Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Alchemists of Loom

(Loom Saga #1)

Elise Kova (Goodreads Author)

3.98 · Rating details · 5,262 ratings · 904 reviews

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 ta ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $6.99

Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published August 13th 2017 by Keymaster Press (first published January 10th 2017)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Alchemists of Loom, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.98 ·

Rating details

· 5,262 ratings · 904 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga, #1)

Jan 10, 2018 chai ♡ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to chai ♡ by: Scrill

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2018, lgbtq-pan, lgbtq-rep, fiction, ya-sff

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 lover ...more

flag 225 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2016 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi, romance, magic, arc, young-adult, lgbtqiap, steampunk, read-in-2016, dragons

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 hav ...more

flag 184 likes · Like · see review

Jan 10, 2017 Elise Kova added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

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 abou ...more

flag 162 likes · Like · see review

Jan 15, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-own, fantasy-all, sci-fi, young-adult

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 wo ...more

flag 141 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2017 Ben Alderson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

flag 85 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2016 Rachel E. Carter added it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-friends-do-not-rate-books

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.

description

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. T ...more

flag 75 likes · Like · see review

Dec 24, 2016 Brittney ~ Reverie and Ink rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-i-ve-reviewed, steampunk-ish

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 ...more

flag 42 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2016 Minni Mouse rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: special-powers, 2016, romance-free, young-adult-fantasy, stars-2, arc, book-chemistry-fail, action, dragons, skimmed-because-so-confused

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 dumpi 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! ...more

flag 35 likes · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2016 Silvia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: multiple-povs, rep-pan, ya-fantasy, steampunk, dragons, fantasy, high-fantasy, arc, ya, sent-for-review

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 fo ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2016 Lindsay Cummings rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2016 Laura Thalassa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 jus ...more

flag 37 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2018 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

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

flag 32 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2017 Cindy ✩☽♔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: otps-feels, kick-ass-heroines, fantasy

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 de ...more

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2016 Danielle Jensen added it · review of another edition

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!" ...more

flag 29 likes · Like · see review

Sep 11, 2016 Chelsies Reading Escape rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, queer-books, 2017-releases

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 cr 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* ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2016 Lonna | FLYLēF rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, 2016-challenge

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.} ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

May 31, 2017 Jackie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

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' ...more

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2017 Lindsay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 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. ...more

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2018 ✨Brithanie Faith✨ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

description

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 defin ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2017 Romie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: buddy-read, new-adult, fantasy, queer-books, bi-mc

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 h 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 ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2017 Petra Cross rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, ebooks, fantasy, kindle-unlimited, new-adult

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

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2017 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 added it · review of another edition

******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. ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2017 Scrill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, romance, xeno, favorites, ya

"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 "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. ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

May 15, 2018 Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked) rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 mos ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

May 07, 2017 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017, books-i-own-kindle

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 struct 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? ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2016 Hailee (haibooklovers) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, blog-reviews

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 ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2016 Katrin D rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2016

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! ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2017 Dia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: badass-characters, favorites, best-ships, best-of-2017

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 bo ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2016 Dani (Dani Reviews Things & Love in a time of Feminism) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, bamf, arc, family-love, royalty, fantasy, friendship, read-2016, kindle-copy, lol

NOTE: This is not a YA book. Yes, Kova's other series is YA, but she has said over and over that it is Adult and not YA. Y'all can stop writing "this doesn't read like a YA" in your reviews because it's not meant to be. X'D

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5 stars

My review in one sentence: My love for Elise Kova continues.

No, seriously. I loved the Air Awakens series so much, for both its own merit and what it brought into my life (amazing ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2017 Maggie ☘ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: high-fantasy, kick-ass-heroines, magic, intriguing-world-building

“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 lit ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
SciFi and Fantasy...: "The Alchemists of Loom" by Elise Kova (BR)	46	35	Aug 09, 2019 03:05PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Loom Saga by Elise Kova - Starting November 28th 2017	19	24	Dec 27, 2017 03:58AM
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Alchemists of Loom By Elise Kova - Starting March 15th 2017	6	14	Mar 18, 2017 11:34AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

840 users

Science Fiction > Steampunk

207 users

Young Adult

163 users

Fantasy > Dragons

105 users

Fantasy > Magic

88 users

New Adult

77 users

Fiction

69 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

62 users

Science Fiction

60 users

Fantasy > High Fantasy

55 users

See top shelves…

About Elise Kova

Elise Kova

6,603 followers

Elise Kova is a USA Today bestselling author. In her past lives, she has graduated from an MBA program, lived in Japan for a bit, and worked for a Fortune 500 technology company. However, she finds herself much happier in her current reincarnation as full-time author. When not writing, she can usually be found playing video games, drawing, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. S ...more

Other books in the series

Loom Saga (3 books)

Books by Elise Kova

A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic, #1)

More…

Jeff VanderMeer's Climate Fiction Reading List

Bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer is perhaps best known for his creepy sci-fi thriller Annihilation, which was made into a movie and kicked...

Trivia About The Alchemists of...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Alchemists of...

“Don’t let the shadows of the past smother the possibility for a bright future.” It” — 5 likes

“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. “Where” — 3 likes

More quotes…