The Laboratory Assistant

by Natalia Loya

In a city on the brink of revolution, science and passion offer their own strains of violence.

Petrograd, 1916 After her aristocratic family's fall from fortune, Mariya is desperate to survive - and to support her widowed mother and sisters. Matters alleviate when she finds work as an assistant to Dr. Nikolas Rodin, a reclusive scientist. Though the job makes ends meet, she is soon pulled into his strange and secretive a world of flickering gaslights, whispered experiments, and a man whose brilliance is as alluring as it is unstable.

Tuberculosis and revolution both ravage Russia. And as political unrest swells and illness creeps closer, Mariya finds herself torn between a future of safety and a love that threatens to unravel everything. But in the dark corridors of the laboratory, nothing is as it seems - and the line between devotion and danger disappears entirely.

Darkly romantic and steeped in suspense, THE LABORATORY ASSISTANT explores the perilous chemistry of desire, madness, and the choices that haunt us.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Historical

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Kristen Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC READ:
Mariya , recently dealing with poverty with her two sisters and Ill stricken mother after their father’s death trying to do anything to make ends meet.

The job with Nikolas Rodin proves to be fruitful with some challenges to an undisclosed condition that drives him mad. ( condition still unknown and really bothered me , was hoping it would have been disclosed what was actually wrong as his best friend was psychiatrist but potentially there wasn’t a name for it in 1916?)

Mayira pushes through all obstacles of sickness and heart ache as she starts falling for the scientist, despite his flaws she stands by his side.

This book was captivating and suspenseful in third person POV. Though at some points it was difficult to know which character was being spoke about.

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️

[Hannah Zunic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The following is an abridged version of my review. The full length version can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com

Thank you to Apprentice House Press for sending me an advanced copy of The Laboratory Assistant by Natalia Loya. They aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A quick content and trigger warning. The Laboratory Assistant is set in the 1910s and has scenes set in a mental hospital. Mental hospitals from history are notoriously bad and patients were not treated kindly in them. While the book does not go into detail about mental health treatments or the horrors of the mental hospitals at the time, I feel it is only right to mention this topic is briefly featured in The Laboratory Assistant. It should also be noted that rape and sexual assault are mentioned in the novel as well and play quite a large role at the end of the story.

First and foremost, I must applaud Natalia Loya for her beautiful prose and imagery. The dank basement laboratory was chilling, the few finer possessions of Mariya’s were stunning, and the pains of hunger and general unease of Petrogard were strongly felt. There are certainly strong passages in this novel. That being said, there are passages in The Laboratory Assistant that do not feel as developed as others. The imagery isn’t always there. Some transitions could have been written better. There are a few that are clunky and don’t flow smoothly. One chapter will end and suddenly it’s a month later and I don’t know exactly how I got to the next scene.

Now, I have a major fault with this book. I greatly enjoyed it up until the final third. I was invested. And then Nikolas kidnaps a rapist and begins using him as an unwilling test subject for his consumption cure. I am still on board with this. Nikolas has entered a morally gray area, and that is fine, the Book Girlies will gladly look the other way when it comes to Nikolas kidnapping a horrible human being. But, the characters closest to Nikolas all but explicitly say “he’s done this because he’s mad.” Nikolas has an undisclosed mental illness and it feels like his mental illness is being villainized.

I am fine with Nikolas being morally gray. Morally gray villains are my favorite. I am fine with him kidnapping a rapist and doing what he does. The moment another character says Nikolas has done this due to his mental illness is where I draw the line. The decision Nikolas comes to regarding the kidnapping is one he would have made regardless of his mental health. I do not like that the other characters correlating his bad actions with mental illness. Yes, The Laboratory Assistant is set in 1916. Yes, there was a strong stigma surrounding mental health at the time. But those facts do not negate the fact that Nikolas’s mental illness is being villainized. It just doesn’t sit right with me and made me dislike the otherwise enjoyable read. It left quite a sour taste in my mouth.

Thank you once again to Apprentice House Press for sending me a copy of this book. I greatly appreciate it every time someone out there wants to send me books.
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews there every Wednesday at noon.

[Hoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing and sharing this ARC.

Not only on NetGalley, but this is actually the very first book I’ve given 5 stars this year. I truly vibed with the atmosphere described in the story, and I have to say I am absolutely, absolutely in love with the writing style. I found myself enjoying the way the author told the story even more than focusing on the plot itself. The details, especially the foreshadowing, were well-placed and meaningful. While the overall message isn’t necessarily new, the way the author weaves in themes of disease, humanity at the threshold of scientific discovery, and the cracks in the feudal social structure was fascinating. I went from worrying about the sick to worrying about the revolution!

Although I emphasize how much I enjoyed the writing, that doesn’t mean the characters and plot didn’t engage me. As mentioned above, the plot was compelling. Regarding the characters, it’s been a long time since I felt such empathy for a female protagonist. She is kind, careful, and incredibly perceptive, with a clear and consistent moral compass that holds steady from beginning to end.

Overall, I really loved this book and the author. Considering it’s a debut novel, I would rate it quite highly.

That said, my positive reading experience doesn’t mean I didn’t notice a few small issues with word usage. Normally I might overlook them, but since this is categorized as historical fiction, I’d like to offer some feedback. A few scientific terms—particularly hormone names—were coined after 1920, with air embolism only being reported in the 192x period. Additionally, regarding formatting, the EPUB I received wasn’t divided into chapters; it was just one continuous section. I’m not sure if the publisher intends to release an ebook version, but if so, I hope the formatting will be revised.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has a tendency to shy away from both historical fiction and gothic horror, I was shocked by how tightly “The Laboratory Assistant” had me in its clutches. I was expecting to find a slow buildup, a prolonged period of establishing timelines and characters, and perhaps a challenge for me personally to remain interested and engaged. Believe me when I tell you that was not the case. I was immediately enraptured in this story, quickly becoming a fan of Mariya and her strength, tenacity, and self-sufficiency.

Strong FMCs, women in STEM, political revolution, love, death, and perhaps a dash of insanity? What could you possibly love more?

[lacy white · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Laboratory Assistant
Author: Natalia Loya
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: eARC
Series: NA
Star Rating: 3 stars

tw: sexual assault, poverty, starvation, illness, blood, guns, dead bodies, implied rape, kidnapping, drugging, experiments done without consent, vomit

A special thank you goes to Netgalley and Mindbuck Media for providing me with a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.

I have some thoughts about this book. I think the problem was with the synopsis. It didn’t seem to match what the genre was. So this book was marketed as a romance and historical fiction. But the way the synopsis was written, it made it sound like it was going to lean more into horror. So I was a bit thrown when there was so much romance in it. But I suppose it might be my fault for not paying attention to the book's genre. Netgalley was pretty clear with its tags, but I guess I did not pay attention to that.

As for the book itself, I did enjoy it for the most part. I had a problem with the writing, though. Oftentimes, there were these weird descriptors that would happen in the middle of the paragraph. It’ll go from using their names, like Mariya and Rodin, and then it will switch to the dancer, the assistant, etc. It was jarring, and I got confused at times. Especially when Mariya was called the dancer, because we didn’t get to know Mariya when she was a dancer. We only got to know her after the fact.

I think my main problem with this book was that I was expecting it to go a lot darker than it did. I truly expected the doctor to go just insane, and I truly thought Mariya was going to go with him, kind of like a Joker and Harley Quinn thing. I know that is a horrible thing to compare, but it’s the first thing I thought of. But alas, Mariya only went just a little dark. And I think that is why I rated the book as low as I did.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I had a few issues with it. I don’t know if it was just me not reading the synopsis right or what, but I just felt like my expectations were not met. I wouldn’t be opposed to reading this author again, as I think they can write and write well, but overall, this book was just a bit of a miss for me.

[Merlyn Fereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was brilliant!

The Laboratory Assistant by Natalia Loya follows poor aristocrat Mariya Sakulova who is desperately looking for a job to support her poor family of 5. After the death of her father, a general in the Russian army, they are left to fend for themselves. Their father was a gambler and left mostly nothing for his widowed wife and three young girls.

Mariya gets a job with the secretive scientist Nikolas Rodin who is seemingly lost in a world of his own. Mariya has no experience of being a laboratory assistant and Nikolas agrees to let her work under him, provided she listens to what he says.

◤✞ 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 ✞◥
- The book cover is so so pretty. It gave away so much of the story and so little at the same time. My cover designer heart was so happy to see it. I'm definitely going to design a cover like this in the future.
- The setting was very new. I had never read a book where all the characters were based from a country outside the UK or from the U.S. Most of the books I've read on bookstagram have stories that are either based in UK or in the US. The last time, I read a book similar to The Laboratory Assistant was a YA Teen Horror story on Wattpad based on a Phillipino folk story called 'Haunteds' by rexdejesus02. It was quite refreshing to see a story based in Russia.
- The blend of Bolshevism, politics, starvation, tuberculosis and a psychotic disorder in one story was so well done. I loved the relationship dynamic between Mariya and Nikolas. The way how she earned his respect by being the assistant who knew nothing about her work to helping him whenever he needed her.
This was the first time I read a story where a political ideology was ingrained in a society. I've only read and learned about Bolshevism in history books and that was it. But I've never seen it used in fiction.
The way the Sakalov sisters stayed strong for each other and their mother during starvation was very very gut wrenching. I loved the way how their sisterly love was written and how the siblings took care of each other and their ailing mother.
- The symbolism used by the side characters was also very noteworthy. The man from the apothecary and the way he invertedly warned Mariya about Nikolas was chilling.
- The mad, socially recluse scientist looking for a cure for tuberculosis and avenging his lover was very nice to read. I held my breath when Mariya had stumbled into the laboratory where the rapist police officer's body was present and my mouth literally dropped open--- that turning point of the story was so so good. I also loved the way Viktor had unyielding love for Nikolas.
- The way Nikolas, Viktor and Mariya stood steadfast in their love for each other and always there for Nikolas was brilliantly written.

I feel there is a sequel to this story by the way it ended but who knows.

◤✞ 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖆𝖉 ✞◥
I didn't like the way how the author would go about addressing the characters. I had quite a hard time figuring who the characters were talking to and it was difficult to know which character was being spoke about. I will be hoping to read the ARC soon so that I can check back to what I missed since I listened to my first ever ALC on NetGalley), but other than that, there was no other issue.

[Miriam Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Laboratory Assistant is the debut novel by Natalia Loya. It is primarily a historical fiction with elements of romance and gothic horror.

The Sokolov sisters are the heart of this novel and they are why the story works so well. Much of the story is a tale about an everyday struggle for survival. Mariya runs the family while the eighteen year old Sofia attends secretary classes. Sofia’s involvement with the Bolsheviks caused complications for the family but she is fiercely protective of her sisters. By the start of the story they have both sacrificed their dowries in favour of food and basic supplies – and all to protect Darya, their eight year sister and the embodiment of innocence in the novel, from having to do the same.

One aspect of the story that I really liked was that Mariya and Sofia’s intelligence was never mocked or questioned by the male characters; quite the opposite. I’ve read several historical novels where one of the key plot points involves the female protagonist being forced to hide her intellect. While The Laboratory Assistant does highlight the difficulties facing this family with no living male relatives, Mariya and Sofia’s knowledge, learning and reasoning was always respected and encouraged by their peers.

The character of Dr Nikolas Rodin straddles the lines between anti-hero and villain. Both his desire and motivation behind wanting to find a cure for consumption comes from a good place but his methods become increasing dark as he moves onto human experimentation. The novel stresses both Rodin’s love for Mariya and his internal battle with mental illness as the reasons behind his ability to perform his ghoulish experiments without guilt. While for me it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, I do wonder how the story and Rodin’s relationships would have played out if Loya has chosen instead to make the character carry out his experiments in spite of his illness rather than because of it.

The Laboratory Assistant is filled with engaging characters, a slow-burn believable romance, a brooding gothic atmosphere and suitably macabre scenes during the climax. The pacing of the story was really good and the novel kept me wanting to read more.

[LIZA ILSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, dear. This book STRESSED ME OUT.

It’s been quite a while since I read a book and was constantly thinking “Oh, something bad didn’t happen for quite a while… Those characters will go through some kind of awful horror again very soon!” And I absolutely love books that make me feel that way. It's even better when they manage to lull you into a false sense of security before hitting you with something even worse. The Laboratory Assistant definitely succeeded in doing exactly that.

We start the book in an already dire situation, so from the very first pages you get the sense that she has almost no options left and is forced to seize whatever opportunities come her way.

For me it also always felt as is feeding her family and staying alive was the highest priority for her through the whole book and the reason she is motivated to commit certain acts she would not do is she was not with her back to a wall.
Her priorities also did not change with the introduction of the romance. Her feelings for Nikolas felt like a nice addition but not a distraction from her actual goal and I really enjoyed that.

I also really loved all the supporting characters who felt really nicely fleshed out and all with an actual purpose for this story.

One thing that did take me back for a bit was the very extensive use of synonyms to describe a character. Having a main character constantly being referred to as “the man” or “the assistant” when I usually encounter those type of descriptions for less relevant side characters felt a little bit off while reading. I found myself rechecking several times which characters were having and interaction right now.

Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I also want to mention the narration: Initially I was not a big fan because it often felt more like someone was just reading the book out loud instead of trying to bring some life into the story with their voice. However, once I realized that the author herself was doing the narrating, this immediately became more charming and gave it a whole different and personal feel. I really loved that.

[Parvin Sultana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book.
Natalia Loya’s The Laboratory Assistant is an impressive debut that combines historical fiction, romance and psychological drama into a compelling narrative. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Petrograd in 1916, the novel unfolds at a moment when Russia stands on the precipice of revolution. The atmosphere of political unrest and social upheaval permeates every page, lending the story a sense of urgency and inevitability.
At the heart of the novel is Doctor Nikolas, a brilliant young physician whose obsessive dedication to finding a cure for consumption—one of the deadliest diseases of the era—drives much of the narrative. His scientific ambition is both admirable and troubling, revealing a man willing to sacrifice almost everything in pursuit of discovery. Into his world steps Mariya, a resourceful young woman struggling to support herself and her sisters in a society that offers few opportunities to women of limited means. When she begins working as Nikolas’s laboratory assistant, an unexpected bond develops between them, one built on mutual respect, intellectual curiosity, and growing affection.
What makes the novel particularly engaging is the complexity of its characters. Mariya is a resilient and sympathetic protagonist whose determination to carve out a place for herself in a rigidly stratified society makes her easy to root for. Nikolas, meanwhile, is far more complicated. His brilliance is inseparable from the mental struggles that haunt him, and Loya portrays his condition with nuance and sensitivity. As his psychological difficulties begin to interfere with both his research and his relationship with Mariya, the emotional stakes of the story deepen considerably.
The novel gathers momentum steadily before becoming especially gripping in its final chapters. The ending carried a tension and emotional intensity that I did not anticipate, keeping me fully invested until the last page. For a debut novel, the storytelling is remarkably assured. Loya not only crafts a tightly woven and absorbing plot but also offers a thoughtful portrait of a society deeply divided by class, privilege, and social expectations. Through the experiences of her characters, she captures the uncertainties of an era on the verge of profound transformation.
Honestly, The Laboratory Assistant exceeded my expectations. It is a richly atmospheric historical novel that balances personal drama with larger social and political themes, marking Natalia Loya as an author worth watching.

[Reiko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of advance reader copy received from NetGalley

A gothic historical novel set in Petrograd, Russia in 1916 where a young woman Mariya is barely making ends meet after her father dies and left a large debt during a time of political unrest. With her mother is sick in bed with tuberculosis and 2 younger sisters. She gets an opportunity and takes the job as an assistant for Dr. Nikolas Rodin, a reclusive but brilliant scientist, who seems to be conducting secret experiments. Is the generous pay offered too good to be true and is there something more sinister happening?
I was very intrigued by the premise. The setting was very unique and had a lot of potential. It was easy to read. The beginning definitely hooked me but did start to fall apart after about the first ⅓ of the book. It lost some of the more eerie gothic elements. By the synopsis, I did think it would be darker than it ended up. The writing kept distracting me for example within 2 pages it would say “the doctor", “the scientist”, “the young doctor”, “the man”, “Nikolas”, all of which would be referring to Nikolas and sometimes I had to read the passages multiple times to make sure if they were referring to the same person or if someone else was in the scene that I missed. I didn’t really find any of the characters likeable and felt the plot had too many threads that felt undeveloped and the main plot was fine but my expectations were very high and it didn’t match it. If you are looking to dip your toes in dark romance and don’t want something too dark and are intrigued by the setting and like historical fiction, this book may be more for you.

Plot: 2/5
Enjoyment: 2/5
Artistry: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Heart: 3/5
Total average: 2.4/5

*rating system from ErinAndrews
https://youtu.be/uG7Lnt7LqdI?si=wQ5qn...

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC copy!

[Amber-thereadingrushmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Laboratory Assistant was exactly the kind of atmospheric historical fiction I love.

Set during the Russian Revolution, this story combines gothic suspense, romance, political unrest, and scientific ambition into a compelling and immersive read. From mausoleums and family crypts to a creepy old laboratory filled with secrets, the atmosphere practically drips off the page.

Mariya was an easy protagonist to root for. As her family’s world crumbles around her, she finds herself working alongside the enigmatic Dr. Nikolas Rodin, whose research may change everything. What begins as a story of survival quickly becomes something much darker and more complex.

The gothic elements were my favorite part of the novel. The sanatorium setting, mysterious experiments, inspector investigation, and growing sense of unease gave this book strong dark academia vibes. There were several moments where I genuinely wasn’t sure where the story was heading, and I loved the suspense that created.

I also appreciated how the novel explored the intersection of science, morality, obsession, and love. The “mad scientist” undertones added another fascinating layer to the story without turning it into outright horror.

If you enjoy:
🖤 Gothic historical fiction
🖤 Dark academia vibes
🖤 Women in STEM
🖤 Atmospheric romance
🖤 Russian Revolution settings
🖤 Mystery and suspense

I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own 📚✨

Favorite takeaway: This felt like a gothic romance wrapped inside a historical mystery, with just enough creeping dread to keep me glued to the pages 🖤

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, bittersweet story!

4.5/5 ⭐️
(Rounded up)

The Laboratory Assistant is set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia in 1916. It paints a vivid picture of the hardship, poverty and uncertainty experienced during the era while also exploring the unsettling beginnings of modern medicine.

Mariya and Nikolas are flawed, believable characters whose relationship develops amidst extraordinary circumstances. The writing is thoughtful and engaging without feeling overly dense. I did find myself wishing for a little more clarity in a couple of areas. The shifts in point of view occasionally took me a moment to recognise, and the alternating use of names and titles could be distracting at times. I also would have loved to learn more about Nikolas' illness. I understand there may not have been a formal diagnosis or terminology for his condition in 1916, but given that his closest friend was a psychiatrist, I kept expecting a little more insight into what he may have been experiencing.

The narration was clear and easy to understand, especially as it was read by the author. As time went on, I could hear the increase in confidence and found it more engaging to listen to as it progressed.

Overall, this is an interesting blend of historical fiction and gothic romance that I think will appeal to readers who enjoy immersive historical settings, morally complex characters, and stories that explore the ethical boundaries of early medicine.

As always, thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[G.M. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Laboratory Assistant is a historical gothic romance set on the cusp of Russia's February Revolution. Mariya Sokolova, the heroine, is from an aristocratic family fallen on hard times, as she's forced to seek out work in order to support her dying mother and sisters. By chance, she finds work as the assistant to the brilliant and charismatic doctor, Nikolas Rodin, who seems plagued by an inner darkness as he stops at nothing to find a cure for tuberculosis. As their relationship develops, she too is sucked into his world of madness and transgression, as the world around them slips further into chaos.

Loya does a wonderful job bringing the prose and magical realism of 19th Century Russian literature into the modern era. She captures the tension and philosophy of Crime and Punishment but with a modern perspective on mental illness and science -- as well as a steamy romance that would definitely not have passed the 19th Century censors!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical gothic fiction with a strong romantic subplot, especially if you're interested in World War I era Russia. Additionally I think this is a great gateway book into the Russian classics if you're not familiar with them, especially since Loya simplifies some of the Russian naming conventions that so often befuddle Western readers.

Should you enjoy this book and want more of that vibe, I'd recommend Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, Queen of Spades by Pushkin, and Master and Margarita by Bulgakov.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected almost a Frankenstein romance with paranormal elements. Instead, The Laboratory Assistant delivered a bleak account on the eve of the Russian Revolution of Mariya, an impoverished young woman caring for her widowed mother and younger sisters, who finds work in the lab of Dr. Nikolas Rodin, a brilliant biomedical scientist on the verge of discovering a cure for tuberculosis. There is no literal monster or ghost, only the shadows of Nikolas' mental illness and the growing love between him and Mariya, as she learns to read him and his loyalty and dependence on her grows.

The writing is sometimes hard to follow. Although most of the story is told from Mariya's POV, as more characters are introduced, POVs can switch momentarily in the middle of the action. The subject often changes too: rather than Nikolas, he's the scientist. Rather than Viktor, he's the psychiatrist. Rather than Mariya, she's the dancer or 20 year old woman.

Nevertheless, the plot carries forward well, as we follow the decline in Mariya's mother's, sister's, and then her own health due to tuberculosis and Nikolas' increasing madness, off the meds, to find the cure. Meanwhile, the city of Petrograd is a pressure cooker with the Bolsheviks and students increasingly clashing with the police. All of it sweeping everyone into final confrontation with high stakes of life or death.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mindbuck Media for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy.

[Shae Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the sort of book that had me cancelling plans to keep reading, but I still had a really good time with it.

It was quite different from a lot of what I've been reading recently, which I appreciated. I liked the characters, liked the story, and was happy with how everything wrapped up in the end.

That said, it wasn't one of those books that completely grabbed me and took over my life. I found myself reading a bit, putting it down, then coming back to it. I was always interested in what was happening, but I never had that "just one more chapter" feeling.

There were also a few moments where I got a little confused and had to go back and reread sections because I wasn't quite sure what had happened. Once I figured it out, I was fine, but it happened enough that I noticed it.

My biggest frustration was actually the formatting on my Kobo. When I downloaded it through NetGalley, it showed as over 1,100 pages and the story didn't seem to start until around page 600. Obviously that's not the author's fault, but it did make for a slightly strange reading experience.

There was also one phrase that kept popping up throughout the book that I personally wasn't a fan of, and after a while I couldn't stop noticing it.

I still enjoyed reading it. It was interesting, different, and kept me curious enough to keep picking it back up. Sometimes that's exactly what you want from a book.

[Laurynn | Laurynnslibrary_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Laboratory Assistant was atmospheric, lush, and immersive.
In 1916 Petrograd, we follow former aristocrat Mariya struggling to make ends meet for her family, while the threat of revolution and consumption (tuberculosis) arise. When she meets mysterious scientist Nikolas Rodin, her life shifts dramatically.
I felt like this was incredibly interesting. This is slightly outside of my typical genre reads, but I couldn’t put it down. Every time I would go to pause, the story would shift and I simply had to continue. I had no clue what would happen or how the book was ending, I loved that. The writing was cohesive and highly thought out. I personally loved the romance.
I struggled a bit with the third person POV, switching from following primarily Mariya to occasionally other characters in a way that felt abrupt. It took a second to be like “oh wait this isn’t Mariya anymore”. That’s my only complaint, and it’s so minor.
I loved how the author leaves room for interpretation with some subtle nuances, and addresses heavy topics with such grace. This story will stick with me for its originality and detail.

-1916 Russia
-gothic historical fiction
-madness
-romance
-how far will you go for those you love?
-political upheaval
-women in STEM

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Laboratory Assistant - Natalia Loya

This is definitely one of my favorites for the year. Mariya, Sofia, Victor, and Nikolas were some of the most interesting characters that I ever read. And the chemistry and tension between Mariya and Nikolas was phenomenal. I loved the setting and all the details that went into this book. It had such a gripping atmosphere that kept me reading and I couldn’t put it down. I love reading historical fiction that isn’t Regency era England, and this being set in Russia during the revolution was just so interesting to me. Especially with the female main characters being of the aristocratic class and Sofia’s interest in the revolution. I also really do love the doctors and seeing how the STEM field was written durning this time. I will definitely be reading more from this author, and I recommend you all as well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🌶️ / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 392 Pages

Release Date 🌟 6/2/26

Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy

Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable

Genre/Tropes ✨ gothic, gothic literature, historical fiction, Russian Revolution setting, STEM MCs, FMC in STEM

Favorite Character ☀️ Almost all of them, but especially Mariya, Sofia, Victor, and Nikolas

Favorite Line 🌟 “It amuses him to annoy me, or he wouldn’t have quoted Shakespeare to you”

[Rachel Pepper · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The Laboratory Assistant was an interesting read that ultimately landed at 3 stars for me.

The premise hooked me immediately: a doctor with a Jekyll-and-Hyde-like darkness falls in love with his laboratory assistant and will do absolutely anything to protect her. Set during the Russian Revolution, the political unrest creates a tense backdrop, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the story and the characters.

My biggest struggle was with the writing style. The dialogue often felt overly formal which, to be fair, fits the time period to an extent. What pulled me out of the story more was the narration itself. Characters were constantly referred to by name before switching to titles like “the doctor” or “the assistant,” and it gave the prose a detached, almost textbook-like quality at times.

One thing that’s worth mentioning is that I experienced this as an audiobook provided through NetGalley, narrated by the author. Unfortunately, the narration didn’t work for me and made it harder to connect with the story. I honestly think if I had read the text instead of listening, this could have been a 4-star read.

Despite my criticisms, I did care about these characters and wanted to know how their story ended. The central relationship was compelling, the historical setting added plenty of tension, and there was enough here to keep me engaged from beginning to end.

[Jess H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for sharing this ARC with me.

The Laboratory Assistant is about the tenacious young Mariya who carries the weight of her family through sickness and the brink of a revolution. She begins working for Dr. Rodin and her life changes forever.

The story is beautiful written and does a great job developing the setting and political landscape. Mariya is complex and develops throughout the book. While the story is a romance at its heart, it is a character study on Mariya’s drive for survival and the need to protect her family at all costs. I enjoyed the pacing, however I did feel the end was rushed.

*spoilers ahead* I was left wanting to know more, especially in regard to the scientist’s condition that was constantly alluded to but not confirmed. Was it a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde type situation? Also, did the cure work? It’s implied but I would have like to hear more about what happened after as well.

Overall it was a good story that did a great job of painting the scene and the characters. Would recommend for lovers of historical fiction and gothic romance.

[Renay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the audio version of this book for free through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This story follows a Russian family of girls who are left to pick up the pieces after their father passes and leaves them with gambling debts, and an ill mother. The two eldest sisters work together to try to take care of their mother while ensuring that their youngest sister still has some semblance of a dowry remaining. Leaving behind a life where they were well-to-do before their fathers passing, just putting food on the table becomes a struggle. The eldest sister begins working for a Scientist with strange habits. He comes under moods, becomes unpredictable, and seems to be struggling with a dr. jekyll / mr. hyde type syndrome.

This was a good read, the only reason I didn't rate it higher is because at times I felt like it read like a text book. There was a lot of he said, she said, he said, she said, back and forth which felt unnecessary as we could tell who was speaking to whom. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction with a twist. The characters were likable, the setting was well described and made sense.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say if you are looking for an exciting historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution which features a woman working in STEM you need to check out the Laboratory Assistant. Not only will this tale have you rooting for the female empowerment in a male dominated field but it will have you in absolute sitches over the side story of forbidden love. I will say that this story had been rooting for these characters and begging for them to make a difference not only in the path of science but also their personal lives as well.

We are introduced to Mariya who was once apart of a aristocratic family. However, the recent events of the Russian Revolution that has put an end to things leaving her family destitute. She ends up finding work as an assistant to Dr. Nikolas Rodin. From there they will work side by side trying to figure out a cure for Tuberculosis and also fight the growing attraction between them. However, with these difficult times and uncertain future will their love manage to blossom?

[Kati Cesario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a conventional fantasy, not a conventional historical fiction, this novel manages to pull the reader into a lush world of romance, turmoil, and just a touch of madness. Set in a Petrograd on the brink of revolution, the exterior fervor and tension echoes the personal turmoil of the characters. The backdrop of the looming revolution serves as a perfect foil for both the interfamilial conflicts of the characters, as well as the emotional upheaval of the characters themselves, particularly Mariya, Sofia, and Nikolas.

The rising tension and uncertainly manages to keep the reader balanced on a fine knife’s edge of tension, always wanting to turn the next page, but never reaching the point of emotional exhaustion. I particularly enjoyed the endless uncertainty of what was science, what imagination, what possibly supernatural, and what merely the compelling force of madness.

I highly, highly recommend.

[Cherp]

Unfortunately going to DNF at around 25% in. Nothing wrong with the book, I actually quite like the author's prose and the setting is chef's kiss. However, the synopsis of this book sort of gave me more... horror? So I went in to this story expecting some more dark and creepy vibes. Lo and behold, this is a romance! That's probably on me for not paying attention to the tags better (I received this on NetGalley), but the synopsis and the historical fiction tag really caught my attention! I unfortunately am just not a romance girly and so find the plot a little boring.

I also was listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. Unfortunately, it's a tad noticeable that the author is not an experienced audiobook narrator and her tone can be a bit monotonous with no emotion or differentiating of character dialogue. Not to fault the author at all, just didn't help me trying to listen to a romance book I wasn't really vibing with.

[Jeremy Striffler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Petrograd, Russia, on the brink of revolution in 1916, The Laboratory Assistant is a beguiling story that combines the beloved tropes of Gothic literature and the lush details of historical fiction. Loya places the reader in the tattered home of the Sokolova women who struggle with disease and poverty due to the gambling debts of their deceased patriarch. The heroine, Mariya, is young and naive but show great nerve as she must play the dutiful role of eldest sister charged with keeping her family afloat. She is introduced to the intriguing but also maddening world of the very strange and handsome Dr. Nikolas Rodin and his basement laboratory. With its specific use of language and tone, The Laboratory Assistant feels both lush and from a different era that places her book in conversation with Northanger Abbey and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. It was hard to put down thanks to the dangerous romance and continuously moving story.

[Alicia DUffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the story overall. It made me ask what would push me past my on morals. Set during the early days of Bolshevik revolution in Russia, the book gives a look into the immense poverty of the average person during the time. While also get a glimpse of the gruesome dawn of modern medicine. Mariya and Nikolas are two imperfect people who meet in turbulent time. The writing is intelligent without being over complicated. The spicier scenes are written almost like clinical notes, but this seems purposeful. The only reason this doesn't have full marks is because sometimes the pov changes weren't always clear. And the interchanging of names and titles seemingly at random was distracting. This is a definite must read for anyone who likes history and romance.

[Leann Reeves · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book wanting so bad to love it. I loved the premise and the characters but had such a hard time with the switch up of referring to Maria as the assistant one moment and in the next breath calling her Mariya. The same was done with the Doctor and Nikolas. There was one specific time that I thought there were other characters there because of it. If I had not received this as an ARC from NetGalley I may not have finished the book. The overall story was ok, but I feel like blaming things on mental illness when people would have made those same decisions without mental illness, was kind of frustrating.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Natalia Loya for the advanced audio copy for my honest review.

The Laboratory Assistant had a really interesting premise, and I genuinely enjoyed the story itself. The mystery kept me engaged, and I wanted to know how everything was going to unfold.

That said, I listened to the audiobook, and I think the narration held it back for me. The narrator's delivery made it difficult to fully connect with the characters, and I think the story would have been much more engaging with a different narrator.

Overall, I'm glad I finished it because the plot was solid, but I can't help but feel I would have enjoyed it much more if it had been narrated differently.

[NightOffTheShelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/2.5 for the initial intrigue. While intrigued by the premise, the time period, the subject of scientific discovery, and the unfortunate circumstances of the main characters, the writing style made it difficult to remain fully immersed. I wanted to know what was happening or going to happen, but halfway through the book, I still wasn't quite sure what story the author was trying to tell. I didn't mind how it ended, but the execution of the tale is what needed work, more fleshing out in parts and another edit or two. For me, it simply didn't "land."

The plot lags and advances in inconsistent waves. The language, while fanciful and appreciative, occasionally rambles into ambiguity rather than atmosphere. The author's proclivity for fanciful descriptions can be lyrical and informative but too many synonyms often obfuscated the narrative. There seemed to be a hint into the possibility of something supernatural, but that was never confirmed nor explored and the final few pages were extremely rushed after the many pages of time it took for ... certain other spoiler things to be developed completely. The characters didn't feel fully fleshed out, though we learned a lot about them factually, and the author's overuse of how they describe their characters often led to some confusion. For example, "The assistant," "the dancer," "the fallen aristocrat," "the daughter of failed fortune," "the girl," "the woman," "the young woman," etc. all described Mariya, oftentimes in a single chapter. And when this is applied to multiple characters in the same chapter, you can see how it can be an issue. All that said, I still managed to read until the end, but I can't say I was enthralled or invested.

[Hannah Persohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this as a Listen Now on NetGalley, and thank you SO much for the opportunity to hear this as an ALC.

The narration was clear, concise, and sweetly portrayed. It was so clearly done, I could speed it up to 1.25x speed with no loss of clarity.

The story was so good— I struggled to pause it when I was being distracted! I was enraptured by the mystery, the Bolshevik, the science, and the characters.

If Nocticadia had a love child with the Victorian Gothic/Russian Historic era, this is the product.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting but I felt like it needed to deep dive into a genre instead of riding between several genres. This could have been such a good horror or paranormal romance but it stayed a little too middle ground literature with a hint of paranormal (maybe) or romance. If you want to learn a lot about consumption treatments this book is interesting but it felt like it was just Mariya dealing with being poor and dealing with consumption and not much else.
The narrator was fine but it really felt like she was simply reading a text not narrating a story.