Gargoyles and Alchemy ~ The Accidental Alchemist ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 12, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy
Tags: , ,

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I’m so excited to share The Accidental Alchemist with you.

Come on in.

Read my review.

Meet the characters.

And enter the awesome giveaway!

 

The Accidental Alchemist
(An Accidental Alchemist Mystery)

First in Series
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (January 8, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0738741841
ISBN-13: 978-0738741840

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My Review

There aren’t a lot of gargoyles books out there and most of those are about shifters. They can be human or gargoyle. This gargoyle is all gargoyle.

Zoe Faust has finally found a place to settle down, tired of her Airstream trailer and moving from place to place. Portland seems to touch something inside her. So she finds a fixer upper and moves into her new home.

Let me introduce you to Zoe. She’s an alchemist, specifically Spagyrics, plant alchemy, albeit a non practicing one now. She’s lived well over 300 years due to accidentally applying The Elixir of Life to herself. That’s why she has to move a lot, as she doesn’t really age, though she can die like normal people.

While unpacking in her new home she notices some things appear to have been broken and there’s a gargoyle statue clutching a book that she knows she didn’t put there.

When it moves, she’s startled to discover it’s a real living gargoyle. His name is Dorian Robert-Houdin and he’s French.

As the two are becoming acquainted they discover a spy. Brixton is a 14 year old neighbor boy who had to see who was moving into the old, supposedly haunted house. The pickle is, he heard and saw it all, so now a bargain must be struck to keep Dorian’s and Zoe’s secrets.

Things get more complicated when Zoe arrives home from a walk to discover her construction contractor dead by her porch. Working with herbs and plants, she smells the taint of poison but is hard pressed to say how she does when questioned by Detective Max Liu.

It becomes harder to keep secrets when she’s thrust into the murder investigation and another person falls victim to the poison, lingering in a coma.

Zoe will have to practice her alchemy again. Get up to speed quick. The killer must be stopped and Dorian’s book, Not True Alchemy, must be decoded to find some answers. Otherwise, more people will be poisoned, Dorian will slowly turn to stone and be trapped in that form for eternity.

Zoe won me over quickly. She’s sassy, smart, brave, loyal, and often inept. She gets herself into some funny situations and can laugh at herself. Her concern and caring for Dorian is so sweet. She’s become fond of him and his gourmet cooking. Yes, gargoyles can cook.

Her friendship and fostering of Brixton brings out the best in him. He’s well on his way to becoming a delinquent, and his new friends are a steady hand and guidance to help him find his way.

And something is just starting to ignite between Max Liu and Zoe Faust. They both feel stirrings of attraction, yet both are keeping some huge secrets.

There’s so much to entertain in this book.

The characters are well written. You’ll come to know them quickly.

The alchemy is very well researched and fascinating. I always thought it was magic but that’s really not so. It’s more of a practice, a trade.

The mystery keeps you guessing. The villain will catch you by surprise. And the suspense will make you crazy, worrying about everything and how it will get resolved.

And Kudos to the author for the cover art. It’s perfect for this story.

Also, check out the yummy recipes at the end. They sound delicious.

I urge you to read The Accidental Alchemist. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

From USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian comes a modern tale of ancient intrigue.

Unpacking her belongings in her new hometown of Portland, Oregon, herbalist and reformed alchemist Zoe Faust can’t help but notice she’s picked up a stowaway. Dorian Robert-Houdin is a living, breathing three-and-a-half-foot gargoyle—not to mention a master of French cuisine—and he needs Zoe’s expertise to decipher a centuries-old text. Zoe, who’s trying to put her old life behind her, isn’t so sure she wants to reopen her alchemical past… until the dead man on her porch leaves her no choice.

Includes recipes!

Zoe is a fun character with a witty and great personality. This book will put a spell on you to keep reading until the end.
~Shelley’s Book Case

About This Author

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Gigi Pandian lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with an overgrown organic vegetable garden in her backyard. A cancer diagnosis in her 30s taught her two important life lessons: healing foods can taste amazing, and life’s too short to waste a single moment. Therefore she writes the Accidental Alchemist mystery series while drinking delectable green smoothies and eating decadent home-cooked meals. Gigi was awarded the Malice Domestic Grant for her debut mystery novel. She does not apologize for loving kale. Find her online at www.gigipandian.com.

Author Links:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads ~ Blog ~ Gargoyle photography blog

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

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Tour Participants

January 8 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway – book

January 9 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – Guest Post, Giveaway – mug

January 10 – Libriamorimiei – Review

January 10 – Writers and Readers of Paranormal Mystery – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway – book

January 11 – Mystery Playground – Interview, Giveaway – mug

January 12 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway- book

January 12 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Giveaway – mug

January 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview, Giveaway – book

January 13 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway – mug

 

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Books and Mugs will be given away!

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

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My giveaway is for a print copy of this fun book!

Tour giveaway is US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

Entry is easy.

Leave you email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question –

“Do you like gargoyles, and why?”

Giveaway ends January 17th.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky gargoyle below!

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Comments
  1. Yes, I like gargoyles. They are interesting creatures, filled with very old and powerful magic. When I was young, though, they always frightened me because I thought their terrifying countenance was of an evil nature rather than to scare away the evil. michelle_willms at yahoo dot com

  2. Gargoyles remind me of spirits watching me where ever I go! Lots of love, Emily

  3. ljennison says:

    I think Gargoyles are fascinating. I love the gargoyle in Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. And I imagine it wouldn’t take much to love Dorian as well.
    L dot Jennison at yahoo dot com

  4. Libby Dodd says:

    This sounds like great fun!
    After the initial shock, I think finding a live gargoyle would be pretty darn cool.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

  5. Taylor Dean says:

    A gargoyle that can cook? And recipes at the end? Must read!!!!!!!
    I love a book where things you don’t expect to, can come to life. It appeals to my imagination.

  6. Gigi Pandian says:

    Thanks for featuring the book! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂

    And yes, illustrator Hugh D’Andrade did an amazing job.

  7. Oh totally cool! I love to look at gargoyles. They are so neat to look at as each are different, and well the mystery behind what is under that stone…. ;D Sounds like a great read! Thank you!

    myworldinwordsandpages(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. kari cook says:

    Looks like a great new series. Congrats

  9. atothewr says:

    I do like gargoyles and I really like that cover.

  10. I like the sound of this after your review, Laura. It’s going on my TBR list!

  11. I am glad to see you enjoyed this. I liked it overall, but I had a few niggling issues. The romance didn’t work for me, but I am hoping it will be better next time out. Loved the gargoyle and the Oregon setting.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I was okay with the romance. I like it when it’s not the main focus. As long as I like the main characters, I’m very happy.

  12. Yes, I like gargoyles. They are creepy and scary and down right dangerous. 🙂

  13. Liza Barrett says:

    Damn, I really want to read this now. I’m supposed to be taking things OFF of my TBR, not putting them back on!

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