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natashaleighton_'s review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
Notorious Sorcerer is a high octane, epic fantasy filled with sword fights, roof top hijinks, alchemy and a reluctant hero just trying to protect his home (and people) that I couldn’t get enough of!
It’s set in Bezim, where warring tribes fight for control of the streets—a place where magic is technically illegal due to possibility of causing another sundering. But the upper echelons (The Azatani) flaunt their wealth & freely practice the unique magic of alchemy despite its many risks. Alchemists may delve into the four planes of reality fairly frequently but the danger it entails is still pretty high.
As the four planes of reality become unaligned and Bezim’s very foundations are in severe peril, Siyon (an alchemy loving member of the Little Bracken Bravi tribe,who left his fisher-clan family for a better life) just might be the only one who can save them all. Earning a living doing errands (collecting rare ingredients from the four planes, etc) Siyon finds himself in a spot of trouble when he accidentally performs an impossible act of magic—& saving the life of his new assistant, Zagiri. Unfortunately, this spontaneous act of magic coincides with a Planar tilting incident which threatens to destroy Bezim. What the Cory and the realm truly needs now is one more act of impossible magic… before it’s too late.
I did enjoy this one, however the beginning was a little overwhelming (and confusing at first) with so much lore to digest; including the laws of magic, the alchemical planes and the hierarchical structures of Bezim. But thankfully, with such a fast moving pace things quickly started to make sense after a couple of chapters. And the pace really doesn’t let up after that!
The tone is consistently light for most of the shenanigan filled plot and I loved the humour which was imbued in the plot, not to mention all that deliciously witty banter which was second to none.
There’s plenty of elements woven into the intricately woven narrative that read like a love letter to the genre, and fans of popular fantasy series such as Six of Crows or Darker Shades of Magic are bound to adore this eccentric, ragtag group of characters that Davinia Evans has lovingly crafted.
I was absolutely intrigued by the portal fantasy element which isn’t often used (and rarer still, used well) and though we don’t get to spend much time exploring the four planes, the time we do get was utterly thrilling. Angels, Demons, demonic Harpys and one loveable, wannabe alchemist just blundering through deadly magic and even deadlier realms, what more could a fantasy lover want?
The prose was marvellous but it was the characters and their antics that really drew me in; Zagiri, Anahid and Izmirlian were all such endearing characters and, alongside our loveable rogue Siyon really brought Bezim and it’s discriminatory class divide into startling focus. Anahid, Zagiri and Izmirlian were all raised in the same elite circles which allowed them privileges that Siyon, a member of the poorer classes couldn’t even begin to imagine.
As education (particularly alchemical education) is reserved for this upper class (Azatani) these nobles are given soo many opportunities to use (and profit) from the illegal magical practices that Siyon’s class would be executed for. But life as an Azatani isn’t all that great for everyone. As women, both Anahid and Zagiri must adhere to expectations and claustrophobic restrictions that neither relish. For Anahid, that means she’s trapped in a loveless marriage with hardly any freedom of her own, while her husband galavants around with his lover. Likewise, Zagiri likewise isn’t ready to give the little freedom she has for the strict social events her parents want her to attend. But even the privileges they can look forward to dry up when the planar surges begin and the inquisitors start persecuting (and executing) anyone, practicing alchemical magic.
I have to admit though that Siyon, with his determined (and singleminded) goal of becoming an alchemist and his overly rash actions in the persuit of proving himself was probably my favourite character. Yes, he’s a flawed and complex, but he’s also just trying to find his place in the world and I think we all can relate to that.
The LGBTQ+ centric romance between Siyon and Izmirlian Hisarani was really enjoyable, but brief though I’m hoping we get to see more of my fave couple in the sequel.
Overall, an expansive and vividly rich, fantasy that merges important social commentary with a delightfully thrilling magic system, loveable characters and a splash of whimsy that will most definitely have you eagerly anticipating the sequel. If you enjoy epic fantasy or action/ adventure based stories then you must give this a read!
Also, thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
It’s set in Bezim, where warring tribes fight for control of the streets—a place where magic is technically illegal due to possibility of causing another sundering. But the upper echelons (The Azatani) flaunt their wealth & freely practice the unique magic of alchemy despite its many risks. Alchemists may delve into the four planes of reality fairly frequently but the danger it entails is still pretty high.
As the four planes of reality become unaligned and Bezim’s very foundations are in severe peril, Siyon (an alchemy loving member of the Little Bracken Bravi tribe,who left his fisher-clan family for a better life) just might be the only one who can save them all. Earning a living doing errands (collecting rare ingredients from the four planes, etc) Siyon finds himself in a spot of trouble when he accidentally performs an impossible act of magic—& saving the life of his new assistant, Zagiri. Unfortunately, this spontaneous act of magic coincides with a Planar tilting incident which threatens to destroy Bezim. What the Cory and the realm truly needs now is one more act of impossible magic… before it’s too late.
I did enjoy this one, however the beginning was a little overwhelming (and confusing at first) with so much lore to digest; including the laws of magic, the alchemical planes and the hierarchical structures of Bezim. But thankfully, with such a fast moving pace things quickly started to make sense after a couple of chapters. And the pace really doesn’t let up after that!
The tone is consistently light for most of the shenanigan filled plot and I loved the humour which was imbued in the plot, not to mention all that deliciously witty banter which was second to none.
There’s plenty of elements woven into the intricately woven narrative that read like a love letter to the genre, and fans of popular fantasy series such as Six of Crows or Darker Shades of Magic are bound to adore this eccentric, ragtag group of characters that Davinia Evans has lovingly crafted.
I was absolutely intrigued by the portal fantasy element which isn’t often used (and rarer still, used well) and though we don’t get to spend much time exploring the four planes, the time we do get was utterly thrilling. Angels, Demons, demonic Harpys and one loveable, wannabe alchemist just blundering through deadly magic and even deadlier realms, what more could a fantasy lover want?
The prose was marvellous but it was the characters and their antics that really drew me in; Zagiri, Anahid and Izmirlian were all such endearing characters and, alongside our loveable rogue Siyon really brought Bezim and it’s discriminatory class divide into startling focus. Anahid, Zagiri and Izmirlian were all raised in the same elite circles which allowed them privileges that Siyon, a member of the poorer classes couldn’t even begin to imagine.
As education (particularly alchemical education) is reserved for this upper class (Azatani) these nobles are given soo many opportunities to use (and profit) from the illegal magical practices that Siyon’s class would be executed for. But life as an Azatani isn’t all that great for everyone. As women, both Anahid and Zagiri must adhere to expectations and claustrophobic restrictions that neither relish. For Anahid, that means she’s trapped in a loveless marriage with hardly any freedom of her own, while her husband galavants around with his lover. Likewise, Zagiri likewise isn’t ready to give the little freedom she has for the strict social events her parents want her to attend. But even the privileges they can look forward to dry up when the planar surges begin and the inquisitors start persecuting (and executing) anyone, practicing alchemical magic.
I have to admit though that Siyon, with his determined (and singleminded) goal of becoming an alchemist and his overly rash actions in the persuit of proving himself was probably my favourite character. Yes, he’s a flawed and complex, but he’s also just trying to find his place in the world and I think we all can relate to that.
The LGBTQ+ centric romance between Siyon and Izmirlian Hisarani was really enjoyable, but brief though I’m hoping we get to see more of my fave couple in the sequel.
Overall, an expansive and vividly rich, fantasy that merges important social commentary with a delightfully thrilling magic system, loveable characters and a splash of whimsy that will most definitely have you eagerly anticipating the sequel. If you enjoy epic fantasy or action/ adventure based stories then you must give this a read!
Also, thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Classism
Moderate: Police brutality, Sexual content, and Confinement
lastblossom's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy!
tl;dr
Powerful world building and a well-defined magic system set the stage for a likable hero and some strong supporting cast as they try to save the world. The front part of the book can be difficult to get through due to pacing and the number of terms.
About
Siyon Velo makes a living collecting alchemy ingredients from alternate planes of existence. It's dangerous, and lawfully dubious, work, but the wealthy alchemists of the city are always willing to pay. Siyon hopes to one day earn enough money to join the ranks of the alchemists himself, but one of the rare items he sells might put an end to that dream - and the entire city along with it.
Thoughts
Reading this book feels like watching someone playing with dominoes. The first half is dedicated to precise and meticulous world building. Characters, laws of magic, culture, politics, geography, and alternate universes are all placed carefully in line, and there's an almost overwhelming amount of things to collate and learn. But then the first domino tips and there's no place to catch your breath as everything falls into place in an fast-paced finale. I confess, it was definitely hard to get through the first part of the book for this very reason. There are a LOT of threads to hold on to. But every single one is stitched into the ending, for a decent payoff. Supporting cast are given a good deal of attention, with some winding up more complex that the lead himself. The author's notes mention Izmirlian was the most challenging character to get right, and I think the extra attention spent on him really shows. He's easily my favorite character of the bunch. The world building is probably the strongest part of the book - details about all aspects of the city and the people in it are thoroughly documented. This book should appeal to anyone looking for a fantasy with some hard world building and alternate plane adventures for a determined young man who finds himself out of his depth.
tl;dr
Powerful world building and a well-defined magic system set the stage for a likable hero and some strong supporting cast as they try to save the world. The front part of the book can be difficult to get through due to pacing and the number of terms.
About
Siyon Velo makes a living collecting alchemy ingredients from alternate planes of existence. It's dangerous, and lawfully dubious, work, but the wealthy alchemists of the city are always willing to pay. Siyon hopes to one day earn enough money to join the ranks of the alchemists himself, but one of the rare items he sells might put an end to that dream - and the entire city along with it.
Thoughts
Reading this book feels like watching someone playing with dominoes. The first half is dedicated to precise and meticulous world building. Characters, laws of magic, culture, politics, geography, and alternate universes are all placed carefully in line, and there's an almost overwhelming amount of things to collate and learn. But then the first domino tips and there's no place to catch your breath as everything falls into place in an fast-paced finale. I confess, it was definitely hard to get through the first part of the book for this very reason. There are a LOT of threads to hold on to. But every single one is stitched into the ending, for a decent payoff. Supporting cast are given a good deal of attention, with some winding up more complex that the lead himself. The author's notes mention Izmirlian was the most challenging character to get right, and I think the extra attention spent on him really shows. He's easily my favorite character of the bunch. The world building is probably the strongest part of the book - details about all aspects of the city and the people in it are thoroughly documented. This book should appeal to anyone looking for a fantasy with some hard world building and alternate plane adventures for a determined young man who finds himself out of his depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Police brutality, Cursing, Death, Blood, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Confinement
Gambling
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