This was an okay historical fiction but it could have been a bit tighter in places as there were a few points that were a bit laggy and weak when compared to the rest of the novel. I liked the modern day scenes more than the historical ones as the character development was a bit stronger and they seemed a little bit more developed than in the historic ones. I liked how the world was built and that the various settings were detailed and highly believable. I wish the ending hadn't felt so abrupt as the fade to black was open ended and it would have been nice to see what happened Anna and her romantic partner.

I really enjoyed this book. It was such an enticing read. I loved the flicking between past and present. Great characters. Great story. Such a lovely story.

An historical, dual time-line story about gardening and romance?! Yes please!! And I loved every minute of it and has made me want to set off on my own plant hunting adventures - but maybe with less danger involved!!

In the present timeline, Anna is a gardener who is currently overseeing the renovation of her beloved grandmothers's house that she has been left, and when the builder start knocking walls down they uncover a box hidden in the walls. Anna and her family know nothing about this box and when she discovers what is inside she is intrigued to discover more.

Back in 1886, Elizabeth Trebithick is living at Trebithick Hall with her beloved father and sister. She has inherited her fathers' need for exploring - he's a plant hunter and is often away -and she wishes she could escape too. He shares his dreams with her of plants he aims to find and makes her promise him that she'll carry on his work for him. She's not one to be stopped and kept at home, as was expected of women back then, so she soon sets off with her maid to the other side of the world to hunt out a very rare and dangerous plant. Being seasick isn't the best start for her journey though!

The 2 timelines work brilliantly with one another - as Anna delves further into the origin of the paintings she finds, along with reading the diary that was also hidden away she is drawn into the need to explore and finds herself travelling to Cornwall to see what more she can find out about this family she knows little about.

And as Elizabeth settles into her new life, her head is soon turned by a local guide who seems to share her interest and passion for plants, but with a rival plant hunter also on the scene, she is unsure whether she can trust her guide with the real reason she is out there, other than painting the different plants she sees.

I loved the characters in both timelines of this book - both women weren't afraid to get their hands dirty and do whatever became necessary to achieve their tasks! Be it uncovering a rare plant, or putting the pieces together in a mystery puzzle and discovering who hid the box in a wall and why. It really gave a great insight into just how precarious plant hunting was, but so rewarding when a new plant was found, or local knowledge helped you learn something new about a plant.

Really enjoyable and easy to read and I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

"The Botanist's Daughter" was pitched exactly right for me. It was not full of life-changing twists but there was plenty going on to keep me glued to the pages. The story moved along nice and briskly and the characters had real depth and vividness as the author, Kayte Nunn, brought them all to life on the pages. The novel had a lovely romance element and a great family mystery. It was surprising how dark the story was in parts, but this added significance and depth to the story. "The Botanist's Daughter" was a fantastic combination of past and present in dual narration that really worked for me. Very highly recommended and worthy of its five stars.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

In Victorian England the rich are going wild for new species of plants and 'plant hunters' are the rage. Elizabeth Trebethick is the daughter of a plant hunter and when he dies she promises to go to South America in search of a rare medicinal plant that will be worth a fortune. She goes with her maid but tragedy strikes before she can bring the plan home. In modern day Australia Anna is a gardener who has inherited her grandmother's house and finds a locked box hidden away. Inside the box is an album of beautiful plant illustrations and some strange dried seeds. As Anna goes in search of the truth she finds out much about herself.
This isn't really the sort of book that I would pick up but I found myself drawn to it nd can honestly say that for its genre it was very enjoyable. The plot is predictable (although the murders were a bit of a surprise) but it is a gentle and satisfying read.

Fantastic novel, very evocative and every bit as wonderful as the cover. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Kayte Nunn.

I loved the dual narration, the pace and the plot of the story. The story basically comes full circle with Anna and you’ll know why if you ever read the book. The writing is pretty soothing. It transported me from Sydney(Australia) to Cornwall(England)to Chile(South America). I loved the characters very much, especially Anna, Daisy, and Elizabeth. Daisy was a loyal companion of Elizabeth until the very end. Anna and Elizabeth had botanic similarities and that was that. Elizabeth was the complete opposite of Anna and it contributed to her untimely demise. There are romantic elements present but they don’t draw your attention out from the family mystery that’s surrounding the novel.

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you love reading historical fiction, historical fiction with botanist themes and family mysteries.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful book - I kept seeing this in the bookstore and thinking I really should buy that (based on the cover alone). A great read, one that took me a few chapters to get into but then I couldn't stop. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.

Having heard so much about this book I just knew that I needed to get my hands on it.
This is a very beautiful story as is the cover.
It kept me engaged from start to finish. It is a wonderful historical fiction it’s based around plants flowers.
Utterly charming
Thank you to both NetGalley and Orion Books for my eARC in exchange for my unbiased, honest, review

This book is such a wonderful amalgamation of sumptuous historical fiction and the cutting reality of present day. A gripping and surprisingly fast moving tale; it is told on two timelines and this gives it a unique feel, keeping the narrative fresh and interesting.

Whilst I enjoy looking at flowers, I am no expert when it comes to botany and thus approached the book with slight trepidation. However, I needn’t have worried; Nunn has clearly done her research when it comes to plants and flowers but deftly includes their descriptions making the reader feel the experience rather than be bamboozled by technical jargon. To say this book is gorgeous is an understatement; I felt wonderfully lost in Nunn’s beautiful prose – a true escape of a book to be consumed whilst relaxing with your favourite drink, whatever that may be!

If you enjoy family secrets, lies and mysteries with a fabulous twist at the end then this book is definitely for you. Nunn has excelled at creating a deliciously atmospheric and richly detailed world in which I was truly immersed and happily lost myself in for chunks of the day – I am excitedly looking forward to her next historical fiction offering.

My thanks go to Orion Books for inviting me on this blogtour and sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest review.

What an absolute delight to discover a new author and to fall madly in love with their work. Prior to reading The Botanist's Daughter I had never heard of Kayte Nunn but I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future based upon the calibre of this beautifully crafted read. Upon finishing the book I was surprised to discover that this is the author's first foray into historical fiction, for it read like someone who had been writing in this genre for a long time. She should definitely stick to writing in this genre as I relished every minute reading this captivating, intriguing and compelling story. Everything was pitched so perfectly throughout and the dual time line worked a treat as we weave back and forth across the years to see how everything would be connected if at all.

I enjoyed reading of Anna's story in the present and how she was searching not only to find who owned the box and sketchbook she discovers but in a way she was always searching for herself. The person she once was had been lost and wandering for many years and it was obvious from the start that something was haunted her and wouldn't let go. Whatever that was was preventing her from moving forward. It was like she was trapped and this discovery might help her in her bid for personal freedom. But it is Elizabeth's story of adventure and exploration in the late 1880's that really captured my attention and held it right until the very last page. Fulfilling a personal request as laid out by her father on his deathbed becomes her mission and she will do anything to see it come to its conclusion.

The cover for this this book is truly beautiful and stunning in its simplicity. Yet it's only as you delve deeper into the story that you realise how apt it actually is considering the subject matter. Don't worry that botany, flowers and plants may not be your subject matter of choice. I wouldn't be interested in these at all, and yes they do make up a lot of the story, but I didn't in any way feel that the book became like a science book. Instead you become enraptured in the world that Elizabeth inhabits and cares for deeply and her passion and the challenge she is trying to complete become all consuming both for her and the reader.

What sets the series of events in motion that encapsulate the story begins in Sydney in the autumn of 2017. As Anna renovates the house left to her by her grandmother, the builders discover a sealed box and sketchbook hidden within the walls. Of course her interest is piqued. Even more so when she looks through the sketchbook containing drawings and details of plants some rare and very unusual. As Anna herself is a horticulturist and runs her own business she knows this is a stunning find and even more so are the seeds contained within the box. She has never seen the likes of these before. What really sets her train of thought galloping even further is why were these items hidden in her grandmother's house especially as a photo in the box was taken in England, so many thousands of miles away.

I was delighted that Anna took on the challenge to uncover the truth behind the major discovery because she clearly needed a task of some sort to take her mind off her own personal situation. The reasons behind this do not become evident for quite some time but when they do I thought they really made sense as to the way Anna was feeling and acting. She was hiding something personal from the reader which had had a deep and profound effect on her. She decides to take the bull by the horns and see where the objects will lead her. She needs to do something on her own for a change and even if mistakes are made, so what. That is the way in which the answers to so many questions will be found. In my mind Anna's aspect of the story was just slightly weaker than Elizabeth's and maybe that's because I became so all consumed by the timeline set in the past. There was just that little extra something that drew me to the quest Elizabeth embarked upon that turned this book into a fantastic read that made me feel as I had travelled back in time to Elizabeth as she reaches the far distant shores of South America specifically Chile having travelled across the ocean from England.

Elizabeth was like an intrepid explorer and a woman way ahead of her time. She felt she had been confined to the family home Trebithick Hall for far too long. Her father John was a botanist who travelled the world collecting and cataloguing rare and unusual plants and then brought them back to England. His love for botany had been passed on to Elizabeth and she had spent many years honing her craft, drawing intricate and detailed sketches of plants and flowers. As John lay dying he asked one last thing of Elizabeth. In Chile there is the most rarest of plants which has unusual properties, the power both to heal but also to kill when used in the incorrect way. The Devils Trumpet is very elusive and as John had always been in competition with a Mr. Chegwidden to procure the flower he feels as if his opportunity is slipping through his fingers. Elizabeth agrees when asked to travel to Chile under an assumed name in order to search for the Devil's Trumpet and bring it back to England.

I thought Elizabeth was so brave to travel so many miles with only her maid Daisy for company and especially seen as she had barely left the county let alone the country before. I wouldn't say she was filled with confidence and ease all the time but she grew in strength and determination once she reached South American shores. I had visions of her trekking through jungles followed by Mr. Chegwidden but that didn't occur. Instead she meets some ex-pats in Chile and I thought the story took on a more sedate pace as she becomes accustomed to a new way of life. Yes she was hiding secrets and the main task was never far from the forefront of her mind but when she meets someone new her thoughts are turned in another direction. I really enjoyed the way Elizabeth's story unfolded because it was full of secrecy and danger and yes what I always look for in a historical fiction book with a dual timeline - that mind blowing twist- did make an appearance and will leave the reader reeling in shock.

In fact said twist I really should have seen coming given upon reflection there were several clues subtly dropped in. As for that ending, that very last line well that was a turn up for the books and left me with plenty more questions even though so many of them had been answered. I was actually confused and thinking am I interpreting this the right way? Is it really going to end like that? This only leads me to hope that there will be a squeal for I can't be left hanging like that.

The Botanist's Daughter was a marvellous, moving adventure of a book. It was so atmospheric and rich in detail. The scenery, sights, sounds, smells, plant and animal life in Chile were so richly descriptive and only added to the overall tone the author was trying to convey with the book. This story really did have me from page one and several days after finishing it, it still does. It's like you finish the book, look up and realise you live in the real world and not the books world and you are gutted but deeply satisfied at the same time at what brilliance you have read. I am eagerly anticipating what Kayte Nunn will bring us next but in the meantime I couldn't recommend The Botanist's Daughter enough.

This is one of my highly anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint. With natural botanical medicines and adventurous escapades, this was a brilliant historical.read and centers around a subject the author is clearly very passionate about. I am an avid gardener and plat enthusiast which made me appreciate this book so much more.
This was an excellent read and one I would recomment to any nature or historical fan.

A lovely timeslip novel containing some unusual themes, which give it a uniqueness and quirky appeal.

An unexpected find when updating a house bequeathed to her by her beloved grandmother sets Anna on a mystery tour that reveals family secrets and takes her on a much-needed journey of self-discovery.

Elizabeth pushes against society’s conventions in Victorian England. When her much-loved father dies, she feels duty-bound to fulfil his dying wish This is not the selfless act it appears, as she has always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps.

Both stories are engaging, and courageous in their own way. Elizabeth’s is perhaps the bravest and for me the most absorbing, because she sets out to visit Chile in South America, with only her maid, after living a sheltered, if unconventional life in Cornwall.

The story focuses on botany and botanical art and discoveries in great detail, this is fascinating and gives the story an authentic feel. The geographical descriptions likewise are well done and bring the settings to life. This is important in a story like this where the main protagonists are motivated out of their comfort zones to discover the truth. You have to experience what they do to believe it could happen.

The dual time perspectives are well- written and the links and crossover between past and present well grounded and believable. Neither of the female protagonists is perfect, they are flawed, but you are invested in their story’s and want it to end well.

Although easy to read, the pacing is slow in parts. The plot’s vivid imagery holds your interest, and the ending is worth waiting for.

I received a copy of this book from Orion Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a very light story, perfect for those that like to read books whose story crosses several generations. I chose this book mostly for its cover and title but the characters in it and the story itself were not enough for me. If you have a passion for botany though this might be the book for you.

I’m so pleased to have discovered this new author, Kayte Nunn. Interesting book that swept me along.

Never heard of this author before but have been looking for her other work.....Loved this book, very well written and the time differences were well presented as sometimes with this sort of novel they become confused and I lose interest. All I can say is when I got to the end I want to know what happens to Anna and it has been left so open,...please say that there is a follow up to come....I have recommended this book to my 80 year old mother and my young daughter. Well done Kayte

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
I fell in love with this amazing cover and FANTASTIC story that kept you totally captivated till the end good characters that played there parts well a very enjoyable read can highly recommend.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I was not sure what to expect with this book and was I surprised, it was a great read and had be hooked from the beginning

This held my interest throughout, though I must confess to liking Elizabeth more than Anna. I think that at times Anna was a bit drippy. Excellent story and I enjoyed switching between the two eras. Loved Anna's investigation. Loved the botanical element. Ed was great too, though I think the author has stereotyped English men somewhat. All in all, a good read. Thanks Netgalley!