REVIEW – THE POTION DIARIES by Amy Alward

Okay, so that wasn’t what I was expecting at all… I know my students love these books, especially my year 7’s and 8’s and I guess I never really thought to read these if I’m honest. But then I received all three of them for the release of the final book Potion Diaries: Going Viral. (Thank you very much publishers) I was going on holiday I kinda knew that these would be the perfect book, light, cute, easy-read and you got to admit that the covers are gorgeous.

Princess Evelyn wanted to have a choice on her life, on love, she didn’t want to be forced to marry someone, all this pressure being royal is no fun and she wants to fall for someone. Only Zain, she’s been in love with for a long time, but the thought of marriage…well it may not be on the cards. So she creates a love potion – which is illegal in Kingstown. She pours it in their goblets on the evening of her birthday party. It worked, she’s not only fallen head over heals in love, but it’s with herself! The …Horn brings all the best alchemists that can create the potion to counteract the potion, to cure the Princess. So when alchemist apprentice, Samantha Kemi and her Grandad are called, she knows it’s the best way to try save the Kemi legacy, save the store, and a time to prove herself and to ZACorp. It becomes a race against time to find all the ingredients, meet and find untold relationships and friendship and be the best that Sam can be. The Princess is not your average royal, she is Talented, quite strongly too so when you have such a powerful potion consuming you, her power becomes uncontrollable and the fate of Kingstown is very much at risk and Sam is the only one who can save her… no pressure then. 

Through the dual POVs of both Evelyn and Samantha, we got both ends of the story whether that Sam in the Wilds finding the ingredients or Evelyn trying to copying with being in love with Lyn, (also known as her reflection.) I personally found Evelyn’s part particularly funny, I could not stop laughing, although there is obviously a seriousness to it too, I mean Kingstown is in danger because of her. That is why the love potion is illegal. But my favourite character has to be Sam, I felt that throughout her story, she grew so much, as a person, as a daughter and most importantly as an alchemist. I can’t deny the fact, that she has a gift with creating potions, you can tell that by how her mind works, it truly amazing. She is indeed one special girl. 

The Potion Diaries turned out to be such a laugh and I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed it. It has everything, mythology, magic, potions, chemistry – both in the scientific and physical sense of the word, action and adventure. It’s also hilarious and a totally lovable book/series. What I loved was Amy’s infectious writing and simply and flawless storytelling. I loved being pulled into this world of the Talented and Ordinaries (Alchemists), magic and potions. As well as Mermaids, Abominable Snowmen, Unicorns and even some vampire bats. The only way I could describe this series is it has a sparkle of The Princess Diaries, a dash of Hunger Games and to conclude a sprinkle of Harry Potter. That is one powerful and mesmerising potion and The Potion Diaries has it.

Rating – 🌟🌟🌟🌟