A review by mg_in_md_
The Elusive Elixir by Gigi Pandian

3.0

I enjoyed the latest installment in the Accidental Alchemist series, which finds Zoe Faust traveling to France in an attempt to find a cure for her friend, the lovable gargoyle Dorian Robert-Houdin who is turning back into stone. While in Europe, Zoe comes across a long-lost gargoyle with possible ties to Dorian, adding an extra level of urgency to her quest. The trip also unearths a connection to a cold case from 1942, forcing Zoe to confront her own past. I enjoyed spending time with the likable recurring characters (although they were a little more in the background in this one since Zoe was solo for a portion of the story) and learning more about Zoe's past in her pursuit of an elixir to save Dorian. This series blends fantasy, history, romance, and mystery with a dash of delectable vegan cuisine (recipes are included in each book) and magic. If you haven't read this unique series yet, I recommend reading the first three before checking out this one. While you'll be able to follow the plot, you'll appreciate the story more having the full backstory.

As a bonus, I was able to use this book for the two reading challenges I'm working on this year. For the 2017 BookRiot Read Harder Challenge, I used it for the "Read a fantasy novel" category. For the 2017 PopSugar Reading Challenge, I used it for the prompt, "A book that's published in 2017."