I wish I could say that this book was as good as The Potion Diaries but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I think the biggest problem I had with it was that the plot did not have a clear end goal. Well, not like the first book did. The whole desperation surrounding Sam’s need to find her great-grandmother’s potion diary was lost on me. I felt that it was a little over-exaggerated. I understand that she needed to save her grandfather and the diary held a possible solution but it was not a guarantee so it felt like a half-hearted sort of reason to start such a quest? Also, the ending hinting that

that the next book will focus on Sam and Zain finding a cure for Evelyn’s sickness

) means that this entire book was simply setting that situation up. Does this make this book a little bit of a filler sequel? Yes - and that is a tad frustrating.

With that being said, this storyline was undeniably addictive. The alchemy of this world is one of my favourite types of magical systems. I love potion-making and scavenger hunts so Sam’s adventures speak to my soul. I loved that we expanded on the world and got to discover new creatures and ingredients. Some of the action was touch-and-go but I found the story enjoyable and engaging if a little simplistic.

Sam is also the kind of protagonist that I could never tire reading from the perspective of. She is one of the main reasons why this series is so enjoyable. I love her spunk and her tireless loyalty to her family/loved ones. She is the first to admit she has made a mistake but also always makes sure she is the one responsible for fixing them. I admire her dedication to her craft and how she insists on actively keeping up her mixing so she can improve; no matter how often she proves her skill in alchemy, she remains modest and willing to learn, shape and refine her talent.

I also really love Zain. I know he is not the most fleshed out character but he is just so adorable. I only wish that we had gotten more time with him in this story. I felt that he was strangely absent from the plot which meant that we did not get to explore his and Sam’s relationship as much as I would have liked.

Also:

• I liked that Princess Evelyn and Sam have maintained a friendship since the first book. It was nice to see Evelyn play a different role in this story than she did in the first book.
• Kirsty annoyed me so much. I don’t know what it is about her personality but she rubs me the wrong way. I really do not like her!
• The fact that we explored the ethicality of using animal parts as potion ingredients - and the benefits of synths, consequently - was very well-done. I think that this discussion links to a lot of contemporary issues raised by the rise in veganism (etc.) and would be great food for thought.
• I wish that Sam’s family had been in this story more.

Overall?

I think the plotline of this book was nowhere near as strong as the first book and it did let the story down. Instead of focusing on a scavenger hunt with a clear end goal, the plotline meandered for a bit and it did feel a little bit like a filler sequel at times. However, these characters are sweet and engaging. I love this cast - apart from Kirsty, ugh - and definitely want to see more of their adventures. I’m eagerly anticipating the third sequel now.