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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s not life-changing literature, but it is cute and cozy. Be prepared for a LOT more information about vegan cooking than you would ever expect in an alchemical murder mystery!
Zoe Faust is a 300-year-old alchemist who is settling in Portland, Oregon, for the next few years. She buys the local “haunted” house and only the day after she begins to unpack, her new handyman ends up dead at her front door. While police investigate, Zoe attempts to find a way to save her gargoyle friend who is permanently turning to stone— but she’s racing the clock.
If you’ve been reading reviews, you’ve probably read all about how this book is just an excuse to talk about vegan recipes and herbs. It’s completely true. The book needed a lot more editing; it gets so in depth about vegan food that I got bored to death and read an entire other book before coming back to it.
Did I like Dorian the gargoyle? Yes. Did I think the characters were fully developed? Not really. Would I recommend this? Probably not. There was potential for an interesting cozy mystery but it buried under a lot of unnecessary talk about food.
If you’ve been reading reviews, you’ve probably read all about how this book is just an excuse to talk about vegan recipes and herbs. It’s completely true. The book needed a lot more editing; it gets so in depth about vegan food that I got bored to death and read an entire other book before coming back to it.
Did I like Dorian the gargoyle? Yes. Did I think the characters were fully developed? Not really. Would I recommend this? Probably not. There was potential for an interesting cozy mystery but it buried under a lot of unnecessary talk about food.
Very cute murder mystery. Nods to Sherlock Holmes and other classic mystery novels. The mention of Nicolas Flamel made my Harry Potter loving side excited.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun and sweet but very light reading. The romance aspect makes no sense and is unnecessary to the plot.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this first in a new series about a woman who several hundred years ago discovered the secret to avoiding death through alchemy. Because she doesn't age, she's had to move around a great deal, and in the current day has landed in Portland, Oregon, where very quickly she becomes absorbed in a local circle of vegans and tea enthusiasts.
I enjoyed getting to know her and her sidekick, a stone gargoyle come to life, and learning bits and pieces about alchemy and the vegan lifestyle. There are even recipes at the end, which I want to try!
It's an intriguing mystery as well though I think the alchemy part is the most interesting.
I enjoyed getting to know her and her sidekick, a stone gargoyle come to life, and learning bits and pieces about alchemy and the vegan lifestyle. There are even recipes at the end, which I want to try!
It's an intriguing mystery as well though I think the alchemy part is the most interesting.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No