Alchemists of Loom [Book Review & Giveaway]

Hello there!

Title: The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1)

Author: Elise Kova

Publisher: Keymaster Press

Published Date: 10^th January 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

*Thank you to the XpressoBook Tours for the review copy*

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Synopsis: 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.

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Review: 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 ;.;

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Gif Summary: 

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Giveaway: Enter to win: 

• 1 Signed Hardcover of the Alchemists of Loom
• 3 Hardcover Preorders of The Alchemists of Loom (Available through TBD)
• 5 Swag Packs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Links: Goodreads and Amazon!

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