Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Description
"Unpacking her belongings in her new hometown of Portland, Oregon, herbalist and reformed alchemist Zoe Faust can't help but notice she's picked up a stowaway. Dorian Robert-Houdin is a living, breathing three-and-half-foot gargoyle--not to mention a master of French cuisine--and he needs Zoe's expertise to decipher a centuries-old text. Zoe, who's trying to put her old life behind her, isn't so sure she wants to reopen her alchemical past...until the dead man on her porch leaves her no choice."--
User reviews
LibraryThing member MariaD.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A cross between a cozy and paranormal mystery, The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian is a fun light read filled with interesting and colorful characters, good dialogue and a
Over 300 years old, though she doesn’t look a day over 28, Zoe Faust is an “accidental” alchemist. Born during the Salem witch trials, with a “magical” affinity for plants, Zoe escaped to Europe and trained with a master alchemist. Feeling guilty due to outliving the people she loved, and travelling Europe and the US to hide her long life, Zoe settles in Portland determined to build a new life. She wasn’t counting on an uninvited house guest with an unusual problem or on someone killing the contractor she’s hired to fix her house. Forced to re-examine her past, and re-open her alchemy laboratory, Zoe finds herself in a race against time to solve a magical mystery.
Ms. Pandian does a good job developing the two main characters of this story; I easily connected with Zoe, a woman who has never made peace with who and what she is. Running away from her past, Zoe hasn’t allowed herself to have a present or contemplate a future until she decides to take a chance on setting up a home in Portland. I also connected with “Dorian”, the 3 ½ foot living gargoyle, who is Zoe’s unexpected house guest. French by birth, and creation, Dorian has an unusual problem and specifically sought Zoe out, stuffed himself in her “luggage” and followed her to her new home. Either cursed, or blessed, depending on how you look at it, with long lives, their magical existence has burdened them with secrets and a lonely life.
The secondary characters are also well developed and I especially enjoyed getting to know Brixton, a local teen who becomes attached to both Zoe and Dorian, his friends Veronica and Ethan, and detective Max Liu, who harbors secrets of his own. While there is a romance that begins to develop between Max and Zoe in this book, it’s very low key and fraught with some interesting problems. The mystery portion of the book, who killed Zoe’s contractor on her porch and why, was secondary in nature and took several interesting twists and turns, especially since Zoe, Dorian and Brixton employed investigative methods Dorian read about in detective novels.
Will Zoe and Max learn to trust each other in order to solve the murder mystery and save their friends? Will Zoe be able to solve Dorian’s “magical” problem before it’s too late? You’ll have to read The Accidental Alchemist to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also wish I could have a “Dorian” of my own.
A cross between a cozy and paranormal mystery, The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian is a fun light read filled with interesting and colorful characters, good dialogue and a
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touch of magic. Bridging science and magic, Ms. Pandian uses “Alchemy”, the medieval forerunner of chemistry, to bridge the past and the present, science and magic, and the study of human nature. While there were times I thought the pace was a little slow, I’m happy to say I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing where Ms. Pandian goes with this series.Over 300 years old, though she doesn’t look a day over 28, Zoe Faust is an “accidental” alchemist. Born during the Salem witch trials, with a “magical” affinity for plants, Zoe escaped to Europe and trained with a master alchemist. Feeling guilty due to outliving the people she loved, and travelling Europe and the US to hide her long life, Zoe settles in Portland determined to build a new life. She wasn’t counting on an uninvited house guest with an unusual problem or on someone killing the contractor she’s hired to fix her house. Forced to re-examine her past, and re-open her alchemy laboratory, Zoe finds herself in a race against time to solve a magical mystery.
Ms. Pandian does a good job developing the two main characters of this story; I easily connected with Zoe, a woman who has never made peace with who and what she is. Running away from her past, Zoe hasn’t allowed herself to have a present or contemplate a future until she decides to take a chance on setting up a home in Portland. I also connected with “Dorian”, the 3 ½ foot living gargoyle, who is Zoe’s unexpected house guest. French by birth, and creation, Dorian has an unusual problem and specifically sought Zoe out, stuffed himself in her “luggage” and followed her to her new home. Either cursed, or blessed, depending on how you look at it, with long lives, their magical existence has burdened them with secrets and a lonely life.
The secondary characters are also well developed and I especially enjoyed getting to know Brixton, a local teen who becomes attached to both Zoe and Dorian, his friends Veronica and Ethan, and detective Max Liu, who harbors secrets of his own. While there is a romance that begins to develop between Max and Zoe in this book, it’s very low key and fraught with some interesting problems. The mystery portion of the book, who killed Zoe’s contractor on her porch and why, was secondary in nature and took several interesting twists and turns, especially since Zoe, Dorian and Brixton employed investigative methods Dorian read about in detective novels.
Will Zoe and Max learn to trust each other in order to solve the murder mystery and save their friends? Will Zoe be able to solve Dorian’s “magical” problem before it’s too late? You’ll have to read The Accidental Alchemist to find out, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also wish I could have a “Dorian” of my own.
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LibraryThing member arthistorychick
The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
My Review:
Dorian Robert-Houdin has a few problems: 1) he is a master chef who lives with a vegetarian; 2) he has a debilitating illness that is slowly killing him and; 3) he is a gargoyle that shouldn’t exist. Zoe
When Dorian decided to stow away in Zoe’s crates coming to the States from France, he did so with the intention of convincing the woman to help him stay alive. Dorian’s life is slowly fading away and the only clue he has is an indecipherable and rather old alchemical book. Zoe’s new life in Portland is meant to be a do-over for her; she is more than 300 years old and for decades she has crisscrossed the US selling her wares and never putting down roots. Portland feels good to Zoe and with her handyman lined up and hope for a bright and grounded future she is feeling quite optimistic until the moment the gargoyle pops out of a crate, gives her an arcane book and, her handyman ends up dead on her front porch. Well hell, there went that bright and grounded future!
Before she can even get the holes in the roof fixed, Zoe is called into the police station for questioning, she is trying desperately to figure out a book that should be familiar to her but somehow isn’t and, is trying to figure out how to protect the snarky little gargoyle that keeps taking over her kitchen. Those she hasn’t practiced alchemy in decades, Zoe is determined to help Dorian, she is determined to figure out who killed the handyman and, she is determined to keep her heard down and her nose clean. Unfortunately, the universe has many, many other plans for Zoe.
As if the gargoyle and his waning life weren’t enough, the book she needs to save him is stolen, her one and only friend in town is nearly killed and framed for murder and, she has a young boy to look after since his worthless mother can’t seem to find the time to do it. To say that mayhem unfolds doesn’t even come close. Between the naughty gargoyle with a penchant for breaking and entering, the mischievous kid with a vested interest in helping his friends and, one stressed out alchemist, the antics are very much like the Scooby gang. Zoe seems to be forever cleaning up the messes left by Dorian and the kid and with every mess comes more problems. By the time Zoe and the gang figure out who is behind all the mayhem and murder, it almost too late for everyone involved.
The Bottom Line: The Accidental Alchemist is sort of a mixed bag for me. While I adore Dorian and his particular breed of snark and sarcasm, I had a harder time really liking Zoe. While I liked some aspects of the mystery and plot, others seemed a bit awkward and/or slow. While I liked the information about alchemy and about Zoe’s past, it became repetitive toward the middle and the end of the read. Does this mean I am done with the Accidental Alchemist series? No, not in this instance. I have the distinct feeling that once this series really gets going and some of the kinks get worked out, it is going to be a really fun and interesting series. I know I am certainly up for a little more of Dorian!!
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
My Review:
Dorian Robert-Houdin has a few problems: 1) he is a master chef who lives with a vegetarian; 2) he has a debilitating illness that is slowly killing him and; 3) he is a gargoyle that shouldn’t exist. Zoe
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Faust has a few problems: 1) she has a gargoyle she’s never met living with her; 2) the man she hired to fix up her falling-apart home is found dead on her front porch and; 3) in order to help her new roommate stay alive she has to take up a task she gave up decades ago, alchemy.When Dorian decided to stow away in Zoe’s crates coming to the States from France, he did so with the intention of convincing the woman to help him stay alive. Dorian’s life is slowly fading away and the only clue he has is an indecipherable and rather old alchemical book. Zoe’s new life in Portland is meant to be a do-over for her; she is more than 300 years old and for decades she has crisscrossed the US selling her wares and never putting down roots. Portland feels good to Zoe and with her handyman lined up and hope for a bright and grounded future she is feeling quite optimistic until the moment the gargoyle pops out of a crate, gives her an arcane book and, her handyman ends up dead on her front porch. Well hell, there went that bright and grounded future!
Before she can even get the holes in the roof fixed, Zoe is called into the police station for questioning, she is trying desperately to figure out a book that should be familiar to her but somehow isn’t and, is trying to figure out how to protect the snarky little gargoyle that keeps taking over her kitchen. Those she hasn’t practiced alchemy in decades, Zoe is determined to help Dorian, she is determined to figure out who killed the handyman and, she is determined to keep her heard down and her nose clean. Unfortunately, the universe has many, many other plans for Zoe.
As if the gargoyle and his waning life weren’t enough, the book she needs to save him is stolen, her one and only friend in town is nearly killed and framed for murder and, she has a young boy to look after since his worthless mother can’t seem to find the time to do it. To say that mayhem unfolds doesn’t even come close. Between the naughty gargoyle with a penchant for breaking and entering, the mischievous kid with a vested interest in helping his friends and, one stressed out alchemist, the antics are very much like the Scooby gang. Zoe seems to be forever cleaning up the messes left by Dorian and the kid and with every mess comes more problems. By the time Zoe and the gang figure out who is behind all the mayhem and murder, it almost too late for everyone involved.
The Bottom Line: The Accidental Alchemist is sort of a mixed bag for me. While I adore Dorian and his particular breed of snark and sarcasm, I had a harder time really liking Zoe. While I liked some aspects of the mystery and plot, others seemed a bit awkward and/or slow. While I liked the information about alchemy and about Zoe’s past, it became repetitive toward the middle and the end of the read. Does this mean I am done with the Accidental Alchemist series? No, not in this instance. I have the distinct feeling that once this series really gets going and some of the kinks get worked out, it is going to be a really fun and interesting series. I know I am certainly up for a little more of Dorian!!
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LibraryThing member bearlyr
What a fun book! Yes, fun is a strange way to describe a murder mystery but... An adorable gargoyle, kids, a very old alchemist, poisons, herbal remedies, vegan cooking all come together to form an entertaining story. The characters were delightful and complex, well almost all of them it is a
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murder mystery after all. I hope there are more Accidental Alchemist stories in the future! Show Less
LibraryThing member jamestomasino
This is a vegan cookbook disguised as a mystery novel. I got 2/3rds through it.
LibraryThing member ivydtruitt
Zoe Faust believes she’s found the perfect place to stop running, Portland, Oregon. The city speaks to her and she’s found the perfect fixer upper to meet both her needs and budget. Buying the local haunted house leads Zoe to all sorts of complications. For someone determined to stay under the
Imagine a cozy paranormal with a quirky charm. No vamps, werewolves-shifters, witches, demons, or ghosts need apply. So what does that leave? THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST with its vegan former alchemist protagonist, Zoe Faust, and a recently discovered transformed gargoyle, Dorian Robert-Houdin. The first in a new mystery series has more going for it than against it.
The cast is diverse and should appeal to a wide range. The setting fits Zoe perfectly and she has my newest favorite partner in sleuthing, Dorian.
Here’s a quick run down of the characters I think will be reappearing in the future.
Veronica, Ethan, and Brixton are the youth factor.
Ethan’s the rich James Dean rebel with a good heart.
Veronica’s the gawky soon to be stunning girl who has no idea what’s ahead. She just likes hanging with her friends Ethan and Brixton.
Brixton is the only child of a teen mother. His upbringing has been eclectic and loose. The biggest stabilizing influence has been Blue, wildcrafter and owner of the local teashop.
Heather is Brixton’s artist mom. He has a step-dad now but he’s always gone so readers never meet him. Heather’s parenting style is lax at best.
Max Liu ~ Portland detective lives in the neighborhood and frequents Blue’s teashop. Max learned about herbs from his grandmother, an apothecary in China. His deceased wife was a doctor. He’s an odd blend of lore and science making him the ideal possible love interest for Zoe. Don’t worry; this is by no means a romance. Only hints of attraction occasionally.
Blue ~ owner of Blue Sky Teas, the local teashop/watering hole. No pub, coffee-shop, or diner here, it’s all about au natural. Blue has been a mother figure to Brixton. Blue and Zoe are in sync with many of their beliefs and tastes. Blue, like Zoe, has something to hide.
Olivia and Sam are aunt and nephew. Sam teaches and returned to live with Olivia when she was seriously ill. He’s worked at Blue’s also to earn extra money for Olivia’s treatment. The kids consider him the cool teacher. Olivia can be offputting. She’s one of those people who can be taken the wrong way easily and she’s extremely fond of gossip.
Ivan is a former chemistry professor. A friend of Olivia’s he’s retired due to his health. Ivan’s trying to write a book before his illness catches up with him completely. His book is on the connection between alchemy and modern chemistry/science.
Zoe Faust ~ accidental alchemist and protagonist. Zoe accidentally discovered the Elixir of Life without being aware of it for several years. There were times I really liked Zoe and times I wondered if she’d truly been around as long as she claimed. Zoe’s a bit more passive than my tastes normally run but she grew on me.
Dorian Robert-Houdin ~ adorable Parisian gargoyle and gourmet chef. Dorian captured my heart the minute he appeared. Dorian knew of Zoe from her time in Paris and stowed away in a shipping crate to seek her help. Dorian was shocked to discover she was no longer in France. Poor Francophile gargoyle….
Besides appealing and interesting characters THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST has a solid mystery going for it. All the clues for solving the mystery are there before the reader.
Ms. Pandian’s mix of fictional and historical characters combined with some extrapolation of their deeds, gives a feeling of realism and authenticity to Zoe, alchemy, and Dorian. Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, Nicholas Flamel, and John Dee are a few of the fascinating historical figures Ms. Pandian introduces.
My only complaints are minor. Charles’s murder was often lost. Despite it being the catalyst for everything it becomes secondary to subsequent events. We only get a sense of Charles from other characters and he stays sketchy at best.
The emphasis on vegan is overdone with the whole purity thing becoming a bit preachy. After reading the bio at the end it’s understandable. However, I hope it’s strongly tempered in future books.
THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST is a delightful and welcome addition to the paranormal cozy ranks.
Reviewed for MIBNTII, Manic Readers, & Novels Alive TV
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radar it’s increasingly hard to do when Charles, the handyman she hired, is found dead on her front porch on her second day of residence. Imagine a cozy paranormal with a quirky charm. No vamps, werewolves-shifters, witches, demons, or ghosts need apply. So what does that leave? THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST with its vegan former alchemist protagonist, Zoe Faust, and a recently discovered transformed gargoyle, Dorian Robert-Houdin. The first in a new mystery series has more going for it than against it.
The cast is diverse and should appeal to a wide range. The setting fits Zoe perfectly and she has my newest favorite partner in sleuthing, Dorian.
Here’s a quick run down of the characters I think will be reappearing in the future.
Veronica, Ethan, and Brixton are the youth factor.
Ethan’s the rich James Dean rebel with a good heart.
Veronica’s the gawky soon to be stunning girl who has no idea what’s ahead. She just likes hanging with her friends Ethan and Brixton.
Brixton is the only child of a teen mother. His upbringing has been eclectic and loose. The biggest stabilizing influence has been Blue, wildcrafter and owner of the local teashop.
Heather is Brixton’s artist mom. He has a step-dad now but he’s always gone so readers never meet him. Heather’s parenting style is lax at best.
Max Liu ~ Portland detective lives in the neighborhood and frequents Blue’s teashop. Max learned about herbs from his grandmother, an apothecary in China. His deceased wife was a doctor. He’s an odd blend of lore and science making him the ideal possible love interest for Zoe. Don’t worry; this is by no means a romance. Only hints of attraction occasionally.
Blue ~ owner of Blue Sky Teas, the local teashop/watering hole. No pub, coffee-shop, or diner here, it’s all about au natural. Blue has been a mother figure to Brixton. Blue and Zoe are in sync with many of their beliefs and tastes. Blue, like Zoe, has something to hide.
Olivia and Sam are aunt and nephew. Sam teaches and returned to live with Olivia when she was seriously ill. He’s worked at Blue’s also to earn extra money for Olivia’s treatment. The kids consider him the cool teacher. Olivia can be offputting. She’s one of those people who can be taken the wrong way easily and she’s extremely fond of gossip.
Ivan is a former chemistry professor. A friend of Olivia’s he’s retired due to his health. Ivan’s trying to write a book before his illness catches up with him completely. His book is on the connection between alchemy and modern chemistry/science.
Zoe Faust ~ accidental alchemist and protagonist. Zoe accidentally discovered the Elixir of Life without being aware of it for several years. There were times I really liked Zoe and times I wondered if she’d truly been around as long as she claimed. Zoe’s a bit more passive than my tastes normally run but she grew on me.
Dorian Robert-Houdin ~ adorable Parisian gargoyle and gourmet chef. Dorian captured my heart the minute he appeared. Dorian knew of Zoe from her time in Paris and stowed away in a shipping crate to seek her help. Dorian was shocked to discover she was no longer in France. Poor Francophile gargoyle….
Besides appealing and interesting characters THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST has a solid mystery going for it. All the clues for solving the mystery are there before the reader.
Ms. Pandian’s mix of fictional and historical characters combined with some extrapolation of their deeds, gives a feeling of realism and authenticity to Zoe, alchemy, and Dorian. Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, Nicholas Flamel, and John Dee are a few of the fascinating historical figures Ms. Pandian introduces.
My only complaints are minor. Charles’s murder was often lost. Despite it being the catalyst for everything it becomes secondary to subsequent events. We only get a sense of Charles from other characters and he stays sketchy at best.
The emphasis on vegan is overdone with the whole purity thing becoming a bit preachy. After reading the bio at the end it’s understandable. However, I hope it’s strongly tempered in future books.
THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST is a delightful and welcome addition to the paranormal cozy ranks.
Reviewed for MIBNTII, Manic Readers, & Novels Alive TV
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LibraryThing member rhonda1111
4 stars
This is the first book in a new series. It is unique with a alchemist, gargole and teenagers as main characters trying to solve some mysteries. It is a fun, clean cozy murder mystery.
Zoe Faust just moved to Portland, Oregon she has bought a real fixer upper. When she finds some of her
Dorian is a three-and-half-foot gargoyle who is alive. But something is going wrong with him. He knows that Zoe was a Alchemist in the past and he has some old alchemist books in Latin he wants help to stay alive. He is a good cook.
Brixton is a teenager who breaks into Zoe's house on a dare. People think her house is haunted. Brixton sees Dorian that he is alive.
The setting is Portland, Oregon. Talks a lot about Portland underground tunnels that make me want to take the tour and explore too.
This is a good start to a series. I would love to read more of Zoe & Dorian. I would love for her to have a romance with Max. I would read it.
I love how it has a lot of real history and people mixed into her story so natural. It made the book so believable.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Midnight Ink. In return I agreed to give honest review of the Accidental Alchemist.
This is the first book in a new series. It is unique with a alchemist, gargole and teenagers as main characters trying to solve some mysteries. It is a fun, clean cozy murder mystery.
Zoe Faust just moved to Portland, Oregon she has bought a real fixer upper. When she finds some of her
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boxes opened. She finds a gargoyle hitched a ride from France in her boxes. She is older than she thinks.Dorian is a three-and-half-foot gargoyle who is alive. But something is going wrong with him. He knows that Zoe was a Alchemist in the past and he has some old alchemist books in Latin he wants help to stay alive. He is a good cook.
Brixton is a teenager who breaks into Zoe's house on a dare. People think her house is haunted. Brixton sees Dorian that he is alive.
The setting is Portland, Oregon. Talks a lot about Portland underground tunnels that make me want to take the tour and explore too.
This is a good start to a series. I would love to read more of Zoe & Dorian. I would love for her to have a romance with Max. I would read it.
I love how it has a lot of real history and people mixed into her story so natural. It made the book so believable.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Midnight Ink. In return I agreed to give honest review of the Accidental Alchemist.
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LibraryThing member Isisunit
I would like to thank Midnight Ink & NetGalley for granting me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Goodreads Teaser:
"A modern tale of ancient intrigue from a USA Today bestselling author
When Zoe
Includes recipes!"
Zoe Faust is a semi-neurotic character who entertains simply by her incessant worrying. She's far, far older than she appears, having learned alchemy from Nicolas and Pernelle Flamel after her brief childhood in Salem, MA - during the witch trials of the later 1600's. When played off her foil, Dorian Robert-Houdin, the two create a tangible energy that draws the reader into their story. A story that Zoe's been running from most of her life. Maybe not in the form of Dorian, but in what he represents.
Non Degenera Alchemia - Not Untrue Alchemy. This book of Dorian's is essentially all that's left of the man who brought him to life. With his 'father' long dead, and turning back into stone, Dorian began seeking an alchemist to try to save him from a fate worse than death. He'll end up trapped in a stone body forever, but with his mind still intact. Unfortunately the book with the keys to his survival was stolen within two days of Zoe's arrival. Now they must work together at a frantic pace if she's going to save Dorian, and Zoe knows she couldn't let any sentient being end up 'locked-in' as Dorian will without her help. But can she face her past in order to save Dorian's future?
But life for Zoe has rapidly become far more complicated than simply saving Dorian. Aside from the missing book, there are three local teens who get involved, a local man is killed at Zoe's house also in two days of her arrival, the local cop investigating the homicide is fighting an attraction to Zoe (one she returns, yet refuses to let herself admit to), and those are just a few of the complications Zoe must overcome if she is to save Dorian.
There is also Max Liu, the cop whose background in herbals makes him just that much more suspicious of Zoe, the suspect he can't control his attraction to. Blue Sky, owner of Blue Sky Teas, a small shop that immediately speaks to Zoe, making her feel at ease from the moment she enters the store. Blue is something of a fairy godmother to one and all, but she particularly looks out for young Brixton, doing her best to keep him out of trouble and on the right path, despite the fact that they're unrelated. Brixton's friends, Ethan and Veronica, get into trouble with Zoe early on - leaving Zoe to step in with Blue as Brixton's other 'adopted' aunt. And of course the one person every small community has, the local gossip, which in this case is Olivia. With all these characters and more it could become easy to drop a story line or overwhelm the tale with to many subplots, but Ms. Pandian handles the balance between the characters and story arc very smoothly.
Between the character building and story pacing this book certainly delivers an enjoyable escape from reality. It is a combination mystery, who-done it murder, and romance. While it could be very easy to lose the characters with that much going on, they remain well crafted and stay in the forefront of the story, never really ceding their power to the action of the story. This is a well balanced story, providing enough emotional content to keep the action from taking over, yet neither is the action buried so deeply that it stutters to a stop. An entertaining read from end to end, I would certainly be open to more books by Gigi Pandian.
Goodreads Teaser:
"A modern tale of ancient intrigue from a USA Today bestselling author
When Zoe
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Faust--herbalist, alchemist, and recent transplant to Portland, Oregon--begins unpacking her bags, she can't help but notice she's picked up a stow away: a living, breathing, three-and-half-foot gargoyle. Dorian Robert-Houdin is no simple automaton, nor is he a homunculus; in fact, he needs Zoe's help to decipher a centuries-old text that explains exactly what he is. Zoe, who's trying to put her alchemical life behind her, isn't so sure she can help. But after a murder victim is discovered on her front porch, Zoe realized she's tangled up in ancient intrigue that can't be ignored.Includes recipes!"
Zoe Faust is a semi-neurotic character who entertains simply by her incessant worrying. She's far, far older than she appears, having learned alchemy from Nicolas and Pernelle Flamel after her brief childhood in Salem, MA - during the witch trials of the later 1600's. When played off her foil, Dorian Robert-Houdin, the two create a tangible energy that draws the reader into their story. A story that Zoe's been running from most of her life. Maybe not in the form of Dorian, but in what he represents.
Non Degenera Alchemia - Not Untrue Alchemy. This book of Dorian's is essentially all that's left of the man who brought him to life. With his 'father' long dead, and turning back into stone, Dorian began seeking an alchemist to try to save him from a fate worse than death. He'll end up trapped in a stone body forever, but with his mind still intact. Unfortunately the book with the keys to his survival was stolen within two days of Zoe's arrival. Now they must work together at a frantic pace if she's going to save Dorian, and Zoe knows she couldn't let any sentient being end up 'locked-in' as Dorian will without her help. But can she face her past in order to save Dorian's future?
But life for Zoe has rapidly become far more complicated than simply saving Dorian. Aside from the missing book, there are three local teens who get involved, a local man is killed at Zoe's house also in two days of her arrival, the local cop investigating the homicide is fighting an attraction to Zoe (one she returns, yet refuses to let herself admit to), and those are just a few of the complications Zoe must overcome if she is to save Dorian.
There is also Max Liu, the cop whose background in herbals makes him just that much more suspicious of Zoe, the suspect he can't control his attraction to. Blue Sky, owner of Blue Sky Teas, a small shop that immediately speaks to Zoe, making her feel at ease from the moment she enters the store. Blue is something of a fairy godmother to one and all, but she particularly looks out for young Brixton, doing her best to keep him out of trouble and on the right path, despite the fact that they're unrelated. Brixton's friends, Ethan and Veronica, get into trouble with Zoe early on - leaving Zoe to step in with Blue as Brixton's other 'adopted' aunt. And of course the one person every small community has, the local gossip, which in this case is Olivia. With all these characters and more it could become easy to drop a story line or overwhelm the tale with to many subplots, but Ms. Pandian handles the balance between the characters and story arc very smoothly.
Between the character building and story pacing this book certainly delivers an enjoyable escape from reality. It is a combination mystery, who-done it murder, and romance. While it could be very easy to lose the characters with that much going on, they remain well crafted and stay in the forefront of the story, never really ceding their power to the action of the story. This is a well balanced story, providing enough emotional content to keep the action from taking over, yet neither is the action buried so deeply that it stutters to a stop. An entertaining read from end to end, I would certainly be open to more books by Gigi Pandian.
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LibraryThing member joeydag
A quirky murder mystery with some cute characters but the voice of the narrator is somewhat flat in my opinion. There is an animated, very French gargoyle who is a very cute side kick for the over 300 year old alchemist, who is the narrator and yet for being 300 years old and vegan, with a tragic
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back story seems to be too much of a blank slate. Portland is the scene does seem to be the best place for our protagonist. I'll be interested in what the author comes up with next. Show Less
LibraryThing member laura-thomas
There aren’t a lot of gargoyles books out there and most of those are about shifters. They can be human or gargoyle. This gargoyle is all gargoyle.
Zoe Faust has finally found a place to settle down, tired of her Airstream trailer and moving from place to place. Portland seems to touch something
Let me introduce you to Zoe. She’s an alchemist, specifically Spagyrics, plant alchemy, albeit a non practicing one now. She’s lived well over 300 years due to accidentally applying The Elixir of Life to herself. That’s why she has to move a lot, as she doesn’t really age, though she can die like normal people.
While unpacking in her new home she notices some things appear to have been broken and there’s a gargoyle statue clutching a book that she knows she didn’t put there.
When it moves, she’s startled to discover it’s a real living gargoyle. His name is Dorian Robert-Houdin and he’s French.
As the two are becoming acquainted they discover a spy. Brixton is a 14 year old neighbor boy who had to see who was moving into the old, supposedly haunted house. The pickle is, he heard and saw it all, so now a bargain must be struck to keep Dorian’s and Zoe’s secrets.
Things get more complicated when Zoe arrives home from a walk to discover her construction contractor dead by her porch. Working with herbs and plants, she smells the taint of poison but is hard pressed to say how she does when questioned by Detective Max Liu.
It becomes harder to keep secrets when she’s thrust into the murder investigation and another person falls victim to the poison, lingering in a coma.
Zoe will have to practice her alchemy again. Get up to speed quick. The killer must be stopped and Dorian’s book, Not True Alchemy, must be decoded to find some answers. Otherwise, more people will be poisoned, Dorian will slowly turn to stone and be trapped in that form for eternity.
Zoe won me over quickly. She’s sassy, smart, brave, loyal, and often inept. She gets herself into some funny situations and can laugh at herself. Her concern and caring for Dorian is so sweet. She’s become fond of him and his gourmet cooking. Yes, gargoyles can cook.
Her friendship and fostering of Brixton brings out the best in him. He’s well on his way to becoming a delinquent, and his new friends are a steady hand and guidance to help him find his way.
And something is just starting to ignite between Max Liu and Zoe Faust. They both feel stirrings of attraction, yet both are keeping some huge secrets.
There’s so much to entertain in this book.
The characters are well written. You’ll come to know them quickly.
The alchemy is very well researched and fascinating. I always thought it was magic but that’s really not so. It’s more of a practice, a trade.
The mystery keeps you guessing. The villain will catch you by surprise. And the suspense will make you crazy, worrying about everything and how it will get resolved.
And Kudos to the author for the cover art. It’s perfect for this story.
Also, check out the yummy recipes at the end. They sound delicious.
I urge you to read The Accidental Alchemist. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Zoe Faust has finally found a place to settle down, tired of her Airstream trailer and moving from place to place. Portland seems to touch something
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inside her. So she finds a fixer upper and moves into her new home.Let me introduce you to Zoe. She’s an alchemist, specifically Spagyrics, plant alchemy, albeit a non practicing one now. She’s lived well over 300 years due to accidentally applying The Elixir of Life to herself. That’s why she has to move a lot, as she doesn’t really age, though she can die like normal people.
While unpacking in her new home she notices some things appear to have been broken and there’s a gargoyle statue clutching a book that she knows she didn’t put there.
When it moves, she’s startled to discover it’s a real living gargoyle. His name is Dorian Robert-Houdin and he’s French.
As the two are becoming acquainted they discover a spy. Brixton is a 14 year old neighbor boy who had to see who was moving into the old, supposedly haunted house. The pickle is, he heard and saw it all, so now a bargain must be struck to keep Dorian’s and Zoe’s secrets.
Things get more complicated when Zoe arrives home from a walk to discover her construction contractor dead by her porch. Working with herbs and plants, she smells the taint of poison but is hard pressed to say how she does when questioned by Detective Max Liu.
It becomes harder to keep secrets when she’s thrust into the murder investigation and another person falls victim to the poison, lingering in a coma.
Zoe will have to practice her alchemy again. Get up to speed quick. The killer must be stopped and Dorian’s book, Not True Alchemy, must be decoded to find some answers. Otherwise, more people will be poisoned, Dorian will slowly turn to stone and be trapped in that form for eternity.
Zoe won me over quickly. She’s sassy, smart, brave, loyal, and often inept. She gets herself into some funny situations and can laugh at herself. Her concern and caring for Dorian is so sweet. She’s become fond of him and his gourmet cooking. Yes, gargoyles can cook.
Her friendship and fostering of Brixton brings out the best in him. He’s well on his way to becoming a delinquent, and his new friends are a steady hand and guidance to help him find his way.
And something is just starting to ignite between Max Liu and Zoe Faust. They both feel stirrings of attraction, yet both are keeping some huge secrets.
There’s so much to entertain in this book.
The characters are well written. You’ll come to know them quickly.
The alchemy is very well researched and fascinating. I always thought it was magic but that’s really not so. It’s more of a practice, a trade.
The mystery keeps you guessing. The villain will catch you by surprise. And the suspense will make you crazy, worrying about everything and how it will get resolved.
And Kudos to the author for the cover art. It’s perfect for this story.
Also, check out the yummy recipes at the end. They sound delicious.
I urge you to read The Accidental Alchemist. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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LibraryThing member SadieSForsythe
I'll admit that the writing in this book is generally readable and, even though I had an ARC, the editing wasn't worth comment. The problem was that I was simply bored throughout the whole thing...that and I became increasingly annoyed with the food references.
Because I can't be bothered to give
I assume I'm not the only person who has that one friend who is a health nut and constantly trying to convert his/her (in my case her) friends to 'the lifestyle.' Zoe is this friend and I liked finding her in a book I was reading for fun even less than having soy milk, non-caff, chai lattes with my own real life fad eater friend.
None of Zoe's healthy eating lectures felt natural. What it felt like was the author taking an opportunity to use her book as a soapbox. (There are even recipes in the back! How is that relevant in a fantasy novel?) All of which is annoying, yes, but it was also detrimental to the book. Because when, for example, three kids are missing and it's imperative they be found quickly, all of the tension and buildup evaporates when the main character stops to make herself a quick smoothie, noting of course that she added extra chia seeds for the energy boost.
Further, when half the book is dedicated to food descriptions and another 20 or so percent dedicated to lectures on healthy eating and the benefits of certain herbs and such, there is very little book left for plot, character development and world building. So, let me address this here. There isn't any of the last two.
There is no character development. To call them flat is an understatement. There is also no world-building. Zoe is just a random Alchemist in an otherwise, presumably, average America. What little plot there is is WEAK. The romance comes out of nowhere and has no basis. The mystery might as well have been a series of random events broken up by a series of silly and unbelievable Poirot/Jessica Fletcher/Columbo style 'investigating.' And the little bit of Zoe's past that is revealed is just thrown in willy-nilly for no apparent reason.
Lastly, and as an admittedly pedantic point, a gargoyle is designed as a waterspout, having a trough for water to flow through. I don't believe Dorian is meant to have one. It's never mentioned in his description. Thus, wouldn't he be a chimera or a boss?
So, for a super-food freak who likes to revel in their obsessive eating issues like others roll with religion, this book is a must-read. For the rest of us, you know, normalish people...I wish I hadn't bothered.
Because I can't be bothered to give
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the book any more of my time by counting myself, I'm going to quote another reviewer here. "I did a quick word count and the "cook/ed/ing" was mentioned 79 times. SEVENTY-NINE-BRAIN-NUMBING-TIMES." I'm not exaggerating when I say that at least, AT LEAST, 50% of the book is dedicated to what Dorian is cooking or what type of smoothie Zoe is making. And it gets worse.I assume I'm not the only person who has that one friend who is a health nut and constantly trying to convert his/her (in my case her) friends to 'the lifestyle.' Zoe is this friend and I liked finding her in a book I was reading for fun even less than having soy milk, non-caff, chai lattes with my own real life fad eater friend.
None of Zoe's healthy eating lectures felt natural. What it felt like was the author taking an opportunity to use her book as a soapbox. (There are even recipes in the back! How is that relevant in a fantasy novel?) All of which is annoying, yes, but it was also detrimental to the book. Because when, for example, three kids are missing and it's imperative they be found quickly, all of the tension and buildup evaporates when the main character stops to make herself a quick smoothie, noting of course that she added extra chia seeds for the energy boost.
Further, when half the book is dedicated to food descriptions and another 20 or so percent dedicated to lectures on healthy eating and the benefits of certain herbs and such, there is very little book left for plot, character development and world building. So, let me address this here. There isn't any of the last two.
There is no character development. To call them flat is an understatement. There is also no world-building. Zoe is just a random Alchemist in an otherwise, presumably, average America. What little plot there is is WEAK. The romance comes out of nowhere and has no basis. The mystery might as well have been a series of random events broken up by a series of silly and unbelievable Poirot/Jessica Fletcher/Columbo style 'investigating.' And the little bit of Zoe's past that is revealed is just thrown in willy-nilly for no apparent reason.
Lastly, and as an admittedly pedantic point, a gargoyle is designed as a waterspout, having a trough for water to flow through. I don't believe Dorian is meant to have one. It's never mentioned in his description. Thus, wouldn't he be a chimera or a boss?
So, for a super-food freak who likes to revel in their obsessive eating issues like others roll with religion, this book is a must-read. For the rest of us, you know, normalish people...I wish I hadn't bothered.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
A cozy mystery with a touch of magic.
Highly recommended for fans of both Kevin Hearne's 'Iron Druid Chronicles' and Nancy Atherton's 'Aunt Dimity' series.
This is my second book by Pandian, and I liked the other one (Pirate Vishnu) enough to seek this one out. I was expecting a quick, entertaining
Zoe Faust, itinerant herbalist and online antiquities dealer, has decided to settle down in Portland. Oh yes, Zoe is also someone who's dabbled in the art of alchemy in the past - the rather far-distant past. Zoe's secret is that she was born in the 17th century, and her alchemical experiments have extended her life. Right now, she just wants to blend in to the life of her new town. Unfortunately for her, the fixer-upper she's purchased is known locally as a haunted house. Upon arrival, she's greeted by a living gargoyle (who loves French cooking and wants her help). And next thing she knows, there's a dead body on her doorstep. None of this is helping Zoe fade into the background. As a matter of fact, it looks like she might end up a murder suspect. The only solution will be for Zoe to find the real culprit.
The book has a few issues. At first, I thought Zoe's obsession with vegan cooking was cute and quirky - but as the book progressed, the food details just got to be too much. It crossed over from being a character element to sounding like a pushy ad for vegan recipes, detracting from the flow of the story. I wish it had been toned down.
The author also really needs to look into the difference between Russian and Czech, then check her French, and make a few edits there.
Extra note: I love the cover!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book!
Highly recommended for fans of both Kevin Hearne's 'Iron Druid Chronicles' and Nancy Atherton's 'Aunt Dimity' series.
This is my second book by Pandian, and I liked the other one (Pirate Vishnu) enough to seek this one out. I was expecting a quick, entertaining
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read with a positive feel to it, and in that, I was not disappointed.Zoe Faust, itinerant herbalist and online antiquities dealer, has decided to settle down in Portland. Oh yes, Zoe is also someone who's dabbled in the art of alchemy in the past - the rather far-distant past. Zoe's secret is that she was born in the 17th century, and her alchemical experiments have extended her life. Right now, she just wants to blend in to the life of her new town. Unfortunately for her, the fixer-upper she's purchased is known locally as a haunted house. Upon arrival, she's greeted by a living gargoyle (who loves French cooking and wants her help). And next thing she knows, there's a dead body on her doorstep. None of this is helping Zoe fade into the background. As a matter of fact, it looks like she might end up a murder suspect. The only solution will be for Zoe to find the real culprit.
The book has a few issues. At first, I thought Zoe's obsession with vegan cooking was cute and quirky - but as the book progressed, the food details just got to be too much. It crossed over from being a character element to sounding like a pushy ad for vegan recipes, detracting from the flow of the story. I wish it had been toned down.
The author also really needs to look into the difference between Russian and Czech, then check her French, and make a few edits there.
Extra note: I love the cover!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book!
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LibraryThing member EmpressReece
If You've Got It, Flaunt It! Pandian has an ingenious concept here! She really does. I think this was one of the more original and creative mysteries I've read in a while. A 400 year old vegan herbalist and alchemist, Zoe, and a living French gargoyle chef, Dorian, are the two main characters. They
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are likeable, fun and they both have very interesting and unique life histories. Dorian needs Zoe's help and Zoe wants to start over so Dorian follows Zoe in a packing crate from France all the way to Portland, Oregon and they end up meeting for the first time in Zoe's new ramshackle house and the rest they say is history...well that's all I'm saying anyways because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I think the author has a lot to work with here so there shouldn't have been any reason for her to commit one of my biggest pet peeves which is using too much filler and fluff and extraneous useless information! Get my point?! : ) Zoe is a vegan herbalist and alchemist and Dorian is a chef- I get that -so a little bit about cooking vegan food here and there is ok. I have no problem with that but there was way too much fluff about food and cooking meals especially since there was so much more relevant and intriguing information about ancient alchemy and Zoe & Dorian's background that could have been expanded on! I'm hoping though, since this was the first book in the series that the author's writing will develop with time and we won't see that much filler again in future installments. Don't take me the wrong way, it was still a very enjoyable read. I loved the setting, the story and the characters. It just works! I would definitely recommend giving this series a chance. Pandian really has a great thing going here. She just needs to take full advantage of her premise and flaunt it in the next installment, The Masquerading Magician. It is due out soon so I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy and seeing how it plays out. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisCarey
When Zoe Faust arrives in Portland, Oregon, and finds what she thinks can be her new home for a while, she's been traveling for a long time.
A very long time..
Zoe was born in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1670s, and her name wasn't Zoe Faust at the time. She was a young herbalist, and so all too
She's also found a stowaway in her luggage: a three-foot-tall, living gargoyle who says his name is Dorian Robert-Houdin.
Dorian has a problem, and wants her help. He's turning back into solid stone, and thinks she can help decipher the strangem, old alchemy book his creator used to bring him to life.
A neighborhood teenage boy breaks into this "haunted house" and discovers Dorian. A very handsome police detective named Max Lieu also lives in the neighborhood. There's a local tea shop Zoe has already found and grown to love.
Then her house is broken into again, and Dorian's book is stolen. The owner of the local tea shop is also poisoned. She can't hire anyone to do essential repairs to the house, because everyone "knows" it's haunted. Oh, and the police think she's a suspect in the murder of the guy she found on her porch.
Was settling in Portland really a good idea?
There's a collection of interesting and likable characters here, along with a tangle of mysteries that Zoe has to solve if she is going to save Dorian or ever be able to live in peace in what she hopes is her new home for at least the next few years.
I've never heard of Pandian, but this book really grabbed me. I'll be looking for more.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
A very long time..
Zoe was born in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1670s, and her name wasn't Zoe Faust at the time. She was a young herbalist, and so all too
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vulnerable at the time of the Salem witch trials. She sailed to England, and wound up in France, training as an alchemist. When the plague moved through the village where she lived, she tried to save her loved ones--and accidentally created an elixer of life that did not save others, but did exempt her from aging. She's been traveling since then to avoid suspicion, and starts rethinking her decision to settle in Portland when she finds a dead body on the porch of her new home, both poisoned and stabbed.She's also found a stowaway in her luggage: a three-foot-tall, living gargoyle who says his name is Dorian Robert-Houdin.
Dorian has a problem, and wants her help. He's turning back into solid stone, and thinks she can help decipher the strangem, old alchemy book his creator used to bring him to life.
A neighborhood teenage boy breaks into this "haunted house" and discovers Dorian. A very handsome police detective named Max Lieu also lives in the neighborhood. There's a local tea shop Zoe has already found and grown to love.
Then her house is broken into again, and Dorian's book is stolen. The owner of the local tea shop is also poisoned. She can't hire anyone to do essential repairs to the house, because everyone "knows" it's haunted. Oh, and the police think she's a suspect in the murder of the guy she found on her porch.
Was settling in Portland really a good idea?
There's a collection of interesting and likable characters here, along with a tangle of mysteries that Zoe has to solve if she is going to save Dorian or ever be able to live in peace in what she hopes is her new home for at least the next few years.
I've never heard of Pandian, but this book really grabbed me. I'll be looking for more.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Accidental Alchemist series. I borrowed this audiobook through Audible Plus.
Audiobook Quality (4/5): I listened to this on audiobook and it was well done. No complaints at all. The characters had distinct voices and it was easy to listen to.
Story
Characters (4/5): Zoe Faust is a really fascinating character and I enjoyed the dichotomy between her actual age and her appearance. I absolutely loved Dorian (the gargoyle) as well. Some of the other characters, like the kids and the detective Zoe works with, were also well done. This was a book full of characters that were just nice and kind and helpful to each other and I really enjoyed the tone of the characters.
Setting (4/5): This book is set in Portland, which I love. I am a fan of Portland and have visited the city a few times. As far as I could tell, Pandian did a great job of projecting the feel of the region and city. She really made it come alive for me.
Writing Style (4/5): The book is told completely from Zoe’s view. It was easy to read and had a lot of interesting facts about alchemy and herbal lore. I enjoyed the mystery which really kept me guessing until the last minute. I also enjoyed the discussion about Portland’s history and the tunnels under the city.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters and the setting and thought the mystery was well done. I enjoy the subtle alchemical magic throughout and also enjoyed learning about the history of alchemy and of Portland. I plan on continuing with this series. I would recommend to those who like more deliberately paced investigative urban fantasies that are more heavy on the mystery than the magic. I would also recommend to those who are fascinated by alchemy and would like to learn more about it.
Audiobook Quality (4/5): I listened to this on audiobook and it was well done. No complaints at all. The characters had distinct voices and it was easy to listen to.
Story
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(4/5): I enjoyed this. This is mostly an investigative urban fantasy featuring an alchemist who has lived for hundreds of years. It's set in modern day Portland, OR and involves said alchemist trying to both solve the mystery of a break-in at her new house and help her gargoyle friend from completely turning back into stone. There is a lot of alchemical history in here and I enjoyed the mystery.Characters (4/5): Zoe Faust is a really fascinating character and I enjoyed the dichotomy between her actual age and her appearance. I absolutely loved Dorian (the gargoyle) as well. Some of the other characters, like the kids and the detective Zoe works with, were also well done. This was a book full of characters that were just nice and kind and helpful to each other and I really enjoyed the tone of the characters.
Setting (4/5): This book is set in Portland, which I love. I am a fan of Portland and have visited the city a few times. As far as I could tell, Pandian did a great job of projecting the feel of the region and city. She really made it come alive for me.
Writing Style (4/5): The book is told completely from Zoe’s view. It was easy to read and had a lot of interesting facts about alchemy and herbal lore. I enjoyed the mystery which really kept me guessing until the last minute. I also enjoyed the discussion about Portland’s history and the tunnels under the city.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters and the setting and thought the mystery was well done. I enjoy the subtle alchemical magic throughout and also enjoyed learning about the history of alchemy and of Portland. I plan on continuing with this series. I would recommend to those who like more deliberately paced investigative urban fantasies that are more heavy on the mystery than the magic. I would also recommend to those who are fascinated by alchemy and would like to learn more about it.
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LibraryThing member KittyCunningham
This is fun, light and entertaining.
LibraryThing member kevn57
Really enjoyed the bits about vegan cooking, nexttime I'm at the library I'll have to look up some more info on it.
LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
Zoe Faust has just purchased a dilapidated house in Portland, a place where she figures as a vegan and herbalist, she should fit in comfortably while hiding her secret – she’s an alchemist and a bit older than she looks, like 300 years older. And if that’s not enough to want to stay below the
Reviewing this book was difficult for me. When I first started The Accidental Alchemist by author Gigi Pandian, admittedly I wasn’t expecting much – the cover was interesting but lately my interest in urban fantasy has waned as the number of urban fantasies on book shelves have sky-rocketed. The problem I think is that, my taste runs to Jim Butcher and most of these books seem to run to Paranormal Romances – you know, beautiful green-eyed mortal with low self-esteem falls for handsome and preferably extremely wealthy undead creature with a non-beating heart of gold – fine if you like that kind of thing but I don’t.
However, it turned out I liked this novel a lot. So here’s my problem, do I like the book because it’s good or do I like it because it surpassed my fairly low expectations. This isn’t a perfect book – it is at times slow and the mystery and story seem to often play second fiddle to what Dorian is whipping up in the kitchen. On the other hand, I found my mouth watering more than once which doesn’t usually happen when I’m reading - happily, there are recipes at the end of the book so the reader can do more than just drool. There is also a fair bit about herbs, veganism, and teenaged angst which, while interesting seems somewhat overdone while we learn almost nothing about the guy who was murdered, not that anyone in the book seems too overly interested in him either.
So what did I like? Well, the characters are all likeable even the ‘bad’ guy who isn’t really all that bad and Dorian is quite the little charmer. And, if the story seemed to meander off into other directions, these new directions were interesting enough to keep me reading. The history of alchemy in particular piqued my interest. And although there was a slight budding romance, it didn’t take over the story to the detriment of everything else. Best of all, no one sparkled; no one has amazing powers they won’t use to do whatever to save the day because who knows; although there were some unusual names, none sounded like they should only be used by porno queens; and the only person with green eyes was a fairly minor character. I know this doesn’t sound like much but, trust me, by avoiding all these clichés, The Accidental Alchemist feels like something new in a genre that seems to have become little more than fan fiction. And, finally, the one question I now ask if I manage to wade through one these books is ‘would I read another in the series’ and in this case the answer is 'yes' and without hesitation.
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radar, she finds a live gargoyle hidden in her luggage. His name is Dorian, he’s French, was brought to life by another alchemist in the 19th c, has a passion and talent for cooking, and has sought Zoe out because he is slowly turning back to stone. He hopes that she can reverse the process with the help of a book he has brought with him. But that’s just the beginning of Zoe’s problems. First, Dorian’s existence is discovered by a 14-year-old neighbour who wants to post clips of him on Youtube – not good if one wants to remain unnoticed. Then the contractor Zoe has hired to repair her house is murdered on her front steps and Dorian’s book is stolen. If Zoe doesn’t figure out who’s behind it fast, Dorian may not survive to cook another tasty treat.Reviewing this book was difficult for me. When I first started The Accidental Alchemist by author Gigi Pandian, admittedly I wasn’t expecting much – the cover was interesting but lately my interest in urban fantasy has waned as the number of urban fantasies on book shelves have sky-rocketed. The problem I think is that, my taste runs to Jim Butcher and most of these books seem to run to Paranormal Romances – you know, beautiful green-eyed mortal with low self-esteem falls for handsome and preferably extremely wealthy undead creature with a non-beating heart of gold – fine if you like that kind of thing but I don’t.
However, it turned out I liked this novel a lot. So here’s my problem, do I like the book because it’s good or do I like it because it surpassed my fairly low expectations. This isn’t a perfect book – it is at times slow and the mystery and story seem to often play second fiddle to what Dorian is whipping up in the kitchen. On the other hand, I found my mouth watering more than once which doesn’t usually happen when I’m reading - happily, there are recipes at the end of the book so the reader can do more than just drool. There is also a fair bit about herbs, veganism, and teenaged angst which, while interesting seems somewhat overdone while we learn almost nothing about the guy who was murdered, not that anyone in the book seems too overly interested in him either.
So what did I like? Well, the characters are all likeable even the ‘bad’ guy who isn’t really all that bad and Dorian is quite the little charmer. And, if the story seemed to meander off into other directions, these new directions were interesting enough to keep me reading. The history of alchemy in particular piqued my interest. And although there was a slight budding romance, it didn’t take over the story to the detriment of everything else. Best of all, no one sparkled; no one has amazing powers they won’t use to do whatever to save the day because who knows; although there were some unusual names, none sounded like they should only be used by porno queens; and the only person with green eyes was a fairly minor character. I know this doesn’t sound like much but, trust me, by avoiding all these clichés, The Accidental Alchemist feels like something new in a genre that seems to have become little more than fan fiction. And, finally, the one question I now ask if I manage to wade through one these books is ‘would I read another in the series’ and in this case the answer is 'yes' and without hesitation.
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
I was unsure about this one when I bought it. I have a hit-or-miss track record with Midnight Ink, but Gigi Pandian also writes for Henery Press and I've enjoyed her Jaya Jones series. From the first page, I liked this book even better. This is paranormal cozy, but there's a maturity to the writing
Zoe has just arrived at her new handyman-special house in Portland, Oregon after years of living in a trailer while criss-crossing the country. As she begins unpacking her moving crates she finds a stow-away: a living stone chimera (a gargoyle that isn't a water-spout) named Dorian. He needs her to interpret a rare alchemical book and he's willing to cook for her while she does it. The next day, Zoe finds her contractor dead on her porch, murdered and the book, along with other alchemical artefacts, stolen.
For anyone that's read Juliet Blackwell, there are some similarities here, but after the first couple of chapters, the book took on its own voice. I won't call this a "fun" read but it was enjoyable; the story doesn't rely on humour and occasionally gets slowed down by Zoe's angst about her past, but it's never heavy reading by any stretch. I like Zoe and Dorian and Brixton (mostly). I loved the Portland setting and reading more about the tunnels that run underneath the city. The inclusion of historical figures in the book's backstory gave it an anchor to reality and the author's note at the back details any artistic license Ms. Pandian took with these figures lives.
The mystery plotting was...so-so. It felt pretty obvious to me about half-way that it could really only be a couple of people, but then Ms. Pandian keeps things moving enough that I was just not quite sure which one it was. I wasn't left with "wow" but I wasn't disappointed either.
I could nit-pick more, maybe justify 4 stars instead of 4.5, but when I closed the book last night, my first thought was "I really enjoyed that book". I won't hesitate to look for the next book in the series.
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that is often absent in the sub-genre.Zoe has just arrived at her new handyman-special house in Portland, Oregon after years of living in a trailer while criss-crossing the country. As she begins unpacking her moving crates she finds a stow-away: a living stone chimera (a gargoyle that isn't a water-spout) named Dorian. He needs her to interpret a rare alchemical book and he's willing to cook for her while she does it. The next day, Zoe finds her contractor dead on her porch, murdered and the book, along with other alchemical artefacts, stolen.
For anyone that's read Juliet Blackwell, there are some similarities here, but after the first couple of chapters, the book took on its own voice. I won't call this a "fun" read but it was enjoyable; the story doesn't rely on humour and occasionally gets slowed down by Zoe's angst about her past, but it's never heavy reading by any stretch. I like Zoe and Dorian and Brixton (mostly). I loved the Portland setting and reading more about the tunnels that run underneath the city. The inclusion of historical figures in the book's backstory gave it an anchor to reality and the author's note at the back details any artistic license Ms. Pandian took with these figures lives.
The mystery plotting was...so-so. It felt pretty obvious to me about half-way that it could really only be a couple of people, but then Ms. Pandian keeps things moving enough that I was just not quite sure which one it was. I wasn't left with "wow" but I wasn't disappointed either.
I could nit-pick more, maybe justify 4 stars instead of 4.5, but when I closed the book last night, my first thought was "I really enjoyed that book". I won't hesitate to look for the next book in the series.
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Awards
Lefty Award (Winner — 2016)
Original publication date
2015
Local notes
Accidental Alchemist, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Pandian |