I love finding books that I can enjoy on my own, or reading with my kids. This book is one of those! The first thing that you need to do though is read the first one! Potion Masters: The Eternity Elixir was also great! You’re not going to understand this one without having read that one though.

The main character in this book is Gordy. He’s in eighth grade. And he can make crazy potions that do all sorts of things. One of my favorites is the one that makes the ground turn to quicksand, sucking whoever is on top in and freezing them in the earth in a matter of seconds. That potion would have come in handy many times over the years!

Gordy has all kinds of crazy things happen to him in this one. That’s part of what makes this series so much fun! Some of his problems come from bad guys, but some of the problems are his own making. Gordy is left to figure out a lot of things on his own, making him a character that a lot of boys can learn from and emulate in their own lives.

I liked that this book also has parts where the reader can see though the eyes of other characters. The reader grows to learn Adilene a little bit better because of that. I love that Adilene is able to help Gordy when he needs it the most.

And the reader even gets to see things through the bad guys eyes for part of it! That’s always fun too. It’s fun to be able to yell at characters not to do things, if you know in time what they shouldn’t do. This book though, the reader didn’t know exactly what was going to be happening. Making the whole thing so much fun!

If you’ve got a middle grade boy or girl, they’re going to love this one. It’s really well done and perfect for that age!

Great continuation of the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Gordy and his friends.

Action packed. Fun potion brewing. Quite a page turner.

Great middle-grade read! Humorous and exciting, Cole accurately captures the awkwardness of eighth grade with a magical twist. You can't help but be hooked by Gordy's adventures as he meticulously balances his life between his normal middle school life and his not-so-normal life of potions and dark villains.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review,.

Gordy and friends are back in this next installment in the Potion Masters series. This builds upon the previous book and cannot really be read as a standalone.

In this installment, there are enemies to face and new characters appear, making Gordy question who he can trust.. There are dilemmas and errors to be faced up to. The characters must deal with the consequences of actions. There is a real sense of danger and adventure which make it hard to put this book down and the twists and turns will definitely hold the imagination of KS2 readers.

Definitely one to add to the library.

This was such a fun book!
The second in the Potion Masters series, The Transparency Tonic picks up with Gordy starting the eighth grade. He is also training at B.R.E.W. headquarters to become an Elixirist. Things become a little more exciting when things start coming at him and his family from all sides. He has a classmate inviting him over for brewing parties, his mom's job is on the line, and his friend Adilene has become friends with a girl who knows more about brewing than most people. How will he handle all that's going on? Will he overcome all these obstacles?
Filled with fantasy and trials that Gordy and his friends have to work together to get past, this book is a great look at friendship, honesty, and playing to your strengths.
I highly recommend this book for any reader. I think this series would be great for even a reluctant reader since it is so engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gives me such feels. I loved it. I am not sure if it was YA or Middle Grade but I think it could go either way. Such highly recommend this book.

Fun addition to the growing series. Loved learning about all the new potions and the fun and creepy ingredients used in each. I had a fun time trying to figure out what was really happening behind the scenes, and I know I have to wait a while, but I'm looking forward to the next installment!

The friend, Max, started to get more annoying in this book than in the first one. He doesn't let up, and I wanted to scream at Gordy for doing things, even though he knew better. It's that whole idea of movie characters going to investigate in a scary house at night by themselves when they hear noises. It's NEVER a good idea. NEVER!

Gordy and the gang are back in The Transparency Tonic and are out to keep B.R.E.W. safe. 

It has been about a year since I read the first book and this one was just as enjoyable.  I read a lot so it did take me a short time to get back into the swing of the story and the characters, but once I refamiliarized myself it was like I had just finished the first book.  The author has a way of weaving a tale and making it enjoyable for all ages, not just the younger crowd.  I enjoyed the creativity of the characters when dealing with various situations and the potions that Gordy would come up with was ingenious.

There was one chapter that at first I felt was out of place with the flow of the story until I arrived at the end of the said chapter and then it all made much more sense.  I don't want to give away too much of the story but let's just say that things are not as they seem.

There is a young girl that is introduced that just set off all sorts of bad vibes for me.  I just had this feeling there was more to her story and what she was there to do than what was portrayed.

I have to say that this book does give me a good chuckle with the antics of Gordy, Max, and Adeline.  Even some of the adult characters are a bit mischevious and find themselves in some sticky situations.

The story ends well but does leave it open for future books and a continuation of the Stitser family.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It is the second in a series, and I haven't read the first. I thought I was going to struggle through it, but I didn't have any trouble.

Gordy and his two best friends find mischief in a potion making world. There's a couple of bad guys, there were different plots caving in on each other, and it was fast paced. I would totally recommend this series to Harry Potter fans and Percy Jackson fans. As a parent, I can't wait to read this series with my kids as more are released, but this book did well on its own, too.

The Transparency Tonic is the second book in the Potion Master series. A quick read for middle readers. Gordy, Max and Adilene are on a mission once again, to find answers to B.R.E.W.S. problems. Gordy is my favorite character, his potion master skills will get him into trouble or help him save his family. This book is action packed and will keep young readers turning pages to find out what happens next.

This is the sequel to the wonderful first book Potion Masters Eternity Elixir, and it is well worth the wait. This book has just as much action and suspense if not more, you will be reading past your bedtime until you are finished. Gordy and his friends have teamed up again to fight against those that wish to do harm to innocent people and the elixirists at B.R.E.W. like his mom. But strange things have been happening, Gordy brewing strange things and not remembering doing it, the new chancellor at B.R.E.W. who has it out for Gordy's mom, and what about Gordy's grandfather?

This book is for you if you like books you just can not put down, and if you haven't read the first one yet well there is still time to get it in before this one comes out.


this review will appear on my blog Jan 16th

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This middle grade fantasy book is the 2nd in the series. It is definitely a series best suited to be read by the target age audience as it may be too juvenile for young adult readers. The 2nd book seems to change quite a bit from the first one as far as the world of BREW was not well known in the first book and in this one it wasn’t secret at all. There were “evil villains” in this one but they seemed a bit stereotypical although that is pretty common for this reading level. Some of the characters personalities seemed to change from the first book and it was confusing. I preferred them in the first book, especially Max and Adilene. Overall though the series has appeal to middle grade readers who like fantasy and magical elements in their books.

I definitely recommend reading this series in order. A fun read for middle readers. I think it was too juvenile for older teens and not one I would suggest for adults. I think my 10 year old would really like it. The plot moves pretty quick and the characters are likable.

A most creative book and quite engaging for a wide range of readers. I would gladly recommend The Transparency Tonic to young adults as well as seasoned literacy vets. Interesting, riveting, and well worth the read.

I had a lot of fun reading the first installment in this series and looked forward to more adventures with Gordy, Max, and Adilene. Their first adventure was a great start that lacked a little refinement and details. I felt that this next episode did not do much to help the reader. Gordy’s world was still fun and full of new excitement, but left the reader with more questions than answers.
Right off the bat, I felt that Gordy’s world had changed drastically from the end of the first book. Where the world of B.R.E.W. was a well-guarded secret that only a few knew about, Gordy is now at a school full of drams and there is no mystery surrounding the headquarters. The idea of the evil villains coming together was quite muddled with over used stereotypes and not enough details.
The characters took a large turn for the worse as well. Gordy was still a good character with some tough decisions and a yearning to prove himself. Max went way overboard. Although he was a little free spirited and prone to trouble in the first novel, he bordered on obnoxious in this one. I started dreading seeing his name on the page because I knew he would make an over the top joke, suggest yet another bad idea, or let out a cocky comment. Adilene’s character was somewhat over dramatic and quick to make judgements and decisions. Where she was the voice of reason before, here she steps out of character and believes anything that her obviously strange new friend tells her.
It was all too dumbed down and scattered for my taste. As much as I wanted to get into the story, I kept rolling my eyes and getting put off by the plot lines and characters. This needs more consistency and congruity with its previous counterpart.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

Cole, Frank. The Transparency Tonic. Shadow Mountain, 2019.

Gordy is continuing his education as a dram at B.R.E.W., aided by his friends Max and Adilene. His family has moved into a new house, and there is a new principal at Gordy's school as well. The principal's daughter is a dram like Gordy, but Gordy thinks there's something odd about her and her family. Meanwhile, Gordy's grandfather, who has been exiled in a cave in the frozen north, has escaped and is pursuing means to make his escape permanent. Gordy may be the only potion master with the skills to stop his grandfather, but will he be able to make it in time?

This is a delightful adventure tale that fits right in with the first book in this series. The antics of Max will keep kids laughing, and the trio are reminiscent of Harry, Ron, and Hermione with their penchant for getting in trouble and the adventures they find themselves in. The action sequences carry this story and will have readers turning pages to find out what happens next. Give to fans of the Harry Potter series, the many Rick Riordan series, or the Iron Trial.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: some intense action and mild fantasy peril
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.

This is book 2 in the series. I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed the 1st book. This is a quick paced book and develops quickly. I do recommend reading book 1 before reading this one.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Gordy is an elixirist in training. He has been granted special privileges to have two lab assistants. His mom is his adviser at B.R.E.W, at least until she is suddenly demoted by her new boss. Aunt Priss hasn’t been seen in a long time. And, the new principal and his daughter (Sasha Brexil) could be a problem. Especially, since Sasha is also an elixirist in training. B.R.E.W.’s enemies seem to be mounting a war with Gordy and his family stuck in the middle. Could Gordy’s exceptional abilities get him exsponged of his powers forever? And, who is Adeline’s mysterious new friend? This is a wonderful middle grade fantasy series that keeps getting better. It is a great match for fans of Brandon Mull, Leven Thumps, and Harry Potter. Grades 3 – 8.