A Botanical Daughter Paperback – 19 Mar. 2024

Different to my usual reads - but definitely one of my favourites of all time

There are certain stories that have resonated so well with readers that they're guaranteed to stick around forever, being retold, or re-imagined in so many ways that people can be deeply familiar with the story without ever having read the original. Frankenstein is one of these stories. The birth of science fiction, the original story was written hundreds of years ago, and whilst most people have never read it, will know the name, and will instantly conjure images in their minds of the patchwork 'monster' the titular doctor created. And Frankenstein serves as the inspiration point for the new novel A Botanical Daughter, but doesn't hold the story slave to the original text, with author Noah Medlock having created something truly unique and magical.The story centres on taxidermist Simon Rievaulx and botanist Gregor Sandys, two Victorian gentleman husbands who live together in a botanical garden on the edge of town, caring for the plants within and keeping away from the bigoted and judgemental eyes of those around them. They're free to explore their love for each other in their own little garden of Eden. However, there's something missing from their lives. They want another person with them, a child of sorts. Coming together, the two of them use their talents for gardening and experimentation to craft a living being made of body parts, plants, and fungus.There have been a lot of stories that have drawn upon the central theme of Frankenstein, of the creation of a new being from pieces of bodies. Some of these will even use some form of technology in the process too, and there have been more than a fair few versions of the creature that have been cybernetic in nature; but I don't think I've ever seen a version done like this, one that incorporated flora and fungi in order to bind the various parts used and to breathe life into the creature. It adds a unique and creepy flavour to A Botanical Daughter that makes the book stand out immediately. It also creates a character, Chloe, who I'd love to see depicted in a visual medium. The descriptions for the character created a vivid image in my mind, but I'd love to see her brought to life in another form, where I could see her moving and interacting with the world with her unique biology.As with most stories like this, however, things are not always easy when creating new life, and there are a number of troubles that the characters go through over the course of the book; mainly interpersonal ones. It was nice to see Medlock explore the shifting relationships between the characters as the story progressed, focusing on how people change over the course of the book. However, there were times where I was hoping for more of this, and wanted the book to go into greater detail. But, the fact that the book did spend some time on this where other stories would not makes it even better than I was hoping for.A Botanical Daughter manages to intertwine together beauty and horror in its narrative, much in the same way Chloe's fathers manage to do so when creating her. The prose has some wonderfully descriptive, beautiful moments, and some parts that get under you skin and chill you. If you were to ask me what I'd want to see in a Frankenstein inspired story I'd never have thought about queer love stories, plant human hybrids, or the Victorian era, but it turns out that these were all things I really wanted, and for A Botanical Daughter showed me what I'd been missing out on.

A Botanical Daughter⭐⭐⭐When I read the synopsis for this book I got excited, this is not my normal genre of book but thought I'd give it a go.Personally I found it to be slow moving and a bit odd and silly at times.In this book we follow the story of Gregor the gay Botanist who lives with Simon the gay taxidermist in his big large glass greenhouse in the countryside, Gregor likes to keep himself away from other people and hidden in his sanctuary.Whilst Simon works on his pieces of taxidermy Gregor decides he is going to carry out an experiment to put forward to the RHS after his last one failed.What could possible go wrong.... when you involve a cadaver, fungi and plants??Jennifer is employed as the house keeper at Grimfern... whilst dealing with the suspicious death of her best friend and female lover... will she fall in love again?? Does Constance reappear??This was a bit of a slow moving book for me, not sure I'd describe it as horror, some parts are a bit oh ok... but the rest of the book I found to be a bit silly and weird.

I couldn't put it down. Well written and absorbing. Really cared about the characters

I loved this book! Well written, great characters as well as being so atmospheric. So descriptive that I was there! I've recommended it to others and they've enjoyed it too.

I bought this book on recommendation from a friend, despite it not being the kind of book I would normally buy. I loved it! Noah writes so well that I could clearly imagine the characters, their lives and their world in vivid detail. Looking forward to the sequel.....

A really well crafted story with beautiful imagery and at its heart a gothic horror story of life and death

Very much enjoyed reading this.

An elaborate work of queer, Victorian fiction— A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock tells a tale of found family like no other. Suitable to the time it is set in, the vocabulary of this book is precise, poised, and lends a comic air to the proceedings through dry and subtle understatement. The characters bloom and are cut back several times throughout the story as each develops and finds their humanity buried beneath the hobbies of sculpting life and death. Savage in its unapologetic violence; sweet in its winsome self discovery and heart; and strange in its rumination over the dark fertility of passion unleashed; the enchanting solarium of Gregor and Simon whisks its readers in and uses their own hands to throw away the key.

A Botanical Daughter is more than a new take on Frankenstein. It shows how far someone ( or something) will go for someone they love. And just like Shelley's book, we're left with the question of who is really the monster. A good read.

Mr Medlock’s imagination is brilliant. I saved my reading until bedtime but eventually I had to finish until the end. The only disappointment is the ending. But I’ll live with it.