Overview

We are taken to Edinburgh in the early 1820s, at a moment when the Royal Botanic Garden is preparing to move north to Inverleith. At the heart of the story is a rare agave plant, a century plant expected to flower just once. Its approaching bloom draws scientists, collectors, and social climbers alike. Alongside this runs the story of two women from very different worlds. Belle Brodie is a well known courtesan who secretly makes and sells perfume, while Elizabeth Rocheid is a young widow trapped by respectability and expectation. When their paths cross, they form an uneasy partnership that pulls them into a web of ambition, risk, and carefully guarded secrets.

Writing & Atmosphere

We found the sense of place especially strong. Edinburgh feels damp, crowded, and alive with gossip, while the glasshouses and gardens offer moments of heat, scent, and escape. Sara Sheridan writes with confidence and clarity, letting detail do the work rather than overloading the page. Smell is central to the novel, and the attention to perfume and plants gives the story a grounded, physical feel. The slow countdown to the agave’s bloom adds a steady tension that keeps the plot moving.

Characters

Belle Brodie is the standout for us. She is clever, practical, and fully aware of how fragile her position is in a city that both desires and judges her. Elizabeth Rocheid begins the novel cautious and constrained, but her curiosity and quiet determination grow as the story unfolds. Together, they make a convincing and engaging pair, learning how much power there can be in shared knowledge. The supporting cast of botanists, aristocrats, and opportunists helps underline how closely science, money, and reputation are tied.

Themes

The Fair Botanists is deeply interested in who is allowed to learn, to profit, and to be remembered. We see how women’s work is often hidden or dismissed, even when it drives discovery forward. Perfume making mirrors this idea perfectly. It is skilled, experimental, and valuable, yet rarely taken seriously. Friendship, desire, and the cost of independence all sit alongside the scientific intrigue, giving the novel real emotional weight.

What Worked

• A vivid setting: Edinburgh’s social and scientific worlds feel closely observed.
• A strong central relationship: Belle and Elizabeth’s alliance carries the novel.
• Clear stakes: reputation, freedom, and survival are always on the line.
• An original focus: botany and perfume offer a fresh angle on historical fiction.

Minor Quibbles

• The opening takes its time to settle, which may test readers who prefer a faster start.
• Some secondary story threads wrap up more quickly than the main plot.

Final Thoughts

We found The Fair Botanists to be thoughtful, engaging, and quietly bold. It blends science, secrecy, and friendship into a story that feels both grounded and generous.

Rating: ★★★★½☆ (4.5/5)