The Science of Limerence

Creating the Philosopher’s Stone and the elixir of life has been a quest many have tried—and failed—to complete for centuries. Fae lordling Parsnip Peasblossom is so close he can almost smell the alchemical reaction. All he needs is someone to perfect the atrocious math of his experiment. All mortal Henry Seay needs is a job to support himself and his ill mother. The chemical reaction on all fronts ends up being far more than either expected. Full disclosure: I had never heard the word limerence before reading this book. As it happens, it’s a very apt title. The Science of Limerence is part fantasy, part historical fiction, with a dash of steampunk flavor thrown in—but above all, it’s a romance. Whether intentionally or not, the title is rather ironic, because both main characters spend the majority of the book (no spoilers) in a state of desperate limerence—intense infatuation—each seemingly unrequited. You’d think a search for the elixir of life would take precedence over most all else, but the characters are so busy pining for each other that it’s a wonder they get anything else done at all. Though at times it’s tempting to try to knock the obvliviousness right out of both of them, in general the plot moves quickly enough that this is sweet and a bit angsty rather than annoying. The story revolves around quirky, chaotic Parnsip—with a name like Parsnip Peasblossom, he’s impossible to not love—and industrious, buttoned-up Henry, who has no idea what he’s gotten himself…