The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga, #1)

by Elise Kova

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I won't lie, I was nervous. Because I held Elise's previous works in such high regard (and was still kind of hung up on my Vhalla and Aldrik feels, let's be real), I didn't know how I'd take to a whole new world. And it is new, guys. This isn't like anything I have ever read before. Ever. The amount of imagination and world building in this book is incredible.

And at first, it scared me and even overwhelmed me. This world is complex. These characters are complex. It is a world unto itself, not our human world, not even close. And my imagination is... well, it's certainly not great. So I think it took me some time to acclimate to everything that was going on. I think this won't even be a problem for a lot of fantasy readers, but it is absolutely very high fantasy, so be prepared going in.

But eventually, as I started to familiarize myself with the world and the different aspects of the characters lives, I became quite invested. The characters... well, they are not the warm fuzzy type. They are looking out for their own agendas, and they all have shady background stories- and frankly, spend quite a bit of time in the present engaging in underhanded activities. Ari, Cvareh, and Florence are all quite different in personality, and I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other, and I certainly loved watching their characters develop. While in the beginning I had a bit of difficulty connecting to them (except Florence, I kind of adored her from the start), I did eventually grow to care for them all- and care for what would befall them on their journey, too.

I also liked that as the book went on, I began to feel more comfortable in the world, and started to get a better picture and understanding of it. There are still lots of secrets to be revealed, I am sure, but by the end I felt more at home in this masterfully created setting. I also felt quite happy that it was fictional, because I don't think I would last two seconds in this world. It is cutthroat and not a happy or peaceful place. But the author does such a remarkable job of setting up the atmosphere, that it works perfectly. You can feel the sense of unease in this world, and why the characters will go to the lengths they do.

Bottom Line: I won't go into much more detail (because you should probably just read the plot yourself hah) but it was definitely a fast paced book with lots of action, and an abundance of imaginative settings and characters. While I did have a bit of trouble at the start wrapping my head around the complex world and rules, it was still most certainly worth it!

Will I read the next book: Of course!
3.5*

**Copy provided for review