Mary Sidney is your typical Elizabethan noblewoman; what is expected of her is to make a good marriage that benefits her family. She is, also, however, ones of the greatest literary minds of her generation and a keen alchemist. Rose is a young girl whose mother was dunked for witchcraft - Rose learnt the art of healing with herbs at her mother’s knee - who also has an incredible talent as an artist, not something to be nurtured in a girl of her station. However, when she is sent into service at Wilton House she finds herself with a mistress willing to nurture her talents.

This is a very beautiful book. It’s not one I’d recommend if biographical historical fiction from a female perspective is not already your thing, but if it is for you like it is mine you’ll really enjoy this. If you create, as in if you write, paint, draw, if you create art this book will also speak to that part of you in a way that surprisingly few books do. It manages to be so much more than a record of the life of two extrodanary women, one real, one fictional, it’s a book about writing, about art, and about creation. It’s about carving a path for yourself while still confirming to the role life has felt you, and it is about carrying on in the face of sometimes terrible loss. And, even if, like me already you know something of the life of Mary Sidney, it will still surprise you.

Brilliant novel!
The time period that this novel is set in isn't my usual cup of tea but WOW am I converted! The vivid descriptions of clothing, scenery and the interiors of the setting were fantastic and the characters were just so likeable that I wished the book wasn't going to end.
I have seen other reviewers suggest that the pacing was too slow, however, I loved this. I felt like I really had time to get to know both the characters and the situations they found themselves in without feeling like I was being rushed.
A total joy to read about these strong, intelligent and brave women!
Tank you to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my impartial review.

I started this book with high expectations. A story during the Reign of Elizabeth the First about Mary Sidney, daughter of a woman alchemist and lover of the famous Walter Raleigh. And a parallel story of Rose Commin, daughter of a herbal woman who is accused as a witch. Yes please.
Although it started out as an intriguing premise, 1/3 into the book I felt a little disappointed. The dialogues were ok, the ambiance was well researched and more than ok, but the plot didn’t seem to take a dramatic turn. No passionate lover after the first kiss, no alchemistic calamities except for one blast, no mysteries what so ever.
I have to be honest, I left it at 2/3’s, I’m sorry to say, it took too long to seduce me to read on.
Thanks to Allison and Busby, and Netgalley for this book, I’m sure it will find readers elsewhere.

Tudor England, witchcraft, magic and alchemy, what’s not to love? This book gives life to an important historical female figure Mary Sidney Herbert one of the earliest women authors in this period in England to publish under her own name. She is brilliantly brought to life in this book and deserves to be remembered for making a name for herself in what would have predominantly been a man’s World. This book pays respect to how difficult life was for women during the Tudor period.

Imperfect Alchemist is an enjoyable historical novel, charting the lives of Mary Sidney and her maid Rose from childhood to middle-age, through joy, inspiration and heartbreak.

As a piece of historical fiction, it’s pretty straightforward, featuring many of the famous faces of the day. It’s one of those novels that grows on you more for its characters than its narrative – the prose is competent, only occasionally capturing moments of magic in the descriptions of alchemy. But Mary Sidney herself is a fascinating figure, and this imagined history is equally thought-provoking and engaging.

A good book, involving Rose, a former maid to Lady Catherine, who dies. She takes some months to get used to her new mistress, Mary, but when she does they grow closer. Part of the novel involves the artistic talent of Rose, and part of it involves the new mistress's literary talents. Life goes on for both of them, and alchemy is a project they can both share. I found this novel to be interesting and informative, as well as historically accurate. A good read.

Wow loved this book! To be honest, I was probably missing some of the deeper meanings of the alchemy but that didn't matter. A wonderful book with two really strong lead characters, alternate chapters from their perspective. You follow Mary and Rose's lives from when they are young and into middle age. What was even a nicer touch is that many of the characters were based on real people.

Well worth a read!

Naomi Miller is a *brilliant* scholar especially for her work on the Sidney family so it's with a heavy heart that I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy this. It falls into many of the tropes of 'popular' fiction set in this period: the narrative is split between Mary Sidney Herbert and a working-class girl; there's alchemy and witchcraft as stand-ins for 'female' knowledge and power; the writing drips with unnecessary similes so that even one person kissing another is like a bird dropping from the nest; and every famous person makes an appearance from Walter Raleigh to Montaigne (I know the Sidneys really were well-connected, of course, but it always feels rather forced). Having 13-year old Mary offering Philip the best lines in his Astrophil and Stella is both fun and irritating! Yes, she probably collaborated extensively on his Arcadias, but Astrophil? I was really looking forward to this but it's closer to Philippa Gregory and that mode of historical fiction than I'd like - sorry, just not for me.