A Conspiracy of Alchemists: Chronicles of Light and Shadow

The Chronicles of Light and Shadow #1

by Liesel Schwarz

In a Golden Age where spark reactors power the airways, and creatures of Light and Shadow walk openly among us, a deadly game of Alchemists and Warlocks has begun.





When an unusual cargo drags airship-pilot Elle Chance into the affairs of the mysterious Mr Marsh, she must confront her destiny and do everything in her power to stop the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse.





Combining the best elements of nineteenth century gothic fiction with contemporary Steampunk, adventure, romance and the supernatural, Liesel Schwarz has crafted a truly exceptional debut, the first book in The Chronicles of Light and Shadow trilogy.

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Vampires

416 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

Liesel Schwarz has an MA in creative writing and is currently completing her doctorate in English and creative writing at Brunel University.

A life-long fan of 19th Century Gothic literature, she is a hopeless romantic and loves Victorians, steampunk, fairies, fantasy monsters, the Fin de siècle, and the correct way to drink absinthe. She also likes Medieval stuff, pirates, zombies, space operas and all subjects in between.

Her debut – the first in a series of Edwardian Steampunk Novels published by Random House/Del Rey is out now.

She is also currently busy with her doctorate in English and Creative Writing at Brunel University. She chooses to live in London because she loves weather there.

Reviews

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a surprisingly fun debut, a wonderful blend of steampunk, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. It’s perfect for fans of Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas series. The worldbuilding may be slightly inferior in comparison, but that’s only because Meljean Brook is the untouchable queen of the genre. Leisel Schwartz did not disappoint with her fabulously imaginative world full of alchemists, Nightwalkers, absint fairies and warlocks. The steampunk elements were great (gyrocopters!) and the plot was highly entertaining, if a tiny bit predictable.

The romance, however, fell a bit flat. You know when you watch So You Think You Can Dance and a couple dances with technical precision, but the judges say there’s not enough chemistry between them? That’s exactly how this was: Elle and Marsh made all the right moves, but there wasn’t any spark there. I never felt the rush of expectation when they were left alone, and even though theirs wasn’t an instalove, it still wasn’t believable enough for me.

Elle was a great heroine, one I could easily admire. She refused to be limited by her gender and preferred flying airships to husband-hunting. The secondary characters were fabulously developed and I can’t wait to see more of them in the second installment, The Clockwork Heart. A Conspiracy of Alchemists has a very clean ending and it could easily have been a standalone, but I was very excited when the second book was announced.

I can’t promise you’ll remember all the details a month after you finish this book, but I can promise you’ll have a great time reading it.

[Anusha Iyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh how painful this book was. Sorry guys I’m too cranky to make this a long, and drawn out affair. So this will be a short and hopefully civil review.

Let’s cut to the chase, so here is the run down on all its shortcomings:

1. The main character is SO boring. She has no personality what so ever. The people around her were more fun than her. It would have been kind of nice if this was Ernest Hemingway doing his fly-on-the-wall story thing…but it’s not and this was lame at best.

2. The story was just not there. I saw the word, ‘conspiracy’, in the title and expected a LOT: like something close to what Dan Brown would write. This wasn’t that. It was slow paced, and loosely tied together. I was skimming half of it. Why did it have to be so long? Nothing drastic or even interesting ever happens.

3.I’m not entirely sure I understand what happened. It was confusing because of how boring it was. And this was NOT steampunk. Do not go into this thinking it will be like Frankenstein or even like The Dark Unwinding…because this isn’t steampunk. It’s depressing me (I’m turning to pie in my time of need) how bad this was.

I would like to apologize to the author and Netgalley because my comments are a little too harsh. It was a tough read for me. I’m surprised I got through it. And I also realize that I sound like a whiny teenager who just wants a Hemingway repeat of Angels & Demons set in Paris. But with that note, let’s move on to my recommendations.

While I hated this book and will not be pursuing the series any further, I don’t want that to tarnish or cloud any of my readers’ opinions. Truth be told, it is a tough read but maybe that fits a lot of you out there. If you are in the mood for a difficult read that will definitely make you wonder and think…this is it. I would definitely recommend this to all ages but more specifically to adults (because patience is a pre-requisite for this novel). Please everybody, don’t let my review scare you away…give it a shot and decide for yourself.

Lastly, I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

Happy Second Shots! (of pie … DUH!)

Check out the goodies at Rainbows and Books

[PhoenixFantasy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This keeps happening to me lately. The blurb of a book sounds absolute genius, but the book itself falls far short of the mark. I’m the first to admit that the publishing world often baffles me, and I could be miles out here, but I’m assuming that the marketing wiz writes the blurb? Seems to me, more and more, that the blurb wizmasters should be the ones doing the writing.

In fairness, I’ve read a lot worse, but as a Steampunk fan who enjoys the likes of Carriger, Priest and KW Jeter, this really doesn’t compare. The ambitious mix of genres didn’t work at all for me, but maybe that’s just because I’m a bit of a Steampunk purist at heart and have little time for fairies and trite romance with hot Warlocks. In fact, if the word “fairy” had been mentioned anywhere in the blurb, I’d have passed on this altogether. It’s too YA for my taste, I struggled to take it seriously. For me it read as the kind of YA that you need to be somewhere around 13 or 14 to properly enjoy.

The main issue I had was that nothing felt authentic here, there were so many little hiccups that I couldn’t lose myself in Schwarz’s world, try as I might. Cafe ‘du’ Aleix? ‘Gov’ a supposed strong cockney accent? And once we get to Oxford..the House Goblins..avoidance thereof, I had flashes of Hermione with her SPEW badges that just wouldn’t shift. They’re all little, inconsequential things, but they amass, and irritate, and this very much wasn’t for me. I mean, the tea thing…pouring tea without giving it even a moment to brew? Yes, dammit, I’m a tea purist as well.

http://phoenixfantasyreviews.com/2013...

The plot was too simplistic, the romance was too trite, and the world building was too weak for me. Childlike execution is the best way I can think to describe it. I can let one, or even two of the three go if whatever’s left is outstanding, but sadly in this case there was nothing I felt I could engage with. If you like your Paranormal Romance though, and aren’t hardcore Steampunk or haven’t read much around the genre, you might well enjoy this. Sadly, ’twas not for me. My advice would be to save your hard earned and go and buy Soulless instead.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I give up.

I made a resolution this year to give each book that I begin a fair chance and read at least 50 pages before dropping it. I was literally counting the pages until I could put this book down. It isn't that this book was bad technically, per se, but it was incredibly boring. So boring that I had a hard time focusing and getting through the story. So boring that I cared not at all about any of the characters that we met. ::sigh::

It is such a shame because I had high hopes for this book. The cover looks so cool and I have been wanting to try more steampunk books. Who knows, maybe someone else would love this book, maybe this genre doesn't speak to me. Don't let my 1 star rating dissuade you from trying it if you are interested. Like I said, it wasn't terrible, I just personally strongly disliked it. Oh well, on to the next...

**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dazzling debut novel that delicately interweaves past & present magnificently, creating something refreshingly original and exciting!

Cleverly crafted and indisputably exceptional this inspired novel astonished me, with its distinctiveness and imaginative vision. Entwining acute historical detail with elements of nineteenth-century gothic fiction, in addition to a classy contemporary twist makes this a most evocatively atmospheric work. Spectacular steampunk embellished with impassioned romance, action-packed adventure and supernatural elements make this an outstanding, remarkable book. With such beguiling premise I envisage ‘the chronicles of light and shadow’ to be met with approbation, for it is something that will appeal to a wide-readership rather than singularly wedged in one particular genre. Ambitious and full of content that brings to life nineteenth-century gothic literature, with an almost archaic, Victorian ‘feel’ to it you are plunged into a world which is so imaginative and yet radiates our historical past’s authenticity.

Set within a Golden Age where spark reactors power the airways and creatures of ‘light and shadow’ walk openly amongst others, an intense rift between the Alchemists and the Warlocks ensues for the ages to come. Elle Chance (airship-pilot) together with the attractive yet mysterious Mr. Marsh, are propelled into the midst of this long-term heated conflict. As they unite to prevent the Alchemists from unleashing a deadly magical apocalypse, the bond between them and fervent feelings pinnacle. Within this intriguing, outlandish world where old magic, the mechanical and the tangible combine love is found, vengeance is sought and one is ultimately tested to the limit as they endeavor to fulfill her destiny…

The exquisite blend of supernatural fantasy, detailed historical elements and spinechilling moments makes this gripping, truly absorbing page-turner something that I was unable to tear my eyes away from. As an avid reader of the fantasy genre, who delights in myth and legend as well as paranormal and action, I was so astonished and amazed at how this extraordinary book combined elements of everything I love within literature that is so diverse and yet it worked so well! Magical, spellbinding and mystical this is something which dreams are made of, as I felt like I was witnessing something momentous - remicent of when first encountering Phillip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. Complete with a cast of captivating, colorful characters and lavish creativity, this multi-layered substantial narrative with Liesel Schwarz’s in-depth visualization is just breathtaking.

The lush, stunning and delicately beautiful cover makes this notable book stand-out on the bookshelf, as something special and out of the ordinary!

*I won a copy of ‘A Conspiracy of Alchemists’ by Liesel Schwarz through a Goodreads giveaway*

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty generic steampunk fantasy novel with a plucky female lead, with a unknown destiny, and a mysterious gentleman who knows more than he's letting on.

I found it a bit flat, and the characters a little childish. It was OK but I wouldn't recommend.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what genre to classify this under. It has an urban fantasy feel, as well as some steampunk, along with paranormal (warlocks, fairies) plus a little mythology thrown in the mix! All are elements that I love, and I really liked the uniqueness of it!

The story is mostly adventure and action from start to finish. There isn't a lot of sitting around--Elle is in danger constantly of being kidnapped, while also trying to find her kidnapped father, and she also isn't sure who to trust. She throws her lot in with an old friend, Patrice, and his friend, Hugh Marsh.

Most of the character development came from Elle and Marsh, and I really adored both of their characters. Elle is a typical spitfire redhead (love it!) and Marsh is a handsome, very intelligent man who likes to butt heads with Elle constantly. Their relationship goes through lots of phases--hate, indifference, slight friendship, hate again, mistrust, and eventually, the stirrings of love! Although there is a hint of some romance, it doesn't take up much of the story. Elle and Marsh are too busy running for their lives!

Their journey takes them from Paris to England, then Vienna, and lastly, Constantinople. The plot was very well done, with a few twists here and there and a slow climax to the end. The ending was a little strange and not really all that believable, but this is steampunk, and I've found that its pretty normal to get carried away! This is the first book in the "The Chronicle of Light and Shadow" series, and I can't wait for the sequel, "A Clockwork Heart" to come out in August!

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. A fun steampunk debut novel.

I’ll admit it. I’m intrigued by all things steampunk. Having heard some great things about this debut author, I just had to read this book. I was drawn to the lovely cover – The Eiffel Tower, airships, strange runes – the book looked like it was full of win for me. I was not disappointed.

I adored the world created by this author. Set in both France and England at the turn of the 20th century, the story follows a young woman named Eleanor (Elle) Chance. Elle has the unlikely occupation of an airship pilot (I love her already!). Elle is quite the heroine: she is feisty, street smart, has excellent mechanical skills, and she has quite an interesting family tree.

The world of A Conspiracy of Alchemists combined magic, steampunk, the fae, alchemists, secret brotherhoods, and even pirates for an exciting, page-turning read. The steampunk elements were well done and very clever and fanciful. I loved how almost every steam powered machine could be relied upon to brew a cup of tea. Brilliant! The opium dens were well described and I liked the idea of absinthe fairies living inside of jewels. The airship chase scenes were both hairy and exciting.

While I didn’t pick this book up expecting a romance, I was pleasantly surprised by the interactions between Hugh and Elle. It was fun watching their friendship develop.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a wonderful debut by author Liesel Scharz. There is a second book planned for this series. A Clockwork Heart is scheduled to be released August 20, 2013. I can’t wait!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a review copy of this book.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz is another in a recent spate of alternate history steampunk fantasies. I have not been disappointed with these offerings.

Elle Chance, a pilot of an airship, raised by her famous inventor father, is swept up in the war between the light and the dark. Her father has been kidnapped by agents of the shadow. She wants him back. Of course, it is not chance that Chance is swept up in events, as she, unbeknownst to herself, has a magical birthright of immense power. Her dead mother could enhance the magical abilities of alchemists who fight for the dark and Warlocks, who fight for the light.

Marsh Greychester, a Warlock accompanies Chance on her journey to find her father, but also to persuade her to join his colleagues on the Counsel of Warlocks and help them regain their power. But its a fate that no one would choose. Chance is not interested. But fate and chance will battle here.

Meanwhile, Eustace Abercombie is a dark alchemist in league with a vampire, who wants to use Chance's father's engineering talents to build something dangerous.

Can Marsh and Chance stop Abercombie before his creation comes to fruition? Will Marsh persuade Chance to become the perfect servant for the Counsel? Will Chance forge her own path? Who besides Abercombie and his pet Vampire is arrayed against Marsh and Chance?

The world building in this alternate history novel is impressive. Elle Chance is a very likable character, a woman in the male world of flying, daring, romantic, courageous and a quick thinker. Unwilling to allow old men to use her.

Its a good read, there are plenty of adventures, cool situations and the final scenes are exciting.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was desperate for a book that would let me escape from life for a while, and had downloaded this from NetGalley. It is a perfect blend of steampunk fantasy based in just enough historical detail that you can almost believe the faeries and nightwalkers, Alchemists and Oracles. The reader also gets to travel from Paris to Oxford to Vienna to Istanbul, so add this to the list of books I'll read this year that have a tie to Turkey!

The main character is Elle Chance, a female airship pilot in a time where women are still fighting for the right to vote. So she's plucky and inventive and a nice contrast to the people living in Shadow. The story is fast-paced and doesn't spend too much time on the syrupy sweet angsty romance (but, you know, enough time for a few passionate kisses and heady dreams). The ending was puzzling enough that I'd probably want to read the next one to see if the characters really ended up where it looked like they were heading.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A smart blend of steampunk, historical and paranormal.

Elle is anxious to board her airship and be on her way. Her friend Patrice corners her in the tea shop and asks her to transport a small box for him. He is tight lipped about the contents of the box. Her payment is a lovely diamond bracelet that Elle snaps on her wrist, only to find that the clasp won't undo. A small absinthe fairy, immediately flies into the bracelet and takes up residence inside the diamonds. Elle figures she will deal with the problem after her flight. Unfortunately, as soon as Elle leaves the shop, she is assaulted in her carriage, and the mysterious box is stolen. Elle is immediately drawn into a dark and dangerous conflict between the Alchemists and the Warlocks. She learns that the delicate balance between the Light and the Shadow is precariously close to becoming unbalanced and she just might hold the key to stopping it. Can Elle prevent the Alchemists from unleashing darkness on the world?
What I Liked:
*I always enjoy a book that manages to pull off a successful melding of genres, and so I was pleased to find that A Conspiracy of Alchemists was able to do just that. It is a smart blend of historical fiction, with great steampunk and a lot of paranormal. There was plenty to like about this book. If you are a fan of books that marry your favorite genres, give this one a try.
*I was enthralled with the complexity and creativity of Ms. Schwarz's ideas. This book presents the two sides: The Light and The Shadow, but it is not your typical good and evil as you would expect. Instead The Light refers to science, wisdom and technology, while the counterpart, The Shadow, refers to the realm that involves magic and all things paranormal. The two sides are becoming unbalanced as man's quest for knowledge and the pursuit of technology is causing the Shadow realm to lose power. Thus, the Alchemists and Nightwalkers (vampires) are seeking to counter the balance in their favor. What follows is an entertaining and intriguing, action packed adventure full of plenty of paranormal and all the gadgets and gizmos that you love in steampunk. I was pleased that this one had many of those creative inventions that I so adore in steampunk. I especially liked the gyrocopter, a small steam powered air ship that resembles a dragonfly. This book definitely delivers with the steampunk!
*I admired Elle the protagonist. She is certainly flawed as she is a bit head strong, and quick to make snap judgements, often before assessing all the evidence, but on the other hand, she is intelligent, resourceful and daring. She is a young lady caught in the era during the women's suffrage movement. Elle refuses to wear her skirts, and be a proper lady, who marries and has a family, instead she earns her pilot's license and flies airships. It is always fun to encounter a female who goes against the norm of her day, and Elle does just that. There are certainly a few times when she is a bit irritating, especially when she refuses to listen to Marsh, but that is what makes her realistic, because she makes mistakes.
*There are plenty of paranormal entities in this one from fairies, nightwalkers, oracles, witches and warlocks and more. I enjoyed some of the new spins on these familiar entities. The vampires are especially a bit different, and that was a relief for me since I am burned out on vampires. The Alchemists and the Warlocks were very interesting, and something you don't encounter often. One of my favorite characters was the little absinthe fairy, and I enjoyed her view point, even though I was a bit confused at first as to whose view point I was reading.
And The Not So Much:
*I struggled a bit with the romance in this one. Elle and Marsh start out antagonistic towards each other, and then there is this sudden shift and they both immediately develop feelings for each other. It wasn't exactly insta-love per say, but it progressed very quickly from the pair being at odds to something more and all the detail was glossed over. I was especially surprised at the ending, where the relationship took another big jump. I just didn't feel the passion or see the attraction because it just happened and the reader doesn't get to relish all the buildup. The two are thrown into an uneasy alliance and Elle doesn't particularly like or trust Marsh, and then one day she wakes up with feelings for him. I wanted more chemistry and sizzle and it just wasn't there.
*The absinthe fairy was one of my favorite additions to the story, but there is so little detail on her character. For instance, I have briefly heard of absinthe fairies before, but I don't have a clear understanding of their abilities and what the absinthe does for them. The fairy's powers are not disclosed and I never understood why she needed absinthe. She would go into the bottle, did she drink it, immerse in it or what? There are brief snippets throughout the book from the fairy's point of view, but then during the last part of the book she disappears and is a non factor. I was expecting more from her, especially since the story incorporated her view point.
*I felt that the whole conspiracy of the alchemists plot was a bit undeveloped. The villains played a small role, and we didn't really get to see what made them tick, or have a full understanding behind their motives. The villains were not memorable or scary, and I thought they fell a little flat, though I did appreciate the twist with one of the bad guys when it was revealed he was an enemy.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists was an enjoyable read. It features a headstrong heroine who refuses to be saddled by the ideas of society for a young woman. Elle takes chances and pilots air ships and is everything a well brought up young lady should not be. There is plenty of steampunk gadgets and gizmos and an interesting plot. The romance is a bit underdeveloped but it is a good beginning. If you enjoy steampunk, paranormal and historical books, give this one a try, it is definitely different.
Favorite Quotations:
"It was the way the world worked: Everyone owed somebody something in the end and it helped if those you owed were friends."
"I'd rather eat my own foot than marry a man like you."
"You are dreaming that you are awake and you are awake while you are dreaming. It's complicate."
"She melted into him like flame-softened wax, until they were both no more than an abstract of lips and faces, skin and hands. Bodies touching, intertwined, they drifted weightlessly through the shimmering aether."
"In that moment, she knew that this was the one kiss of her life. It was the touch of him she would remember forever. THe kiss she would dream of when she was lonely. It was the kiss she would relive when she was alone."
"There was little point in mindless bravery though, for sometimes victories were won by small increments. As the mighty pine rises up form one tiny seed, so our escape plan would grow."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Dragana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since A Conspiracy of Alchemists is Liesel Schwarz's debut novel I didn't know what to expect. The cover promised a lot of steampunk-ish goodness and that it will be set in Europe, Paris to be exact. I am glad to say that the book fulfilled all the promises and excited my expectations. It's rare to find a true steampunk novel these days. A lot of them seem like steampunk is added as an after-though to increase the sale - but that is not the case with A Conspiracy of Alchemists. This book is overflowing with intriguing steam powered contraptions: dirigibles, gyrocopters... Steam and magically powered machines are ingrained into every aspect of life to create a very interesting alternative Victorian age that you will wish it really existed (and you live in it of course).


Eleanor Chance or Elle is the pilot of small dirigible 'Water Lily'. When she is hired to transport a mysterious box from Paris to London, Elle gets more than she bargained for. All hell breaks lose as alchemists, warlocks, vampires Nightwalkers and other various creatures of Light and Shadow start to pursue her and threaten not only her but her family too. Luckily for us (and her), Elle is one of those kick-ass heroines that I adore. She does not only flaunt conventions by flying and wearing men's clothing, Elle also has enough spunk to fight for herself. You gotta love Elle's determination and she has one of the best motivational mottoes ever:
"Just because it hasn't been done before, does not mean that it is not possible."

So, I already told you to expect steampunk goodies and kick-ass heroine. But, wait there is more! If you like to travel (for real or via books), then this book has another treat for you, because Elle will follow trails to unmask conspiracy trough Paris, Oxford, Venice, Budapest and Constantinople. Of course, since A Conspiracy of Alchemists is not very long and there is so much going on, there will be no detailed descriptions, but I am satisfied with little glimpses of these amazing cities we got. And I hope more will come in the next books...


I keep going on and on how this book is great. So why the 4 star rating then, you are probably thinking. Well, the one aspect where this book fell short was romance. Don't get me wrong, I am totally satisfied if I have no romance whatsoever in a book, but if it's there is a love story - I want to feel the attraction. And that was not the case in A Conspiracy of Alchemists. Big plus is that there is no love triangle and it's not insta-love - the feelings between Elle and Hugh have a slow buildup, but still I didn't buy it. I could feel Elle's passion about everything else (her family, carier, etc.) but for Hugh - no sparks or butterflies whatsoever.

If we ignore this, A Conspiracy of Alchemists was a great mix of steampunk and fantasy that made me wish to make a road trip trough Europe, learn to fly a plane and kick some serious ass. *performs imaginary awesome roundhouse kick in her head* I'm glad that this is a series and I can't wait to read more about Elle's adventures.

My rating: 4.5 stars (flat romance lowered my rating)

I recommend this book to fans of: steampunk (duh), kick-ass heroines, heroines in strict historical societies that ignore the conventions and fight for their dreams and ideals, fans of urban fantasy who would like to spice it up with historical elements.

Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Scwarz

First in The Chronicle of Light and Shadow series

3 stars

Eleanor “Elle” Chance is a pilot and she finds herself in a world she never thought to be. The year is 1903 and the world is divided between light and shadow. On the side of light, science is embraced and used to transform everyday life by harnessing magical energies to develop new technology. With each advance of science, the shadow- realm of the supernatural- loses a part of itself. The alchemists have a plan to gain back their right to magic and it involves a sacrifice a young woman with special powers that harness the magic of the Shadow. Elle is the daughter of a scientific genius and she is determined to get the job her friend, Patrice has assigned her. With the help, much to Elle’s dismay, of a Warlock named Hugh Marsh. Elle’s dragged into the world of the battle for the Shadow between Warlocks and Alchemists. A Conspiracy of Alchemists is far from perfect. It’s not an amazing debut, but I consider it to be a pretty solid one. This story has elements that will appeal to all audiences. There’s steampunk, romance, paranormal, fantasy, history, and action. This book dragged a lot for me in the beginning and even in the middle. It didn’t pick for me until 60%. That’s why I’m giving it three stars. It’s worthy of four stars or even three and half stars, but it dragged far too much for me to give it a higher rating. When there wasn’t an interesting action scene going on there was a lot bantering between Marsh and Elle or talk of science and technology. I’m terrible at science so this is a pain for me and I had to reread a lot of those parts to understand what they were talking about. The banter between Marsh and Elle was actually hard for me to like, but they both started to grow on me. I found myself enjoying their arguments even if they were stupid.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.75

The main female character is Elle. Elle isn’t a bad heroine. She has a backbone and I actually really liked her. I didn’t like her all the time, but she was a character that had substance. She wasn’t just there. I liked her love for flying and science. Elle is very unconventional for a woman of her time and I love that in a historical. Elle has determination and it’s a very admirable trait. Although sometimes it made her incredibly stupid because of her stubbornness, but that’s not a bad thing. I like when characters are stubborn, it shows personality. Elle also has a power that not very heroines have in YA and I actually really liked the concept behind it. I want to talk more about it, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3.25

The main male character is Marsh. I like Marsh. I don’t love him like Damen or Dimitri, but Marsh isn’t half bad. The more we learned about Marsh, the more I liked him. By the end of the book I can happily say that I was routing for Marsh and Elle.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 3.75

The Villain- We knew who the villain was early on because we got his POV, but there was a huge twist I did not even see coming. The signs were probably there, but I didn’t think anything of it.

Villain Scale: 4

Patrice was a part of the book for a really long time. There was also a brief meeting with a Nightwalker (vampire) and Elle on the train to Constantinople. I really liked that encounter and I want to see more of this character in the future. Mrs. Hinges was hilarious and I really liked her. Is it just me or are most nurses/maids really funny?

Character Scale: 4

I did have problems with the pacing and I almost gave up on it, but something told me to keep going and I’m glad I did because this was pretty good. It’ very different from typical YA, but I really liked it. It has a bit of everything and I like when books have more than one genre. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel and I can’t wait to see where Elle and Marsh go next because that epilogue was absolutely great (even though I saw that part coming).

Plotastic Scale: 3

Cover Thoughts: The cover is gorgeous. I wish I had a physical copy of it. Yes, there’s a girl on it, but she’s not really the focus. The whole cover fits the story pretty perfectly and I love how different it is.

A copy was provided by Netgalley and the publishers for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle is not your average young lady, she isn't interested in ball gowns or finding the perfect husband and would much rather be independent. She loves to fly and ever since training as a dirigible pilot she has enjoyed travelling across Europe in the ship she is so proud of. When she is employed to carry a mysterious item from Paris back to London she suddenly finds herself caught up in a battle between the Alchemists and Warlocks. Both sides are determined to get hold of her cargo and they will stop at nothing to make sure they come out on top. Elle is forced to join forces with her employer Mr Marsh to prevent the end of the world as she knows it but the deeper she is pulled into the upcoming war the more she starts to discover about her own past and realise that her future will never be the same again.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a fantastic steampunk adventure story that will take readers on a journey across Europe, taking in Oxford, Paris, Venice and Constantinople by both air and by train. Liesel Schwarz has created a detailed world where the human realm is closely connected to the realm of shadows, a world that is filled with alchemists, warlocks, nightwalkers and even absinthe fairies who live amongst the human population. This was such a fun story to read and you never knew quite what the author would throw at you next which kept me on my toes as I was reading.

Elle was a great character, I love stories about strong women who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Elle is a woman of science, she loves to learn and as the daughter of a prominent scientist she has inherited his love of physics. She is also very practical and is able to turn her hand to any technical gadget she comes across. One thing she doesn't believe in is magic, she is much more interested in things that she can see and prove with science. She has no interest in the world of alchemists and warlocks until she is dragged into the whole mess against her will. Elle doesn't have much choice other than to work with Marsh but that doesn't mean she is going to blindly put her trust in him, he is going to have to prove himself to her as they get to know each other better. I liked the way that Elle refuses to just accept what she is told, she needs to find ways to prove things for herself and you have to admire the way she so stubbornly clings to her beliefs.

Marsh has to be my favourite though, he is a complex character who has a lot of secrets and it takes a long time for Elle to start to get to the bottom of them (in fact I'm pretty sure he has plenty of surprises still to come as the series continues). The deeper you dig into Marsh's background the more you start to understand why he has such a hard outer shell and why he plays his cards so close to his chest. As he gets to know Elle you really start to see a softer and more protective side to him and I loved the slowly developing romance between them.

The romance is just a small part of the story though and the plot is focused on the animosity between the alchemists and the warlocks. I loved the detailed descriptions of the various settings throughout the book, it was easy to picture yourself flying alongside Elle and Marsh in her dirigible or sitting next to them on the Orient Express but it was the towns that the author brings vibrantly to life. Although I'm glad to learn that this is the start of a series I'm happy to say that the story did work well as a stand alone. I'm sick to death of series that end on such major cliffhangers that you don't even feel like you've read the whole book so it was nice to see an ending so well handled. If you enjoy steampunk or fantasy stories then I'm sure you're going to love A Conspiracy of Alchemists, it's an impressive debut and has left me excited to read more from Liesel Schwarz in the future.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get a little nervous when someone says a book offers a blend of genres as nine times out of ten one of those genres suffer and usually it’s the one I bought the book for. So it was with trepidation that I began reading A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz. My fears were quickly put to rest as I slipped into this delightful steampunk fantasy wrapped in paranormal and historical elements. I found I could not put this action packed tale down and quickly consumed it.

The tale takes place in 1903 where science and magic are split. On one side is the shadow or the realm of supernatural and on the other is light where science creates new technologies and wonderful gadgets. This balance has been kept in check but as man creates more technology the power of the shadow realm begins to fade and a plot is devised to take over the world from the light once and for all. With the help of Nightwalkers and spell-casting alchemists they plan to perform a ritual using a special woman as the conduit to harness the power. Aren’t you already drooling..I was. We meet our protagonist Ella, the daughter of a scientist, an ace mechanic and a pilot. She is hired to transport a package from Paris to London and the tale that unfolds is action packed and magical with a hint of romance as Ella finds herself at the center of a war. Determined to fight back she teams with Hugh Marsh, a Warlock who both captivates and annoys her. I found myself complete spellbound as we traveled across Europe by air and the Oriental Express.

Eleanor “Elle” Chance is absolutely delightful and refreshing. She is certainly not, molded after the women of 1900’s and in fact her Aunt’s attempt to have a season for her was an absolute disaster. She lives with her inventor father and after the death of her mother he dotes on her. He has tried to get her to conform, but as most daughters are capable of she slowly chips away at his resolve and gets her way. This includes attending the flying academy, wearing pants and traveling the world. She is a better shot then most men and has a specially made corset that she wears on the outside of her clothes, complete with gun harness. She loves logic and as she discovers more about herself and her mother she struggles to accept things. I loved this vulnerable side of her. She is brilliant and kick-ass and oh so much more. Meaning she needs a man who is her equal in all things and who can handle a strong-minded, fearless woman and that my friend is the deliciously handsome warlock, Hughes Marsh. As a member of the Order he has obligations and duties but soon finds his priorities have changes. Elle captivates him on many levels and he struggles with who she is to the order and who she is to him as a man. We meet characters from both the light and the shadow and they added to the tale.

The world building in this urban fantasy was refreshingly delightful. I am a huge fan of steampunk and so appreciated the author’s inclusion of these elements from gadgets to setting. She then mixes in magic, myth, and the supernatural to create a battle of shadow and light. I loved where Elle’s role will be in all of this and look forward to seeing her grow and mature. The romance was sweet, but clearly played second to the epic plot with its twists and turns. We get a beautiful history of the how and why of the shadow and the light setting us up for the rest of the series. This was a strong tale and would work as a standalone as well. I absolutely loved the journey the characters went on from England to Constantinople and did not want it to end. Was I surprised by the overall plot and turn of events; no but the delivery and genre elements made this original and I look forward to continuing this series.
ARC provided for unbiased review
See more of my reviews @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!

I was originally drawn to his book because of the stunning cover, but A Conspiracy of Alchemists proved to be a really fun start to this new steampunk series. Liesel Schwarz has created a novel filled with quirky and humorous characters. It seems like they could fill many more books with the troubles… I mean adventures… they are sure to find themselves in!

Eleanor “Elle” Chance was wonderful as the lead female character and I liked her immediately. She wasn’t toned down by society and instead chose to like her life in her own way. She was smart and very resourceful when it came to flying machines. She was very strong, yet we saw a gentle vulnerability in her character due to some things in her past. Hugh Marsh on the other hand, the male lead, took me a while to warm up too. He came off as very gruff and at times condescending at the beginning, but it was nice to see his character slowly evolve as they story went along. He gradually opened himself up to both the reader and Elle and proved to be a sensitive, thoughtful man. I liked their playfulness together and I am eager to see how they develop as a couple.

The supporting characters were also well-done in this book, but my favorite has to be Louisa. Though she is a vampire, she was still polite and playful with Elle and I could see them developing into good friends. I do think she has more going on than we know though and I am eager to learn more about her. I am also interested in learning more about the faeries, especially Adele the absinthe faerie that made a home in Elle’s bracelet. I have to say that Ms. Schwarz fooled me in the end with one character; I completely did not see their betrayal coming.

The world-building was fairly well done, but I hope that it continues to develop in future books. I feel like we don’t know everything we need to about the magical world, called the Shadow world. The war between Light and Shadow was touched on but I think there is still a lot of history to be unveiled. The Warlock council and the Alchemists also still need a little more elaboration. The Oracle plot point is off to a good beginning, but I feel like we will learn more about it as Elle does in future books. I did like all the flying technology that the author incorporated, but I would like to see those steampunk elements spread into other layers of the story as well.

I know I will definitely continue with this series as I found the story enjoyable and the characters just plain fun. If you’re a fan of steampunk or historical fiction with touches of the paranormal, give this series a try. I also think this one would be appropriate for the YA bracket.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Del Ray for providing an ARC copy of this book!

[Vincent Ripley · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a recent trip to Paris, I visited my favourite Parisian bookshop, Shakespeare & Company, situated in the breath-taking region of Notre Dame Cathedral. It was an especially welcomed visit on a particularly cold and rainy day. This was the first book that I selected fron the vast shelves of books. The cracking book cover first drew me in. However, it soon turned out to be a book that I particularly liked the sound of. Interestingly, the book begins in Paris in 1903 - that'sfate if you ask me! It will come as no surprise that I really needed to read this book during my wonderful stay.

This is the first book in The Chronicles of Light and Shadow series. It is a brilliant debut book that encompasses so many fantastic elements into one book. It is based around a nineteenth century gothic setting which is particularly mesmerising to read. It has so much distinctive details that it will take your breath away. The fantastic steampunk elements are set in the golden age of steam with spark reactors powering nearly everything from airships to the coffee machine on the Orient Express.

The Light and Shadow realms are weaved into the real world - spirited fairies mingling with the Nightwalkers. This brings a much needed supernatural element to the book that will give readers a lot of enjoyment. Blood-thirsty in nature, they roam the dark hours of the night and walk openly among the unsuspecting populace reeking havoc.

The mysterious Mr March is a human Warlock who lives for centuries. However, he showed no particular magical powers throughout the book and, in my opinion, needed perhaps a little bit more spark to do the role justice. The Alchemists on the other hand were great fun to read about as they plotted to unleash a magical apocalypse. Stylishly written in a particularly imaginative and creative way they really add to the story.

Elle Chance is the main character - she shares her perspectives and feelings throughout the story. She creates an inner glow that is radiated through every page and leaves you feeling very content. She's a particularly feisty female in charge of her own business - a small flight freight service. However, one day, a cargo that was supposed to be delivered sends her life through a changing set of events. These prove to be pretty spectacular events that hold some punchy twists and turns.

The books attention to detail really makes it stand out and makes for a fantastic reading experience. The only thing that perhaps let this book down was the romantic liaison between the two lead characters. It got a little too much towards the end of the book. I would have preferred to have seen a different approach as it spoilt it a little bit. Nevertheless, this book is a fantastic read full of surprises. As part of a series, I hope that the next book will deliver another eclectic mix of all things good.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steampunk as a genre itself has taken off like gangbusters and we have seen an influx of stories being published and not all of them good. However Steampunk author Liesel Schwarz has done a fantastic job with “The Conspiracy of Alchemists”. Keeping true to the genre this story is full of swashbuckling adventure, Intrigue, steam powered flying machines, myth and magic! What more could one ask for?

The story follows the spirited heroine Eleanor Chance, who is in a class all her own. Captain of her own airship the “Water Lilly” she takes cargo from one city to the next. She lived a fairly adventurous life until the fateful day when her friend Patrice asked Elle to transport a special cargo and her whole life turned upside down, and much to her surprise her father the professor has been kidnapped. Ellie is thrown together with Viscount Greychester (Marsh) and the two of them embark on adventure that unknowing could result in the end of the world as we know it.
As with most Steampunk adventures I have read, the one thing that all the good stories have are well thought out plot lines. You can tell that Liesel Schwarz knew exactly where the story was going even with the multiple subplots throughout the book the author had one destination and that was to keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing. I will say there was a slight twist at the end that I did not see coming!

As much as I loved the story, I found myself loving the characters as well. The Heroine Elle is complex and is full of spunk and determination and clearly has a mind of her own. Ellis is trusting and this I fear may be her one downfall, trusting the wrong people put her in danger. She is the only character that is fully fleshed out, but then again the series is about her. The supporting characters were two dimensional and could have been fleshed out more, however they brought much to the story. We get a glimpse of the kind of man Viscount Greychester is though out the story, how he is being driven by his feelings for Elle and throws caution to the wind to keep her safe from the Council and the Alchemists.

The book is extremely well written and I enjoyed the authors writing style, she kept me engaged and sometimes on the edge of my seat. My favorite part of this story, was the feeling of intrigue and mystery. So if you are up for a very exciting read then I highly recommend this book!


The Conspiracy of Alchemists can be found on Amazon for $7.99 for the kindle version and is 352 pages long. Though it may seem a bit pricey for a Kindle book you are getting your money’s worth. With that said I give this book 5 Stars! Liesel Schwarz is definitely an author worth watching. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Reviewed for DarkissReads. www.darkissreads.com

[Jenea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in The Chronicles of Light and Shadow series, and it was a great start to a new Urban Fantasy and Steampunk series. This starts off with an action packed beginning, and I knew I was in for something that was going to be interesting and something that I would not want to put down.
We first our two main characters, Eleanor (Elle) and Hugh Marsh (Marsh), when Elle arrives in Paris to meet a prospective client. She has been hired to carry a couple parcels to England. Elle is inquisitive by nature, so of course she has questions about the charter she has been hired to do. She is feisty and doesn’t take anything from anyone, especially a man who instantly irritates her because she is a female pilot. Mr Marsh is the other parcel, and he is an arrogant man to say the least. There is a lot more to Elle life than she ever knew, she is the Oracle. I enjoyed the fact she doesn’t give in easily which I thought was fantastic. So many just go in blindly and accept it, but not her, and I think it shows the true strength of her character. Elle is a heroine in her own rights.

Marsh isn’t just any man. He is a Warlock, and is a strong powerful one who has closed himself off from most people. He was interesting and learning his past was great. But there is even more to him as the story continues. Marsh helps Elle on her path to become what she meant to be and his affections for her grows into something sweet and endearing. The romance aspect of this was fantastic. There are a few other characters that I have to mention too. Elle’s Father is a professor and a genius one at that.

The world building was fascinating, with a world that is divided between Light and Shadow. The war is progressing on between them and the search for the Oracle is getting desperate. It is the only way to have a balance. There were fairies, nightwalkers, and interesting steam and spark powered machines. The pacing was fast and with plenty of action. Air attacks, and people always trying to kidnap her, so never a dull moment. The ending left some unanswered questions, and set us up for the next book. The characters were great and the plot was definitely unique.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a wonderful blend of steampunk, historical fiction, adventure with an unexpected romance. It has an element of paranormal to it too. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I am excited for A Clockwork Heart out later this year. This is an awesome to start to a new series.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enchanting read!

A Conspiracy of Alchemists really is a book that encompasses many genres: steampunk, historical fiction, romance, paranormal, fantasy, mystery, adventure... Where else can you find absinthe fairies, Alchemists, Warlocks, ancient goddesses, dirigibles, gyrocopters, Paris, Constantinople, The Shadow World, heartwarming romance and a good old-fashioned adventure?

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I went solely on the title + cover, and the mention of Alchemists in combination with the Eiffel Tower were enough to convince me to give this a chance. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was really pleased with the book overall.

The story takes place in a steampunk 1903, beginning in Paris and moving through Venice, Vienna, and Constantinople. In this world, there are two sides: Light and Shadow, which separated during the dark ages. The Light side is ruled by science, and uses electromancy (a form of electricity) as power. The Shadow side is where fairies, warlocks, and alchemists live. They use older magics, in combination with science-magic combinations (such as alchemy). But there's a fragile balance between the two sides, and neither seems to be interested in bothering much with the other... or do they?

Elle Chance is a dirigible pilot who's been given the mission of transporting some special cargo: a locked box, and a man. Hugh Marsh, a.k.a. a nobleman, is the cargo Elle is tasked with transporting in her blimp. From the start, there is a delightful chemistry between the two, which was really fun to read. Elle also has a diamond bracelet, within which a fairy is trapped.

During her and Marsh's adventure, she discovers some formidable information about her own true nature, as well as his. My greatest enjoyment in this book, aside from the romance, was the exciting and interesting world-building. This was my first time reading a steampunk-ish book, and I loved it. But the way that the elements of magic, ancient myth, scientific discovery, and the paranormal were all interwoven was really unique.

From the ending, I hope that there will be more of the story to come. It wraps up nicely, yet leaves room for more. Really excited to read more by Liesel Schwarz!

Thank you to the publishers, who through NetGalley allowed me to read this advance copy of the book!

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.9

'When I was young and living among my people, the Dryad, I once had a different name. But that was many years ago, at a time when anise and wormwood were nothing more than plants that made up my world. A time before sacred dreams could be bought for a few sugar cubes.

I knew from the moment I saw her she would offer salvation. But salvation often comes at a price.'


Meet Eleanor “Elle” Chance - airship pilot and and daughter of the famous spark-reactor scientist.

Flying airships is a risky business. But Elle is to be dragged into an adventure that is riskier than any mid-air manoeuvre she has ever undertaken.

Creatures of Light and Shadow walk the streets. Wars rage behind cultured smiles and top hats.

The Alchemists and Warlocks stare one another off, eyes conveying silent threats that their powers can easily follow up. Nightwalkers and fae occupy opium dens, train carriages and the bottom of absinthe bottles.

Elle's eyes are opened to worlds she never dared believe existed; and to a fate she never knew she had.

A box. A simple box twists Elle's fate forever, throwing her into the path of the handsome enigma Mr Marsh. Unlikely allies, they must retrieve the box in order to prevent the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse upon the world.

Tempers are tested, wits employed and hearts stirred. But Elle must remain clear-headed - this is not her fight. She wants nothing to do with the supernatural world, with the occult doings of Warlocks and Alchemists. But she may have to do just that, in order to save those she loves from a terrible fate.

Dare to believe. Dare to fight. Dare to take flight on an adventure unlike any other.

Steampunk soars to new heights in a novel that is bound to have you laughing over its refreshing wit and its cast of characters - brave, loveable, twisted and broken...all of them have a part to play in Liesel Schwarz's exciting tale of a heroine who isn't afraid to take what Fate dishes out to her.

________
*Original image: http://darsim.deviantart.com/art/stea...

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though society would much prefer that Eleanor Chance to remain docile, akin to all women of good breeding, Eleanor refuses to live such a confined life. Having turned her back on a making a good match at her debut, Eleanor now supports herself as a dirigible pilot transferring freight. Things were going well for Eleanor until Patrice, an acquaintance, arranged for Eleanor to fly a small package from France to England, much to the distress of Mr. Hugh Marsh. From the moment Hugh and Eleanor meet there is clear tension between them, largely due to Marsh's sexist beliefs.

It isn't long before Eleanor is drawn into a world of vampire, alchemists, fairies and warlocks. None of this is at all in alignment with her faith in science and everything rational. To make matters worse, her father has been kidnapped and Eleanor learns that despite all of her faith in science, she has been bestowed with a birthright which makes her the balance between light and shadow in the world. Can Eleanor put a stop the coming clash and make sense of the legacy bequeathed to her by her mother?

A Conspiracy of Alchemists falls into the genre of historical steampunk. Like all steampunk, science and wonderful steam creations are central items in the story. Schwarz does a wonderful job with the setting and elements like a trip on The Orient Express add a great level of authenticity to the story. Throughout A Conspiracy of Alchemists, there is a consistent feeling of a world on the cusp of great advancement, as the rules surrounding gender and convention begin to shift. It makes it quite easy to see Eleanor Chance as a precursor to Amelia Earhart.

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[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book through a First Reads giveaway! THANK YOU Goodreads!

So, I think I would get along with this author. She likes a bunch of cool things: airships, pirates, airship pirates, absinthe, fairies, vampires, plucky heroines, noble heroes, evil villains, henchmen, secret occult societies, sacrifices on altars, the Orient Express, Paris, Constantinople, absent-minded professors, scientific inventions, magic, and of course, alchemy.

All these things are jammed into this book.
It's not about being original, it's about fitting all the cool things in. The result, is a light, cartoony, adventure-romance. it's good fun, even though I had a persistent feeling of 'seen it before,' and even though the romance aspect was a little annoying, mainly due to the male lead's patronizing attitude. No, I really don't find that kind of thing attractive.

I would highly recommend this book to all fans of M.K. Hobson - I found it very similar - and, to a lesser degree, to fans of Gail Carriger and Leanna Renee Hieber.

I know this is an advance copy, so I'm not going to make a big deal of the few errors in the text... with one exception. A "bill of fare" is the MENU at a restaurant, not the bill or check. Editors!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Conspiracy of Alchemists is a refreshing change to the current spate of urban fantasy. As the first novel in what I hope will be a series, the readers are introduced to a unique world where steampunk and magic are mixed into a delightful universe. The heroine, Elle Chance, has a strength and vulnerability that I Iook forward to seeing develop as the character matures. I also enjoyed the way the major and minor supporting characters developed over the course of the novel, often in ways I did not expect. The novel also reads well as a self-contained novel or as the introduction to a series. I look forward to what comes next.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried to read this a while back and couldn't get through it, but this time around I liked it a lot more than I expected. The romance made me gag a little, but it could have been much worse. The book was actually quite a lot of fun.

2023 addendum: I hated the romance bit even more this time around, but I wanted to finally to get around to reading the 2nd book.
4 stars the first time, 2 this time, so 3 stars.

[Laura Martinelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the end of Shelley Adina's Magnificent Devices earlier this year, and the impending end of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School and Custard Protocol series (NOOOOOOOO!), I need to find a new steampunk series to get completely obsessed with. I’ve picked up the first books in a couple of series, but given my schedule up until last month, I slotted them in the “We’ll eventually get around to this” pile. (Thank god I went on vacation, otherwise known as “I could probably plow through a book per day, right? Eight books should hold me over, right?”)

When I first picked this up, I had initially found book 2 of the series, The Clockwork Heart, because it caught my eye. (I’ve wanted to use that title for ages; sadly haven’t found the right story for it yet.) I did at least see the first book, A Conspiracy of Alchemists, and decided to go for chronological order.

There are two major problems with this book. The first being is that I had to stop at a certain point and check the publication date on this, because I’m shocked that some of the things in here got published in 2013. One of the rightful criticisms of steampunk is that it is a fetishization of colonialism and white privilege that relies on “Oh, well, we’re being HISTORICALLY ACCURATE!” when no, you have giant robots or dirigibles or significant tech in the Victorian era, and doubly so when you throw in magic and supernatural creatures. Gail Carriger isn’t 100% perfect about racial representation in her books (see the main plot of Prudence), but at least she makes an effort to be inclusive. There’s incredibly colonialized setting of Istanbul, constantly referred as Constantinople in the book. (They Might Be Giants aside, Scott Westerfeld made it a point to refer to the city correctly in Behemoth when it would have been “historically accurate” to use Constantinople.) And then there is the horrendously racist mention of a member of the Council of Warlocks, who Our Hero thinks is corrupted because “he has yellow teeth and sells opium, rotting the fine upstanding country of England!”

WHY?

Why? There’s utterly no reason for this! There’s already enough ample evidence that the Council of Warlocks aren’t going to respect Elle’s wishes, there’s no reason to throw in the racism! It’s not needed! And again, you lose the “historical accurate” defense when you have fairies and vampires and magicians and steampunk running around! In fact, it just made me hate Marsh for the entire book, and I didn’t really like him to begin with.

Aside from being a racist, Marsh also throws Elle into this grand scheme by forcing her to activate her powers unknowingly, and intentionally keeps information from her until the drama is needed. And we’re supposed to be rooting for them to get together. Instead of sitting down and saying to Elle, “Okay, I know exactly why you hate me and the organization that I represent, BUT this is what’s going to happen if we don’t hone your powers and they get a hold of you,” no, we have Marsh tricking Elle into going with him and then he throws her at an ancient statue to forcibly activate her Oracle powers. Oh, but it’s okay because he actually really does love her and wants to protect Elle from being used by the Warlocks or the Alchemists! Marsh just won’t tell her until he needs to rescue her at the very end, by which point his withholding information has caused her to be stuck with a Macguffin bracelet, nearly had her life force sucked away, and kidnapped by the bad guys.

And Elle was just underwhelming. There’s a lot in this book that feels like someone went down a checklist of “What’s popular in steampunk?” and threw them all in here without really exploring those avenues. Elle is a Lady Dirigible Pilot who doesn’t need a MAN to tell her what to do, and she hates skirts and much prefers pants! I really wanted to like Elle, but it felt like her dream to own her own shipping fleet just feels more like she’s trying to be a Strong Female Character rather than exploring what that would mean in this society. And I also hated that Elle basically becomes a damsel in the end. She gets kidnapped and really doesn’t think of trying to escape until the last minute, and even though she saves the day, it’s more thanks to her powers forcing themselves into being rather than Elle being proactive. We spend half of the opening with nearly every male character going “Ugh a female pilot. You can’t handle the dangers of the job,” and Elle going “Oh, no! My father gave me a pistol! I can handle myself!” and she really can’t.

The entire plot of the book doesn’t make sense to me either because it’s completely underused. We’re set up that the world is divided into Light (science and alchemy) and Shadow (magic and other supernatural beings) and that because of this Division, magic is slowly disappearing from the world. We’ve also got absinthe fairies and Nightwalkers (vampires) and a bevy of other supernatural creatures. They do absolutely nothing. The main conflict is basically started because the Alchemists are bound to the Nightwalkers, and they hate this arrangement, which is why they need an Oracle to rip open a dimensional portal. But the only thing that the main villain Nightwalker does is brood around and complain about how slowly the plan is going. (The only—ONLY—thing that I liked in this book was the scene on the Orient Express where Elle meets a Nightwalker named Loisa who’s visiting her uncle in Transylvania. “Oh yes, I’m sure you’ve heard enough about him, after that business in Whitby with the lawyer’s wife.”) The book opens with narration from an absinthe fairy named Adele, who’s stuck being a muse and runs off with Elle. Why? We don’t know! Adele doesn’t do anything until Elle’s kidnapped; she spends most of the book providing unnecessary narration! Again, it feels like there was a checklist employed in “What can I use for steampunk fantasy?” but there’s never anything done with it.

This would be a passable albeit underwhelming book overall. But given the unnecessary racism and Marsh’s treatment towards Elle, it incredibly soured my reading of it. It’s not needed, and there’s an undercurrent of “But HISTORICALLY ACCURATE!” to it, which again, you’ve got magicians and vampires in an alternate history. You can list off your research credentials as much as you want at the end, but there’s so much that can be done in steampunk without needing to adhere to incredibly outdated viewpoints of the area. Needless to say, I will not be picking up The Clockwork Heart after all.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Elle’s hidden gift is all that can keep the world in balance and running from her destiny could prove more dangerous than embarrassing who she really is.

Opening Sentence: This was the place where people came to give their souls to fairies.

The Review:

Schwarz has created an amazing universe in this book. The world is divided into Light and Shadow. Everything in the Light believes only in science and solid fact while the Shadow is made up of all the magic of the world. They exist in balance, one never overpowering the other until a greedy old alchemist named Abercrombie decides to destroy this harmony and tip the world in favor of the Shadow.

I enjoyed Abercrombie as the villain quite a bit. As an alchemist, he is bound as a servant to a Nightwalker named Aleix. In the beginning it appears these two are partners, Abercrombie doing the work Aleix couldn’t while the sun was up. It didn’t take long, however, to notice that this partnership wasn’t going to end well for one of the two gentlemen. Neither of them was given much of a back story outside of the history of their two species. Basically, Abercrombie was sick of being as powerful as he was and still being a servant. His motives were simple and straightforward. Get the girl and the key and destroy the creatures that believe themselves to be above him.

Now the girl is Miss Elle Chance. To start, she is one of the only female pilots of her day but by the end she must face a destiny that will decide the fate of the world forever. She has an incredible amount of confidence in herself and refuses to fill the role society dictates for her. I immediately like this woman even if she comes off a bit, Mary-Sue to begin with. I mean she’s beautiful, a gifted pilot, smart, strong-willed, destined for a greatness she doesn’t yet know of; basically she is perfect. That little fact is quite annoying to me because I like to see characters with flaws that they have to work through for the greater good. Elle’s greatest pitfall is her pride and narrow minded views. I enjoyed Elle’s wit and spirit so much that I was able to overlook everything else.

Elle is a pilot for freight planes and her one most loyal and trusted patron is Patrice. He often gives her assignments since not many other men would trust their freight with a woman flying the plane. Patrice comes off as a kind and jolly man but I have read enough books and watched enough movies that as soon as Elle told Mr. Marsh that she trusted Patrice without a doubt, I knew he was going to do something stupid.

Mr. Marsh is probably my favorite character. He is a warlock on a mission and he tries so desperately to keep Elle out of it that he often comes off as rude and a bit sexist. I love the banter between Elle and Marsh, especially as it becomes more and more obvious that the two have a thing for each other. Marsh’s character comes off nearly as perfect as Elle’s because he is quite rich, handsome, powerful, but his perfection seems more appropriate due to the fact that he’s a warlock. He has seen a great deal of the world and understands things Elle shouldn’t or couldn’t.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the plot was interesting enough. The one thing I had a problem with is not something everyone will find as a fault. Since I read mostly young adult novels, I have become a bit accustomed to having plots move quickly from point to point to point so that if there is a lull in the action, that part of a journey is merely summarized in a paragraph or two. Schwarz left no moment untold, no day unspoken for. We followed the characters basically minute by minute from dusk till dawn. While this is a sign of a well thought out and developed story, it made it very difficult for me to get through. By the end of this adventure, I was very thankful to be done which isn’t usually the case. While this book wasn’t really my cup of tea, I’m sure that a fanbase will form behind it and the series will be very much enjoyed.

Notable Scene:

They can all manage by themselves. The voices were right. The world would manage without her. But before it did, she would have to rid the world of these evil men and whatever it was that they were planning. She was not about to let them succeed, even if it was to be the last thing she did. Suddenly an awesome sense of power filled her and when she spoke her voice had a resonance that was not her own. “Alchemist, you will not take from me what you have no permission to take. By the power that my mothers before me command, all you do shall be returned to you three-fold.” A sudden gust of air whirled around the cell. A few of the cloaked figures shifted slightly and looked at one another. Abercrombie started laughing. “How magnificent you are. You look like a goddess in that dress, with your hair all around you. But alas, ,I must call a halt to matters now. Enough of the brave games. The moon is rising and we have important business to attend to.” He reached over and touched his fingers to the center of Elle’s forehead. Hot alchemy flashed against her skin. She resisted for an instant, but her feeble barriers didn’t hold. Suddenly she was far away from her own body. She watched her knees buckle under her. Hands caught her and lifted her up onto the flower-adorned litter they had ready and waiting outside the door. A wreath of flowers was pushed into her hair. She was borne away in time to the deep-toned death chant of the Alchemists. Then everything went black.

FTC Advisory: Del Rey/Random House provided me with a copy of A Conspiracy of Alchemists. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a steampunk novel. Elle Chance is a pilot and has come to Paris to transport some cargo via her regular contact, Patrice. The cargo turns out to be a mysterious box and it comes with a passenger, the irritating Mr. Marsh. Before she leaves Paris, Elle is attacked and rescued by Mr. Marsh leading them to race to England to evade the forces that have targeted Elle.

The world building in this novel was pretty interesting with fairies and other mythical creatures being commonplace in this alternate version of 1903. This magical society is divided into the Light and the Shadow, with the alchemists of the Shadow being the villains of the novel. The leader of the alchemists, Abercrombie, wants to unleash the power from an in-between plane through an Oracle in order to break all those of Shadow’s bond with the Nightwalkers (ie. vampires).

Unfortunately for Elle, her mother was the Oracle, and Elle is discovered to be the next one. Both sides of the struggle want to have Elle in their court since she will provide them great power with the dwindling of magic in the world. Marsh believes that Elle should join forces with the Council of Warlocks, which he is part of, where she will live a life of luxury and isolation. Elle, a modern girl for the times, is understandably irritated by Marsh and his suggestions and fights his assertions of her power at every point. However, Elle ultimately has to face the fact that her mother’s blood runs in her veins and she will have to acknowledge her power.

Overall, I liked the plot of A Conspiracy of Alchemists; it was an interesting concept in an interesting alternate world. I liked the combination of the Oracle mythology and the steampunk genre and it really demonstrates the versatility of steampunk as a genre. At times I found the pacing a little slow, especially considering there were pretty intense things happening. For example, when Elle learns her father has been kidnapped, it takes her a few days to start her search for him. I felt the pacing was at odds with what was happening in the novel.

My other issue with the novel was the insta-romance between Elle and Mr. Marsh. I liked each character individually but I didn’t buy the romance between them. They went from blatant antagonism to love fairly quickly. There was more about Elle’s thought process and her progression of feelings towards Mr. Marsh, but when it came to Marsh, I didn’t really buy his feelings for Elle; it seemed very sudden.

Lastly, I was a little confused about the whole Oracle thing. Is becoming an Oracle a hereditary trait; the fact that Elle’s mother was an Oracle seems to suggest that it is something inherited by from a parent? If being an Oracle is hereditary, then I do not know why the Council of Warlocks would be isolating the Oracle from everyone, wouldn’t the Oracle’s need to go out, marry and have kids? I just felt that this was a hole in the story and I think it should have been addressed.

Ultimately, I did enjoy the novel, and I would probably read the next one in the series because of the cliffhanger ending and the reveal about the true conspiracy. I think A Conspiracy of Alchemists would be a good book that could be read by an adult or teen audience. I wouldn’t blatantly call it a teen book, the age of the characters seem to suggest that it is not a teen book, but I think it has versatile appeal.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars



The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. I saw a huge posted at the Del Rey booth at Comic Con last year and immediately wanted to buy it, only to find out it wasn’t coming out until this year.

Could it be one of those cases where the cover misled me? Just a little. Even though the cover is very much representative of the story. And the story was very interesting. It just fell a little flat in some parts.

I’m a little confused as to how to classify the book to begin with. It is definitely historical but it’s not historical romance. There’s paranormal elements (the alchemists, absint fairies, warlocks and such) but it’s not a paranormal romance. Even though there is a romance. And although some might consider this a bit steampunk, I think I’ll go with an urban fantasy. It best describes the series, just know that the other elements are mixed in as well.

That being said, we have a strong heroine. Elle is a pilot. A female pilot at the turn of the 20th century. She doesn’t normally walk around with gowns and pretty dresses. She’s unconventional, opinionated, loyal and passionate. She loves her family and her job. My kind of heroine. She’s stubborn but also realist. She didn’t necessarily go with the flow and questioned things along the way, just like you would expect her to do.

She is asked to transport a box from London to France, without knowing what it contains. She soon finds herself taking a couple of extra passengers on that trip. One of those a sexy and rich guy who turns out to be a warlock. Now she has the Alchemist enemies after her.

Marsh was alluring enough to peak my interest and I can see there’s potential for me to really like him in the next book. He immediately recognizes something in her that is not fully plain human but has to bide his time to get her to come to terms with that and find out what it is. The sexual tension wasn’t as thick as it could’ve been but it was nice to be able to see into both Marsh and Elle’s heads to find out how they were feeling. Otherwise, I would’ve never known there was an attraction!

As Marsh and Elle go through France and Venice to find her father, who was kidnapped before she got back home, they get in all kinds of trouble and meet interesting characters. The plot has twists that I definitely didn’t expect, which was also nice to see. I did not expect Elle to turn out to be what she did.

Setting this story in the era she did was a perfect choice. I felt the actual time period and places where as much a character in the story as the actual characters. It added an extra appeal that worked for me.

However, I do feel that this book suffered from first book syndrome. Not in a way of info dump like many do, just that the story could’ve been a lot more pulse-pounding than it was. But not only is this the first book in this series, but the author’s debut. This series is definitely one to look out for. I’m very curious as to where the story can go from here. It has so much potential and I’ll be reading the next book for sure.

*ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Alchemists follows Elle Chance, female dirigible pilot in an alternate early 20th century. In this world, alchemists and warlocks subtly grapple for the limited magical power that remains. Vampires and alchemists are allies, and absinthe fairies are sustained only by alcohol, preferably absinthe. Light - technology, science, and reason - is echoed and opposed by Shadow, the magical forces and beings in the world.

The novel opens with a new commission for Elle, who is given a mysterious fair by her friend and client in Paris. This box, unknown to Elle, is coveted by the alchemists and warlocks both. Before she even reaches her dirigible for the commissioned trip to London, she becomes embroiled in the chaos surrounding the Shadow power struggle.

The prologue is narrated in first person by an absinthe fairy, who plays a secondary role as the plot moves along. It is abrupt and bluntly foreshadowing. I found the fairy-narrated interludes more distracting than anything else, although they did provide contextual information about the plot.

The plot is very fast-paced and action-packed, beginning from the opening of the first chapter and continuing throughout the book. It includes a romantic development, international travel (in dirigibles, trains, and the first-ever 'copter). I couldn't put it down.

I enjoyed the characters. Except for the occasional jarring note (there is no explanation of why Marsh goes from hating beautiful women to being in love with Elle, and Elle's development as the Oracle could have been give more space), they were believable and well-drawn. I especially liked Elle's determined, flying in the face of convention attitude toward achieving her dream of flying. Marsh is a solid hero, and although done before, Elle's absentminded, genius father is delightful.

The world-building is good, for the most part. I found the conspiracy unmemorable, and the descriptions of some of the magical events (especially the ending) were sketchy. Sometimes the different magical elements didn't seem to mesh very well. Overall the world is a very interesting, unique take on steampunk alternate histories, and I look forward to discovering more about the world and the magical rules in the next volume.

I will definitely read the next one, especially hoping to find out more about the laws of this universe, and what happens next. This is a great entry into the paranormal/urban fantasy/steampunk/alternate history mesh of genres, and fans of Gail Carriger and Meljean Brook should be delighted.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.