The Potion Gardener

Flos Magicae #4.5

by Arden Powell

Desperate to escape a messy romance, Florian Mulberry flees tipsy, panicked, and without a plan. It’s while hiding in a rural garden shed that he meets Kells, a potion witch, who agrees to shelter him in exchange for manual labor until he gets his life together. Leaving his pampered London existence to work on a secluded cottage farm is a shock, but Florian throws himself into it with passionate determination.

And it’s not just gardening he's passionate about. In no time, Florian falls head over heels for his skillful, hardworking mentor.

There’s just one problem. Florian is only disguised as a boy, and the enchantment hiding his real body is going to wear off. Florian’s main concern is how to explain himself when it happens. He's definitely not a girl, but he's not entirely a boy, either. With all the magic in Kells’ garden, there must be a way to achieve his ideal androgyny.

However he looks, Florian will have to face his past if he wants a future with Kells. Even if he avoids London forever, eventually his past is going to come looking for the girl he used to be.

The Potion Gardener is a low-stakes, low-angst cozy fantasy novella in the Flos Magicae series, a collection of queer romances set in an alternate 1920s world with magic. Featuring a trans, nonbinary lead, a butch cis lesbian love interest, a scruffy terrier with anxiety, and a great deal of gardening. All the Flos Magicae stories are standalones, and can be read in any order.

Genres: Queer, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Fiction

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2024

About the author

Arden Powell (they/them) is a Canadian author and illustrator with stories in Lightspeed Magazine, Baffling Magazine, and Haunt Publishing, and whose books include The Faerie Hounds of York, The Bayou, the Flos Magicae series, and their short story collection, The Carnelian King and Other Stories. A nebulous entity, they live with a senior rescue hound and an exorbitant number of houseplants, and enjoy the company of both.

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Reviews

[Arden Powell]

The Potion Gardener is my newest instalment in the Flos Magicae universe! For the first time, I'm explicitly writing in detail about gender identity and transitioning, albeit through a very magical lens. This is a book about trans joy, gender euphoria, building yourself the life you want (even if it's not the life you ever expected), and, of course, queer romance.

The Potion Gardener comes out on May 1, and I hope you enjoy it, whether you're a trans reader looking for some light-hearted escapism, a nonbinary reader wanting to see yourself represented in a fantasy story, or a romance reader looking to curl up with something low-stakes and cozy.

[Verdelite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cozy, very queer read.
I'm happy about the enby rep and I think the author did a great job at their portrayal.

I didn't quite warm up to Kells though. Maybe her... pragmatic nonchalance is just not my type but I was hoping for more zingy romance. While her assuredness can be comforting, her attitude felt at times a bit too close to indifference to me, and although both the reader and Flore know that that is not the case, I would've liked something more overtly romantic, particularly in the beginning of a relationship.

In any case, this was a cozy, comforting read (even if it was a tad too cozy for me. I do like my drama) and you should give it a try if you like a.) a self-assured butch lesbian whom you can lean on or b.) wholesome enby rep.
Can a book be gender-affirming? Because reading The Potion Gardener certainly felt very gender-affirming.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Felicia Davin]

This is a lovely, heartwarming story about what if you ran away from all your problems to experience magical gender euphoria in a country cottage with a hot butch gardener, and then along the way you learned to face your problems, and also the hot butch gardener loved you enough to let you stay. Ideal.

[Para (wanderer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for the ARC of this book.

Oh, this was wonderful. Gardening, beekeeping, magic, cozy vibes, and gender exploration, what else could I want? This is oddly enough the first book I read in this series, but it definitely won't be the last. The first couple pages explaining how Florian landed in their predicament were a little awkwardly written and felt out of place, but after that it was smooth sailing. There is a big emphasis on clear communication, which I always appreciate in romance, and the gender vibes...hell yes.

Recommended!

Enjoyment: 4/5
Execution: 4/5

More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.

[Kat]

A twenty-something year old disaster queer runs away from their life and spontaneously shacks up with a butch lesbian potion-maker, where they get to live the rural cottagecore dream while trying to figure out their gender identity.

A Novel Arrangement remains the high water mark for this series, but this was really charming! The exploration of gender vs presentation was really well conceptualized and explored through the magic and the seamlessly shifting pronouns. Arden Powell’s knack for lush descriptions and beautiful atmosphere also absolutely sings in such a quaint, green setting.

This is another age gap romance, which just isn’t my personal thing, and I also would’ve preferred if this book took place in North America like the previous ones - I’m not totally sure why the story has jumped to the UK, but I think at times it’s a bit awkward and quite clear the author isn’t from there.

Enjoyed and highly recommend to anyone looking for a queer romance including a trans coming-out story that’s magical and low-angst. This was a super cozy, comforting breath of fresh air.

[Benji · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cozy fantasy age gap romance with lots of gardening and potions. Florian’s exploration of their gender was the part of this novella that I was interested in, their dissatisfaction with both binary genders and struggle to understand what other options may be available was extremely relatable. Unfortunately I found Florian as a character to be overly whiny, their romance with Kells was uninteresting, and the book as a whole was lackluster. This once again confirms that cozy, low-stakes fantasy isn’t for me

CW: gender dysphoria

[Kara Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! Flore is a lot of fun and vaguely gives me Howl vibes (a little flighty and whimsical) while Kell is stalwart and practical. They're a good match, and it's lovely to see nonbinary rep with magical gender affirming alterations.

[Mariella Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the feeling that this was supposed to be a story that was mainly self-exploration. But we never actually get to see most of that exploration on-screen so it feels underdeveloped. As usual, I do like the magic though. Very interesting takes on gardening and potions and art-magic.

[Kassu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for some cosy fantasy. The everyday magic in this series is a treat and I'm glad we're talking about plants again. (I have a very black thumb but care about nature and enjoy nature magic in my entertainment.) But most of all, this one is a story about gender awakening, and luckily that is one of the best parts of this novella.

Florian's gender exploration is obviously not the same as mine, but I found it interesting and relatable. The magical possibilities add another dimension to the story. Also, the story is rather uplifting. While the Flos Magicae alternate historical world doesn't embrace all genders and sexualities, it's a lot more lenient and really doesn't focus on the possibilities of persecution. The major characters in these books are usually friendly and understanding.

So this was lovely, but I wasn't very enthusiastic about the romance. It's nice enough, but not the strength of this book. I think it might be a good thing that romance doesn't take the stage in this
story but I am a romance reader and this is a romance series, so I deduct the score a bit because of this.

All of the books in the series are standalone but some have stronger ties to others, and might benefit from reading another story with the supporting characters first. This one is very standalone and can easily be an entry to the series.

Big thanks to the author for the ARC.

  “So, pull yourself togther, and go deal with your engagements like a bloody adult.”
  “I ran away sepcifically to avoid my adult responsibilities,” Florian said mournfully. “I wanted to be a little ornamental hermit in someone's garden.”

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not sexy and honestly it was kind of a slog.

We meet Flora. She's flaky. She has two best friends that she's also dating separately and she has to choose which one she's going to marry. Because her parents are affluent and this is the 1920s...ish? They want her to marry the guy friend and not the lady friend. Also magic is a thing that is normal.

So in true flighty fashion, Flora runs away in a drunken stupor and ends up passed out in the garden of a gentle dom (no nothing nearly as exciting as that happens here). Only she is dressed as a man and wants to see how that plays out.

Thus begins a summer of Flora becoming an obnoxiously horny roommate named Florian.

This is a trans evolution story and that aspect is fine. Unfortunately it's billed as a sexy-fun-time story and it falls so flat in that regard. This is like a cozy slice of life on a magical farm except the farmer has a ditzy pet twink that I didn't really care for. For reals, though, Florian is emotionally exhausting.

Anyway, I did like the pronoun usage as Florian's identity develops. For all their flaws, I do appreciate flawed characters. I just really wanted more smut y'all.

[Megan]

A really sweet, charming novella set in Powell's 1920s+magic universe, perfectly standalone with a satisfying character arc and a lovely romance. I especially enjoyed Powell's writing in this one; Florian, to my delight, came across as something adjacent of a Wodehousian protagonist, a gentler version, full of bluster and enthusiasm and joyful naivete and dubious ability to be gainfully employed and while also being confuddled about the multiple engagements they'd entangled versions of themselves in. If, you know, Wodehousian protagonists also got to experience gender exploration and euphoria as part of their arcs, and their mistaken identity plots were about partitioned-gender-identities. I also adored Kells and her pragmaticism and practicality and bluntness, and as someone with an anxious terrier of her own, I loved every moment of Grim.

[JL Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book for atmosphere, writing, and the nonbinary experience. The descriptions of the plants and gardens were lovely, and the two characters were very fun and likeable. I sort of wish we'd seen or met Florian before this so we had a better sense of the character, but I still really enjoyed them as a character and definitely related to their struggles with identity and social expectation. The dynamic between Florian and Kells was also very fun and engaging. This is definitely a book that's very low on plot or any real sense of conflict and narrative, but for a story that's about the place and worldbuilding and characters, it was still very enjoyable to read. Although at this point, I'll likely read anything in the Flos Magicae series because I just love the world and writing style so much :)

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet and fluffy and just the right amount of off-the-wall - Florian is a trans person working to figure out their identity, and falls for a no-nonsense potion maker. She’s able to help them explore magic as a way to change their body to help it match who they are, which was so fun

[Eperdu · Rating 4 out of 5]

an absolute delight

Arden never fails to spin a tale that feels so genuine and lovely. The world they’ve built continues to surprise and me and make me smile.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
That was simply lovely!

[Amy (I'd Rather Be Sleeping)]

Now that I got your attention:

Flore is a cheating cheater who cheats.

They suffer no repercussions. The cheating is excused because "I've never been unfaithful before." So it's totally okay. After all, they totally won't do it again, I pwomise. Because, after all, the two relationships that Flore was involved in (and said that negotiations were made about before the start of this book) only show up to be all like: yeah, no problem. Of course, they are never actually told that Flore was having sex with someone else while still dating them - but even if they had, that would certainly be perfectly fine because this book 100% bends over backwards to show that 'cheating once is okay - especially if it's for twu wuv.'

And also there is the love interest being all like 'yeah, this is fine, it's okay if you loose interest in me and run away the same way your did your other two relationships because I've had a broken heart before.'

So... Oh, yeah, this is my status update that I posted over on the Storygraph:


Welp, the worst I was expecting since Flora mentioned that she has a betrothed and another side piece: Flore has cheated and revealed themselves as a cheating cheater who cheats. (Also, Kells has revealed herself to have no moral compunctions about assisting the cheating.)

"No one wants to hear about ex-lovers in bed!"

But that's the problem: they aren't ex-lovers.

"I don't want to give you the wrong impression. Neither Charlie or Anna ever mistreated me; I wasn't miserable with either of them."

Not that it's an excuse, but Flore doesn't even have the 'excuse' of 'I was miserable so I cheated.'

"Even if I don't go back to London immediately, I know I've got to break off both relationships for good. I was sort of pretending up till now that I might go back to them, but that's not fair now that I've slept with you. Running away without notice was one thing, but I've never been unfaithful."

...There is so much to unpack here.

1. This is Flore, admitting after the 'ex-lovers' remark that Charlie and Anna are, in fact, not ex-lovers.
2. Apparently it is only 'not fair' now that Flore has fucking fucked someone else instead of just the flirting and intent that had been going on these last few months.
3. Congratulations, Flore. You've never been unfaithful until fucking now. Let's give you a medal for waiting so long to cheat on someone.

"But I've never cheated on anyone before."

Keep defending yourself like 'oh, I promise it will never happen again. I just slipped and fell into her bed. Whoopsie.'

"Anna and Charlie knew about each other! We had an understanding, the three of us. No one was sneaking around behind anyone's back. I'll send them each another letter explaining things properly. It's the least I can do, at this point."

What the ever loving fuck?

Okay, section by section, otherwise I will never get through this.

"Anna and Charlie knew about each other! We had an understanding, the three of us. No one was sneaking around behind anyone's back.

Until now! I'm not going to get into it, other than to say, this is NOT good poly rep and this author has proven they can do better. But the crux of the issue is that, guess what, now Flore is sneaking around behind their backs. They have such a 'oh, I've never done this before, so doing it just this once - I promise - is totally fine' vibe going on and it is disgusting. So you have never cheated before? Well, whoopty fucking doo for doing literally the bare minimum. Quit acting like you deserve accolades for waiting this long to cheat.

I'll send them each another letter explaining things properly. It's the least I can do, at this point."

...So, when Flore says 'the least I can do' they literally mean 'the absolute smallest amount of work and discomfort I have to go through to do what I should have done before sticking my tongue down Kells throat.' Basically what Flore want's to do is send their 'best friends' that they have been dating for god only knows how long breakup texts after Flore cheated on them.

(And, please note, this is only from a page or two after Flore and Kells have sex for the first time.)

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting and thoughtful

Rating: 4🌈

Whenever Arden Powell decides to dive back into the Flos Magicae universe they created, the results are always going to be narratively interesting, full of unexpected surprises, magical elements, and incredible moments of emotional growth. Whether the person’s thoughts are turned inward towards self examination, or outside towards their new surroundings and the possibilities that may arise from their new situation, we see clearly what they are thinking and feeling. And then it’s reality intruding, in a magical world, and hard choices to make.

The story and its elements has a natural flow to it, however fantastical the nature of the world and wild some of the aspects to the details.

In this case, Arden Powell’s magical world follows the story of the idle, wealthy young person, Flora Mulberry. Flora, who’d announced to the family at a very young age that they were a boy (it had been ignored), was fleeing London and a two romantic involvements.

This is the story of how Flora found he was or always had been Florian Mulberry on his magical journey to fulfillment and a new future. That Florian finds it stranded on a farm owned by an Irish potion witch in Hertfordshire is a fantastic element. Kells and her grumpy little dog, Grim,are my favorite characters of the story. Kells is beautifully straight forward, a great character who can be so easily visualized, with Grim by her side, working in her lab and potions or in her sheds in the gardens. She’s real and grounded in her natural world.

It’s Florian I often find myself having issues with. One of the reasons, many reasons, Florian is fleeing their old life is because Florian has become romantically involved their two best friends. One a woman and the other a man. The three of them are longtime friends and Florian has been, sort of, having romantic relations with both to the point that their families are expecting engagements. So Florian was supposed to choose and it would have hurt the other, not that that person would know. So, knowing that they’ve disappeared before for a time and no one, meaning family, has had cause to raise alarm, Florian flees.

Powell does a sensitive, and layered job of letting the reader understand the jumbled inner thoughts and emotions that the person who becomes Florian has before they embark upon their journey that sees them end up in a shed.

We absolutely get their state of mind, and the impetuous decisions that see them asking Kell to let them stay and learn about farming and hard manual labor. Something they’ve never done before. This physical and mental (and emotional) adjustment to their state of mind as well as the magical one to their body, is a terrific aspect of the book. Love it and the slowly growing relationship between Florian and Kells.

But what of those other friends? While all this is going on, those were abandoned to their fears and absolutely not knowing what happened to the person who, at the very least, was supposed to be their best friend . This is addressed in a few inadequate sentences towards the end and then they are dismissed.

It makes me think less of the character and the plot overall. Why have them there if this is how they are going to be treated? The friends and that history isn’t explained or fully understood. It’s a few sentences at the beginning. And the same at the end. And only serves to make Florian look a tad selfish.

So The Potion Gardener (Flos Magicae) by Arden Powell isn’t my favorite of the intriguing Flos Magicae series but it’s always an interesting and thoughtful read.

Include this on your TBR list.

Flos Magicae series and related universe books:
- [ ] The Bachelor's Valet
- [ ] A Novel Arrangement
- [ ] A Thief and a Gentleman
- [ ] Of Socialites and Prizefights
- [x] The Potion Gardener
- [x] The Botanist's Apprentice
- [x] Winter’s Dawn
- [x] The Solstice Cabin

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This book was a lot of fun! I really like Florian; they're very silly (as twenty-somethings tend to be) but also very dedicated and passionate, and they make a really nice foil to Kells and her comforting steadiness. I maybe would have liked more from Kells in terms of character development, but then again, there's something to be said about a love interest who's mostly content with her life and can offer that same contentment to the people around her. This dynamic works pretty well, especially as Kells gives Florian the space to figure themself out and make decisions about their life and future.

Also, I hope we get to see more of Anna and Charlie in the future! I really really wish we had gotten a little more of them in this book—I just think close friendships in romance novels are generally underutilized.

But really, if you're in the market for something low-stakes and chill with lots of plants and magic and great nonbinary rep, I highly recommend this book. It's been super rainy where I live recently, so this has been the perfect read to get me out of the wet and gray funk. (Also, if someone could get on making customizable gender potions real, that would be great, thanks.)

[Melita Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flore, born Flora, sometimes called Florian, has followed the conventions of her British upper middle class society--dresses, makeup, hair, but never felt happy about it. Flore has two lovers (one male, one female) who are her best friends and has agreed to marry the male one. Dressed and under a glamour to appear as a boy for a party, everything hits Florian--doesn't want to get married, doesn't like being Flora, and runs off.

In the morning, Florian awakes hungover in a garden shed miles from London. They end up staying with the owner, Kells, who's makes up potions using mostly her garden but also some ingredients sourced elsewhere. That's the setup. Now Florian has to decide what to do with their life and whether they can find a solution to be who they really are. Very low-angst with a nice HEA/HFN.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the author via their newsletter for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

This is truly such a warm hug of a book. I loved Kells when she was introduced in Socialites & Prizefights and was so excited when I saw she’d be focus on Potion Gardner. Florian is also such a great character and as Arden promised, so many gender feels. I love the exploration and understanding of what is the most true expression and presentation for them, and the support Flore finds in Kells, as well as their other friends once they’re brought into the loop. This was so sweet and heartwarming and just all around satisfying. I kinda hope Charlie will be focus of next book and we’ll see more of Kells and Florian!

[Blu · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I delved into The Potion Gardener, I couldn't help but fall head over heels for its enchanting atmosphere and heartwarming story. The cozy cottagecore vibes and the captivating journey of self-discovery resonated deeply within me.

Kells's no-nonsense demeanor and Florian's flighty nature complement each other perfectly, creating a harmonious balance. Florian's exploration of their gender identity struck a chord with my own experiences, making me feel seen and understood.

The gentle romance, botanical magic, and overall warmth of this novella made it a truly comforting read, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment and a desire for more from this charming world.

I loved the book and would really recommend it!

[Tyrannosaurus regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely and gentle and everything I wanted it to be. There were no big external conflicts, but Florian's journey was compelling in itself. Kells was wonderful, but it was Florian that I identified so intensely with. It's not easy to find a non-binary protagonist and especially not one whose fluidity is explored and examined and yet not fetishised or objectified.

The romance aspects came about naturally, and it was not hard to see why these two people might have developed feelings for one another. And there were bees! And magic that was both beautiful and practical and, at times, a little breathtaking.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

The writing in this was lovely, the descriptions lush. I thought Arden Powell did a really good job of characterizing Florian in such a short book. The gender exploration was fascinating, especially through the lens of magic spells and potions. I didn't quite feel the romantic chemistry between Kells and Florian though. They felt more like mentor and mentee. I don't know if Kells was meant to be significantly older but she felt like she was. I am definitely open to reading more from Arden Powell in the future!

[Roxana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another super cute entry in this charming series. This one is cottagecore to the max, and Florian is a delightful protagonist. I wish there was a little more to it, and I’m not entirely convinced by the romance with Kells, but I loved Florian’s own journey. Overall a lighthearted escapist read perfect for this spring-into-summer season.

[Ribbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Potion Gardner is a fascinating story of trans self-discovery, with the main character's pronouns shifting constantly as their concept of self changes. The English countryside garden is incredibly cozy. Kells grows all kinds of plants, both for food and potion ingredients, and keeps bees. Besides Kells's magic potions, Florian has illusion magic.

Spice: Fade to black

[Phoenix Blackdove · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute delight

A warm, cosy, and entirely wonderful novella that hits all the right spots. This is the literary equivalent of a Ghibli film, and it made me want to plant roses and drink good tea with friends while being my best gendered self. I can’t wait to read more in this series!

[bookcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story. Characters who are non-binary, shape shifting, magical, botanical, artist, gardener, bee-keepers, herbalist. All the things I love in one tidy, sweet, utterly original story. Oh and adorable dog and cozy cottage too. What a charming delightful tale.

[Catherine Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

This was a very cozy book. It touched on important topics and had a diverse cast. The writing was wonderful and I was very engaged in this story. Will definitely read the other books in the series.

[Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so lovely.
Florian runs away and finds themself (and love) in the process. A warm and cozy exploration of gender and country life. ❤️
I love this author’s work.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75