If you're in the mood for a throwback to an earlier time, a period when novelists favored the mood set over exhaustive realism, this book would be a fine choice for you. Contrasting classic horror genre tropes to the Bolshevik revolution, the author also manages to tuck in a fair bit of mildly steamy romance. Not my personal cup of tea, but a refreshing change from today's usual styles. Cheers!

A compelling blend of suspense and character-driven storytelling. The scientific setting added an interesting layer to the mystery, and I appreciated the gradual build-up of tension. The ending was satisfying and tied together the various plot threads nicely.

This was a wonder, captivating and engrossing read.

The book follows an eldest daughter, Mariya, in a family of fallen aristocrats during the Bolshevik as she struggles to keep her family afloat. Desperate for work that pays enough to keep bread on the table, Mariya accepts work with the eccentric young Doctor Rodin who is researching a cure for consumption (TB).

The characters were by far the highlight of my reading experience. All main and supporting characters were unique, individual and very fleshed out.
The plot was well paced out, with enough twists and to keep me wondering just where it was going to go but not so convoluted that it seems nonsensical.

The only small criticism that I can think of is that throughout book the characters are almost consistently referred to as their titles - 'the assistant', 'the doctor', 'the psychiatrist'. This happened so often that it became a little irritating, and often brought me out of the story. But beyond that I have no notes, I really enjoyed this book! I will be keeping an ear out for more by this author.

A really solid debut novel. I was quickly captivated by the story and couldn't put it down. As a woman in science, I love reading about the struggles of women in STEM, and the historical fiction aspect made this really unique. The story doesn't go as dark as I expected it to, but it picks up substantially at the end. Overall a really good read.

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.

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.

Great atmospheric setting and strong female roles. This time period in Russia isn't a normal setting so really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the changes in the female leads, their family and Russia as a whole. High spice too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc. I really enjoyed this book. Being an eldest daughter, I really identified with Mariya and her relationship with her family and their struggles. Very atmospheric and a little bit creepy at times.

I was approved for this after pub so I couldn’t read in time, I will read and post my review to Amazon and Instagram!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this book and found it quite different from a lot of what I've been reading lately. The story was interesting, the characters were likeable, and I was happy with how everything came together by the end.

While I enjoyed the book, it didn't completely grab me in the way some of my favourite reads do. I found myself picking it up and putting it down rather than feeling compelled to read just one more chapter. That's not necessarily a negative reflection on the story itself, it just wasn't one of those books that took over my life for a few days.

There were also a few moments where I became a little confused and had to go back and reread sections to make sure I'd understood what had happened. Once I got my bearings, I was able to continue without issue, but it occasionally interrupted the flow of the story for me.

One thing worth mentioning is that the formatting didn't transfer particularly well to my Kobo through NetGalley. The page numbering appeared off, with the book showing over 1,100 pages despite the story beginning hundreds of pages in. This is likely a formatting issue rather than an issue with the book itself, but it did affect my reading experience.

I still found this to be an enjoyable and engaging read. It offered something different, kept me interested, and delivered a satisfying ending.

This book is gorgeous. The cover itself was what drew me in. But the plot of family trying to survive in dire circumstances was what cemented it for me. I would love to read more from this author.

Holyyyyyy, the atmosphere on this was thick and heavy. The story builds so slowly, so naturally, the reader feels like they're standing there right alongside Mariya. The suspense is carefully drawn out and deliciously sinister at times. The romance was folded right in with everything else and it was amazing.

I really enjoyed my time spent in the story's 1900s Petrograd with the Russian Revolution as the background. I think I'd love to see more in this universe, perhaps following Sofia and the Bolsheviks or even Regina after they all left Petrograd.

Mariya and her family have been handed a raw deal. Her father died while at war and left the family with a mounting debt. With her mother being ill, Mariya must go to work to support the family. When she decides she will not deal with harassment and lessening pay. Mariya takes a position with a quirky scientist. Along the way of learning about her job. Mariya learns about life, love, and unwavering dedication. Her eyes are opened to the world as it is, as it is quickly becoming and what she will do for the ones she loves. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the historical setting. I loved the relationship between the sisters and how supportive they were of each other. The care and concern for the family was heartwarming. While this story had some dark themes. I enjoyed the story line of the scientist and the assistant. How they grew together and fell in love. I found that they saved each other through their partnership. I loved the unwavering dedication and support each of the characters had for one another in the core story between friendship and family bonds. I would recommend this as a read to anyone who enjoys science based historical fiction type stories. Thank you to Mindbuck Media, NetGalley, and Natalia Loya for allowing me to read and review this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Loved this so much! The Romance was so well done too! I definitely want to read more from this author.

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”

First of all, thank 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.

That’s all—this was a very positive reading experience for me. I’ll also be cross-posting this review on my Goodreads.

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?