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
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
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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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My giveaway is for a print copy of this fun book!
Tour giveaway is US Only. Sorry to my International friends.
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Leave you email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question –
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Giveaway ends January 17th.
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