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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was fabulous! A great mix of the genres I enjoy. A French gargoyle with a penchant for cooking? Yes please, more! An eclectic cast of characters I really want to know more about.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The most entertaining vegan propaganda I’ve ever had to deal with.
The Accidental Alchemist is a cozy mystery, more cozy than mysterious, since “the culprit” is evident from the moment they are introduced.
The story develops very slowly, but it doesn’t try to be thrilling either. On the contrary, the crime looks like an interruption to the planned story of vegan cooking and tasting. I’m not vegan, but I would have appreciated if the recipes for the “delicious, is it vegannn??!” meals were included (Edit to add: after reading some reviews, it appears some recipes are included at the end of the book. I’ve just downloaded the accompanying PDF for the Audible version and found that there are, in fact, only three recipes… a tiny and uninteresting fraction of all the vegan cooking I had to listen to).
All characters are flat and stereotypical, and the main one is a tad dumb for someone having 300 years of experience, but on the whole, they are likeable. The gargoyle is quite adorable. The love story is predictable, cold, and orthopedically rushed at the end. It seems the author, busy with all the delicious vegan meals, had forgotten this part of the plot.
I listened to the Audible audiobook version of “The Accidental Alchemist”. I think the narrator, Julia Motyka, does a decent job, although she audibly clears her throat several times during the narration, which I found a bit unnerving
Although it is sold as the first in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I didn’t feel the urge to keep reading the rest of the series, but if I ever need a no-brainer and feel-good book in the future, I may consider them.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a cosy murder mystery, with a loveable gargoyle and a vegan alchemist who unintentionally kind of collects people (and said gargoyle) to take care of.
I really liked the tone and the easy friendships that are forming throughout the book. I thought especially the interactions between adults and teens, as they felt well handled and realistic! A couple of very different people slowly growing together and being there for each other.
I personally would have liked it better without the - so far very, very light - romance angle thrown in, but it was so low it didn't really bother me much.
The mystery part wasn't as engaging as the characters and the cosy vibes, but the tone and voice more than made up for it in my case. I loved the small gargoyle who loves to cook, and the teen who isn't yet sure who he is. There's a bit of banter and adventure, and it's overall just a really warm and entertaining read, despite a dead body or two along the way.
I really liked the tone and the easy friendships that are forming throughout the book. I thought especially the interactions between adults and teens, as they felt well handled and realistic! A couple of very different people slowly growing together and being there for each other.
I personally would have liked it better without the - so far very, very light - romance angle thrown in, but it was so low it didn't really bother me much.
The mystery part wasn't as engaging as the characters and the cosy vibes, but the tone and voice more than made up for it in my case. I loved the small gargoyle who loves to cook, and the teen who isn't yet sure who he is. There's a bit of banter and adventure, and it's overall just a really warm and entertaining read, despite a dead body or two along the way.
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Eine gemütliche Geschichte für zwischendurch. Süße und liebenswürdige Charaktere, besonders die Nebencharaktere, allerdings bei Protagnistin Zoe sehr wenig Tiefgang, dafür, dass sie mehrere hundert Jahre alt sein soll. Dazu leider schlecht geschrieben, von ganzen Abschnitten mit Infodump, der nicht in die Erzählung eingewebt wird, zu Wiederholungen dieses Infodumps und in der deutschen Übersetzung leider auch zu auffallend vielen Stellen, an denen ein gutes Übersetzngslektorat und -korrektorat gefehlt hat. Für eine eigentlich ganz niedliche Geschichte sehr schade, mit einem guten Lektorat hätte man hier schon in der englischen Version, aber spätestens in der Übersetzung noch einiges rausholen können.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No