The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga Book 1)

have seen Elise Kova's name come up a lot lately in the blogging community, but I kept on being like, "yeah, yeah, I'll get to her books one of these days" and I really didn't think I was ever going to get to her books, but that's where my audible subscription comes in handy. The first in her Loom Saga series was part of one of the audible sales, that I ended up getting it and decided to finally start it. And oh man, what a fool I was to dismiss Kova so quickly! She blew me away with the first introduction to Loom in The Alchemists of Loom!

First of all, I can't remember EVER reading a fantasy that didn't include humans into the equation. I think this is the first fantasy book I have read that centered around non-human protagonists. It made the story really unique to read. The world building in this one was really amazing, and I really got a feel for how Dragons, Fenthir and Chimera all lived together in this war-torn world. Also, this book was steampunk! I haven't read a lot steampunk, but I think Kova really weaves the two genres together almost seamlessly. When listening to this audiobook, everything about this world made sense to me. It just "worked" in the contents of the story.

This story had some great descriptions so I felt like I could "see" all the different dragon characters in this one. The descriptions were done really well, and it really made me understand this world and everything that was going on in it. It really took my imagination to some great places. The story is also really rich in the history of this world, so you get a feel for why there is so much conflict between Arianna and Cvareh. We don't really get the full story for awhile why Arianna hates dragons so much, but based on the learned history in this book it is very understandable. It was so fascinating to me to read about how the Alchemists work to create a Chimera and all the different mechanical things they create.

The narrators in this book were awesome! Erin Moon who does the narration in Arianna's point of view was really amazing and had some really great range of voices. It looks like she tends to do a lot of books about dragons, so I think it makes complete sense she did this one. Tim Campbell does the narration for when we get Cvareh's point of view. I think he was good too, but I felt like there was much more of Moon that it felt like having a different narrator just for Cvareh was unnecessary. You definitely get a feeling of his superiority in Campbell's narrator, but I felt like Moon could have just done both. Not knocking Campbell's narration at all, I just wonder why they decide certain books need to have two narrators. I will probably try to do the second book in the series on audio, because I loved this one so much. The production was really good too, which I didn't used to pay attention to that much, but I have learned from listening to some really badly produced audiobooks lately. This was not one of them!

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Arianna and her apprentice Florence. I was kind of unsure of their relationship for a little while, and I'm not sure if that really matters to the story. When Cvareh gets added to the mix it shakes up their relationship and it was really interesting to see how they changed because of it. It was also interesting to note that the Fenthir aren't heteronormative, and I am always glad to see representation in fantasy books!

This book was just something totally unexpected, but a wonderful story rich in descriptive imagery and action-driven characters. If you are looking for a fresh take on fantasy, I highly recommend this one.

Elise Kova, talented author of the elemental magic series ‘Air Awakens’ introduces us to a new world full of magic, dragons, and political intrigue. Part steampunk, part action-adventure, ‘The Loom Saga’ takes place in an extremely developed alternate world of Loom and its land-above-the-clouds, Nova. Kova has seamlessly integrated steampunk inventions with dragons, chimera, and a third new species, called Fenthri, into a clear to follow and fast-paced plot.

‘The Alchemists of Loom’ is narrated, primarily, by three main characters; Arianna (Chimera), Cvareh Xin (dragon), and Florence (Fenthri). Each is fully developed; their thoughts and motivations easy to understand and agree with, despite some hidden agendas thrown in for good measure. The different narrations blend together perfectly to provide readers with a more complete picture of the story than each character possesses on their own.

I recommend this magical adventure to any reader who enjoys dragons, steampunk, and fantasy.

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from Keymaster Press in return for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion.

I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I absolutely loved the Air Awakens series and I couldn't wait to dive into this one. However, whilst I felt the plot was good, ultimately I had no feelings for the characters themselves, which meant that I didn't really care what happened to them.

The plot itself kept me hooked in this book. The book was definitely more plot and world building based rather than character and characterisation based. There was never a boring moment where the plot was concerned and the action constantly had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the different action scenes and the skill set the each and every character used based on their guilds/race.

Ultimately, what ruined this book for me, was the fact that I didn't feel anything for the characters. I didn't feel connected to them in any way and I didn't feel like I could relate to them or their struggles - which basically led me to not caring about what happened to them and whether or not they were going to make it out alive. It's a shame because I was expecting more from this book after reading the AA series and absolutely loving it; and I feel that, if there had been that spark of connection with the characters themselves, this definitely could have been a really great book.

I did absolutely love the plot twist toward the end, because I did not see it coming! It was interesting watching the events unfold to what they were and who the characters really were. I was not expecting Arianna to be who she was and I think it could make for a really interesting storyline for future books!

All in all, whilst I really enjoyed the plot itself, I was hard done by the characters and the characterisation because I felt no link to them whatsoever. I didn't really get to the point where I really cared what happened to them, which is a shame, because without this element, the book is lost. I gave this book 3/5 stars.

I don’t know how much of this is going to be a review or me gushing over how amazing this novel was but, we will see! First off, special thanks to Keymaster Press for sending me a copy of the ARC for review.

I’m not sure really how to begin here. Alchemists of Loom reminds me a lot of the video game “Starfox Adventures.” If you’ve played that game, A) I love you, and B) I hope when you read this novel you’ll also understand. I had this feeling when reading this book, when being in the world of Loom. It felt like I was there, apart of the magic.

This book reels you in right away – instead of being slowly introduced to the world from this novel – you’re thrust right into it and alongside Arianna, one of the main characters. I thought that was going to be a bad thing, and that I was going to be extremely confused – but no, for once this actually worked well. Being thrown into the plot made me feel that I was already apart of the world and familiar with everything, and it made it easier to learn and get attached to the characters.

This entire novel was a rush from start to finish. There were no boring, unnecessary drawn out scenes. Everything was moving, fights were happening, something interesting was going on at every turn.

Also, the writing style and descriptions from this book were so vivid. I pictured everything that Elise wrote, felt it, heard it, smelled it. I literally felt like I was IN Loom while reading. I wish the novel was longer so I got to be with the characters.

There was a bit of romance in this novel, but it wasn’t overbearing at all. It was mostly just sexual tension – and the BEGINNING of a romance. I hate it when things happen so quickly (if you haven’t already learned from all my previous reviews). Oh and those who are looking for that lgbtq+ rep — Arianna is bisexual!

Other than relationships, we have so much friendship and loyalty explored in these novels. I love strong friendships, and them being tested when things get rough. That happens a lot between Florence and Arianna, as well as Arianna and Cvareh as they grow close to each other.

I usually don’t like when there are too many changing points of view – but I felt like with Alchemists of Loom, it worked really well. I didn’t like Leona’s POVs, I felt we could have done without those even though occasionally I liked seeing the “bad guys” motives. I still almost skipped over her chapters. But as for the other three point of views – Florence, Arianna, and Cvareh – they were perfect lengths and I liked getting to see into each of their heads.

I am DESPERATE to read Dragons of Nova. Thankfully Elise Kova’s novels arent stretched apart by years — that way I don’t have to wait TOO much longer.

If you’d like to pre-order Alchemists of Loom (AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT), here are some links below. Seriously though, this was honestly one of my top ten favorite novels of the year and you NEED TO READ IT. There’s non stop action, romance, intense friendships, and one of the most unique worlds I’ve ever read about.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review, a huge thank you to Keymaster Press

This is unbelievably epic with violent battles and heroic acts. The fight to save Loom and restore it to how it was once before, the struggle for power.

I have read a lot of Fantasy novels but this one is quite different and a first for me. I mean come on its about Dragons!!! I haven't read a Dragon book before so this was definitely a first and a surprise. This also put a lot of conjuring in my head to rest because I was mistaking for Elise's creation to the version in my head. At first I was thinking their appearance is the same to how I have always seen them, creature like. However that isn't the case, they may be called Dragons but their bodies are like humans in the sense they have arms, legs etc. Of course they are NOT HUMANS<----- BIG DIFFERENCE HERE, I MEAN THEIR APPEARANCE RESEMBLES LIKE ONE NOT THAT THEY ARE! Do you understand? Are you just as baffled as I am? I may have just confused myself with that sentence.

Arianna and Cvareh. OOHMYGOSH!!! They are both on fire! And oh my if I thought Aldrik had a tongue on him what about Arianna? She is feisty and fights back, never missing an opportunity to shutting anyone up, I love it. I do secretly wish I had her ability but then again that may land me in uncomfortable situations but I do want her tenacity. Cvareh may seem like a push over but don't judge him before meeting him sister or he may rip your heart out and I mean that literally. I don't know how to describe him really, I mean he is strong (not only because he has Dragon blood in him), loyal and persistent but I also liked how after imbibing (what a word eh? I learned a new word thanks to Elise!) they both seem to develop an intense connection that I could literally feel through the pages of my kindle on my iPhone. This is NO JOKE! Their relationship or likeness for each other was steady as the story progressed. I really liked that it wasn't rushed into, there was more to the story apart from the romance.

Ari and Cvareh have a agreement, if Ari takes Cvareh to Loom she can have his boon (which is like getting your wishes granted from a genie in a bottle). However, their journey is anything but simple. Along the way they face several hardships and maybe a few cleanliness problems too with a couple of moaning and groaning.

I also loved Flor, how can anyone not? I feel like she is just like me but better than me too. She is afraid yet fearless at the same time and this time she gets to travel with the white Wraith and not only does she learn things along the way she also implements change instantly. I was surprised with one choice she made I supposed in a sense she didn't really have much of a choice, I have no idea what I would do if I was in her position. Ari and Flor's relationship is strong, and the love these two share for one another is like anchor holding them on, I loved reading sweet moments between these two it was so adorable #friendshipgoals

From what I understand before Dono took over, people were free to learn from whichever Guild they pleased instead of being inclined to only one which I agree with, why would you only want to learn one skill when you can learn so many?

How did I forget to mention the mystery of what Ari is? She is a enigma.

Overall Thoughts: Not only was the cover of this book absolutely gorgeous, but the story completely matched up to it. It was fantastic, and I felt entirely immersed in the world every time I picked the book up. It was a phenomenal book for so many reasons, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book, and finish this author’s other series!

The Good: Witty and interesting characters, a fantastic blending of tech/steampunk and magic, and wonderfully crafted world, and a gripping and exciting plot!

SPOILERS BEGIN HERE

The Characters: I fell in love with the cast quicker than I do for most books. Something about the way Arianna described things and saw the world around me had me hooked from the very first chapter (specifically: “‘Get her!’ someone cried, rather unhelpfully. Ari would’ve been nervous or scared by the proclamation if anyone actually competent was on her tail.”) And then it seemed to get even more interesting with each new character introduced, from Florence (the sweetest and most deadly accomplice you’ll ever meet) to Cvareh (was it always this easy to like the “bad” race?). Even Leona was an overall interesting character, and seeing what drove her to commit the acts she did for her king was a perspective that authors don’t often show from the bad guys.

The Plot: The way twists were built, and motives + events described, was great, as it didn’t reveal too much and hid enough to keep an air of mystery around the secret pasts of all the characters. In addition, I loved how the plot took us through both the Loom and Nova worlds, developing both societies simultaneously, and painting both sides of the plot and how each side reacts to actions by the other. Lastly, I love how well this book both built up the rest of the series and gave it great potential, but still remained interesting and action-packed in its own right.

The World Building: This was absolutely phenomenal (I’m running out of unique, positive adjectives to describe this book, can you tell?). The world was flawlessly built, to the point where I never felt confused about how it worked as the story progressed. In addition, the mix of two different races, societies, and magic and steampunk was extremely interesting, and I feel like I could actually read a history book on how the world works, and never be bored.

The Favorite Character: Cvareh & Arianna

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I've not read anything else by this author and felt very much thrown in at the deep end with this story. I'm left wondering if it connects with a previous series and could possibly be a spin off? Certainly Arianna has one hell of a back story but there's very little info dump or setting of the scene so as a reader I was plunged headlong into current events.
Arianna is a whole lot more than she seems and when we meet her she's a mercenary, a tutor and alround badass . I wasn't sure if someone who hunts dragons in order to harvest their organs would have redeeming qualities but Arianna has depths but honestly you really have to trust the author initially.
Cvareh is introduced as a dragon on a mission for his sister. He's desperate to make contact with the Alchemist resistance and get their aid in defeating the Dragon King. Now here's were it gets tricky. Dragons are not what you expect here and are basically human like in form but with magical tweaks. It's their magic that's so astounding as each organ contains something else, so dragon lungs can control time, a tongue can persuade and I'm thinking you probably get the idea. Those who surgically enhance themselves are Chimera but for this reader the barbaric practice felt way too yucky.
Ok I'm supposed to say what I felt about the plot and characters but I just didn't connect with them although possibly Florence who is Ariannas companion felt the least detached. Also there's obviously something happening between Arianna and Cvareh but it's perhaps more a mental than a physical connection. I did like that he started to see beyond their physical differences but Arianna is still a conundrum albeit a reluctant one . There's definitely war coming between the two realms with the Dragons of Nova at the moment controlling those who live below in Loom but I'm still not sure just who will come out on top . One things for sure it's very different to other fantasy books about Dragons and the steampunk vibes just add to the fun. Not what I expected but well worth a read but to find out more you would need to keep going with this series.
This is my voluntary take on an advance reader copy
Three and a half from me

Having always wanted to read Elise Kova’s Air Awakens Series, but having never actually gotten to it, I found myself having no idea what to expect when first opening The Alchemists of Loom. All that I had to go on was how many people I had seen positively talk about, and photograph, the Air Awakens series. But this is not part of the Air Awakens series at all, and is an entirely new world and story which Kova has created for us.

And I was entirely in love with this imaginative world, by the time I had gotten just a few pages into the book. The world-building was incredibly thought-out and creative–I have not yet come across anything similar to it before and I have been reading high fantasy, thousand-page books since I was thirteen! Since I have also only ever encountered steampunk in cinematic form, I was very happy to see these aspects in a book, especially since they are very effectively described. A lot of thought definitely went into the creation of Loom and Nova, and it shows.

Kova’s descriptions of various settings is detailed without being too detailed. Even as a complete lover of detail, I too will get bored if an author spends paragraph upon paragraph describing one thing. But Kova excels at depicting sights, sounds, and smells with just the right amount of language necessary. When it comes to her characters, the descriptions are also detailed but subtle.

The physical appearances of the characters within The Alchemists of Loom are clear, without Kova spending any amount of extra page space describing what they are wearing, or how they have styled their hair, etc. This precious space is instead, dedicated to the mental processes of characters, character development, and the steady movement of the plot.

I really enjoyed the manner in which this book was paced. Kova did not waste any time on trivial details, and kept things moving along quite steadily. The only times when I felt that the plot slowed only a little, was when we were given the perspectives of the “bad guys.” But this could just be a personal thing of mine, as I usually get bored from seeing the antagonist’s part of the story (in books, as well as films). I’m usually bouncing in my seat, frustrated at the fact that I cannot see what is happening with the heroes of the tale!

The writing was good and easy to follow, and I want to point out that Kova has a talent at depicting action scenes very well. In each action scene (and there are a lot), I found myself clearly picturing what is happening; which character is where, and where a character hit another character, or dodged, or ducked, etc. And this skill really added to the book overall, since it is very adventure and action-y.

As for the plot itself, I am very very happy (almost to the point of giddiness), at the unpredictable twists and turns, as well as the skill which went into bringing this story from mind to paper. Overall, I found this book very enjoyable and entertaining, and I cannot wait for the sequel to be released in July of this year!

When I first looked at the cover and read the blurb for TAoL, I knew I would be reading something different. Through Elise Kova's Guild Games, I started to learn how vast the world she created was. Then, I finally read it and experienced the whole thing. And now, all I can say is this: I've never read anything like THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM. Never, and I read an average of 200 books a year. The world is unique, detailed, and absolutely epic from its history to its Guilds and their vast differences to the way it's all connected and ruled by Dragons. Every race is creative and brand new (seriously, aside from dragons, I can't even begin to fathom what the other races were inspired by, it's that inventive), the weapons aren't typical (Ari's winch box is one of the best weapons I've ever read about), and the descriptions of the world are one of a kind. Then there are the characters, who are vivid and instantly loveable (save for one, but I'll get to that soon). Ari is a mysterious, tough, neigh unstoppable woman who has no problem taking down any problem in her way. Cvareh isn't a typical hero but someone I would absolutely trust with my life. Florence is adorable and feisty and owns my heart. Leona is the one I can't call loveable, because she's too intense and scary! The action is rapid and heart-pounding, and the story itself is thrilling, full of twists and surprises and literally leaves you begging for more. I can't have been more thrilled about this book and am so happy I gave it a chance. It's really unlike anything you've ever experienced, and I encourage every single person who likes fantasy, steampunk, adventure (or someone who plays a lot of D&D) to get out there and buy a copy of this truly one of a kind book. You will not be disappointed!

Good God in heaven, this book is good. It kind of feels like it's harder and harder to not repeat oneself when it comes to reviewing books, but man this book is good. But that is what I came to expect out of Elise Kova's writing. To be entertained & engulfed by a story that's woven with passion and love & one that brings her readers exactly the kind of story they want to read.

As much as I got used to cliches and predictability when it comes to YA novels, the authors inject enough creativity and add a genuine spark that distinguishes their work from others, and weave a tale that becomes both unique and truly theirs. But here, there were no cliches and no templates. Just a story. An incredible story, that grips you from the start and doesn't let go. Changes directions, throws curveballs, and when you think you've figured out where the story goes, and what it's becoming, it goes somewhere different and becomes something better than what you thought. And that is Elise Kova for you. Reading her Air Awakens series made her one of my favourite writers, and Alchemists of Loom only cemented that opinion. This book I would recommend to everyone. If you're in a slump, or just need a pick me up from your next read, this is the book for you. Now onto a few months wait for the Dragons of Nova

Let's venture back into the world of Elise Kova's writing with her brand new Adult high fantasy series. Back when I had heard of Elise's first musings about Loom, I couldn't soak in enough information. However now that I have finally read the book I realize that one can never soak in enough when it come to this brilliant authors writing style. The characters are lifted off the page, and the world of Loom is written so well that it becomes like a real place. We as witness see such development throughout the entire novel. With being the first book sometimes it is hard to paint or in this case write a clear picture. However Loom had none of those problems. It was a written in a way that readers will be able to understand and love. From what I can tell, The Alchemists of Loom is now one of my top reads of 2016.

We travel into the world of Loom and within the first few chapters we are thrown into the dangerous world Ari (one of the main characters) lives as her reality. We see a order of one race ruling another in one power hungry mix. We have the dragons, and then the civilians of the guilds. The Guilds are a way to keep order, a place where everyone belongs. Each guild has a brand and each member must bare a tattoo upon their cheeks to identify themselves. The Guilds should be run by those living on Loom? Correct? Unfortunately that's not the case. For the stronger survive, and the Dragons of Nova have powers beyond ones imagination. The powers these dragons have come from parts of a dragons body, which makes them in high demand for organs harvesters. Which in turn makes for a suspenseful feud between those of Loom and Nova. Ari is one of those living in the shadows and is a deadly harvester, but what happens when she must team up with an individual she is sworn to hating?

The Alchemists of Loom plot line was well planned out and well organized throughout. Not only did it have things going on in the back ground that stuck out just as much as the main events, but it also had a way of molding all together perfectly. The ideas were original and fresh. It had combinations of steampunk, magic, and dragons all working together to form brand new story elements. We, as readers are taken on an adventure as we read to discover what truths the world of Loom really hold.

To go along with the complexity of such an unique story-line, we had a even more complex setting. Not only did Elise Kova craft one really intricate land mass full of systems and order, she technically crafted two. The floating Land of Nova where all the Dragons resided and ruled . Each land mass was mesmerizing. Loom had it's network system of Guilds and Nova had it's network system of Dragon Houses. We didn't even get into all the depths of either places, and yet I still felt completely knowledgeable about both. With the world of Loom it makes me excited to see what areas will be discovered next.

Dragons, steampunk and an interesting twist towards the end of the book are just a few things that drew me right into this book.

Ari is a brilliant woman who is a Chimera which means she has some Dragon parts and hates the Dragons with a passion because they were the downfall of her people and a plan that failed. She comes from mysterious origins that few know about and she plans to keep those a secret, choosing to be known as a Ghost that causes trouble when need be but is not to be messed with nor those who are under her protection, especially Flor, her apprentice.

When Cvareh shows up in Loom suddenly, Ari is intrigued by him though mostly for that fact that pieces of him could be sold on the black market for a great profit. When the injured Cvareh asks for her help to get him to the Alchemists of Loom, she is very reluctant because he's a Dragon and she'd rather not go back to that part of the country which is later revealed that she came from. At her Flor's urging (more like pleading because Flor is just such a sweetheart) and striking a bargain with Cvareh, she decides to help him and if all else fails, she could still sell him in pieces.

Cvareh just wants to get a mysterious object to the Alchemists of Loom to create something that his sister can hopefully use to overthrow the Dragon King and free those that have been under the tyrant's reign. He couldn't have picked a more knowledgeable or crafty person to help him who has several tricks up her sleeve and magic that she seems to be well in control of.

This unlikely trio sets out for quite the journey and come across quite the complications, especially when the Dragon King sends his head General of his army to try to find out what's going on, is aware that something special of his is missing and is fairly certain that it was Cvareh who took the object.

When Flor is injured in a way that Ari's magic can't heal, they are in a race to read the Alchemists who can hopefully save Flor's life and help Cvareh in his quest. Little does he know just how much his life is about to change and that maybe Ari isn't quite as annoying with her jibes as she once was.

This book was such a pleasure to read and I loved how magic, steampunk, Dragons and smart strong gals were mixed to form quite the interesting storyline. It was so funny to read the things Ari would do or say to get a reaction out of Cvareh in the beginning, then to see a very unlikely friendship crop up and a glimpse into a possible romance. I can't wait to see what next will happen and to get to read again about all the characters I enjoyed getting to know in this book!

I received this free digital ebook from the author in exchange for my honest review.

World
God, I love steampunk! And that’s exactly what the setting of this story is with a little bit of fantasy thrown in here because it’s basically the clash of a steampunk, mechanical world and a fantasy world. The best part is how unwell they co-exist. ? I was very excited to read about these elements, but honestly would have liked more. The characters definitely utilized the elements of both the steampunk and fantasy worlds, but it just left my mouth-watering to know all the finite details. What can I say? I’m a geek. Hahaha!

Multi POV
Anyone who reads my reviews knows how loathe I am to having multiple POVs in a story because most of the time… they just don’t add anything. Sadly, there were a couple of those in this story. That being said, not all the POVs bothered me. I quite enjoyed and supported a few of them because they were vital to the story or character development, but others seemed unnecessary.

Slow & Steady
I wouldn’t consider this to be a fast story. Yes, there is plenty going on. Yes, there are action scenes, but for the most part, it’s a steady-paced story. At times it did feel a bit slow because it focuses rather heavily on the character development rather than the plot, but that only made me care more about the characters. I just wish it would’ve moved a little faster because even the scenes between characters took its toll after a while.

Characters
I enjoyed most of the characters in this story as they each had their own unique backgrounds, characteristics, haunts, enthusiasm, and direction in which they were growing. Though… I’m not entirely sure I believed all of it. Some of the character development felt a bit forced, in my opinion, but that doesn’t hinder the fact that I still quite enjoyed reading about each of the characters.

Hello Fellow Readers,

I am so surprised how much I liked this book considering it took me two times to read it. The first time I was in the middle of my reading slump and I just could not get into the book. The second time, however, was a completely different experience. At First, I thought Arianna was Selfish, Egotists, and Stubborn but as the story progresses you start to see a softer side especially in the interactions with Florence. This made me really endear to the character. I loved Cvareh and Florence as well which made it a breeze when reading their point of view.

The world that Kova built is phenomenal and the way she gives you backstory and exposition so subtle without punching you in the face with blocks of text is great. I enjoyed the different guilds, while also learning about the different Dragon houses. It's also refreshing to read about Dragons rather than other mythical creatures like fae (They are overused in my opinion). The slow build and evolution of Arianna and Cvareh's relationship were fun to read. I am so rooting for them!

Leona was not a hard POV to read despite me not liking her (which you shouldn't do). The sadistic tendencies of dragons towards other really makes you a bigger fan of Arianna and Cvareh. Nova and Loom are so different and Kova did a really good job describing the cities around Loom. Since the next book takes place on Nova it makes me really excited to see how that differs, although I think I already know. Overall, I am really glad I gave this book another shot. Can't wait to read The Dragons of Nova Next.

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Elise Kova has proved herself as a fantasy author who know how to make her readers love and cry over her characters. Her debut series "Air Awakens" could only be comapred to the Throne of Glass books at least for me.

The Alchemists of Loom is her new series which takes place in a world where the Dragons rule and everyone live in faction which work in order to produce everything the Dragons need. Ari lives as a thief but her encounter with Cvareh will make her change her life and embark in an adventure through all of Loom.

Told through four POVs, this book has Japanese elements as also pretty awesome steampunk details which make the world-building even more fascinating! Arin, Cvareh and Florence are amazing characters with flaws and wonderful dialogue and through their eyes we get a glimpse of how their world was and how it became after the Dragons conquered Loom.

There is also a hint of romance which is delivered masterfully, though I hope it'll be more developed in the sequel. If you like steampunk and fantasy then you really don't want to miss this book!

The Alchemists of Loom is a solid combination of genres; melding high-fantasy with steampunk and throwing in a dash of romance to keep things interesting! It’s truly an adventure in a fascinating world.

Elise Kova, bestselling author of the Air Awakens series, paints a stunning picture of the unique world she created in a very articulate manner. The multi-POV helped pace the story perfectly.

I loved the other elements that accompany the story, too, including the map of Loom, the pronunciation guide, and the symbols of the guilds. *Note to authors: These are super helpful for readers trying to find their way through the world(s) you imagined! Loom and its inhabitants do have a LOT to them, though, so might I recommend that you really pay attention!?! At times, I let my attention drift and had to backtrack to make sure I was following.

Now, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU LIKE A UNIQUE PLOT *thrusts hand into air* You’re in the right place!

The Alchemists of Loom sets up a series so well! A decent amount of this book consists of a journey. But, it’s a journey that’s action packed with twists that kept me from putting the book down. This story has such an amazing arc, which is what a good book should do! And, of course, by the time I reached the end, I was itching for more.

Along with the killer world-building came the engrossing characters. I loved the three main characters — Ari, Cvareh, and Florence — equally. They seemed to really help each other grow! Plus (without saying too much), the banter between Ari and Cvareh kept me entertained, for sure. I loved how their relationship evolved.

Overall, I recommend The Alchemists of Loom! I feel like a wide variety of readers would enjoy this book because it crosses over reading levels and genres. I am absolutely going to pick up the next book soon!

Ari is an engineer-turned-thief, known as the "White Wraith." She's amazing with her knives and ropes, and kills Dragons every chance she gets. But when she comes across Cvareh ("See-VAR-ah"), a wounded dragon, he somehow convinces her to aid him in his quest to get to the leaders of the rebellion against the Dragons.

I didn't like this book that much for probably at least the first half. The author has created a complicated world with lots of made-up names and descriptions and she didn't do a very good job of explaining it. The Dragons have basically conquered Loom and colonized it to their own standards and the Fenri, (Loom's indigenous people), hate their Dragon overlords for this.

Oh also, the "dragons" aren't real dragons; they're basically magical aliens, while Ari's people, the "Fenri" are who-knows-what (grey colored humans?). Ari's basically part machine and dragon cause in this world Dragon body parts are implanted or sewn on the Fenri to give them magic. Once i finally figured all this out i started to find the story a lot more interesting but it's probably one of those stories that i might've given up on if not for the fact that i had it on audio (my attention span is just too short for this **** these days).

Ari is a really strong female character. She hates all dragons, and she's really mean to Cvareh. She was almost too uncompromising for me to take but she gets better in the sequel (though she's still ridiculously stubborn). Though this book contains a romantic plot line i would NOT categorize it as a romance because if that's the only reason you want to read it you will be disappointed (the romantic element in the sequel IS a lot stronger though). This is one of those books where I thought the sequel to it made it worth reading.

Going into this I wasn't really sure what to expect. The Alchemists of Loom was one of those books that I've wanted to read since the first time I heard about for some reason I never picked it up. I was expecting to enjoy the story but not as much as I did.

At the start of this book we are following Ari as she's out on a mission. On her way home she runs into a Dragon and decides she can't pass up on the opportunity to harvest his organs. The Dragon has to convince her not to harvest her organs as well as help him on a mission of his own. After these two characters come to an agreement the story really begins to take take off.

Characters can make or break a story for me and these characters helped me become immeresed in their story and really care about their story. I loved the majority of the characters. They were all really well written! I enjoyed seeing how each character developed as the story progressed and I can't wait to see how they continue to do so throughout the rest of the trilogy.

There were parts of this books that were confusing. I didn't complete understand the magic system and the way the guilds work. I thought as I continued to read I would understand a little better but there wasn't really much explained. Hopefully the sequel gives a little more insight into this. The Alchemists of Loom was unlike anything I've ever read and I can't wait to see where the story goes in The Dragons of Nova.

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!

This was one of the most action based and character driven books I have ever read. The descriptions of people, places, and things was wonderful. I never felt myself getting bored of the descriptiveness, which tend to happen in some fantasy novels for me. The story drew me in from literally the first page, where yes there is action! Another thing I loved was it was written in multiple points of view, but not too many where you get all confused.

I loved the characters in this book so much!!! Each character was very unique, which I feel is hard to do in a fantasy novel. Ari was the most determined, focused, and intelligent characters I’ve ever read about and I was rooting for her throughout the whole book. I love Florence she was just a wonderful addition to Ari. And Cvareh, ugh, LOVE! Sorry I’m finding it hard to form complete sentence here.

I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy, or Six of Crows Duology! I was extremely enthralled in this book from the moment I opened it. From the cover to the actual hardcover’s inside I was astounded at the amount of amazingness that could be in one book. Did I mention there is a map? No? Oh well there is a map! Need I say more?!?! I have no idea why I haven’t heard the hype about this book before now, but I really feel I was missing out. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy, whether you are a fan of fantasy or just want to get started this book is perfect. I can’t wait to jump into book 2!

After the Air Awakens series I honestly thought I would never pick up another Lisa Kova book again. (No really check out my review of Fire Falling.) Thankfully Alchemists of Loom wasn't just a pretty cover with a fun idea. It turned into an awesome story with amazing characters! Yeah!

The POV changes between leads Arianna, Cvareh, Florence, and some other cast members. Most importantly Leona who was a pretty awesome Mistress of Evil. He-he. I love a good Mistress of Evil. Because if or when they get what they deserve you kind of feel bad that you don't want them to go, but then you're just as blood thirsty for them to day. Talk about mixed up feelings! Good evil villains are like that.

I will admit that the characters took a bit to grow on me. Arianna felt more like non-stop grumpiness than a character to care about. However, once the characters do develop it's a true treat. Not to mention that the clear love connections about to happen aren't rushed and are given due course to start to build. After all this is a series, no point in rushing the emotions. (Though I do have second book phobia with Kova. Please don't burn me woman!)

I also truly loved the world and the plot. It's so unique and complex. It also really brings something fresh to steampunk. I won't lie, I haven't read that much steampunk so take it with a grain of salt. It is all unique though and I like the idea of twisting the names of things we are familiar with and making them new. Dragons, Chimera, and Alchemists. Okay, so alchemists are kind of what we think they should be.

The wit and ingenuity of the characters was a treat. Not to mention when they interacted with one another. Good and evil isn't so cut and dry here. Some of the good guys are even essentially at times villains. I like that the world is so brutal and rough. If you do notice how long it took me to read this book it's nothing against it, I really wanted to read it! (Health issues prevented me from doing so.) I did pick up a number of grammar errors, but all minor and really this book is very professional. The only warnings I'd truly flag it for is having a cliffhanger, not too bad of one. Also, there is a guide at the back for pronouncing names and such. It's there! Yeah! Wish I'd had found it, but I was Ereading it. I'm so happy how soon the next book is coming out!!!

Content Warning: Some homosexual themes, nothing explicit. Some “racial” slurs and such between the species of the world. Graphic violence and foul language. Basically a good time. ^_-

4/5 - A true obsession! (Yes, I did just rate a Kova book that high!)

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

Ari is a talented engineer turned thief, bent on taking any job which defies her Dragon oppressors and she isn't above selling a dragon for his parts. Cvareh a dragon from the lowest family in Dragon society is determined to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and he's willing to offer a boon to the one who helps him get to the Alchemists of Loom. On their trail are the Dragon King’s assassins and they won't be fooled twice. Along for the ride is Ari's apprentice Florence who has her own reasons to want to overthrow the Dragon's dark rule...

World-Building.
This is a steampunk world and quite old world with the guilds and being divided by family rather than skill smashed up with guns and gliders quite modern inventions. I loved this aspect of the book... The duel races was well thought out and bridged the magical steampunk nature of the world quite well. All of the details disparate though they appear meshed quite well! And the details...! Little things, like reactions in a mine cart going at break neck speed, were thought about and reflected the different characters. This is done through the entire book from beginning to end!

Magic System.
The idea of dragons being humanoids that supply magical parts is so smart! Magic is held inside specific organs so harvest those and you have that magic. Some harvested parts were transplanted to Fenthri - these are chimera. Other parts are mixed with steel which turns it to gold and makes it so physical items can be used with magic to make explosions, lift gliders, turn wheels and do all the other things the Fenthri have been able to devise. Then mixing the humans or Fenthri's way with metals and machines with the dragon's magic and this is the world that we are a part of!

Narrative.
I loved the multiple POVs between Ari, Cva and Flo... we really needed all three POVs. I think two would have left us with an almost antagonistic air between our leads that would have been hard to breach no matter how they've changed over the journey. But Flo's POV gave the reader some breathing space where neither leads were right or wrong. This was an excellent choice by the author!!

There are a few spot of info dumping especially near the beginning. This is a really complex world and to show all these details would allow for the reader not quite getting some of it. So I understood the why behind it... at least they were kept to a minimum.

Ari.
The White Wraith is not a very likable thief but that is part of her charm. She is very precise and planned while also retaining flexibility. I liked how her love of numbers was incorporated from the beginning as part of what makes her a good thief. The fact she is a duel dagger wielding thief is just gravy on top. She is snarky and I'm really not sure how she manages not to get weary with all of her emoting badassery but she carries it off so well!

Cva.
I'll be upfront I loved the dragon Cvareh way more than Ari, at least at first. He would be a gentleman to Ari's fierce girl power. I really loved how his relationship with his sister made it possible for him to be the beta to Ari's alpha. That back history really sold me on this character. His arc was rather subtle to Ari's more over the top reversal but I liked that about him. He wasn't perfect but he knew when to say that he messed up.

Flo.
Without this little girl Ari would be a monster... She is Ari's number one fangirl and that is so adorable! I was shocked to learn her age but it was so perfect and really honed in to me that the author was making smart choices with her narrative. I felt her POV was the most essential but just her character was essential as we see sides of Ari that we never would have without her. Flo and kids like Flo are what Ari is fighting for. There are a few twists and turns with her character that blew me and I loved that she is her own character.

Leona.
Having this lieutenant's POV was really quite necessary. While they weren't my favorite scenes in the book I definitely felt the tension ratchet up when this chick came up. She got to the position she did because she was smart and tough as nails. One of my favorite parts of her POV was when she got her reward before completing her mission. You will know what I am talking about when you read it but that the king gave her that, I can see why she was so loyal to him... he knew the buttons to push to get his people acting in his best interest.

Character Arcs and Plot.
Each character was always dealing with some internal issue each step along the way. This is what makes a character. I fell in love with these 3 because of these mini arcs setup to work with the larger plot points. By the end you too can feel why there has been a change of heart between our leads! We've experienced each progress, growth or change and this happened with each character and worked with their POV. Thus each plot event was complex and well thought out to showcase not only the world but also the characters and their relationships. There are a couple twists along the way which were fun, but I wouldn't say shocking. They were simply the events of a story arising naturally from the characters and world and that is bloody great!

Relationships.
We have an antagonistic hate to love (well not exactly loooovveee but no longer I want to kill you and sell your body for parts hatred) relationship between Ari and Cva. You weren't sure at first if a romance was even possible between these two. And to be frank of Cva wasn't a totally reasonable dragon guy then it still probably wouldn't be possible. This relationship grows soooo much and is soooo good that it really is the cornerstone of the book! No instalove for us and really you can see that it is a slow burn and will need lots more situations of trust to to be able to ship them forever.

We have the loving mentor / older and younger sister relationship between Ari and Flo. Ari and Flo you weren't really certain what the nature of their relationship was at first. As you learned more about these two women the complete picture began to form in the most natural of ways and by the end you were heartbroken at the outcome. There might have been a tad bit of info dumping about the world in the beginning but not so about anything else.

Then we have the understanding relationship of new friends between Cva and Flo. The natural friendship between Flo and Cva was quite lovely. She didn't mind his questions, they weren't looked on with mistrust. She really inspired Cva later in the book with her loyalty and a situation with her also really helped Cva and Ari's relationship!!

This trinity of relationships all grew and intertwined with each individual characters' arc. There were steps along the way, plot points and situations where trust is needed or actions taken and choices are made that worked on these relationships.

Writing.
As a writer this book blew me away. You can tell from my overly complex and writerly fangirling about all of the author's stellar story craft choices! #sorrynotsorry I LOVE a series that has been well thought out in every way. Where ALL the characters are treated as real people with their own lives. One of the best decisions she made was to skip time so that we don't read every single step of the trip, we read the highlights and that made it feel more like an adventure than a slogfest!!

BOTTOM LINE: A Unique Dragon Steampunk Action & Adventure Journey.

I discovered the work of Elise Kova in late 2015 and actually waited until the entire Air Awakens series was published to start reading them because I was very certain that what I’d seen in the blurbs and book previews was a talented fantasy author.

And with this newest series, I’m proven right yet again. Ms. Kova knows fantasy and is one hell of a writer (also, did you know book #2 is coming out in just three months? Wild!)

I was pulled in by tagline “her vengeance his vision” and though “steampunk” novels tend to not be up my alley (blame it on far too many badly done Victorian steampunk novels) I wanted to see how Ms. Kova would run with the idea. She had surprised me happily with her unique alterations to the familiar magic-imbued fantasy world concepts we all know in the Air Awakens series, so I had high hopes that she could take the steampunk concept somewhere exciting.

Overall, this novel greatly held my attention and didn’t fall victim to the things that had ruined the steampunk aesthetic for me in prior books. As expected, the world is neatly crafted with lots of original content like the three races (fenthri, chimera, and dragon), the structure of the worlds (Loom and Nova) and their societies (Loom’s social structure of guilds and Nova’s imposing hierarchy of Houses and titles), and the nature of the magic. But it’s not without its familiar elements too, which mostly are based in the steampunk-like technology and the social problems the characters and world face (which even managed to work in that fenthri originally were very accepting of same-sex relationships until the dragon’s regime took over and lets us learn that Ari is bisexual. It’s not super heavily explored or made a major issue, but I liked that it was acknowledged and included all the same).

I was quite taken with the plot; it’s simple enough in the blurb, which helps us keep a clear focus throughout the layers of subplot and character development, but ends up unfolding a bit more complexly. It’s full of action and danger, the pace is fast, the battles are fierce and frequent, and the air of something going wrong at any moment permeates the book’s atmosphere. Even though most of the book is dedicated to them travelling to the alchemist guild, there’s not really a dull moment because along the way—and in between all the face paced action—we spend a lot of time focusing on our characters, who are all equally interesting and enjoyable to read about. They grow and change with one another during this journey to the alchemists. All three of the mains stand in different places—Ari with her secrets, Cvareh with his Nova life and detachment from Loom’s reality, and Florence with her youthful nativity and fears—and this first book spends a lot of time seeing these things unfurl. Ari and Cvareh learn about one another and gain new perspective on each other and the different worlds they come from, while Florence grows up and becomes a more confident, driven person who wants to help bring a new vision of the future to fruition. The character driven plot points are very good at giving the book depth and meaning. It’s easy to care about their plights and respect their goals, which is crucial in a book being enjoyable.

I was a little lost on some of the world building stuff, but just as a heads up there’s a little guide at the end of the book that gives a rundown of the stuff like the guilds and dragon nobility and name pronunciation. I’d recommend book marking it for reference while reading or even reading it through once before you begin the book. It’s a little unconventional for a fantasy to just have a guide and not have lots of exposition in the actual story, but I personally don’t mind it. At the very least, it made it so the book didn’t interrupt its flow every few pages to roll out a few paragraphs explaining every new thing that popped up. Though I also wish it’d been put at the front so I’d have come across it sooner; I didn’t know it was there when I started and it’d have been helpful while reading. I managed to find my footing all the same without a guide’s help, but it took a little while. Also, there’s a lot of supplementary content on Ms. Kova’s website and social media that had been put up prior to the book’s release, so it might be worth it to go look there for more The Alchemists of Loom stuff.

To be honest, I don’t really have anything negative to say. The book does have a little bit of a serial/cliffhanger feel to it, but the ending does wrap up the first arc (getting to the alchemists) so it makes sense that the next big arc would be covered in the next book. I also appreciate that this book, while not beyond what the YA readers of Air Awakens could read an love, was marked as adult literature for its 22 and 40-something protagonists (though dragons age slower and live longer so Cverah isn’t like weirdly older than Ari). I got through the whole 380+ page book in one sitting, didn’t feel like I was dragging myself to the finish, and I feel pretty excited to read book #2 although I wasn’t left with “I NEED IT RIGHT NOW” feelings since the book leaves off on a good point for the readers to take a breath and pause. There’s just a whisper of romance in this one, so if we see more in the next books I’m assuming it’ll be more of a slow-burn than along the lines of insta-love. I recommend this to any reader of fantasy who likes bickering, snarky heroes, steampunk aesthetic, enjoys lots of action, and appreciates themes of overthrowing tyranny and fixing the social ills of the world.

*I was given a free copy of this title via Net Galley, but in no way does that affect my review and the opinions expressed in any way, for better or worse*

As always Elise Kova has delivered what I think will be one of the best reads of 2017. I was a huge fan of her Air Awakens series, and I came into this books with high expectations, and some doubt that she would be able to top her previous work because it is just that good. I'm ecstatic to say that she surpassed Air Awakens for a first book in a new series, and here's why:

Strictly from a character POV, I love Arianne so much more than I did even Vhalla. I love her personality and how spunky she is, and even more so that she is different. She stills has signature characteristics that come with being a character Elise Kova created, but I do not feel like I am reading about Vhalla dropped in another world. She is entirely her own, flaws and all. It is simply delicious. I enjoy her interactions with Cva and Flo, and how she's just a much more edgy character. Her personality is darker, and not so naive which is something I value in an MC.

She changes POV's as the story goes on. Every chapter is told from a different perspective and it's great. I get such a better view of the world and what each character is perceived like from the others. I see Ari's flaws and strengths so much better through them, it's really a great shift. I loved reading about everyone, even Leona who I thought would bore me a little. It's fantastic and so well rounded.

This is more of a note of appreciation than anything, but I really appreciate that Ari is bi. You don't see it often in YA that an MC is bisexual, so I want to give a shoutout to Elise Kova for having diversity in everything, from color to sexuality. She does it all.

Lastly I want to talk about the plot without spoilers. Fan-fucking-tastic! It was great, I loved the journey and all that we got to see. I loved meeting new characters and seeing how the main ones grew. I am over the moon, and so ready for book 2. This book blends steampunk/science/magic all wrapped in a fantasy world. It was bloody brilliant. I can't wait, and I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great read that is different than what we are used to seeing in any one of these respective genres, particularly YA Fantasy. It is so different, and for that I can give it nothing less than 5 stars and glowing praise!

Omg I loved this book.

The characters are fan-tastic. The witty banter between Ari and Cva cracks me up. The mentor/pupil relationship between Flor and Ari is absolutely endearing.

You really feel the complex and genuine emotions of both Cva and Ari.

For as well plotted this novel is, it equally character driven where you truly connect to the characters.

I think this is partly because each character gets his or her own chapter.

Are there still a ton of questions regarding the characters motivations and their history? Absolutely! The characters are like a strip tease. It gives you just enough to feel turned on and invested but it's a slow ass burn.

I imagine that the series will continue to answer the questions about Cva and Ari. You don't give the whole cow upfront. Why buy the milk then?

One of my favorite things about the world building is how well it's created without a massive info dump. Rather than directly tell readers and dump chunks of info for the reader to digest, the author manages to unfold what you need to understand through weaving the information naturally into the story in the background.

In other words, you didn't feel like an outside reader being talked at but rather a visitor immersed within the world.

If you're a lazy reader this book isn't for you. It's a book that builds its world in the background rather than hand it to you in the manner of info dump narration.

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about it. I haven't read any books by Elise Kova before this, so it was interesting reading this first.

The dragons in this book are not like the dragons you know and love or hate. They and the fenthri are both humanoid races, but are different. The fenthri are all grey and white, whereas the dragons are full of color and vibrance. The fenthri are much more like humans, whereas the dragons have retractable claws and long canines.

Of course, the dragons are much like overlords on the fenthri. And Arianna hates them for it.

Arianna is a chimera, a fenthri who has gone through a transformation and now has dragon blood and organs.

Cvareh is a dragon who is running from the dragon king and his very bloodthirsty dragon riders (basically like assassins at this point). He stumbles across Arianna, and so to stay alive, he offers her a boon, a magical wish, as long as she takes him to the Alchemists Guild.

Arianna is much into fighting and explosions, so of course there is a lot of action. There is even a small amount of romance and the hope for more in the second book. But what I'd hoped for a little more of was worldbuilding. I didn't really understand the different guilds. Some of them were only mentioned in passing, and we only got to see Alchemists toward the end of the book. What exactly is each guild and its specialty?

I actually got a big Game of Thrones vibe from this at one point. There are different dragon houses fighting for the throne, lots of plots and ploys.

Of course, I loved the characters. I particularly enjoyed reading from Cvareh's POV, as he was very much out of the loop and confused much of the time. He was quite the amusing character, and I hope we get more of him and his sister in the next installment.

Overall
It was good. I didn't love it, but I'm glad I read it. I'll most likely read the second book.

Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Writing: 5 stars
World: 3 stars
Feels: 3 stars
Total - 3.5 stars

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 have for you.

The world felt like something right out of Borderlands. The characters were heartfelt and compassionate. The message was really important and meaningful.

But this world is very unique, and the new lingo could be a little confusing. The rundown is basically this:

There are two worlds, separated by the clouds:
•Loom: The main setting of this book, that is home to Fenthri and Chimeras and their five guilds.
•Nova: The Dragon homeland that is inhabited by three Dragon Houses.

There are three races:
•Fenthri: Grey, black, white, the weakest of the three races, and have tattoos on their face depicting what guild they belong to.
•Dragon: A vast array of colors, very primal, can regrow most things from their bodies, have magical abilities, enslaved Loom and sees Fenthri as servants.
•Chimera: Fenthri with Dragon blood and/or organs. They are made by Alchemists, and are very strong, but not as strong as Dragons.

(None of the characters in this world are Human, but they are for sure Humanoids)

The three Dragon Houses:
•Rok: Strongest house, and the Dragon King's House.
•Tam: Second strongest house, and very aligned with House Rok.
•Xin: Weakest house.

The five Guilds of Loom:
•Alchemists: Developed Chimeras, and the only guild to not be under the Dragon King's thumb.
•Rivets: Specializes in refining processes in steel mines and applications for gold.
•Revolvers: Explores all the uses for guns and explosions!
•Harvesters: Supplies all the bare materials to all the other guilds.
•Ravens: Moves people and goods all around Loom.

The five guilds are all linked together as a system to help one another, but that's been very hard ever since that Dragons of Nova traveled down from the clouds, into Loom, and made the Fenthri population do their bidding.

The people from these guilds have a face tattoo for easy recognition. People of Loom are not able to choose or pick which house they are in. They are basically pre-placed, and forced to take two tests. If they are unable to pass these tests, they could be sentenced to death.

Not having a mark is also illegal, and Ari, our main protagonist, does not have a mark. The world knows her as the most notorious criminal of Loom, the White Wraith, and her story starts out with her completing a heist. Her past is a big mystery, but as the book goes on we are able to learn more and more.

“It doesn’t matter who she was. It matters who she can become…”

During that heist, she meets a Dragon named Cvareh. Ari hates, and refuses to trust, any Dragon, but when he offers her a boon to take him to the Alchemist Guild she finds herself unable to refuse. Cvareh is from House Xin and in desperate need to protect his family.

Ari also has an adorable assistant named Florence, who completely won me over. I was unsure of her age until towards the end of the book (16), so for a while I thought her and Ari were a thing and would end up together (this made me extremely happy, by the way), but I was kind of let down when I realized Flor's age and that the relationship was more of a big sister/little sister relationship.

But Ari does identify as bisexual, and even though we don't actually see her with another woman I was still happy with the representation. Also, I cannot wait to find out all about Ari's past and the demons that still are chasing her.

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

The other thing that I loved, besides the story and the world, was the writing. Elise Kova really strung together some breathtakingly beautiful sentences that left me wanting so much more. Her talent really shined with this book, and it left me very interested in reading more of her work.

“She waited for him to say something more. The silence held ciphers of truths that lingered between them, written in a script that neither knew yet how to decipher. This would not be the moment they were given sound.”

Like I said, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. My only main criticism was the feeling of queer-baiting through the first half. Maybe if they author told the ages of the girls, or explained Ari and Flor's relationship a little better, I wouldn't have felt like that.

Also, this is my own personal opinion. You might not even pick up the vibe I was getting from the girls. Maybe I'm so desperate for more F/F books that I'm trying to see it every time I read.

My other minor criticism is that the romance in this book does feel a little too insta-love-y for my personal tastes. Like, it went from cold to hot really quickly. Like, in the blink of an eye. It didn't bother me, or pull me out of the story, but it didn't feel 100% natural.

I know my break down above could seem a little overwhelming, because of all the new terms, but creating a completely new world out of nothing is never easy and there will always be a learning curve. This book is really rewarding and really worth the time. I honestly loved this, and I cannot wait for The Dragons of Nova.

The Alchemists of Loom is the first in the Loom Saga series from author Elise Kova. Set in a steampunk world where Dragons rule the skies of Nova as well as the land of Loom. For fans of fantasy and steampunk, dragons, wars, rebellion, and stories told from multiple perspectives, I would highly recommend picking this one up.

The story is mostly told through the points of view of our three main characters, Ariana, Florence, and Cvareh, although we do occasionally get a chapter from a couple of minor characters as well. Ariana is a Chimera, a Fenthri who has combined Dragon blood and organs with her own, in order to use magic as Dragons do and heighten her own senses. Cvareh is a dragon from Nova, the land above the clouds, and Florence is Ariana’s pupil. The three characters are very different, yet they all serve one purpose. They are journeying to the Alchemist’s Guild in order to deliver some plans that will help overthrow the Dragon king who has taken over Loom.

Ariana runs across Cvareh early on in the book and is prepared to take his heart and eat it, like you do when you hate Dragons. He convinces her to let him live instead, and will give her a boon if she will help get him to the Alchemist’s Guild. The agreement is made, and adventure ensues as the trio begins their journey.

To be completely honest, I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. I had a hard time getting into it in the beginning, but once I did get into it, it proved to be really fast paced and exciting. I really enjoyed the characters, Ariana especially. She has a past, although we’re not entirely sure what it is, and it has definitely left her more hardened. And she does not trust Dragons at all, Cvareh included.

Cvareh was interesting. It would seem that the Fenthri on Loom are not the only ones who are being oppressed by the Dragon King. Determined to overthrow the king, Cvareh has stolen some schematics from the Dragon King and brought them down to Loom in order to see the device realized so that it may help the rebellion. As much as I liked him, he struck me as a little naive at times.

The one I didn’t expect to like as much as I did was Florence. With Ariana being a Chimera, and Cvareh being a Dragon, I kind of expected Florence to fade into the background, but she really held her own as a character and as a part of the group, especially towards the end. She has been studying under Ariana, but she isn’t afraid to tell Ari when she thinks she’s wrong. Her backbone really develops in the last few chapters and it was really exciting to watch her grow as a character.

The biggest issue I had with this book, and the reason it took me so long to get into it, was a lack of world building. I don’t want a big information dump at the beginning of the novel, but it would have been nice if certain things had been explained as we went along. There is an appendix in the back that has a few pronunciations that was helpful, but there was still a lot that I don’t feel like I got about the universe that Elise Kova has set up.

I am giving The Alchemists of Loom 4 out of 5 controllers. I seriously enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I was going to, and if there had been a bit more world building, it would have gotten a 5, hands down.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher for honest review
Reviewer: Ariel

This was fantastic! A very enjoyable high fantasy with amazing worldbuilding and memorable characters.

Arianna is the infamous White Wraith, a Master Rivet that left the Alchemist's Guild after the Dragon King of Nova took over all of Loom. She's talented and mysterious and hates dragons. To be honest, I had an issue with her character at first, mostly due to her seemingly narrow-minded and cynical attitude towards everyone other than her young apprentice, Florence. But I loved seeing her walls come down brick by brick as the story went on. She's pretty badass and is hell bent on vengeance.

Cvareh is a dragon that offers Ari a boon to take him to the Alchemist's Guild. He has a plan that could change the lives of both the inhabitants of Loom and Nova. With the help of Florence, Ari soon comes to trust the dragon just enough to get them across Loom without getting themselves killed.

I love the worldbuilding! There are two worlds; Loom and Nova. Loom is where the Fenthri reside under the rule of the Dragon King whom lives in Nova, which is in the sky above the cloudline.

The dragons live 'in the sky' but they are not your typical winged dragons. They can fly, but only thanks to help of gliders that are powered by their magic.
The best way I can describe these dragons, or how I envisioned them anyway, was that they are like the Argonians from the popular Elder Scrolls RPG games (Skyrim, Oblivion, etc) just without tails and maybe a more human face. They have reptilian-like skin that is brightly colored, sharp teeth, and claws.
Fenthri are mostly similar to humans but they have grey skin.
Chimeras are Fenthri that have had certain organs replaced with magical dragon organs and have endured dragonblood transfusions. Because of this, they have magic themselves.

This is such a unique new world/s and when you add in all the action, steampunk elements, the Five Guilds (that you can test yourself online to see which one you might be in), and the unique characters, you get an amazing story. Elise Kova did an amazing job with this and I'm super eager to continue this series!

I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED the characters. Arianna, Cvareh, all of them! Not a single cardboard character present.

Arianna was one of my favorites. Her daring, aggressive, and sarcastic nature was what I could really relate to. Do I go around doing even 1/3rd of the adventurous things Arianna does? Definitely not, but I loved reading from her point of view. The way she thinks and handles problems and even her emotional barriers was something fascinating.

Cvareh was my favorite as well, but if I had to choose between him and Arianna, he’s my second. I love him. He isn’t quite a book boyfriend, but I wouldn’t hesitate to befriend him. His noble, honorable, prideful (but somehow humble!), caring, and adventurous nature made me grow to love him. At first, I was wary and skeptical, but he quickly grew on me. I really enjoyed seeing him develop to the new surroundings and people, both towards Loom as well as Arianna.

The plot was impeccable. I didn’t see a single hole whatsoever and I was immensely pleased. I only saw about two mistakes, but they were harmless since I was too drawn into the book. Kova’s writing is smooth, captivating, and gorgeous. The descriptions were simply amazing both for the different environments, the different emotions of each character, and the fight scenes. I must praise Kova for choosing to switch point of views between characters and keeping everything in omniscient third person. It really fleshed out the characters and helped me to understand them more, while not getting distracted by figuring out which “I” is which character.

Would I Recommend The Alchemists of Loom? Overall, I am extremely impressed and delighted to have read this book and I think others will be too, so I would recommend it. It’s a hypocritical statement, because (when I was writing this review) I had just got finished ranting to Maggie (from Maggie's Musings) about how an ebook shouldn’t be more than 2 dollars maximum, but this book, in my opinion is worth the $3.82.

I have read this author and was excited for her next project. I don’t usually read steampunk but maybe it’s something to investigate because I really enjoyed this book and the series. The first book sets up an interesting premise that I think has enough fantasy elements to appease any fantasy readers, like me, and introduce them to the steampunk subgenre.
I love the characters - Arianna, Florence and Cverah - their development moved with the plot, which moves pretty quickly considering how many struggles they go through in such a short time. The last thing I’ll say is Elise does a great job with this series in creating a whole new world with many ideas - the (literally) gray world of the Fenthri and their industry on the ground versus the colorful and creative world of Nova in the sky - but it doesn’t bog down the plot. In my opinion she is very thoughtful in adding layers to the story with a light hand.
In closing I would recommend this book and the series.

*As a first note, my purchase isn't verified because I purchased the box set, but I wanted to leave reviews for each book individually.

After reading the Air Awakens series and 3 of the 4 from Society of Wishes (anxiously awaiting the release of the 4th book), I was excited to try another series from Elise Kova, and for the price of the box set, you can't go wrong.

I found the beginning of The Alchemists of Loom to be a bit tough to get through which I was surprised by since Air Awakens grabbed me almost immediately. That is why 3 stars instead of 4 from me. Closer to half way through the book I really started to connect with the characters and the story, and from that point on, I enjoyed the book very much and will be diving straight into Dragons of Nova.

Elise Kova brings a world of steampunk and magic that really makes my heart sing. It's gritty but engaging with a cast of characters that really highlight the very many political affiliations present throughout the realms of Loom and Nova. If you want a fast-paced plot with intrigue and clear nods to some popular video games, The Alchemists of Loom is definitely one to check out.

The story follows Arianna and Florence as they run a small bounty shop in Loom when, on assignment, Arianna bumps into Cvareh, a dragon on the run with something to trade to the Alchemist's guild. I loved that the dragons were humanoid beings with longevity and magic. All the magical persons were well-developed and the way guilds informed people's skill sets and allegiances. Arianna was my favorite character because while she led much of the story, she's quite the unreliable narrator, but pieces of the tale fit together like a recipe.

My one gripe is that the last 50 or pages seemed a bit rushed. I couldn't tell if it was the pacing or just the volume of things that occurred. Overall, the rest of the scenes were well-executed in introductions and world-building.

The Alchemists of Loom hit me when I needed it and I cannot wait to see what happens next in the lands of Loom and Nova.

Just finished the whole series and wanted to drop a review.

WOW, this trilogy brought it. If you have been feeling like you've been reading the same thing over and over in the fantasy genre, this trilogy will be a breath of fresh air.

The Loom Saga has two strong women as leads. A+ read about a unique fantasy world with lots of intrigue, action, and romance. There is a bit of Xena and Gabrielle to the two main female characters so take notice lesbian readers! Interesting take on gender from the non-human characters.

Also TOP HATS, steampunk, and the most original use of dragons that I have seen in a dragon's age!

I think that people who like Game of Thrones or Perdido Street Station will like this.

The Alchemists of Loom is an absolute dream for a lover of steampunk, action, and mythical ideas. Also if you're an engineer gearhead like me, than Arianna, the main character is an absolute delight. It's filled with magic and science and mythical species reimagined and guilds with specific interests.

Loom follows the story of Cvareh a Dragon (no not like Smaug dragon) who has pilfered a part of a schematic from the Dragon King who rules over all of NOva (dragon territory) and Loom ('peaceful' territory now taken over and ruled by Dragons) and wishes to take it to the Alchemists guild where he believes a resistance against the Dragon King remains.

But first he encounters Arianna, aka the White Wraith, a master Rivet and outlaw, and her protegee and Revolver, Florence. He asks/bribes them to help him cross all of Loom and it's many territories to the Alchemists Guild in Keel. Each of these characters gets a POV and the chapters rotate as to whom has a POV in the story.

The fourth POV centers around the Dragon King's Champion...err i mean Master Rider wrong Assassin. Though i'd rather deal with that Assassin any day. Leona is a batshit crazy b**** like seriously. Never have i seen a more nutty MC that is like MURDER but yet have weirdly creepy feelings for the King.

Be prepared for lots of killing and gore in this book. Like TOG level amount of Gore. I mean right off the bat in Ari's first POV chapter we've got some violence.

There was no heart-wrenching in TAOL like Elise liked to do in her Air Awakens series though i'm pretty sure AA started off pretty tame in that category too. *side eyes Elise Kova and upcoming stories*

I dont really know what to commont romance wise for htis book because its so sublte i'm still not entierly sure it is there. Arianna is LGBT at the very least. And i think there is the possibility Flo is too. But this world isn't like Earth's,the races aren't human so putting human sexuality labels doesn't feel right.

I really quite enjoyed reading this story and can't wait for the rest of it. Hopefully it doesn't take me as long to read the Loom Saga as it has to read Air Awakens series.

The female protagonist Arianna is made up of a lot of things... literally. In her world she's known as "The White Wraith", and she's a master dragon organ harvester. Throughout the whole story it's quite evident that Ari despises Dragons with all of her might. In Loom, Dragons are known to be superior in comparison to the other guilds. Arianna is strong, quick, knowledgeable, and she has an extremely caring side to her, which can be quite unnerving. Ari never stays in one location for long, as an infamous criminal has to be quick and carful to cover her tracks. Although, she can't do it all by herself, her assistant/pupil Florence has been learning under Ari for a couple of years. Flor is the most trustworthy and knowledgeable character in AoL, and I have to say her character grew on me.

Then Cvareh comes into the picture, a Dragon who doesn't settle well with Arianna. But the two must forge an agreement, and are forced to work together. (And I know that was quite vague, but I don't want to spoil you.)

I really love Cvareh, mainly because even though he's not the strongest Dragon in Loom or in his House he's still determined, and overall caring, and I think that caring aspect is what really drew me in. Oddly enough, Ari and Cvareh are similar when it comes to personality, despite the animosity.

Ari, Flor, and Cvareh begin the ultimate journey to The Alchemists of Loom, but Dragon King's assistant Leona will do anything to sabotage their journey. Leona will do anything to be the King's favorite, even if it's killing a Dragon prince and The White Wraith. In my eyes Leona has earned respect, even if she is a villain who's on the wrong side of the story. She still is extremely determined and loyal to her King, which counts for something.

Through the entire novel, we read from a multi-perspecitve POV. Which I loved because it was similar to putting a puzzle piece together. The perspectives we see from are: Arianna, Florence, Cvareh, Leona, and even a little of Petra who is Cvareh's sister.

The Alchemists of Loom is now in my top 5 most favorite fantasy novels. It met and exceeded all of my expectations, and I was silently stunned at how easy it was to decipher all the complexities. And if that's not proof enough already of how much I enjoyed this novel, I'm reading it again for the third time...

I was totally captivated by this enchanting steampunk fantasy filled with magic, chimeras and dragons.

When Ari comes across an injured Dragon, he offers her the one thing that Ari desires the most, a loon, if she takes him to the Alchemists of Loom. Though sworn enemies, Cvareh and Ari must work together if they wish to achieve their goals. During their quest they begin to discover each other’s worlds and its people whilst trying to evade the Dragon King’s dragons that are eager to retrieve what Cvareh stole from the Dragon King.

Ari is a chimera with one thing on her mind: seeking revenge. Her single-minded focus is on achieving this and she does not let her emotions, weaknesses or her past interfere. She takes on the persona of the “White Wraith” who is legendary and seemingly invincible. I found Ari a compelling, intriguing character and loved her close friendship with Florence who is not as defenceless as she first appears.

Cvareh is a dragon who is focused on his mission, to usurp the Dragon King, but he cannot do it without Ari’s help. Her world is strange to him, with their different appearances and culture, and Ari has the skills and knowledge to get him to the Alchemists of Loom.

The world building was imaginative, detailed and impressive. I was drawn into Ari, Florence & Cvareh’s quest and their worlds. It was fast paced with unexpected twists, great characters and plenty of action and suspense.

I loved how the steampunk machinery is woven into the story and how Ari & Cvareh work together using intellect, magic and gadgets to get out of their many tight situations.

I found it to be a rewarding read, well written, and entertaining. I'd recommend any fantasy fan to give it a try. I am definitely looking forward to the next book, The Dragons of Nova.

This novel reminded me why I love fantasy! Lately, I felt the fantasy novels I was reading had the same feel to them. There weren’t diverse characters who varied in looks from our own. The world's didn’t bring the “fantasy feel” that I tend to look for. This is where The Alchemists of Loom comes in and rescues the day! I loved this story of a grey clockwork world on the brink of rebellion. The Dragon’s rule Loom in their skyland of Nova. They created laws that destroyed the order and harmony that dominated Loom. Arianna, is determined to change that. I liked that this novel was broken up into different points of view. We get to see the journey unfold between Ari, Florence, Cvareh, and various other dragon characters. This allowed us to get into the heads of each character and understand their motives. I was drawn to Florence, Ari’s student, she is younger and learning to make her own way on Loom. I thought her strong belief in the good of people was a brightness that they story needed. A big theme in the novel was trust. Can you trust your enemy, even if you believe in changing the future?

Cvareh, a dragon, has a dream of changing the Dragon’s control over Loom. I connected more to him then Ari. I thought Cvareh was genuine in his motives, while Ari questioned him at every move. It was frustrating at times, but added to the overall conflict that flowed throughout the story. I really enjoyed the banter that Ari and Cvareh had with each other. Cvareah also cared for Florence which made me like him even more. Ari had some selfish attributes that made me not connect with her as deeply.

When I first started to read The Alchemists of Loom I did feel a little thrown into the story. Trying to understand the order and characteristics of the guilds was a bit hard. There also wasn’t much back story, but that changed as we got to see Ari and Cvareh interact. At the end of the book is a fantastic description of all the guilds along with their marks, that I think would be better suited at the beginning of the book. The “Loom guide” also goes over Dragon society as well, which is helpful, since we only got glimpses into their world. However, don’t let those little things deter you from immersing yourself into Loom! I really loved this story and I am anxiously awaiting its debut into the wild!

Arianna is focused on her work, the more risky the bigger the pay day. it’s been a handful of years since the last alliance tried to rebel against the Dragon hierarchy. After all, what business does a dragon have on Loom? If she comes across a dragon, it’s better to harvest them.

Wrapping up a job a dragon falls and is practically gift wrapped before Arianna, and as she goes for his heart he offers he the un thinkable. In exchange for smuggling him to one of the guilds, she’ll get the one thing she wants, to over throw the Dragon King. It’s hard to say no, and a deal is struck, even if she detests him the ends justify the means in her world.

Turns out this dragon has more baggage then she calculated for, the odds are shrinking against her. As other dragons descend to Loom in search of Cvareh, she wonders who she is traveling with and what his motives are. For her, a dragon is better off dead.

I loved Elise Kova’s previous books, the Air Awakens series, and I was just so excited to read The Alchemists of Loom. hook and line I was caught up in this book and finished it way to quickly. The great news, the author sticks to a schedule when releasing books, every three months! YAY! I recommend this to everyone, it’s amazingly written, the world is vast and so thought out, the characters are addicting. Do yourself a favor and get lost within the pages and streets of Loom.

I binge read the first two books of this series and read almost 900 pages in two days. That could have been painful, but Elise Kova is some sort of fantasy genius and she managed to keep me enthralled the whole time.

These books are serious fantasy—I called them the most fantastical of fantasies for a reason—there are complex magical worlds, highly developed societal systems and richly drawn characters. Sometimes books with such elaborate worldbuilding can be hard for me to connect to, but that was not at all the case here. I never felt like I didn’t know what was going on or how aspects of the world worked—somehow I understood it all, even though it was complex. Plus, Kova weaves such strong characters that it’s impossible not to be engaged in the story!

The first book in the series introduces us to the elaborate world of the Loom and to these amazing characters.

Ari is tough, smart, no-nonsense and a little bit distant. She looks at the world as a place to conquer and a puzzle to solve. She’s definitely one of those heroines who falls into the morally gray area—I wasn’t quite sure at the beginning of the book if I should be rooting for her or not! Cvareh is a Dragon (though not exactly the type of dragon you’re imagining—more human than that), which automatically makes him Ari’s enemy, but when he makes Ari an offer she can’t refuse she begrudgingly decides to work with him. The tension between these two makes the entire book—both the dramatic tension and the romantic tension!

Ari and Cvareh find themselves on the run from powerful dragons, and the action in this book is unrelenting. There are plenty of showdowns between our two leads and the big bads in the book—the Dragons who are hunting them. Ari just wants to free her world from the oppression of the dragons, and Cvareh wants to release the Dragon King’s hold on his world. The question is, will their two missions align or end up tearing these two apart? Finding out is half the fun as we learn about these two characters’ pasts and what drives them.

4.5/5 Stars

***Disclosure: I received these books from the publisher via Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

After reading Kova's first series, I knew this was going to be good.

But I had no clue that it was going to be this good. I know in other reviews I always say how I like seeing the authors writing mature. Well...this is leaps and bounds above what the Air Awakens series was. And I really liked the Air Awakens series.

The world building in this is 10 times better, the characters are fully developed and complex. The twists and turns you don't see coming. I have to say, I feel I'm pretty spot on when predicting things that are going to happen in books. I was wrong, so many times and I LOVED it!

I absolutely love Ari with her attitude and her intelligence! She's not afraid to let anyone know what she's thinking. Nor is she afraid to do what she needs to do to keep those she loves safe.

This book had me at the synopsis and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. This was my first book by Elise Kova and due to the gloriousness that is The Alchemists of Loom it certainly won’t be my last!

In a nutshell:

-I loved the world building. So I kind of have an immense thing for books with maps (what fantasy nerd doesn’t right? They should totally sell these maps separately so that I can basically have fantasy map wallpaper in my room) Anyway….while I do love bookish maps it's really not just about the map itself. It’s really about the world in general. I can not tell you how far a well developed, intricate, complex world goes with me as a reader. I LOVE it. I love learning about its layout, its people, its political set up, its social structure, its history and how ALL of those things affect the plot and the decisions that are made by the characters. The Alchemists of Loom had this in spades AND she didn't dump the world on you...she immersed you in completely and then let it unfold gradually throughout the story and allowed the reader to discover it. Kova’s world building was definitely a highlight and probably my favorite aspect of this first installment. I can’t wait to discover more!

-The Characters: I loved Ari! She is such a sassy, no nonsense female character who knows what she wants and how to get it and she just takes care of business (I mean she’s infamous in Loom as the White Wraith….how freaking cool is that)? Flor is definitely one of the side characters who kind of steal the show and the hearts of readers. I loved the relationship between her and Ari. Flor kind of grounds Ari and Ari fiercely protects Flor. I wasn’t sure about Cvareh at first (probably because he’s a dragon and our first introduction of him is from Ari’s point of view and she hates them. So I was a little wary of him….but he surprised me. He's kind of the calm to Ari's spit fire. I can’t wait to see how they develop in future installments!

-The plot/story line: I was completely immersed in this one from page one….I mean it starts with the White Wraith in the middle of a heist. Overall, the underdog character with vengeance on their mind, forging an unlikely alliance to overthrow those abusing power isn’t a new trope, but it didn’t feel tired in this because the world was new and intriguing and that provided a breathe of fresh air.

I was provided a free digital copy of this title via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shaped or influenced my opinion. Thank you Netgalley and Keymaster Press for the review copy!

This one blew me away by its uniqueness. You got two worlds Loom and Nova and it seems the two have to co exist to exist but Loom does not welcome the opression of the dragons that from what we been told just showed up and took over attempting to fix what they did understand. Now when i first started in the novel and dragons where brought up i imagined dragons in the sense of a huge animal. Elise has taken that image and flipped head over heels these are creatures with humanoid features. Their magic with a twist of steam punk to be sure and characters that are not always what they seem. If you pick up this book your in for a treat in ways i never could of imagined. An impressive start to what i sure will be a 5 star read all the way through

The Alchemists of Loom makes for a promising debut to Elise Kova’s new fantasy series.  The novel blends steampunk and fantasy to create a rich and varied world divided between Dragons and humans (called Fenthri).  Ari is the White Wraith, an expert thief for hire and militant enemy of the Dragons.  When a chance meeting with a Dragon offers her the chance to realize her dreams of revenge, Ari decides to risk everything and help him.  Along with her apprentice Sophie, Ari and Cvareh embark on a deadly race against time, evading the Dragon Riders in pursuit.  

There are many detailed, cinematic action sequences.  The characters on the whole are complex.  But somehow I wasn’t as immersed in the story as I would have liked.  I think a bit more detail is needed.  By the end, however, I was looking forward to seeing what the next installment holds.  The Alchemists of Loom is a solid steampunk fantasy that is definitely worth reading.

4/5

I received a copy of The Alchemists of Loom from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

—Crittermom

Alchemists of the Loom #1 portrays a world unlike any I've read, melding magic, a variety of races with prejudices, steampunk, and a splash of an underground organ market (yes, organ market--as in hearts, etc). I know, right...

The first chapter absolutely captured my attention. The character Ari is a spit-fire. Taking names and not asking questions. This introduction grabbed my interest and the scene kept me engaged.

But I have to say, I struggled with all the world building from that point until the middle of the book. I didn't immediately understand that "dragons" are a race of humanoid, not literal "dragons" and I speculate this is much of why I struggled to connect with and care about some of the characters. When I learned what the dragons were, so much changed for me.

All that said, I reached the middle of the book and "everything" finally clicked for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the balance. The plot is complex with lots of conflict that will fuel several more books in this series.

Bring on the next book!

I'm vacillating on this book. Some aspects of it I absolutely adored. But I also found it painfully slow at times and was disappointed to find that it didn't wrap up nicely in the end. It's not a precipitous cliffhanger, but it's not really and ending either.

On the positive side of the equation, I found that once I had enough information to understand what was happening (and this took a while) I liked the world and the characters. There is a lot going on here, with the large, multi-cultured world and several races. I appreciated that the romantic subplot was slow to develop and didn't take over the plot when it did. And I think most of the writing was really lovely. It got a little purple at times, but mostly it was quite lyrical and a pleasure to read. Oh, and the cover is Awesome!

This was the first book by Kova I've read, but I'd be well up for another one.

Note: I received a copy from Netgalley. I chose to read and review it.

I rate solely on enjoyment and I might be generous giving it 3 stars. I have read the first and second book. The reason I gave 3 stars is because I have no idea why I didn't like these books. That has never happened to me before and I've prolly read a couple thousand books. I always knew why I didn't like one but it's a lil slow is all I got. It wasn't too slow either, it has action, drama without being too heavy and even a lil romance. Switching view points is annoying but I didn't dislike any of the main chars except when I was supposed to. I might even read book 3 just because it's so odd not knowing where to point my finger. Take it for what you will.. I didn't enjoy it but didn't find any noteworthy flaws so I guess it just wasn't for me.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Keymaster Press for the opportunity to read and review The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova! This steampunk science fiction story begins in the middle of a mission. The mysterious White Wraith, Arianna, is a renowned thief and organ trader. She becomes drawn into helping a dragon, Cvareh, reach the Alchemists of Loom and the rebellion against the king that resides there. Along their way, they meet with old acquaintances, family members, help prisoner allies escape and surprise each other with the friendship and trust that grows between the two of them. Once they reach Loom, their eyes are opened to secrets and the resistance to the king that is actually occurring. The story ends on an intriguing cliff hanger. I rate this book 4 stars for the beautiful prose and intelligent and concise world building!

This first book in a series was so different from any other world I've read before. It's a fantasy/steampunk mix story and has such delicious world-building. None of it is done in a sudden information dump, instead, I appreciated how the information comes naturally and expands the world throughout the whole book. I'm sure even more will be revealed in future books, but the world-building was a huge part and a very strong aspect, setting a stable foundation.

I loved the imagination of it all- the world of Loom, the mentions of Nova and the Dragons that inhabit it (which I'm sure we'll see more of in book 2), and the history of the Five Guilds- its people, systems, and history. The Dragons, Fenthri, Chimera, and the five: Alchemists, Harvesters, Rivets, Ravens, and Revolvers, made everything so interesting, along with their diverse appearances.

The plot was interesting to follow, the story is set in different POVs- Arianna, Cvareh, Florence, Leona, and Petra in the end chapter.

Arianna- seems like such a confident, talented female, she's chased/ bogged by her history and her need for vengeance. She is blinded by her prejudices towards all Dragons and although she is strong, she also harbors her own secrets and past demons. Her love and friendship with Florence was so sweet, with her need to nurture and protect her.

Cvareh- he made me laugh because of his surprisingly not traditionally "masculine" characteristics- his obsession of fashion and etiquette juxtaposed with his having ideals of dominance. He's very aristocratic in certain sensibilities, and is oddly strong, yet clumsy at the same time, with his unfamiliarity of some aspects of Loom. I appreciated that Arianna seemed to be the "alpha" in their situation, resulting in a sort of role reversal of what is typically expected of male/female relationships. His growing friendship with Arianna, and especially Florence, was endearing to read.

Florence- I loved her, she's so sweet, but determined, and grows so strong on the journey through this book, totally coming into her own person and even standing up to her beloved teacher for her beliefs.

Leona- it was interesting to read what drives her, her total obsession with Yveun. Her character showed me how cruel a Dragon could be in comparison to mellow Cvareh.

Petra- she's similar to Arianna, is ambitious, and it was very amusing to read her single chapter. I'm eager to see more of her POV in the future.

The book covers topics such as prejudices, inequality, freedom of learning/knowledge, and moving on from the past. I loved reading this new world and am excited for the rest of the series.

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.

What is this about?

This book tells the story of two kingdoms: Loom and Nova.Loom is where the Fenthri live under the rule of Dragon King and Nova is where the dragons live in the sky.The Dragons and Fenthri hate each other.The Loom has people which belong to either of the five guilds: Harvesters,Alchemists,Ravens,Revolvers and the Rivets.

Arianna (known as Ari) is a master Rivet who is a organ thief (see why I loved this book :) ).Cvareh is a dragon who wants to see his sister usurp the Dragon King.Their journey to the Alchemists Guild along with Florence (Ari's pupil) gives us this fabulous book.

Elise Kova writes a beautiful world in this book.This is a steampunk novel so I was excited to see how she would represent the world.This novel has airships and weapons that would make you drool to be honest (atleast they were appealing to me).

The story is told in four different pint of views(Arianna,Cvareh,Florence and Leona) and you can see the contrast so easily.I personally loved Arianna and Florence's chapters.They were so different from each other.

CHARACTERS:

Arianna:The White Wraith.My favorite character in the book was probably Ari.I loved her so much.Finally I met a heroine who wasn't gorgeous by default.Ari is describes as dull with white hair and purple eyes.She isn't always right and she makes mistakes which was refreshing to read.She is passionate about the old Loom(which wasn't ruled by dragons) and the way she was with Florence just made me read about her more.I loved her with the daggers too. <3 <3

Cvareh: Every time he insisted to be called by his full name,I laughed out loud.Cvareh isn't one of those all powerful alpha heroes.He loves his sister and respects his Dragon House Xin (too much,if you ask me).The friendship he develops with Florence was good to watch.Even when Ari didn't support him,Florence did.You can see him grow up,I mean he was a stuck-up at first (no offence,Cvareh) but then he gets used to the guns and has sassy retorts at hand.But that scene where he rips out the heart...

Florence: This girl is so kind,sweet and total opposite of Ari.She is like a baby sister to Ari and the level headed one to Ari's temper.She balanced the story perfectly in my opinion though to avoid too much violence (I know,I can't believe I am saying it).

At times,I was like "NO WAY" this is not happening.I was rooting for each and every one of them (except Leona).

You guys have to read Alchemists of Loom.If you love a fantasy packed with action and beautiful writing,this book is for you.

This is the first book that I have read of Elise Kova and I have to say I am rather impressed! I started this book during a rather big book slump and it definitely helped me get out of that. Nothing I read before this ever measured up enough to earn that fifth star, The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova definitely did!

The book immediately drops you into the action and it barely stops the entire time. Kova takes us on a journey through four different perspectives. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of so many details being given to us, but as the story progressed I found myself connecting with all of the characters, good and bad, in a way that amazed me.

There is so much thought and planning that went into this novel. You can tell that this is a book that is driven by the story instead of just the characters. But despite that, the characters were still very strong and developed.

Firstly, Arianna was a badass female assassin who blew all of my other female assassins out of the water. There were parts of herself that I wished she shared sooner because it would have helped their progress a lot. However, I also understand her reservations about trusting Cvareh because of what happened in her past, but even Florence could tell that Cvareh was different than most dragons.

The character I connected to the most though was Florence. She was quiet and reserved but she still had a passion for her work that was unparalleled to any others. Despite the guild she was born in, she was working on making a name for herself as a Revo. When meeting her Raven friends, there was no way I could picture Florence in that life.

I feel like I'm rambling here so long story short, The Alchemists of Loom was one of the best books I read in 2017 and I greatly look forward to reading the second installment The Dragons of Nova!

I liked this book.

The book is a bit too fast paced if you ask me. Sometimes the author forgets that we - as readers - don't know what she is talking about. This makes it annoying when she explains things in full detail about 60 pages later. I would also like to see more complex relationships between some of the characters. It feels a bit too predictable, when romance sets in.

I DID really love the world that she's created. Ot feels believable, and the aesthetic of it is equal parts steam punk and final fantasy. The towns, landscape and cultures of the different people are really well thought out, and I especially like how she uses colours to differentiate between enemies/friends.

In short - more explanation/exploration of the world she's created, more complex and less predictable characters. Otherwise, really nice book. I very much enjoyed reading it, and will 100% be buying the next one once it comes out. Would recommend to young adults and grown-ups with a good imagination.

It took a bit to drag me in , mostly because this was a new concept, not the same old trope like others. Once i was in, i was hooked.
Action, fantasy, and lots of ass kicking really made this book stand out. The characters were diverse, varied interests and personalities, and the plot never stopped or got boring.
I can't wait for the rest of the series!

I won this book, and wow it is a good read. Knowing absolutely nothing about the contents of this strory it was quite intriguing. Completely different than my normal read, steampunk. Definitely new to that. Ari is an amazing character as is Florence. I am looking forward to the Dragons of Nova!

I loved Elise Kova's Air Awakens series and I didn't know how her new series would top it. The Alchemists of Loom blew away my expectations. The story, the characters, and the different worlds of this steampunk fantasy genre are so unique and engaging, it's hard to put the book down without wanting to know and read more about every aspect. The next book can't come soon enough! I'm looking forward to learning more about Arianna and Cvareh's adventure in the next installment, The Dragons of Nova.

This is an unqualified five star rating. I couldn't put the book down. Language, plot, characterization: it's all there. There was just the right touch of romance and a truly heartwarming relationship between Flor and her teacher. This is the best book I have read in a long time.

This book was unlike any fantasy story I have read before. Very original. I loved the character/relationship development, the last 100 pages had me clinging for more. I can hardly wait for the next book to come out! An absolutely fabulous read, every fantasy fan should give it a try.

I want to say that my favorite aspect of the book was the magic system. So unique and wonderful.