The Potion Diaries

By Author / Illustrator

Amy Alward

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Ltd

ISBN

9781471143564

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-07-2015

Synopsis

The Hunger Games goes Princess Diaries in this modern, magical teen adventure!

When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in lovewith her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn. Enter Samantha Kemi - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam's family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they've fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the ZoroAster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime? And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news. No big deal, then.

'It's so cool!' Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella

'Inventive, romantic, and downright delightful, The Potion Diaries cast its spell on me from page one, and is the most fun I've had reading in ages!' Sarah J Maas, author of the Throne of Glass series

Reviews

To describe this book I would have to say adventurous and unique! Although the beginning I found a bit slow starting, but, as I read on I really enjoyed it. The main character of Samantha Kemi (Sam) takes part in a Wild Hunt to find the cure for the Princess who has poisoned herself with the Love Potion. Sounds easy? Not really as Sam has to deal with other competitors and a love interest. Sam is rather frustrating at first as she gives up easily if things don't go her way. Later in the book, though, her character becomes stronger and you begin to admire her. A problem too for Sam is to save her family's business along with finding the cure! Will she succeed? I felt this was a thrilling story with humour, magic and a hint of romance. The Potion Diaries is a fun read with Sam's determination and Princess Evelyn's hilarious conversations. Amy Alward's book is certainly a magical read. 368 pages / Ages 11+ / Reviewed by Carol Burt.

Suggested Reading Age 11+

This was a truly excellent book and I was hooked from the start but then, it falls squarely within a genre I love. The characters are feisty but not rude, they are adventurous but not excessive. There are elements of romance but it is not the focus of the book. I liked that there was little swearing as often books in this bridging stage of reading, heading away from Junior fiction and into Teen fiction, leap straight into featuring lots of bad language. The story line was gripping and moved at a good pace. The peril was real but not too scary. I liked the relationships between the characters and the description of places. I could visualise the characters and settings in my mind. There was a good mix of fantasy and new technological inventions especially for the book and I loved the world the author created. There were strong female characters without being cliched although it will be interesting to see how they developed in future books. A definite for Y7+ girls and for advanced readers looking for a challenge from 10+.