The Potion Dealers: A Jet Age Cozy Fantasy Romance

by Lidiya Foxglove

Alfred Bravider is the heir to a powerful family of potion dealers. His passion for magical history has helped him talk his way into the cottages, lairs, and penthouse apartments of sorcerers who usually shun visitors—only to lose clients because they don’t want to work for his greedy, bureaucratic father.

But Alfred’s position has always been in doubt since he was bllnded as an infant by an unfortunate curse. No matter—Alfred’s father has finally the Livonya Orlestin, the daughter of the sorceress who cast the curse.

Livonya has never left her tiny village to the far north—never had an adventure. After all, her parents had adventures and got themselves killed. But now adventure has appeared at her door. Compared to the local farm boys, Alfred has tales of travel and treasure hunting.

She wonders why he wants the curse lifted when he’s been blind all his life and seems so confident. He’s insulted that his parents are so fixated on curing him. He knows what they really care about—preserving their image. Does he need to work for his father at all? Alfred has never met anyone who barely knows what the rules should be and questions them so freely, but maybe it's time to break them—and deal with the misfits, outsiders, and eccentrics of the magical world to build his own potion-dealing empire.

THE POTION DEALERS is the first book in a cozy-adjacent series that mingles slice of life and magical adventures. It has romance, but is more of a found family/team story. This series stands entirely alone but is part of my Hidden Lands series, a magical world dealing with modernization (think The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) and has 1960s vibes.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2025

About the author

Lidiya Foxglove grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, folklore and fantasy and also reads way too much manga. Fantasy romance is her favorite thing in the world, but she likes it steamy. She also loves cats and tea--it's cliche for a reason!

Reviews

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read Review:
Despite finishing my first read of this book only a month ago I already decided to re-read it. I am going through a very stressful time and all I wanted was to spend more time reading about these characters. I think I enjoyed this book even more the second time around. I really could appreciate some of the foreshadowing. And because I already knew the plot I could really feel and experience some of the scenes more. I loved seeing Alfred and Livonya meet and fall in love again. And this is just such a lovely read. I love the cozy found family vibes with a backdrop of a world that can be harsh and dark at times. I can't wait for the sequel!

First review:
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to start reading this book. As soon as I finished my current read I dived into this book. I had a stressful week coming up and knew this would be the perfect escape. I was so happy to spend some time in Lidiya Foxglove's Hidden Lands world again, I love the world she created and this book was such a fun read.

My introduction to this book has been a bit different from most books I read. I like watching Lidiya Foxglove's Youtube videos that she posts there as The Cozy Creative and already heard quite a bit about The Potion Dealers there. It was interesting how it felt like I already knew some of the characters before I even started reading and I was so excited to start reading and actually get their whole story. I felt like this helped me get into the book easily as I already knew the premise and the characters. It was an unique experience to have the characters already feel familiar even though this was the first time reading about them. And it was awesome how well the vibes I had gotten for the characters through the videos fit how the characters are in the book.

The Potion Dealers is a cozy fantasy story with a romantic subplot. It follows this group of characters that slowly expand throughout the book as they try to figure some things out about what they want to do with their lives mostly. It has this found family and creating a team type vibes that I really liked. There are adventures and some danger, but there are also plenty of cute and cozy scenes. I also liked seeing the romance between Alfred and Livonya play out as well as some hints of romances between between side characters. All the characters feel so real and I loved reading about them all and seeing what they went through. This is only book 1 in the series and it's clear there's more to come to these characters and I can't wait for book 2!

I have to admit I wasn't quite sure I would like Alfred at first, from the descriptions I got I knew he would the heir to a magical organized crime family. And he is that, but he's also very likable and interesting characters. From the first chapter from his point of view I knew I shouldn't have worried as I really liked him. And he's such an interesting character. He's blind because of a curse, but he manages to get through his life and doesn't know what it is to not be blind. In fact gets quite upset with his parents when he finds out they've been looking for a cure all this time and don't value him as he is until he's no longer blind. I thought it was interesting reading about a blind character and how he experience the world, there are more descriptions of sounds and smells from his point of view. I liked how charming he was, but not in a fake way, he really was just so interested in all the people he meets and his passion for magic is obvious.

Livonya is from a small town and then gets invited by Alfred to visit to Atlantis, a bit city in this world. Her story has a bit fish-out-of-water vibes at first as she adjusts to the city, but most of all it felt like she finally gets the adventure and excitement she's been longing for her whole life. I liked experiencing Atlantis from her point of view and seeing her develop and change as she lives the life she always dreamed of. There are some big changes she goes through and another big one that happens at the end of the book and I am curious to see what happens next. Her banter and interactions with Alfred are so fun to read and I liked reading about them.

Plot wise this book has a lot going on. I liked how there are some big events and development quite early in the book. I liked how a certain event happened early on so I wouldn't be in suspense for the whole book how that would play out. And there are plenty of plot lines that do continue throughout the whole book and some that get resolved or have some big developments late in the book. And other plot lines that are still going on. I was so invested in seeing everything play out.

The world building for this world is amazing. I've read everything Lidiay Foxglove has written so far set in this world and while I like reading them in order as she publishes them, each book or series can be read as a standalone I think. This one takes place 40 years after Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy and I have to admit it was quite the adjustment for me with how much the world has changed, but I also really liked seeing the changes. It's so awesome actually seeing the world change throughout these books. It's getting more modern now and there are political unrest as well. It really is fascinating seeing it all. There are mentions to some of the characters from previous books and I loved seeing Grau and Velsa again and seeing how they are doing all these years later.

This was a book that kept me reading. I just love reading about this world and these characters and I couldn't get enough. Luckily it is a long book and took me a while to get through it, but I was still sad when it was over and wished I had book 2 to start right after it. It's also one of those books I know I'll re-read. I feel like I almost read it too quickly, not really taking the time to let some events settle and really feel the emotions. I wish sometimes there was more time to deal with certain releveation, but from reading her previous books, I know once I re-read it I can experience those better. I barely finished this book and am already planning my re-read that's how good it was.

To summarize: I loved this book and enjoyed every moment spent reading it. I love this fantasy world Lidiya Foxglove has created and it's a joy to return to it for another story. I already knew a bit of the premise and characters from watching her Youtube videos which made it easy to get into this book and the characters already felt familiar to me. I really liked both Alfred and Livonya and seeing their romance slow grow was great. I liked the found family/ team coming together vibes of this book and I can't wait to read more about them. All the characters feel so real and I enjoyed reading about them all and seeing them interact with one another. I wasn't sure at first whether I would like Alfred, but from the first chapter I read about him I knew I would. He's such a likable and interesting character being the charming blind heir to an organized crime family, but wanting to go his own direction and actually caring about the work he does and having a true passion for magic. Livonya is easy to like and I liked seeing her get the chance to finally get the adventure she always dreamed of and grow into her own. She has some big things she has to deal with and I enjoyed seeing it all play out. I really loved this book and wanted to keep reading. I love the world the author has created and I've read every book set there so far. Seeing this world get more modern was quite the difference with previous books, but it also was so fascinating to see the world change. The story has a lot of interesting plot lines going on and I wanted to keep reading. There are plenty of exciting things going on and plenty sweeter cozies scenes as well. The ending is at a good stopping point and makes me eager for the next book.

[Aubree R · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.5/10
This is what I would describe as Cozy fantasy. The vibe kinda reminds me of t.kingfisher paladin series (Which I could not put down till I finished). There's a world in the book but the main thing we're following is the characters and dialogue which I enjoy.
There's a lot of things happening in this book, but it doesn't feel like it? When I went to do my “book review” where I very poorly describe what's happened in the last book I've read to my husband, I was having a hard time saying all the details and kept going backward to say more things which needless to say just makes it much more confusing for him.
My favorite kinda book is compelling they’re the books I don't want to put down, this met that for me. But what makes a book compelling is different for everyone.
I’ve read a couple of her other books, one on libby and one read by the author on youtube so I already knew a little about the world building in this book from dollgirl meets dead guy, And that I like this authors writing in general.
My scale is based off of Elyse Meyers book reviews
Plot 1
Characters 1
Setting 1
Writing style 1
Pacing .75
Themes 1
Originality 1
Emotional impact 1
Overall enjoyment 1
Ending .75

[Ian Kirkpatrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rarely have I seen a "writer" care less, maybe even never before since this person can't even be bothered to write the book, but instead opens with a preface of, "Go watch my youtube if you want the lore." So, we get no worldbuilding, characters randomly show up and are seemingly important or meaningful but we have no reason to know why, there's nothing about how this universe works or why there are things from our world in this, if it's set in our world, nothing.

This writer cares so little, which not surprising considering her backlog looks like a content mill to pull people to her youtube channel, and all for the sake of raking in as much money possible. Based on this? She's about selling content, not telling you a story. If she'd just rather talk about her ideas than write them, she should stick to that instead of swindling people out of stories they thought they were getting. This is an insult to the readers who paid for it, and genuinely feels like fraud.

I cannot believe this person gives advice on writing books when it's clear after nearly 100 books, she doesn't seem to have any idea how to do it. Am I mad about this book? Yes, because I paid for it and what was I given? A terrible time and cheated of a story by someone who cares about using readers as paypigs to fund her lifestyle with slop rather than telling a good story that builds meaningful connections with readers. She also chosen to send her fans to insult me for daring to critique her book, so that's fun. It's this type of indie author that makes me question if reading and talking about indie books is even worth it. I not only regret it for the time wasted, but the treatment by others who won't even talk about the book and choose instead to insult me just says why bother.

[Kay Channon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not essential, but to understand all the references in this book, it is helpful to have read another book set in the hidden lands before this one. For example, The Sorcerer's Concubine. Although the character dynamics didn't quite 'hit' as hard (for me) as in other books set in the same world, it was refreshing to meet a character who (despite inevitable Ableism from enemies and even family members) didn't want to be want cured of their disablity. Overall, the book starts quite slow and builds to more dramatic ending. It is important to remember this is a cozy fantasy 'lite' book. It doesn't pretend to be something it is not. It is however, quirky and witty with a little spice, but no smut, (which is fine for me). There are some jokes about clothing and technology (because the hidden lands doesn't have everything our world has and it is set in different time period). It does have a political edge, but it won't strain your brain with its world building. So, as a student, who has sat a lot exams recently, it has been my comfort read. Also, because I read the kindle edition, I could switch between the read aloud function and just reading it in my head. The writing style is clear and easy to follow.

[W_Harpy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare to see a book that blends cozy so well with a sense of adventure. The characters are super lovable, the dialogues are excellently written, and the world they inhabit seems like a real place with culture, people, and history. I really had the feel I was there in the world with the characters, discovering it for the first time through their story. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something sweet but still exciting, a cozy fantasy with a bit more stakes.

I can't wait to read the other books set in the same world!

[Grumble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never before have I struggled so hard with a book that I had to skip an entire chapter because it was just that painfully boring. There’s just so much wrong with this book I’d be here forever if I mentioned everything. For starters this is not a fantasy with “romantic plot line” as the author has called it. Instead the entire thing revolves around two insta-love characters who want to sleep with each other. There is no real fantasy, no world building, no character development, and there sure as hell is no romance. Well, unless you consider cheating romantic and a guy jerking off to jazz music character development.

Just like the last book I read from this author these people do not come across as elves. I actually didn’t know they were supposed to be until I noticed the characters had pointed ears on the cover when I was halfway into it.

It’s mind boggling to me that this has has such poor-quality story telling despite it being close to the 100th book that’s been published by this author. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume this was a child’s first fanfic.

Nothing happens, it’s just pages upon pages of the characters moving from scene to scene and having the most boring conversations possible. The mmc is blind, something we are reminded of every chapter, yet there is no actual showing of him being blind. It never hinders him in anyway, and he can conveniently tell random things from sound (or his spidey senses tingling) that a blind person would not be able to do. I recently read a book called Nutshell by Ian McEwan. Somebody please tell me how a story about a fetus in the womb has better blind representation than a story about a fully grown man?!

I suggest reading this book only if you’ve ever wondered what if feels like when a bug alien from starship troopers sucks your brains out through its tube mouth. Sadly it’s stories like these that give people such a bad view of indie publishing.

There is one unique thing about this that I’ve never seen before though I’ll give it that. Never in my life have I read a book with an introduction suggests watching the authors YouTube videos if you actually want to understand any of the lore.

[❉spore loser❉ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➣ “Vulnerability is a dangerous thing in this world,” he said. “The better you can control your emotions, the more likely you are to control everyone else’s as well.”

➣ It seemed like a thought she had to confront within herself, that certain experiences would not be shared. There was nothing much to do with it. Just something to acknowledge and set free, a fluttering moth of a thought.

✴︎ Usually I dislike when a book tries to ‘do it all’, but Lidiya made everything work. There’s rural contrasted with urban, family drama, a crime syndicate underworld, political intrigue, and a modernizing fantasy setting, and none of it felt like too much. My ebook says “Book One”, so if that’s not a typo and another one is coming, then I’ll be ready for it.

✴︎ Lidiya Foxglove is a great writer. I gobbled up this book and Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy in a weekend, one right after the other, because I loved everything about them. Engaging writing had me immersed, made me laugh and comment out loud many times. There is some clunky prose / dialogue here and there (and minor editing misses) but nothing that distracted me from the storyline and characters.

✴︎ Where Lidiya's writing really shines is in characterization, from mains to side characters. Her protagonists are especially well-developed, giving you a good sense of them as people—their outlooks, desires, and insecurities. Something she does perfectly when it comes to romance is the understanding her couples have. Their love is believable because it comes from seeing one another, being right for each other in their personalities, and wanting to be there for the other come what may.

[Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up for GR. An entertaining read that has a little bit of a variety of genres. It's probably mostly in the fantasy realm, due to magic and telepathy, but also a bit of romance, a bit of action, a bit of mystery, and a bit of mafia/crime/thriller. This was the second book I've read from this author set in the Hidden Lands, and I think I probably would have preferred to have read all of the earlier Hidden Lands books first, just so I would have had all of the background lore and information on hand. It's not necessary to enjoy the story, but I'm a completionist and I think it would have made the experience a bit richer. I did like the contrasting setting of a magical world integrating 1960s-era culture and technology from our world, and showing how that was creating conflict. The main characters were interesting, and there were also enough side characters to provide material for sequels (although it's unclear if this will be a series?). However, the pacing of the story was kind of uneven, and the ending was a bit rushed. Hopefully there is a sequel, so we can find out more about what happens next, or the background and relationship between the main characters. I'll read more from this author, although I'll probably explore the back catalog first before reading the newer books, just to get the background info!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Charming Fantasy Adventure

Livonya spends her days in a small town where she’s constantly encouraged to settle down with a local farm boy. Sadly for the farm boy, she wants someone who excites her mentally, not just physically. She’s always longed for more than her simple life, but the warnings from her family about leaving the town have made her wary.

Alfred comes from the big city of Atlantis. He spends most of his days working to support his father’s company, and in his free time he goes on adventures to discover magical tomes. Despite all his hard work, Alfred’s disability keeps his family from loving and accepting him as he is because it weakens their reputation.

When these two meet, they challenge each other’s views of the world and cause them to grow into something more. A girl who discovers the life she’s always wanted and what happened to her parents, and a boy that accepts he doesn’t need to please his family to be successful.

This charming fantasy adventure had me hooked from the very beginning, and I read it in 5 days! Lidiya did an excellent job creating a cozy vibe from page one and caused me to fall in love with this world. I can’t wait to see what happens next with the gang of adventurers in the next book.

[Sissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reads almost like a first season of a TV show and I really liked that! It definitely reads cozy though there is some drama and an over arching mystery that is resolved with lingering consequences in the finale. I liked getting to know the characters. It feels like the author is setting everything up for a series that will have lots of found family vibes. The world building was also pretty lore-filled, which I know Lidiya has been working on this world for a very long time. You can tell she loved finally getting to write her passion project.

There wasn't a lot of romance/spice, and what was there was pretty tame and cute.

I look forward to any future installments with these characters! This was my entry point into this world. I plan to read her Concubine series next.

[Scarlette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books I didn't think I would like but it completely took me by surprise! It was so different to other fantasy books I've read and the general world-building was so fresh and unique. Loved the 1960s vibes! I'm not a huge fan of the cozy fantasy genre but I adored this! It was one of those books that when I started reading, I found it difficult to put down. The writing flowed so well and the characters were so interesting to follow. I look forward to reading more books from Lidiya Foxglove in the future!

[ayiruh · Rating 3 out of 5]

i found it interesting but there are a lot of things that i didn't enjoy, so no waiting for book 2 for me

[Donna owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's jet back to the late 60s. Where there's magic and potions. Love blooms as secret are revealed. A battle between family members who will come out on top?

[lady cherise · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to read a fantasy novel with tropical vibes, this novel is it. This was a mix between a lighthearted romance set in a tropical setting, with some dark fantasy elements. The world building and character development was great throughout the story. I really enjoyed how Livonya uses her telepathic powers throughout the story, and how Alfred's family has some sketchy dealings and snooty power dynamics. The pacing at some parts near the beginning was a little too chill for me, but the tension picks up deliciously later on in the story as the mystery behind Livonya's parents--and the current threat to Livonya--unfold.