Amy McCulloch is an author whose works explore themes of identity and belonging, often through compelling young protagonists navigating complex worlds. Her writing is characterized by a fluid, engaging style that draws readers into richly imagined settings. McCulloch brings a unique perspective to her fiction, reflecting a deep understanding of cultural intersections and personal journeys. Her stories resonate with an honest portrayal of self-discovery and the resilience of the human spirit.
Having managed to find her great-grandmother's potion diary, escape Emilia Thoth, save her grandfather's memories AND become a Master Alchemist, surely it's time for Sam to have a good, long rest? And maybe, just maybe, a date with her boyfriend Zain? But now that Evelyn is married and showing symptoms of the Gergon illness, it looks as though Sam's adventures are just beginning...
Sam Kemi is off on another Hunt around the world, chasing secret potions and magic diaries in the second novel of the “charming and humorous” ( Kirkus Reviews ) Potion Diaries series. After winning the Wilde Hunt, things are looking up for Sam Kemi and her family’s potion business—until suddenly they aren’t... When someone goes after her grandfather, stealing his memories and priceless knowledge, the Kemi’s Potion Shop is forced to close and Sam is left scrambling for answers—without her grandfather’s help. Part of Ostanes’s mind is trapped in those memories, and without them he’s lost and confused. And the more time passes, the worse his condition becomes. Hoping to reverse the effect of dark potions on the body, someone is looking for the recipe for aqua vitae —an elixir that can cure any illness—lost in the pages of an old Kemi family diary. But aqua vitae could also be the key to bringing her grandfather back, and that’s all Sam really wants. Determined to find Ostanes’s memories and the recipe first, Sam finds herself on the most important and perilous Hunt of her life.
Samantha Kemi's ability to mix potions is needed when her family is summoned to take part in an ancient quest to save Princess Evelyn from a potion gone awry, but will curing the princess doom Samantha's chance at love?