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sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition
2.0
When airship pilot Elle Chance receives a mysterious cargo to carry across the Channel, she is plunged into a world of Alchemists, Warlocks, magic, and the infuriatingly attractive Mr. Marsh. This book has some fantastic world building. It's interesting, well-developed, and has lots of potential for expansion. However, the plot was a bit slow moving and the romance between Elle and Marsh simply wasn't convincing.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
3.0
Just fun. It's a little uneven, parts drag, the romance is a bit predictable, but it was a joy. The world is a fascinating mix of fantasy and steampunk, with dirigibles and fairies, gyrocopters and vampires. It came alive for me. I could picture the monks lighting the lamps with the prostitutes on the corner, the passengers on the Orient Express in all their finery. In this world, Light and Shadow form a kind of shaky balance and I thought it seemed appropriate that as science advanced, the Shadow lost some of its power.
See my full review on my blog, Carol's Notebook.
See my full review on my blog, Carol's Notebook.
dkscully's review against another edition
3.0
Such a very silly collection of clichés and tropes. Made for fairly good, mindless listening on a long train journey, however.
mackle13's review against another edition
3.0
Mental note: Just because a book cover reminds you very strongly of one series doesn't mean that the new series will be remotely similar.
*ahem*
So, this book has a lot going on - different kinds of magic, faeries, vampires, missing persons, romance, steampunky gadgets, damsels in distress, overbearing men, intrigue, etc - but none of it felt fully developed. Like, we never get any real detail on the different types of magical systems. We're told that the Light and Shadow balance each other, but also that scientific advancement hurts the magical side - but we're not really told how the balance/interdependence thing works while also, apparently, being divided.
Also, the book will, I think, appeal to those who like larger doses of PNR in their diet. For those who like such things more on the side, I might recommend skipping this. It's one of those books where, despite everything else going on, they can't help but focus on the shape of the other person's fingers, or some such.
For all of that, though, it's a decent enough little story. It kept me engaged enough to be interested, and I never really lamented it.
I did lament the characters a bit, though. Elle is meant to be strong and independent, but comes across more often as petulant and obstinant, almost, but not quite to the point of being TSTL. Of course, part of that went into the shaky world-building. I mean, Elle was "skeptical" and outright dismissive of magic at times - but this is a world where she knows, for a fact, that faeries and vampires exist and has seen magic work.
Marsh is one of those men whose meant to be charming, but often is just overbearing. But, again, it varies. In one chapter he very sensibly explains that Elle isn't the sort of woman who can be forced to do anything and has to come to a decision in her own terms, but, in the next chapter, is doing the very thing he told others not to do.
It was all very inconsistent.
Luckily, though, both of them developed into the people they were described as being in the beginning, and became much less annoying, in general.
Oh, and the surprised twist about the identity of the bad guys was telelgraphed from a mile away. Boo.
I'm sort of on the edge about whether I'll want to continue this series or not. It wasn't bad, really, but it didn't leave a very strong impression, either. For instance, I kept thinking that I had to write a review for something, but couldn't remember what it was I'd read. And then I had to read the blurb to remind me of Marsh's name. So, yeah...
***
One last thing, about world-building, and a bit of nitpicking.
There's one character who is described as being a female fairy trapped in horse form who is dripping with water. She's later in human form, with black hair, and also has the water thing going on. Sounds like a kelpie, right?
Except the book calls her a sylph.
A sylph?
Sylphs are fucking AIR elementals.
Even if you don't want to go kelpie for some reason, at least use undine - a water elemental.
And how, exactly, does a member of the Dryad, whatever that means, turn into an absinthe faery? The way it's used, "one of the Dryad" is almost like "one of the Fae" so, in that sense, I guess I understand... but it's a bit jarring since a dryad is a particular kind of fae.
This goes along with the sort of shoddy world-building in general. If you're going to use creatures from existing myth, you should probably do your research. Or, if you can't be bothered, then make up entirely new names, at least, so as not to just look lazy.
***
The more I think about it, the more I think I'm gonna downgrade this to 2.5.
*ahem*
So, this book has a lot going on - different kinds of magic, faeries, vampires, missing persons, romance, steampunky gadgets, damsels in distress, overbearing men, intrigue, etc - but none of it felt fully developed. Like, we never get any real detail on the different types of magical systems. We're told that the Light and Shadow balance each other, but also that scientific advancement hurts the magical side - but we're not really told how the balance/interdependence thing works while also, apparently, being divided.
Also, the book will, I think, appeal to those who like larger doses of PNR in their diet. For those who like such things more on the side, I might recommend skipping this. It's one of those books where, despite everything else going on, they can't help but focus on the shape of the other person's fingers, or some such.
For all of that, though, it's a decent enough little story. It kept me engaged enough to be interested, and I never really lamented it.
I did lament the characters a bit, though. Elle is meant to be strong and independent, but comes across more often as petulant and obstinant, almost, but not quite to the point of being TSTL. Of course, part of that went into the shaky world-building. I mean, Elle was "skeptical" and outright dismissive of magic at times - but this is a world where she knows, for a fact, that faeries and vampires exist and has seen magic work.
Marsh is one of those men whose meant to be charming, but often is just overbearing. But, again, it varies. In one chapter he very sensibly explains that Elle isn't the sort of woman who can be forced to do anything and has to come to a decision in her own terms, but, in the next chapter, is doing the very thing he told others not to do.
It was all very inconsistent.
Luckily, though, both of them developed into the people they were described as being in the beginning, and became much less annoying, in general.
Oh, and the surprised twist about the identity of the bad guys was telelgraphed from a mile away. Boo.
I'm sort of on the edge about whether I'll want to continue this series or not. It wasn't bad, really, but it didn't leave a very strong impression, either. For instance, I kept thinking that I had to write a review for something, but couldn't remember what it was I'd read. And then I had to read the blurb to remind me of Marsh's name. So, yeah...
***
One last thing, about world-building, and a bit of nitpicking.
There's one character who is described as being a female fairy trapped in horse form who is dripping with water. She's later in human form, with black hair, and also has the water thing going on. Sounds like a kelpie, right?
Except the book calls her a sylph.
A sylph?
Sylphs are fucking AIR elementals.
Even if you don't want to go kelpie for some reason, at least use undine - a water elemental.
And how, exactly, does a member of the Dryad, whatever that means, turn into an absinthe faery? The way it's used, "one of the Dryad" is almost like "one of the Fae" so, in that sense, I guess I understand... but it's a bit jarring since a dryad is a particular kind of fae.
This goes along with the sort of shoddy world-building in general. If you're going to use creatures from existing myth, you should probably do your research. Or, if you can't be bothered, then make up entirely new names, at least, so as not to just look lazy.
***
The more I think about it, the more I think I'm gonna downgrade this to 2.5.
zibby's review against another edition
3.0
I think it's fair to say the ideas are stronger than the writing here, I liked the mix of Victorian steampunk technology and magic. Yes, the storyline is full of cliches and the romance is a little cringe-inducing, but when the plot zips along as this one does and the heroine is just about on the right side of plucky, I can forgive it. Bring on the Book Two!
suzrae73's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I have to say I was pleasently surprised. Took a little bit to get into it, but I really enjoyed it and I really like Elle and Marsh! Wasn't expecting the twist at the end, looking forward to the next installment to see what adventures they get themselves into
beckylej's review against another edition
3.0
The trouble begins for Elle Chance when she accepts what should be a small charter job in Paris. The job soon becomes more complex than expected and Elle only narrowly escapes on her way back to London. When she arrives, however, she discovers that her father has been kidnapped and the man who got her into this mess insists on sticking around to keep an eye on her. But there's more going on than Elle could ever know including a surprising inheritance from her long gone mother.
Liesel Schwarz's debut is a mix of steampunk and paranormal sort of in the vein of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorates series. Where Carriger's series is set in the 1800s, however, Schwarz has set her book in the early 1900s.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists begins a bit rocky. The interaction between Elle and Marsh is not unlike that of Alexia and Maccon, but Schwarz doesn't manage to capture quite the same chemistry. The arguments between Elle and Marsh were awkward and seemingly ill placed - or chalked up to a woman's prerogative to change her mind - either way it just didn't quite work for me. Because of the similarities in setting and such, it's hard not to draw comparison to Carriger's work, which may be an unfair comparison except that Carriger's debut was much smoother in comparison to Schwarz's.
Now, this is not at all to say that I didn't like Schwarz's book. Quite the opposite in fact, it's a quick read and I thought it was overall very fun. The world is great and the steampunk elements are dead on. Even the characters - when they're not bickering - are enjoyable. Most of the stumbles I'd put down to first time issues and expect will work out better in subsequent releases. And for readers who enjoy steampunk and paranormal (like I do), Schwarz is a fine addition!
Liesel Schwarz's debut is a mix of steampunk and paranormal sort of in the vein of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorates series. Where Carriger's series is set in the 1800s, however, Schwarz has set her book in the early 1900s.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists begins a bit rocky. The interaction between Elle and Marsh is not unlike that of Alexia and Maccon, but Schwarz doesn't manage to capture quite the same chemistry. The arguments between Elle and Marsh were awkward and seemingly ill placed - or chalked up to a woman's prerogative to change her mind - either way it just didn't quite work for me. Because of the similarities in setting and such, it's hard not to draw comparison to Carriger's work, which may be an unfair comparison except that Carriger's debut was much smoother in comparison to Schwarz's.
Now, this is not at all to say that I didn't like Schwarz's book. Quite the opposite in fact, it's a quick read and I thought it was overall very fun. The world is great and the steampunk elements are dead on. Even the characters - when they're not bickering - are enjoyable. Most of the stumbles I'd put down to first time issues and expect will work out better in subsequent releases. And for readers who enjoy steampunk and paranormal (like I do), Schwarz is a fine addition!
carlyoc's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best writing, though parts of the plot were interesting. The romance was over the top and kind of jarring, the protagonist really got on my nerves at times, and the whole thing seemed to lack consistency and believably. It wasn't so bad I had to abandon it, but I wouldn't read it again or recommend it to anyone.
littleread1's review against another edition
3.0
Alchemists is a good mix of paranormal, sci fi, steam punk, and a touch of fantasy (with the epic journey). The writing is a little cheeky and formal all at the same time, which kept taking me out of the story. That kind of story-telling works for some people, but it just didn't "do it" for me.
The combination of steam punk and paranormal was a lot fun. The magics that helped run the machinery could have been explained a bit better, but overall by the end of the story I had a good grasp on the world and the things that ran it.
The romance, while cute, seemed forced at times. Marsh and Elle are fabulous characters on their own, with their own strengths and challenges, but I was never really rooting for them as a couple.
I am having a hard time putting this review down - the book was ok, I enjoyed it fine, I had some issues, but overall finished the story and it was that - just ok. Nothing major was wrong, and nothing made me all giddy.
The combination of steam punk and paranormal was a lot fun. The magics that helped run the machinery could have been explained a bit better, but overall by the end of the story I had a good grasp on the world and the things that ran it.
The romance, while cute, seemed forced at times. Marsh and Elle are fabulous characters on their own, with their own strengths and challenges, but I was never really rooting for them as a couple.
I am having a hard time putting this review down - the book was ok, I enjoyed it fine, I had some issues, but overall finished the story and it was that - just ok. Nothing major was wrong, and nothing made me all giddy.