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jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot. Someone had mentioned it was included in Audible Plus so I checked it out. I wish the sequels were included as well, alas, they are not. I would really like to continue on ... but I'm super cheap (especially when I have so many books already).
Although our Alchemist (main character) is 100s of years old (having discovered the elixir of life) this is a very modern book, taking place in the present day. I'm listing this on my "paranormal" shelf, with the whole alchemy, automaton, homunculus, living gargoyle, but it's a bit more of a murder mystery at heart. With a big focus on food ... Zoe is vegan (finding out she's going to live 100s of years she wants to feel healthy) so there is so much talk about fruits/vegetables and vegan meals. So much so that some of it got to be a bit too much (knowing exactly what she put in her smoothie each morning). Dorian (the french gargoyle come to life) is a gourmet chef, so lots of food talk featuring his cooking as well. I loved Dorian ;) The audiobook with the very french accent was fun.
Despite all the paranormal points, it was still a little far-fetched (I tend to be more forgiving toward the weird and focus on the more unrealistic "real" items), but it was a good listen and I was glad for the recommendation.
Although our Alchemist (main character) is 100s of years old (having discovered the elixir of life) this is a very modern book, taking place in the present day. I'm listing this on my "paranormal" shelf, with the whole alchemy, automaton, homunculus, living gargoyle, but it's a bit more of a murder mystery at heart. With a big focus on food ... Zoe is vegan (finding out she's going to live 100s of years she wants to feel healthy) so there is so much talk about fruits/vegetables and vegan meals. So much so that some of it got to be a bit too much (knowing exactly what she put in her smoothie each morning). Dorian (the french gargoyle come to life) is a gourmet chef, so lots of food talk featuring his cooking as well. I loved Dorian ;) The audiobook with the very french accent was fun.
Despite all the paranormal points, it was still a little far-fetched (I tend to be more forgiving toward the weird and focus on the more unrealistic "real" items), but it was a good listen and I was glad for the recommendation.
constantin's review against another edition
3.0
Good book for a light read during breaks, great ideas for vegan food, but I was not overly impressed. Although it is well written it did not manage to capture me and make me want to read more.
So, not sure if I am going to read the second book of the series any time soon now. Curious to see where the story will go though.
Yeah, very mixed feelings about it!
P.s. I loved the character of Dorian.
So, not sure if I am going to read the second book of the series any time soon now. Curious to see where the story will go though.
Yeah, very mixed feelings about it!
P.s. I loved the character of Dorian.
bookworm1909's review against another edition
5.0
Mystery was a little easy to figure out, but likable characters. Have the 2nd and 3rd books sitting on my end table to read next.
barker563's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The premise was unique and the characters were dynamic, there was only one thing in the book that I struggled with. The character development felt strained to force romance into the story line. If your book doesn't need romance then don't put it in there. Don't wedge it in.
baleypetersen's review against another edition
2.0
A vegan manifesto disguised as a story. It's like those blogs where you have to read through an entire family history to get to the recipe, except backwards. You have to read past the smoothie recipes and vegan food descriptions to get to the story. Which is, at best, a bit of fantasy fluff. I will say the author obviously loves my city because she describes Portland like a true native. The French gargoyle is the only character I liked at all.
lisrt's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
the_bee_writes's review against another edition
4.0
What an entertaining book. I loved the characters (who can resist a French Gargoyle master chef or a vegan Alchemist online shop owner), the setting (Portland) and the storyline: Zoe Faust moves to Portland to find a calm place to settle for a while but immediately get caught up in a mystery. Did I mention she is 300 years old? Well, have a read (or listen) for yourself. If you like mysteries and urban fantasy this one is right up your street!
parttimebloggerbookgeek's review against another edition
4.0
The Accidental Alchemist bought with my one credit on audible sometime ago, is an interesting start to the series, Zoe isn't stupid. Dorian is an interesting character. I have yet to continue for one reason, while the book is both well written and well performed by Julia Motyka, the overall story failed to grab me, the characters had some depth, but overall I wasn't invested in them. I gave this 4 stars, because the book, story, and performance are well thought out, written, it was more me, then the book itself.
carololiverbooks's review
lighthearted
mysterious
5.0
After being on the road for too many years, Zoe bought a fixer-upper house in Portland, Oregon. But her plans to settle quietly into her new home are disrupted by the discovery of a stone gargoyle who stowed away in her shipping crates to beg for her help, the intrusion of curious teenagers investigating the local "haunted house", and the murder of the one handyman willing to tackle Zoe's new home.
Pandian's murder mystery is light and fun and full of warm-hearted characters. But Dorian the gargoyle makes the book. His escapades in Zoe's kitchen are both amusing and impressive, and Pandian's food descriptions made me hungry while reading. Three recipes from the story are included at the end of the book. The Roasted Butternut Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce is now one of my favorite meals (I substitute salted sunflower seeds for the pepitas).
Pandian's murder mystery is light and fun and full of warm-hearted characters. But Dorian the gargoyle makes the book. His escapades in Zoe's kitchen are both amusing and impressive, and Pandian's food descriptions made me hungry while reading. Three recipes from the story are included at the end of the book. The Roasted Butternut Squash with Lemon Tahini Sauce is now one of my favorite meals (I substitute salted sunflower seeds for the pepitas).