Sarah Penner is returning to the world of The Lost Apothecary. Her new novel, The Lost Elixir, will be published by Park Row on May 4, 2027, a release date also confirmed on the author’s official calendar.
The sequel brings back Eliza Fanning and introduces another mystery connecting London’s past and present. For readers who have wondered what happened after the first novel, Penner’s return offers something especially appealing: the chance to follow a familiar character into a different stage of her life.
Premise spoilers follow for The Lost Apothecary.
What Is The Lost Elixir About?
The historical storyline takes place in London in 1802, twelve years after the events involving the hidden apothecary shop. Eliza is now an adult with children and a potion shop of her own.
She possesses an elixir capable of changing fate. When her children are kidnapped, their captors demand it in exchange for their release.
A second storyline follows present-day archivist Gaynor Baymont, whose childhood was changed by a devastating incident. An old letter offers a possible explanation, sending her toward a mysterious vial, a concealed tunnel, and the missing elixir. Someone else is searching for it, too.
The setup creates two different kinds of urgency. Eliza faces an immediate threat to her family, while Gaynor needs to reconstruct a past she cannot fully remember. The interesting question is how those searches will change the meaning of the same object.
Eliza Fanning Returns With More to Lose
Making an adult Eliza central to the sequel gives Penner a promising way to revisit this world.
A returning character becomes more interesting when time has changed her responsibilities. Here, the premise places Eliza’s knowledge and judgment under pressure: possessing something powerful does not necessarily give her control over what happens next.
That is the part of the announcement that stands out most to me. A magical object can drive a mystery, but the decision about whether to surrender it gives the story its emotional stakes.
This is an early response to the announced premise, rather than a review of the forthcoming novel.
Will the Sequel Answer Questions About Nella?
In PEOPLE’s exclusive cover reveal, Penner said the novel functions as both a prequel and a sequel, addressing unresolved questions about Nella. She also described a shift toward potions rather than poisons.
That distinction suggests an opportunity to examine this fictional world from another angle. Remedies and dangerous substances both raise questions about who controls knowledge, who receives help, and what happens when someone desperate seeks a solution.
Readers will have to wait for the novel to discover how those ideas develop.
Do You Need to Read The Lost Apothecary First?
Penner says The Lost Elixir can be read independently, according to PEOPLE’s announcement.
For readers planning to try both, my recommendation is publication order:
Starting with the original lets you encounter the earlier story before learning about Eliza’s later life. Returning readers may also enjoy a reread while waiting, although the author’s comments suggest it will not be required.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Books of Brilliance earns from qualifying purchases.
Start with the original: Find The Lost Apothecary on Amazon.
Planning your next read? Check preorder availability for The Lost Elixir on Amazon.
When Can Readers Learn More?
Penner’s website lists a multicity book tour for May 2027, with details still to come.
Until then, the most compelling reason to watch this sequel is Eliza herself. Revisiting a character after years have passed creates room for more than familiar scenery: it lets a new story ask what experience has taught her—and what she still cannot prepare for.
For more reading inspiration, explore our 25 most popular historical fiction books of the past decade.
Will you reread The Lost Apothecary before picking up The Lost Elixir?
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