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A review by owlishbookish
A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz
4.0
This review originally appeared on Book Brats on March 29, 2013.
Elle Chance is an extraordinary woman, but don’t try telling her that. As an airship pilot in an era when women are expected to uphold the role society deems appropriate for them, Elle is an adventurer in more ways than one. When she is drawn into a dangerous situation when she agrees to transport cargo from Paris to London, Elle will soon find out that the cargo isn’t all that is being sought out. As Elle learns more of herself than she ever could have guessed at, she is faced with difficult choices, dangerous foes, and the possibility of a romance that she had never thought to seek out before.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists is the beginning of a fun series that blends steampunk and fantasy into one action-packed tale of adventure, intrigue, and romance. With easy-to-follow writing and an engaging plot, A Conspiracy of Alchemists introduces us to Elle, a female steamship pilot in 1903 who is more than she seems. Taking place in a wide variety of cities across Britain, Europe, and the birthplace of the Ottoman empire, the story is one with much to offer. With great attention to detail, Liesel Schwarz has created a world all to easy to get lost in.
Elle is a formidable character, to say the least. She is strong-willed, self-assured, and resistant to those who would push her around. All of this makes her an easy character to become intrigued with, although she isn’t without her flaws. At times, she is a little too strong-willed, especially where her stubbornness and temper are involved. When it comes to Elle’s more difficult nature, Hugh Marsh says it best:
“Don’t you sometimes get a little tired of being so constantly outraged?”
It is Elle’s propensity for thinking the worst and distrusting the wrong people that can make her frustrating to read, at times, but she makes for an overall good lead character to observe.
Hugh Marsh, our male lead character and one Viscount Greychester makes for a great counterpart for Elle. Though the two irritate each other more often than not, they also work well together for the purposes of the story. It is Hugh’s willingness to go after criminals, himself, and his practical nature that makes him a much-needed calming force when situations grow tense. He is a very appealing character that brings out both the best and worst of Elle. It’s hard not to enjoy the dynamic between them.
Though I enjoyed the steampunk side of the story immensely, I did spot a few flaws in its execution. Much of it was well done, especially when it came to the descriptions of airships and inventions, I was satisfied and enjoyed what I was reading. However, there were times when it felt as though steampunk elements were thrown in for the heck of it. There is a brief mention of automatons that comes to mind. They are nothing more than a passing thought and it was as though they were included just to up the number of steampunk references. They didn’t really play a role in the story whatsoever. It is the fantasy side that I found the most well done out of the two. The descriptions of Light versus Shadow and the plethora of Otherworldly creatures was nothing short of riveting. Schwarz’s novel approaches to each and every one made the story all the more entertaining and one that kept me reading for hours on end.
While there are a few flaws present, I believe that A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a fun, entertaining read that readers of both YA and adult fantasy will enjoy. With its steampunk traits, it is bound to capture the interests of some sci fi fans, as well. Fans of The Parasol Protectorate series may also want to check out A Conspiracy of Alchemists. If you like stories with nonstop adventure and a unique blend of settings, you should definitely check this one out. I, for one, will be looking forward to the next books in the series and can’t wait to find out if my instincts about the quality of the story to come rings true.
Elle Chance is an extraordinary woman, but don’t try telling her that. As an airship pilot in an era when women are expected to uphold the role society deems appropriate for them, Elle is an adventurer in more ways than one. When she is drawn into a dangerous situation when she agrees to transport cargo from Paris to London, Elle will soon find out that the cargo isn’t all that is being sought out. As Elle learns more of herself than she ever could have guessed at, she is faced with difficult choices, dangerous foes, and the possibility of a romance that she had never thought to seek out before.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists is the beginning of a fun series that blends steampunk and fantasy into one action-packed tale of adventure, intrigue, and romance. With easy-to-follow writing and an engaging plot, A Conspiracy of Alchemists introduces us to Elle, a female steamship pilot in 1903 who is more than she seems. Taking place in a wide variety of cities across Britain, Europe, and the birthplace of the Ottoman empire, the story is one with much to offer. With great attention to detail, Liesel Schwarz has created a world all to easy to get lost in.
Elle is a formidable character, to say the least. She is strong-willed, self-assured, and resistant to those who would push her around. All of this makes her an easy character to become intrigued with, although she isn’t without her flaws. At times, she is a little too strong-willed, especially where her stubbornness and temper are involved. When it comes to Elle’s more difficult nature, Hugh Marsh says it best:
“Don’t you sometimes get a little tired of being so constantly outraged?”
It is Elle’s propensity for thinking the worst and distrusting the wrong people that can make her frustrating to read, at times, but she makes for an overall good lead character to observe.
Hugh Marsh, our male lead character and one Viscount Greychester makes for a great counterpart for Elle. Though the two irritate each other more often than not, they also work well together for the purposes of the story. It is Hugh’s willingness to go after criminals, himself, and his practical nature that makes him a much-needed calming force when situations grow tense. He is a very appealing character that brings out both the best and worst of Elle. It’s hard not to enjoy the dynamic between them.
Though I enjoyed the steampunk side of the story immensely, I did spot a few flaws in its execution. Much of it was well done, especially when it came to the descriptions of airships and inventions, I was satisfied and enjoyed what I was reading. However, there were times when it felt as though steampunk elements were thrown in for the heck of it. There is a brief mention of automatons that comes to mind. They are nothing more than a passing thought and it was as though they were included just to up the number of steampunk references. They didn’t really play a role in the story whatsoever. It is the fantasy side that I found the most well done out of the two. The descriptions of Light versus Shadow and the plethora of Otherworldly creatures was nothing short of riveting. Schwarz’s novel approaches to each and every one made the story all the more entertaining and one that kept me reading for hours on end.
While there are a few flaws present, I believe that A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a fun, entertaining read that readers of both YA and adult fantasy will enjoy. With its steampunk traits, it is bound to capture the interests of some sci fi fans, as well. Fans of The Parasol Protectorate series may also want to check out A Conspiracy of Alchemists. If you like stories with nonstop adventure and a unique blend of settings, you should definitely check this one out. I, for one, will be looking forward to the next books in the series and can’t wait to find out if my instincts about the quality of the story to come rings true.