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The Amber Garden
(The Alchemists' Council #3)
by
The stunning and beautifully crafted conclusion to The Alchemists’ Council series
In Book Three of The Alchemists’ Council trilogy, eternal conflicts between the Council and Rebel Branch escalate. Secrets about time-travel manipulation are revealed, uncomfortable truths about alchemical children are discovered, and Council dimension itself begins to disintegrate. Amidst thi ...more
In Book Three of The Alchemists’ Council trilogy, eternal conflicts between the Council and Rebel Branch escalate. Secrets about time-travel manipulation are revealed, uncomfortable truths about alchemical children are discovered, and Council dimension itself begins to disintegrate. Amidst thi ...more
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To begin, I would like to thank Cynthea and ARC for the advance reading copy, I am humbled to have the opportunity to experience it before its official release.
It's not always easy to sum up such a complex book in a compelling and rich series. The story moves at a smooth pace, gliding from one event to the next in a way that made it difficult to put down; I certainly had a few late nights sitting in bed, nose in my book and my accompanying cup of tea going cold from neglect.
For anyone who has r ...more
It's not always easy to sum up such a complex book in a compelling and rich series. The story moves at a smooth pace, gliding from one event to the next in a way that made it difficult to put down; I certainly had a few late nights sitting in bed, nose in my book and my accompanying cup of tea going cold from neglect.
For anyone who has r ...more
What. A. Ride! It's times like this that I'm grateful I didn't come to this series until it was complete (although... is it?). I don't know what I would have done if I had to wait in between books (besides the obvious wait patiently🙄).
In response to reviews that make it sound too complex: I mean, yes, I got a little lost here and there but that only built my anticipation and satiated my desire to be dropped into other complex worlds (that may or may not exist irl...? I find myself pondering thi ...more
In response to reviews that make it sound too complex: I mean, yes, I got a little lost here and there but that only built my anticipation and satiated my desire to be dropped into other complex worlds (that may or may not exist irl...? I find myself pondering thi ...more
First of all, my thanks to the author of this excellent trilogy, Cynthea, for including me in the lucky few who received an ARC - though I feel I didn't deserve it as it took me longer to read the final book than the timeframe between getting the ARC and the actual final book coming out! (I am a slow reader). In any case, thus book provides a satisfying end (?) to the story of the Alchemists' Council and the Rebels, going into detail about past events that effect the present and future of the ch
...more
I was lucky to have received an advanced copy of The Amber Garden, the third and final novel in The Alchemist’s Council trilogy.
It is intricately plotted, taking the reader from events in the distant past of the Council (some of which we have seen before) and giving us more detail about the suspect motivations of the ancient Magen, to the beginning of the fourth rebellion and, finally, moving the plot slightly into the future. Many of the previous characters make appearances: Jaden, Cedar, Ge ...more
It is intricately plotted, taking the reader from events in the distant past of the Council (some of which we have seen before) and giving us more detail about the suspect motivations of the ancient Magen, to the beginning of the fourth rebellion and, finally, moving the plot slightly into the future. Many of the previous characters make appearances: Jaden, Cedar, Ge ...more
This was an interesting "end" to the trilogy that left both questions answered and new ones to contemplate. In books 1 and 2, there is a lot of action between the three dimensions, and the most pressing question is where you choose to align yourself within those dimensions. In this one, survival relies on alignments with people rather than dimensions.
This book explores a lot of the past that wasn't fully touched upon in the last two novels. Cynthea jumps between timelines and places without eve ...more
This book explores a lot of the past that wasn't fully touched upon in the last two novels. Cynthea jumps between timelines and places without eve ...more
ARC from ECW Press:
*Review of the book is my own opinion*
I think the biggest/only con is that I found the story as a whole quite convoluted at times. Adding the extra layer of seeing the story through different characters eyes helped to bring it all together, though. (The first few chapters, I wondered why we were hearing the story from the beginning again, just through someone else's viewpoint. Then it all made sense!) But the story overall is very well thought out and there are so many little ...more
*Review of the book is my own opinion*
I think the biggest/only con is that I found the story as a whole quite convoluted at times. Adding the extra layer of seeing the story through different characters eyes helped to bring it all together, though. (The first few chapters, I wondered why we were hearing the story from the beginning again, just through someone else's viewpoint. Then it all made sense!) But the story overall is very well thought out and there are so many little ...more
(Thanks again for the ARC!)
Do yourself a favor and REREAD books one and two before diving into this one!
The first third brings us from the distant past up to the present from Ravenea's point of view. I spent most of this section trying very hard to remember what had happened in the first two books to place her actions I'm context. If I had read them more recently I would have enjoyed this section more. By the second half things were making more sense and I was able to enjoy the action and the al ...more
Do yourself a favor and REREAD books one and two before diving into this one!
The first third brings us from the distant past up to the present from Ravenea's point of view. I spent most of this section trying very hard to remember what had happened in the first two books to place her actions I'm context. If I had read them more recently I would have enjoyed this section more. By the second half things were making more sense and I was able to enjoy the action and the al ...more
In this the third installment of the Alchemists' Council story we learn what followed from the uncertain truce between the Council and the Rebel Branch. As one might expect, they experience numerous unintended consequences even from the most noble of good intentions. Just when you think centuries of distrust and conflict are being finally being resolved one by one threads begin to unravel between the dimensions and timelines. Where will it all lead? I guess we'll have to wait until book 4 to fin
...more
I am trying to expand my horizons and try out new genres - this one is completely new to me and a bit outside of my comfort zone - it doesn't help that this is part 3, and the conclusion, of a series. I struggled at the beginning, and I still don't completely understand what is going on - the characters' names and genders are a complete mystery to me, as is the way the jump through time and places. But, in saying that, I am enjoying the author's phrasing and words she uses - I was tempted at var
...more
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Although I really enjoyed the series and this book, this was my least favourite of the three books. I felt like it was both rushed at times and straggled at times. I also found that the time travel (which was talked about forever in the second book as being one of the most difficult things ever) just seemed to be possible all the time all of a sudden. Finally, trying to keep the timelines and relationships straight became somewhat disjointed. I think it was good but seemed to fall apart.
Loved the third book in this trilogy. As it had been some time since reading the last book, it took a little bit of time to remember who everyone was but soon got into it. It's a really well-written book with many intricate story lines that all come together. Well worth the read but you should read the first two books first.
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As a whole, the series is between a 4-4.5 for me. Unfortunately, the epilogue left a really bad taste in my mouth on this one. I'm still giving it a 4 because overall it was pretty good... But it is hard to do so.
My suggestion for readers... If you like how the end wraps up, don't read the epilogue. ...more
My suggestion for readers... If you like how the end wraps up, don't read the epilogue. ...more
Even if I liked the storytelling and the world building I was overwhelmed by the high number of characters and found hard to connect to the story.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I love her world-building.
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Cynthea Masson is a professor in the English department at Vancouver Island University. After completing a Ph.D. in English with a focus on medieval mysticism, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship involving work with medieval alchemical manuscripts at the British Library. In addition to articles on mysticism and alchemy, many of her publications over the past decade have been in the area of tel
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The Alchemists' Council
(3 books)
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