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psycona's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nyappytiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Physical abuse
ogrezed's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the premise, and I like the execution of it. My biggest disappointment was how short it is. I see I actually picked up the trilogy some time back as an omnibus, so I'll finish up the series there.
jjwilbourne's review against another edition
3.0
I’m now five books deep into Underrealm, and In order to continue to read in chronological order, I’ve once again jumped to a new series. The Alchemist’s Touch is book one of The Academy Journals, and just like Blood Lust, it takes place in the same world as the Nightblade saga and is connected to the events of the core series.
Ebon is the unwanted son of a powerful family. His father keeps him locked away, unable to enjoy life to the fullest, practice with his ability as an alchemist, or even learn what is required of him to become the head of his house. But after his aunt somehow convinces his father to allow him to attend the Academy. Overjoyed to finally fulfill his dream to become a wizard, he struggles to catch up in an arena where he is years behind. But life isn’t so simple. There’s a dark plot brewing on the High Seat, and it looks like Ebon and newfound friends have stumbled right into the middle of it.
This novel is best read after Shadeborn and Blood Lust for reasons that become obvious after you reach the story’s climax. However, this novel also works without reading any other Underrealm novel. For that reason, The Alchemist’s Touch is an entirely independent entry point for the world of Underrealm. So feel free to dive in first here if you choose, but like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a chronological reading order that adds extra depth and scope to the story.
While we don’t get to explore every magic system in-depth, I love what we do get from this novel. It delivers just enough to have you chopping at the bit to read the next installment and learn more about where this world can go. It really sparked my imagination and had me wondering which type of mage I’d prefer to be.
Ebon functions as a vessel for the reader to experience the wonder of Underrealm. While he does has personality, he’s a fish out of water and reserved compared to his companions, reminding me of another famous fish-out-of-water character who attends a magical school: Harry Potter. The magical school story is familiar ground for most of us. Robinson’s twist is that it takes place in his now firmly established Underrealm. I do wish that there was more wonder added to the novel. I feel like it was a much-needed element that would have made this story feel like the genre it represents.
The Alchemist’s Touch is another great series opener and another building block to the ever-expanding Underrealm universe. I recommend this story to anyone who loves the magic school setup in high fantasy stories. If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you’d love to try a story with a similar vibe, give this one try. However, the story is stronger on the school-adventure element than it is on the fantasy element.
*Full Disclosure — I work for the publisher, but I wasn't paid to review this book. While this is an honest review, I was involved in the production of the audiobooks of other books in this series, and I receive a small royalty for purchases of those audiobook versions.*
Ebon is the unwanted son of a powerful family. His father keeps him locked away, unable to enjoy life to the fullest, practice with his ability as an alchemist, or even learn what is required of him to become the head of his house. But after his aunt somehow convinces his father to allow him to attend the Academy. Overjoyed to finally fulfill his dream to become a wizard, he struggles to catch up in an arena where he is years behind. But life isn’t so simple. There’s a dark plot brewing on the High Seat, and it looks like Ebon and newfound friends have stumbled right into the middle of it.
This novel is best read after Shadeborn and Blood Lust for reasons that become obvious after you reach the story’s climax. However, this novel also works without reading any other Underrealm novel. For that reason, The Alchemist’s Touch is an entirely independent entry point for the world of Underrealm. So feel free to dive in first here if you choose, but like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a chronological reading order that adds extra depth and scope to the story.
While we don’t get to explore every magic system in-depth, I love what we do get from this novel. It delivers just enough to have you chopping at the bit to read the next installment and learn more about where this world can go. It really sparked my imagination and had me wondering which type of mage I’d prefer to be.
Ebon functions as a vessel for the reader to experience the wonder of Underrealm. While he does has personality, he’s a fish out of water and reserved compared to his companions, reminding me of another famous fish-out-of-water character who attends a magical school: Harry Potter. The magical school story is familiar ground for most of us. Robinson’s twist is that it takes place in his now firmly established Underrealm. I do wish that there was more wonder added to the novel. I feel like it was a much-needed element that would have made this story feel like the genre it represents.
The Alchemist’s Touch is another great series opener and another building block to the ever-expanding Underrealm universe. I recommend this story to anyone who loves the magic school setup in high fantasy stories. If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you’d love to try a story with a similar vibe, give this one try. However, the story is stronger on the school-adventure element than it is on the fantasy element.
*Full Disclosure — I work for the publisher, but I wasn't paid to review this book. While this is an honest review, I was involved in the production of the audiobooks of other books in this series, and I receive a small royalty for purchases of those audiobook versions.*
notagreatreader's review against another edition
1.0
I did not enjoy this book. It had a lot of potential, the magic system of the different branches of sorcerers is interesting and the political intrigue hook seemed interesting but it all was just kind of underdeveloped. Most importantly, I spent the majority of the time frustrated by the characters and their actions (especially that one teacher who didn't believe that Ebon didn't know any magic when he told him).
First, we have the protagonist Ebon who's this 'woe is me' 'hello darkness my old friend' emo kid. He has magic talent and wants to learn magic but his despotic father won't let him. He's been very downtrodden. His family name apparently inspires fear or contempt in everyone he meets and he just wants to get away but doesn't really do anything about it. He's just too passive for a YA protagonist and as a result, the plot moves very slowly.
Then, there's the two friends Ebon makes along the way but I just couldn't see why they liked Ebon and they seemed to be hanging out with him for material gains (Ebon agreed to pay one kid to help him learn magic and then a girl joined them because she was poor and Ebon had money for alcohol). Like, I guess, by the end Ebon became more pro-active and it made sense that they had a bond but I just couldn't see why those kids would stick with Ebon to reach that point.
First, we have the protagonist Ebon who's this 'woe is me' 'hello darkness my old friend' emo kid. He has magic talent and wants to learn magic but his despotic father won't let him. He's been very downtrodden. His family name apparently inspires fear or contempt in everyone he meets and he just wants to get away but doesn't really do anything about it. He's just too passive for a YA protagonist and as a result, the plot moves very slowly.
Then, there's the two friends Ebon makes along the way but I just couldn't see why they liked Ebon and they seemed to be hanging out with him for material gains (Ebon agreed to pay one kid to help him learn magic and then a girl joined them because she was poor and Ebon had money for alcohol). Like, I guess, by the end Ebon became more pro-active and it made sense that they had a bond but I just couldn't see why those kids would stick with Ebon to reach that point.
lacependragon's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Not bad, but not great. A short read with lackluster plot and decent worldbuilding. Will be continuing on.
Not bad, but not great. A short read with lackluster plot and decent worldbuilding. Will be continuing on.
emeraldreverie's review against another edition
3.0
This was ok. Interesting, but little explored in this book, magic system, ok characters - a few stood out. Has a nod to queerness, but nothing actionable. I might continue series if it goes on sale.
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