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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Lucinda Morton-Phillips

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘Alchemy of Glass’ is the 2nd book about Gaelan Erceldoune, an immortal apothecary. Whilst you could read it without reading the first book, you would get a much better understanding of the events in this book if you read ‘The Apothecary’s Curse’ first.
Once again, the story moves between several time periods, including actual time travel into a possible future. We share Gaelan’s confusion as to whether things are real, if he has gone insane, or if he is alive or dead.
It becomes a race against time to put things right and prevent an apocalyptic future from manifesting.
This book is a wonderful mix of Celtic mythology, fantasy, sci-fi, science and magic.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Shadel Ayerbe

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett is a great historical fantasy series

Drawing from the most ancient Celtic mythology and cutting edge technology, The Alchemy of Glass presents a tale as terrible as a broken mirror and magical as spun glass, fusing the harsh realities of tough decisions with the wonder of fairy lore and transporting us back to the world of eternal apothecary. In an effort to avert a disastrous future, Gaelan Erceldoune’s past, present, and future collide.

Every page had you hanging on every sentence and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. It is a very unique story with even compelling people. I loved the series so far.The story really transports you into this world. I couldn’t put the book down.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gaelen has been living for a long time and feels like he may finally have something that will end it. Instead, he finds himself in a series of catacombs with a journal that he found. It’s not just any journal though. This one was written by his old buddy Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and it speaks of things not of this world. Within its pages he finds a shard of glass that belongs to a stained glass panel he made a century earlier. What was it doing there? With the glass in hand he is thrust into the world spoken of on the pages of the journal. He knows he is as sane as ever, but how did he get to this other world? This was a fun sequel to The Apothecary’s Curse that can be read as a standalone if you wish.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Brandy Vaughn

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second novel in the Apothecary series. I enjoyed the the first book in the series and this one didn’t disappoint. This is a complicated noir tale weaved in different timelines to give the reader glimpses in the unique fantasy world.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Callie Luna

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is the sequel of The Apothecary’s Curse so I recommend reading that first but it can be read as a stand alone instead. Gaelan Erceldoune has been living for hundreds of years and finally has what he believes will end his long life. Instead he finds himself in the catacombs where he discovers a journal from an old friend that decides an Otherworld. Within the journal is a piece of stained glass that takes him into the dreamscape described in the pages. Again Barbara Barnett has crafted a perfect story that mixes the past, present, and future together to bring an epic and engaging tale. It has a great mix of history, fantasy, and science.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Ayla Phipps

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mystery, history, and more. Once again, the world Barbara Barnett weaves in the pages of this series pulls you in and fully emerges you. Apothecary’s Curse introduces you to the world and the characters, but Alchemy of Glass takes you deeper into the catacombs of who they are and what they must overcome.
It all starts with a journal and a piece of glass. Gaelen was surprised to see a long thought missing piece from one of his own stain glass windows changes everything. Now he must face the consequences of his actions towards Dr. Anne Shaw. Without her help and understanding the world could be doomed for the catastrophic future he’s seen ahead.
Can Gaelen and Anne trust each other? Is the past too much to overcome? What does the future show? This world is just *chefs kiss* everything is so perfectly weaved together and has a purpose even the simplest of details make a difference. Immortality has become too much for Gaelen and finding a cure is truly his biggest desire.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Shannen Kern

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had only read one book by this author before picking this one up, but the cover was ridiculously beautiful so I grabbed it immediately! This is the second book in The Apothecary’s Curse series, and I found it even more enjoyable than the first. There is a possibility that you could read this book as a standalone but reading the previous book first would result in the best experience by far. I always love when stories are told from dual points of view as it helps me get in the character’s heads a little more, so this won brownie points for performing that flawlessly! This author has an absolutely astounding way of expertly crafting a dark fantasy that demands your undivided attention from the very beginning. I never wanted to put this book down but did so only for the basic necessities during the day and then ran right back to it. Gaelan is a perfect and unforgettable character for this magnificent book! If you enjoy dark fantasy with some historical fiction blended in, please don’t pass this book (or this series) up. I cannot wait to see what else this author has planned for us!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Kerry Carr

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in The Apothecary Series . Even though these books could be read as standalone reads I personally would recommend reading them in order so that you get a complete picture of the characters. Plus I feel that you will be completely captivated that you want to read them all anyway.
This story follows on from the first one. It is a historical fiction mixed with sci fi, mythology, fairies, magical spells and so much more. The combination of genres is really unique and for me it’s what makes these books so memorable and such a good read.
This a journey that will take our character Gaelan on an adventure through the past, into the present and future.
It is a story about choice and the consequences of the choice and decisions we make. Can Gaelan and Anne work together to save the world from a bleak future or will decision and choice that Gaelan make in the past have a disastrous effect on the present and future of the world and everyone in it.
These books are captivating and very thought provoking. I get lost in the story and feel like I am there witnessing everything first hand. The authors writing is amazing that as a reader you get to feel everything from their happiness and sadness to their greatest sense of confusion and grief.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Terri Jo McAllister

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Immortal alchemist Gaelan Ercledoune’s story continues. Gaelan discovers a piece of magical glass in his old friend, Aurthur Conan Doyle’s journal. With the help of Dr. Anne Shaw, the apothecary sets out to try to change the course of mankind’s disastrous future.

Review by Terri Jo McAllister
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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Hannah Porter

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is a slow burn continuation of The Apothecary’s Curse( the first book) just like the first. This book is a compelling blend of historical fiction and fantasy. It also excels in creating an immersive setting, filled with rich details and a perfectly woven journey over different time periods. Barnett’s writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed. It offers a unique and atmospheric read with its detailed historical backdrop and intriguing plot twists, though it may appeal more to fans of historical fiction with a touch of fantasy rather than pure fantasy enthusiasts. Either way I still suggest you read it. It will not disappoint with its unique storyline. I look forward to more from this author.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Mandy Ott

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Barbara Barnett continues the story of immortal apothecary, Gaelan Erceldoune, first introduced in The Apothecary’s Curse. I felt like this could be read as a standalone, but reading the first book was beneficial in understanding the characters. Alchemy of Glass explores the connections between magic and science, myths and reality, past and present. Written in the same dual time period style as before, Barnett’s writing draws you in and doesn’t let go! Alchemy of Glass has just as much world-building detail as The Apothecary’s Curse and the same oddly lovable, realistic characters. There were so many things happening in this book, from the apparent delirium of Gaelan following his attempt at ending his immortality to the time travel to the medical interventions requested of Anne, but all were somehow connected and none overpowered another. Overall, another great historical fantasy by Barbara Barnett.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but I feel the story is enriched if you read the first book.
As with the previous book, I was drawn in immediately. The story is engaging and keeps you turning the pages. Superb world-building without getting bogged down by extraneous details. Complex characters. Intricate story line, expertly woven.
A compelling read – definitely on my list of top favorites this year.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Felicia Belcher

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is a slow burn into the depths of Gaelan’s immortality and his urge to end the “curse” after over half a millennium of life. Dual timelines of his past that changed his chromosomes, unbeknownst to him, until he meets Anne-in present time, a Genealogist. Conan Doyle, Nicola Tesla and Edison also make appearances, which comes together throughout the book of their importance to Gaelan.

Gaelan creates a “bauble” aka Ruperts Drop that is imbued with magic to transport the holder into the future. The bauble is best used within the caves the monks created centuries ago, a room of mirrors set to the Fibonacci sequence.

The future is bleak, it is up to Anne to make the correct decision to save the fate of humanity after a multibillionaire seeks her help to heal his ailing child with stolen tissue from the ” Miracle Man”- Gaelan!

reviewed by @fbelcher93

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Jennifer Gordon

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story of the immortal apothecary Gaelan continues in this historical fantasy sequel. Gaelan visits a mystical place from his childhood, an ancient ruined monastery in the Eildon Hills. Here he discovers a journal written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, describing his journey to a land of fairy castles, magical rivers and filigree trees, the Otherworld. He also finds a small piece of glass from a stained glass panel he made centuries ago, which comes to life in his hands. Gaelan finds himself transported but not to the dreamscape Conan Doyle described. Whilst doubting his sanity Gaelan believes he has traversed a portal into the future. As his past, present and future collide Gaelan must prevent a catastrophic future. I loved the mix of Celtic mythology, magic, fairy lore and science that this novel weaves together. I enjoyed being back with Gaelan and once again the descriptive narrative brought the settings vividly to life. I felt fully immersed in this enjoyable and engaging story. I would personally recommend reading book one first for a better understanding of the main characters backstory.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Jennifer Reimer

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but this book 2 to the series and highly suggest reading the first boo first, to have a better understanding on what this story is all about. This is a book that continues on from the pervious book. This story is filled history, time travel, twists and turns, love, loss, mystery, supernatural, science and so much more. Each chapter is takes place in a new time period and follows the journey of Gaelen’s hope on being able to change the past to fix the future that it has turned into, or will it still end up the way it I no mater what happens? The characters in this book are so intriguing that it was easy to care for and very likable and relatable, that it makes you feel like you know them all on a deeper level. This story catches the reader, and it was very hard to put it down, I really enjoyed this read and cant wait to know if their will be more to this story.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Amanda Gray

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Amanda Gray

What I like about this book, is that even the it is the second it a series, it could also stand alone if you had not read the first book. When I choose this as my next read, I did not realize it was the next book in the series to the book I just read, I was pleasantly surprised. I was not ready to let go of the fascinating tale and characters just yet. Barnett does a superb job at building this tale and the multiple times within it. I have always been a fan of historical fiction, not so much of fantasy, in the fantasy world built here, I was sucked into the story, the characters, the history, that I did not give a second thought to fantasy novels not being my jam. It was a highly enjoyable read and I look forward to what is next from Barbara Burnett. Grab both books, you will not regret it!

Alchemy of Glass, The Apothecary Series, Barbara Barnett, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Historical, Fantasy, Amanda Gray, August 2024

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is the second book in the Apothecary Series, and continues on after book one. You can read this book as a standalone, but it would help to read the first book to help follow back story and details. This is a dual POV book so it does switch between characters to give you perspectives from different angles. Alchemy of glass seamlessly meshes dark fantasy, history and science to make a believable and unique world. Not only are you reading from different perspectives of characters, but also from different points in time as well. In Alchemy of Glass, we continue with Gaelen, the immortal apothecary. Gaelen finds a piece of glass in an old friend’s journal that leads him on an epic journey and the need to recruit the help of Anne, who he was not always kind to in the previous book. Hopefully, together, they can prevent a catastrophic future and fix things before it is too late for everyone. This story is nicely written and easy to follow, even with the switches in characters and times. The character development was steady and smooth, and I think I liked this more than the first one.
Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Susan Ratchford

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing sequel to The Apothecary’s Curse. Barbara Barnett weaves a beautiful world beyond your wildest dreams! A world full of darkness and hope, Celtic and fairy lore, and amazing characters. Gaelen is such a fun and complex character, I enjoyed seeing Barnett’s world through his eyes. This series is truly unique and well thought out even the tiniest detail has purpose. I highly recommend reading this wonderful tale of you’re wanting to go on a journey through the bad and the good.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Alchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett. This is the 2nd book in this series and I highly recommend reading the first book beforehand to better understand the story and characters. This is a historical, sci-fi mystery and its very full of information. This is a book you need to pay attention when you are reading so you don’t miss anything. Its the story of Gaelen who discovers a piece of glass in an old friends journal and it takes him on a journey thru different spaces and time periods. Gaelen goes thru all kinds of diseases with weird and different cures that throw Gaelen into all kinds of fits. He is seeing what a bleak future this world is going to endure. When he finds out that Dr. Anne Shaw is the only one that can help him find the cure he is not happy because in the prior book he did not treat her well at all. Will he be able to save the future world from itself? Read this fast paced historical mystery to find out!

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Alchemy of Glass Reviewed by Vicki Shelton

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was in love with this book from the beginning. Gaelan and Caitrin were intriguing. Enter Anne and a whole new amazing character is revealed! The final plot twist, I did not see coming! I cannot wait for another book by Barbara Barnett.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Chrissy Spulak

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in The Apothecary’s Curse series. I have not read the first book, but it did not hinder my enjoyment of this one! I loved the historical mystery. The author’s way of telling the story is magical and so interesting that I did not want to put the book down. I will absolutely be reading the first one and then possibly this one again to get the full effect. That’s how good it is. Gaelen is a compelling character, and I had no trouble whatsoever getting wrapped up in his story and adventures. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this one!

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Alicia Furlan

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is the second book in the Apothecary Series. It follows Gaelan in the aftermath of book 1, The Apothecary’s Curse. He’s left facing the consequences of his actions while immortal. His only hope is Anne Shaw. Despite their past will she help him change the future?

This was a fantastical story that weaves through time. The author has done a great job of mixing genres to create this world. Even if you haven’t read the first book you’ll still enjoy this story. But as always I do recommend reading them in order, it will help with some details.

Reviewed by @aliciaknoke

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Kerry Baker

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a brilliant follow up to the first in the series, and I would highly recommend reading them in order for full enjoyment. This book picks up after the events of the first but really takes you on an exciting and fantastical journey. This time we get to follow Gaelen as he traverses through different times, taking the reader on an interesting journey. I loved watching how his character developed throughout this book. It was fitting to the overall story and really did his character justice.
I thought the overall story was a great addition to the series. It was interesting and had a lot going on. The author does a great job of handling a complex storyline. This was a brilliant book, even better than the first and I hope to see more from these characters.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Micalah Weatherholtz

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read Alchemy of Glass as a second book to The Apothecary’s Curse, and like most series there is some overlap, but can overall be read as a standalone if that’s your thing. Also, this book picks up where the last one left off, so I preferred to read them as I did, so I already had a base understanding of the characters and their backstories, what happened previously, etc. Alchemy of glass is written in a dual point of view as well as the first which I’ve always liked. I enjoyed how well the author takes different genres and meshes them together seamlessly with well rounded characters. Give this highly entertaining book a chance.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Melissa Saxton

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 of this series continues following Gaelen after we met him in the last book and learned of his immortality. We also saw how he treated Dr Shaw and as you may have guessed thats going to come back to haunt him.
Second story starts with Gaelen’s discovery of a piece of glass in his friend Arthur Conan Doyle’s journal.
The journey that starts was masterfully written. Gaelen time travels running into a lot of drama, love, anger,loss surprise and worst disease he has to idea how to stop it from destroying everything anf everyone.
He will need Dr Shaws help…but what will he have to do to redeem himself and get her help because only the Two of them working together can save everyone and with how he treated her anyone would say no.
Don’t miss this masterfully written book that kept me hanging word for word throughout

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Trisha Cargile

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alchemy of Glass is truly a tantalizing take on many genre forms, including sci-fi, fantasy, mythology, love, and adventure. The way the story is woven together across different periods is remarkable and engaging, ensuring the reader doesn’t have a moment of boredom. The whiplash while reading was rewarding and enthralls the reader from the get-go. This is the second book, however reading it as a stand-alone didn’t hinder me one bit.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars
Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett

Alchemy of Glass is a Historical Fantasy that will have you turning the pages till the end. I will be honest and say this book started out so slow and it took me a while to get into the story. I didn’t feel connected to the characters but it could be the mood I was in. I’m going to revisit reading this again at a later time. See how I feel about it then. The storyline flowed but seemed choppy to me at times. The hopping around got tiresome but understand why the story was doing it. I recommend reading this book if you enjoy Fantasy, Sci-Fi. I’m looking forward to rereading this and many more by this Author.https://itsybitsybookbits.com/f

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Rose McCaskey

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book could be read as a standalone but it would be better to read it after reading The Apothecarys Curse since it takes place after and does mention things from it. This one follows the future after the ending of Apothecarys. Gaelen finds that there are dire consequences to everything he did throughout his immortal life when using the Ouroboros. He must find a way to prevent the devastation the future faces. It’s full of adventure, loss, love, healing, and time travel. It’s a great read with good writing and description.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Darian Vester

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book started slow for me, many other readers have stated this can be read as a standalone, so I went into reading this as one. But I feel I should have started with book one, so if you haven’t as well, you should.
I enjoyed reading about the fairies, the book felt really creative and different which I enjoyed. I thought the characters were great and going into different time periods was cool; the ending was very sweet, and I liked how things ended for Anne and Gaelan.

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Alchemy of Glass (The Apothecary Series Book #2) by Barbara Barnett – Review by Angela Hayes

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Alchemy of GlassAlchemy of Glass by Barbara Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

3.5 – 4 Stars

 

Alchemy of Glass is the second book in The Apothecary Series by Barbara Barnett. This follows on from what we started in Book one, and although it could be read as a standalone, I think you would really benefit from reading Book #1 first, as that holds a lot of important information that I think you should know in order to fully appreciate this story.
Here, the story weaves between the past and present, a wonderful blend of historical fantasy, with sci-fi/cutting edge science, romance, magic, mystery, intrigue, the supernatural, the Fae + fairy lore, immortality, drama, love, loss, emotion, myth/Celtic mythology, tension, difficult choices, high stakes, and is ‘more than first meets the eye’.
How could a small piece of broken glass thrust Galean into an adventure he could never have anticipated? Well, if you love historical fantasy mixed with sci-fi and adventure, then this engrossing story is one you should read and discover all the intriguing developments for yourself….

Happy Reading…

Thank you, Barbara Barnett!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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