Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: Alchemy Ever After
AUTHOR: Raine O’Tierney and Siôn O’Tierney
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 56 pages
BLURB:
The city of New Alexandria is filled with powerful magicians-in-training and mechanical follies, the world’s largest library, and marvels beyond compare. The allure of this modern metropolis draws young people from all over the world, but Idrian has come instead for the opportunity to learn the new art of alchemy.
He’s been taken as an apprentice by Maketh, a scholar experimenting with new ways to combine technology and the ancient mystic arts. Together they’ve animated a living ice sculpture. Idrian cannot wait to unveil the sculpture alongside the other wonders at the annual Spring Festival.
After witnessing his master in a passionate embrace with another student, Idrian’s mind drifts to things beyond alchemy. And when a warm touch accidentally awakens the consciousness within the living sculpture, Idrian learns firsthand about physicality and the magic of passion.
REVIEW:
Idrian, an apprentice to the alchemist Maketh, knows that he shouldn’t be touching his master’s latest creation. But with his master’s lover in town, and Idrian in need of a quick exit from their shared home, he finds himself in one of Maketh’s laboratories, and tempted to look further at the animated living ice sculpture they have constructed for the Spring Festival. But when Idrian accidentally brushes against the construct of ice, magic, and borrowed soul, Idrian sets in motion a chain of events that could very well change his and many other lives.
Huh. Yeah…not so sure about this one.
On one hand, I really loved the world created here. I was never quite sure if it was fantasy or based off of the historical Alexandria, but either way I found the mix of magic and technology very interesting. And I really liked Idrian. He was a great character and I wish this had been longer and we had gotten the chance to learn more about him and his life before and during his apprenticeship.
I’m not quite sure if there is another book in this series, but it sure does read that way. I kept thinking I was missing something, because the way that Maketh and his lover interact feels like the reader should already know their backstory and how they fell for each other. I’ll have to check and see, because they were two characters that I really would like to know more about and maybe with a bit more knowledge about them, what they did would make more sense.
The way they acted though, did give me issues. I guess I didn’t understand why they thought basically telling Idrian that he would be expected to have sex for Science! was acceptable. And the way Maketh’s lover seemed to just shrug off, or outright joke, about what was done to Idrian–or was purposed that he do–just because someone dared to interrupt his week of shagging, was a little off-putting.
Which leads me to the whole first sex scene. Yeah, that was dubiously consented at best, and it set an odd tone for the rest of the story, because after that point I really did want Idrian to just leave. Every excuse made by everyone else after that point seemed rather shallow or flippant, and it was only when Idrian was with his sister that I had hope that maybe he had other options. The ending did help round out some of the edges, but by that time I was rather irritated by the characters and was just happy to see it end.
So, you can see my problem. Great world, really interesting MC…but the other characters, for the most part, kinda got on my nerves. I don’t regret reading it, and if I find another story in this series I will probably read it, but I’m not sure if I’ll read this one again. At least for a while.
RATING: 
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