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The Alchemist and an Amaretto by Annette Marie Narrator: Cris Dukehart
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound #5
Published by Tantor Audio on January 28, 2020
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Length: 6 hours and 55 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Chirp*Audiobooks.com*B&N
Goodreads
As a guild bartender, I can handle pretty much anything—mages, sorcerers, witches, the occasional demon. But show me anything family-related and I'd rather run for the hills. It doesn't even have to be my family.
So I have no idea why I thought spending the holidays with Aaron's mom and pop was a good idea.
Meeting his famous parents is already terrifying enough, but I've got a bigger problem. Students of his family's renowned mage academy are being attacked on the grounds--and somehow no one has seen a single assailant? Unexplained tracks litter the nearby woods, rumors of forbidden alchemy are circulating the campus...and Ezra has been acting strangely since we arrived.
Something deadly is brewing in the shadow of Sinclair Academy, and the longer we take to uncover it, the more dangerous it becomes. But no matter the risk, we'll protect the students.
And Aaron's parents too, I suppose. If we have to.
Also in this series: Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey, Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey
I’m thrilled to be participating in the 2026 Guild Codex World Read-Along, following the official author reading order! This event is hosted by the wonderful Books of My Heart.
It’s been a fantastic journey through the universe so far—check out my full review for the latest installment below:
This fifth installment in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series brings the holidays to a whole new level, complete with powerful elite magical families, a prestigious academy, and a pack of unusual werewolves causing trouble.
Diving into the Guild Codex Universe has been quite an interesting ride, and I’m really enjoying experiencing it in Annette’s recommended reading order. The Alchemist and an Amaretto takes Tori and her three mages away from the mean streets and the familiar walls of the Crow and Hammer, transporting them to a lush, magical island academy. It’s a fantastic look into the elite world Aaron grew up in.
At this point in the story, Tori is struggling with her brother and his intense hostility toward her and the magical world she has fallen into. Meanwhile, her best friends and teammates—Aaron, Kai, and Ezra—play massive roles in her life, forming a wonderful found family bond. Her attraction to Ezra is steadily growing, but his big secret and his demon constantly complicate things, keeping her completely off balance.
I really enjoyed seeing Aaron’s family and watching how he navigates their pressure to rejoin the family guild versus finding a different path away from the Crow and Hammer. It was also great to have Sin tag along with the gang; seeing her and Tori develop a closer friendship was a wonderful touch. As for the feral werewolves, they pose a massive, growing threat to the academy and everyone around it. Things take a dangerous turn and the characters are put on a serious time crunch, but in the end, Tori pulls through and absolutely kicks butt.
Each novel continues to beautifully expand this world, and I love seeing Tori grow into herself while building a found family and support system that truly works for her. This is another engrossing urban fantasy adventure for Tori and the gang, and I’m already looking forward to listening to the next installment in the universe.
Audio: As always Cris Dukehart does a splendid job narrating this series.
Rated 4 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
About Cris Dukehart
My name is Cris Dukehart. I am an Audie Nominee and Earphones Award Winning audiobook narrator and voiceover.
I’ve been told I approach the world with the quick witted humor of Mrs. Maisel and the spirit of a Southern Magnolia (which seems to me like a pretty mighty leap but sure felt good to hear and also seemed like the sort of thing a gal might want to include in her bio).
I’ve narrated over 400 books, across genres, from quirky memoirs, southern women’s fiction, and young adult titles to new adult urban fantasy and female-driven mysteries and I love being able to immerse myself in tales that include a rich array of characters of all ages and into stories that make a body believe in just a little bit of magic.
I have a natural and easy Mid-Atlantic dialect but also confidently perform the dialects from my southern upbringing (North Carolina, Virgnia, and West Virginia) as well as those I’ve picked up just meeting folks from my travels across the US and abroad.
I divide my time between my Mountain House, a Mid Century home perched on a mountain over looking the Caribbean, and an 1870 Southern Victorian riverfront home.
Both homes are PROJECTS (with a capital P) and need more than a little love, but along with my ridiculous sooper pooch, Bruce Ed, a menagerie of strays, a cast of family, friends, and characters that could just as well have stepped right off the pages of the books I read, a silly lot of DIY elbow grease, and you too… if you hang around here long enough… I’m pretty sure there’s a happily ever after waiting for all of us at the end.
About Annette Marie
Annette Marie is the best-selling author of The Guild Codex, an expansive collection of interwoven urban fantasy series ranging from thrilling adventure to hilarious hijinks to heartrending romance. Her other works include YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.
Her first love is fantasy, while fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Audiobook Challenge
- 2026 Beat the Backlist Challenge
- 2026 COYER Out To Lunch Again
- 2026 Library Love Challenge
- 2026 Read-Along Annette Marie
- 2026 TBR Tackle Challenge
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