Oh my goodness how did I not know about Gigi Pandan before?? I had seen references to The Accidental Alchemist and thought it looked interesting but now that I have read this book there is no way I will not race to read everything she’s written…
This was such a clever and fun story! The characterizations were great – everyone is just a little bit flawed but utterly believable for it. Plot and misdirection where as engaging as a stage show. I loved the references to famous tricks and magicians past.
But without a doubt one of my favorite elements of this book, and the one that made it stand out from other mysteries, was the magic of the construction and the glory of Fiddler’s Folly and the Knights’ house. The secret room building business should definitely be one that makes its way to my part of the world – I cannot imagine how glorious it would be to live in a house with secret staircase construction!
I loved the blending of Indian and Scottish culture, the recipes at the end, and the descriptions of food throughout – as well as the mixing of mythologies and cultures. It made for a wholly original and very engaging read for me. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
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