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Light's Lost: An Urban Fantasy Mystery
Something sinister is happening in Willows Edge
All Lanie Alacore wants to do is make her new apothecary a success. But she quickly realizes that there's more to protecting the province than mixing a couple tinctures.
Fae youth have been disappearing all over the province and Lanie finds herself caught up in the mystery. With her claim to her grandmother’s wardenship contested, a werewolf and prince vying for her attention, and her best friend in a coma, Lanie sets out to track down a missing teen.
Can she solve the mystery in time or will Lanie become the next victim?
Lost Girl meets the Dresden Files. The Alacore’s Apothecary series is perfect for lovers of urban fantasy with a dash of spice and a side of mystery.
All Lanie Alacore wants to do is make her new apothecary a success. But she quickly realizes that there's more to protecting the province than mixing a couple tinctures.
Fae youth have been disappearing all over the province and Lanie finds herself caught up in the mystery. With her claim to her grandmother’s wardenship contested, a werewolf and prince vying for her attention, and her best friend in a coma, Lanie sets out to track down a missing teen.
Can she solve the mystery in time or will Lanie become the next victim?
Lost Girl meets the Dresden Files. The Alacore’s Apothecary series is perfect for lovers of urban fantasy with a dash of spice and a side of mystery.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2023
37 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Murphy
14 books25 followersMICHELLE MURPHY is the co-author of the Alacore's Apothecary series, in collaboration with her husband, D. M. Almond. She fell in love with books at a young age, after reading the works of J.R.R. Tolkein and Anne Rice. When she is not writing books with her husband she can be found playing tabletop games, connecting with book lovers on social media, skating, and reading tons of books. She lives in Buffalo, NY with her husband, children, and pet leopard gecko.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 2, 2024
in this continuation of Lanie Alacore's story, we get to reopen and solve some of our previous mysteries in book one, and begin the journey to fufill Lanie's destiny following in her grandmothers footsteps. We get to know the charecters so much more, and some of them become strangers again😫it has been an emotional joy ride following along with Lanie on this amazing adventure alongside some of our favorite mystical creatures. The author pays special attention to the creatures and pays homage to many of forgotten species of far. You can tell alot of research and knowledge was put into this book to make it so well rounded! And the subtle pop culture references make it all the better! Leading to a great book with a nod towardsboth historical depictions of the creatures aforementioned, and a nod to the modern world this story takes place in. It has such an amazing balance of both historical and modern touches that it really is just
unparalleled i honestly havent read such an amazing series in such a long time! I look forward to every moment delving into Lanie’s adventures! See you guys for book 3!
unparalleled i honestly havent read such an amazing series in such a long time! I look forward to every moment delving into Lanie’s adventures! See you guys for book 3!
December 16, 2023
↗️↙️↗️↙️↗️↙️↗️↙️
My feelings reading this book and trying to find out who the prince is. (I knew it though, I KNEW IT tho, i saw it coming)
This book starts perfectly with a new light, Sacha is back, Lobo is free from the changeling‘s powers and Lanie is settled in her shop. Even better Lanie gets the great opportunity to go to FaeLand only to have her Wardenship revoked and the money that she got from selling her products got taken away, so now she has to plead in front of the court to take it back.
Lobo still doesn‘t know of Lanie‘s curse and thinks that she is removing herself from him because she is scared of him. Doule isn‘t talking to him either and everything is tense.
All of this turns into something bigger and darker as a ring of fae-traffickers are going around, kidnapping young kids unwanted by their family, with no one to come help them. The way this book was written was great especially with many clues and tidbits of information, making you think who could possibly be the head of it all.
My feelings reading this book and trying to find out who the prince is. (I knew it though, I KNEW IT tho, i saw it coming)
This book starts perfectly with a new light, Sacha is back, Lobo is free from the changeling‘s powers and Lanie is settled in her shop. Even better Lanie gets the great opportunity to go to FaeLand only to have her Wardenship revoked and the money that she got from selling her products got taken away, so now she has to plead in front of the court to take it back.
Lobo still doesn‘t know of Lanie‘s curse and thinks that she is removing herself from him because she is scared of him. Doule isn‘t talking to him either and everything is tense.
All of this turns into something bigger and darker as a ring of fae-traffickers are going around, kidnapping young kids unwanted by their family, with no one to come help them. The way this book was written was great especially with many clues and tidbits of information, making you think who could possibly be the head of it all.
August 12, 2023
Trigger Warnings: Human Trafficking, Kidnapping, Drug Use, Cannibalism, Mention of Rape
Review: This book was just as good as the first. Reading the development of each character blows my mind. You think you know what’s going to happen and then something completely different happens. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. I loved the whole mystery aspect of this book mixed with the romance and story building. I did list some trigger warnings above so no one gets surprised by some of the content. It doesn’t go into too excruciating details. I am so ready for the next book in this series. I am so hooked!
Review: This book was just as good as the first. Reading the development of each character blows my mind. You think you know what’s going to happen and then something completely different happens. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. I loved the whole mystery aspect of this book mixed with the romance and story building. I did list some trigger warnings above so no one gets surprised by some of the content. It doesn’t go into too excruciating details. I am so ready for the next book in this series. I am so hooked!
July 26, 2024
I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Thought I had it and then learned the truth. Great plot
November 22, 2023
Wow!
This was a fantastic, well-written, fast-paced mix of urban fantasy, mystery and thriller fiction; it had me nail-biting-kinda anxious for every last character from the get-go, all the way until the last.
I love that Lanie has truly grown out of her wallflower phase and turning into something of a badass; she's in her element running a budding apothecary bussiness and striving to do her grandmother's legacy justice by following in her footsteps, trying to execute her Warden-ly duties to the best of her abilities. Said Warden-ly commitments put her in the path of all the dark, perilous adventures that make up the second installment of the Alacore Apothecary Series. We love a badass FMC character development arc!
I cannot help but feel for Lanie. She's being delt a bad hand by the Cosmos - she's only just making ends meet with the apothecary business, her relationship with Lobo's on thin ice because she's decided to keep her *affliction* a secret from him, and her best friend's in a coma. She tries her luck selling her late grandmother's antiques at the Bazaar, but it lands her in hot water, leading to her Wardenship being questioned and making it a matter to be resolved at the Fae courts. And she hears about a missing fae teenager, a supposed delinquent, and her own past issues with her mother won't let her leave well enough alone. The poor girl deserves a break!
Thus begins a series of anxiety-inducing adventures. Lanie has resolved to find what happened to the missing teenager no matter what, which puts her in some truly shady and dangerous situations. Her wardenship plea at the courts looms over her head. Her attraction to the fae prince Lucien is just the cherry on top of the hot-mess sundae that is Lanie's life. My nails are a poor mess from all that biting.
The story delves into some dark subjects like people trafficking, cannibalism and substance abuse. Tragic as these things are, they're woven skillfully into the plot, adding to the gravity of the story.
Lanie's new FWB Lucien is truly a dark horse and I cannot wait to see his arc in the coming books.
All in all, the story is gripping and the twist at the end is a deserving crescendo of the events of the book.
Volunarily reviewed after reading a free ARC of the book.
Simply a superb read! A 10/10 and all the stars!
This was a fantastic, well-written, fast-paced mix of urban fantasy, mystery and thriller fiction; it had me nail-biting-kinda anxious for every last character from the get-go, all the way until the last.
I love that Lanie has truly grown out of her wallflower phase and turning into something of a badass; she's in her element running a budding apothecary bussiness and striving to do her grandmother's legacy justice by following in her footsteps, trying to execute her Warden-ly duties to the best of her abilities. Said Warden-ly commitments put her in the path of all the dark, perilous adventures that make up the second installment of the Alacore Apothecary Series. We love a badass FMC character development arc!
I cannot help but feel for Lanie. She's being delt a bad hand by the Cosmos - she's only just making ends meet with the apothecary business, her relationship with Lobo's on thin ice because she's decided to keep her *affliction* a secret from him, and her best friend's in a coma. She tries her luck selling her late grandmother's antiques at the Bazaar, but it lands her in hot water, leading to her Wardenship being questioned and making it a matter to be resolved at the Fae courts. And she hears about a missing fae teenager, a supposed delinquent, and her own past issues with her mother won't let her leave well enough alone. The poor girl deserves a break!
Thus begins a series of anxiety-inducing adventures. Lanie has resolved to find what happened to the missing teenager no matter what, which puts her in some truly shady and dangerous situations. Her wardenship plea at the courts looms over her head. Her attraction to the fae prince Lucien is just the cherry on top of the hot-mess sundae that is Lanie's life. My nails are a poor mess from all that biting.
The story delves into some dark subjects like people trafficking, cannibalism and substance abuse. Tragic as these things are, they're woven skillfully into the plot, adding to the gravity of the story.
Lanie's new FWB Lucien is truly a dark horse and I cannot wait to see his arc in the coming books.
All in all, the story is gripping and the twist at the end is a deserving crescendo of the events of the book.
Volunarily reviewed after reading a free ARC of the book.
Simply a superb read! A 10/10 and all the stars!
August 20, 2023
Light's Lost is the second book in the Alacore's Apothecary Series. You definitely need to read book 1 in the series to understand what is going on in this book.
After reading the first book in this series, I was committed to finding out what happens in the rest of the story, regardless of only kinda liking the first book. Light's Lost was definitely an easier and better read in my opinion. I attribute part of this due to familiarity of the world and characters after reading Light's Awakening. It still felt like the voice of the book switched around several times throughout the story (read like first person, then third person, then back to first, etc), making breaks in reading sometimes necessary. There is enough action and suspense, and even a little spice, to make pushing through the choppiness.
I adore the World that this series takes place in, Michelle Murphy does a beautiful job giving us a fantasy province that currently resides next to a major human city. I love Free House and I love Alacore's Apothecary. I still wish we got a little more details of the workings of the Provinces, a better outline of everything.
Something about Lanie grates on my nerves, I love that she is coming into her own, even enjoy her sometimes comedic inner dialogue. I do not care for her constant wavering confidence, nor for her hypocrisy. Originally I loved Lobo, he appeared to be the grumpy protector with a hidden golden retriever type personality. That is a love lost, unfortunately and he is now the first character in a book that I have wished to be un alived.
Overall it is a fabulous storyline with great potential, that can be a little choppy feeling while reading it, but worth the time to check out.
After reading the first book in this series, I was committed to finding out what happens in the rest of the story, regardless of only kinda liking the first book. Light's Lost was definitely an easier and better read in my opinion. I attribute part of this due to familiarity of the world and characters after reading Light's Awakening. It still felt like the voice of the book switched around several times throughout the story (read like first person, then third person, then back to first, etc), making breaks in reading sometimes necessary. There is enough action and suspense, and even a little spice, to make pushing through the choppiness.
I adore the World that this series takes place in, Michelle Murphy does a beautiful job giving us a fantasy province that currently resides next to a major human city. I love Free House and I love Alacore's Apothecary. I still wish we got a little more details of the workings of the Provinces, a better outline of everything.
Something about Lanie grates on my nerves, I love that she is coming into her own, even enjoy her sometimes comedic inner dialogue. I do not care for her constant wavering confidence, nor for her hypocrisy. Originally I loved Lobo, he appeared to be the grumpy protector with a hidden golden retriever type personality. That is a love lost, unfortunately and he is now the first character in a book that I have wished to be un alived.
Overall it is a fabulous storyline with great potential, that can be a little choppy feeling while reading it, but worth the time to check out.
August 20, 2025
I sadly didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first one in the series.
We still haven't really learnt much more about this world and Lanie's powers. Most of the focus was on her relationship with Lobo and her new friendship with the Prince.
I actively tried to find reasons not to pick this book up as I was just so bored. I wasn't getting the same feelings with this book or enjoyment that I experienced from the first one.
I will not be continuing the series.
We still haven't really learnt much more about this world and Lanie's powers. Most of the focus was on her relationship with Lobo and her new friendship with the Prince.
I actively tried to find reasons not to pick this book up as I was just so bored. I wasn't getting the same feelings with this book or enjoyment that I experienced from the first one.
I will not be continuing the series.
March 29, 2025
WOW!
Are you kidding me?! This book is AMAZING. As someone who struggles to read a full series I blew through the second book after reading the first. Don’t let the synopsis fool you, this book is SO well written and developed. I was left guessing at every twist and turn and loved every minute of it!
This book gave me fantasy vibes of Keep It In the Family by John Marrs and I am here for it. It’s SO good!!! You won’t regret picking this one up after reading the first book.
Are you kidding me?! This book is AMAZING. As someone who struggles to read a full series I blew through the second book after reading the first. Don’t let the synopsis fool you, this book is SO well written and developed. I was left guessing at every twist and turn and loved every minute of it!
This book gave me fantasy vibes of Keep It In the Family by John Marrs and I am here for it. It’s SO good!!! You won’t regret picking this one up after reading the first book.
August 12, 2023
So happy to share this story! Happy reading!
February 25, 2025
I really enjoyed the mystery. Really fun book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews