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Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi: A Cozy Epistolary Fantasy
Last Updated on July 9, 2026 by Sierra Richard
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a cozy historical fantasy full of magic, alchemy, and swoon worthy epistolary romance. Here’s my honest thoughts on this debut novel.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Bita Behzadi, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Commissions may be earned on links in this article marked with “*”.
Book Recap
When Josie Pinova and Aufidius Reid’s lives collide at the last magical apothecary in Tressport, they believe they couldn’t be more different. What they don’t know is that they have been secretly writing to one another under pen names as they both seek acceptance to the city’s Institute of Magic. After the future of the apothecary comes into question, Josie and Reid must put their differences aside to save it. This is Bita Behzadi’s debut novel and the first in the Tressport Magic series.
Top Tropes/Themes:
- Historical Fantasy
- Romantasy
- Forced Proximity
- Rivals to Lovers
- Epistolary
- Cozy Fantasy
- Dual POV
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (tension and some kisses)
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Let’s talk about it…
Letters from the Last Apothecary* is a cozy romantic fantasy for those that enjoyed the epistolary nature of Divine Rivals*, but with even more magical elements. As a pharmacist I wanted to check out this novel because I love apothecaries, but stayed for the story. However, this debut novel did have its flaws.
The Pacing was Off
While this book started strong, the middle of the story was very slow. I found myself struggling to pick it up again because I felt like the story was going nowhere. Eventually I pushed through and was able to enjoy the last 30% of the book. I am generally a fan of cozy reads so I am used to a more leisurely pace, but the lack of direction for the story in the middle third of the book missed the mark for me.
The Romance Was Half-Done
As a huge Letters of Enchantment series lover, I was hoping for Josie and Reid to have the emotional connection that was seen between Roman and Iris. My expectations were likely too high to expect this to be done successfully. Josie and Reid had a connection in their letters, but that same spark failed to ignite in their in person interactions. When their letter writing romance finally transferred to real life, it felt forced and out of place.
A Note on the Narration
I was fortunate to receive an Advance Listening Copy of this novel and found that Samara Naeymi was the perfect voice for Josie. She truly captured the essence of Josie’s drive and ambition. I also enjoyed E.M. Wylde’s portrayal of Reid. Unfortunately, the two of these narrators together led to additional pacing issues that were a bit jarring for a dual POV narration. The chapters from Reid’s POV were so slow that it felt like you kicked up the speed a notch or two when you switched to Josie’s chapters.
The Magic Made it Worth it
My favorite part of the story was the magic and the apothecary elements. It reminded me of The Lost Apothecary* which is one of my favorite novels. The way these moments were written makes me excited to pick up future works by Bita Behzadi as they showed a significant amount of promise for the quality of her writing. If you love cozy fantasy, epistolary romance, or an apothecary setting, Letters from the Last Apothecary* may be worth picking up if you can be patient through the slower portion in the middle of the story.
FAQs: Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi
Is Letters from the Last Apothecary a stand alone or a series?
Letters from the Last Apothecary is the first book in the Tressport Magic series, but does wrap up nicely.
Is Letters from the Last Apothecary spicy?
No, this book does not have any graphic intimate scenes. There is some tension between the characters as well as some kissing. However, the nature of the topics and discussions in this novel make it an adult story.
Does Letters from the Last Apothecary end in a cliffhanger?
No, while being a part of a series, Letters from the Last Apothecary does read as a self contained story with a satisfying conclusion.
Is Letters from the Last Apothecary like Divine Rivals?
Yes and no. While the connection between the characters develops most through romantic letters just like Divine Rivals, the love between Josie and Reid in real life leaves much to be desired. The world of Tressport is also more like the “real world” than Divine Rivals which is governed by the gods.
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