--- product_id: 663137817 title: "The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel – A NYT Bestseller Historical Fantasy of Dark Secrets" price: "VT8621" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/663137817-the-lost-apothecary-collectors-edition-a-novel-a-nyt-bestseller store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel – A NYT Bestseller Historical Fantasy of Dark Secrets **Price:** VT8621 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel – A NYT Bestseller Historical Fantasy of Dark Secrets - **How much does it cost?** VT8621 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/663137817-the-lost-apothecary-collectors-edition-a-novel-a-nyt-bestseller) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel – A NYT Bestseller Historical Fantasy of Dark Secrets: 9780778387749: Penner, Sarah: Books Review: A NOVEL OF EDUCATION AND NOW A PERSONAL FAVORITE - Sarah Penner is a great writer. I had been postponing reading this book because I wanted to enjoy the different romance and contemporary romance novels I had stocked up on, but I eventually decided to dive in. I started reading it in bits and pieces, but yesterday I went on a deep dive—and honestly, this book is such an amazing read. Beyond the obvious themes of loss, betrayal, and trust, this is also a book about friendship. It's about meeting new people and finding oneself, which brings me to the structure and genre itself. This is more than historical fiction—it's a novel of education, a *bildungsroman*. This book is absolutely well-written, and the writer's mind is fertile ground for historical complexities and nuances. As a researcher, I connected deeply with this story. My dissertation focused on finding bits and pieces about the life and works of Reverend J.J. Ransome-Kuti, and I was fascinated by how many parallels I found with my own research journey. Even now, I'm reflecting on what I might have missed. I learned so much from the main character in the present timeline about tracing the past and how our biases can affect how we read history. The dual timeline narrative really helps us see the past—to see history as something alive rather than something stuck in the past. We simply didn't live in those times, but history continues to breathe and influence us. The ending (no spoilers!) shows what one character thinks is like an ending, but I believe it's quite symbolic of how the past continues into the present. The past never dies; it lives on. What one person throws away will be discovered by someone else who will then begin their own research. This book has spoken to me on so many levels and is truly inspiring me not to give up on my research—to be passionate about what I'm doing because my work is important. I'm really grateful for this book. Review: Messages of hope and courage in friendships under extraordinary circumstances - I read this book at the recommendation of a friend. I enjoyed it a lot and look forward to discussing it with that friend soon. I liked best two unique aspects of the novel. First, I liked its work to unravel the stories of women in the past. Working family history through genealogical document, I gained an appreciation of how fewer details are recorded for females than males. Historical documents may record a woman only by her married name, or even only by her husband's name. Women in the past often didn't receive automatic guardianship of inherited money or estates; unraveling the mysteries of the stories of these women must start with examining the records of their male relatives who oversaw their finances. The second aspect I liked best about the novel was its focus on the strength of friendship to support women through exceptional life challenges when other forms of support, e.g. from parents or spouses, are insufficient. In this, it reminded me of two films, "4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days" and "Portrait of a Lady on Fire." I felt the book and these films took a focus that avoids discussion of moral controversies to focus on building understanding of human reactions, different perspectives and motives. Another interesting side of the book was a youthful, innocent viewpoint. This made the reading easier. One thing that made it harder for me was the relative abundance of unsympathetic male characters. I'd recommend the book to friends looking for books unravelling the mysteries of women's historical stories and friendships. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #20,722 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #104 in Witch & Wizard Mysteries #135 in Literary Fiction (Books) #155 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery | | Customer Reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (58,608) | | Dimensions | 6.31 x 1.11 x 9.08 inches | | Edition | Reissue | | ISBN-10 | 0778387747 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0778387749 | | Item Weight | 1.13 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 352 pages | | Publication date | January 7, 2025 | | Publisher | Park Row | ## Images ![The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel – A NYT Bestseller Historical Fantasy of Dark Secrets - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HvinyfSIL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A NOVEL OF EDUCATION AND NOW A PERSONAL FAVORITE *by R***A on June 5, 2025* Sarah Penner is a great writer. I had been postponing reading this book because I wanted to enjoy the different romance and contemporary romance novels I had stocked up on, but I eventually decided to dive in. I started reading it in bits and pieces, but yesterday I went on a deep dive—and honestly, this book is such an amazing read. Beyond the obvious themes of loss, betrayal, and trust, this is also a book about friendship. It's about meeting new people and finding oneself, which brings me to the structure and genre itself. This is more than historical fiction—it's a novel of education, a *bildungsroman*. This book is absolutely well-written, and the writer's mind is fertile ground for historical complexities and nuances. As a researcher, I connected deeply with this story. My dissertation focused on finding bits and pieces about the life and works of Reverend J.J. Ransome-Kuti, and I was fascinated by how many parallels I found with my own research journey. Even now, I'm reflecting on what I might have missed. I learned so much from the main character in the present timeline about tracing the past and how our biases can affect how we read history. The dual timeline narrative really helps us see the past—to see history as something alive rather than something stuck in the past. We simply didn't live in those times, but history continues to breathe and influence us. The ending (no spoilers!) shows what one character thinks is like an ending, but I believe it's quite symbolic of how the past continues into the present. The past never dies; it lives on. What one person throws away will be discovered by someone else who will then begin their own research. This book has spoken to me on so many levels and is truly inspiring me not to give up on my research—to be passionate about what I'm doing because my work is important. I'm really grateful for this book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Messages of hope and courage in friendships under extraordinary circumstances *by G***R on March 29, 2021* I read this book at the recommendation of a friend. I enjoyed it a lot and look forward to discussing it with that friend soon. I liked best two unique aspects of the novel. First, I liked its work to unravel the stories of women in the past. Working family history through genealogical document, I gained an appreciation of how fewer details are recorded for females than males. Historical documents may record a woman only by her married name, or even only by her husband's name. Women in the past often didn't receive automatic guardianship of inherited money or estates; unraveling the mysteries of the stories of these women must start with examining the records of their male relatives who oversaw their finances. The second aspect I liked best about the novel was its focus on the strength of friendship to support women through exceptional life challenges when other forms of support, e.g. from parents or spouses, are insufficient. In this, it reminded me of two films, "4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days" and "Portrait of a Lady on Fire." I felt the book and these films took a focus that avoids discussion of moral controversies to focus on building understanding of human reactions, different perspectives and motives. Another interesting side of the book was a youthful, innocent viewpoint. This made the reading easier. One thing that made it harder for me was the relative abundance of unsympathetic male characters. I'd recommend the book to friends looking for books unravelling the mysteries of women's historical stories and friendships. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this story! I kept envisioning this as a play~ *by K***A on July 17, 2022* This book has haunted me for several months since I read it. I wish, I had the opportunity to review this sooner, as it is truly a keeper. The book opens with events happening approximately 100+ years apart in the lives of 2 women.. While the writing style alone is worth the read, the steady build-up of mystery & suspence kept me reading all night. Yet, it was the common denominator between the two protagonists that has stayed with me all these months. How do women build an identity separate from a man? Penner reaches back in time to draw on lessons of the past to help solve the problems of the present. Along the way, she creates a cast of almost entirely women whose voices haunt with the pain of their stories. Through their encounters with the Apothecary, they paint a picture of how women have long supported each other in discreet ways through some of the most painful events in life. As a reader, I found it became harder & harder to judge any of the women harshly when the reasons for their actions are made clear. I kept thinking of our current plight in the US since Roe v. Wade fell. How once again, women will band together to protect and empower other women, despite the overwhelming odds & judgements placed on us by a religious, male-dominated culture. The book was obviously well-researched. The dialogue is spot on. The reader can marvel at the ingenuity & resourcefulness of women in the 1800s and how we continue to rise above adversity in the present. This is a book worth buying in hard copy & adding to your library. Women everywhere should read it. In placing the actions of Nella in the past and linking her to Caroline's problems in the present; we are able to give some emotional distance to what are very painful events. A painful, yet beautiful story. A story of women helping women, even across centuries. This has been my favorite read so far this year. It reminded me to appreciate all the women in my life who have befriended, taught & helped me & how much we can accomplish when we work together. I look forward to more books from Penner~ ## Frequently Bought Together - The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Deluxe Edition Featuring Stenciled Sprayed Edges and Foil Decoration―Don't Miss Sarah Penner's Newest Spellbinding Book, The Amalfi Curse - A Study in Drowning Collector's Deluxe Limited Edition - Shield of Sparrows --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/663137817-the-lost-apothecary-collectors-edition-a-novel-a-nyt-bestseller](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/663137817-the-lost-apothecary-collectors-edition-a-novel-a-nyt-bestseller) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-18*