Today, I’m sharing a book review for another paranormal cozy mystery I read this year. I’m on a roll with paranormal cozies it seems but they can be lots of fun!
Synopsis:
Welcome to Deepwood, Oregon, a cozy town of witches,
magic, and now, murder...Emory Chastain loves her herbs and spices. So much so
that when she's not baking self-confidence into chocolate chip cookies, she's
in her shop selling everything from love potions to herbal tea blends. She's
also one of the most powerful witches of the modern era.
When a strange madness afflicts seemingly unrelated
people in her funky little town, turning ordinary citizens into raving beasts,
Emory and her friends are convinced there's more to the mystery than a simple
virus. Turns out they're right. Somebody is using a magic spell to poison
people, and if they don't stop the killer, there will be more death in the town
of Deepwood.
Book details:
Book title: Potions,
Poisons, and Peril
(Book 1 in the Deepwood
Witches Mysteries)
Author: Shea
McLeod
Genre: Paranormal
cozy mystery
Number of pages:
212 pages
Publication date:
10 August 2019
Publisher:
Independently Published
Potions, Poisons, and Perils by Shea MacLeod is the first book in the Deepwood
Witches Mystery series. However, my first read for MacLeod was book 5 in this
series called Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis.
“That was the
thing Deepwood. It wasn’t just a quaint, charming town. It was a town of
witches. Mostly.”
There are several points of view in the book, though
all are in the third person.
Bit by bit, we meet the characters, learn about their
magic – or rather different types of magic – and it works. We also learn that
Edwina – from book 5 – came to her magic ‘later in life,’ as opposed to Emory
and the others who are “natural-born” witches.
Though I found the different types of magic and how
each one works interesting, it was also quite confusing. For example, Emory is both
a portal witch and a spellwalker, while her friend Lene is a deathwalker.
“Lene wasn’t just
any witch. She was a deathwalker, a type of witch near as rare as a
spellwalker. She sensed when death was near, which meant she could find bodies
people didn’t want found.”
In Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis, the main view
point was Edwina’s, another Deepwood witch. But book 1, surprisingly, opens
with Emory Chastain and her point of view, which isn’t as enjoyable as Edwina’s
(sorry, Shea!)
Since starting Potions, Poisons, and Perils, I was
on the lookout for any references to Edwina Gale from book 5. Naturally, I loved
the way she is introduced and how Emory sees her:
“Edwina Gale was
an Amazon of a woman, at least six feet tall with the shoulders of a linebacker
and build of solid muscle. Her hair, once a rich dark brown, was now streaked
with iron gray and tied back in a think braid. Her gray eyes were bright and
intelligent. At sixty-something, she had more strength and energy than Emory had
at thirty.”
Having started with book 5, I felt that the book was
clearer and more fun. When I started – and finished – Potions, Poisons, and
Perils, I felt that Emory wasn’t a smart or witty character like Edwina. I instantly
– and involuntarily – compared the two different characters. And you can tell I
like one more than the other.
I know that Shea MacLeod has launched a new spin-off
series starring Edwina Gale. And I’m looking forward to getting my hand on the
first book Day of the Were-Jackal.
Unlike Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis, Potions,
Poisons, and Perils has several memorable lines, conversations, and quotes.
However, the book is longer and much slower.
“Do you believe
in…Do you believe in visions?...I’ve been having them lately. All the time.”
“What do you see?”
She glanced around.
“This shop.” She eyed Emory. “You.”
“And a dead body?”
“Yes.”
In terms of characters and development, Emory maneuvers
the whole mystery thing very slowly. She even calls in Edwina for help. Edwina,
on the other hand, is a fully-developed character – I think. In this book, she’s
a secondary character.
The book offers a touch of romance but there’s more
focus on the magic, which is something I like when I read paranormal cozy
mysteries.
Overall rating
for Potions, Poisons, and Perils by Shea MacLeod: 3.5 stars.
Note: I got a free copy of Potions, Poisons, and Perils for being part of author Shea MacLeod's newsletter. This didn't affect my review in any way.
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