The Alchemists of Loom

Loom Saga #1

by Elise Kova

Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult, Dragons, Magic, New Adult, Fiction

395 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.

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Reviews

[chai ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an agenda today but thanks to this book, I now need to think about the future potential of surgery to give humans dragon wings for like, an hour first.

This was so fun to read. I was teetering on the edge of a slump and this book was kind of like the safety ropes holding me back from slipping into that hellscape of a void!!

It's a steampunk novel about dragons, chimera, a heist, a pansexual MC, A WHOLE PANSEXUAL SOCIETY, wholesome female friendships, enemies to friends to (potential lovers?) and I really enjoyed it! I would really recommend you guys read it if you're looking for a fast-paced read with likeable characters and an original premise!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Adulthood just meant finding the variety of crazy that resonated the most with you and doing it until you died or it killed you—whichever came first.”

This book really surprised me! The Alchemists of Loom ended up being a wonderful steam punk set story, filled with mystery and twists, and had a beautiful message: You can be anything you want to be, you do not have to be the expectations that other people have for you.

The world felt like something right out of Borderlands. The characters were heartfelt and compassionate. The message was really important and meaningful.

But this world is very unique, and the new lingo could be a little confusing. The rundown is basically this:

There are two worlds, separated by the clouds:
•Loom: The main setting of this book, that is home to Fenthri and Chimeras and their five guilds.
•Nova: The Dragon homeland that is inhabited by three Dragon Houses.

There are three races:
•Fenthri: Grey, black, white, the weakest of the three races, and have tattoos on their face depicting what guild they belong to.
•Dragon: A vast array of colors, very primal, can regrow most things from their bodies, have magical abilities, enslaved Loom and sees Fenthri as servants.
•Chimera: Fenthri with Dragon blood and/or organs. They are made by Alchemists, and are very strong, but not as strong as Dragons.

(None of the characters in this world are Human, but they are for sure Humanoids)

The three Dragon Houses:
•Rok: Strongest house, and the Dragon King's House.
•Tam: Second strongest house, and very aligned with House Rok.
•Xin: Weakest house.

The five Guilds of Loom:
•Alchemists: Developed Chimeras, and the only guild to not be under the Dragon King's thumb.
•Rivets: Specializes in refining processes in steel mines and applications for gold.
•Revolvers: Explores all the uses for guns and explosions!
•Harvesters: Supplies all the bare materials to all the other guilds.
•Ravens: Moves people and goods all around Loom.

The five guilds are all linked together as a system to help one another, but that's been very hard ever since that Dragons of Nova traveled down from the clouds, into Loom, and made the Fenthri population do their bidding.

The people from these guilds have a face tattoo for easy recognition. People of Loom are not able to choose or pick which house they are in. They are basically pre-placed, and forced to take two tests. If they are unable to pass these tests, they could be sentenced to death.

Not having a mark is also illegal, and Ari, our main protagonist, does not have a mark. The world knows her as the most notorious criminal of Loom, the White Wraith, and her story starts out with her completing a heist. Her past is a big mystery, but as the book goes on we are able to learn more and more.

“It doesn’t matter who she was. It matters who she can become…”

During that heist, she meets a Dragon named Cvareh. Ari hates, and refuses to trust, any Dragon, but when he offers her a boon to take him to the Alchemist Guild she finds herself unable to refuse. Cvareh is from House Xin and in desperate need to protect his family.

Ari also has an adorable assistant named Florence, who is the cutest lesbian, and who completely won me over. I was unsure of her age until towards the end of the book (16), so for a while I thought her and Ari were a thing and would end up together (this made me extremely happy, by the way), but I was kind of let down when I realized Flor's age and that the relationship was more of a big sister/little sister relationship.

But Ari does identify as bisexual or pansexual, and even though we don't actually see her with another woman I was still happy with the representation. Also, I cannot wait to find out all about Ari's past and the demons that still are chasing her.

“Don’t let the shadows of the past smother the possibility for a bright future.”

The other thing that I loved, besides the story and the world, was the writing. Elise Kova really strung together some breathtakingly beautiful sentences that left me wanting so much more. Her talent really shined with this book, and it left me very interested in reading more of her work.

“She waited for him to say something more. The silence held ciphers of truths that lingered between them, written in a script that neither knew yet how to decipher. This would not be the moment they were given sound.”

Like I said, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. My only main criticism was the feeling of queer-baiting through the first half. Maybe if they author told the ages of the girls, or explained Ari and Flor's relationship a little better, I wouldn't have felt like that.

Also, this is my own personal opinion. You might not even pick up the vibe I was getting from the girls. Maybe I'm so desperate for more F/F books that I'm trying to see it every time I read.

My other minor criticism is that the romance in this book does feel a little too insta-love-y for my personal tastes. Like, it went from cold to hot really quickly. Like, in the blink of an eye. It didn't bother me, or pull me out of the story, but it didn't feel 100% natural.

I know my break down above could seem a little overwhelming, because of all the new terms, but creating a completely new world out of nothing is never easy and there will always be a learning curve. This book is really rewarding and really worth the time. I honestly loved this, and I cannot wait for The Dragons of Nova in April 2017.

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[Elise Kova]

The Loom Saga is now in Kindle Unlimited! Grab it here: https://www.amazon.com/Alchemists-Loo...
REMINDER: If you do not own a kindle and want any of my KU books. Simply forward Amazon proof of purchase to Elise.Kova.Author[at]Gmail[dot]com for a personalized read anywhere link!

Want to save nearly 50% on the complete series?
Consider investing in the digital boxed set, containing all three books and over 1,200 pages of epic, dark fantasy: http://viewbook.at/LoomSagaBox

If you want to know more about the World of Loom, check out this page on my website: http://elisekova.com/the-world-of-loom/
There are character images, maps, concept art, guild histories and more there.

Additionally, there's an appendix in both the back of the eBooks and hardcovers titled "The World of Loom" with symbols, pronunciation guides, and so on... I put it in the back, rather than the front, so that readers who wanted to experience the book without any insights wouldn't risk spoilers.

Happy reading, and I hope you enjoy the story of THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got some really cool swag with this book! I covered my address with the signed bookplate. I didn't show the back of the envelope because I didn't feel like putting the front and back on one picture. Let me tell you, that envelope it so freaking cool. You can see the front but the back is really awesome too! ♥ I love bookish stuff!



I fell in love with this book right out of the gate! Ari is just bad to the bone. It's starts out with a lot of action. Ari is different as are some people in the world of Loom. Ari is the White Wraith and she's a force to be reckoned with! She has certain abilities because of certain reasons. <--Don't you love vagueness =) Well, I'm tired of putting up the spoiler banners so that's all you get!

She has a student/best friend named Flor that you can't help fall in love with. She's sweet and she loves Ari and looks up to her. Ari will do anything to protect her.

One day when Ari is out on a mission to take down a whole group of peeps/things she runs into a Dragon that has been hurt. She planned on killing him and harvesting his organs to get more money. I won't tell you what they do with said organs but it's all a part of THINGS.

But Cvareh pleads with her to help him. He is on a mission to get to the Alchemist's Guild and try to build an alliance with them to take down the Dragon King who is a twat. He asks Ari to get him there in exchange for a Boon <--read the book. (There ends up being a little something going on between them, you can feel the tension and I hope it does lead to something. Even though Ari threatens him with death at every turn!)

On the way to the Guild they run into Dragon Riders that try to take them out. Umm, that's not so easy against the White Wraith and now a Dragon of her own to fight by her side. And Flor helps out too although she has to be protected for the most part as she has no magical abilities. But Ari has trained her in things so she holds her own.

FYI: The dragon's in this book are not the typical dragons you are thinking. They are men but have dragon powers and are descendants of the real dragons. They don't have wings or breathe fire but they have strong magic. They ride gliders to make up for the wings they don't have.

Now I wish the next book was out because there is going to be some stuff going down and I really hope the good guys, er, things win.

Here's a little map of Loom. Nova is the place the dragons are from and they are up there on floating cities and such.



I think I need to delve into Elise Kova's other books while I wait for the sequel to this book.

Overall, I loved it and I tend to try to read books I think I will like/love. No dud here! Woot! ♥ Of course now I want the physical copy too!!!! =)

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT TO SELF, ALREADY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2017!

This book is incredible, like seriously incredible. A unique fantasy world with steam punk elements. Different people, magic, weapons and AMAZINGINESSSSSS. I am in love with these characters so so much!

CHECK THIS BOOK OUT ITS OUT SO SOOOON

[Rachel E. Carter]

UPDATE 1/10/17: IT'S RELEASE DAY, AHHHH!!! HAPPY RELEASE DAY, ELISE <<<3

The Alchemists of Loom is bloody, epic, and brimming with violence.

+

Fantasy fans, I give you: Arianna = older, clockwork version of Arya Stark from Game of Thrones PLUS a female, kickass version of Sherlock (BBC version) with Florence as her Watson.

In AoL, Elise Kova gives fantasy, and steampunk fans, two whole new worlds to delight over as new characters strike out in an adventure sure to leave readers reeling for more. The cast of characters takes readers into a darker realm where no one is pure, everyone has an agenda, and, sometimes, the best friends one can have can be formed between enemies.

World building? SO CRAZY GOOD. Honestly you will need to read the appendix or glossary for terms, that's how awesomely detailed Elise made Nova. SO CREATIVE. And Arianna? So freaking kicka$$. And she's not perfect, either. Unapologetic. Intelligent.... my fangirling over Ari is strong.

>> is Cvareh as devastatingly swoony as Aldrik? Well, he's certainly swoony, but to say he is the equivalent of Aldrik from Air Awakens would be like tearing out my own dragon heart and feeding it to someone else. I still love Aldrik best because he's such a jaded, dark prince. Cvareh is more of an alpha leader-fighter who believes in what's right. I just have a thing for hot dark-haired jerks;P

"But a soul driven by vengeance was a selfish soul. A soul driven by vision was a generous one-one that bore itself before others and put the needs of the many before the needs of the few."

You will know why this was my favorite quote when you get to the end of the book:D

*** I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my author blurb, because Elise Kova is one badass, amazeball author that trusted me to read her precious and tell y'all about it. ***

[Brittney ~ Reverie and Ink · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually struggled a bit with this one.

But let me start off with this- I loved Elise Kova's other series (Air Awakens) and I think she's a fun author with a brilliant mind. I was really expecting to love this one and I was excited to see how her writing grew. And grew it did- the writing was much improved in comparison. But I just connected to her other series more- perhaps because the genre resonated with me more.

This one was a bit confusing. I kept trying to connect but had a difficult time doing so with all the descriptions/world building. Honestly its hard to put a finger on what I didn't like because there were a lot of really neat/unique elements in this book. Think fantasy meets steampunk with hints of sci fi. Elise had some legit world building going on (even if it was too much for me). The names, races, and magic system are unlike anything else I've read before. The characters were multi dimensional with loads of backstory which I appreciated. Some of the relationships were gray- especially that of Florence and Arianna.

I think part of my problem was the pace. The first half - even a little more - is just traveling. Not that nothing happened, but I just struggled with it. As I mentioned above, the descriptions were so vast and lush that I couldn't keep it all straight in my head. I kept getting lost. The last half was a bit easier to swallow and I liked some of the fight scenes/etc.

So this is more of a "its me, not you" situation because my brain just couldn't handle everything. Either way, give it a go if you feel like this genre is appealing! Also check out her other series if you're looking for a fun fantasy/romance!

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[Minni Mouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars because here's the thing - this book has no sympathy for lazy readers, but I am one of those aforementioned lazy readers. Bad book chemistry right off the bat.

This book treats itself like the middle of a story or the middle of a sequel...meaning that that there's little exposition. There's no basic, introductory 30-second-elevator-speech for who our characters are, no helpful inner narrative giving us a cleverly-disguised run-down of what's going on, and there's certainly no info dumping.

We have species of creatures that are never explained, terms and titles that are casually tossed left and right, different brands of magic that aren't distinguished from one another, and species wars that treat themselves as part of history so basic that it's apparently beneath itself to recap. Instead, you have to figure this out on your own over the course of the book via inductive reasoning. Now, that may be intriguing to some readers who appreciate the experience, but to "lazy readers" like me who generally enjoy the experience through understanding the overall journey, this book was tough to get through.

There was also a level of detachment with this book, not just between the book and me but also between the characters themselves. Leona and Cvareh, for instance, are enemies both on the political and personal front but I never got that sense of a bitter and volatile backhistory. Ariana and Florence have the closest chemistry, but most of it comes from repeated mentions of "tell not show" of how Ari broke Florence out of prison, thus creating a gratitude and sense of devotion that Florence has for her. Ari and Cvareh are disconnected from one another, the King and Leona's relationship with our protagonists are bland, and secondary characters we meet along the way are so interchangeable that they are almost indistinguishable from one another.

As a result, there's no emotional/personal depth to the book. We have terrific world building and a wholly imaginative caste of species and powers....a twisted duo of Big Bads, and a heroine with a mysterious past. That's all external, though. Cvareh needing Ari to take him to the Alchemists is an external element. Where's the internal? Where's the internal struggle? Ari's deep-seeded emotional flaws? What's her biggest internal obstacle that she needs to overcome? Beyond reaching the Alchemists, what emotional void does Cvareh need to fulfill? These elements are what makes a well-rounded character and plot that not only entertains but also draws the reader in for personal investment. This book almost didn't have that at all.

But steampunk? Action? Smart writing? Hints of themes from The Final Empire and Celaena from Throne of Glass ? Who knows - this book might speak book chemistry to you.

For me? The writing, characters, and plot were too dry, detached, and technical. I wouldn't recommend, nor would I read the sequel.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy!

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an advance copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.


Release date: January 10th

I’ve been following Elise Kova’s work since this summer, when I found the Air Awakens series, and I loved those books to pieces. When I found out she was coming out with a new high fantasy series I couldn’t wait to put my hands on it, and my curiosity has been fed throughout these past few months because of all the interactive stuff Kova does for her followers. If you don’t know about it, she has a Tower Guard group on facebook (born to promote and interact with readers of Air Awakens) and she created the Guild Games to promote The Alchemists of Loom, the first book in the Loom Saga.

The world building in this book is much more complex than in Air Awakens, and to me that’s a plus point. Despite its complexity, I was never confused about it, and the information was given gradually throughout the book (yay for no info-dump).
The world is also very unique: it’s a mix of steampunk+fantasy+magic and yes, it’s as glorious as it sounds.

There are two races in this world: the Fenthri and the Dragons.
Fenthri reside in Loom and are pretty much human-shaped, except they have grey skin and they age a little bit differently than us (they’re adults around 15 I believe).
Dragons live in Nova are definitely not what you would think. They’re also mostly human-shaped, except they have claws and fangs and their skin is colorful (like, blue or red/orange) and they age much more slowly than Fenthri. And, well, they’re ruthless like the dragons we all think about when we hear the word. Also, they have magic. I won’t say much about the magic system because I think it’s better to find out more about it while reading this, just know that everything is really, really cool.

The plot was never slow and it went hand in hand with the character development; in fact I would say that this first book is pretty much equally plot- and character-driven.

Something else I loved is the multiple-PoV format (3rd person): Arianna, Cvareh, Florence and Leona have very different perspectives, backgrounds and motives. Their voices are so distinct that you can never forget whose PoV you’re reading, and their characterization is excellent.

Arianna is a protagonist with a troubled past, like many other heroines of YA literature. And yet she feels completely new and original. She’s not a girl, she’s a woman who knows what she can do and who has a mission she is willing to see accomplished no matter what.

Numbers remained consistent. Numbers and facts attempted to bring order from a chaotic world, to make sense of the impossible. They were the foundation for colossal structures and the tiniest of clockwork machines alike.*

She moved with the ease and purposefulness that came from being unafraid and unhindered by the concerns that clouded the emotional mind. It all vanished the moment she became the White Wraith.*

Ari was an acolyte of the old ways, unmarked on her cheeks and firm in her belief that every guild was connected. That overlap between fields of study was essential.*

For a Fenthri, this woman could act like quite the Dragon*

Florence is a literal cinnamon roll Arianna's pupil and friend and their relationship was one of the best things of this book. I love books that portray a healthy female friendship and I believe it was done very well here.

She’d spent most of her life without the girl. But now she couldn’t imagine a world that didn’t have her in it, and she would fight tooth and nail to keep her there.*

I really thought there was something more to their friendship at the beginning, but as I kept reading I realize that wasn’t the case.
I love books that portray a healthy female friendship and I believe it was done very well here.

Cvareh is a Dragon and my new bookish boyfriend. I can say I loved him from page 1 (well, he wasn’t on page 1, but you get what I mean) he’s such an interesting character and I hate that I don’t want to give too much away in this review because I need to talk about him. I’ll be generic and say that one of the best things about him (BUT THERE ARE SO MANY) is how he doesn’t perfectly fit the gender stereotypes that we are all fed since birth AND THAT’S SO GREAT AND REFRESHING.

He also brings important messages like this:

"You judge me for the actions of my entire race. You see me as a Dragon before you see me as a man. You ignore my good will and attempts at peace, only looking for banners of war between my words. And when you find none, you invent them, so that I better fit your expectations."*

I love his relationship with both Ari and Flo. They are from different worlds so they’re bound to have some differences and their first moments together are not without issues, but you can’t expect it to be otherwise.

” A cookie.” Florence shoved one in her mouth for show. And then a second one, just because the first tasted so good.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Who questions a cookie?”*

There is romance in this book, definitely, although it’s not the driving element. But it is there and it’s hot. So hot.

He didn’t want to admit that he had studied the taper of her trousers or the shine of her shoes. He would never confess to admiring the elegance with which she could tie her cravat to emphatize her Rivet pin. And he didn’t even dwell too long on how aware he was that the roping on her jacket brought out the purple of her eyes.*

I am really excited for this book to come out and gain the success it deserves. It was one of my most anticipated releases and I'm so happy that I got to read it early (even though it means I need to wait much longer for the next installment lol).

*All quotes come from an early copy and might be slightly different in the finished, published edition.

[Laura Thalassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons, chimera, and a world equally divided and joined between the magical and the mechanical ... you've never read a book like this.

When I received the chance to read a copy of TAoL, I all but pounced on it. After reading Elise Kova's Air Awakens series, I knew I'd pretty much love anything Elise published.

Crap, was I right.

There's magic, vendettas that might rip worlds apart, a mechanism that could bring about the ruin of an entire race, and--my favorite--enemies who might feel more than just hate for one another. With TAoL's sprawling storyline, visceral characters, and painfully beautiful prose, Elise has outdone herself.

Vivid, beautiful, fantastical, Alchemists of Loom is a must read!

**UPDATE: 8/24/16**

*Screeching* I GOT AN ARC!!!! Guys, it doesn't matter that Elise is my friend, or that I'm an author. I will always first and foremost be a fangirl. Well, that and a sore winner, because I got an early copy!!! But seriously, can this woman even write a bad book? That's a rhetorical question because the answer is NO. Starting this weekend. I'll try to post updates!

***
Guys, I've gotten a sneak peek at this one and OMG, ADD IT NOW!

P.S. The cover WILL make you drool.

[Lindsay Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic. cannot wait for yall to read this one!!!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Enjoyed this! Original world building, steampunk vibe. Interesting main characters, dragons (of a kind), chimera and magic. Yes please!

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 2 out of 5]

We only get the essential world building information which I really appreciated because reading the obvious can get tedious. I dont need it all spelled out. Im an intelligent reader who can connect the information given to me. I didnt feel like any important information was missing and I usually complain when a book has too many unnecessary details so this type of world building was refreshing. I like being able to use my imagination and the information that we are given painted a wonderfully creative world. Little things like the Dragons realistic reaction to flat teeth made this story come alive. There was also a steampunk vibe that I really enjoyed. The world had an interesting way of measuring things in peca and veca.

The magic and the different races were riveting. I liked how the human race wasnt the main focus. We have Fenrhi, a grey skin race who value knowledge and have guilds for learning different crafts. Then we have the colorful and magical Dragons who live on floating islands in the sky. I liked how different organs gave them different abilities. For example, if a Dragons magic is concentrated in their lungs they possess the ability to slow time. Dragon organs can be harvested for their magic by transplating them in a Fenrhi who would then be consisered a Chimera. I thought the ability to whisper was pretty awesome. We also see a bit of mind control from the King.

I loved the main character Arianna, the White Wraith, but it took me a while to connect with her because we arent told why shes so angry until later on. Although being oppressed is a good reason to be angry and her mysterious past with a girl named Eva was intriguing. I freaking loved that the main character was bisexual and the way Loom views relationships. Having a winch box as her signature weapon/tool was really unique and made Ari standout even more. I liked how Ari planned her heist but certain fight scenes felt dragged out which deminished the intensity and danger. We also have the lovely relationship between Ari and her student Florence. I was able to connect with Florence a lot faster because we get some of her backstory. Even though shes not the best in a fight, shes really smart, kind and resourceful.

Finally a love hate relationship that doesnt bother me. Maybe this one didnt bother me because it wasnt very romantic in nature and the characters werent falling in love with each other while getting abused. Both characters were evenly matched and there wasnt one character unwilling submitting to the dominant character. Despite them having deep seated prejudice I didnt notice any serious abuse, which was a relief. Yes they butted heads but it didnt make me cringe like most love hate relationships do. If one of them said something that was insulting the other one noticed and had a reasonable reaction to it. Plus, I thought there was an LGBT relationship going with Florence but it wasnt very clear.

I thought the Wretches were imaginative and freaking creepy. Leona made an interesting antagonist. Shes desperatly in love with the King and will do anything to please him but I dont know why or how she fell in love with him. The Dragon King wants to control the Fenrhi land below but not everyone agrees with him. The motive of power for the sake of power is a little over done in litterature but the message behind this story was incredible. Fighting against what society expects you to become so you can be whoever you want to be and that you dont have to limit yourself to one passion. There was also some beautiful quotable passages. I noticed the panopticon prison reference which is always fun for a psychology grad like me.

*Received in exchange for an honest review*

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing fantasy world with steampunk-aesthetic technology, magic and unusual non-human races is the background for a terrific story of brutal oppression, betrayal, revenge and rebellion with an interesting multi-cornered romance.

The world of Loom is peopled by the Fenthri, short-lived monochrome humanoids with a strong inventive streak and organized into regional specialized Guilds. Loom is oppressed by the world of Nova, the origin of the fierce and violent Dragons, another humanoid race but larger, long-lived and gifted with natural magic. There's a third race called Chimera, which are Fenthri with transplanted Dragon parts who still have the inventiveness of the Fenthri but can use some of the magic of the Dragons.

The story picks up years after the conquest of Loom by Nova, with the legendary thief and organ-runner, the White Wraith encountering a fugitive Dragon being pursued by agents of the Dragon King. Arianna, the White Wraith, desperately hates Dragons which makes it really interesting when she ends up making an agreement with Cvareh to get him to the Alchemists Guild of Loom. Ari and her protege Florence end up crossing half the world with the Dragon to get there. The first part of Arianna's story has already passed and she's bitter and revenge seeking. The only positive thing in her life is Florence and she is deeply protective of the young and optimistic Fenthri.

This is action-packed and full of character drama. The world-building is interesting although a bit incomplete. What are these people eating? Where does the food come from? But the whole thing moves so quickly and you're so busy trying to work out how everything works that questions like that don't immediately spring to mind. This is also clearly only part one of the overall story with the novel reaching a handy stopping point rather than coming to a climax.

Overall, a great start to what should be an interesting series. Also recommend taking a look at the authors web site. The extra material around these books is extraordinary.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

People only ever saw what they expected, rarely what was actually there.

So funny thing is that I recommended this book to my cousin a while back, before I even read it, because someone told me it was great for Throne of Glass fans, and she definitely is one. Whereas I have yet to read that series.

Well, as expected she loved it and told me it was great because the heroine is awesome, and basically a total bad-ass. Now everyone knows I love a strong-willed, kick-ass heroine, so naturally, I decided to start this on a whim.

But dang, I did not expect to enjoy it so much. It was awesome. Cverah and Ari are both amazing. Florence is alright as well, and definitely, helps mellow and calm the other two down. Which is amusing given that she is the youngest.

As the synopsis states, this story follows Ari, Cverah and Florence on their quest to deliver Cverah to the alchemist guild in the hopes of turning the tide in the efforts to usurp the dragon king. But trust me when I say nothing is as straightforward as it seems.

The story is definitely an action-packed adventure, with plenty of twists and turns. It was such an entertaining ride.

The Relationships
Ari's feelings towards Cverah for most of the book

Her feelings by the end


Cverah towards Ari for most of the book

Cverah by the end


Florence towards Ari

For Florence, Ari is her savior, her mentor, and her friend. She clearly adores Ari and has the uttermost respect for her. And Ari loves her in turn, she always looks out for Flor and wants what is best for her. Heck, Ari wants to help create a better world for her.
Florence and Cverah

Unlike Ari, Florence seemed to take a liking to Cverah from the start. She recognized that he was not like other dragons, and she never condemned him for the sins of his race. For Cverah's part, he genuinely cared for Florence and saw her as a friend. Even doing something most dragons, perhaps no dragon, would ever do for Fenri.

The trio had an overall great dynamic. Which made the story fun and interesting, even in the calmer moments when everything wasn’t going up in flames.

Final verdict: It was great, and I would recommend it to any of my friends. Honestly, I am even buying myself a hardcopy after reading it on Kindle.

[Lonna | FLYLēF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Post: The Alchemists of Loom at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com) with 3.5 of 5

ELISE KOVA HAS been on my must-read radar for as long as I can remember. When the opportunity came to read her newest release, The Alchemists of Loom, well, you needn’t ask twice. This first installment in the Loom Saga series was an obsessive, mind-opening wonder of violence and beauty—a nearly constant propulsion for which I could not stop reading.

The Alchemists of Loom is a unique and imaginative high fantasy that illustrates the antithesis of a divided world. Loom is a terrestrial world blanketed by shades of grey, where humanoids prize empirical data and invention. Contrastly, Nova is the city above the God’s Line (clouds) radiating with vibrant colors, where dragon-like beings prize magic and might. The world-building was thorough, but it was never overwhelming. I enjoyed that Ms. Kova eases readers into this high fantasy gently through storytelling, as opposed to an info-dump, allowing readers to paint their own landscape.

Though the world-building excelled, the main character’s development initial fell short. Ari or “White Wraith”, had a character arc that started off rather flat, portraying only a narrow breadth of personality limited largely to cynicism and vengeance. And that, to me, was unacceptable. Even though I felt that there were a lot more layers beneath the anger, I was left to discern what they are with a lot of patience and understanding. Through her interactions with Florence, her sweet apprentice, and Cvareh, a mysterious Dragon of Nova, both of whom are fascinating characters unto themselves, that I was able to penetrate through Ari’s veil of vengeance to one of vision.

I enjoyed the fast-paced story, which I think worked so well for me because it didn’t allow me to linger too long on what I didn’t like—the violent “consumption” of power, the unsettling bloodlust and brutality—and before these concerns could cast too long a shadow over my reading experience, Ms. Kova quickly ushers me along with brilliant twists, hidden character motives, and even an unexpected romance formed between enemies, that left me reeling for more.

Despite some reservations, Elise Kova’s The Alchemists of Loom is cleverly plotted and perfectly paced. I would gladly follow Ari and Cvareh back into the horrid depths of Loom’s underground, or soar into the beautiful heights of Nova, to be with them again in The Dragons of Nova (Loom Saga 2).

{Thank you to the author or publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review.}

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

EDIT: THE MC IS PANSEXUAL EVERYONE. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE AUTHOR.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH. This is one of my favourite reads of the year!

can I just say that this series is so underrated??? The author published the entire trilogy in a YEAR and she deserves a lot more recognition for that!!! I can't believe she created this clever and unique world in such a short period of time. UGH, HER MIND!

Also, it has dragons, alchemy, LOTS of action, HATE TO LOVE (my fav) and the MC is pansexual (!!!) SO WHY ISN'T EVERBODY HYPING IT UP?????

The Alchemists of Loom is a steampunk novel about Arianna who is a criminal called The White Wraith and she's most known for dealing with valuable dragon organs because she hates dragons with a PASSION. Like full on I-will-kill-you-on-sight hate. (spoiler alert: guess who ends up going on a long ass journey with a dragon?? there's lots of tension and "i'm gonna kill you" threats but y'all know how these hate-to-love stories end right??)

Anywho, she meets Cvareh the dragon and he offers her a boon that she can't refuse. They are joined by Arianna's pupil Florence and the trio go on a long and adventurous journey to the Alchemist’s Guild.

by the way, the dragons in this book are not actual creatures like the ones you see in Game of Thrones, but they have a human form and lots of different magical powers/abilites in their organs (which is why they're often traded) which makes them a dragon!

Arianna is pansexual (it's never explicitly mentioned but the author confirmed it!) and SUPER BADASS. The book starts off with Arianna on a mission to break into a building, but she gets caught and CHASED and it's so intense. Ari is like a mastermind so she calculates her escape down to a T and it's so FASCINATING.

The story is told from multiple POVs which used to be something I didn't enjoy, but now I love it! We see the story from Ari, Cvareh and Florence's perspectives and I loved getting an insight into each of their minds because they're so different from each other!

Also, Florence is such a smol bean and so naive and ADORABLE. Ari hates dragons but she had to bring Cvareh to her house (where she lives with Florence), and Ari kept telling her that "dragons can't be trusted! be careful! we I hate dragons remember?!" Ari leaves the room and literally the minute she's gone and Florence and Cvareh are left alone, Flor is like "Hey wassup, want a cookie??" while munching on her own biscuit DJFKDJGH RELATABLE.

The book doesn’t really end on a cliffhanger but it definitely leaves you wanting more and it made me want to read on IMMEDIATELY. I will definitely be reading more from Elise Kova because her writing is amazing and she creates such realistic worlds and likeable characters and I’m just in awe! Kudos to her!

Full review is now up on my blog: https://toomuchofabooknerd.wordpress.... :)

[Danielle Jensen]

I was lucky to be given the opportunity to blurb this novel, which meant I got to read it before pretty much anyone else! This is what I had to say:

"A heart-stopping adventure! Elise Kova reaches new heights with this fast-paced triumph of steampunk, fantasy, and a touch of romance. The Alchemists of Loom is a must-read!"

[Brithanie Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐





Favorite Quotes:

"People only ever saw what they expected, rarely what was actually there."

"Adulthood just meant finding the variety of crazy that resonated the most with you and doing it until you died or it killed you — whichever came first."

"Arrogance and confidence are not the same, but both will get you killed."

"Dont let the shadows of the past smother the possibility for a bright future."

Pros:

-Multiple p.o.v's in books are either a hit or miss for me, and this one was definitely a hit!

-Arianna, Florence, and Cvareh are all precious souls, and I love each and every one of them! 💗

-There was quite a bit of action in this one, and I looked forward to picking it back up again after I had stepped away from it for a bit!


Cons:

-While I enjoyed the multiple p.o.v's, I didn't love ALL of them, which, is to be expected, but I found myself skimming the ONE p.o.v that I wasn't a fan of, and- I really wish I hadn't felt the need to do so!

Final Thoughts/Comments:

I will definitely be continuing on with this series at some point in the near future! This was such a great start to, what I'm hoping will be, another much loved series of mine! 💗 😊

[Romie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a freaking disappointment.
I’ve read rave reviews about this books - 5 stars reviews! - and I don’t understand why . . . ?

This is a painfully basic and typical YA - though I heard it’s actually adult, like how? - Fantasy book. We have two species, the Dragons and the Fenthri, the latter being enslaved by the former.
Of course, you have a girl - Arianna - from the enslaved specie sold to you as the best fighter there is, killing Dragon after Dragon, speaking revenge . . . and she meets this high born Dragon - Cvareh - with whom she ends up going on a sort-of quest. Let’s not forget the sudden physical/sexual attraction between these two . . . how surprising.

It wasn’t bad, per say, I was just expecting something amazing, and felt like it lack something.

Arianna is someone I actually really like, yes she’s a badass but not just in name, she’s really super skilled. She’s not bragging about being powerful, she just is, and she’ll use her skills to protect her planet from the people who enslaved hers.
She’s quite a mysterious character, because you really don’t know much about her past, you don’t know who she was before she became the White Wraith. You simply know she lost the woman she loved, and that she hates Dragons, that’s all. And the more you start knowing about her, the more your respect for her grows.

Florence, Arianna’s student, is probably my favourite character - I not so secretly ship her with Ari. You know she went through a lot - and you actually discover what happened to her near the middle of the story - and you see how this little woman is fighting her way in this harsh world. Even though she saw the worst in both Dragons and Fenthri, she can’t help but be a true optimist and see the best in people.
She’s talented, learning every day, and fight for what’s good in the world, even if it means being in danger.

Cvareh is fighting against his current King, he’s fighting for his family to overthrow him and create a new regime, fair for both Dragons and Fenthri.
Okay let’s be honest, Cva is the allocishet white dude who is always like ‘But I’m not privileged, I don’t know what you mean, growing up being me was hard’ but he was actually getting better page after page, so that’s good.
He’s extremely loyal to his family/friends, more than once I was glad he was there for Flor - because the kid knows how to find trouble.

I’m going to be honest with you guys, I don’t know if I’ll read the second book. The truth is, this book didn’t grab my attention, and I’m not even that interest in seeing what comes next.

2.75

[Petra Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique, brutal. That's all I'm gonna say.

[Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm leaning more towards a 3.5/5 right now I think, just because I liked the ending. It wasn't as good as I hoped it would be but I didn't not enjoy it. I hated most of the Dragon characters. Actually, the only character I really liked was Florence. I didn't really care either way about Cvareh or Arianna until near the end, so I'm hoping the next book picks up right from there. The worldbuilding wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, but again, I'm hoping the next book makes up for it. I was mostly confused the whole time by the world and the magic which is why 3.5 is the highest I'm going. What annoyed me most though was how sloppy some of the formatting was. The indents were so far into the page that it looked ridiculous. The chapters always started on the right page, sometimes leaving a blank left page, which is common enough, but it happened where the heading and page number was carried over on to the blank page at least once that I can remember. Little things like that make it seem like the book was rushed. I know I'm nitpicking, but it annoyed the hell out of me. All that aside, however, I'm looking forward to the next one.

[V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards]

******GIVEAWAY ALERT ************

ATTENTION AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS, Elise Kova include Australia and every country in the world in her giveaway.

Don't miss your chance to enter.

THANK YOU THANK YOU.

[Scrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This Dragon and she had embarked on an odd journey with each other. It was a winding path that had taken them across Loom, and what she thought was to be their final destination had turned out to be a resting point before the next, greater trek."

TAOL was fantastic! Kova gave us a rich new world full of history, a unique culture and races, and complex characters. Initially I was just stoked for another Elise Kova book, then I saw dragon, then I saw the cover art by Nick Grey). It was one of my 2017 most anticipated and it did not let me down. The story follows Ari a chimera, both fenthri & dragon, as she helps a dragon, Cvareh, on his mission to meet with the Alchemists guild of Loom. They have help from their friends, and with their combined skills they make their way across Loom with defeat around every corner.

Loom is the dreary world bellow the clouds, made of different guilds of Fenthri with different professions/skills. Nova is the colorful world above the clouds where the Dragons live. These are not your normal dragons, they are human like, but with retractable deadly claws, pointed ears that have exceptional hearing, and brilliant eyes that see better than any of Fenthri could imagine. Their worlds are drastically different in more than just the colors of the skin and the flatness or sharpness of their teeth. Their cultures and social understanding show how much they come from different worlds. Hitting the ground running, almost quite literally, Kova starts the story from Ari's point of view in one of her many missions that are against the Dragons. The world is not dumped on you, but you are slowly wrapped into it as you learn about where these characters are and the history that has morphed their personalities.

Ari is such a complex character. She always has another card up her sleeve, and even by the end, I felt that I was just barely getting to know this vicious character. I loved reading about all her special skills and general badassness. Especially the action sequences that had her propelling herself with her gold cords.



Cvareh was a much more open character as he didn't seem to be hiding as much as Ari. I loved their interactions and how much they played off each other. They are both so strong willed that I am amazed that they even learn to be civil towards each other, especially with Ari's seething hatred for Dragons. Their duo would not have lasted long if it wasn't for Florence who helped buffer the awkwardness and overall atmosphere that hovered between the two. Florence also added a little zing to the equation. I imagined her as a little gnome like the ones in WoW to be honest.

I loved how different the characters the races are. We weren't given typical humans or elves or whatever. We were given humanoids. The Fenthri are monochromatic in color and are classified to their guild and status by tattoos on their cheeks. The Dragons are brilliant in colors for skin, show off their muscular bodies, and even bleed gold. And then we have the Chimera, like Ari, who are Fenthri with stolen Dragon parts. Like how freaking awesome is this??!

The back of the book had a handy reference section that I checked frequently. Listing pronunciation, Dragon houses/social ranking, guild brands. My only problem with the book was just how I had to figure out what the purpose was for the guilds. It wasn't until the end that I was entirely sure about each specialty. I sort of wished it was just a little bit more spelled out rather than just guessing based on context.

Because the world building is slowly given throughout the story, there really isn't a dull moment where you are just reading descriptions of the land or about the culture. The pacing of the book is non stop action that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worlds of Loom and Nova may be within touching distance but they couldn't be more different. The fenthri, who make their home on Loom, are a society of workers who are always striving to learn and create new technology. Their people are split into five different guilds, each with a different speciality, but the guilds always used to work together and people were free to choose their own paths, that is until the dragons from Nova came down from the skies and took control. Now the guild structure has become more rigid, you are born into you guild and if you fail to pass the tests to qualify then you will die, no second chances and no other options. The dragons are much stronger and more powerful than the fenthri but they rely on their magic to get things done so they've never really focused their energy on creating or building. If it wasn't for the fenthri the dragons wouldn't even have the ability to reach Loom but once they arrived they were quick to use their superior strength to take over, the guilds are strictly regulated and they must follow orders sent by the king of the dragons or they will be destroyed.

Ari is old enough to remember a time before the dragon king's rule, she lost everything when the Guild's resistance failed and now she's made it her life's mission to do whatever she can to disrupt the dragons. Ari is a totally kickass character, she's more powerful than most fenthri (for reasons I won't go into here) and she's a skilled fighter as well as a master at creating weapons and explosives. Known only as the White Wraith Ari will take any job as long as it disrupts dragon plans and she thrives on causing them as many problems as possible. It is when she's on one of these jobs that her path crosses with Cvareh and her immediate instincts when confronted with a dragon is to kill him and harvest his organs. Cvareh is on an important mission of his own though and he offers her a boon (a powerful magical promise) if she will help him reach the alchemists guild. The last thing Ari wants is to work with a dragon, she knows from experience they can't be trusted, but the boon could be her one big chance to cause major damage to the dragon king so she reluctantly agrees.

The Alchemists of Loom does kind of throw readers into the deep end, Elise Kova has created a complex world that it takes time to get to grips with but it's well worth the effort and I loved the way the story dives straight into the action. It's clear from the very beginning that Ari is a fierce warrior bent on revenge against the dragons who subjugate her people, she's quite a prickly character who is wary of strangers and has very little interest in making friends because she is so focused on destroying the dragons. At the same time she is also intensely protective of her young assistant and protege Florence and that makes it easier to like her. Flor is the only one who brings out Ari's softer side and I loved the sisterly relationship between the two of them. It's obvious that Flor hero worships Ari and wants to be just like her but because she's not suffered the same things as Ari she is more open and far less jaded. She's fiercely intelligent and almost as skilled as Ari at creating weapons but she's also the one who brings a bit of lightness to the series and I just loved her character.

Cvareh is the youngest son of House Xin, the least powerful of the dragon families on Nova. His older sister has a lot of ambition though and she has sent Cvareh on a mission to Loom to secure an alliance with the alchemists guild against the dragon king. He is fiercely loyal to his sister and his family but he looks down on the fenthri and definitely doesn't consider Ari and Flor his equals. It took a while for me to warm up to Cvareh as he could be a little cold and distant but both he and Ari learn and grow a lot on their journey so it becomes much easier to root for them both as individuals and as a potential couple. There is a lot going on with this story, not only the gradual introduction of the incredible world that the author has created but also learning more about Ari's background and the secret mission Cvareh is on. There are some quite dark parts to the world (as you might have guessed when Ari considered harvesting Cvareh's organs the first time they met!) but there are more lighthearted moments too and there are some brilliant friendships and strong bonds too.

This was my first book by Elise Kova but it definitely won't be the last, I can't wait to pick up the sequel The Dragons of Nova and explore the dragon's home and I'm definitely going to be checking out her Air Awakens series too!

_______________

7th May 2017 FYI this book is only 99p on Amazon kindle today! No idea how long that offer will last but who can resist that bargain?

[Hailee (haibooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Truthfully, I was nervous to start this new series. I adored Kova’s Air Awakens series and there’s always fear that a new series won’t live up to the old. Well, I am pleased to report that The Alchemists of Loom is an excellent step into a brand new world!

World-building is always something Kova has been great at, and she doesn’t disappoint here! The world she’s built, with the three different races and prejudices and secret societies, is a fascinating one! I thought the combination of fantasy and steampunk was fascinating! Thank goodness for that appendix – I for sure referenced it on the regular.

A couple of things that threw me off:
One, we know almost nothing of Ari’s past. I mean, we get the broad strokes. We know something horrible happened to her and the woman she loved. But WHAT. We all know that our pasts influence our decisions, and I want to know what it was that made Ari immerse herself so fully in logic.
Two, the romance element threw me off a bit. Not Ari’s bisexuality, but I felt almost like the author was baiting us. Half the time I thought she was in love with Florence, and the other half I thought she had a thing for Cvareh. I just had not one idea what was going on.

The thing I’m hoping for the most in the second book is more answers! I want to know more about what life was like before the Dragon King, I want to better understand the Guilds, and I want more of Ari’s past!

[V ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is freaking AMAZING.It's EPIC.

And I was this close to screaming my head off when it ended.




When I was starting Alchemists of Loom,I had no idea what I was getting myself into.I read the blurb and the words "notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market" caught my eye.Those words screamed that this was my kind of book.I knew I just had to start my year with this book.And now I can honestly say that 2017 started with a bang.

What is this about?

This book tells the story of two kingdoms: Loom and Nova.Loom is where the Fenthri live under the rule of Dragon King and Nova is where the dragons live in the sky.The Dragons and Fenthri hate each other.The Loom has people which belong to either of the five guilds: Harvesters,Alchemists,Ravens,Revolvers and the Rivets.

Arianna (known as Ari) is a master Rivet who is a organ thief (see why I loved this book :) ).Cvareh is a dragon who wants to see his sister usurp the Dragon King.Their journey to the Alchemists Guild along with Florence (Ari's pupil) gives us this fabulous book.

Elise Kova writes a beautiful world in this book.This is a steampunk novel so I was excited to see how she would represent the world.This novel has airships and weapons that would make you drool to be honest (atleast they were appealing to me).

The story is told in four different pint of views(Arianna,Cvareh,Florence and Leona) and you can see the contrast so easily.I personally loved Arianna and Florence's chapters.They were so different from each other.



(Images from author's pinterest)

CHARACTERS:

Arianna:The White Wraith.My favorite character in the book was probably Ari.I loved her so much.Finally I met a heroine who wasn't gorgeous by default.Ari is describes as dull with white hair and purple eyes.She isn't always right and she makes mistakes which was refreshing to read.She is passionate about the old Loom(which wasn't ruled by dragons) and the way she was with Florence just made me read about her more.I loved her with the daggers too. <3 <3



Cvareh: Every time he insisted to be called by his full name,I laughed out loud.Cvareh isn't one of those all powerful alpha heroes.He loves his sister and respects his Dragon House Xin (too much,if you ask me).The friendship he develops with Florence was good to watch.Even when Ari didn't support him,Florence did.You can see him grow up,I mean he was a stuck-up at first (no offence,Cvareh) but then he gets used to the guns and has sassy retorts at hand.But that scene where he...




Florence: This girl is so kind,sweet and total opposite of Ari.She is like a baby sister to Ari and the level headed one to Ari's temper.She balanced the story perfectly in my opinion though to avoid too much violence (I know,I can't believe I am saying it).



Leona:This lady is one crazy bitch TBH.I mean I get that she is the King's Rider so her loyalty is to the King but she takes it to extremes.I just wanted to skip her chapters (I didn't,though).



At times,I was like "NO WAY" this is not happening.I was rooting for each and every one of them (except Leona).

You guys have to read Alchemists of Loom.If you love a fantasy packed with action and beautiful writing,this book is for you.

*ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review

[Maggie ☘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Don’t let the shadows of the past smother the possibility for a bright future.”

While Elisa Kova's writing style definitely got better since her Air Awakens series, I didn't love this one quite as much.

There's brash, kick ass, admirable heroine - Also, yay! for the fact that for once she's not 17, but 22. I also really liked the fact that, while there were hints at f/m romance in this book, the MC identifies herself as bisexual.
As for the romance, I wasn't really connected to it, what little there was of it in this book, but I do think the romance has potential for the sequels.
The story is written in third person, in multiple POVs. The writing style is one of the things I loved more in this book than in Air Awakens.
All in all, while I found most of the characters likeable - especially the hard ass heroine - I couldn't really connect to them just yet.

The world buidling: it's really strange. After finishing this story, I'm still on the fence about some parts of it. The plotline throws you right in and doesn't explain much of the world surrounding the characters at first. There's many terms, different races, places etc to get used to. It's a mesh up of fantasy, steampunk and something akin to dystopia. It really is strange, and while I think it's something different and I like how imaginatively created the two worlds (Loom and Nova) are, I still don't know how to feel about it. For me, the world buidling may have been a little bit overdone, with not enough time to introduce readers to everything.
As for the storyline, very large part of the book is traveling to a ceratin destination.
Going to try out the sequel.

“Adulthood just meant finding the variety of crazy that resonated the most with you and doing it until you died or it killed you—whichever came first.”

[Katrin D · Rating 4 out of 5]

2.09.2016: Yes! I got an ARC :) Will be reading it right after I finish "Passanger"! Fingers crossed it is as awesome as it sounds!

28.08.2016: Oh my, I saw this book is finally available on NetGalley and I'm so excited - lets just hope they approve me! The synopsis is so good, I really can't wait to read it!

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has been reviewing Elise Kova’s novels and telling me how wonderful they are. And yet, despite having so many people recommend her novels, I never decided to pick on up for myself. When I saw the opportunity to be on this blog tour, I knew I just needed to go for it and see where things ended up. I was not disappointed in the slightest.

First of all, I am going to say that the first thing which hit me was the world building and fantasy elements. Unlike many of the books that I’ve read, the author didn’t need to explain the unique characteristics of the world. Somehow, as I read the story they explained themselves so I completely understood, without Kova deviating from the story to make sure the reader got it. On top of that, I never felt confused at any point. I inferred all the knowledge I needed to know about the two very different worlds we get here, and how they worked and what the Dragons and Fenthri of particular guilds could do. It was amazing, astonishing and as I was reading, I quickly fell in love with both worlds. They were both very detailed and well developed. Kova certainly knows how to build a world of her own.

There are some steampunk elements in this fantasy novel as well. I think steampunk is a pretty small and new genre which needs more love, so I was happy to see it receiving some here.


Then we have the main characters. I really, really loved Cvareh. Sure, he had his own motivations, but he went into a world where everyone hated him for being of the race he was, and then had to humble himself to be able to simply debate with them. Everyone always assumed the worst about him when they first saw him, and I think he had incredible patience. As well as that, he was a Dragon. When I say dragon, don’t imagine dragons like the huge flying beasts in The Lord of the Rings. Kova gives her own meaning to the word. But yes, I loved Cvareh, and how patient, dedicated and yet smart he was. Even with his flaws.

Arianna is a hot-headed kind of character who is very confident and also very stand-offish. She doesn’t want to get too close to anyone because of her past. Her past is slowly revealed to us because memories and situations are being triggered in the novel which remind her of back then. I liked her sarcasm a lot, and her wit. She wasn’t the character I was able to connect most with, but I still liked her a lot.


The last character I’m going to give a detailed mention is Florence. Florence is Arianna’s assistant, and probably the most calm of the trio. She’s dedicated, creative, and like a budding flower that is ready to fly. You get to see her develop a lot in the novel.

There aren’t too many secondary characters, but this novel didn’t really need many? If they were there for a brief period, we get a bit of insight in their lives. Enough to make the reader feel as if they know them. There are also the three main point of views. But we switch to one or two others in the novel as well. It wasn’t too many, but I have to admit I wasn’t amazingly interested in Leona’s point of view.


The plot was great and fast paced. There was always something happening to keep me entertained. I also liked the hints at romance and the intensity between the two love interests. There is a whole lot of it, because they shouldn’t be together when it comes to “class” and so on, so it was really interesting to see them develop from enemies into people who may even like each other. Imbibing (borrowing each other’s magic) also came into play here, and it was such an interesting concept. Almost like vampirism, but then with magic – and a whole lot more intense.

It was SO addicting. I read even in a week where I had a lot of deadlines I needed to meet. Now I am gonna have to be a good little bookworm and wait until April 2017 to get more of this brilliant story ;.;

Gif Summary:
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...