Alchemical Tales

In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of Beauty and the Beast . . . What does it take to overcome a curse? Traveling alchemist Red settles into life as a shopkeeper in rural Belville and expects to focus on her potions. But crime stops for no woman. Neither does Red's friend, police officer Thorn! When a beastly criminal escapes to a nearby abandoned castle and is found murdered, Thorn immediately suspects Luca, a meek-mannered bookseller–not to mention Red's best friend. Red knows that there's more to the castle–and the murder–than meets the eye. But as she rushes to prove Luca's innocence, she's beset by a not-dead-yet ghost, a beautiful and ill-tempered suspect, and a horde of mysterious mist creatures that terrify the town. Oh, and then there's the series of lost books that hold the key to the castle's curse! If Red and her friends can't find the books and solve the mystery, Luca might not be the only one in trouble. But in idyllic Belville, appearances can be deceiving. Red will need all of her alchemical prowess and all the help she can get in order to uncover the truth behind this twisted tale. This special second edition includes a new epilogue, recipes, and a sneak peek at book two of The Alchemical Tales.

In this magical twist on a familiar tale, alchemist Red sets out to answer the riddle behind a cursed mirror and deadly apples . . . . . . Who decides who's fairest of all? And who would be willing to kill over it? Life in Belville has just settled down, and Red's ready to wait out her first mountain winter-preferably while under a cozy blanket, sipping some homemade tea. But when a mysterious ore turns up in the snow, Red is called in to investigate. And when she finds a body before even setting foot in the mine, all bets are off. It turns out that the mining team responsible for discovering the new ore consists of a fairy named Snow and-you guessed it-seven dwarves. Life is no song for the teammates, however, especially when one dwarf after another becomes the victim of vicious attacks. In an effort to keep her town safe as the mystery grows, Red accepts a job tracking down the source of the ore. But at the same time, rumors of dragons and constant snow storms are raising the stakes. And as she and her friends take Snow under their wing, Red begins to wonder if all isn't fair in Snow's icy world-or even in her own.

In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of Pinocchio . . . What does it mean to be truly "alive?" Red is looking forward to accompanying her boyfriend to a conference in the big city, Brass. Too bad her best friend and magical companion, William, isn't on board! In fact, William's been acting strange, and it's only when he hears of a murder in Brass that he decides to tag along. Along with their friend Officer Thorn, Red and William have been asked to consult as impartial investigators in the death of a city gnome. The problem? It wasn't only a gnome who died: an enchanted broom was found destroyed as well. To make matters worse, the crime was reported by a young "puppet" who wasn't taken seriously at first. With each new twist and clue, Red finds herself more tangled up in strings of deceit, magic, and politics. The entire city of Brass is wondering if puppets and magical creatures can act freely–and in the midst of it all, William is preoccupied with a shadowy stranger . . . With each new mystery, Red is willing to learn something new. But this time, what she learns just may be the most elusive quality of all: what it takes to be a real friend!