2 stars

"It was a good thing I added extra chia seeds and cocoa powder to my smoothie that day."

If you enjoy being proselytized to about veganism, this is definitely the book for you. The above quote is a representative microcosm of why this book is getting a less-than-stellar review from me. Although the blurb on the author's website says "recipes included" (assuming that's the print version?) there is nothing to explain (or warn us about) the obsession with incorporating plant-based diets into this story. And I have NO ISSUE with a plant-based diet. Had this incorporated omnivorous or carnivorous diets in the same way, it would still be incredibly irritating.

I note the several one-star reviews that decry the same feature. I felt one star was a bit harsh because there are some aspects that have/had tremendous potential. Zoe Faust, the protagonist, is not overly interesting as voiced in the audiobook, but her story is. The story is steeped in historical trivia both local and global, with references to magician/illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1871), the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, OR, the Salem (MA) witch trials and the history of alchemy. Sometimes, like the chia seed and non-stop vegan food references, these historical nods seem too forced, as if the author is trying to prove she's done her research. By far the best part of the book is the character of the epicurean Dorian Robert-Houdin, about whom I shall say not much so as not to spoil it. But Dorian is a wonderful character, befitting the genre, and Julia Motyka does a great job bringing the French character to life. It is Dorian who should be the star of the show here and for whom I had the most empathy.

Zoe's backstory could be more interesting, but it is all related through Zoe's voice and largely disconnected from the plot. The character of Max starts as a rather sterile love interest and instantaneously turns into Fabio in one scene, which I found overwritten and out of left field. The "small-town" aspects of Portland are heavily amplified (although I find myself grateful that it is not the clichéd small town in New England, for once), but this serves the Cabot-Cove - cozy-mystery type plot.

I did listen to the free preview of the next book in the series (the Masquerading Magician), and I was relieved that the first chapter seems to be free of vegan food references. That said, I'm not sure there was enough to hold my interest for me to give the series a second chance.

The author is clearly talented and well-steeped in research, which I applaud. That Zoe Faust would be vegan and that it is connected to her health as a former alchemist is fine and makes total sense. But the book would be more aptly called the Intentional Vegan given how frequently the reader is forced to hear/read the ingredients of everything consumed in the protagonist's daily existence. It is actually a really creative idea for a cookbook, to be fair--but then it should be marketed and designed as such. ( )

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 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. ( )

Really enjoyed the bits about vegan cooking, nexttime I'm at the library I'll have to look up some more info on it. ( )

This is a vegan cookbook disguised as a mystery novel. I got 2/3rds through it. ( )

This is fun, light and entertaining. ( )