The Alchemy of Chaos

Maradaine #2

by Marshall Ryan Maresca

The saga of the streets of Maradaine that began in The Thorn of Dentonhill continues….

Veranix Calbert is The Thorn—the street vigilante who became a legend to the people of Maradaine, especially the gangs that run the neighborhood of Aventil. The Thorn continues to harass Willem Fenmere, the drug kingpin of the Dentonhill neighborhood. Veranix is still determined to stop Fenmere and the effitte drug trade, especially when he discovers that Fenmere is planning on using the Red Rabbits gang to bring the drug into Aventil.

But it’s also Exam Week at the University of Maradaine, where Veranix is a magic student. With his academic career—and future as a mage—riding on his performance, Veranix needs to devote himself entirely to studying and participating in a fellow student’s thesis experiments. There’s no time to go after Fenmere or the Red Rabbits.

Then a series of strange pranks begin to plague the campus, using a form of magic that Veranix doesn’t recognize. As the pranks grow increasingly deadly, it becomes clear that there’s someone with a vendetta against the university, and The Thorn may be the only one capable of stopping them. Between the prankster, the war brewing between the Aventil gangs, and the flamboyant assassins Fenmere has hired to kill him, Veranix may end up dead before the week is out. Which just might be preferable to taking his exams….

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Superheroes, Fiction, High Fantasy

385 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

Marshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of sixteen novels, most of which are part of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. He is also the author of the standalone dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is a four-time Hugo finalist as the co-host of the podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.

Reviews

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever been vaguely discontented with a book until a sudden realization of where it fit in the genre scheme of things made it thoroughly enjoyable? No? Oh, well. For me, this was one of those books.

I first encountered Maresca through Murder of Mages , which is set in the same world and the same city but features different protagonists. I enjoyed Mages so much that I immediately picked up The Thorn of Dentonhill , the prequel to this book. The protagonist of both books is Veranix Calbert, a student at the local magic university who spends his leisure hours as his infamous alter-ego, the Thorn, hopping around rooftops in a magical mask and fighting drug dealers. While I still got a kick out of the worldbuilding, I had a far rockier relationship with Veranix and his crowd, mostly because Veranix struck me as just… too much. Super-powerful magic, fantastically accurate archery skills, incredible acrobatic talents, uber-rare and uber-powerful magical tools… my protagonist type leans towards the weak, flawed, tarnished knights of hardboiled mystery or vanilla-human protagonists stuck in a magical world rather than the hyper-talented Chosen Ones of epic fantasy, and Veranix is a bit much even for an epic fantasy protagonist. And then partway through this book, I finally got it: Veranix is a classic superhero. Yep, even with the whole secret-identity-and-mask bit, it took me a book and a half to catch on.

With my limited superhero genre knowledge culled from Wikipedia, Ars Technica articles, and a few episodes of Marvel and DC shows (yep, I'm one of those irritating folks who have never read the books/comics but feel that watching a few scattered episodes bestows the prerogative of making sweeping generalizations about the genre), I've decided Veranix is Daredevil: the secret identity as a mild-mannered student, the black mask shading his face, the superhuman parkour/acrobatic talents, the vigilantism, the tragic and notorious past, the insane risk-taking, the belief that he is solely responsible for protecting "his streets," the habit of getting horrific but quickly-forgotten injuries, the tendency to take on ten goons at once and still win, the arch-nemesis who is attempting to take over the city for nefarious purposes, and, of course, the incredible magical gifts that he utilizes pretty much solely to hit people… from the four or five episodes I've seen, it's all classic Daredevil.

As soon as I understood the genre the book was playing with, I could finally enjoy it. Dangerous secret identity? Check. Hyper-talented vigilante protagonist? Check. Enablist sidekicks? Check. Somewhat ridiculous revenge-obsessed villains? Check. Scantily-clad outfit-color-coded assassins with insane weaponry involving knife-edged hula hoops? Check. Suddenly, it all made sense.

So, superheroes. I love genre collisions, and a larger-than-life story that fulfills all the superhero tropes but is set in a semi-steampunk high fantasy world is actually surprisingly fun. Just as with Daredevil, I never really warmed to Veranix, partially because of his problem-solving style. As his friend puts it:

"Give him a test to study for and he freezes up. But if he can solve a problem by punching it in the face…"

I also wasn't thrilled with Kaiana, his love interest, since for much of the story, her most active role is to use her sexuality/"feminine wiles" to enable Veranix to actually take action. However, I liked the rest of his sidekicks, particularly the studious Delmin. Two more nerds get added to Veranix's support squad in this book, and both are quite fun. This book also adds a Javert-style constable, and I love Javert characters. Plus, there are quite a few callouts to the Constabulary series, including a cameo with Minox's siblings. At times, the hyperbolic superhero thing verged on too much for me; for example, in this book, the semi-cockney dialect has suddenly starts referring to all women as "birds," all so that a group called the Assassin Birds-- the aforementioned scantily-clad women, each with a bird species moniker and a distinctive and potentially ridiculous fighting method that may or may not involve hula hoops-- can show up to try to take out Veranix. The enjoyment is aided by the book's inability to take itself too seriously, even when things get drastic:

"Define drastic."
"People will get punched in the face."
"That is my favourite definition of that word."

Or take the discussion of what Veranix would do at a crucial life-and-death moment:

"You have numerous faults, Mister Calbert, but that sort of callous disregard is not one of them."
"I am quite capable of callous disregard, sir," Veranix said. "Just the other day--"
"The other day he used my towel and left it on the floor," Delmin offered.

So, if you're willing to not only suspend your disbelief but defenestrate it entirely, and you're in the mood for rooftop chases, flashy magical battles, occasional flashes reminiscent of DARE-to-keep-a-kid-off-drugs, suspenseful captures, gang wars, magical potions of mass destruction, and a lot of parkour, this series may be for you. As it turns, out superheroes and high fantasy can make for a pretty magical concoction.

~~I received an ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review. Quotes were taken from an advance reader copy and while they may not reflect the final phrasing, I believe they speak to the spirit of the novel as a whole.~~

Cross-posted on BookLikes

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Library
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

"The Alchemy of Chaos, by author Marshall Ryan Maresca, is the second installment in the Maradine series. Veranix Calbert is The Thorn—the street vigilante who became a legend to the people of Maradaine, especially the gangs that run the neighborhood of Aventil. The Thorn continues to harass Willem Fenmere, the drug kingpin of the Dentonhill neighborhood. Veranix is still determined to stop Fenmere and the effitte drug trade, especially when he discovers that Fenmere is planning on using the Red Rabbits gang to bring the drug into Aventil.

But it’s also Exam Week at the University of Maradaine, where Veranix is a magic student. With his academic career—and future as a mage—riding on his performance, Veranix needs to devote himself entirely to studying and participating in a fellow student’s thesis experiments. There’s no time to go after Fenmere or the Red Rabbits. Then a series of strange pranks begin to plague the campus, using a form of magic that Veranix doesn’t recognize. As the pranks grow increasingly deadly, it becomes clear that there’s someone with a vendetta against the university, and The Thorn may be the only one capable of stopping them.

Between the prankster, the war brewing between the Aventil gangs, and the flamboyant assassins Fenmere has hired to kill him, Veranix may end up dead before the week is out. Which just might be preferable to taking his exams…One of the things that really stands out in this story, is Veranix's willingness to trust others. Yes, he has Kaiana Nell and Delmin all knowing what he does when he is not in class. But now, he has others like Professor Aliman involved in not only his schooling to ensure he actually passes his classes, but 2 higher classmates who stumble into his web.

Now that I am officially caught up on this series, I really am eager to read book # 4 to see where Maresca goes with the series. Loved the relationships that sprout out from this story. Liked finally learning how certain secondary characters like Phadne and Jiarna came to be part of Veranix support group. Really appreciated the difficulties that Colin is having among his own people and not wanting to get revenge for previous acts against his family. Not until he was ready. Kaiana Nell is still my favorite character outside of Vee. I adore her. I do wish that the author would consider actually exploring a relationship between Kai and Vee. Won't get any complaints from me!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from The Speculative Herald: http://www.speculativeherald.com/2016...

Alchemy of Chaos is another great installment in the Maradaine world. It continues to carry forward the excitement of magic, gangs we met in The Thorn of Dentonhill and even introduces some deadly female assassins into the mix.

Veranix, known as The Thorn on the street, has become a notorious vigilante in Maradaine. His presence and interference has caused disruption and concern not just amongst his target, the effite trade and Fenmere’s operation in Dentonhill, but the street gangs of Mardaine have also taken notice. Some view him as a positive thing, on their side. But others see him as a potential threat that may be out to take terrority from them. This definitely becomes more of a worry after The Thorn discovers that the Red Rabbits have begun to work their way into the effite trade. Dealing in effite makes them targets, but other gangs just see The Thorn starting to take out a fellow gang, raising fears about what his ultimate plans really are.

One of the things I enjoy about this book is how Veranix is learning to rely (and trust) others to help him. He may have started as a solo vigilante, but taking out Fenmere’s entire effite trade is proving to be more than just a single man operation. Even powerful vigilantes need back up sometimes. And as magical as this book is, it is nice to see that Veranix has some limitations that prevent him from being completely unbeatable. Without the help of his close friends and allies, the story would have gone much differently.

Be aware, this is a book that requires full and total dismissal of disbelief. I think this may be my only point that could be viewed negative, but really I think it is more just a result of the type of story it is telling. There were moments in the book where I would question a decision, feeling like resolution could have come quicker if only so and so and done x instead of y. And then there is the point that everything always seems to conveniently come together. Often times I think the author tries to make common sense/simple things sound like super genius moves. But ofcourse, as a reader, that is an easy thing for me think. And honestly, I don’t feel like any of it really deterred me from reading the book. Actually, I devoured this book in a little over a day which is something I never do if I have serious complaints. It takes a fun addictive book that I just outright enjoy for me to read it that fast, and this is that type of book.

The bottom line is that this is a story about enjoying the ride more than critiquing decisions and events. Or at least that is how I see it. Because despite any nitpicks I may find in it, I can not deny that it was another fun read. This is a book you read for the adventure, the friendships and the magic of making the impossible happen. In those things, this book and series does very well.

[Joshua Palmatier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel of Maradaine that features Veranix Calbert, otherwise known of as the Thorn, who's a student of magic at the local university by day and a crime-fighting superhero at night. I enjoyed both books and look forward to the next.

Premise: Veranix has ticked off the local crime lord selling the drug effitte and is now this lord's number one target, enough that he's willing to pay a local assassins guild a good deal of money to see not only Veranix killed, but taken down in a spectacular way. At the same time, the drug lord is using one of the local gangs to infiltrate the area Veranix has sworn to protect near the university. Plus, it's exam week. Veranix is being pulled in too many directions at once, which is only compounded when someone at the university begins a series of pranks that escalate quickly into something more serious and deadly. Can Veranix stop the drug lord, dodge the flamboyant assassins sent to kill him, find out who's causing the pranks on campus, and pass his exams? Not without the help of some old friends ... and some new.

Again, I've enjoyed this series so far, mostly because this is really just good old fashioned fun. Veranix is basically a superhero in a fantasy setting and following his exploits is like reading a comic book. Maradaine is a fully realized city and world unto itself (with another set of books with different characters as the focus set in the same city), with plenty of room left for exploration beyond even the three books currently released. Veranix himself is fun to watch as he attempts to fight the drug trade using his own magic and a magical cloak and rope he's found, but he wouldn't be able to pull it all off without the help of numerous friends both at the university and in the gangs that rule the streets in Dentonhill. The fact that he isn't all-powerful and is actually perhaps too impulsive makes him funny and interesting and also gets him into more scrapes than he probably should be in. Again, this is all part of the comic book appeal of this series.

Overall, this is simply a fun, light, entertaining read with some humorous characters that into unbelievable but hilarious situations that often have serious consequences for the characters and the world. If you're looking for some adventure with a standard fantasy setting and a twist of superhero thrown in, then check out this series.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar work by Maresca. The story is quick paced and lively. The mystery is detailed and the clues are there if you look for them throughout the story but don't leap out and make everything obvious. The world of Maradaine is expanded and we see more details become apparent. Can't wait for the next work by Maresca.

[Alysa H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the first half of this book feels just a little slow at times, there's some excellent payoff in the second half, when all of the elements really come together. It really is like a superhero crime-fighting team story, perhaps even more so than the previous installment. Though focus is on vigilante/magic student Veranix Calbert, and I agree with those who say its like a cross between, say, Batman and Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle books, I'd also say this book is almost like Marvel's Agents of Shield -- set in a high fantasy world with its own set of magical rules and street gangs -- in that it's got a similar vibe in some ways, and a similar balance of seriousness and comedy.

There is also a significant improvement in the presentation of female characters, which was frankly pretty terrible in Book 1. While this book is by no means a feminist-friendly book, and the majority of the POV and plot catalyzations do come from male characters, it does have an admirably wide variety of female characters, from leads to background figures, and many of them have big parts to play in the plot. Jiarna is a super-smart science nerd (along with male counterpart Phadre), Kaiana has a lot more to do than before when she was just a convenient helper and a lure for Veranix, and women like Deena and Sotch are just like any other gang members out on the streets. That being said, I'd venture a guess that the "Deadly Birds", the female assassins with their often skimpy costumes, are a play on the scantily clad heroine and villainesses of classic comic books, but rehashing a trope does not usually do much to undermine that trope. And all women are referred to as birds (little b) in Maradaine anyway, which seemed slightly demeaning.

I would love to see more atmospheric, descriptive writing about the city and its environs, as it is sometimes difficult to picture what various places and things look like, and where they are in relationship to each other (despite the handy city map provided at the start). But apart from that this is a good, exciting series and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **

[Sally Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this title through NetGalley.

3.5 stars

A solid sequel to the first Maradaine book. All this has done is whet my appetite for the next installment in the Maradaine Constabulary series, which sadly isn't due until November - but really, for a universe that just started publishing in 2015, 4 books in 2 years is a fantastic pace!

After reading The Thorn of Dentonhill and The Alchemy of Chaos back to back, I can confirm that I like the Constabulary series vibe a bit more. It took me a while to nail down why two series set in the same (mostly contemporaneous) universe would feel different, but they definitely do. I think it's down to the fact that you know going in that the Constabulary characters are going to be solving cases/mysteries and it's a major part of the characters' motivation (but not the only part! and there are plenty of tidbits about their backstories woven throughout) whereas Veranix's motivation is that he's out for revenge on Fenmere, but Fenmere ends up just dancing around the edges of the plot . I'm a huge mystery reader, so really it's no surprise that I prefer the variation where it's clearly a mystery from the get-go.

Veranix more or less picks up right where he left off, maybe with a bit more stress, having a harder time juggling everything. Kaiana has a much bigger role to play this time, and I love where her part of the storyline is going thus far. We also get a much more detailed view of the gang hierarchy and how they fit into Maradaine society. The "villain" this time was a bit of an oddball, but not so ridiculous that it hurt the plot (my measuring guide for this is the old-school James Bond films - I mean, have you ever met more ridiculous, non-productive villains?!)

I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens next in Maradaine!

[Charty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always a pleasure to discover a new author, especially when you read a second or third book and can really see them coming into their own, in terms of writing quality and story development. While I enjoyed the first book, The Thorn of Dentonville it was not without its flaws. I was pleased to see that the Alchemy of Chaos pretty much addressed my main concerns as this is in all ways a more tight, interesting and inclusive book.

While the beginning was a bit slow and felt a little like a retread of the first, hang in there, the book soon takes off and keeps you reading to the very end and leaves you anxious for the next installment.

Marasca has done a fine job this time around balancing Veranix's school and vigilante life, giving equal weight to his two lives and managing to cleverly integrate both plots. Vee's mighty powers are knocked down a peg or two, giving the reader more reason to identify and root for him. Supporting characters like Delmin and Kai get more page time and agency. The lack of female characters is rectified with a number of small but welcome touches. We learn there is a female body of scholars also attending the university and one girl becomes an important player. Female professors exist, a female captain runs a Red Rabbit gang, while the villain Fennemore hires deadly female assassins to take out The Thorn.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the story could have been a little tighter. Maybe we could have learned a little bit about these "Birds" and why they were so bad ass and how they were finding him so easily... Ahhh well, still very enjoyable... It seemed like this book was setting up many future comic book storylines with all of these sub-characters who are now part of the Thorn's team. Looking forward to his next book in this world.

[Lianne Pheno · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://delivreenlivres.blogspot.com/...

Je suis un chouilla déçue par ce tome ci, enfin disons qu'il était moins marquant que les précédents.

Ce tome est la suite directe de The Thorn of Dentonhill qui nous introduisait l'univers de Maradaine. Étant donné que je lis la série (ou plutôt l'univers) dans l'ordre de publication, j'avais donc aussi lu avant A Murder of Mages une histoire spin off se déroulant en parallèle mais dans un autre quartier de la ville.

Retour donc à Veranix Calbert alias The Thorn, un espèce de justicier dont le but est de se débarrasser de Fenmere le boss de la mafia de Dentonhill, un des quartier de la ville, parce que celui ci a assassiné son père et empoisonné sa mère.

The Thorn c'est fait un nom dans les autres gangs de la ville qui ne savent pas vraiment si ils doivent le considérer comme un allié contre Fenmere ou un ennemi vu que celui ci n'hésite pas à les impliquer dans sa guerre.

Mais Veranix n'est pas un super héros, il est un jeune étudiant à l'université magique. La magie étant rare et en général très encadrée dans des guildes qui restent entre elles dans la haute société, on n'en voit en général que très rarement dans les bas quartiers. Du coup The Thorn qui l'utilise pour faire ses coups est un peu un surhomme en comparaison des autres humains ordinaires.

Mais ce fait va changer ici, car Fenmere a bien décidé de ne pas se laisser faire, et il a engagé des assassins pour combattre The Thorn, tout en lui tendant un gros piège. Et ces assassins sont comme Veranix, ils ont aussi la magie avec eux. Mais eux l'utilisent depuis des années et sont donc bien plus expérimenté que le jeune homme ...


Il y a des points qui m'ont vraiment intéressés dans ce tome, notamment tout ce qui touche à la drogue qui transforme les gens en légumes.
C'est un sujet qu'on avait commencé à aborder dans A murder of mages, même si la forme était différente. L'idée qu'il puisse être possible de guérir ces personnages que l'on juge pour l'instant irrécupérables fait du bien. Pour l'instant on en est encore limite au point de départ, à essayer de considérer que ça puisse être possible, mais c'est déjà une avancée comparé à la situation d'avant. Peut être que la solution est dans la magie, ou peut être pas, à voir dans la suite parce que pour l'instant le problème reste entier.

Dans l'ensemble j'ai passé un bon moment. Le livre était distrayant et je ne me suis pas ennuyé. On a un bon mélange entre les moments d'actions et de réflexions, le tout entrecoupée par des scènes des études de Veranix.
On peut dire aussi que le rythme était bon et le style fluide.
Pourtant j'ai quand même un sentiment de manque.

Au final il ne se passe pas grand chose niveau évolution globale dans ce tome. La situation à la fin est quasiment la même que celle qu'elle était au début, en dehors des blessures récoltées qui sont les seules à pouvoir faire évoluer quelque chose dans le futur.

J'ai plus eu l'impression de lire "un nouvel épisode" dans la quête de Veranix. On met juste contre lui des ennemis plus à son niveau histoire qu'il soit un peu plus en difficulté cette fois ci, et tout le monde rentre chez lui penser ses blessures avant le nouvel affrontement.

En fait ce qu'il manquait je pense était tout le coté investigation, découverte des personnes impliquées et tout. Dans le premier tome cette partie la était importante, ici pas du tout. Veranix sait déjà contre qui il se bat et il a maintenant plein d'alliés et tout les autres gangs pour lui faire parvenir des informations sur la situation, ce sont eux qui font ce travail à sa place. Il n'a plus besoin d'espionner, de ne pas se faire remarquer, de se suspendre dans le vide pour écouter des conversations, ce genre de détails qui faisaient une partie du charme du premier tome.

Du coup j'avoue que j'ai été un peu déçue. J'aurais voulu en avoir plus.
J'espère que les tomes suivant la joueront un peu moins "safe" et changeront un peu la formule.

15/20

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well, well. Mr. Maresca has provided his readers with another dashing adventure in Maradaine and it was GREAT. He has yet to disappoint and I love how he’s writing two series at once, both set in the same city but in totally different atmospheres. I’m waiting for the characters to overlap, even if it’s just a tiny, insignificant interaction. I’m going to shriek and wave the book about in a dangerous looking manner and find someone to fangirl about it to if that moment ever comes.

Once again Veranix Calbert, magic student and masked vigilante, gets in way over his head in his fight to stop the trafficking of the drug known as effitte. This time the trouble makes its way inside of the University’s walls and Veranix is fighting a war on several fronts- the malicious “pranks” happening on campus, the Deadly Bird assassins hired by Fenmere, and encroaching effitte trade. The whole situation is made even messier by the fact that Veranix is trying to pass his exams in the midst of this trouble. The action in The Alchemy of Chaos was paced well considering there was such an abundance of it. Not everything happened in the last 50-100 pages of the book, which seems all too common in books of all genres.

This particular installment gave me these great West Side Story vibes, because we readers get a little more insight into the gangs of Maradaine. The grandstanding and bravado displayed by the members of the Rose Street Princes is super fun to read about. They get such pride out of the fact that the Thorn is on their side and the Princes are probably his biggest cheerleaders because the constables see the Thorn as a troublemaking vigilante that needs to be arrested. Veranix’s cousin Colin, who himself is a Captain in the Rose Street Princes, is trying to help out without Veranix’s identity being discovered and keep himself under the radar of the gang leaders. This really doesn’t work out so well. Veranix’s side of the story is full of excitement and dangerous activities as usual, though his friends Delmin and Kaiana don’t get quite the screen time that I had expected. They’re present when it counts and there’s so much other stuff going on that you really don’t notice, plus two minor characters are introduced that get a significant amount of focus, though I doubt they’ll appear again.

I wasn’t quite as hooked on The Alchemy of Chaos as I was when I read The Thorn of Dentonhill, which is why this installment has earned a 4.0/5.0 from me… HOWEVER, this was still an admirable addition to Maresca’s literary repertoire and I am always so excited for his new releases! Again, I do wish these came in the larger paperbacks or hardcover editions because I do enjoy them so much and like to display my favorite books. If you’re looking for a fun summer (or anytime of the year) read, then I highly recommend this series, ESPECIALLY if you are a fan of Scott Lynch or Patrick Rothfuss’s books. Do yourself a favor and try this series out!

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alchemy of Chaos differs greatly from Marshall Ryan Maresca’s A Murder of Mages. While the latter is a fantasy/police procedural, The Alchemy of Chaos is a fantasy adventure set in the same world. Both are excellent novels, but The Alchemy of Chaos is likely to appeal to a broader audience, particular younger fantasy fans.

Veranix (the Thorn) is a blend of Harry Potter and Zorro - a student of magic by day, and a vigilante mage by night. Armed with a whip and a quip, Veranix’s alterego The Thorn targets Fenmere and the dealers of the drug that destroyed his mother and threaten all of Aventil. Like Harry, Vernix has allies amongst his fellow students. While undoubtedly the majority of physical efforts are his, Colin, Kaiana, Delmin and his other friends provide invaluable assistance.

In The Alchemy of Chaos, Veranix faces his most difficult challenge. The Red Rabbits appear to be entering the drug trade and Fenmere has has hired the Deadly Birds, a team of assassins, to publicly humiliate and kill The Thorn. At the same time, a skilled alchemist is targeting the University of Maradaine - each attack more vicious than the last.

The Alchemy of Chaos is lighter fare than A Murder of Mages, but nonetheless it is a fantastic novel filled with action and adventure. Maresca’s writing will definitely appeal to a wide range of fantasy readers of all ages. If you like Brandon Sanderson or J.K. Rowling, you will definitely enjoy Maresca’s Maradaine novels, particularly The Alchemy of Chaos.

5/5

I received a copy of The Alchemy of Chaos from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

—Crittermom

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second "Thorn" book is fantastic, and after getting into each section of Maradaine, it was great to come back to this one.

In The Thorn of Dentonhill, we get to know Veranix, who is leading the double life of magic student and streetwise vigilante. Here we get a better sense of what that balance really means, as the pressure of final exams is put on him, as well as things happening in Aventil that he feels a responsibility to take care of. We get a little more sense of the history of the Aventil gangs, and Colin's place in the Rose Street Princes, and Kaiana and Delmin step up their roles in Team Thorn as the boundaries between the University and the streets become muddier.

Plus there is Jiarna Kay, a neat sort-of antagonist for Veranix. She's not a mage, but she understands magic by examining it with science. She's a fun character, especially since she figures out Veranix is the Thorn.. There are also the Deadly Birds, who are fun, flamboyant assassins. (I'm not sure if Bluejay's razor-sharp hula-hoops could actually work, but it was enough fun that I didn't really care.)

A great balance of fun, responsibility and shatter-your-heart moments (when Veranix's mother reacts to him in the hospital, for one). Love it!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to like this book more than I did (actually that is a good synopsis for the entire series). It has everything I enjoy in a swashbuckling fantasy... but at the end of the day it left me feeling 'meh'.

Positives - Maresca's world is shaping up nicely (over the first three books) and demonstrates some interesting world-building. I would strongly recommend his series for his world-building alone.

His characters and their relationships are interesting; I particularly like the Thorn's professor and his room-mate.

His magic system is as well designed as his world - it's the rare author who can have characters discuss the nature of magic and not have their readers' eyes glaze over - Mr. Maresca has done that.

Negatives - despite the danger that Mr. Marseca puts his characters into, you never feel as if they are ever really in any danger. I don't know how else to explain it other than to say that I was not invested in any of them so never had any worries for them.

I enjoy Maresca's world and look forward to future books. Yet, for some unknown reason I can't say I LOVE his books and I wish I could.

[Anthony Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moves like a breeze

If the first tale of Veranix Calbert was a fantasy spin on Batman comics, this second volume plays like a season of a comic book TV show (or perhaps a Harry Potter novel). A trio of plots wind throughout the story, seemingly unconnected, before dovetailing neatly into a thrilling climax just in time for the summer break.

If the coincidences that tie these threads together feel a little neat and forced, the plot drives forward with a fascinating set of characters caught up in its mechanics. Those characters and their relationships feel real and engaging and wanting to see how they fare keeps the story driving forward. Maresca's talent for worldbuilding makes everything feel lived in and believable and his prose gives just enough information to keep the reader grounded in this alien world without ever putting the brakes on the adventure.

A few subtle nods will reward readers who also follow the related Maradaine Constabulary series but newcomers to the Thorn's adventures will find this entry a suitable starting point if they haven't had the pleasure of Maresca's previous novels of Maradaine.

[Sylvia McIvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

wears a flowing cloak... parents died... athletic gymnast... This guy would be Batman except that he can do magic, and Batman was merely very rich.

The Thorn has been hassling the local drug kingpin, and the kingpin is Not Stupid [tm]. He brought in assassins, laid lovely traps, and nearly caught and killed the Thorn. Point to him.

The Thorn has friends and enemies among the street gangs, and more friends (and fewer enemies) in college, so point to him, he doesn't have to do all the thinking on his own. Major point to him, because The Girlfriend has a pretty major part in this book. And shows that she's pretty darn smart, and also well (self) educated, if the wrong skin color to be allowed to actually attend class.

(Bechtel test... there are more than 2 named women in the book, but do they ever meet? blink and you miss it.)

Will Thorn win against the assassins and save the day? Duh, yes. But how? Keep reading!
Will The Girlfriend be allowed to attend college next book? I dunno, I can't wait to find out.

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very quick but I didn't like it as much as the first one; it followed the classic superhero/ vigilante "I want to save my city" trope and I watched to many Batman movies and Arrow/Daredevil episodes for this thing to work on me anymore.

The characters were interesting to read about but I didn't especially like the way female protagonist were portayed and so far, I am not interested at all in a Veranix/Kaiana romance because those two have zero connections (if you take away the fact that both of their parents had an effite overdose which is not enough to form a relationship in my opinion).

I don't want to sound overly harsh with this book, it was fun, it was quick, the world is interesting and if you're looking for a fast-paced adventure, you'll probably enjoy it!

I won't do a full review because I don't have much more to say about it and I am already too behind on book reviews!

[Stuart Langridge]

More fun in Maradaine. Same vibe as the previous book in this series; Veranix is still basically fantasy Batman (although maybe Robin is a better comparison), and there are lots of fights salted with lots of interesting world stuff. Maradaine is one of the few fantasy cities that I can actually imagine living in, along with Camorr in the Locke Lamora books (I wonder if Scott Lynch, with upcoming The Thorn of Emberlain, was annoyed at the naming of The Thorn of Dentonhill?) Also, there is clearly a whole bunch of stuff about the world that people don't know, to do with interactions between science and magic; ignoring all the big picture stuff that Phadre and Jiarna are clearly going to work on, there's a bit where a wound is completely healed by putting yellow powder and copper in it. This seems like an alarmingly important invention; I assume quite a lot more will be made of this alchemical science-plus-magic mix in future books.

[Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this overall, but I feel I ought to warn people of the absolutely baffling way the female assassins are written. The first one introduced dresses in tight blue leather and fights using spiked hula hoops that she constantly spins on her arms and waist. It does not fit with the tone or aesthetic of the rest of this book or the other books set in this universe, and as far as I can tell, it is played seriously.

Please picture this assassin coming for you. She is wearing what amounts to a bright blue leather bikini. A bystander calls out in awe that she is a famous elite assassin. She hula hoops aggressively towards you.

Her assassination weapon of choice, contrary to what the book may tell you, is absurdity.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Good sequel to Thorn of Dentonhill.

I re-read Thorn of Dentonhill as a refresher prior to reading The Alchemy of Chaos and thoroughly enjoyed it again. Unfortunately the sequel suffers from 'patchiness' and some overcrowded scenes in a few places and this tends to detract from the charm of the first story.

That being said, I love this author's writing and I am looking forward to all future works, especially if he continues to hang out with Stina Leicht (another literary genius)

[V Shashank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book was the Hook .
Now this one is the line ...cant wait for the sinker .

The setting is vivid.
the gangs are back .
No "paper " job this time around though .

The daily struggles of a mage in training by day and and a vigilante by night is brought out well .
The secondary characters are nuanced , and deliver .

The 'birds' are killer .
Mr.Maresca , slap on a tattoo , you are a #RoseStreetPrince

[Normalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veranix Calbert is prepping for magical finals when his war with Fenmere, the "effete" drug distributor, gets an extra push from a hidden vigilante who starts out with pranks and advances to death-dealing attacks. With help from his friends and some other students, The Thorn might get out of this alive.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both of the previous Maradaine books but this is my favorite. The characters are maturing and the world is filling out. Plus the pacing is just great – rapidly flowing, but never too fast and certainly never too slow. It was a lot of fun.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much non-stop action. Between the Prankster, the Deadly Birds, and the ongoing gang and drug activity, there weren't many places to relax. By the way, I hope we learn more about the Birds in future books, they're bad-ass.

[L.E. Doggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished it today faster than I wanted to. Great scenes, a wonderful, ingenious world. Well thought out plot.

A little something missing from the action scenes but still well done and I recommend it whole heartily. I will read it if there's a third one.

[Ryan Laferney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alchemy of Chaos by Marshall Ryan Maresca is a somewhat enjoyable installment in the Maradaine world. It continues to carry forward the excitement of magic and gangs we met in The Thorn of Dentonhill and even introduces some deadly female assassins into the mix but I found myself bored by the novels end.

Once again Veranix Calbert, magic student and masked vigilante, gets in way over his head in his fight to stop the trafficking of the drug known as effitte. This time the trouble makes its way inside of the University’s walls and Veranix is fighting a war on several fronts- the malicious “pranks” happening on campus, the Deadly Bird assassins hired by Fenmere, and encroaching effitte trade. The whole situation is made even messier by the fact that Veranix is trying to pass his exams in the midst of this trouble.

How does Veranix deal with these new challenges? Will our masked vigilante pass his exams? Will his secret be discovered? How does he deal with facing flamboyant assassins and a formal collegiate dinner? You’ll just have to read to find out.

This book is full of character growth for our masked vigilante. Veranix is learning to rely (and trust) others to help him. He may have started as a solo vigilante, but taking out Fenmere’s entire effite trade is proving to be more than just a single man operation. Even powerful vigilantes need help sometimes (doesn’t Batman have Robin for a reason after all?). It's nice to see that Veranix has some limitations that prevent him from being completely unbeatable - he’s still a bit too eager for his britches. Without the help of his close friends and allies, the story would have gone much differently.

Alchemy of Chaos is a fast paced and fun book for fans of superheroes/fantasy/crime/academies of magic but the novel on the whole feels a bit pedestrian. And I think the problem is characterization. I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters and the magic system is honestly too simple (while attempting to appear complex) to be intriguing. And despite the danger that Mr. Marseca puts his characters into, you never feel as if they are ever really in any danger. I don't know how else to explain it other than to say that I was not invested in any of them so never had any concerns.

With that being said, there is an audience for this book, and if I were a teenager again, I would love the heck out of this series. But, alas, I think it’s just okay.

I’m not in a rush to pick up the third novel sadly. But if you love superheroes, fantasy, crime, schools of magic and all the trappings that come with it, take a chance of this one.

[Van (Short & Sweet Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The Alchemy of Chaos is the second novel in the Maradaine series following Veranix, a magic student at the University of Maradaine by day and a crime fighter by night known as The Thorn. There is certainly no rest for the wicked as Fenmere hires one of the gangs, The Red Rabbits, to distribute effite in Aventil and female assassins to take out The Thorn.With it being finals week, it’s almost impossible for Veranix to be everywhere at once. Things go from bad to worst when a string of deadly pranks occur all over campus making it that much harder to keep Veranix’s true identity a secret. With Fenmere, The Red Rabbits, assassins and the constable after The Thorn, it’d be a miracle if Veranix passes his exams all while keeping the city safe.

This is my fourth book by Maresca and I still can’t get enough of the world and characters. Maresca actually has three series set in the world of Maradaine. I’ve yet to read the latest series but what I have read (Maradaine and The Maradaine Constabulary) they’re excellent and expand greatly on the world. In the first book we were introduced to life on campus and the crime lord Fenmere. In this latest installment, Fenmere is still a problem but he takes a backseat this time around and has hired help going after The Thorn. I thought the additions of the lady birds were a nice touch and it definitely amped up the stakes because they were skilled at their job and on several occasions had Veranix running for life (literally)…plus they were total bad asses. There were also a lot of new characters introduced, from the other gangs beside the Rose Princes to Veranix’s classmates such as Phadre and Jiarna. But let’s not forget Delmin and Kaiana, their roles were crucial this time around as they helped Veranix in stop the pranks on campus.

The Alchemy of Chaos was a great addition to The Thorn/Maradaine series and I already have the third book on my shelf ready to go. I just need to figure out the world/book order! And how cool is it that there’s going to be a crossover in The Maradaine Constabulary series! I never seen it done in books, so it should be interesting! All in all, this was another enjoyable, quick action packed read. If you’re looking for a fun, lighter side of fantasy story then I recommend checking out this series.

[Jeffrey Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment was much improved on the last one, in my opinion.

Veranix acted a lot more sensibly, possibly because Fenmere wasn't directly involved. I expected him to keep dodging his school responsibilities to go play vigilante and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't. The characters around him also advanced farther, though Colin seemed somewhat lost in the street politics arc. That particular section didn't grab my attention as much; Colin just seems to be singularly focused on Veranix and it seems to make him act stupidly a lot. I was thoroughly annoyed with him by the end.

I liked the actual mystery involved here and that things weren't always what they seemed even though we got glimpses into Fenmere's point of view. The new secondary characters were also interesting for the bit that they showed up; as I said, other than Colin I didn't find any of them to be annoying or too cliched. The Constabulary captain is something of an exception, but someone of his ilk is almost a requirement in a superhero type story; you need the J Jonah Jameson.

I'm mildly annoyed that the next book is interwoven with his other series. It probably isn't required that you read the others to get it, but the author seems to have fallen in love with his world and seems less focused on continuing character arcs, which is what I'm more interested in.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sequel that improves on the original in part by expanding the cast and their roles. Veranix (aka, The Thorn) is still definitely the star, but in this volume, he's got a much stronger, varied, and interesting cast to bounce off of and it works out to the good.

There's good characterization and development as Veranix has learned more that he can't do everything himself, and his arrogance is much more tempered here making him a more mature, if still impetuous hero. Delmin and Kai return from book one, and are more active participants with more agency this time, and having them bounce off each other makes for a stronger and more balanced narrative. The university itself gets a little more attention and brings in some interesting allies to the fore that continue to flesh out the world effectively.

The enemies are still some rough customers too, with a nasty mage launching attacks on the university, while Fenmere plots a further revenge on the Thorn, hiring big-time assassins to join the stage. The assassins are an interesting lot as well and ones I wouldn't mind seeing again.

This is a good series. Nice growth, an interesting city adventure in a fantasy environment that you don't see often. Good combo of street level action with magic and higher learning.

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veranix is highly impetuous, and this shows in this book - he runs off heedlessly after whatever new trouble as presented itself, without stopping to consider the ramifications. This is unlike Colin, who spends time thinking through those ramifications.

In this book, we learn more about the sticks who try to keep order on the street. The gangs face a new development - the Red, which is a potential replacement for effitte. Fenmore, in the meantime, has engaged the Deadly Birds, a group of assassins, to take down the Thorn. Their intervention results in Veranix losing his father's bow - which is recognised by Vessrin, the King of the Rose Street Princes. The gangs are now increasingly aware of Veranix's presence.

With YA novels, we're assured of a happy ending: Veranix passes his examinations and heads into the summer. Colin is left dealing with the fallout: being essentially demoted to a lower-ranking street, and Jutie - the Prince that was a fan of the Thorn - is now sent to the Quarrygate. In that sense, the stakes have been raised.

It's a fast-paced book that, while adding nothing to the genre, is still fun to read.