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supervixen108's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mycatismybookmark's review against another edition
3.0
Not my typical read but I enjoyed trying something new. Good mystery and I really want all the tasty sounding recipes from the book!
carolyn57's review against another edition
1.0
Kleiner Disclaimer: Ich habe das Buch noch nicht beendet & bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich das noch tun werde.
Ich hatte das Buch bei mir im Buchladen stehen sehen und war sofort angezogen von dem wunderschönen Cover. Auch der Klappentext hörte sich interessant an & so habe ich es mitgenommen.
Inhaltlich ist das Buch eine Enttäuschung. Ich bin mittlerweile auf der Hälfte & die Geschichte ist unglaublich zähfließend und ich finde einfach keinen Zugang dazu. Ich mag keinen der Charaktere wirklich gerne - die meisten sind mir einfach egal - und das, was der Klappentext verspricht wurde bisher auch noch nicht umgesetzt, weil der Detektiv & Zoe sich ungefähr zweimal gesehen haben bis jetzt.
Was mich allerdings total in den Wahnsinn treibt sind die Datierungen. Laut dem Klappentext lebt Zoe seit dem 18. Jahrhundert,- Soweit so gut. Wie kann es also sein, dass sie bei den Hexenprozessen in Salem (1692) mit dabei war, sowie während der Pestepidemie im 14. Jahrhundert. Wie kann so ein unlogischer Schwachsinn verlegt werden?? Warum ist das niemandem aufgefallen, sei es dem Autoren oder dem Lektor.
Ich würde das Buch gerne mögen, aber bisher ist es einfach enttäuschend & ich weiß nicht, ob ich es beenden werde.
Ich hatte das Buch bei mir im Buchladen stehen sehen und war sofort angezogen von dem wunderschönen Cover. Auch der Klappentext hörte sich interessant an & so habe ich es mitgenommen.
Inhaltlich ist das Buch eine Enttäuschung. Ich bin mittlerweile auf der Hälfte & die Geschichte ist unglaublich zähfließend und ich finde einfach keinen Zugang dazu. Ich mag keinen der Charaktere wirklich gerne - die meisten sind mir einfach egal - und das, was der Klappentext verspricht wurde bisher auch noch nicht umgesetzt, weil der Detektiv & Zoe sich ungefähr zweimal gesehen haben bis jetzt.
Was mich allerdings total in den Wahnsinn treibt sind die Datierungen. Laut dem Klappentext lebt Zoe seit dem 18. Jahrhundert,- Soweit so gut. Wie kann es also sein, dass sie bei den Hexenprozessen in Salem (1692) mit dabei war, sowie während der Pestepidemie im 14. Jahrhundert. Wie kann so ein unlogischer Schwachsinn verlegt werden?? Warum ist das niemandem aufgefallen, sei es dem Autoren oder dem Lektor.
Ich würde das Buch gerne mögen, aber bisher ist es einfach enttäuschend & ich weiß nicht, ob ich es beenden werde.
catseye6773's review against another edition
4.0
Cute good characters. The gargoyle made me think of lumiere on the audio book which was a bonus
rebcamuse's review against another edition
2.0
"It was a good thing I added extra chia seeds and cocoa powder to my smoothie that day."
If you enjoy being proselytized to about veganism, this is definitely the book for you. The above quote is a representative microcosm of why this book is getting a less-than-stellar review from me. Although the blurb on the author's website says "recipes included" (assuming that's the print version?) there is nothing to explain (or warn us about) the obsession with incorporating plant-based diets into this story. And I have NO ISSUE with a plant-based diet. Had this incorporated omnivorous or carnivorous diets in the same way, it would still be incredibly irritating.
I note the several one-star reviews that decry the same feature. I felt one star was a bit harsh because there are some aspects that have/had tremendous potential. Zoe Faust, the protagonist, is not overly interesting as voiced in the audiobook, but her story is. The story is steeped in historical trivia both local and global, with references to magician/illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1871), the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, OR, the Salem (MA) witch trials and the history of alchemy. Sometimes, like the chia seed and non-stop vegan food references, these historical nods seem too forced, as if the author is trying to prove she's done her research. By far the best part of the book is the character of the epicurean Dorian Robert-Houdin, about whom I shall say not much so as not to spoil it. But Dorian is a wonderful character, befitting the genre, and Julia Motyka does a great job bringing the French character to life. It is Dorian who should be the star of the show here and for whom I had the most empathy.
Zoe's backstory could be more interesting, but it is all related through Zoe's voice and largely disconnected from the plot. The character of Max starts as a rather sterile love interest and instantaneously turns into Fabio in one scene, which I found overwritten and out of left field. The "small-town" aspects of Portland are heavily amplified (although I find myself grateful that it is not the clichéd small town in New England, for once), but this serves the Cabot-Cove - cozy-mystery type plot.
I did listen to the free preview of the next book in the series (the Masquerading Magician), and I was relieved that the first chapter seems to be free of vegan food references. That said, I'm not sure there was enough to hold my interest for me to give the series a second chance.
The author is clearly talented and well-steeped in research, which I applaud. That Zoe Faust would be vegan and that it is connected to her health as a former alchemist is fine and makes total sense. But the book would be more aptly called the Intentional Vegan given how frequently the reader is forced to hear/read the ingredients of everything consumed in the protagonist's daily existence. It is actually a really creative idea for a cookbook, to be fair--but then it should be marketed and designed as such.
If you enjoy being proselytized to about veganism, this is definitely the book for you. The above quote is a representative microcosm of why this book is getting a less-than-stellar review from me. Although the blurb on the author's website says "recipes included" (assuming that's the print version?) there is nothing to explain (or warn us about) the obsession with incorporating plant-based diets into this story. And I have NO ISSUE with a plant-based diet. Had this incorporated omnivorous or carnivorous diets in the same way, it would still be incredibly irritating.
I note the several one-star reviews that decry the same feature. I felt one star was a bit harsh because there are some aspects that have/had tremendous potential. Zoe Faust, the protagonist, is not overly interesting as voiced in the audiobook, but her story is. The story is steeped in historical trivia both local and global, with references to magician/illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1871), the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, OR, the Salem (MA) witch trials and the history of alchemy. Sometimes, like the chia seed and non-stop vegan food references, these historical nods seem too forced, as if the author is trying to prove she's done her research. By far the best part of the book is the character of the epicurean Dorian Robert-Houdin, about whom I shall say not much so as not to spoil it. But Dorian is a wonderful character, befitting the genre, and Julia Motyka does a great job bringing the French character to life. It is Dorian who should be the star of the show here and for whom I had the most empathy.
Zoe's backstory could be more interesting, but it is all related through Zoe's voice and largely disconnected from the plot. The character of Max starts as a rather sterile love interest and instantaneously turns into Fabio in one scene, which I found overwritten and out of left field. The "small-town" aspects of Portland are heavily amplified (although I find myself grateful that it is not the clichéd small town in New England, for once), but this serves the Cabot-Cove - cozy-mystery type plot.
I did listen to the free preview of the next book in the series (the Masquerading Magician), and I was relieved that the first chapter seems to be free of vegan food references. That said, I'm not sure there was enough to hold my interest for me to give the series a second chance.
The author is clearly talented and well-steeped in research, which I applaud. That Zoe Faust would be vegan and that it is connected to her health as a former alchemist is fine and makes total sense. But the book would be more aptly called the Intentional Vegan given how frequently the reader is forced to hear/read the ingredients of everything consumed in the protagonist's daily existence. It is actually a really creative idea for a cookbook, to be fair--but then it should be marketed and designed as such.
alucinadalibros's review against another edition
4.0
MUY ENTRETENIDO!!
A VER, si, tiene partes en que la narrativa es un poco lenta, y un poco me recordó a Addie, cuando la prota ha la fe su pasado, pero es parte de la trama y la forma en que tienen de contarte la vida de alguien que anda por el mundo hace 300 años. La trama del libro tiene el formato clásico de un misterio, estilo Agatha Christie, me gustaron mucho los personajes, las situaciones, todo el libro en general me pareció super entretenido y refrescante, y me super identifique con Dorian haciendo sus experimentos en la cocina :) sin dudas mi personaje favorito, imposible no amarlo. No es una lectura para anda compmeja y hasta podés confirmar tus hipótesis sobre el desenlace, me pareció un muy buen libro para pasar el rato y... Kedesirte, me lo devore en menos de dos días :)
A VER, si, tiene partes en que la narrativa es un poco lenta, y un poco me recordó a Addie, cuando la prota ha la fe su pasado, pero es parte de la trama y la forma en que tienen de contarte la vida de alguien que anda por el mundo hace 300 años. La trama del libro tiene el formato clásico de un misterio, estilo Agatha Christie, me gustaron mucho los personajes, las situaciones, todo el libro en general me pareció super entretenido y refrescante, y me super identifique con Dorian haciendo sus experimentos en la cocina :) sin dudas mi personaje favorito, imposible no amarlo. No es una lectura para anda compmeja y hasta podés confirmar tus hipótesis sobre el desenlace, me pareció un muy buen libro para pasar el rato y... Kedesirte, me lo devore en menos de dos días :)
natchosreading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hldonavant's review against another edition
5.0
Fun read! Alchemy and a french speaking gargoyle chef. The mystery was easy to figure out, but still fun to read. A little too focused on the whole vegan diet thing...
tea_tales_tomes's review against another edition
3.0
I've seen some pretty intensely negative reviews for this book and I must admit that when I started listening to it, I was very skeptical. It was actually not bad at all. This is a murder mystery featuring a 300-year old alchemist who wants to live a normal life and the gargoyle that she encounters while unpacking at her new place. I might add that this is a gargoyle that was brought to life by alchemy many years ago and this is a gargoyle who loves to cook. The parts of the book that most readers said they hated about was actually the parts of the book that I loved most - detailed descriptions of vegan meals (and I'm not even vegan). Give me fiction that provides endless details of meals being prepared and people enjoying these meals any day and I will devour the story. It doesn't matter if the meals are vegan, meat and potatoes, desserts, or even Hannibal Lector making gourmet meals of human flesh. I do agree that some food descriptions were not well incorporated into the story but hey, I'm not overly fussy about foody fiction. I felt that the book could have been a lot better because it has such an interesting premise but the contrived romance and the lame resolution to the murder mystery didn't make me want to rave about the book.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable read, mainly due to the character of Dorian, but I didn’t connect with these characters in the same as I did with the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries by the same author.