Dealing with Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers

Sorcerer's Grimoire #2

by A.J. Sherwood

As Shakespeare once said, the course of true love never did run smooth.

Since parting with Adrien after their first case, Hugh Quartermain has committed himself to one he wants Adrien. With the months’ long trip to Brazil ahead of them, Hugh should have no problem confessing, right?

The problem is the universe seems determined to thwart Hugh. Between creatures terrorizing his worksite, bothersome Americans, and not having any alone time with Adrien, Hugh’s foiled at every turn. When Hugh does get Adrien one-on-one, his advances always hit the wall Adrien refuses to lower, but the rare flare of desire in Adrien’s gaze motivates him to keep trying.

Come hell or highwater, Hugh will confess to Adrien. He just has to figure out how

Adventures in Brazil, commence!, magical AU, friends to lovers, healthy communication, Hugh’s genius saves the day, confessions in unusual locations, apprentices being awesome, Prince Henry to the rescue, and yes he quite enjoyed that, portals, fights, and shenanigans, oh my!, monsters are always in the most inconvenient locations, romantic getaway in Thailand, oh look relationship development, pesky Americans, romantic getaway, cheeky apprentices, minor home renovations as a romantic gift, Darby is best girl

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, M M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, LGBT

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2024

About the author

AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.

She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.

Reviews

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I had high hopes for this since book one was so incredibly good.

Maybe I shouldn’t have read the blurb.
Maybe because I did the first half of the book dragged on quite a bit. The shameless flirting on Hugh’s part and his desperate need for Adrien to understand his intentions without actually telling Adrien his intentions was just plain stupid. And because I read the blurb I knew this was coming and would be a big part of the plot. Sadly.

To top that off, the change in their relationship was quite sudden. I mean, I expected it, but it wasn’t what I wished for.
Hugh and Adrien did have good chemistry though. But the romance in general could have been better. The declaration of love was as sudden as the change in their relationship and just seemed a bit out of place. I really wished this was even more of a slow-burn since that would’ve felt more relatable and more fitting.

The plot was quite interesting, although it only started in the second half of the book.
I was looking forward to Brazil and the Mapinguari. It was a bit disappointing how easily and how fast the Mapinguari were dealt with. It should’ve been an adventure as grand as the one with the Serpents in book one. It definitely wasn’t though.

I quite liked the end of this book at least.
And I guess my review’s been too negative so far (I did enjoy this book even if it might not sound like it) but I really think the ending made this book better. And the characters helped immensely too of course. I’m still a big fan of Adrien and the boys. That most certainly hasn’t changed.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrien, Hugh, Mac, and Julien are back at it again. This time dealing with a worksite problem in the Amazon. Adrien and Hugh are adorable together and I love Mac and Julien. I hope they find love too.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. The soft burn is going places, the adventures are exciting, we are seeing more of the world, and the teens are being cute. And we are getting more so I am happy

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Dealing with Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers is the second book in A.J. Sherwood’s engaging Sorcerer’s Grimoire series. The last book teased this new adventure at the end of the story, and we jump into things here. Before the group heads to Brazil, they make preparations at home, which gives us a chance to catch up with everyone. We also see Adrien’s cousin, George, make good on his promise to legally adopt the boys, giving them the Danvers name. It allows Julian and MacMallin to have a standing in society they could never otherwise attain, and it helps to further restore the bond that had been damaged between the cousins when Adrien came out.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[V.ya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit underwhelming compared to the first one. The fight with the mapinguari was so ridiculously easy. Like, one shot, and they’re dead. Really?

At least good to see the main couple got together now.

[OneDayI'll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn

Slow burn and the better for it. I truly do love that fact that they've built a friendship, and a partnership around the boys, before pursuing a relationship between them. I still don't understand the dislike of the prince, and how 1 lower ranking member of a family can adopt over the denial of a higher ranking family member- the head of the family. In those days, it wouldn't have worked. The Earl would have shut it down and no one could gainsay it. Especially as the other family member had been disowned. Still allowed the family name but not considered a part any more, so the adoption would have been prevented easily. Some characters (high ranking friends!) were forgotten in Argentina, their exits not marked, and their help not thanked. And a former lover playing the part of briefly seen, and overdone trope of, bullying "won't go away" ex adds to the start of a downhill slide from what was a fun and enjoyable series. It's like once they moved on to the steam scenes the plot and characters start to lose cohesion and charm. So, while you're cheering on the relationship finally moving forward, you're scratching your head wondering why you liked the story as it starts to droop and fray.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio: 4.25⭐️

I love the crew and enjoyed being on a new adventure with them. Adrien's reunion with his cousin and his family's ready acceptance of the boys is heartwarming. It's also nice to spend time with Julian and see his kindness and growing confidence. Overall, the story is fun, sweet and entertaining. However, it’s unbalanced and less engaging than A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents.

The journey to Brazil and getting to the site takes up most of the page time, and while the climatic solving of the mystery is similar to the first book in that it features simultaneous human and creature foes, it has none of the care or sense of stakes. Adrien's battle in the cave and with the sea serpent in the previous book is well done and doesn't make Adrien *too* OP. Here, they basically breeze in and take care of things. Adrien feels more like Tan from Sherwood's serial series—a sorcerer who can basically do anything bc only the shenanigans matter.

The action (such as it is) is bland and rushed; so too is Adrien and Hugh's change in circumstances. Hugh expressing his interest in Adrien is ridiculously drawn out. The "I could never get you alone" excuse does the heavy lifting of 15 world champions combined and just fails after a while. There's even a scene where they are utterly alone in Adrien's cabin. I'm supposed to believe they couldn't do that again for weeks, especially when they are alone he goes all in? However, it's just so nice to see Hugh finally open Adrien's eyes and Adrien's happiness that I almost don't care.

There's also a few lines of repeated dialogue for things learned from the 1st book that are almost word for word, which crops ups more and more in her books. Despite this one not being as structurally sound or as compelling a story as the first book, I still really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next adventure. Hopefully, there will be some page time showcasing MacMallin's engineering skills or spending time with Hugh again. It's clear Julian will eventually get his own book, but I hope Macmallin doesn't get lost in the process.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 2025
I so love this series and it is one of my go-to series. I hope the next book comes out soon (it is already in draft, so hopefully)
Joel does a great job in narrating it

First review
Sometimes, there are books that just speak to you. They may not be perfect in an objective sense but perfect for you.

The first book in this series was such a book for me (read it already 3 times and can't wait to get the audiobook),
and I was anxious to get my hands on this book.

And it was perfect 🥰.

I love this set of characters so much, not only Aidan and Hugh but also Julian and Mac ... and if course the twins.

Aidan and Hughs' relationship develops further, and it was lovely! But to reduce this book to that would be a big disservice to the book and the reader.
This story gave me a lot of experiences with favourite people, and I loved reading it.

There are now new characters I want to know more about, and I really hope that the next book comes out soon!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made me smile

I always find it interesting how so many people can die in AJ Sherwood books and yet they still feel warm and fuzzy!

This had monsters, thieves, magic, and a sweet romance. It was an easy read.

[Sahsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the first book and screamed into the void when I realized I would have to wait for the next book to be released. I cannot express how disappointed I am. This feels like it was written by a completely different author!

Everything is sticky sweet with emotions. It is a weird combincation of internal monologue angst and zero friction coupling. Once they pull their heads out of their asses, everything fits together seamlessly, too seamlessly.

But what really drove me nuts:

1. The internal monologues...ugh.

"Turning back to the ocean view, Hugh took some time to engrave Adrien's glorious smile into his mind. He still had no idea if Adrien would really want to be lovers or not. Hugh took positive encouragement based on how Adrien had reacted when he'd tied the man's tie a few days ago. Still, that could have been lust. While Hugh liked the idea of Adrien being attratcted to him, a casual lover wasn't what Hugh wanted."

It goes on for PAGES. Does he want me? What if he is disgusted by me? What if we don't share the same NATURE. Spoiler: book contains overuse of that word.

2. The author is determined to spell out every single logistical consideration through the dialogue. Because, ya know, that makes a story exciting!

Anastasia had her thinking cap on. "Get in as close as you dare, then build a doorway and portal Cynric through. How long would that take?"
"Two, three days," Ribeiro said. "Depending on the weather and such. They can take a riverboat straight there."
"In two or three days, Cynric should be able to join you, Ananstasia pointed out. "The timing should work out very fine indeed."
It was true, that was the case. Adrien looked to Ribeiro, who knew the area far better than he did. "Is it possible to book passage on a boat for tomorrow?"
Ribeiro grunted. "Easy, easy. Most boats leave early morning. You ready for that?"

All conversations occur like this - boring, logistical, telling rather than showing.

3. MacMallin is a nepo baby. He has barely begun his apprenticeship and Hugh is promising to leave his business empire to him:

"I've no children and no other apprentices," Hugh said, still amused. "Who the devil is supposed to get it all when I die, then? Of course you."

MacMallin has done nothing to demonstrate his business acumen of advanced engineering mind. He's just Adrien's son, so of course he deserves to be a millionaire.

4. Adrien is actually a bad guy.

"Yes, Adrien hadn't realized the Americans had this any people here either. He had only seen six when he's been here with Hugh. Clearly, reinforcements had joned since then. A few Chinese workers were scattered about the place. Some of the men looked to be natives, no doubt here for a paycheck. Seemed a pity they'd pay with their lives instead."

SO DON'T KILL THEM. Why do they have to murder all of the workers who were just doing the job they were hired to do?

I'm sad because the premise could have been amazing. Instead, I hate-read my way through it, growing more frustrated as I waited for it to get better and it just didn't.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical, imaginative, with beautifully crafted characters

Rating: 4.5🌈

It’s hard to rate exactly which of Sherwood’s many series are my favorites, but The Sorcerer’s Grimoire is, even at two books, among those I hold dear.

It’s in the universe she’s created, so recognizable and yet not, magical, imaginative and with our histories carefully bound together. It’s in the beautifully crafted, multidimensional characters she’s created and then given such emotional histories that, as readers we can’t help but attach ourselves to them, investing in their lives and stories.

Whether it’s the boys, Julian and MacMallin, and their horrific start on the streets before Adrien’s rescue or Adrien himself and his abysmal family life, there’s so many backstories to these characters. The strength and wonder of this dynamic that builds between the three of them is such a heartwarming element. The boys each develop into young men with their own unique powers and interests while gaining confidence in themselves. The same goes for Adrien and his new relationship with Hugh.

That’s Sir Hugh Quartermain, a businessman, engineer extraordinaire, and someone who’s coming to love Adrien, despite all the barriers he’s raised. And in a time and land when homosexuality isn’t legal.

The tapestry on which these relationships play out is a magical trip to Brazil to a manganese mine. There’s jungle monsters holding up the mining, killing the workers, and Hugh needs their help.

It’s everyone off to an epic adventure! The first one abroad for the boys and an old enemy and a meeting with even older friends for Adrien.

Sherwood even gives us some major drama on the home front which will lead into the next book.

I will say that I was surprised but happy to see that Adrien and Hugh were able to move forward with their relationship. I thought Sherwood was going to stretch out the romance into a really slow burn. But it makes sense given the context.

The boys are such an amazing aspect of this series. They show such growth in their personalities and interests, yet retain the same fears still that the horrors of the street instilled in them. Julian and MacMallin are truly unforgettable young men. So are their Masters, Adrien and Hugh. I need more of all four plus their dog, Darby.

I’m highly recommending this book but read the series in order to understand the universe and the relationships.

The Sorcerer’s Grimoire:
- [x] A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents #1
- [x] Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogg ed Engineers #2

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in The Sorceror's Grimoire series. I borrowed this on ebook from Kindle Unlimited.

Thoughts: I loved this book just as much, if not more, than the first book in this series. This is a wonderful cozy fantasy with some action, adventure, and quite a bit of romance.

Hugh has convinced Adrien and Adrien's wards to accompany him to Brazil to hunt down and secure a rare mineral. The team initially sent either disappeared or told tales of a ferocious Mapinguari that had made its home in the area. Along the way Hugh hopes to confess his romantic intentions to Adrien but Adrien isn't making it easy. Hugh also hopes to start training his new apprentice. Adrien hopes that this travel will be an excellent experience for his wards as well... if he can just keep them safe and alive.

This book is mainly a romance but doesn't skimp on the plot, magic, or adventure. I love how kind the characters are to each other and love watching Adrien build himself a new family as well as make amends with his birth family. Watching Hugh trying to navigate romancing Adrien is hilarious, especially when Adrien's pre-teen wards step in to help. There is a lot of humor and a lot of caring and love in this story.

Now, that isn't to say there isn't adventure and magic as well. The journey to Brazil ends up having perils of its own and, once they get there, it will take all of Adrien's considerable magical skill to keep everyone alive and safe.

I enjoyed the characters and how they interact immensely. I also enjoyed the adventure to an exotic location and learning about the monsters that inhabit that area. The magic and action are well done, and the plot is fairly simple but also entertaining.

This is just a fun and feel good read. It's easy to read, flows well, and is highly entertaining while leaving you feel positive and happy. I sincerely hope we get more books in this series.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this and hope there are more books in this series. This is such a funny, feel-good read with romance, adventure, magic, and a wonderful sense of family. I definitely plan to check out more of Sherwood's books; I had no idea she was such a prolific author. She also writes under numerous different pen names, and I plan to check out her steampunk books soon (written under the name Honor Raconteur).

[Lisa M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, I couldn't read the one and not immediately jump into the next book. It would be criminal.

So here we have Hugh trying so hard to confess his love, but finding himself unable to do so for a variety of reasons. Interruptions, Adrian not being in the right mindset to hear it, Americans with guns, you know, the usual. Until finally they're trapped by some very scary and threatening men and tossed into the bottom of an empty well with no apparent means of escape, at which point he thinks "Ah, finally. This is perfect." And it was like the worst way to have a romantic moment, which Adrian recognizes, too, and that just made it even more hilarious.

Mac and Julian are both thriving. Love that for them. Julian has gained enough skill and confidence in his magic to take his own initiatives for things like fixing the flatware on the ship. Mac has been catching up on his reading and his math enough to start working with Hugh, successfully taking things apart to see how they work and putting them back together, starting to learn how all of the factories work, finally doing the work he enjoys best.

Also, Prince Henry coming in clutch there at the end! I didn't see that coming, I thought he was sort of an entitled prick, because that's how Adrian talks about him. But apparently he's mostly a good guy, and he actually really respects Adrian, enough to go out of his way to help him. Turns out him and Adrian just kind of... Like hating each other? Prince Henry will needle Adrian, be demanding and entitled toward him til he runs out of breath, but he doesn't want anything actually bad to happen to him. Adrian will roll his eyes and complain every time the Prince calls on him, but he'll always do it anyway because he recognizes that the Prince actually does have good intentions for his people. They're both just sort of like "He's a good guy, he's very reliable and talented, and I respect him greatly... Also I can't stand his presence." Like they're both on the same page of just mutually disliking each other on a personal level but not a professional one, and having that all sort of come to fruition at the very end was like a nice little cherry on top.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So in this second of the series The Sorcerer's Grimoire, the focus is more on Hugh and Adrien, on them finding their footing, figuring out just how to talk with one another, how to possibly, hopefully, become more than friends. A lot of set up was involved, getting everyone ready to go to Brazil, then getting on the ship, going into Brazil and finding it far too perilous for Mac and Julian to enter the jungle. So, there's some alone time for Adrien and Hugh. They grow closer as friends as their journey starts, with Hugh letting Adrien know he's aware of his leanings in the relationship area and has no problem with it. Unfortunately, before more can be said, they're interrupted by the boys. Ah, Julian and Mac! I do enjoy their roles in this book, as apprentices as well as family for Adrien, helping him learn to open up, to see he doesn't need to be so guarded all the time.

While I would've liked a bit more action (while there were some action-filled moments, I thought it could've been more fun to have a bit more in there with the Mapinguari), I did greatly enjoy the relationships evolving in this book, having the characters become closer, learning more about one another. Oh, and both Cynric and Anastasia both come back! They're just great fun, always so lovingly teasing of Adrien. And they're taken with the boys, so that's definitely a plus. And Adrien's cousin, George and wife, Emily, make an appearance, George showing Adrien how sincere he was in accepting him into the family. I definitely wouldn't mind having more of Emily; the way she was with the boys, as well as Adrien, as well as how direct she was, how she wanted to know things most 'ladies' wouldn't....I imagine she could be quite a lot of fun!

I definitely recommend this and look forward to whenever the next book comes out, as it's already been set up and sounds so intriguing!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entering the world

After the slow burn of the first book Adrien is now working at introducing his apprentices to the wider world and get back to the normal business of being a well respected and powerful international sorcerer. This also means being quite busy as well as dealing with other countries and other nasty creatures. All the while Hugh is still around and certainly trying to assess making something more happen with him and Adrien.

While there isn't the same need for setup as the first book and it isn't a draw out alow burn, there is still time taken and no big rushes as first in developing the continuing relationship between Adrien and Hugh. After all, in England there is still the legalities of their relationship to consider, and in the wider world it isn't always accepted either. But Hugh is well willing to take the chance to make that connection, and when with Adrien enjoying living in Thailand and abroad more than England the chance is there. It is just a matter of seeing that they can actually have something together.

The work and beasties in this book were enjoyable as well. Though the problems could be short at times, the magic and solutions needed were fascinating. Add in the issues with other countries and the politics of this world and it made for a fun read.

There is a lead in to the next book in the form of the jobs that are coming up and what has lead to them. It involved a good conclusion to a concerning point in the book, along with an indication of future fun jobs and books to come. Looking forward to it!

[Daphne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The romance and relationships made this a fun read for the most part. The quick story is like an Indiana Jones style magic adventure.

I'm not a fan of side characters telling the main characters how their love interest feels about them, but I can overlook that. Loved the found family aspect.

The hard part for me to overlook, as a Brazilian, is the depiction of Brazil. Hugh is my fave, so it was hard to watch him reason out his actions when those actions result in the deaths of indigenous folks. His entire goal is to strip minerals from a mine in the Amazon rainforest and I don't see how I could cheer him on his mission.

I also didn't understand the use of portals. Sometimes they could portal around long distances and other times it was better to take a ship for three weeks. I understood how the characters explained the choices, but it felt somewhat arbitrary. Also, why take a ship to Rio and then portal to the Amazon River Delta? Especially when the historic port town of Belém is right there as a destination to travel to from London. I didn't understand. Also, a minor detail, but the inaccurate use of Portuguese by a Brazilian character in one scene really took me out of the story.

Overall, it's a fun read but I'm only giving it 2 out of 5 starts due to the bits I mentioned above. I think with some research and reframing of motivation and magic systems, this would be a 5 star fun read.

[Amy Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

All it takes is one page to ruin everything!

The second book in this series, it starts out well. The characters are compelling, there is some neat world building, and the slow burn romance appropriately paced and sweet.

And then: the big baddie fight. And it turns out I’m not sure I can root for the so-called good guys anymore. When one of the main characters says they have to kill everyone who opposes them. Not just the mercenaries who captured them, the workers as well. Literally “there are some locals here as well, probably here for a paycheck. Shame they’ll lose their lives instead.” WTF?! The reader is supposed to be cool with wholesale slaughter of people who just happen to be in the way? And then the main characters sweetly hold hands as other people clean up the bodies?

More than that, Hugh explains in a blasé manner to start with that he kept losing people he sent there, they are probably dead, so his buisness partner refuses to send in anymore? Wow, that’s cold. I just find that ruthlessness sickening and it rather taints the characters and the book as a whole for me.

[Emilye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running In Place

SorcererGrimoire2

Adrien Danvers’ world is still expanding. His favorite cousin, George, Earl of Danvers, has insisted on legitimizing Adrien’s apprentices by adopting the boys into his branch of the family; thereby supporting Adrien and restoring the core of their relationship. And, George’s wife Emily is a hoot.

Sir Hugh Quartermain is determined in his pursuit of Adrien as someone closer than a friend, aided and abetted by the boys who want their Master to be happy.

And the boys are each coming into their own sense of accomplishment, as the adults in their lives offer support, grounding and encouragement. Language and appearance allow them to be seen for the talents they are, despite their unfortunate beginnings.

Hugh just has to wear down Adrien’s self-protective wall to get to the heart of kindness and caring he has sought in a partner for life.

Wonderful!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 70%

The pacing was weird, taking forever for anything to happen, then the main story happens in the last 40% of the book. Her books are careless like this sometimes, probably the Patreon Effect (where the author believes all the people on there that the book is so wonderful when it really needs a LOT of work). It was also super gross when the two MCs finally got to the burn part of their slow burn right after they'd just eaten a big meal. They didn't even clean up from the very dirty two days they had on the river first. There is nothing less sexy than that in the world. Really please authors it's icky and if you've never experienced it yourself, which seems fairly obvious in this case, please take my word for it because just ewwwww. Your tummy should be empty and you should be CLEAN. 🤢🤢

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this but not so much I will re-listen to the audio. In fact, I didn't really enjoy the narration and it may have detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I do love Adrien who is so clueless about Hugh's attraction to him as the story opens. And I liked poor Hugh who was so respectful of Adrien that he didn't realize Adrien returned his feelings. Their romance was a key component of the plot.

The rest of the plot was meh, no big deal. The buildup of the terrible monster took quite some time but when faced with it, the issue was resolved quickly. So it seemed hardly worth dealing with. Or was that another quirk I gleaned from the narration and would have appreciated in more detail if I read it. I don't know.

I only know that it was a letdown compared to all the other wonderful and imaginative adventures this author has taken me on.

[Nori H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of Dealing with Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers (isn't that a great title?!).
I am enjoying AJ Sherwood's Sorcerer's Grimoire series to the max! Not only is the story exciting and unique, the development of the character's abilities and relationships is welcomed. Soooo glad Adrien and Hugh have a chance to talk alone.
I find this second book as good as the first and am chomping at the bit, or rather charging up the iPhone and bone conducting head phones in great anticipation of the third book in the series. AJ Sherwood is prolific, and I hope she manages to squeeze in the third book ahead of her other projects (hint, hint!). David Lee Huynh narrates this story beautifully!

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this second book as entertaining as the first. The slow development of a relationship between the MCs was lovely. The plot and storyline was well paced and developed. While a few have called it slow or dragging, I found it suited the given period and technology. When action hits it is as fast and harsh as it is in real life. AJ Sherwood's world is a complex and layered place with rules and morals that echo that period in our timeline.
If you want a good story that will take you away for a spell - this is it, but read the first book before this one - it is not a stand-alone. If you are looking for non-stop action and sex - move along as this is not the book for you.

[Jessie H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! I loved getting more of the slow burn between Adrien and Hugh! Oh! The pining in this one! So much pining!

I loved getting to see more of this world and the magical creatures! And can I say how much I love the main cast of this book!?! I loved seeing Hugh and Adrien falling more for each other! We got more Mac, Julian, Anastasia, and Cynric! I especially loved getting more time in Julian's head and seeing things from his point of view. We also got to see more of Adrien's family connections and seeing that dynamic is fascinating!

And that ending! OMG! It has me so excited for the next book!

[Ivan Sumblingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh😁! So good!

The second book did not disappoint at all! The whole gang is back with Adrien, Hugh, Julian, Mac, Darby (my 1st favorite character), Anastasia, Cynric, Captain, George, and Emily (my 2nd favorite character). I love stories involving animals (reason why I like Darby) and children (Julian and Mac). More fun and adventure for everyone. You must read the first book before this one though. By doing that it gives you the whole back story to the forefront. I cannot wait the 3rd book to come out.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 It was lovely to get to spend more time with Adrien, Hugh, Julian, and Mac. We get more focus on Hugh and Adrien’s relationship here, as Hugh tries to get Adrien to realise just what he feels and what he wants—quite a journey, as it turns out, lol. We get to know George (and his wife Emily) a bit better, have some fun travel, and send some bad guys and jerks packing. I love how fierce this group is in protecting one another. I didn’t expect the person who appeared at the end and am looking forward to the next adventure that results!

[Stacie Streck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what it is, but I was genuinely bored to tears. I had to DNF around 50% because reading it felt like work. Even switching to the audiobook didn't help. I made it through the first book with him, but I literally couldn't stand him the second one. No matter how fast I sped the book up, I still hated how he sounded. His fake accent made me want to claw out my eardrums. Again, I'm sure he'd be fine if he wasn't playing a part, but this was not it.

While disappointed, I'm not all that surprised.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrien, Mac, and Julian are accompanying Hugh to Brazil to try to figure out what curse or creature is threatening the workers at Hugh's factory. Hugh plans to confess his feelings to Adrien, but there never seems to be an opportunity.

This book has more romance and less magic than the first book, although there’s still some very interesting and dangerous creatures. I enjoyed Hugh and Adrien's relationship, but I felt it was a bit repetitive and I missed some of the more interesting aspects of book one.

[She Who Shall Remain Nameless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! This was so good!!!

I absolutely love the world this author has built and could very happily read dozens of stories set within it. It was wonderful seeing Hugh and Adrien’s relationship progress. Hugh is just such a patient man, and Adrien is just so adorably clueless sometimes. All of our favorite side characters were included, and another adventure was set up during the spectacular epilogue. Overall, two enthusiastic thumbs up!

[Stefania Corbini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally some spice! i have waited with crossed fingers for Sir Hugh to make a move.
That said the story is fast paced, and the romance paly a strong role but merge seamlessly with the main plot. I appreciated the cameo of Prince Henry a lot, as i love the validation of Adrian capabilities and caring nature from an outside point of view.
I loved also Julian POV and hope to see even more of both him and Mac in the next book.

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers

The 2nd book in “The Scorcerer Sorcerer’s Grimoire” series continues where the 1st book ended. Hugh asks Adrien alongside Julien and MacMillan, who have both been adopted into the Danvers family, to accompany him to Brazil in order to aid in sorting out a problem with a Manganese mine he’s acquired.
Amazonian river cruises, transatlantic crossings, fabled monsters and claim jumping Americans are just some of the things encountered.