rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
In this alternative reality, the world IS flat, alchemy is real, and there may actually be a fountain of youth, maybe.
It was pretty well written, with characters who have plausible motives. I'll read the sequel when it comes out (and you know one will).
It was pretty well written, with characters who have plausible motives. I'll read the sequel when it comes out (and you know one will).
etoiline's review against another edition
4.0
Despite somewhat of a slow start, QUINTESSENCE builds tension throughout and eventually builds up to a (literally) earth-shaking climax. The characters are somewhat flat, but their motivations are clear, and for the most part have a reason to act as they do. There are plenty of questions that are answered in an interesting way, and the magic is unique, if a little facile, as it suffers somewhat from the "everything is so easy now!" trope. It looks like there could be something left in this quasi-Elizabethan world, so perhaps another story is in the offing. Being a scientist myself, I liked how the scientific method was portrayed (or ignored, depending on which character the story was following at the moment). The ending is hopeful, and the bad guys get their comeuppance. This could have been a faster read, but real life intruded. Pick it up if you like science and magic fused, ocean adventure, or new world discovery.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
nathanaeljs's review against another edition
3.0
I'll be honest, the amazing cover was pretty much why I picked this book up to begin with. The premise was the next to intrigue me and I was (mostly) not disappointed. Walton does an amazing job of world-building, creating a flat Earth and adjusting historical events accordingly. Copernicus proves the Earth is flat, not the center of a solar system. Columbus' voyage ends in disaster and the ships never return from the ends of the Earth. In the midst of this setting, science is struggling to develop in a society in turmoil, both religious and philosophical.
The plot of the novel itself is a bit slow and it seems as if Walton added the conflict that rears its head in the last third of the story specifically because of this. However, the world he creates in this novel is refreshingly different from the usual fantasy fair and the way the characters approach the fantastic was what really made the book for me. Instead of dismissing everything that happens as magic (as most do in your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy novel), there's a real attempt at scientific observation and experimentation. I feel like you could easily compare the bulk of the story to Darwin's travels aboard the Beagle and time in the Galapagos.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with the plot where characters are forced to carry an Idiot Ball in order to maintain certain plot conflicts, which is why I had to give it three stars rather than the four I wanted to. I also really disliked the villain who enters in the third act. He's fairly flat and stereotypical in his "I'm an Evil Catholic, FEAR ME, HERETICS!!!1!" fervor. However, the end of the novel leaves room for a sequel and I would definitely read it.
The plot of the novel itself is a bit slow and it seems as if Walton added the conflict that rears its head in the last third of the story specifically because of this. However, the world he creates in this novel is refreshingly different from the usual fantasy fair and the way the characters approach the fantastic was what really made the book for me. Instead of dismissing everything that happens as magic (as most do in your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy novel), there's a real attempt at scientific observation and experimentation. I feel like you could easily compare the bulk of the story to Darwin's travels aboard the Beagle and time in the Galapagos.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with the plot where characters are forced to carry an Idiot Ball in order to maintain certain plot conflicts, which is why I had to give it three stars rather than the four I wanted to. I also really disliked the villain who enters in the third act. He's fairly flat and stereotypical in his "I'm an Evil Catholic, FEAR ME, HERETICS!!!1!" fervor. However, the end of the novel leaves room for a sequel and I would definitely read it.
caranam13's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I wanted to like it and I just couldn't get into it
printedadventures's review
3.0
So this was. . . odd. It took a few turns where I was like....hmmmmm, ok. But it did keep me reading. The mysterious aspects of alchemy kept me pretty well entertained as well as location they end up in. A good weekend read.
beka_ray's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, that was so fun to read. It has been a while since I have read a book late at night and just said 'one more chapter, one more chapter...just one more' and well, let's just say that last night I didn't really sleep.
I was enchanted, with the world, the characters, the ideas, the magic. It was wonderful. I'm very very glad that I found it.
I was enchanted, with the world, the characters, the ideas, the magic. It was wonderful. I'm very very glad that I found it.
aab0990's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like the book, and maybe if I had read a print version of it I would have. But I found the plot to be tackling too much, and some of the narration of the Audible version to be overdone. The concept was interesting and the alternate universe created by Walton should be applauded. But again, too much was going on, and too much real world knowledge and argument was being re-examined. The presence of a strong female character was appealing, but the novel also suffered by having too many voices present.
b00kwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I can't give half-stars so I picked 3. Overall the book was decent. I read through it really quickly once I got time to sit down and do so and I did enjoy it, but the way I tend to determine my likability of a book is whether or not I would re-read it. Unfortunately I'm afraid my answer for this book is a 'no'.
The concept of the book is fantastic. Quintessence is an alternative history based on the idea that the Earth is actually flat, and the timeframe is the reign of Queen Mary (early-mid 1500s). Quintessence is written well and the ideas it presents are well done, but for me the pitfall is the ability to relate to the characters and the plot didn't grab me as much as I had hoped.
Let me say, if you're thinking about reading Quintessence I'd say rent it from the library and go from there. I honestly hope anyone who reads it enjoys it, but for me I don't know that I'd read it again.
I can't give half-stars so I picked 3. Overall the book was decent. I read through it really quickly once I got time to sit down and do so and I did enjoy it, but the way I tend to determine my likability of a book is whether or not I would re-read it. Unfortunately I'm afraid my answer for this book is a 'no'.
The concept of the book is fantastic. Quintessence is an alternative history based on the idea that the Earth is actually flat, and the timeframe is the reign of Queen Mary (early-mid 1500s). Quintessence is written well and the ideas it presents are well done, but for me the pitfall is the ability to relate to the characters and the plot didn't grab me as much as I had hoped.
Let me say, if you're thinking about reading Quintessence I'd say rent it from the library and go from there. I honestly hope anyone who reads it enjoys it, but for me I don't know that I'd read it again.
abookishtype's review against another edition
2.0
Well, the author tried. I have to give Walton credit for the premise. But, unfortunately, he couldn’t quite pull it off. Don’t get me wrong, this was an interesting read and highly imaginative. I enjoyed parts of it. But the characterization and dialog were not good. Not Tom Clancy bad, but bad enough to notice...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
mvuijlst's review against another edition
3.0
En wat als de zaken die geloofd werden door alchemisten en pre-wetenschappelijke denkers en dergelijke, waar zouden zijn? Als de wereld echt plat zou zijn en eindig en overdekt met een vast firmament, als de muziek der sferen zou bestaan, als waar er op de kaarten "here be monsters" staat, ook echt monsters zijn, en als de quintessens ook echt zou bestaan?
Walton bouwt een fijne wereld waar dat allemaal ook zo is. Zestiende eeuw, vers protestants Engeland met een achtergrond van koningserfopvolgingsproblemen en katholiek Spanje en inquisitie, ontdekkingsreizen, en allemaal fijne personages.
Er is Parris, een dokter die wetenschap wil doen en er is Sinclair, een geslepen alchemist die de geheimen van de wereld wil doorgronden. De vrouw van Parris die een closet catholic is, de dochter van Parris die er zich niet wil bij neerleggen dat haar rol, als meisje, erg beperkt is. Er zijn zelfs nevenpersonages die potentieel hebben: Maasha, dienaar van Sinclair maar eigenlijk een Afrikaanse prins die zijn vrouw en kinderen vermoord zag, en Blanche, ogenschijnlijk Frans maar eigenlijk een verborgen Joodse.
Het begint allemaal veelbelovend: een schip komt terug van de rand van de wereld, en de bemanning is dood of stervend: de kisten vol goud blijken stenen te zijn, hun bloed wordt zand. Sinclair denkt te weten wat er aan de hand is, en slaagt erin om van de stervende koning van Engeland een opdracht te krijgen om een expeditie op het getouw te zetten. Shenanigans en alles: Sinclair en dochter eindigen ook in de expeditie, en na avonturen komen ze aan de rand van de wereld uit.
Waar allerlei Wondere Gebeurtenissen Gebeuren en zo.
En dan -- niemand verwacht ze! -- komt de Spaanse Inquisitie eraan. Logisch, dat niemand ze verwacht: hun belangrijkste wapen is het verrasingselement. En terreur. Hun twee belangrijkste wapens zijn verrassing, tereur. En gruwelijke efficiëntie. Oh, en een bijna fanatieke gehoorzaamheid aan de paus. Um. Hun vier. Nee. Onder hun belangrijkste wapens bevinden zich...
Nee serieus: de schlechte schlechterik is bedroevend karikaturaal. En het verhaal valt helaas allemaal een beetje in duigen, naar het midden en het einde van het boek. De hoofdpersonages blijven wel overeind, maar die dochter wordt een uitknipfiguur (het meisje dat bijna een jongen is), en de zijpersonages worden verkwanseld. En er was zoveel méér mee te doen, verdomme toch!
Walton bouwt een fijne wereld waar dat allemaal ook zo is. Zestiende eeuw, vers protestants Engeland met een achtergrond van koningserfopvolgingsproblemen en katholiek Spanje en inquisitie, ontdekkingsreizen, en allemaal fijne personages.
Er is Parris, een dokter die wetenschap wil doen en er is Sinclair, een geslepen alchemist die de geheimen van de wereld wil doorgronden. De vrouw van Parris die een closet catholic is, de dochter van Parris die er zich niet wil bij neerleggen dat haar rol, als meisje, erg beperkt is. Er zijn zelfs nevenpersonages die potentieel hebben: Maasha, dienaar van Sinclair maar eigenlijk een Afrikaanse prins die zijn vrouw en kinderen vermoord zag, en Blanche, ogenschijnlijk Frans maar eigenlijk een verborgen Joodse.
Het begint allemaal veelbelovend: een schip komt terug van de rand van de wereld, en de bemanning is dood of stervend: de kisten vol goud blijken stenen te zijn, hun bloed wordt zand. Sinclair denkt te weten wat er aan de hand is, en slaagt erin om van de stervende koning van Engeland een opdracht te krijgen om een expeditie op het getouw te zetten. Shenanigans en alles: Sinclair en dochter eindigen ook in de expeditie, en na avonturen komen ze aan de rand van de wereld uit.
Waar allerlei Wondere Gebeurtenissen Gebeuren en zo.
En dan -- niemand verwacht ze! -- komt de Spaanse Inquisitie eraan. Logisch, dat niemand ze verwacht: hun belangrijkste wapen is het verrasingselement. En terreur. Hun twee belangrijkste wapens zijn verrassing, tereur. En gruwelijke efficiëntie. Oh, en een bijna fanatieke gehoorzaamheid aan de paus. Um. Hun vier. Nee. Onder hun belangrijkste wapens bevinden zich...
Nee serieus: de schlechte schlechterik is bedroevend karikaturaal. En het verhaal valt helaas allemaal een beetje in duigen, naar het midden en het einde van het boek. De hoofdpersonages blijven wel overeind, maar die dochter wordt een uitknipfiguur (het meisje dat bijna een jongen is), en de zijpersonages worden verkwanseld. En er was zoveel méér mee te doen, verdomme toch!