Opium and Absinthe: A Historical Fiction Novel Exploring the Intersection of Addiction and Romance

Amazon Customer: Such an engaging and interesting story. Not to mention unusual. The author has quite an imagination.

Not the usual run of the mill plot. Had to read it all at once as I just had to know where the storyline was going,

United States on Oct 15, 2023

Goomy: This book was hard to put down once I started reading it. Every time I picked up the book I would get sucked into the wonderfully flowing story. The book is written so well.

I am already a fan of stories from the past so when I saw that this was based on the late 1800s I was excited to start reading.

Also, on a personal level, I can relate to drug addiction. I never saw it as an addiction when I was in it but looking back now I can easily say I felt like Tillie, succumbing to the warm and euphoric feeling of a drug.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

United States on Oct 14, 2023

Samantha: I absolutely love this book!

Historical drama with vampires and improper ladies??? Sign me the hell up 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

All the characters, the drama, the grief, and the drugs- written beautifully. I could connect to Tillie. Not about the drugs but the grief and a hunger to read and give in (sometimes impulsively) to our curiosities, I understand that. I wish to just live my life surrounded by the best of stories and fond memories of remarkable adventures and unforgettable characters.

AND THE RED HERRINGS… I so tried to figure it out as I want reading but, ugh, was it your intention to play with all the men like that??

I’m so glad Tillie was able to fight, and I thought that choice of ending and wrap up was wonderful! Lots of happy, giddy feelings learning about our characters futures ❤️

Also, you can tell how much research went into this book. Figured you should know that your hard work is appreciated 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

United States on Aug 24, 2023

tonijoanna: Second book by this author I have read. This story had twists and turns I didn’t expect that kept me wanting to read more.

United Kingdom on Aug 16, 2023

Meredith Vigh: So clever! I found this story absolutely intriguing, an unusual topic but so fascinating to think it was based on reality. I didn't see the ending coming either. Loved it!

United Kingdom on Aug 09, 2023

Carolina Crossley: Set just before the turn of the twentieth century, Lydia Kang's story of Opium and Absinthe is rather shocking at how easily people got addicted to laudanum, morphine and heroin!
As usual the author writes of all things medical from her own experiences and excellent research. The mystery of several murders including her older sister, Lucy sets Tillie (Matilda) off on the path to find the murderer at all costs. The story wanders and weaves through the interesting suspects and the friends Tillie gathers along the way. An excellent and enjoyable read, you will find yourself rooting for Tillie, all the way.

United Kingdom on Aug 03, 2023

Victoria McGrath: I gave it a 4 star,only because the outcome was easily guessed half way through the book. Well written and had me continually pickin it up, regardless.

Canada on Jul 09, 2023

Autumn Melody: This was surprisingly good. Kept me at the edge of my seat. I had suspicions about the culprit, and I liked how I was wrong but still close. At least the one person I trusted turned out to be good 😊
Trigger warnings: substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms, domestic abuse.

India on May 13, 2023

Feliciasbookshelf: This was a June Pick from Amazon.
I love the first sentence in the book:

--It is better to be a coward than a corpse.--

The main protagonist is Mathilda Pembrook but people call her Tillie. She lives in a mansion in Manhattan with her Grandmama, her mother and her sister Lucy.
The book starts off with Tillie getting ready to go horseback ridding for a hunt. She is joined by Dorothy, Hazel and Lucy's fiance James. Her sister Lucy is not able to go horseback riding cause she is recovering from Typhus. During the hunt, Tillie's horse takes off running and poor Tillie falls off. She breaks her clavicle or collar bone. Her family gives her Laudanum. Tillie sleeps for 2 days. During this time Lucy goes missing. Tillie wakes up and finds out her best friend and sister Lucy is missing. Her family doesn't seem to be stressed out about it, calling it wedding jitters and that Lucy will be back. She is getting married in a few days. Tillie goes to the doctor for her broken collarbone and he prescribes her Opium. During her time at the doctor, Tillie reads in the newspaper, a girl that fits her sisters description has been found dead with two bite marks on her neck and her...

United States on Jun 30, 2020

Mystik: On the good side is an interesting heroine whose emotional journey is one that I can identify with as she grows from her experiences. The writing is well done, but I was annoyed by the malapropisms. For example, the writer used "inculcate" when the correct word should have been "inoculate." Minor stuff to others, but I read, edit, and have written historicals and it is just as easy to get things right as wrong. Her editor & copy editor should have been paying more attention, at least. Things like that jerk me right out of the narrative.

Historical details were accurate, though I have doubts about the common use of film reels in 1899. Movie cameras and reels were around then, but for even the widely read Tillie to be familiar with their workings was a bit much to expect. It was used as a metaphor to describe a certain experience, and the metaphor was forced.

What the author truly captured was the suffocating life of a young female whose only use in her slice of the world was to marry well, have babies, and be grateful if her husband didn't beat her too much. A scene with Tillie's horrible grandmother was terrifyingly well done, little wonder Tillie embraced her...

United States on Jun 06, 2020