The Alchemist's Illusion
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4.5 • 16 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
The Anthony Award-winning fourth book in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery Series by USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian.
A perilous painting leads Zoe Faust and Dorian Robert-Houdin on an alchemical adventure in Portland, Oregon, in search of Zoe's missing mentor—Nicolas Flamel.
Centuries-old alchemist Zoe Faust is tired of running from her past. She's finally got her life on track in Portland, Oregon, gardening and cooking in her fixer-upper house with her mischievous best friend, Dorian, the gargoyle chef. It seems like the perfect life for Zoe—until she discovers that Nicolas Flamel is missing. A mystery from 16th Century Prague may hold the key. Can Zoe find the art forger who holds the secret of what has become of her missing mentor?
Includes recipes!
Praise
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original
Shortlisted for the G.P. Putnam's Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award
"The Alchemist's Illusion is filled with beauty... Pandian paints a lovely picture of relationships throughout the book's mystery of greed and violence."
—New York Journal of Books
"Surprising plot twists, several cliffhangers, and vivid magical imagery will keep fans of paranormal cozies turning the pages."
—Publishers Weekly
"Sparkles most when it stays true to the wonder of its magical subject."
—Foreword Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Pandian's fun fourth Accidental Alchemist mystery (after 2017's The Elusive Elixir) finds 340-plus-year-old alchemist Zoe Faust trying to live a normal life in present-day Portland, Ore., when she stumbles across a Renaissance portrait that bears a striking resemblance to her beloved mentor, Nicolas Flamel, who has been missing for centuries. Motivated to find Nicolas, Zoe revisits the gallery where the painting was housed, only to discover that it has vanished. Meanwhile, there have been reports of art forgeries in the Portland area, and the owner of the portrait, celebrated local artist Logan Magnus, kills himself by drinking toxic paint. Believing that these mysteries are connected, Zoe calls on the help of a handful of unusual, likable characters, such as her sentient gargoyle friend Dorian, to assist in the sleuthing. Repetitive soliloquies slow the action, but surprising plot twists, several cliffhangers, and vivid magical imagery will keep fans of paranormal cozies turning the pages.)
Customer Reviews
And we learn more about alchemy
And that’s good. Is anyone who they say they are? After I read a Wikipedia article on Edward Kelley, uncovering aliases was easy.
This was a fun ride. This series is only getting better as it goes along. I love Max’s mom, and glad Heather has direction for her talent. Dorian keeps developing new skills.