived at the same time as them, we would have been the poor souls, laboring in the fields or washing their tunics."
Unfortunately for me, a lover of historical fiction, the real focus of this novella is its romance, and I (as I am ace) don't really read that genre. I was excited to see that Theodoric was gray-ace, but although he admits that "lust had never ensnared him, neither women nor men captivated his attention," he still feels desire for Brunehaut, and there are two explicit sex scenes. But there's no discussion of how his libido might be lower than Brunehaut's, so it feels more like he "found the right person" for whom he does feel attraction. Ultimately, their was more focus on building their chemistry than fully delving into these complexities which would have made the story more interesting to me.
Still, for romance-lovers who like a loose historical setting, I think you should totally pick this up! It's a quick, light read, well-written despite multiple typos (which hopefully will be polished in the published edition.) I hope Nicoud continues to hone his craft, and I look forward to their future releases!
February 15, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up. Happy pub day to this novella, and thank you to the author (Alix Nicoud) for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was first intrigued by As Old As Thyme when I heard about it being a medieval romance that was historical fiction instead of fantasy, and while there are creative liberties taken with the setting, it’s clear that Nicoud cared about writing queerness (and even religious beliefs!) that still fits within the societal attitudes of that specific time. I think historical romance with trans rep can sometimes overuse its vague language, but the terminology Brunehaut and Théoderic referenced felt appropriately used.
The pining was also spectacular!! I know from the author’s Instagram using more specific labels that both characters are on the aroace spectrum, so in addition to both main characters having to reckon with being in love with the first person they’ve ever wholeheartedly, unconditionally trusted, there’s the layer of this kind of longing being something very new to them. I definitely think it made even their lust feel more earned, despite the short time frame. It helps that it was HOT like oughhh you’re gonna give me these characters realizing, in their own terms, the mortifying ordeal of wanting a person, and then they start describing each other with the thinly-veiled urge to make out so bad they feel it in their bones bro this is fanfic shit!!
However, I think the writing style’s attempt to be vaguely Old English while still readable meant that it could veer into repetitive, flowery prose, and that this could’ve done with another round of editing. This is also heavily character-focused, with not much happening until the last quarter, so it may seem boring to certain kinds of readers (though, I personally found the writing engaging, and this is a novella, so I didn’t mind). My only issue with the lack of happenings was that, while I was enthralled by the sappiness, Théoderic’s arc in particular was rather predictable, and it made his character less interesting in comparison to Brunehaut.
Other than that, though, I thought this was very well-paced, had great representation (which, there’s already aroace-spectrum transgender rep, but there’s also chronic illness/pain rep with Théoderic, something I was not expecting), vivid imagery, and, while this is far from the only queer historical romance to have its characters ponder how they will live in the margins of history, was more reflective and cozy about it than most.
I read most of this on Valentine’s Day, which I’d say is a night well spent.
I was first intrigued by As Old As Thyme when I heard about it being a medieval romance that was historical fiction instead of fantasy, and while there are creative liberties taken with the setting, it’s clear that Nicoud cared about writing queerness (and even religious beliefs!) that still fits within the societal attitudes of that specific time. I think historical romance with trans rep can sometimes overuse its vague language, but the terminology Brunehaut and Théoderic referenced felt appropriately used.
The pining was also spectacular!! I know from the author’s Instagram using more specific labels that both characters are on the aroace spectrum, so in addition to both main characters having to reckon with being in love with the first person they’ve ever wholeheartedly, unconditionally trusted, there’s the layer of this kind of longing being something very new to them. I definitely think it made even their lust feel more earned, despite the short time frame. It helps that it was HOT like oughhh you’re gonna give me these characters realizing, in their own terms, the mortifying ordeal of wanting a person, and then they start describing each other with the thinly-veiled urge to make out so bad they feel it in their bones bro this is fanfic shit!!
However, I think the writing style’s attempt to be vaguely Old English while still readable meant that it could veer into repetitive, flowery prose, and that this could’ve done with another round of editing. This is also heavily character-focused, with not much happening until the last quarter, so it may seem boring to certain kinds of readers (though, I personally found the writing engaging, and this is a novella, so I didn’t mind). My only issue with the lack of happenings was that, while I was enthralled by the sappiness, Théoderic’s arc in particular was rather predictable, and it made his character less interesting in comparison to Brunehaut.
Other than that, though, I thought this was very well-paced, had great representation (which, there’s already aroace-spectrum transgender rep, but there’s also chronic illness/pain rep with Théoderic, something I was not expecting), vivid imagery, and, while this is far from the only queer historical romance to have its characters ponder how they will live in the margins of history, was more reflective and cozy about it than most.
I read most of this on Valentine’s Day, which I’d say is a night well spent.
Review of advance copy received from Author
medieval era.
Brunehaut is the wise woman of her village, dispensing remedies for the women of the village to rid them of unwanted pregnancies or unwanted husbands... She lived a different life in a different village long ago, and when a young man named Théoderic comes to her village, she's reminded of the different bodies they both inhabited, when she was to be a husband and he her wife, but also when they were the closest of friends and she left. Now, they must navigate the village prejudice towards Brunehaut's potions and the new feelings they have for one another.
This T4T romance is a sweet, low-angst character sketch with reflections on gender and how transgender people of the medieval era might express themselves. Brunehaut as a wise woman/apothecary learns the kinds of brews to take to essentially give herself the softer, more rounded figure she desires as a woman, understanding that nature has a way of providing for her needs. I was more academically piqued than swept away by the swoon, but I loved the careful way Alix Nicoud gives their characters room to express sexuality which encompass trans and aroace identity. This novella does not lack for heat, and at a pivotal moment, it becomes important for aroace Théoderic to express his tangled emotions sexually, which the wise Brunehaut tenderly addresses. The religious studies scholar in me loves the way Brunehaut and Théoderic accept and question religion throughout the book, in part because gender fluidity has always existed in the margins of religious structure.
Thank you to Alix Nicoud for an eARC. As Old As Thyme is out 2/15/26.
Brunehaut is the wise woman of her village, dispensing remedies for the women of the village to rid them of unwanted pregnancies or unwanted husbands... She lived a different life in a different village long ago, and when a young man named Théoderic comes to her village, she's reminded of the different bodies they both inhabited, when she was to be a husband and he her wife, but also when they were the closest of friends and she left. Now, they must navigate the village prejudice towards Brunehaut's potions and the new feelings they have for one another.
This T4T romance is a sweet, low-angst character sketch with reflections on gender and how transgender people of the medieval era might express themselves. Brunehaut as a wise woman/apothecary learns the kinds of brews to take to essentially give herself the softer, more rounded figure she desires as a woman, understanding that nature has a way of providing for her needs. I was more academically piqued than swept away by the swoon, but I loved the careful way Alix Nicoud gives their characters room to express sexuality which encompass trans and aroace identity. This novella does not lack for heat, and at a pivotal moment, it becomes important for aroace Théoderic to express his tangled emotions sexually, which the wise Brunehaut tenderly addresses. The religious studies scholar in me loves the way Brunehaut and Théoderic accept and question religion throughout the book, in part because gender fluidity has always existed in the margins of religious structure.
Thank you to Alix Nicoud for an eARC. As Old As Thyme is out 2/15/26.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Bless the murderers, the sodomites and the heretics.
First, I saw the gorgeous cover. Then I read that it was early middle ages historical fiction with trans main characters. I just had to read it, ya know? And I’m glad I did. This character driven story explores the reconnection between two childhood friends and the mending of their lost relationship, all the while being an ode to trans people through an historical lens. The writing is lush, and takes advantage of the historical setting to create the right atmosphere through clothing, habits, colours, smells and little details that clearly hide extensive research behind them and a search for plausibility that respects the trans people that came before us. And yes, Catholicism is one of those details but it’s more of a tool to portray accuracy than anything else. The characters are pretty well rounded for such a short story, even though they do catch feelings pretty quickly in my opinion, especially because of the one week time jump. Brunehaut and Théoderic are very loveable characters however and I’d really like to see more of them in their new life.
I received an eARC of the book from the author and this represents my honest opinion.
First, I saw the gorgeous cover. Then I read that it was early middle ages historical fiction with trans main characters. I just had to read it, ya know? And I’m glad I did. This character driven story explores the reconnection between two childhood friends and the mending of their lost relationship, all the while being an ode to trans people through an historical lens. The writing is lush, and takes advantage of the historical setting to create the right atmosphere through clothing, habits, colours, smells and little details that clearly hide extensive research behind them and a search for plausibility that respects the trans people that came before us. And yes, Catholicism is one of those details but it’s more of a tool to portray accuracy than anything else. The characters are pretty well rounded for such a short story, even though they do catch feelings pretty quickly in my opinion, especially because of the one week time jump. Brunehaut and Théoderic are very loveable characters however and I’d really like to see more of them in their new life.
I received an eARC of the book from the author and this represents my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Is it possible to present a satisfactory T4T romance set in medieval times? That question lingered at the back of my head when I read this book.
Did As Old As Thyme deliver? Surprisingly, yes. TBH, I’m not the most well informed with the trans literature, but this novella managed to deliver a digestible historical romance without misgendering, even as the author took us through the childhood memories of the main characters.
The “science”, while fuzzy, is mostly rooted in facts (from our world). I can only imagine the amount of research, time and devotion dedicated to the writing of this book.
That said, given that this is a novella with a stronger focus on Brunehaut, Théoderic’s development felt a little stunted. Maybe if this were a longer novel, his doubts might have been explored further. Maybe, there’ll be room to explore in a subsequent book. 🤷♀️ I would also be curious to read an exploration of Galswinthe’s character.
For a novella of this length, As Old As Thyme delivered a rather believable world with mostly realistic dialogue. If you like a historical romance novella with trans and aroace reps with some spice, give it a go!
A big thank you to the author of an advanced copy!
Did As Old As Thyme deliver? Surprisingly, yes. TBH, I’m not the most well informed with the trans literature, but this novella managed to deliver a digestible historical romance without misgendering, even as the author took us through the childhood memories of the main characters.
The “science”, while fuzzy, is mostly rooted in facts (from our world). I can only imagine the amount of research, time and devotion dedicated to the writing of this book.
That said, given that this is a novella with a stronger focus on Brunehaut, Théoderic’s development felt a little stunted. Maybe if this were a longer novel, his doubts might have been explored further. Maybe, there’ll be room to explore in a subsequent book. 🤷♀️ I would also be curious to read an exploration of Galswinthe’s character.
For a novella of this length, As Old As Thyme delivered a rather believable world with mostly realistic dialogue. If you like a historical romance novella with trans and aroace reps with some spice, give it a go!
A big thank you to the author of an advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not a lot happens in this character-focused T4T medieval romance, but I had a really good time reading about a pair of childhood friends who come back together a little later in life (not THAT much later!) as their true selves.
Brunehaut is a village midwife/wise woman (the literal translation of midwife from the French "sage-femme" is wise woman, which I kind of love). She knows her herbs and other medicinal products so well that she's able not only to provide pre-/postnatal care, contraception, and abortifaciants to her clients, she can also assist with transition care. (The author's note is absolute GOLD and not to be missed!) So when her best friend from childhood shows up, now a grown man named Theoderic, Brunehaut understands what he's going through and able to assist.
Like I said, not much happens other than Brunehaut and Theoderic finding each other and falling in love, but the medieval setting and unconventional intimate scenes make this a unique historical romance experience. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a historically appropriate medieval trans romance.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.
Brunehaut is a village midwife/wise woman (the literal translation of midwife from the French "sage-femme" is wise woman, which I kind of love). She knows her herbs and other medicinal products so well that she's able not only to provide pre-/postnatal care, contraception, and abortifaciants to her clients, she can also assist with transition care. (The author's note is absolute GOLD and not to be missed!) So when her best friend from childhood shows up, now a grown man named Theoderic, Brunehaut understands what he's going through and able to assist.
Like I said, not much happens other than Brunehaut and Theoderic finding each other and falling in love, but the medieval setting and unconventional intimate scenes make this a unique historical romance experience. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a historically appropriate medieval trans romance.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fascinating, medieval-set novella about Brunehaut and Théoderic. They were childhood friends who meet up again as adults.
The part I found most compelling was the exploration of a village wise woman brewing up hormone replacement for both herself and for older women going through menopause.
The romance itself was fairly low angst but lovely as Brunehaut and Théoderic get to know and trust each other again.
In parts the language was a bit convoluted and I found myself reading over a paragraph a few times to get its meaning.
I would happily read more by Alix Nicoud in this setting.
Thank you Alix Nicoud for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The part I found most compelling was the exploration of a village wise woman brewing up hormone replacement for both herself and for older women going through menopause.
The romance itself was fairly low angst but lovely as Brunehaut and Théoderic get to know and trust each other again.
In parts the language was a bit convoluted and I found myself reading over a paragraph a few times to get its meaning.
I would happily read more by Alix Nicoud in this setting.
Thank you Alix Nicoud for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was beautiful. A T4T medieval romance, where one MC is basically an apothecary - my personal catnip. I absolutely loved how the author used herbal and chemical knowledge and combined modern science with medieval possibilities. I would love to read more set in this world!
A lot of mentions of God, I did appreciate the author's note at the start so girded my atheist loins and endured. I highly recommend not skipping over the author's note.
Thank you to the author for an eARC . All opinions are my own.
A lot of mentions of God, I did appreciate the author's note at the start so girded my atheist loins and endured. I highly recommend not skipping over the author's note.
Thank you to the author for an eARC . All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks so much to the author for sending me an ARC of this book
i really really loved this
i always enjoy a wise woman healer type character in historical romances/stories who helps others in a time where basically only men got to do anything
i love it even more when it has a queer spin, and i need more historical romances with trans characters they just make me so happy
a short and very sweet and cozy read, 10/10 would recommend
i really really loved this
i always enjoy a wise woman healer type character in historical romances/stories who helps others in a time where basically only men got to do anything
i love it even more when it has a queer spin, and i need more historical romances with trans characters they just make me so happy
a short and very sweet and cozy read, 10/10 would recommend
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'd like to thank the author for granting me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
CW: Brief mention of abortion, Brief mentions of past parental abuse, discussion of the death of a parental figure, Minor Sexual Content
4.5 / 5 Stars
Shall leave a proper review later. But in short: 🥺🖤
CW: Brief mention of abortion, Brief mentions of past parental abuse, discussion of the death of a parental figure, Minor Sexual Content
4.5 / 5 Stars
Shall leave a proper review later. But in short: 🥺🖤
February 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! It's a very sweet second chance romance, but this time with both MCs living as their true selves. I loved all the period setting pieces and thought it added something new and fresh. I would love to read an expanded version in the future!
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