brichneyfloss's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. This book will infuriate you if you have a basic knowledge of any of the following: bats, stomach placement, Manhattan, Brooklyn, itches, grammar, Patrick Swayze movies, drying clay, police procedures, handling evidence, Dungeons and Dragons, basements, accents, and European Counties.
There are probably more things, but it was impossible for me to finish this book. None of the characters are relatable and the plot was nonexistent. Plus, for as much description as the author included, he manages to say absolutely nothing of relevance.
There are probably more things, but it was impossible for me to finish this book. None of the characters are relatable and the plot was nonexistent. Plus, for as much description as the author included, he manages to say absolutely nothing of relevance.
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
Oh dear... It has been long!
I can't really go into details anymore, but I definitely enjoyed it.
It was a very easy read, and the characters sometimes not as "real" as I would have liked, but overall I was very will entertained, and read it in just two days.
I can't really go into details anymore, but I definitely enjoyed it.
It was a very easy read, and the characters sometimes not as "real" as I would have liked, but overall I was very will entertained, and read it in just two days.
book_whispers's review
2.0
Gargoyles, gosh how I love them! So I was only too eager to toss my money out and buy this book! No, really their was begging. Even though Anton Strout's writing hasn't been my flavor in the past. I figured he was just underdeveloped at the time and now he'd be A-mazing!
Boom, always trust your gut instinct. Chapter 2, and I was living in a world of disappointment. Lexis (AKA Alexandra) was annoying. Weak willed, a push over (though I believe this was supposed to be taken as kindness, but no she had her bitchy moments), not independent, and lazy. Now she's a hard worker when it came to learning about her Spellmason/Alchemy skills. However, when she has to step in to help out the family business, she does nothing but complain. There's a lot of avoiding and—oh, yeah—complaining. She's had her whole life to do whatever and now when she needs to help out the family it's woe is her. Stanis, the gargoyle, was the only thing that kept me reading, I just knew why his memories had been stolen! And I had to confirm it.
Now the character connections, nothing felt real. Which is something I always find myself experiencing in Strout's work. It was like a fog was covering they're interactions. Most of the time it felt like Lexi, Rory—the best thing to happen to this book—and the nerdy Marshall where at each others throats! They're all supposed to be friends. Rory has been Lexi's bestie since forever! Lexi is bringing her friends into this whole new world and simply expects her friends not to have minds of their own.
Rory steps up and saves their asses from danger!
Lexi: what have you done! Monster!
The gargoyle suddenly attacks poor Marshall. Rory and Marshall get worried and question Stanis.
Lexi: He doesn't deserve that, he's our hero!
Really!? It felt like they were hating each other constantly. Marshall is bullied non-stop, even when he comes in handy. Nerds are funny, they make wonderful comic reliefs. However, I don’t like to read about bullying. Even if it’s trying to pass as affectionate friendship. Phew, I'll stop.
Stanis and Lexi had to have romance. That's what us Gargoyle fans want! Forbidden love of the ultimate beauty and beast variety! Lexi thinks of Stanis as a servant or toy at the beginning. Which I found strange considering that despite his lack of emotions and his missing memories, it's clear that Stanis is more then a lump of rock. Plus, if Lexi is as sweet and kind hearted as readers are being led to believe, why would she just assume he was a lump of stone? Why am I still complaining? Lexi starts to fall in love with Stanis! That love had there was no development. Boom! We've jumped to a budding romance, with no stalk to support it. (Yes, flower comparisons.)
There were plot holes. Huge ones! An enemy recognizes Stanis, but then later on in the book no one knows him. How did this random—expandable minion—guy know what really happened? Also, Lexi runs into other stone critters who have once been human. Wouldn’t a logical jump be to think that something as complicated as Stanis and these strange living rock men be related? Sure one is cruder looking then the other, but let's make logical jumps here! Plus a few other issues that I don't want to spoil the book with.
Though I have to hand it to Strout. Despite this book being really predictable, he pulled one over me. Here I am all this will happen next and this—BOOM! Total-awesome plot twist. Loved it! Then I realized that maybe about 72-ish percent in, Alchemystic finally grabbed my attention. (About where the “BOOM!” happens.) It was a fun rush and suddenly boring hunts for gem stones turned into Indiana Johns adventures! Er, with a few really stupid mistakes to make it grind my nerves. However, the last 20 percent was awesome. The emotions started to connect just a little bit better!
When a brick and wire made character becomes the highlight of your reading experience with the lead’s page time, something is wrong. When you like the best-friend more, another bad sign. Though Rory is an amazing character and it's hard to top her—a dancer with fighting instincts—she should have been the main character. Lexi felt like a character created for Lanis to protect. That's his job, but there should have been more depth all around. As said the last 30 percent made this book so . . . cool. Yet, I still feel torn, and I almost gave up. Which I hardly ever do. That last 30 percent can not be what I judge this book by. In the end I will say I have to get the next book, but I might try to find a copy to borrow before I commit to this series. No begging shall occur.
Sexual Content: Pretty clean by book peeps. Heck, I vaguely remember some sexual humor!
2/5- Average/disappointing, library check-out
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
Boom, always trust your gut instinct. Chapter 2, and I was living in a world of disappointment. Lexis (AKA Alexandra) was annoying. Weak willed, a push over (though I believe this was supposed to be taken as kindness, but no she had her bitchy moments), not independent, and lazy. Now she's a hard worker when it came to learning about her Spellmason/Alchemy skills. However, when she has to step in to help out the family business, she does nothing but complain. There's a lot of avoiding and—oh, yeah—complaining. She's had her whole life to do whatever and now when she needs to help out the family it's woe is her. Stanis, the gargoyle, was the only thing that kept me reading, I just knew why his memories had been stolen! And I had to confirm it.
Now the character connections, nothing felt real. Which is something I always find myself experiencing in Strout's work. It was like a fog was covering they're interactions. Most of the time it felt like Lexi, Rory—the best thing to happen to this book—and the nerdy Marshall where at each others throats! They're all supposed to be friends. Rory has been Lexi's bestie since forever! Lexi is bringing her friends into this whole new world and simply expects her friends not to have minds of their own.
Rory steps up and saves their asses from danger!
Lexi: what have you done! Monster!
The gargoyle suddenly attacks poor Marshall. Rory and Marshall get worried and question Stanis.
Lexi: He doesn't deserve that, he's our hero!
Really!? It felt like they were hating each other constantly. Marshall is bullied non-stop, even when he comes in handy. Nerds are funny, they make wonderful comic reliefs. However, I don’t like to read about bullying. Even if it’s trying to pass as affectionate friendship. Phew, I'll stop.
Stanis and Lexi had to have romance. That's what us Gargoyle fans want! Forbidden love of the ultimate beauty and beast variety! Lexi thinks of Stanis as a servant or toy at the beginning. Which I found strange considering that despite his lack of emotions and his missing memories, it's clear that Stanis is more then a lump of rock. Plus, if Lexi is as sweet and kind hearted as readers are being led to believe, why would she just assume he was a lump of stone? Why am I still complaining? Lexi starts to fall in love with Stanis! That love had there was no development. Boom! We've jumped to a budding romance, with no stalk to support it. (Yes, flower comparisons.)
There were plot holes. Huge ones! An enemy recognizes Stanis, but then later on in the book no one knows him. How did this random—expandable minion—guy know what really happened? Also, Lexi runs into other stone critters who have once been human. Wouldn’t a logical jump be to think that something as complicated as Stanis and these strange living rock men be related? Sure one is cruder looking then the other, but let's make logical jumps here! Plus a few other issues that I don't want to spoil the book with.
Though I have to hand it to Strout. Despite this book being really predictable, he pulled one over me. Here I am all this will happen next and this—BOOM! Total-awesome plot twist. Loved it! Then I realized that maybe about 72-ish percent in, Alchemystic finally grabbed my attention. (About where the “BOOM!” happens.) It was a fun rush and suddenly boring hunts for gem stones turned into Indiana Johns adventures! Er, with a few really stupid mistakes to make it grind my nerves. However, the last 20 percent was awesome. The emotions started to connect just a little bit better!
When a brick and wire made character becomes the highlight of your reading experience with the lead’s page time, something is wrong. When you like the best-friend more, another bad sign. Though Rory is an amazing character and it's hard to top her—a dancer with fighting instincts—she should have been the main character. Lexi felt like a character created for Lanis to protect. That's his job, but there should have been more depth all around. As said the last 30 percent made this book so . . . cool. Yet, I still feel torn, and I almost gave up. Which I hardly ever do. That last 30 percent can not be what I judge this book by. In the end I will say I have to get the next book, but I might try to find a copy to borrow before I commit to this series. No begging shall occur.
Sexual Content: Pretty clean by book peeps. Heck, I vaguely remember some sexual humor!
2/5- Average/disappointing, library check-out
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
emmafromoz's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting to see AS writing from a female point of view, after being so used to the Simon Canderous novels. Great world-building, as usual. Great characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
lilyelement's review against another edition
4.0
Alchemystic is book one in The Spellmason Chronicles. Alexandra (aka Lexi) Belarus, an artist from New York City is greaving after losing her brother. With no one else to take the reigns of the family company, Alexandra must quit her artwork and learn the family business that she has no interest in, real estate.
Walking home in NYC by herself, Lexi is attacked and barely gets away with her life. She was saved by a gargoyle named Stanis. Lexi never knew that magic existed, or that her great-great-grandfather managed to craft grotesques (gargoyles) and made one into a living being. The whole reason Stanis was created was to protect the Belarus family. That's all he cares about, and I'll be interested to see where this series goes. Once Lexi finds all of that out she's determined to hone her newfound magic abilities while figuring out why random tattooed men are coming out of the woodwork intent to kill her. She has two BFFs that help her along her journey, as well as Stanis.
I can't say I've read all that many gargoyle stories, and I rather enjoyed this one! Lexi and the team really got into some situations that had me wondering if they were going to survive. I enjoyed Lexi's BFF's, Rory and Marshall. Rory was there for Lexi whenever she needed it, and I wound up really liking her character. I hope to see more of her in book two. Though there wasn't romance tossed in this installment, I believe there will be some later in the series. I recommend this book if you're looking for a gargoyle read.
Walking home in NYC by herself, Lexi is attacked and barely gets away with her life. She was saved by a gargoyle named Stanis. Lexi never knew that magic existed, or that her great-great-grandfather managed to craft grotesques (gargoyles) and made one into a living being. The whole reason Stanis was created was to protect the Belarus family. That's all he cares about, and I'll be interested to see where this series goes. Once Lexi finds all of that out she's determined to hone her newfound magic abilities while figuring out why random tattooed men are coming out of the woodwork intent to kill her. She has two BFFs that help her along her journey, as well as Stanis.
I can't say I've read all that many gargoyle stories, and I rather enjoyed this one! Lexi and the team really got into some situations that had me wondering if they were going to survive. I enjoyed Lexi's BFF's, Rory and Marshall. Rory was there for Lexi whenever she needed it, and I wound up really liking her character. I hope to see more of her in book two. Though there wasn't romance tossed in this installment, I believe there will be some later in the series. I recommend this book if you're looking for a gargoyle read.
mist29's review against another edition
4.0
I like gargoyles and was happy to see another one in print. I'm looking forward to the next book to find out more about Stanis and Spellmasons.
caranam13's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh. Wanted to like it. Couldn't finish it. Characters were infuriating.
cjmichel's review against another edition
3.0
The family is protected by the gargoyles on the building, which turns out to be one only. I was hoping for a bit more than the pages provided.
mackle13's review against another edition
1.0
1.5
There's a little part of me - a very little part - that sort of wants to bump this up to 2 stars. This is down to two things: 1) I did sort of care about Stanis but the end of the book. (He's the gargoyle. He's also the only character with any real development.) 2) I still have a hard time using 1-stars for "didn't like" instead of "absolutely abysmal".
'Cause this book isn't abysmal... but it was pretty bad, and I did not like.
The story was pretty standard UF fare, the biggest difference being that the supernatural creature dujoir is a gargoyle instead of the more usual - and, really, that's mostly why I gave this book a chance. I blame my childhood love for the cartoon 'Gargoyles' (which is referenced in the story).
But this gargoyle doesn't turn to flesh, he's always stone - and, no, it's never explained how stone can fly. As my husband says for these occasions, "A wizard did it."
But it's not the predictability of the story which is the problem. It's the characters and the writing.
The first problems with the writing crop up pretty much immediately when we meet the characters, and are given horribly clunky chunks of expositionary dialogue. Here's a slightly hyperbolic example:
"Hello Aurora, my best friend. How are you, you fierce, wee thing, you?"
"Well, Lexi, as you know I am doing an intensive dance program and some other school stuff, and am panic prone to begin with."
"I know this is very true, my best friend Rory - which is what I usually call you."
Yes, it really is that bad.
And the characters are all pretty one-dimensional with their particular things which, of course, become relevant and useful in the story.
Lexi is a wanna-be artist, even though her family is in real estate and kinda want her to be in real estate, too. Of course, when shit goes down, it's her artistic side which becomes important - as one might guess from the whole Spellmason thing.
Rory, as stated, is a dancer and, apparently, this gives her mad fighting skills 'cause, ya know, fighting and dancing are totally the same, yo. (As someone who's done both - no. Just no.)
(She's also completely spastic. One page she's telling Lexi that maybe she shouldn't mess around with the magic 'cause she doesn't know what dangers it could have, and in the next page she's asking why Lexi hasn't been busy making a gargoyle army.)
And Marshall is a D&D geek, who can't say ANYTHING without it being a game reference (which would make slightly more sense if anyone else in the story was slightly into gaming, 'cause then it could be funny in-jokes, but, no, he's just a socially awkward loser who has no point of reference outside of D&D 'cause, ya know, gamers are losers and all). BUT his game knowledge comes in totally useful because he knows what things like alchemy are, and he can instantly memorize the layout of a building from all those years of campaigning.
'Cause, yeah...
Oh, and the parents are the typical emotionally distant and pressurey sort who can't understand why their daughter wants to be her own person instead of following the family business. (But this all works out conveniently in the end, so it's all good.)
And, ya know, I'm glad I wrote this review 'cause I totally remember why I one-starred it.
As I said, there is a saving grace in Stanis, who actually develops a bit through the story (and is the reason for that little half star) - but there are issues with this, too.
For one, he's sort of forced to change as Lexi takes it upon herself to give him back his memories, despite being warned how bad this could be. so he's mostly given back his character more than developing one.
And there are a whole host of other issues, like Lexi never considering that a living piece of stone might have feelings, or ever considering the moral implications of having, essentially, a magically bound slave.
So, yeah...
This is just really badly written. I boggle at the many rave reviews but, then, I'm a weirdo, so there's that.
There's a little part of me - a very little part - that sort of wants to bump this up to 2 stars. This is down to two things: 1) I did sort of care about Stanis but the end of the book. (He's the gargoyle. He's also the only character with any real development.) 2) I still have a hard time using 1-stars for "didn't like" instead of "absolutely abysmal".
'Cause this book isn't abysmal... but it was pretty bad, and I did not like.
The story was pretty standard UF fare, the biggest difference being that the supernatural creature dujoir is a gargoyle instead of the more usual - and, really, that's mostly why I gave this book a chance. I blame my childhood love for the cartoon 'Gargoyles' (which is referenced in the story).
But this gargoyle doesn't turn to flesh, he's always stone - and, no, it's never explained how stone can fly. As my husband says for these occasions, "A wizard did it."
But it's not the predictability of the story which is the problem. It's the characters and the writing.
The first problems with the writing crop up pretty much immediately when we meet the characters, and are given horribly clunky chunks of expositionary dialogue. Here's a slightly hyperbolic example:
"Hello Aurora, my best friend. How are you, you fierce, wee thing, you?"
"Well, Lexi, as you know I am doing an intensive dance program and some other school stuff, and am panic prone to begin with."
"I know this is very true, my best friend Rory - which is what I usually call you."
Yes, it really is that bad.
And the characters are all pretty one-dimensional with their particular things which, of course, become relevant and useful in the story.
Lexi is a wanna-be artist, even though her family is in real estate and kinda want her to be in real estate, too. Of course, when shit goes down, it's her artistic side which becomes important - as one might guess from the whole Spellmason thing.
Rory, as stated, is a dancer and, apparently, this gives her mad fighting skills 'cause, ya know, fighting and dancing are totally the same, yo. (As someone who's done both - no. Just no.)
(She's also completely spastic. One page she's telling Lexi that maybe she shouldn't mess around with the magic 'cause she doesn't know what dangers it could have, and in the next page she's asking why Lexi hasn't been busy making a gargoyle army.)
And Marshall is a D&D geek, who can't say ANYTHING without it being a game reference (which would make slightly more sense if anyone else in the story was slightly into gaming, 'cause then it could be funny in-jokes, but, no, he's just a socially awkward loser who has no point of reference outside of D&D 'cause, ya know, gamers are losers and all). BUT his game knowledge comes in totally useful because he knows what things like alchemy are, and he can instantly memorize the layout of a building from all those years of campaigning.
'Cause, yeah...
Oh, and the parents are the typical emotionally distant and pressurey sort who can't understand why their daughter wants to be her own person instead of following the family business. (But this all works out conveniently in the end, so it's all good.)
And, ya know, I'm glad I wrote this review 'cause I totally remember why I one-starred it.
As I said, there is a saving grace in Stanis, who actually develops a bit through the story (and is the reason for that little half star) - but there are issues with this, too.
For one, he's sort of forced to change as Lexi takes it upon herself to give him back his memories, despite being warned how bad this could be. so he's mostly given back his character more than developing one.
And there are a whole host of other issues, like Lexi never considering that a living piece of stone might have feelings, or ever considering the moral implications of having, essentially, a magically bound slave.
So, yeah...
This is just really badly written. I boggle at the many rave reviews but, then, I'm a weirdo, so there's that.
chelseaj91's review against another edition
3.0
An Old Friend of the Family...Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name…
Lexi’s great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason—an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor’s most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis.
Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love…
2.5 StarsI loved the premise of this story. I mean, I used to love watching Gargoyles when I was a kid and it had other things that I enjoy: family secrets, hidden guardians, magic (ok, alchemy, but still), bad guys who think they can win. But I had a hard time really getting into the story.
Alexandra intrigued me, I'll admit. She was tough and dealt with all the stuff thrown at her with little whining. But at the same time, it felt way too rushed. Plus, she's expected to take over the family real estate business all of a sudden with no training? I'm sorry, but "family image" or no, how in the heck is that a good thing? And the fact that she suddenly became such a Spellmason expert? Pretty cool that she dove into figuring things out, I'll admit but it just felt like it was way too fast for someone who had no previous experience. She did make some stupid choices (can she just admit that going after any of those stones without Stanis is a recipe for trouble already?), but she was determined to find those stones and help Stanis which I admired. She also did show quite a bit of backbone and (when not stone/Spellmason related) usually made pretty smart choices.
I did have some issues with the writing, particularly Stanis' chapters. I did like watching him start to explore the world, especially as they got the stones back and he started to remember things. He was kind of funny as he tried to learn about the current culture/world. I did have issues with the way he referred to the main characters: for a while he was referring to them only as: "the makers kin" (Alexandra), "the blue haired one" (Rory), and "the male" (Marshall). Then there was one chapter towards the middle where he started switching how he referred to them, started to use their names, but it would usually only be one at a time and it would only be for that particular conversation (or even just that line of the story), then he'd all of a sudden be back to referring to them as the labels he'd given them (probably a minor thing, but it bugged the hell out of me).
I've already mentioned having issues with the sped up timing regarding Lexi's studies, but I also had some issues with Rory. Years of dance training does NOT a trained martial artist make!! While the dancing would definitely help with the movement, there's no way it would make you know exactly how to jump to hit that target or the best way to slide between a target's legs and bring your hands up to inflict damage. I will admit that could also be slightly achieved by some basic knowledge of weak spots, but not it wouldn't make her into the "expert" she'd suddenly supposedly become. However, even all of that would not necessarily make her able to properly wield a polearm!
Devon was a right royal jackass. Even getting the shock that he got, he was still an asshat. I kind of hope the Servants take him apart piece by piece.
Overall, the story held some interest for me. I'll probably look for the rest of the series, especially since I am interested to know how they deal with the way things ended, but I don't think I'll be running to pick it up immediately