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The Judge's Apothecary
History is not always made in the past….
Summer 1685
Following an uprising against King James II, the country is once again torn in two and news of a bloody vendetta is rife. Men from the rebel army are being plucked from their hiding places across the West country and rumour has it that the King's most formidable judge will be leading the trials: the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys.
Kateryn Fox works with her grandmother at an apothecary shop in Winchester. She is facing troubles of her own when the King's legal procession arrives for the first of the assizes courts where those who supported the rebellion will face trial. Her husband, Gideon, has not returned from a business trip and Kat fears he may have somehow become caught up in the aftermath of the rebellion. Bequeathed an obsidian necklace capable of bringing together, future, past and present, she attempts to use its power to search for Gideon. But the spirit guides bring her warnings of 'The Hanging Judge' and the harrowing revenge that he will reap.
When she is approached by a gentleman for a remedy to ease the ailments Judge Jeffreys suffers, she finds herself unwittingly pulled into service as his personal apothecary. It is a position that brings great power, influence and danger - particularly for a cunning woman who is an abandoned wife.
Present day
Ruth Meadows is questioning her skills as a healer and psychic when an enigmatic and handsome stranger arrives on her doorstep carrying a necklace that he believes is haunted and her gift is reawakened.
There appear to be entities attached to the necklace and Ruth is afraid, but she far more fears the dark secret that her new client appears to be keeping from her. Through her connection to the women who have been gifted the necklace, Ruth embarks on a dangerous psychic journey that she soon realises could make or alter history.
Summer 1685
Following an uprising against King James II, the country is once again torn in two and news of a bloody vendetta is rife. Men from the rebel army are being plucked from their hiding places across the West country and rumour has it that the King's most formidable judge will be leading the trials: the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys.
Kateryn Fox works with her grandmother at an apothecary shop in Winchester. She is facing troubles of her own when the King's legal procession arrives for the first of the assizes courts where those who supported the rebellion will face trial. Her husband, Gideon, has not returned from a business trip and Kat fears he may have somehow become caught up in the aftermath of the rebellion. Bequeathed an obsidian necklace capable of bringing together, future, past and present, she attempts to use its power to search for Gideon. But the spirit guides bring her warnings of 'The Hanging Judge' and the harrowing revenge that he will reap.
When she is approached by a gentleman for a remedy to ease the ailments Judge Jeffreys suffers, she finds herself unwittingly pulled into service as his personal apothecary. It is a position that brings great power, influence and danger - particularly for a cunning woman who is an abandoned wife.
Present day
Ruth Meadows is questioning her skills as a healer and psychic when an enigmatic and handsome stranger arrives on her doorstep carrying a necklace that he believes is haunted and her gift is reawakened.
There appear to be entities attached to the necklace and Ruth is afraid, but she far more fears the dark secret that her new client appears to be keeping from her. Through her connection to the women who have been gifted the necklace, Ruth embarks on a dangerous psychic journey that she soon realises could make or alter history.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2021
42 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 8, 2021
Emma-Nicole Lewis is getting quite a following now for her timeslip stories, and deservedly so, but this one gives us a unique look at real historical events. We are taken back in time to the aftermath of the Monmouth Rebellion, the 1685 attempt to overthrow James II. Whilst the author really knows her history, she also shows us how these events affected the lives of ordinary people in the city of Winchester. Kateryn is our historical guide, working as an apothecary along with her grandmother and coping with anxiety about the fate of Gideon, her husband who she fears has become embroiled in the rebellion.
Meanwhile (for time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future, and time future contained in time past, as the man said!) Ruth, with her own marriage woes, is working in Winchester as a psychic in the run up to Christmas. Separated by time but linked through a precious obsidian pendant, Ruth and Kat’s worlds merge together with the potential to change the past as well as the future.
Key historical facts are woven into the story to make them integral, but it never feels like a history lesson. The parallel stories are capably written so that they don't conflict or confuse but merge together exactly as they should, offering a seamless narrative. Both time periods are equally engrossing, keeping curiosity high and giving a unique voice to Ruth and Kat.
The story does have subtle romantic overtones; however, this is treated skilfully and is understated, so that the historical aspects and personalities of the characters always take centre stage. It’s important at the end to go back and re-read the prologue – I found this illuminating.
Another key element that Lewis tackles well is suspicions around women who possess natural spiritual gifts. Historically, women like Ruth and Kat were very well respected, but they were also feared, providing an excuse for institutionalised gender discrimination beginning in the medieval church which represented women as lesser than men, which had been used by Matthew Hopkins forty years earlier. This comes into play when Kat is appropriated for her skills, but feels she has no say in whom she is required to treat. Today, Ruth is expected to put up and shut up when her husband gaslights her and finds her career not taken as seriously as it should be.
Well written, absorbing, thought-provoking and informative all at the same time, I learned a lot and would not hesitate to recommend this cracking read from a wonderful storyteller.
Meanwhile (for time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future, and time future contained in time past, as the man said!) Ruth, with her own marriage woes, is working in Winchester as a psychic in the run up to Christmas. Separated by time but linked through a precious obsidian pendant, Ruth and Kat’s worlds merge together with the potential to change the past as well as the future.
Key historical facts are woven into the story to make them integral, but it never feels like a history lesson. The parallel stories are capably written so that they don't conflict or confuse but merge together exactly as they should, offering a seamless narrative. Both time periods are equally engrossing, keeping curiosity high and giving a unique voice to Ruth and Kat.
The story does have subtle romantic overtones; however, this is treated skilfully and is understated, so that the historical aspects and personalities of the characters always take centre stage. It’s important at the end to go back and re-read the prologue – I found this illuminating.
Another key element that Lewis tackles well is suspicions around women who possess natural spiritual gifts. Historically, women like Ruth and Kat were very well respected, but they were also feared, providing an excuse for institutionalised gender discrimination beginning in the medieval church which represented women as lesser than men, which had been used by Matthew Hopkins forty years earlier. This comes into play when Kat is appropriated for her skills, but feels she has no say in whom she is required to treat. Today, Ruth is expected to put up and shut up when her husband gaslights her and finds her career not taken as seriously as it should be.
Well written, absorbing, thought-provoking and informative all at the same time, I learned a lot and would not hesitate to recommend this cracking read from a wonderful storyteller.
February 1, 2022
Not great
Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. The language was repetitive and on one page alone, there were fifteen uses of the verb “had”. This became a common theme throughout the book and I found myself skipping chunks so that I could finish it, quickly. The story itself was ok, but not gripping or compelling. I picked it up as the description stated for fans of Barbara Erskine, but I’m afraid there is no comparison and I was left feeling somewhat deflated. I believe it is more of a young adult novel. I award 3 stars but had this of been trad published, I would award only 2.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. The language was repetitive and on one page alone, there were fifteen uses of the verb “had”. This became a common theme throughout the book and I found myself skipping chunks so that I could finish it, quickly. The story itself was ok, but not gripping or compelling. I picked it up as the description stated for fans of Barbara Erskine, but I’m afraid there is no comparison and I was left feeling somewhat deflated. I believe it is more of a young adult novel. I award 3 stars but had this of been trad published, I would award only 2.
February 28, 2022
The Judges Apothecary by Emma-Nicole Lewis (Twilight Moon Publishing 2021)
I like time-out-of-time novels and this one is comparable with the works of authors such as Barbara Erskine, Kate Mosse and Elizabeth Harris. It’s partially set in the present day and partially in 1685 and the aftermath of the English Civil War, and in particular an apothecary named Kat who is called into the service of the infamous Judge Jefferies, the “hanging Judge”. The parallel story is of Ruth, a healer and a psychic who is visited by a stranger with a guilty past who gives her a necklace which awakens her latent gifts.
This is different to many similar novels dealing with the time slip theme in that in with the characters in the past, and only later brings in the story of Ruth and the images of the past that the necklace invokes. It was an curious way of dealing with the past, although I’m not sure how well it worked, especially since the back cover blurb begins talking about the present day. On the other hand, although both Ruth and Kat are vulnerable women, their strength comes though. I think what was most interesting was the parallels between the two women’s stories, and yet the subtle ways in which they were different.
It took a bit of time for me to get into the novel, and – nitpick as it is – I felt there needed top be more balance between the chapters. Chapter 1 runs for some 30 pages. Later chapters are only half a page. However, there was a point where the story ran much faster. Although I’m interested in English history, the Civil War is not a period I know much about, and I appreciated not being drowned in facts, but there were times where I would have liked to have seen more details so I could feel more of the atmosphere of the place. There are also places where the speech didn’t feel authentic (in both the present and the past) and places of overwriting throughout.
However, that aside, this is an interesting story, and the two plots are nicely intertwined to bring a satisfying conclusion.
I like time-out-of-time novels and this one is comparable with the works of authors such as Barbara Erskine, Kate Mosse and Elizabeth Harris. It’s partially set in the present day and partially in 1685 and the aftermath of the English Civil War, and in particular an apothecary named Kat who is called into the service of the infamous Judge Jefferies, the “hanging Judge”. The parallel story is of Ruth, a healer and a psychic who is visited by a stranger with a guilty past who gives her a necklace which awakens her latent gifts.
This is different to many similar novels dealing with the time slip theme in that in with the characters in the past, and only later brings in the story of Ruth and the images of the past that the necklace invokes. It was an curious way of dealing with the past, although I’m not sure how well it worked, especially since the back cover blurb begins talking about the present day. On the other hand, although both Ruth and Kat are vulnerable women, their strength comes though. I think what was most interesting was the parallels between the two women’s stories, and yet the subtle ways in which they were different.
It took a bit of time for me to get into the novel, and – nitpick as it is – I felt there needed top be more balance between the chapters. Chapter 1 runs for some 30 pages. Later chapters are only half a page. However, there was a point where the story ran much faster. Although I’m interested in English history, the Civil War is not a period I know much about, and I appreciated not being drowned in facts, but there were times where I would have liked to have seen more details so I could feel more of the atmosphere of the place. There are also places where the speech didn’t feel authentic (in both the present and the past) and places of overwriting throughout.
However, that aside, this is an interesting story, and the two plots are nicely intertwined to bring a satisfying conclusion.
February 25, 2022
This was a really interesting and enjoyable book. I love the cover of the book, it's really quite mysterious.
The story line was gripping and its full of brilliant content. I've never read a book in the Time-slip genre before and until Emma-Nicole's author live, in the Fiction book cafe on Sunday, I hadn't heard of this genre. Well I'm glad I've found out about it and read this authors book first.
It's really well written and you can tell there has been a lot of research gone into it.
I couldn't stop reading, the characters were really interesting and there story lines throughout the book kept me interested to see what happened to each of them.
I will recommend this to my friends and family and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
The story line was gripping and its full of brilliant content. I've never read a book in the Time-slip genre before and until Emma-Nicole's author live, in the Fiction book cafe on Sunday, I hadn't heard of this genre. Well I'm glad I've found out about it and read this authors book first.
It's really well written and you can tell there has been a lot of research gone into it.
I couldn't stop reading, the characters were really interesting and there story lines throughout the book kept me interested to see what happened to each of them.
I will recommend this to my friends and family and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
February 28, 2022
I love novels that have a historical part to them so I definitely enjoyed this one. I thought the way the past affected present day was a great idea and the story flowed brilliantly between Ruth in present day and Kateryn in the time of James the Second. Most people with an interest in history have heard of the Hanging Judge, Judge Jefferies and I enjoyed reading more about him and what happened in that time. How frightening it must have been for the people of the day.
The two main characters are both strong women in their own right and I loved the supernatural nature of it as well.
A definite read for anyone with an interest in the past and how it could connect to the present.
The two main characters are both strong women in their own right and I loved the supernatural nature of it as well.
A definite read for anyone with an interest in the past and how it could connect to the present.
December 19, 2022
DNF.
I tried, I really did. Got to about 75% and just couldn't continue. The story was good - the writing let it down.
She had, he had, they had, she had, we had, she had, they had, she had and on and on and on. I don't mind the odd typo, especially in a Kindle Unlimited offering, but this was too much. The author even got the name of one of the main characters wrong early on - either she didn't bother giving it a re-read or it wasn't spotted by a proofreader.
I wanted to finish it but found myself skipping paragraphs just to get to the end, and realised I was no longer enjoying it.
I tried, I really did. Got to about 75% and just couldn't continue. The story was good - the writing let it down.
She had, he had, they had, she had, we had, she had, they had, she had and on and on and on. I don't mind the odd typo, especially in a Kindle Unlimited offering, but this was too much. The author even got the name of one of the main characters wrong early on - either she didn't bother giving it a re-read or it wasn't spotted by a proofreader.
I wanted to finish it but found myself skipping paragraphs just to get to the end, and realised I was no longer enjoying it.
March 16, 2022
Really enjoyed this book, my first by the author. I felt the characters will really strong and I felt an emotional connection to them all. I loved the time-slip and the history that was covered, I knew nothing about it previously, so felt that I learned something as well. You can tell from reading how much research Emma-Nicole has put into this and then created a wonderful world to bring it all to life. Cried my eyes out at the end. For many days after I found myself thinking about it! Would highly recommend and can’t wait to read another of her books!
December 6, 2022
Great Story
I truly enjoyed this book, the story was incredible and the characters were even more incredible! It is so well written for a book that goes between the past and present, typically I’m not a fan of these types of books because you get so confused after a bit.
But not this book. The author did an amazing job of keeping the plot understandable. No confusion. It just kept getting better and better as the story unfolded.
Fantastic author, I’m looking for another book by her to start.
I truly enjoyed this book, the story was incredible and the characters were even more incredible! It is so well written for a book that goes between the past and present, typically I’m not a fan of these types of books because you get so confused after a bit.
But not this book. The author did an amazing job of keeping the plot understandable. No confusion. It just kept getting better and better as the story unfolded.
Fantastic author, I’m looking for another book by her to start.
January 16, 2022
An amazing dual time story
I love time slip books, this is a ghost/love story of a time when nobody was safe.
Emma tells story of past and present easily. I felt at times i was there, watching thr horror of Rebellion of King James. Very much like Barbara Erskine. Emma books get better and better, i didnt want this book,like her others to end.
I love time slip books, this is a ghost/love story of a time when nobody was safe.
Emma tells story of past and present easily. I felt at times i was there, watching thr horror of Rebellion of King James. Very much like Barbara Erskine. Emma books get better and better, i didnt want this book,like her others to end.
March 22, 2022
Unputdownable
Another great book by Emma, so well written that I felt as if I was part of the times past, I could hear the sounds and smell the smells. I have just finished it whilst sat in my garden on a warm March afternoon, I feel a bit lost now.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book .
Another great book by Emma, so well written that I felt as if I was part of the times past, I could hear the sounds and smell the smells. I have just finished it whilst sat in my garden on a warm March afternoon, I feel a bit lost now.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book .
January 31, 2023
I couldn’t put this book down
Beautifully written with characters that were believable, I couldn’t stop reading until I’d finished.
I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
Beautifully written with characters that were believable, I couldn’t stop reading until I’d finished.
I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
May 26, 2022
Good
Took awhile to get into could have done with past/present on chapters. Was a bit confusing for a bit. Liked it tho.
Took awhile to get into could have done with past/present on chapters. Was a bit confusing for a bit. Liked it tho.
November 27, 2022
So so good.
A very enjoyable hard to put down story teller, I love historic novels especially if they have a supernatural include.
A very enjoyable hard to put down story teller, I love historic novels especially if they have a supernatural include.
January 7, 2023
Was a lovely surprise when I started reading this book to find out it is set in my home town!
December 16, 2023
Interesting story
A beautiful story of a lost love and the horrendous atrocities mankind has committed on one another over the centuries..
A beautiful story of a lost love and the horrendous atrocities mankind has committed on one another over the centuries..
June 29, 2023
DNF
I tried, in fact i tried twice. But I couldn't do it. I would have liked to read about the hanging judge, but the wooden style of writing and the lack of characterisation meant 15% was a hill i was willing to die on.
Spoilers included? Nah couldn't get that far
I tried, in fact i tried twice. But I couldn't do it. I would have liked to read about the hanging judge, but the wooden style of writing and the lack of characterisation meant 15% was a hill i was willing to die on.
Spoilers included? Nah couldn't get that far
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews