Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I can’t believe I let this sit on my shelf for a year!
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This novel was a surprise in a good way. I went into it expecting a standard fantasy novel and got steampunk fantasy adventure instead. The story of Dragons and Fenthri was intriguing.
Arianna, Florence, and Leona in particular were characters that felt real and interesting and made me want to read more. Though I was not particularly in love with the story, the world building and characters landed this novel in the "good book" category.
Arianna, Florence, and Leona in particular were characters that felt real and interesting and made me want to read more. Though I was not particularly in love with the story, the world building and characters landed this novel in the "good book" category.
RTC! An e-copy was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love the world of Loom, the different colors and environments are so unique. I also love Ari, a super complex character that I always want to root for
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The world was interesting, but the story was meh and I had a really hard time caring about any of the characters except the apprentice girl. The world and magic are interesting enough that I hope the next book will be better so I will still at least try to read it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Alchemists of Loom is a steampunk fantasy that throws you into a world divided between greyscale Fenthri, brilliantly colored Dragons, and the hybrid Chimeras created by alchemy. The guild-based society, where communities raise individuals instead of families, makes the world feel unique and lived-in. I loved having to piece together who’s who and how everything works instead of being handed an info dump.
Ari is a total badass, fiercely independent and unapologetically anti Dragon. That makes it all the more entertaining when she’s forced to team up with Cvareh, a Dragon she’d rather kill than trust. Their relationship is handled perfectly, no instant attraction, just pure animosity that slowly shifts into respect and maybe more ;). The slow burn makes it so much easier to root for them. On the flip side, Florence is a gem, balancing Ari’s intensity with moments of warmth, like immediately offering Cvareh a cookie right after Ari warns her that “Dragons can’t be trusted.”
The magic system is one of the most original parts of the book. Dragons don’t breathe fire or sprout wings here, instead, their powers are tied to their colorful organs, which alchemists can transplant into Fenthri to make Chimeras. Combined with the five distinct guilds (from alchemy to guns to transport), the whole setup feels inventive and integrated into the plot rather than just background lore.
I’ll admit it wasn’t easy to get into at first, but once the story found its rhythm, I was hooked.
Ari is a total badass, fiercely independent and unapologetically anti Dragon. That makes it all the more entertaining when she’s forced to team up with Cvareh, a Dragon she’d rather kill than trust. Their relationship is handled perfectly, no instant attraction, just pure animosity that slowly shifts into respect and maybe more ;). The slow burn makes it so much easier to root for them. On the flip side, Florence is a gem, balancing Ari’s intensity with moments of warmth, like immediately offering Cvareh a cookie right after Ari warns her that “Dragons can’t be trusted.”
The magic system is one of the most original parts of the book. Dragons don’t breathe fire or sprout wings here, instead, their powers are tied to their colorful organs, which alchemists can transplant into Fenthri to make Chimeras. Combined with the five distinct guilds (from alchemy to guns to transport), the whole setup feels inventive and integrated into the plot rather than just background lore.
I’ll admit it wasn’t easy to get into at first, but once the story found its rhythm, I was hooked.
DNF 49% I really tried to get into this, but the pacing is too slow for me and there is no romance, at least at this point. It is an interesting world, but I would rather spend time on something I am hooked on rather than something I have to push to get through.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes