The Herbalist

By: Heather Morrison-Tapley

Narrated by: Madeleine Maby

A charming debut that begins with heartbreak, and journeys through magic, humor, hope, and healing.

Eden Martin had the perfect life in New York City: amazing job as a professor, successful fiance, great apartment on the Upper West Side. But in one night her whole world comes crashing down. So, she does what any sensible woman would do; she abandons her life and moves to a tiny village in England, leaving everyone and everything behind. Lost and confused, a new life emerges as she follows her dream to write a book. In the process she meets a local healer, the last in a centuries-long line of magical herbalists. She also finds love, and challenges, in ways she could never have imagined. In this village of strange and mystical events, Eden finally learns that finding love, hope, or even your destiny can't provide happiness until you find yourself.

©2022 Heather Morrison-Tapley (P)2023 Tantor

Love the mixture of using the old with the new as the story evolves

Good story I like the writing I wish the key character were a little bit stronger and not so doubting all the time but overall a good story

Disappointed.

When I read the brief description, I was intrigued and excited about the story line. Sadly, there were so many flaws in the story, the writing and the narration. The main character is supposed to be 38, but acts like she's in her early 20's. The story starts to pull you in and then abruptly changes direction, speeding ahead in time, and you never do find out about a previous situation and how it played out. I think the premise was there, but the story is like it was abridged many times over. Nothing is explained and completed in detail, but very disjointed, jumping to the next part. The narrator had difficulty with other voices other than the main character and was not convincing at all. I have never left a review this negative, but felt I needed to explain why I disliked it so much. I have an interest in herbs and herbal healing and that's why I chose this book. I was very disappointed.

Clichéd Disappointment

Unbearably cliched and simplistic. An intriguing premise that sinks into banality within two chapters. Lack of complexity and a reading level that would not challenge a 12 year-old. Even passable narrator can’t breathe life into this hackneyed book.