I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I definitely have a type of novel I love and this is one of the them! It's a really interesting historical novel with some really kick-ass women in. This is set in Edinburgh and is about women to become friends. One a middle class woman whose horrible husband dies and she is taken in by his well off relatives and the other an entreprenuerial sex worker. Both are interested in the exotic plants in the new botantist gardens being set up. Into this is thrown a possible visit by the king and prefume! It's a great read and the characters are all brilliant. Highly recommended.

The Fair Botanists is a story of women in a time when men were still very much in charge. Their strength, intelligence & capability shine through. Opperating within their constraints, they find independence, friendship & love.

Belle, Elizabeth & Clementina are all a delight to read. The secondary characters are well rounded, not just there to advance the story. Some were real people whose stories I'm now intrigued enough by to want to know more.

If you're a fan of beautifully written, immersive historical fiction then you should pick this one up.

I've lived in Edinburgh many years so I am always drawn to local authors who set their stories here. That goes doubly if it is based on the City's own history. Sheridan's story is inspired the remarkable events of 1822 when when the trees and plants of the old Botanical Gardens in Leith were transported to their new home near Inverleith House. It was an ambitious, laborious enterprise that involved moving a procession fully-grown trees more than 2 miles on horse-drawn carts. Sheridan paints a lively picture of the city at this turning point in the reign of George IV when Edinburgh was a centre of Enlightenment thinking and the New Town was presented as the fresh-scrubbed face of a modern city associated with slums and commonly know as Auld Reekie.

We meet Elizabeth Rocheid, the respectable "poor relation" familiar to anyone who reads late Georgoan or Victorian literature, a widow who has arrived at Inverleith House to take up residence with her unpleasant husband's elderly and eccentric Great Aunt. Elizabeth's skill at botanical illustration draws her into the orbit of those orchestrating the great move to the new Garden, including William McNab, the chief gardener and also delves into the fascinating world of elite horticulture during this period when rare specimens were often traded, stolen and and smuggled as prize features of private and public collections.

Sheridan's style echoes that of the Romantics of the time borrowing from Walter Scott (whom we meet in fictionalised form) in her descriptions of character and place. There's something lost in the way she glosses over the seamier sides of Edinburgh and the neatness of the narrative, with no straggling ends to cling to the attention is, though faithful to this style jars a little with the modern reader. However, the side characters whether based on real people or wholly invented are entertaining and well-observed and Sheridan's impressive and diligent research never imposes too strongly on the narrative. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book set in the early 19th century. I felt myself being whisked to Edinburgh and fully enveloped in the story.

Edinburgh, 1822. There may be a visit from the Monarch, George IV and excitement is building, but there is something much more interesting occurring in the city.

The new Botanic Garden, is completing it’s final move of plants and trees and the procession of these trees is causing quite a stir. As is the fact the Agave Americana plant looks set to bloom, something that happens rarely.

Many people are interested in all of this movement to the new Botanic Gardens and the blossoming of the rare plant. Two of those are women. Elizabeth Rocheid, widowed is staying with her late husbands aunt. The house borders onto the new botanic gardens and in a chance to start again from the life she left behind in London she becomes fascinated with the gardens. She offers her services to paint, draw and recorded the movement of the trees as well as the Agave Americana.

Belle Brodie is a different sort of woman altogether. Younger, vibrant and full of a life so removed from Elizabeth’s. There is much to Belle and her fascination with what then was a dark art – the creation of perfume. Surely the newest bloom on the rarest plant will be worth something?

An unlikely friendship begins between these two women, whilst secrets are also keeping them apart just as much as they are keeping them together. Something threatens their whole friendship as well as the interests of the garden, the impending visit by the Monarch and the innocent caught up in intrigue and mystery.

This book reminds me of my love for historical fiction, of strong female characters and those that got overlooked throughout history. Storytelling at its best and with so many layers this is one book which has piqued my interest away from the normal historical fiction I might have once gone for.

This was an almost perfect read! It was so refreshing to read a book set in Edinburgh for a start. The characters were a wonderful mixture, not just the MCs but the secondary characters as well. It was fascinating to be witness to the progress of botanical science and the mechanics of setting up a gardens and possible competition between Kew and Edinburgh. This book was just what I needed. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

A wonderful sense of time and place and the relationship between a widow and a courtesan. This is a book which stimulates the senses and over which hangs a sultry air. Sheridan has written a terrific tale

Another amazing historical fiction that was right up my street. A perfect paced and romantic book full of intrigue and information. I love how the main plot is centred around King George IV potential trip to Edinburgh. Both characters, Belle and Elizabeth showed strong feminist vibes and used their circumstances to the best of their ability.

It is 1822 and the whole of Edinburgh is eagerly anticipating the arrival of George IV for a royal visit. At the same time, the Royal Botanical Garden is eagerly anticipating the extremely rare bloomage of an exotic plant, the Agave Americana. Courtesan Belle Brodie is desperately trying to cement her fortune by making exotic perfume and Elizabeth Rocheid, recently widowed, is sent to Edinburgh to live with her cousin, Clementina.

With this relatively simple premise and cast of characters, Sheridan takes us on a captivating journey to 1820s Edinburgh and what a fantastic journey it is! This book is a rich medley of plot, character and description. The plot moves at a brilliant pace and the characters are fantastic - they leapt off the page for me. Some of the characters are inspired from real-life people, the others are fictionalised but each character is vividly drawn. The descriptions are beautiful - particularly of the botanical world and the world of scent and perfumery.

I loved this book. I loved the setting, the time, the plot and the brilliant female characters that took centre stage. It is also worth noting that the author's historical research for this book is outstanding - there is a real sense of time and place but it is never boring or dry; it is a fantastic example of historical fiction.

I would love to forget all about this book, just so I could have the joy of reading it all over again. I would love there to be a second installment of this book, perhaps taking place in London where the first book ends? The thought of not reading more about Belle Brodie is genuinely traumatic to me 😂 she's such a brilliant character!

Thank you to Netgalley, Sara Sheridan and Hodder and Stoughton for a review copy. Safe to say, I thought it was fantastic!

Rich in history and wonderful female characters, Sheridan tells a tale of romance and intrigue set in a beautiful evocation of Edinburgh. With a visit from the King and a rare flowering plant this is a very well researched, exciting, and mysterious read.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review

I thought I'd fall in love with this book because I love Edinburgh and the botanic garden. But this book was a bit boring in parts, and it needs a lot of polishing.

Sara Sheridan, what a unique and engaging style, I loved her earlier novels, Ma Polanski's pockets etc.
This one takes place in 18222 around the creation of Edinburgh's botanic garden and the proposed visit of King George IV , such excitement with all of the goings on.
The style of writing includes local words and phrases, which blend in well.
The whole story is like a painting, images spring easily to mind, an example would be Mhairi the blind girl, I see Millais portrait of the blind girl also the botanic illustrations.
Intrigue, love, deception, cruelty, kindness, lust and innocence all appear but misunderstanding plays a great role in the plot.
Principal character is Elizabeth Rocheid, a hard up widow who comes to stay with Clementina a distant relation. she realises her role will be as a carer to Clementina an unpredictable but lively lady. Elizabeth soon becomes involved in the new garden and works as a botanic illustrator, befriending the head gardener and his son. Belle Brodie is also initially a good friend until her profession is revealed.
Sir Walter Scott and his wife are helping to arrange entertainments for the King along with his aide Johann, a handsome, reserved man.
These characters are buffeted and surprised by events and gossip, but eventually weather the storm with rewarding outcomes.

Lively and lovely. A convincing story, well written and set. One for fans of unique science flower books. I really enjoyed it.

Try as I might, I just couldn't love this book in the way I hoped I would.

Whilst the premise sounds wondrous and interesting, creating a further excitement to visit a certain poisonous plant garden in England, I couldn't find myself gelling with the writing style.

Sometimes you just don't click with a book and this was one of those for me. I don't have any other criticisms to say as this marred my enjoyment but I will happily look for more from this author in the future to see if a second chance would work wonders.

The fair botanists was a real struggle, and unfortunately I didn’t finish this book.
I found it dragged a lot and took a long time to get into any form of plot, therefore I couldn’t force myself any longer.
I enjoyed the characters of Belle and Clementina but some interesting characters aren’t enough to move a book forward.

Loved the setting and the strong female characters, I would definitely love to read more in this world

I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the story. An engrossing, well written and fascinating piece of historical fiction.
As I'm a keen gardener it made me wish I could visit the Botanical Garden.
I loved what I read: the well researched historical background, the fleshed out characters and the storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

From the blurb: Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?
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It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades.
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When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.
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Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city . . .
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Thoughts: Firstly, how beautiful is this cover?! I am powerless to resist picking up a book this gorgeous! 😍 The Fair Botanists has a rich cast of characters, all with their own secrets and motives, which makes for a mini soap opera of a story set against a backdrop of Georgian Edinburgh. This book has left me desperate to visit Edinburgh and her Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, and any other gardens I can make my way to - whether they have a century plant ready to flower or not! 🙃

Sara Sheridan is a veritable font of fascinating historical facts. With "The Fair Botanists" she has created the most glorious Scottish historical fiction. Set in Georgian Edinburgh, the book explores botany, women and the restrictions placed on them by society, plus the power of female friendship. I loved Sheridan's descriptive prose which brought to life the food, fashions and decor of the era. The text is further enriched by a scattering of Scots words and phrases throughout. I particularly enjoyed the copious references to women throughout history and Sheridan's expert melding of fact with fiction. The Author's Historical Note at the end was an added bonus. "The Fair Botanists" is, at its heart, a story of empowered women who make their own rules, at a time when such behaviour was not deemed seemly. A beautifully engaging read!