threadhappens 's review for:

The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian

3.25

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

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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.