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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

It has been nine months since Gordy and his friends, Max and Adilene, stopped Esmerelda from destroying B.R.E.W. and the Vessel. Gordy is starting the eighth grade, where he meets another Dram, Sasha Brexil, whose mother is the new President of B.R.E.W. Gordy has also been practicing new brewing techniques, and has even taken some of his potions to school?something expressly forbidden?but when he starts zoning out during practice, he knows something is wrong. Strange things are also happening at B.R.E.W., because after Wanda confronts the dark Elixirists, she is unexpectedly fired by Mrs. Brexil. And in Greenland, Mezzarix is offered a chance to escape by an old friend, who is working for the mysterious Ms. Bimini. The woman reveals that she needs Mezzarix to replicate an unusual solution known as ?Silt.? Mezzarix agrees on one condition: that Ms. Bimini uses the power of Silt to destroy B.R.E.W. forever. Gordy and his friends continue to work on their potions, but when Adilene learns she will never be able to brew potions?that the only reason she had ever come close was because Gordy was Projecting his ability through her?she is crushed. Against her better judgment, she uses an invisibility potion given to her by her new friend, Cadence, to spy on Gordy. As Gordy's potion-making talents increase, so does the frequency of his blackouts, which raises a troubling question: What if Mezzarix attacks during one of Gordy's blackouts? Both B.R.E.W and the Vessel are in danger, and with the potion world in chaos, it's up…

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The Transparency Tonic (Book 2 of the Potion Masters)

by Frank Cole

Reviewer: Beth
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 9+

Overall Book Review:

Gordy’s skills at mixing potions have grown over the last nine months or so.  With the introduction of several new characters and a few returning from book one, he’s learned the hard way about consequences, both good and bad.  Now, faced with even more tough choices, just like a regular kid, sometimes he struggles to make good decisions.  Other times, like when protecting his family and friends, decisions come easier.  It’s all made harder to do good when it’s the adults who are being naughty. 

In this breath-taking adventure of good versus evil, Gordy, through all his temptations and troubles, chooses the path of right.  Max and Adeline are still at his side cheering him on and helping when allowed.  Then, just when we thought we knew the characters, they surprise us and do some unexpected stuff.  In this book, they get quite creative and have fun with their potions.  It seems like a potion-maker’s imagination is the only thing limiting him or her. 

The author, Frank L. Cole, writes with a very fun style.  With fantastic details and several red herrings along the way, he keeps the story suspenseful and interesting.  This story draws to a conclusion but it’s definitely being set up for another book of impressive proportions.  This being book two, it could stand alone but reading book one would definitely set the stage for book two.  Frank L. Cole has written nine books and I look forward to reading book three of Potion Masters in the future. 

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  Mention of a previous explosion destroying a house, no people hurt; potions are used on people, no permanent harm; teen boy is abducted by thugs; a human corpse/zombie, some gross descriptions; potion went wrong, major building damage; building attacked by bad guys, people tied up; car crash ends in a lake, no harm to people; family members and two men tied up, others held captive. 

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

Magic, dangerous potions, sneaky kids, criminal father, criminal masterminds, banishment of evil men & women, family issues.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
0
10

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About the Reviewer

Beth
Reading a good adventure story has always been a vacation in the theater of my mind. When I’m stressed or just need to get away for a few minutes, I love the opportunity to climb into somebody else’s world. I didn’t enjoy reading until I was in the Air Force and building bombs in Korea; it was a wonderful distraction from the real world. (I tried bull riding, but it wasn’t exciting enough.)

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