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Side Quest Row #2
A Captured Cauldron: Rules for Compulsory Brews
Why steal a potion when you can steal a potioneer?
Grumpy potioneer Ambrose Beake has only one social event marked on his the country’s three-day Potion Convention. Alchemists from all over the world pour in to discuss their life’s work, and Ambrose eagerly dives into the excitement. Greeting old friends, speaking on panels, hopping into heated debates…
And getting kidnapped by an underground crime syndicate.
The criminals demand that Ambrose brew an impossible illusion potion—but the Guild’s protocol for such kidnappings is clear. He must agree to do the work, then delay the project as much as possible, while above ground, his boyfriend Eli and best friend Dawn plot to save him. They’re not alone in this venture, either—a beautiful journalist arrives to cover the rescue, just as eager as they are to investigate, infiltrate…and ignite a few sparks in Dawn’s heart along the way.
But while Dawn struggles to ignore those sparks and Eli struggles to save his beloved, Ambrose delves into the syndicate’s secrets—and finds something far more impossible hidden within its depths.
Grumpy potioneer Ambrose Beake has only one social event marked on his the country’s three-day Potion Convention. Alchemists from all over the world pour in to discuss their life’s work, and Ambrose eagerly dives into the excitement. Greeting old friends, speaking on panels, hopping into heated debates…
And getting kidnapped by an underground crime syndicate.
The criminals demand that Ambrose brew an impossible illusion potion—but the Guild’s protocol for such kidnappings is clear. He must agree to do the work, then delay the project as much as possible, while above ground, his boyfriend Eli and best friend Dawn plot to save him. They’re not alone in this venture, either—a beautiful journalist arrives to cover the rescue, just as eager as they are to investigate, infiltrate…and ignite a few sparks in Dawn’s heart along the way.
But while Dawn struggles to ignore those sparks and Eli struggles to save his beloved, Ambrose delves into the syndicate’s secrets—and finds something far more impossible hidden within its depths.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2024
72 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
R.K. Ashwick
11 books200 followersBy day, R.K. Ashwick herds cats in the animation industry. By night, she writes, bakes, and herds her literal cat around her living room. She lives with her husband (and said cat) in California.
Get free stories, art, and release updates here:
rkashwick.com
Q&A
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
The idea for Stray Spirit came from an active brainstorming session- I knew I wanted to write something for Nanowrimo, but I didn't know what. So I threw together three things I was interested in- bards, caves, and spirit possession- and went from there.
A Rival Most Vial came to me when the phrase "rival potion shops" fell into my head. (And subsequently never left.)
Why did you add drawings to The Stray Spirit?
I wanted to give the book a fairy tale vibe, and because I self-published, I had the freedom to select the artist and the scenes that were drawn. Was it more expensive? Sure. Was it worth it? Yes.
For A Rival Most Vial: why potion shops?
Because my nerdy little D&D heart loves them. I'm obsessed with the hidden lives of NPCs in D&D campaigns, and A Rival Most Vial is absolutely a tribute to that.
And finally: what's next?
Keep an eye out for two more books in the Lutesong Series, three books and two novellas in the Side Quest Row series, and a stand-alone tentatively titled The Bread Witch!
Get free stories, art, and release updates here:
rkashwick.com
Q&A
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
The idea for Stray Spirit came from an active brainstorming session- I knew I wanted to write something for Nanowrimo, but I didn't know what. So I threw together three things I was interested in- bards, caves, and spirit possession- and went from there.
A Rival Most Vial came to me when the phrase "rival potion shops" fell into my head. (And subsequently never left.)
Why did you add drawings to The Stray Spirit?
I wanted to give the book a fairy tale vibe, and because I self-published, I had the freedom to select the artist and the scenes that were drawn. Was it more expensive? Sure. Was it worth it? Yes.
For A Rival Most Vial: why potion shops?
Because my nerdy little D&D heart loves them. I'm obsessed with the hidden lives of NPCs in D&D campaigns, and A Rival Most Vial is absolutely a tribute to that.
And finally: what's next?
Keep an eye out for two more books in the Lutesong Series, three books and two novellas in the Side Quest Row series, and a stand-alone tentatively titled The Bread Witch!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 20, 2024
So shy, oh my, had to change that real quick / Had to use a few tricks, you know like my femme fatale / Phase two, me, you dancing on a cloud / I'm gonna sing it loud 'cause my love is on the wow (Square Biz – Teena Marie).
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t aware that this book would be a direct sequel to the first with all the same characters and when I found out that it was… I felt a little conflicted. Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than happy to spend more time with Ambrose and his crew, but I guess I just thought that the Side Quest Row series would go all "anthology mode" and feature a new gay couple every time the same way those Shirtless-Man-Books do and I think I was a looking forward to meeting some new people in this one. Do a new thing or whatever. I mean, my reasoning is mostly selfish because I never exactly liked how the love-interest has the same name as my brother, but I digress. I know that whenever people say, “I’m not mad!” they’re almost always mad, but this time I’m really not pressed. I swear it! Besides, I think it’s totally cool for artists to bring out the old hits. Ambrose and his guy are great together, so of course it's great to see more of them. Like, it works wonders for Mariah Carey! Well, she's not the best comparison, considering she has nineteen number one hits under her belt, which is a fact that I think a lot of people forget! Put some respect on her name, she made The Emancipation of Mimi!! Okay, here's a better example; look at Michael Bublé, he’s made an entire career of letting his severanced, "innie," version of him defrost every holiday season and sing all the iconic and classic songs that have been already been done before by better, more soulful artists! Sorry, I know insulting Michael Bublé, Mr. "Santa Buddy," himself is like walking on a tightrope (I've done so at a Christmas party before to mixed results), so I'll chill a little bit. But I'm just saying that if he’s allowed to rehash, then everybody else should hash away! Um, sometimes I get a little carried away, because I didn’t mean for this to come across like I’m insulting the author of this book… I meant for this to come across like I’m insulting Michael Bublé. "I bet she can't do it like me, she'll never be MC," you know how it is. I really did enjoy this book! It has a light, breezy quality to it and the vibes found here are unmatched in a way that I haven't seen in any other fantasy this year. And even though A Captured Cauldron: Rules for Compulsory Brews is as cozy as ever, I actually think that due its higher stakes this time around its more adventurous risks with its tone, this installment’s emotional beats hit harder and made the characters that much more human and grounded.
I’ll never need or ask for "edgy" in a world like the one featured in the Side Quest Row series, but that doesn't change the fact that the darker narrative structure works as an anchor to something more tangible in a way that only every worked as an improvement on the first. Not to be shady, as I still enjoyed it, but if I had one criticism for the last book, I would say that it sometimes would come across more like a parody than a real story with real characters that live in a real world. I liked the characters well enough when I first read A Rival Most Vial, and now I think I might love them after finishing A Captured Cauldron. Hey, growth and Improvement? That's pretty cool! But I didn't come here to rant and rave about Michael Bublé... okay, well maybe that's a lie... the truth is that I'm like the Grinch, but instead of getting mad at people for celebrating and having people in their lives, I have a specifically targeted rage aimed directly at Michael Bublé and his version of "Santa Baby." Don't bother singing the song if you don't want to have sex with Santa!! But enough of that noise, let’s talk about the plot now. Yay, that's always my favorite thing to do because I'm very good at it! Thankfully, this time around it’s actually pretty simple, so I don't have to go into all the intricate little details. Phew, I'm off the hook. In Captured Cauldron, as usual we follow all the usual suspects as they go about their cozy lives after doing the impossible and creating the super potion from the last book. Ambrose is still too stuffy and rigid like he's going into rigor mortis, but he's getting better. Growth and improvement, remember? It helps that he now has a boyfriend to help him out with his “stiff” problem heh heh. The cast is rounded out by love-interest Eli as he's trying out his new role as an adventurer and failing miserably and Ambrose’s (in my opinion) fake friend, Dawn who's crushing hard on a journalist lady. Then, then, thee~een, all hell breaks loose when Ambrose gets captured and put in a jail cell by some villains while he's doing a presentation at Potion Con™. Man, Ambrose really couldn't catch a break in this one, because he either has the choice of being trapped in a terribly musty room where nobody wears deodorant or... being stuck in a prison cell! Badum tsss. Gottem! Conventions often smell something awful. That's the joke.
Anyway, it turns out that Ambrose's history in making impossible-to-make potions makes him a desirable target for villains who need someone to make impossible potions for them. All while under their watchful eye, of course. It's all very Iron Man one in that regard. I especially had a good time with this because... yeah, it’s a fun, exciting, and has the perfect amount of sequel escalation. What more do I need!? Also, I think that by giving us more time with Ambrose and… his love-interest, it really helped to endear me to both of them more than I could have imagined. I mean, I already liked them well enough, but once I finished the first book, it was more of a “Yup, that was pretty good!” situation, but now I feel that very specific persistent impatience that happens when I get a new favorite book series. This is going to be a big problem for me, I can already tell. I just finished this book and I already want to see these guys on the page again! Can we get a book three, right now? Please and thank you! I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book did everything a good sequel to a “character focused” book should do; it took the lovely characters that we all loved from the first book and then put them in new situations that not only tested them, but also allowed them to evolve and change as people. I know that sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many books I've read where the characters stay the same forever. Like they're stuck in one of those nostalgia fueled hell worlds J. J. Abrams is always concocting. I know that in a lot of fandom spheres, people are always saying things like, “Oh I just want my fav to be happy! They deserve it!! Just let them have peace and happiness!!!!” and I'm sorry, but I think I’m the exact opposite, because it's still a story, right!? Things should be happening, no? If the story’s going to continue, then I want my favorite characters to be going through it! Put that man in a situation! But really though, this word is used a bit too much to denigrate stories that are simply there to be light and fun, but I do think that this installment really helped to elevate this series' ongoing story-line into something I can see myself actually caring about and getting invested in. It’s still easy-breezy, but with that extra bit of oomph to make it really special. Then with the added benefit of Captured Cauldron having this whole “found family" thing that I love and is also unapologetically really, really, really gay? I totally dig it. And while this is probably my penchant for hyperbole, recency bias, or even some kind of holiday cheer speaking through me like the Ghost of Christmas Past, but I’d even say that Captured Cauldron can be included up there with the greats! You know… Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni just to name a few.
“You’re so boring.”
“It’s quite easy to be boring when you’re not allowed to leave the room.”
Nat made a face. “No, I’m pretty sure you’re just boring.”
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t aware that this book would be a direct sequel to the first with all the same characters and when I found out that it was… I felt a little conflicted. Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than happy to spend more time with Ambrose and his crew, but I guess I just thought that the Side Quest Row series would go all "anthology mode" and feature a new gay couple every time the same way those Shirtless-Man-Books do and I think I was a looking forward to meeting some new people in this one. Do a new thing or whatever. I mean, my reasoning is mostly selfish because I never exactly liked how the love-interest has the same name as my brother, but I digress. I know that whenever people say, “I’m not mad!” they’re almost always mad, but this time I’m really not pressed. I swear it! Besides, I think it’s totally cool for artists to bring out the old hits. Ambrose and his guy are great together, so of course it's great to see more of them. Like, it works wonders for Mariah Carey! Well, she's not the best comparison, considering she has nineteen number one hits under her belt, which is a fact that I think a lot of people forget! Put some respect on her name, she made The Emancipation of Mimi!! Okay, here's a better example; look at Michael Bublé, he’s made an entire career of letting his severanced, "innie," version of him defrost every holiday season and sing all the iconic and classic songs that have been already been done before by better, more soulful artists! Sorry, I know insulting Michael Bublé, Mr. "Santa Buddy," himself is like walking on a tightrope (I've done so at a Christmas party before to mixed results), so I'll chill a little bit. But I'm just saying that if he’s allowed to rehash, then everybody else should hash away! Um, sometimes I get a little carried away, because I didn’t mean for this to come across like I’m insulting the author of this book… I meant for this to come across like I’m insulting Michael Bublé. "I bet she can't do it like me, she'll never be MC," you know how it is. I really did enjoy this book! It has a light, breezy quality to it and the vibes found here are unmatched in a way that I haven't seen in any other fantasy this year. And even though A Captured Cauldron: Rules for Compulsory Brews is as cozy as ever, I actually think that due its higher stakes this time around its more adventurous risks with its tone, this installment’s emotional beats hit harder and made the characters that much more human and grounded.
I’ll never need or ask for "edgy" in a world like the one featured in the Side Quest Row series, but that doesn't change the fact that the darker narrative structure works as an anchor to something more tangible in a way that only every worked as an improvement on the first. Not to be shady, as I still enjoyed it, but if I had one criticism for the last book, I would say that it sometimes would come across more like a parody than a real story with real characters that live in a real world. I liked the characters well enough when I first read A Rival Most Vial, and now I think I might love them after finishing A Captured Cauldron. Hey, growth and Improvement? That's pretty cool! But I didn't come here to rant and rave about Michael Bublé... okay, well maybe that's a lie... the truth is that I'm like the Grinch, but instead of getting mad at people for celebrating and having people in their lives, I have a specifically targeted rage aimed directly at Michael Bublé and his version of "Santa Baby." Don't bother singing the song if you don't want to have sex with Santa!! But enough of that noise, let’s talk about the plot now. Yay, that's always my favorite thing to do because I'm very good at it! Thankfully, this time around it’s actually pretty simple, so I don't have to go into all the intricate little details. Phew, I'm off the hook. In Captured Cauldron, as usual we follow all the usual suspects as they go about their cozy lives after doing the impossible and creating the super potion from the last book. Ambrose is still too stuffy and rigid like he's going into rigor mortis, but he's getting better. Growth and improvement, remember? It helps that he now has a boyfriend to help him out with his “stiff” problem heh heh. The cast is rounded out by love-interest Eli as he's trying out his new role as an adventurer and failing miserably and Ambrose’s (in my opinion) fake friend, Dawn who's crushing hard on a journalist lady. Then, then, thee~een, all hell breaks loose when Ambrose gets captured and put in a jail cell by some villains while he's doing a presentation at Potion Con™. Man, Ambrose really couldn't catch a break in this one, because he either has the choice of being trapped in a terribly musty room where nobody wears deodorant or... being stuck in a prison cell! Badum tsss. Gottem! Conventions often smell something awful. That's the joke.
Anyway, it turns out that Ambrose's history in making impossible-to-make potions makes him a desirable target for villains who need someone to make impossible potions for them. All while under their watchful eye, of course. It's all very Iron Man one in that regard. I especially had a good time with this because... yeah, it’s a fun, exciting, and has the perfect amount of sequel escalation. What more do I need!? Also, I think that by giving us more time with Ambrose and… his love-interest, it really helped to endear me to both of them more than I could have imagined. I mean, I already liked them well enough, but once I finished the first book, it was more of a “Yup, that was pretty good!” situation, but now I feel that very specific persistent impatience that happens when I get a new favorite book series. This is going to be a big problem for me, I can already tell. I just finished this book and I already want to see these guys on the page again! Can we get a book three, right now? Please and thank you! I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book did everything a good sequel to a “character focused” book should do; it took the lovely characters that we all loved from the first book and then put them in new situations that not only tested them, but also allowed them to evolve and change as people. I know that sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many books I've read where the characters stay the same forever. Like they're stuck in one of those nostalgia fueled hell worlds J. J. Abrams is always concocting. I know that in a lot of fandom spheres, people are always saying things like, “Oh I just want my fav to be happy! They deserve it!! Just let them have peace and happiness!!!!” and I'm sorry, but I think I’m the exact opposite, because it's still a story, right!? Things should be happening, no? If the story’s going to continue, then I want my favorite characters to be going through it! Put that man in a situation! But really though, this word is used a bit too much to denigrate stories that are simply there to be light and fun, but I do think that this installment really helped to elevate this series' ongoing story-line into something I can see myself actually caring about and getting invested in. It’s still easy-breezy, but with that extra bit of oomph to make it really special. Then with the added benefit of Captured Cauldron having this whole “found family" thing that I love and is also unapologetically really, really, really gay? I totally dig it. And while this is probably my penchant for hyperbole, recency bias, or even some kind of holiday cheer speaking through me like the Ghost of Christmas Past, but I’d even say that Captured Cauldron can be included up there with the greats! You know… Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni just to name a few.
“You’re so boring.”
“It’s quite easy to be boring when you’re not allowed to leave the room.”
Nat made a face. “No, I’m pretty sure you’re just boring.”
February 2, 2025
I can enjoy books that have very little action in them, books with no conflict, books with an assured happy ending - but when a book uses a supposedly dramatic plot treating it as nothing serious is happening, it just doesn't work for me. Solving a kidnapping shouldn't be light and breezy group bounding activity just because cinnamon rolls are involved. If a book doesn't want to deal with a serious conflict- internal or external- what about a plot that doesn't need one - having characters not affected by what is happening and mostly ignoring consequences of their actions makes for a bizzare result that no amount of cozy scenery is going to help with.
September 25, 2024
“I went to a fight the other night and a [debate] broke out”
Snacks and gambling galore for the first day’s opening event - Ambrose is totally in his element at Potion Con. His debate with his nemesis is all fun & games until it’s not…
While kidnapping is a very serious crime, but the Rosemond crew still finds ways to keep up their spirits while concocting Ambrose’s escape plan.
I totally enjoyed how the author described some of the characters:
‘with all the grace of a shark with fashion sense’
‘Even his freckles looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.’
‘If she was planning to spark some romance today, there was going to be a bonfire by lunch.’
If I’m ever rescued from being kidnapped, I will need heaps of freshly baked ‘Earl Grey cake with fernberry jam, lavender buttercream, and candied rose atop a vanilla cinnamon glaze’, and ‘beachy dreams cupcakes’, and ‘extra-jolty espresso cookies’ to help me recover from the ordeal.
In the meantime, I making me some crispy coconut cookies right now!
Snacks and gambling galore for the first day’s opening event - Ambrose is totally in his element at Potion Con. His debate with his nemesis is all fun & games until it’s not…
While kidnapping is a very serious crime, but the Rosemond crew still finds ways to keep up their spirits while concocting Ambrose’s escape plan.
I totally enjoyed how the author described some of the characters:
‘with all the grace of a shark with fashion sense’
‘Even his freckles looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.’
‘If she was planning to spark some romance today, there was going to be a bonfire by lunch.’
If I’m ever rescued from being kidnapped, I will need heaps of freshly baked ‘Earl Grey cake with fernberry jam, lavender buttercream, and candied rose atop a vanilla cinnamon glaze’, and ‘beachy dreams cupcakes’, and ‘extra-jolty espresso cookies’ to help me recover from the ordeal.
In the meantime, I making me some crispy coconut cookies right now!
Want to read
August 19, 2024So excited to read this m/m fantasy!!! The sequel to A Rival Most Vial which I absolutely adored.
February 6, 2025
Currently packing my bags so I can move onto Rosemond Street! 🏃🏻♀️💼💨💨
This book is the perfect example about how cozy fantasy can still have conflict and stakes while maintaining the cozy vibes. I was somehow rapt and twisted in knots, so worried for Ambrose, but also relaxed somehow. It's hard to feel worried for a character when he and his friends are so loyal and capable. I loved the way this book unfolded and then came together in the most satisfying and beautiful way. I'm struggling to say all the wonderful things I loved without spoiling it, but please know I loved every moment of this book and will be revisiting again and again.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook version of this book. I am ever impressed by the narrator's talent and ability to relay the story. I'm so glad I waited to experience this book for the first time with the audiobook!
(I received an ALC of this book! My opinions are my own.)
This book is the perfect example about how cozy fantasy can still have conflict and stakes while maintaining the cozy vibes. I was somehow rapt and twisted in knots, so worried for Ambrose, but also relaxed somehow. It's hard to feel worried for a character when he and his friends are so loyal and capable. I loved the way this book unfolded and then came together in the most satisfying and beautiful way. I'm struggling to say all the wonderful things I loved without spoiling it, but please know I loved every moment of this book and will be revisiting again and again.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook version of this book. I am ever impressed by the narrator's talent and ability to relay the story. I'm so glad I waited to experience this book for the first time with the audiobook!
(I received an ALC of this book! My opinions are my own.)
September 30, 2024
I was provided an ARC by the author and I'm leaving my review out of free will
A Rival Most Vial is one of the most amazing cozy fantasies I've ever read and this sequel delivered just as much as the first one.
Though we get a lot more action in this book compared to ARMV none of the coziness or charm was lost and we also got Dawn's pov!!!
MY one issue with it is how some issues were left unresolved towards the end but I guess we would get all that in the 3rd book which I'm already excited for!! And I missed Eli and Ambrose a bit during the whole kidnapped business and they could've been a bit more fluffy after finally reunited 😔
But still I'd highly recommend this book if u want a cozy fantasy to get lost in on a rainy day✨❤️
A Rival Most Vial is one of the most amazing cozy fantasies I've ever read and this sequel delivered just as much as the first one.
Though we get a lot more action in this book compared to ARMV none of the coziness or charm was lost and we also got Dawn's pov!!!
MY one issue with it is how some issues were left unresolved towards the end but I guess we would get all that in the 3rd book which I'm already excited for!! And I missed Eli and Ambrose a bit during the whole kidnapped business and they could've been a bit more fluffy after finally reunited 😔
But still I'd highly recommend this book if u want a cozy fantasy to get lost in on a rainy day✨❤️
February 2, 2025
File this one under failed sequels. A Rival Most Vial was a fun fanfiction-y romance, this volume tries being more plot-driven. Unfortunately, the plot is very weak, and the characters are one-dimensional. The tone clash between the light prose and the grimness of the setting is jarring. What is it with “cozy fantasy” and crime syndicates? It seems “cozy” these days just means characters eating large numbers of baked goods. Instead of characterisation we get descriptions of flavours and frostings.
December 4, 2024
This got progressively better and better.
September 6, 2024
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this novel!
I am giving it five stars because it really felt like coming to visit a place and people that you love. The vibes in this were exactly the same as the first book: cozy, but with actual plot and medium stakes.
I will say the new romance introduced in this wasn’t as prevalent (or, really even as interesting) as in the first book. Ambrose and Eli spent a whole book building a relationship and a connection that Dawn and Rory just didn’t really have.
That being said: I usually don’t like second books involving couples who got their happy endings in the first book because I feel like it’s beating a dead horse. It’s hard to get the same butterflies over a romance in a second book when they are currently living in relationship bliss…BUT Eli and Ambrose had just as much chemistry in this book as they did in the first which was a real surprise.
As in the first book the plot in this is a little predictable but I feel like that’s part of its charm. It’s like watching a fantasy themed Hallmark movie, it’s a little cheesy at times and you kind of know what’s going to happen but you’re having a good time and you know you’re safe from any real angst.
I will definitely pick up this author’s books in the future and I will be buying a hard copy of this one to sit next to my copy of A Rival Most Vial on my shelf.
I am giving it five stars because it really felt like coming to visit a place and people that you love. The vibes in this were exactly the same as the first book: cozy, but with actual plot and medium stakes.
I will say the new romance introduced in this wasn’t as prevalent (or, really even as interesting) as in the first book. Ambrose and Eli spent a whole book building a relationship and a connection that Dawn and Rory just didn’t really have.
That being said: I usually don’t like second books involving couples who got their happy endings in the first book because I feel like it’s beating a dead horse. It’s hard to get the same butterflies over a romance in a second book when they are currently living in relationship bliss…BUT Eli and Ambrose had just as much chemistry in this book as they did in the first which was a real surprise.
As in the first book the plot in this is a little predictable but I feel like that’s part of its charm. It’s like watching a fantasy themed Hallmark movie, it’s a little cheesy at times and you kind of know what’s going to happen but you’re having a good time and you know you’re safe from any real angst.
I will definitely pick up this author’s books in the future and I will be buying a hard copy of this one to sit next to my copy of A Rival Most Vial on my shelf.
October 22, 2024
Disappointing drop-off from the first book, and suffers from trying to transform a tight stand-alone into a trilogy. The stakes don't make sense: the criminal syndicate kidnapping A-plot lacks for tension as threats are made and then not carried out, culminating in the kidnapping victim flipping a mob boss the bird on his way out the door and then, inexplicably, not being murdered in his own bed that night. The lacklustre romance is dull with only the faintest hint of contrived conflict, a huge let-down compared to Eli and Ames' glorious, messy tumble into love from the first book. It's such an afterthought that Dawn and Rory don't even merit their own scene in the denounment. Eli gets barely anything to do, and like most of the Rosemond gang has undergone some major flanderisation to fit into the expanded cast, which is still more personality than Rory ever gets. Most of what made the first book work is just absent from this instalment.
Mostof all, I'm annoyed that the incompetent detective investigating the kidnapping didn't burst into the rescue after-party to announce that he'd determined that Ambrose was taken by Aphos, but I'm willing to withhold judgement in case he's waiting for the prologue of the next book.
Mostof all, I'm annoyed that the incompetent detective investigating the kidnapping didn't burst into the rescue after-party to announce that he'd determined that Ambrose was taken by Aphos, but I'm willing to withhold judgement in case he's waiting for the prologue of the next book.
August 27, 2024
I was extremely lucky to be offered a chance to read an advanced copy of this book.
I originally fell in love with the cast of characters in the first book and reading them again felt like coming home. The story was engaging and I couldn't put it down - blasting through it in a day (which is no small feat as I'm a shamefully slow reader).
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this! I sincerely hope for another chance to come back to Rosemond Street!
This review was left voluntarily of course!
Edit: Just realised there was a fun hidden code within the book as well which was very fun to solve!! Bonus points from me!!
I originally fell in love with the cast of characters in the first book and reading them again felt like coming home. The story was engaging and I couldn't put it down - blasting through it in a day (which is no small feat as I'm a shamefully slow reader).
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this! I sincerely hope for another chance to come back to Rosemond Street!
This review was left voluntarily of course!
Edit: Just realised there was a fun hidden code within the book as well which was very fun to solve!! Bonus points from me!!
March 21, 2025
not as good as the first one but still very sweet
October 11, 2024
Ambrose, Eli, Dawn, Viola, my bae Grim and the rest of the gang make a comeback in A Cauldron Captured. So does the warmth, humour, casual queerness, and romance. There is smooching and there is snacking and I’ll be back in a sec with some chocolate… wait… yes, that’s better.
If the definition of ‘romantasy’ is simply ‘romantic fantasy’ A Cauldron Captured goes further; it’s both those genres at once, following the romance beats – except for the love interest not getting their POV, which would ruin the fantasy portion in this particular cauldron. It isn’t so much will-they-won’t-they as they-would-can-they? But it’s also a fully-fledged, well-developed, and well-paced rescue fantasy book that follows the fantasy beats at the same time. And all of it is very well done. The minor cliffhanger at the end promises (literally) big things for the third book and I already can’t wait. Some authors should write as fast as I read.
The developments of both quests, the one to rescue and the one to smooch, sometimes had me biting my nails even though I almost certainly knew there would be a happy ending. Did I get what I expected, or rather demanded? Obviously, I’m not telling you what happened, but ‘sort of, mostly, whoa, didn’t see this coming’ should describe it.
Is A Cauldron Captured perfect, then? Welllllll… I had problems with disbelief suspension. Why wouldn’t The Thing simply happen again? Regarding the invisibility spell, what exactly becomes or doesn’t become invisible, since things kept in pockets don’t drink the potion? How does one invisible person grab the other’s elbow (others, later in the book, don’t have the ability)? In addition…
…oh. That was it. I was invested in everyone and everything, including an unscheduled meeting of a fist with a jaw. R.K. Ashwick’s characters are very easy to cheer for, or gasp when something happens; the villains are flat and predictable (but punchable) as they should be in this sort of book. I do, however, expect the third part of the (nooooo… make it longer!) trilogy to answer the first question, and my tentative rating and this review might be altered if it never does.
The soft magic system – anything is possible if it needs to be, and not if it needs to not be – fits this warm patchwork blanket of a book. I happen to be on vacation, the world is doing what the world is doing, but my Internet is being delivered by a lame donkey. Also, the cabin where I’m staying has single glazing. I spent a whole day sitting in front of the fire, teleported to the world of A Cauldron Captured, listening to wind and rain. (With stracciatella yoghurt and some extra chocolate. I hope Viola is available for consultations.)
I recommend this book to everyone who likes romance, fantasy, and sweet (this was a pun) escapism. And, of course, book one. I got to review A Cauldron Captured because I was the first Queen’s Book Asylum blogger to jump on it after I nearly deprived yourself of A Rival Most Vial, which deservedly ended top five in SPFBO 9 for well-deserved reasons. If you loved book one, you need book two, and if this review makes you want to read A Cauldron Captured, start with A Rival Most Vial. Otherwise, how are you going to know why Dawn, Grim, Viola, Eli, etc. are so important to you from now on?
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
If the definition of ‘romantasy’ is simply ‘romantic fantasy’ A Cauldron Captured goes further; it’s both those genres at once, following the romance beats – except for the love interest not getting their POV, which would ruin the fantasy portion in this particular cauldron. It isn’t so much will-they-won’t-they as they-would-can-they? But it’s also a fully-fledged, well-developed, and well-paced rescue fantasy book that follows the fantasy beats at the same time. And all of it is very well done. The minor cliffhanger at the end promises (literally) big things for the third book and I already can’t wait. Some authors should write as fast as I read.
The developments of both quests, the one to rescue and the one to smooch, sometimes had me biting my nails even though I almost certainly knew there would be a happy ending. Did I get what I expected, or rather demanded? Obviously, I’m not telling you what happened, but ‘sort of, mostly, whoa, didn’t see this coming’ should describe it.
Is A Cauldron Captured perfect, then? Welllllll… I had problems with disbelief suspension. Why wouldn’t The Thing simply happen again? Regarding the invisibility spell, what exactly becomes or doesn’t become invisible, since things kept in pockets don’t drink the potion? How does one invisible person grab the other’s elbow (others, later in the book, don’t have the ability)? In addition…
…oh. That was it. I was invested in everyone and everything, including an unscheduled meeting of a fist with a jaw. R.K. Ashwick’s characters are very easy to cheer for, or gasp when something happens; the villains are flat and predictable (but punchable) as they should be in this sort of book. I do, however, expect the third part of the (nooooo… make it longer!) trilogy to answer the first question, and my tentative rating and this review might be altered if it never does.
The soft magic system – anything is possible if it needs to be, and not if it needs to not be – fits this warm patchwork blanket of a book. I happen to be on vacation, the world is doing what the world is doing, but my Internet is being delivered by a lame donkey. Also, the cabin where I’m staying has single glazing. I spent a whole day sitting in front of the fire, teleported to the world of A Cauldron Captured, listening to wind and rain. (With stracciatella yoghurt and some extra chocolate. I hope Viola is available for consultations.)
I recommend this book to everyone who likes romance, fantasy, and sweet (this was a pun) escapism. And, of course, book one. I got to review A Cauldron Captured because I was the first Queen’s Book Asylum blogger to jump on it after I nearly deprived yourself of A Rival Most Vial, which deservedly ended top five in SPFBO 9 for well-deserved reasons. If you loved book one, you need book two, and if this review makes you want to read A Cauldron Captured, start with A Rival Most Vial. Otherwise, how are you going to know why Dawn, Grim, Viola, Eli, etc. are so important to you from now on?
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
October 7, 2024
I received a digital ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!
Happy Book Birthday to A Captured Cauldron!
Oh, it was such a delight to immediately return to the wonderful crew of Rosemond Street in the second instalment of this cosy fantasy series. I was utterly charmed by the cast in the first book and couldn't wait to return to this world and the characters ASAP. In addition to being treated to a "new" POV from Dawn and the introduction of several new characters (one of whom is now a new fave!), we spent time getting to know all the Rosemond Street shop owners better and I grew to adore them even more than before.
The found family vibes are even stronger compared to the first book as everyone bands together to figure out how to save Ambrose and they literally stop at nothing until they get him back. With this all-important rescue mission, the story was unsurprisingly action-packed and I enjoyed getting to see a different side to this world that Ashwick created. I loved the picture she painted of this ever-twisting cavernous underground city run by the most cutthroat illusion-obsessed criminals. While in captivity, Ambrose makes an unlikely companion/friend in Nat and I came to love her and the mentor-mentee bond she forms with him. They had a unique and heartwarming friendship that I can't wait to read more about in the coming book(s)!
Aside from Eli's and Ambrose's povs, I was also happy to get Dawn's perspective as we got to see a different side of our beloved and famous wandmaker. The humour in her perspective was welcome levity to the more serious rescue moments. Another new character we're introduced to and who comes to play a significant role is Rory. I had mixed feelings about her character and this is where I wished we got more. Since this continued to mostly be about Ambrose and Eli, I understand why Dawn and Rory didn't have arcs that were as well fleshed out; however, I did wish that Rory's was expanded upon in more depth. I surprisingly guessed all of the twists that the story introduced and while that didn't ruin the story for me, I did feel that one of the major twists fell a bit anti-climactic. Perhaps because I wanted the reasoning to be hashed out a bit more than it was.
That being said, I feel like this was only the beginning of the adventure. I honestly don't think the baddies will simply let the Rosemond Street crew walk away scot-free after the havoc they caused. It was so easy for them to steal Ambrose away in the first place, I wouldn't imagine it would be hard to get him back. And after that slightly ominous ending, I have a feeling we will certainly be going back and I can't wait! 😃
Happy Book Birthday to A Captured Cauldron!
Oh, it was such a delight to immediately return to the wonderful crew of Rosemond Street in the second instalment of this cosy fantasy series. I was utterly charmed by the cast in the first book and couldn't wait to return to this world and the characters ASAP. In addition to being treated to a "new" POV from Dawn and the introduction of several new characters (one of whom is now a new fave!), we spent time getting to know all the Rosemond Street shop owners better and I grew to adore them even more than before.
The found family vibes are even stronger compared to the first book as everyone bands together to figure out how to save Ambrose and they literally stop at nothing until they get him back. With this all-important rescue mission, the story was unsurprisingly action-packed and I enjoyed getting to see a different side to this world that Ashwick created. I loved the picture she painted of this ever-twisting cavernous underground city run by the most cutthroat illusion-obsessed criminals. While in captivity, Ambrose makes an unlikely companion/friend in Nat and I came to love her and the mentor-mentee bond she forms with him. They had a unique and heartwarming friendship that I can't wait to read more about in the coming book(s)!
Aside from Eli's and Ambrose's povs, I was also happy to get Dawn's perspective as we got to see a different side of our beloved and famous wandmaker. The humour in her perspective was welcome levity to the more serious rescue moments. Another new character we're introduced to and who comes to play a significant role is Rory. I had mixed feelings about her character and this is where I wished we got more. Since this continued to mostly be about Ambrose and Eli, I understand why Dawn and Rory didn't have arcs that were as well fleshed out; however, I did wish that Rory's was expanded upon in more depth. I surprisingly guessed all of the twists that the story introduced and while that didn't ruin the story for me, I did feel that one of the major twists fell a bit anti-climactic. Perhaps because I wanted the reasoning to be hashed out a bit more than it was.
That being said, I feel like this was only the beginning of the adventure. I honestly don't think the baddies will simply let the Rosemond Street crew walk away scot-free after the havoc they caused. It was so easy for them to steal Ambrose away in the first place, I wouldn't imagine it would be hard to get him back. And after that slightly ominous ending, I have a feeling we will certainly be going back and I can't wait! 😃
October 9, 2024
The sequel brings us back into this delightfully cozy world. While the personal stakes are technically higher, the book retains the same charming, low-stress vibe that made the first one such a comfortable read. Ambrose finds himself kidnapped at a magic convention, but even with the threat of being forced to brew an impossible potion for a syndicate, the story stays light and enjoyable. It’s still more about the characters and their relationships. Eli and Ambrose's bond is stronger than ever, and the way Eli and the rest of their found family rally to save him is heartwarming. There are plenty of sweet moments and humor here.
The convention setting adds some wonderful moments, especially the potion debates. I mean, a room full of magical nerds getting into heated arguments about alchemy? Absolutely adorable.
I also really enjoyed getting more of Dawn. She shines in this book, and her budding romance with Rory adds another layer of sweetness to this charming story. The focus on her and the other side characters, while also letting Ambrose and Eli shine, made the found family element even stronger.
If you loved A Rival Most Vial, A Captured Cauldron offers more of the same cozy, charming magic with a slight dash of intrigue. The chemistry between the characters continues to sparkle, and the introduction of Dawn's perspective and romance adds even more warmth to the story.
Thanks so much to MBGBTbooktours and the author for the complimentary copy! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The convention setting adds some wonderful moments, especially the potion debates. I mean, a room full of magical nerds getting into heated arguments about alchemy? Absolutely adorable.
I also really enjoyed getting more of Dawn. She shines in this book, and her budding romance with Rory adds another layer of sweetness to this charming story. The focus on her and the other side characters, while also letting Ambrose and Eli shine, made the found family element even stronger.
If you loved A Rival Most Vial, A Captured Cauldron offers more of the same cozy, charming magic with a slight dash of intrigue. The chemistry between the characters continues to sparkle, and the introduction of Dawn's perspective and romance adds even more warmth to the story.
Thanks so much to MBGBTbooktours and the author for the complimentary copy! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
December 17, 2024
Dawn's romance was rushed and didn't feel like a 'complete' arc.
It was weird that Eli's family was never brought up in this book. I thought they were super close and talk often? It felt like the family was non-existent.
Maybe it's just the style of the writing, but I found the romantic interaction in this book quite cringy. The tension between Eli and Ambrose from the first book turned into the generic obsessed-with-each-other cozy fantasy couple that will die of heartbreak if they don't touch each other for a few weeks. I didn't enjoy Eli in this book, I felt like all the brain cells he had from the first book were straight up gone, and now he's just an average run-of-the-mill dumb himbo who loves his boyfriend too much. Good grief.
Because there were so many characters, I felt like many of the characters' personalities were quite flat. Rory practically has no personality other than a hot convenient babe who can spit out useful plot devices.
It was weird that Eli's family was never brought up in this book. I thought they were super close and talk often? It felt like the family was non-existent.
Maybe it's just the style of the writing, but I found the romantic interaction in this book quite cringy. The tension between Eli and Ambrose from the first book turned into the generic obsessed-with-each-other cozy fantasy couple that will die of heartbreak if they don't touch each other for a few weeks. I didn't enjoy Eli in this book, I felt like all the brain cells he had from the first book were straight up gone, and now he's just an average run-of-the-mill dumb himbo who loves his boyfriend too much. Good grief.
Because there were so many characters, I felt like many of the characters' personalities were quite flat. Rory practically has no personality other than a hot convenient babe who can spit out useful plot devices.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2024
Exciting Fun
Reading A Rival Most Vial made me want more of the characters, Ambrose and Eli and Dawn in particular. A Captured Cauldron delivered everything I wanted. When Ambrose is kidnapped and held prisoner so that he can create an impossible potion,Eli and Rosemund Street pool their resources to rescue him. I knew they would succeed but until the very last moment I really didn't know how, and that uncertainty made for a good read. I enjoyed Dawn's new love interest Rory and Nat, the servant Ambrose befriends in his captivity. But of course it was the sweet little moments between Ambrose and Eli that stole my heart.
My only complaint is that the ending, while not a cliffhanger exactly, purposefully leaves hanging threads.
4.5/5 stars
Reading A Rival Most Vial made me want more of the characters, Ambrose and Eli and Dawn in particular. A Captured Cauldron delivered everything I wanted. When Ambrose is kidnapped and held prisoner so that he can create an impossible potion,Eli and Rosemund Street pool their resources to rescue him. I knew they would succeed but until the very last moment I really didn't know how, and that uncertainty made for a good read. I enjoyed Dawn's new love interest Rory and Nat, the servant Ambrose befriends in his captivity. But of course it was the sweet little moments between Ambrose and Eli that stole my heart.
My only complaint is that the ending, while not a cliffhanger exactly, purposefully leaves hanging threads.
4.5/5 stars
October 13, 2024
The first book was heavily influenced by Romance novels so I was expecting this second book to be “Dawns book” with a focus on the sapphic romance. That’s not actually what happens, it’s a continuation of Eli and Ambrose’s story. The romance is a subplot. In the back of the book the author hints it will be a trilogy.
The stakes are higher and somewhat less cozy but the theme of found family is more pronounced and we get more scenes of the shopkeepers banding together.
Overall it’s just as good as the first book but a little less enjoyable personally as I am a Romance fan.
The stakes are higher and somewhat less cozy but the theme of found family is more pronounced and we get more scenes of the shopkeepers banding together.
Overall it’s just as good as the first book but a little less enjoyable personally as I am a Romance fan.
July 4, 2025
Pros:
- the BOYS
- okay Dawn. I’m not mad at you anymore
- sulky teenage characters will always have my heart
- listen I was genuinely tense for most of this book I just wanted them to get Ames back it was so sad
- I kinda love Rory
- and Xavion because he’s such a little bitch
- and I LOVED seeing more of the different types of magic
- just rAHHH
- THE SET UP FOR BOOK THREE. HAS ME FROTHING AT THE MOUTH.
Cons:
- one of my predictions didn’t come true and it should’ve
Overall:
This did not let me down like Other Sequels have in the past. Lives up to the original entirely and I am vibrating in anticipation for the third
4.75/5
- the BOYS
- okay Dawn. I’m not mad at you anymore
- sulky teenage characters will always have my heart
- listen I was genuinely tense for most of this book I just wanted them to get Ames back it was so sad
- I kinda love Rory
- and Xavion because he’s such a little bitch
- and I LOVED seeing more of the different types of magic
- just rAHHH
- THE SET UP FOR BOOK THREE. HAS ME FROTHING AT THE MOUTH.
Cons:
- one of my predictions didn’t come true and it should’ve
Overall:
This did not let me down like Other Sequels have in the past. Lives up to the original entirely and I am vibrating in anticipation for the third
4.75/5
February 13, 2025
I disliked this book so much, yet I can’t bring myself to rate it fewer than three stars.
I love the world and (most of) the characters that this author has created. I listened to the audiobook for this book as well as a Rival Most Vial, and they are both excellently delivered by a great (and new to me) narrator. I really feel like I’m being transported to a different world with each listen.
The challenge with this book is that it’s terrible both in comparison to the first book as well as on its own.
What I surprisingly liked so much about the first book was how much a simple story with so little actually happening could be so enjoyable and feel so full and complete. The narrative was so enjoyable, the world was so interesting, and the characters had the perfect amount of nuance and complexity for a first book in a series. With this book, however, there is so much that should be treated as urgent, but it is all written so casually. The amount of time the characters spent eating treats and talking about Dawn’s love life while Ambrose was rotting in captivity was frustrating and didn’t fit with the severity of the plot. There was no sense of urgency at all in the writing style. Additionally, the quick and happy ending, with no concern about, or recognition of, retaliation from the crime syndicate was frustrating; as if Cassius and the rest of the syndicate wouldn’t rain fury and retribution on all of them immediately.
I was also disappointed at how this was so thoroughly Dawn’s book. Not only was she a main POV character, but she featured heavily in Eli’s chapters and moderately heavy in Ambrose’s chapters. Dawn was the only character from book one who I didn’t like, so to have her elevated to such a main character, especially at such a significant cost to Ambrose and Eli’s chapters, was personally unwelcome. It was also infuriating how quick everyone was to forgive Rory. I was willing to accept her lying and obfuscation for narrative and character conflict purposes. However, the fact that she set everyone back weeks because she was so slow and subtle in her support of the rescue efforts was infuriating. They could have rescued Ambrose weeks earlier had she been more direct and honest. The fact the others were all only moderately upset about her true motivations, and not at all upset about how Ambrose was needlessly in captivity because of her lack of disclosure and forthrightness was just too much for me.
While this book was not enjoyable, I do hope there are more books in the series. I hope they continue to focus on Ambrose and Eli more, as they are so engaging and there is so much more to explore with them.
I love the world and (most of) the characters that this author has created. I listened to the audiobook for this book as well as a Rival Most Vial, and they are both excellently delivered by a great (and new to me) narrator. I really feel like I’m being transported to a different world with each listen.
The challenge with this book is that it’s terrible both in comparison to the first book as well as on its own.
What I surprisingly liked so much about the first book was how much a simple story with so little actually happening could be so enjoyable and feel so full and complete. The narrative was so enjoyable, the world was so interesting, and the characters had the perfect amount of nuance and complexity for a first book in a series. With this book, however, there is so much that should be treated as urgent, but it is all written so casually. The amount of time the characters spent eating treats and talking about Dawn’s love life while Ambrose was rotting in captivity was frustrating and didn’t fit with the severity of the plot. There was no sense of urgency at all in the writing style. Additionally, the quick and happy ending, with no concern about, or recognition of, retaliation from the crime syndicate was frustrating; as if Cassius and the rest of the syndicate wouldn’t rain fury and retribution on all of them immediately.
I was also disappointed at how this was so thoroughly Dawn’s book. Not only was she a main POV character, but she featured heavily in Eli’s chapters and moderately heavy in Ambrose’s chapters. Dawn was the only character from book one who I didn’t like, so to have her elevated to such a main character, especially at such a significant cost to Ambrose and Eli’s chapters, was personally unwelcome. It was also infuriating how quick everyone was to forgive Rory. I was willing to accept her lying and obfuscation for narrative and character conflict purposes. However, the fact that she set everyone back weeks because she was so slow and subtle in her support of the rescue efforts was infuriating. They could have rescued Ambrose weeks earlier had she been more direct and honest. The fact the others were all only moderately upset about her true motivations, and not at all upset about how Ambrose was needlessly in captivity because of her lack of disclosure and forthrightness was just too much for me.
While this book was not enjoyable, I do hope there are more books in the series. I hope they continue to focus on Ambrose and Eli more, as they are so engaging and there is so much more to explore with them.
October 6, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing me a free ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.
Was a fun read and follow up from the first book in the series! Would be interested in reading more adventures in this setting in the future.
Was a fun read and follow up from the first book in the series! Would be interested in reading more adventures in this setting in the future.
September 4, 2024
Review to come
December 12, 2024
imma need 100 more of these books pls and thank you
Read
June 16, 2025Why I read it: Y'see, I read the first one, and I'd already bought the second one. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Thoughts: Worse than the second one. At first I was kind of excited to read a sequel that kept the same cast, rather than a "set in the same world" type of thing, and then I very rapidly grew to regret that initial burst of excitement.
It was... fine. Actually, no, it was kind of bewildering. Every plot element in this novel contributed to a very confusing picture of the setting, and all the things I disliked about the first book were amplified.
To start off, the worldbuilding is further weakened by this entry in the series. The town it's set in seems large-ish but not incredibly active. Like, Ambrose is the biggest/best potioneer in town, and the one other local potioneer who gets mentioned only deals with very small stuff. The street the main cast is located on seems like it might potentially house the cream of the crop as far as local craftspeople and businesses go, because no better places/shops are ever mentioned. There's an adventuring guild of sorts, which makes sense for the setting, but rather than making the town feel super big and lively, it just makes it feel like a place you end up in while on quests nearby, or while on your way to other, bigger places. And yet the town is big and popular enough to host a multi-day potioneering convention? And it's also big enough to have and incredibly large and thriving (literal) underworld run by a crime syndicate that routinely kidnaps craftspeople from the surface and forces them into servitude for a time?
The crime syndicate was a letdown too. Not only did it pop out of the blue (iirc there was no mention of an underworld in the first book; not that it was relevant, but the characters venture down into the underground multiple times and there's never a clue that those places might be frequented by shady people) but there was never a real sense of menace from them - maybe a sense of frustration, the longer the plot dragged on. The reveal about Rory's ties to the syndicate were signposted nearly from the start -- not in specifics, but certainly it was clear that her involvement with Aphos was a lot more than "I've got contacts".
The worst part was probably how the kidnapping was handled. There was an attempt at comedy with the local constabulary being useless and thus forcing the main cast + Rory to take matters into their own hands and try to rescue Ambrose, but it wasn't present as a throughline, so rather than a Pratchett-like takedown of useless systems that don't achieve anything, let alone serve & protect the locals, it was a random joke inserted for the sake of a quick laugh. I would've very much enjoyed the main cast running circles around the Inspector Clouseau-like official investigator, but he only appears twice and then never even rates another mention.
I outright hated how the main cast dealt with the kidnapping, too. Repeatedly, it was made to seem like it was a matter of life and death and everyone was extremely worried for Ambrose, but every day for several weeks everyone just gathered at the bakery to eat magic cupcakes and and talk about their feelings. There was more description of confectionery than I can tolerate and, frankly, it undercut the tension and anxiety of the scenario. And if it wasn't cupcakes and cookies 24/7 (these characters have the worst diets), then it's wine.
And the ending was the worst. Ambrose successfully creates the potion the crime syndicate wanted him to create, then escapes with the help of his friends, while publicly humiliating the syndicate head and her right-hand man in a flashy way and letting everyone know that he did, in fact, succeed in what no one else ever has before. And then he just goes back to life as usual? This crime syndicate doesn't come get him again? The right-hand man guy person clearly knows where Ambrose and all of his friends work and live, and he knows their routines because he uses this knowledge to threaten Ambrose into submission, and you're telling me that Ambrose just goes back topside and resumes life as if nothing ever happened? No revenge from Aphos? Really?
But I guess maybe that's saved for the next book, which surely will include the dragon Aphos have underground, since who else could have telepathically(?) said hello to Ambrose in the closing section?
Would I read more from this author: After this one, the pitch would have to be phenomenal.
Would I recommend it: Not willingly. Like, if you've read the first one, you might as well read this one, but you might end up regretting it.
Would I reread it: No.
Thoughts: Worse than the second one. At first I was kind of excited to read a sequel that kept the same cast, rather than a "set in the same world" type of thing, and then I very rapidly grew to regret that initial burst of excitement.
It was... fine. Actually, no, it was kind of bewildering. Every plot element in this novel contributed to a very confusing picture of the setting, and all the things I disliked about the first book were amplified.
To start off, the worldbuilding is further weakened by this entry in the series. The town it's set in seems large-ish but not incredibly active. Like, Ambrose is the biggest/best potioneer in town, and the one other local potioneer who gets mentioned only deals with very small stuff. The street the main cast is located on seems like it might potentially house the cream of the crop as far as local craftspeople and businesses go, because no better places/shops are ever mentioned. There's an adventuring guild of sorts, which makes sense for the setting, but rather than making the town feel super big and lively, it just makes it feel like a place you end up in while on quests nearby, or while on your way to other, bigger places. And yet the town is big and popular enough to host a multi-day potioneering convention? And it's also big enough to have and incredibly large and thriving (literal) underworld run by a crime syndicate that routinely kidnaps craftspeople from the surface and forces them into servitude for a time?
The crime syndicate was a letdown too. Not only did it pop out of the blue (iirc there was no mention of an underworld in the first book; not that it was relevant, but the characters venture down into the underground multiple times and there's never a clue that those places might be frequented by shady people) but there was never a real sense of menace from them - maybe a sense of frustration, the longer the plot dragged on. The reveal about Rory's ties to the syndicate were signposted nearly from the start -- not in specifics, but certainly it was clear that her involvement with Aphos was a lot more than "I've got contacts".
The worst part was probably how the kidnapping was handled. There was an attempt at comedy with the local constabulary being useless and thus forcing the main cast + Rory to take matters into their own hands and try to rescue Ambrose, but it wasn't present as a throughline, so rather than a Pratchett-like takedown of useless systems that don't achieve anything, let alone serve & protect the locals, it was a random joke inserted for the sake of a quick laugh. I would've very much enjoyed the main cast running circles around the Inspector Clouseau-like official investigator, but he only appears twice and then never even rates another mention.
I outright hated how the main cast dealt with the kidnapping, too. Repeatedly, it was made to seem like it was a matter of life and death and everyone was extremely worried for Ambrose, but every day for several weeks everyone just gathered at the bakery to eat magic cupcakes and and talk about their feelings. There was more description of confectionery than I can tolerate and, frankly, it undercut the tension and anxiety of the scenario. And if it wasn't cupcakes and cookies 24/7 (these characters have the worst diets), then it's wine.
And the ending was the worst. Ambrose successfully creates the potion the crime syndicate wanted him to create, then escapes with the help of his friends, while publicly humiliating the syndicate head and her right-hand man in a flashy way and letting everyone know that he did, in fact, succeed in what no one else ever has before. And then he just goes back to life as usual? This crime syndicate doesn't come get him again? The right-hand man guy person clearly knows where Ambrose and all of his friends work and live, and he knows their routines because he uses this knowledge to threaten Ambrose into submission, and you're telling me that Ambrose just goes back topside and resumes life as if nothing ever happened? No revenge from Aphos? Really?
But I guess maybe that's saved for the next book, which surely will include the dragon Aphos have underground, since who else could have telepathically(?) said hello to Ambrose in the closing section?
Would I read more from this author: After this one, the pitch would have to be phenomenal.
Would I recommend it: Not willingly. Like, if you've read the first one, you might as well read this one, but you might end up regretting it.
Would I reread it: No.
December 11, 2025
Sad to say I was pretty disappointed by this sequel. A Rival Most Vial was a very simple and sweet rivals-to-lovers story, with fun romantic moments that had me kicking my feet. Seeing a sequel for it had me eager to further explore Ambrose and Eli’s new relationship, see how Eli fares with being an adventurer, maybe dig more into Ambrose’s past?
A Captured Cauldron is bogged down by so many choices. Dawn is now one of the POVs we see the story from, so now we’re juggling three different narrations. I don’t mind expanding on Dawn–she’s honestly the only other character on Rosemond Street I have any mild interest in–but in a story that wants to give her a love interest while also balancing a kidnapping storyline, she remains underdeveloped. It also makes Dawn come off as shallow that she gets so fixated on a new crush amidst her best friend literally being kidnapped. Also, Rory is an uninteresting character. Her personality is “I’m cool, I have an undercut, and I have a secret.” Lame. If Dawn was going to get a story, it should have been either a spin off or like a 1.5 book instead of a direct sequel so that she didn’t have to share the spotlight.
Eli gives nothing in this book. His chapters offer nothing other than to be the voice for the rest of Rosemond Street. We don’t explore anything he’s been doing. His only unique tidbits of narration are “I miss my bf :(“ Eli was my favorite in ARMV so this is such a shame, especially when it’s his boyfriend that’s the kidnapped victim. I was excited to see the angst that brought but it never really goes deep. His chapters might as well have been given to Dawn to develop her if he wasn’t going to be utilized.
Ambrose’s chapters were fine. His character still feels consistent. However, I was just never convinced that the stakes of his capture were that high. Maybe it’s because I was starting to speed-read just to make it through this book, but the threats Ambrose faced always seemed very vague. Like if he doesn’t make this potion, will they kill him? Will they just keep him prisoner? Cassius is one of the big bosses of Aphos, but we never see him do anything that makes him threatening other than just ordering people around. Madam Mila, who wants this potion in the first place, is not even present in the narrative. I just wasn’t sold. Also I don’t care about Nat at all (please stop adding characters you already have so many that aren’t fleshed out).
The ending was also just so anticlimactic. The plan just works, and they escape, and everything is fine. There is no pushback, there is no fight, there is no finale. They just go home. Like what??? I read 300 pages of plans to break Ambrose out and it just works and they go home?? YAWN!
And just a personal gripe, but the dialogue in this book is so utterly cliché. Instead of the characters having unique voices, they all just get “witty” one-liners that are cringey. It was fine in ARMV because I still was delivered a cute rivals-to-lovers story as promised, and that was fun to read. In this book, it just has me rolling my eyes. Witty dialogue doesn’t flesh out your cast, you have to actually tap into their psyche.
A third book is set up and I’m really not sure I’ll be reading it. This kind of series works better at a small scale. I didn’t read this for a grand fantasy adventure, I read it because I wanted some fantasy yaoi LOL.
TLDR: A Captured Cauldron is unnecessarily convoluted, adds underdeveloped characters and plot, and does not expand Ambrose and Eli’s relationship like presumably most people would want a sequel to A Rival Most Vial to do.
A Captured Cauldron is bogged down by so many choices. Dawn is now one of the POVs we see the story from, so now we’re juggling three different narrations. I don’t mind expanding on Dawn–she’s honestly the only other character on Rosemond Street I have any mild interest in–but in a story that wants to give her a love interest while also balancing a kidnapping storyline, she remains underdeveloped. It also makes Dawn come off as shallow that she gets so fixated on a new crush amidst her best friend literally being kidnapped. Also, Rory is an uninteresting character. Her personality is “I’m cool, I have an undercut, and I have a secret.” Lame. If Dawn was going to get a story, it should have been either a spin off or like a 1.5 book instead of a direct sequel so that she didn’t have to share the spotlight.
Eli gives nothing in this book. His chapters offer nothing other than to be the voice for the rest of Rosemond Street. We don’t explore anything he’s been doing. His only unique tidbits of narration are “I miss my bf :(“ Eli was my favorite in ARMV so this is such a shame, especially when it’s his boyfriend that’s the kidnapped victim. I was excited to see the angst that brought but it never really goes deep. His chapters might as well have been given to Dawn to develop her if he wasn’t going to be utilized.
Ambrose’s chapters were fine. His character still feels consistent. However, I was just never convinced that the stakes of his capture were that high. Maybe it’s because I was starting to speed-read just to make it through this book, but the threats Ambrose faced always seemed very vague. Like if he doesn’t make this potion, will they kill him? Will they just keep him prisoner? Cassius is one of the big bosses of Aphos, but we never see him do anything that makes him threatening other than just ordering people around. Madam Mila, who wants this potion in the first place, is not even present in the narrative. I just wasn’t sold. Also I don’t care about Nat at all (please stop adding characters you already have so many that aren’t fleshed out).
The ending was also just so anticlimactic. The plan just works, and they escape, and everything is fine. There is no pushback, there is no fight, there is no finale. They just go home. Like what??? I read 300 pages of plans to break Ambrose out and it just works and they go home?? YAWN!
And just a personal gripe, but the dialogue in this book is so utterly cliché. Instead of the characters having unique voices, they all just get “witty” one-liners that are cringey. It was fine in ARMV because I still was delivered a cute rivals-to-lovers story as promised, and that was fun to read. In this book, it just has me rolling my eyes. Witty dialogue doesn’t flesh out your cast, you have to actually tap into their psyche.
A third book is set up and I’m really not sure I’ll be reading it. This kind of series works better at a small scale. I didn’t read this for a grand fantasy adventure, I read it because I wanted some fantasy yaoi LOL.
TLDR: A Captured Cauldron is unnecessarily convoluted, adds underdeveloped characters and plot, and does not expand Ambrose and Eli’s relationship like presumably most people would want a sequel to A Rival Most Vial to do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2024
I received a copy of this book for free as an ARC reader and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Where to begin? I really enjoyed this book and am struggling a little with what to rate it. I’m putting 4 stars for now, though I think it’s really closer to 4.5. We got a new POV which was a little bit of an adjustment but I think done really well. I don’t think I’d have liked it as much if this was a first person POV book, but being it’s third person it wasn’t too big of an adjustment and it was really cute watching and seeing how she felt about Ames being kidnapped, and the rescue attempt. I enjoyed learning more about her and her shop too.
Eli, oh my sweet boy. I adore you but you made some HORRIBLE DECISIONS!
Onto Ames. I adore him and I loved watching him figure things out, and learning about where he was was super interesting.
Rory was a fun new character!
Hopping back to edit in Xavion! How could I forget him? I actually really enjoyed his character a lot and liked seeing him. He was kinda a jerk but I grew to like him, and honestly could read a spin off novel about him finding his own relationship. He was really interesting and funny. I hope we get to see more about him in book 3!
The pacing was good and it never got boring, though I did suffer a little with Ames and Eli being separated so long. I definitely enjoyed the first book more since it was romance focused and so character driven and we learned so much about Ames and Eli, but thats at least partially more on me and the style of books I enjoy reading at the moment and less a fault on the book. This book was more plot related than romance, which of course makes sense and was necessary seeing as the focus was on Ames kidnapping and not romance. But I’m a sucker for romance and I didn’t get quite as into this book as the first one.
I think the only thing I wish is that we got more fluff at the end. Eli and Ames spent so much time apart and but after so little of them together I really wanted more of them being cute. I want the fluff and romance so bad. I could real a million short stories of them just being cute. I would commit several crimes for even the suggestion of a novella that’s just them being cute. Maybe them traveling, cute dates… I’m in love with them and just want to read about them being happy and fluffy and cute.
I am very much looking forward to book 3! I haven’t looked into anything about it but we did get a setup for it at the end of the book which was interesting and pretty exciting. Overall, I didn’t get quite as into this book as the first one but I still really enjoyed it and I will forever love Ames and Eli
Where to begin? I really enjoyed this book and am struggling a little with what to rate it. I’m putting 4 stars for now, though I think it’s really closer to 4.5. We got a new POV which was a little bit of an adjustment but I think done really well. I don’t think I’d have liked it as much if this was a first person POV book, but being it’s third person it wasn’t too big of an adjustment and it was really cute watching and seeing how she felt about Ames being kidnapped, and the rescue attempt. I enjoyed learning more about her and her shop too.
Eli, oh my sweet boy. I adore you but you made some HORRIBLE DECISIONS!
Onto Ames. I adore him and I loved watching him figure things out, and learning about where he was was super interesting.
Rory was a fun new character!
Hopping back to edit in Xavion! How could I forget him? I actually really enjoyed his character a lot and liked seeing him. He was kinda a jerk but I grew to like him, and honestly could read a spin off novel about him finding his own relationship. He was really interesting and funny. I hope we get to see more about him in book 3!
The pacing was good and it never got boring, though I did suffer a little with Ames and Eli being separated so long. I definitely enjoyed the first book more since it was romance focused and so character driven and we learned so much about Ames and Eli, but thats at least partially more on me and the style of books I enjoy reading at the moment and less a fault on the book. This book was more plot related than romance, which of course makes sense and was necessary seeing as the focus was on Ames kidnapping and not romance. But I’m a sucker for romance and I didn’t get quite as into this book as the first one.
I think the only thing I wish is that we got more fluff at the end. Eli and Ames spent so much time apart and but after so little of them together I really wanted more of them being cute. I want the fluff and romance so bad. I could real a million short stories of them just being cute. I would commit several crimes for even the suggestion of a novella that’s just them being cute. Maybe them traveling, cute dates… I’m in love with them and just want to read about them being happy and fluffy and cute.
I am very much looking forward to book 3! I haven’t looked into anything about it but we did get a setup for it at the end of the book which was interesting and pretty exciting. Overall, I didn’t get quite as into this book as the first one but I still really enjoyed it and I will forever love Ames and Eli
October 6, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
The return to Rosemond Street was everything that I was waiting for! R.K. Ashwick has such a way of bringing these characters to life that I can't get them out of my head. I read the first book over a year ago and still think about Ambrose, Eli and the rest of the crew all the time.
A Captured Cauldron introduced a couple new characters to the main cast of the Rosemond Street family and they did not disappoint. One of their storylines was a little predictable, but it did not distract from the rest of the narrative for me and was resolved in a satisfactory way.
The suspense sprinkled throughout was just right for a cozy fantasy and I adore the found family aspect and gender affirmation that is present.
I can't wait to see where the next book takes us because Ambrose' adventures aren't finished yet!
The return to Rosemond Street was everything that I was waiting for! R.K. Ashwick has such a way of bringing these characters to life that I can't get them out of my head. I read the first book over a year ago and still think about Ambrose, Eli and the rest of the crew all the time.
A Captured Cauldron introduced a couple new characters to the main cast of the Rosemond Street family and they did not disappoint. One of their storylines was a little predictable, but it did not distract from the rest of the narrative for me and was resolved in a satisfactory way.
The suspense sprinkled throughout was just right for a cozy fantasy and I adore the found family aspect and gender affirmation that is present.
I can't wait to see where the next book takes us because Ambrose' adventures aren't finished yet!
October 4, 2024
I received a free ARC of this from the author! Thank you R.K. Ashwick. This review is completely voluntary!
This story is full of adventure, suspense, heart break, and so much love. The found family aspect from the first book to this one is even more remarkable and you can feel the love that the characters have for each other thorough each page. Even in the low moments, so much love. I was hanging on every word. I also felt like this gave us more insight of the other characters which I am a sucker for. Ugh and that ending! A perfect set up for the next book!
This story is full of adventure, suspense, heart break, and so much love. The found family aspect from the first book to this one is even more remarkable and you can feel the love that the characters have for each other thorough each page. Even in the low moments, so much love. I was hanging on every word. I also felt like this gave us more insight of the other characters which I am a sucker for. Ugh and that ending! A perfect set up for the next book!
October 10, 2024
Full rtc. Let me just say now that I’ve never laughed and cried in the same paragraph until Ashwick and I will never be the same - thank you for the ARC and for the honor of being an alpha reader
___
I'm back to finally give you my full thoughts.
If you've seen my review for ARMV, the first book in this series, you will understand that I was completely hooked from the moment Ambrose appeared. Grumpy bois are my soft spot, what can I say. And as I've reread the first book in this series more than I've ever reread a book, you should understand me when I say this is my favorite queer cozy fantasy in existence.
I wasn't sure how Ashwick was going to top ARMV, but ACC did that and more. Not only do we have the same beautiful cast and sweet romance of our boyfriends Ames and Eli, we have Dawn entering the picture with her POV and romance story! Getting additional voices that are so easily distinct is not an easy feat as an author, but Ashwick does this flawlessly. Even without the header of POV, I was able to tell our narrators apart and that helped me get into their heads.
The plot was exciting, and while certain things happening could have made for challenges (vague for spoilers), not once did I feel like this book dragged. There was always something happening, some sort of riddle you were trying to solve, and constantly rooting for these characters to get information and happiness and all the relief that comes from a cozy. I swooned, I cried, and I'm pretty sure I went from one extreme emotion to the next so fast, my partner was very concerned for my wellbeing (and for my kindle).
Obviously I can write a thesis on Ambrose. There's no doubt that he is my favorite character from his brains to his not-brawns, but his emotional journey and growth from ARMV to ACC is just spectacular. I feel like this was a beautiful depiction of how much he's changed, but also how rooted he still is in some of his insecurities. But his acceptance that he is loved and that people were looking for him and that he was so certain that his friends cared enough to go through hell to get him back was just fantastic and balanced so well with his growth. He wasn't a damsel in distress -- he had faith and reassurance, but also took the bull by the horns and determined that he'd find a way to save himself too. And his reluctant dad journey was HILARIOUS.
Eli is still our perfect Eli who loves hard and is facing his own struggles. He's found his calling, found the love of his life, and yet he still hasn't quite settled. Watching him make mistakes that we would all make in the name of love and anxiousness was really great to see. He is all of us, and his love and care for Ambrose, looking after the street, and taking charge really was nice to see. He's grown a lot, and while he is still the silly Eli who can't sit still, he makes a lot of effort and growth in this book too.
Then we have our beautiful Dawn, who gets her own lovely romance with a side of "save the best friend from certain doom". Getting into her head this book was really special after her being a more elevated side character from ARMV. She absolutely shines -- from her brain to her actual brawn to her "oh, she's cute" distractions. She's such a sweetheart but also a badass and seeing her nervous and living life a little bit at the same time she's balancing running a shop and trying to save her bestie from the clutches of evil was a joy.
This entire book was a thrill from the first page to the last. I'll be perfectly honest that I am terrible at riddles and solving puzzles, but the way Ashwick included notes pages and illustrations and left little clues (that she had to explain to me because I am riddle-challenged) were brilliant. Listen, if I had just taken an extra minute, the answers were right there and it was so cool how they were woven in, I sort of felt ridiculous that I only half figured it out.
BUT THAT ENDING. I had WORDS for Ashwick when I was alpha reading because I was so sucked into the book that I didn't see that coming and I am so thrilled that book 3 is coming!
Easily my favorite cozy read of the year, and I will forever look to Ashwick for my favorite queer, cozy fantasies <3
___
I'm back to finally give you my full thoughts.
If you've seen my review for ARMV, the first book in this series, you will understand that I was completely hooked from the moment Ambrose appeared. Grumpy bois are my soft spot, what can I say. And as I've reread the first book in this series more than I've ever reread a book, you should understand me when I say this is my favorite queer cozy fantasy in existence.
I wasn't sure how Ashwick was going to top ARMV, but ACC did that and more. Not only do we have the same beautiful cast and sweet romance of our boyfriends Ames and Eli, we have Dawn entering the picture with her POV and romance story! Getting additional voices that are so easily distinct is not an easy feat as an author, but Ashwick does this flawlessly. Even without the header of POV, I was able to tell our narrators apart and that helped me get into their heads.
The plot was exciting, and while certain things happening could have made for challenges (vague for spoilers), not once did I feel like this book dragged. There was always something happening, some sort of riddle you were trying to solve, and constantly rooting for these characters to get information and happiness and all the relief that comes from a cozy. I swooned, I cried, and I'm pretty sure I went from one extreme emotion to the next so fast, my partner was very concerned for my wellbeing (and for my kindle).
Obviously I can write a thesis on Ambrose. There's no doubt that he is my favorite character from his brains to his not-brawns, but his emotional journey and growth from ARMV to ACC is just spectacular. I feel like this was a beautiful depiction of how much he's changed, but also how rooted he still is in some of his insecurities. But his acceptance that he is loved and that people were looking for him and that he was so certain that his friends cared enough to go through hell to get him back was just fantastic and balanced so well with his growth. He wasn't a damsel in distress -- he had faith and reassurance, but also took the bull by the horns and determined that he'd find a way to save himself too. And his reluctant dad journey was HILARIOUS.
Eli is still our perfect Eli who loves hard and is facing his own struggles. He's found his calling, found the love of his life, and yet he still hasn't quite settled. Watching him make mistakes that we would all make in the name of love and anxiousness was really great to see. He is all of us, and his love and care for Ambrose, looking after the street, and taking charge really was nice to see. He's grown a lot, and while he is still the silly Eli who can't sit still, he makes a lot of effort and growth in this book too.
Then we have our beautiful Dawn, who gets her own lovely romance with a side of "save the best friend from certain doom". Getting into her head this book was really special after her being a more elevated side character from ARMV. She absolutely shines -- from her brain to her actual brawn to her "oh, she's cute" distractions. She's such a sweetheart but also a badass and seeing her nervous and living life a little bit at the same time she's balancing running a shop and trying to save her bestie from the clutches of evil was a joy.
This entire book was a thrill from the first page to the last. I'll be perfectly honest that I am terrible at riddles and solving puzzles, but the way Ashwick included notes pages and illustrations and left little clues (that she had to explain to me because I am riddle-challenged) were brilliant. Listen, if I had just taken an extra minute, the answers were right there and it was so cool how they were woven in, I sort of felt ridiculous that I only half figured it out.
BUT THAT ENDING. I had WORDS for Ashwick when I was alpha reading because I was so sucked into the book that I didn't see that coming and I am so thrilled that book 3 is coming!
Easily my favorite cozy read of the year, and I will forever look to Ashwick for my favorite queer, cozy fantasies <3
March 19, 2025
FINALLY! This book took me forever to read.
I did start reading this book at a time that I had little time to read and that definitely contributed to how long it's taken me to read this one but the other bit that contributed to me reading this book so slowly is the pacing.
This book is really slow in the beginning, it's like the author took the instruction 'show your work' a little too literally because the first half of this book is spent going over everything in excruciating detail and then the second half just whizzes past because there is so much to get done and only so much time to do it in that we are skipping steps altogether. But, all said and done, I enjoyed the latter half of this book way more than the former even with the skipped steps because the author did a good job of filling in that information without the story ever becoming incomprehensible.
This book features Ambrose getting kidnapped by the Aphos (the literal underworld) to brew a 'True Illusion' Potion but the kidnapping takes way too long to happen. This is a pet peeve of mine wherein the blurb explicitly tells you about the event that gets the story going and then the book starts and it takes forever to get to that point at all.
This book is told from three different perspectives - Dawn, Ambrose and Eli. Unlike the first book which is only told from Ambrose and Eli's perspectives, this book adds Dawn's POV as well. I left the first book not entirely happy with how Dawn is just forgiven but after reading this book, I no longer feel animosity towards her. I might have come to actually like her because seeing her struggle with what she did in the previous book and how that struggle impacts how she views the events of this book made me sympathetic towards her. My complaint with the first book was that Dawn's forgiveness didn't seem earned in any manner and I no longer feel that way, so good job! The fact that this book made me like Dawn was a big plus considering she is one of the POVs we are getting this story from. But, I did find myself strangely ambivalent about the romance between Rory and Dawn.
Another thing I really liked was that despite telling the story from three different perspectives the author focused each narrative on achieving Ambrose's freedom. So, even though it was different characters dealing with the same events in different ways the main plot would move forward no matter whose POV we would read which kind of feels like a genius thing to do because that way you never have to face the disappointment of having a POV shift just when things were getting interesting in one plotline because there is only one major plotline.
I did enjoy this book on the whole, not everyone will classify this as cosy fantasy but it definitely has the vibes and elements even though we have the literal underworld and a kidnapping to deal with. I liked how the plot unfolds though the uneven pacing of the book makes it so you can't really enjoy Ambrose's rescue near the end. I would have loved more time with Ambrose and the rest of Rosamond Street at the end because all this time, all this effort was to get to this very point and when it finally arrives it gets lost in the rush of wrapping things up.
I feel like this book doesn't emphasize enough the magnitude of what Ambrose is able to achieve, unlike the previous book we don't really get to see what Ambrose is doing potion-wise, I would have loved details on the potions he was brewing to stall Aphos .
I love how the magic system in this world works - where magic can be infused in multiple ways and into a wide variety of things. The idea of magical cupcakes floored me and made me remember how enchanted I was with the world this series is set in from the very beginning.
We will be getting another book in this series and I look forward to it because we are really not done with Aphos yet.
I did start reading this book at a time that I had little time to read and that definitely contributed to how long it's taken me to read this one but the other bit that contributed to me reading this book so slowly is the pacing.
This book is really slow in the beginning, it's like the author took the instruction 'show your work' a little too literally because the first half of this book is spent going over everything in excruciating detail and then the second half just whizzes past because there is so much to get done and only so much time to do it in that we are skipping steps altogether. But, all said and done, I enjoyed the latter half of this book way more than the former even with the skipped steps because the author did a good job of filling in that information without the story ever becoming incomprehensible.
This book features Ambrose getting kidnapped by the Aphos (the literal underworld) to brew a 'True Illusion' Potion but the kidnapping takes way too long to happen. This is a pet peeve of mine wherein the blurb explicitly tells you about the event that gets the story going and then the book starts and it takes forever to get to that point at all.
This book is told from three different perspectives - Dawn, Ambrose and Eli. Unlike the first book which is only told from Ambrose and Eli's perspectives, this book adds Dawn's POV as well. I left the first book not entirely happy with how Dawn is just forgiven but after reading this book, I no longer feel animosity towards her. I might have come to actually like her because seeing her struggle with what she did in the previous book and how that struggle impacts how she views the events of this book made me sympathetic towards her. My complaint with the first book was that Dawn's forgiveness didn't seem earned in any manner and I no longer feel that way, so good job! The fact that this book made me like Dawn was a big plus considering she is one of the POVs we are getting this story from. But, I did find myself strangely ambivalent about the romance between Rory and Dawn.
Another thing I really liked was that despite telling the story from three different perspectives the author focused each narrative on achieving Ambrose's freedom. So, even though it was different characters dealing with the same events in different ways the main plot would move forward no matter whose POV we would read which kind of feels like a genius thing to do because that way you never have to face the disappointment of having a POV shift just when things were getting interesting in one plotline because there is only one major plotline.
I did enjoy this book on the whole, not everyone will classify this as cosy fantasy but it definitely has the vibes and elements even though we have the literal underworld and a kidnapping to deal with. I liked how the plot unfolds though the uneven pacing of the book makes it so you can't really enjoy Ambrose's rescue near the end. I would have loved more time with Ambrose and the rest of Rosamond Street at the end because all this time, all this effort was to get to this very point and when it finally arrives it gets lost in the rush of wrapping things up.
I feel like this book doesn't emphasize enough the magnitude of what Ambrose is able to achieve, unlike the previous book we don't really get to see what Ambrose is doing potion-wise, I would have loved details on the potions he was brewing to stall Aphos .
I love how the magic system in this world works - where magic can be infused in multiple ways and into a wide variety of things. The idea of magical cupcakes floored me and made me remember how enchanted I was with the world this series is set in from the very beginning.
We will be getting another book in this series and I look forward to it because we are really not done with Aphos yet.
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