Books like The Apothecary (The Apothecary #1)

A fog-drenched, magical romp through Cold War London where ancient alchemy meets high-stakes espionage. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The Apothecary (The Apothecary #1).

fog-drenched
magical
cozy-yet-dangerous
mysterious

01
The Blackthorn Key
Kevin Sands
A puzzle-filled, explosive romp through shadowy 17th-century London that balances dark conspiracies with the fierce loyalty of friendship.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
- suspenseful
02
This dark endeavor
Kenneth Oppel
A desperate, shadowy descent into forbidden alchemy to save a beloved brother.
Shares:
- earnest
03
Beekeeper's Apprentice
Laurie R. King · 1999
A sharp, atmospheric battle of wits that blossoms into a deeply satisfying intellectual partnership.
Shares:
- coming of age
04
The Lost Apothecary
Sarah Penner
A shadowy, dual-timeline mystery steeped in the scent of crushed herbs and the quiet rebellion of women reclaiming their power.
Shares:
- earnest
- suspenseful
05
100 Cupboards
Nathan D. Wilson
A dusty, creaking portal fantasy where magic is just as dangerous as it is wondrous, hidden right behind the bedroom wall.
Shares:
- earnest
- adventurous
- suspenseful
06
The Perilous Gard
Elizabeth Pope
A shadowy historical adventure that descends from a remote castle prison into a labyrinth of ancient magic.
Shares:
- mysterious
- earnest
- adventurous
07
The Lie Tree
Frances Hardinge
A shadowy historical mystery about a fiercely curious girl peeling back the polite veneer of society to expose the deadly secrets beneath.
Shares:
- mysterious
- suspenseful
08
The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society #1)
Trenton Lee Stewart
A cozy, puzzle-filled adventure that feels like a warm hug for the smart, lonely kid in everyone.
Shares:
- mysterious
- earnest
- suspenseful
09
The Revenge of Magic
James Riley
A high-stakes, monster-battling twist on the magic school trope, fueled by grief, government secrets, and explosive action.
Shares:
- mysterious
- earnest
- adventurous
- suspenseful
10
The Chemist
Stephenie Meyer
A paranoid, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that unexpectedly blossoms into a tender story of trust and survival.
Shares:
- earnest
- suspenseful
11
The Sherwood Ring
Elizabeth Marie Pope
A cozy, witty ghost story where the echoes of the Revolutionary War bring romance and belonging to a lonely present.
Shares:
- nostalgic
12
The watchmaker of Filigree Street
Natasha Pulley
A delicate, gaslit puzzle box of a novel where quiet loneliness gives way to clockwork magic and unexpected devotion.
Feels:
- gaslit
- cozy
- atmospheric

Back to The Apothecary (The Apothecary #1)