"The Apothecary's Apprentice" by C.S. Doraga is a story filled with wonder, whimsy, and elements of coming-of-age, a budding romance, and a whodunnit murder mystery!

Overall, this book was enjoyable. I liked the main characters and their development. I liked the suspense of the investigation, and I really enjoyed the conclusion of what happens when everything is figured out.

My only real issue was the pacing of this book for the first 25%. I felt like every chapter was the same thing told slightly differently. But that's not enough reason not to read this book!

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I think if you like a murder-mystery fantasy, you will too!

I unfortunately DNF’ed this book. 1/4 in and I was forcing myself to pick up the book. I think it just wasn’t meant for me, I felt like I needed more …. More suspense and more tension between the FMC and MMC. And it felt obvious they will be together because of his need to marry … it would be a fine read I’m sure, I’m not comfortable giving it less than a threee because it’s not horrible, but I read so many books that I just couldn’t bring myself to stay engaged.

A fun, enthralling mystery. Perfect for fans of Apothecary Diaries. Daciana is a Senior Apprentice Apothecary and the village outcast. When her Teacher is murdered and mysterious events happen around the village its up to Daciana to figure out who murdered her mentor and why.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy! I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Apothecary’s Apprentice is a charming, cozy romantic fantasy with clean, wholesome vibes and a gentle pace. It follows a young apothecary who finds herself entangled in unexpected magical politics and slow-growing romance. The tone is very YA, and while that’s not always my personal preference, I can definitely see the appeal—it’s low-stakes, low-angst, and very easy to read.

The romance is sweet and soft, and the story leans into found family, quiet strength, and a touch of magic that gives it a fairytale-like feel. If you’re in the mood for something comforting and light, this makes for a cozy afternoon read.

Just finished "The Apothecary’s Apprentice" by C.S. Doraga. This one’s a cozy little gem! It’s got that magical charm, a fairly simple storyline that’s delightfully easy to follow, and just the right amount of sweetness.

It had a lot of unnecessary commas and a few oft repeated phrases. That stuff can be cleaned up ahead of release. The prose is more on the direct side. It's a comfortable, clean book for all ages.

Not everything has to be an epic. Sometimes a cozy fantasy with a sprinkle of mystery and a hint of romance is exactly what you need!

Overall, it’s a sweet, quick read that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Grateful to C.S. Doraga, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review "The Apothecary’s Apprentice" eARC prior to its release

5 STARS!! I loved this YA mystery, clean romantasy! These are two young adults who are trying to find their way in environments where they feel unwanted and trying to find their way. I instantly feel in love with these two characters as they learned to grow as people and to each other. The world building is great and I easily pictured their little village and everything that was happening. I can not wait to finish this series.

The Apothecary’s Apprentice is a cozy mystery with just the right touch of romance and light fantasy elements that don’t overpower the story but add a gentle layer of charm. The story follows Daciana, an outsider in her own village, and Sorin, the head of the Watchmen, whose paths intertwine as they investigate a murder case. While the mystery unfolds slowly, the pace suits the intimate, character-driven narrative.

One of the things I truly enjoyed was watching Daciana and Sorin progress and grow, trying to find the culprit but finding love and themselves in the process. Their bond develops naturally, and the romance that blooms between them is sweet, genuine, and heartwarming.

Though there were moments where the pacing dipped or felt slower, the overall atmosphere and mystery kept me engaged. The book also explores themes of trust and freedom, as in breaking free from other people's expectations and being your own person.

This was a lovely, cozy read and I believe it would be perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with just a sprinkle of magic and a slow-burn romance at its heart.

All in all, I had a lot of fun reading this book and I'm glad I had the chance to read it, as it help me with a bad book hangover.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I'm voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

This was a sweet, clean romance with a well thought out mystery. Our MCs were really likeable and compatible; I was really rooting for their romance! My big gripe here lay in the colloquialisms that peppered throughout the book. While not specifically stated, the nature of the village setting and the chaste approach to the pre marriage courtship leads you to assume it is set sometime in the past. However, there are liberal uses of words such as “kids”, “drastic”, and “stupid” that made the characters feel more contemporary than the setting. It was pretty easy to look past though.

Thank you to CS Doraga, BooksGoSocial & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review The Apothecary’s Apprentice prior to its release.

Honest ARC reviews by Jenny

This was a very sweet innocent story. I'd definitely let a 13+ year old read this book. It reminded me of a Disney Movie for teens.

What I loved about this book:

❤️ The story was engaging. It really pulled me in and kept me wanting to read it till the end.

❤️ The world building and character development was impressive. You really get a sense of the community they live in and the back stories of the main characters. You feel for them, you're invested in their story.

❤️ It was just so sweet. Lots of hand holding and forehead kisses. It still makes me smile thinking about it.

What I thought could be better:

❤️ Nothing really, it was a good book. I'm very much an adult and generally only read adult books, but this really pulled me in.

You should get this book, or let you're teen read it.

A got this free ARC book from Netgalley for my honest review.

Thankyou to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Apothecary’s Apprentice is a magical, slow-burn fantasy with mystery, romance, and heart. Daciana and Sorin have great chemistry, and the small-town secrets kept me hooked. Perfect if you like cozy fantasy with just enough spice and suspense!

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review of *The Apothecary’s Apprentice* by C.S. Doraga**
*Book 1 of The Wolves of Highfell Saga*

C.S. Doraga blends fantasy, romance, and mystery into an enchanting start to *The Wolves of Highfell Saga* with *The Apothecary’s Apprentice*. This atmospheric tale, rich with magic and quiet tension, introduces readers to a world where secrets run deep and power is both a blessing and a curse.

Daciana, the titular apprentice, is a standout heroine—intelligent, capable, and yearning for more than the small-minded village that fears her lineage. Her reluctant partnership with Sorin, the village’s golden boy weighed down by expectation, creates a dynamic tension that’s as much about emotional growth as it is about uncovering a chilling mystery.

The romance between them is sweet and slow-burning, complementing rather than overwhelming the plot. Doraga’s writing is clean and evocative, with a strong focus on character development and the emotional costs of power. The central mystery unfolds at a steady pace, and while some twists are predictable, the journey remains engaging throughout.

The worldbuilding is intriguing, especially the magical lore and political undercurrents of the village. Some readers may wish for a deeper dive into the broader world outside the village, but as a series starter, it lays a solid foundation.

**Verdict:**
*A thoughtful, cozy fantasy with heart and mystery. Perfect for fans of romantic fantasy that’s low on heat but high on emotional stakes and magical intrigue.*

**Recommended for:** Readers who enjoy clean fantasy romance, small-town mysteries with magical elements, and character-driven storytelling.

I really enjoyed this Cozy Romantasy Mystery.

This book follow Daciana who is an apothecary aprentice. The story takes place in a world where those with magic are held in higher esteem than those without. However, over the years magic is weakening, fewer and fewer are born with the ability, The young captain of the watch Sorin, is the strongest magic wielder in the town, yet he doesn't appear happy about it. When a tradegy strikes, Sorin begins an investigation and his path is crossed Daciana, who proves extremely helpful in uncovering the truth, and healing people along the way.

This was a delightful read. I felt like it was a young fantasy version of Murder She Wrote.

I imagine this book is YA or Teen. Regardless it is enjoyable by any reader. The romance was qaint and lighthearted.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity.

The Apothecary's Apprentice by C.S. Doraga is a cosy murder mystery with a sprinkle of fantasy and a sweet romance.

We follow the story of Daciana and Sorin, two young people whose place in society appear to have been decided for them, whether they like it or not. When a shocking murder rattles their village they team up to hunt for the killer, and discover there are more secrets hidden than they expected.

The murder mystery is intriguing and we see our main characters growing into their roles. But where our main characters really shine is in how they face the deep betrayal and secrets their investigation uncovers and how they are pushed to break down barriers to protect their families and community, and to forge their own paths in life.

However, I have to admit that while the story has promise, the author's writing style isn't really my cup of tea. I feel that this book falls on the telling more than showing side of storytelling which made it more difficult to immerse myself in the story. I also feel that the book would benefit with closer proof reading because I found myself being distracted by anachronistic language, a smattering of grammatical errors and some repetitive phrases. But with a bit more polish I believe this book could really be taken to the next level.

Overall this was a nice easy read and I think this is a good pick for those who love wholesome romance and cosy mysteries.

I have DNF'ed this book, so I'll hold off on posting a review to Goodreads.

The world sounded very interesting and cozy and I was very excited to read this one. The cover is also gorgeous! Unfortunately I just couldn't really get into it, the way they spoke felt both old and new and I wasn't sure which one it was supposed to be. Speaking of... They were 'supposing' and 'imagining' so much that it was all I could focus on, I even found them supposing things three times on just one page (two of those in two consecutive sentences) and the story just wasn't enticing enough for me to get past that.

If you're less nitpicky than me, though, and you like cozy comfort reads with a little mystery, this one still sounds like a good choice.

This is definitely a cosy romantasy read with mystery elements, perfect for autumn. I can just picture me rereading this in October with my hot chocolate. I really enjoyed the mystery elements, it had you questioning what is happening, what will happen and where is it going which was fun.

It's a cute fantasy mystery. It's got a little touch of magic but it's mostly about healing with herbs. It's a cozy romance book so there's no spice.

This was a fun read, I couldn’t put it down and the concept of a fantasy/romance/mystery is not one I see too often.

The Apothecary’s Apprentice follows Daciana and Sorin, a really nice cosy fantasy with magic elements.
I liked that Daciana and Sorin were very different, (Daciana being a bit of an outsider and Sorin being under pressure and expectations) and the story was very interesting. It follows a murder in Daciana’s town where her along with Sorin work together to solve the case. It comes with it’s own set of challenges and of course pulls them together.
I genuinely enjoyed this book, I found it very easy to read and felt connected with the story and characters. An easy 4⭐️ read for me.

This book was a 4⭐️ for me!
In this book we follow our 2 main characters as they investigate a mysterious death that occurred in their village, when suddenly magical people start getting sick! They have to figure out if these occurrences are connected or just coincidental and figure out who is behind them!
I was enthralled by this book and its mystery! I must say I did guess who did it in the beginning of the book but found myself doubting my suspicions as I went through the story! The author really made me question who might be the "bad guy" after all!
I do feel like in the end, our mmc leaving her behind, made no sense to me, but I understand why it happened!

Overall, really loved the setting, the mystery, our characters (both main and side characters) and he story in general! Such a great murder mystery romantasy!

Thank you to C. S. Doraga, the publishing team and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet, simple story with a cosy, almost tribal atmosphere that gave me Native American-inspired vibes—especially in the setting and tone. While the magical elements weren’t heavily developed, the spiritual, shaman-like magic added a gentle fantasy touch that made the world feel grounded and different from typical high fantasy.
The writing style is very matter-of-fact—this happened, then this happened—which made it easy to follow, but it also meant there wasn’t a lot of emotional depth. I often felt told what characters were feeling, rather than being able to experience those emotions with them. The story is quite linear and single-threaded, which can be a plus if you're looking for a light, uncomplicated read, but I found myself wishing for more nuance and layers in both plot and character.
One of the things I really appreciated was the dynamic between the main characters. The love story is led confidently by the FMC, which was a refreshing change. She's grounded and sure of herself, and it’s the MMC who has to learn and grow—and he lets her support him, which I loved seeing.
Some scenes (like the sheep-herding moment) felt like filler and didn’t really add much to the plot, while others—particularly the final fight scene—were packed with so much descriptive detail that they read more like academic accounts than action.
There were also quite a few repeated phrases (I noticed "even still..." a lot!) and some early typos, though I assume those will be cleaned up before final publication.
Overall, the concept has charm, and with some structural tightening and emotional layering, this could become a really lovely cosy fantasy.