The Potion Diaries Books in Order

The Potion Diaries is a young adult fantasy series by Amy McCulloch, written under the name Amy Alward. It is set in Nova, a kingdom where magic sits alongside social media, corporate power, public news, and the everyday pressure of being a teenager. Potions are not a dusty relic of the past here. They are part of modern life, business, medicine, and politics.

At the center is Samantha Kemi, known as Sam. Her family were once respected alchemists, but their reputation has slipped, leaving Sam with something to prove. She is talented, stubborn, and more comfortable working through a problem than standing in a spotlight. Unfortunately, the first major problem she faces becomes impossible to keep private.

In The Potion Diaries, Princess Evelyn accidentally drinks a love potion and falls in love with her own reflection. A nationwide search begins for a cure, with competitors sent after rare ingredients in dangerous places. For Sam, winning could restore her family's standing. But the contest also pits her against the wealthy ZoroAster company and its impressive young alchemist, Zain Aster.

The romance is part of the trouble, not a break from it.

Sam and Zain are rivals, and their growing connection gives the series a playful tension without taking attention away from Sam's work. The larger world keeps the stakes moving too. Potion making has consequences, and the people with money or influence do not always use magic responsibly. Sam must decide what kind of alchemist she wants to be when reputation, love, and public expectation all pull in different directions.

Across the series, readers can expect magical travel, family history, political pressure, inventive ingredients, and problems that grow from one book to the next. The tone is lively and romantic, with real danger around the edges. It also has fun with the idea of a magical crisis becoming a media event, where everyone has an opinion before the people involved have found an answer.

Start with The Potion Diaries. It introduces Sam, Nova, her family's place in the alchemy world, and the rivalries that drive the continuing story. It is a strong choice for readers who like fantasy with contemporary touches, resourceful heroines, romantic friction, and enough potion mishaps to keep the plot bubbling.