Title: Alchemists of Loom

Author: Elise Kova

Pub. Date: January 10, 2017

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

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Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer-turned-thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins. 

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

Since this book has been out for over a year, I’m just going to jump into the review. I’m going to try and be as vague as possible, but I’ll make it clear when I’m about to spoil something bit.

This book surprised me.

I mean, I knew I was going to like it, the question was, how much?

The Air Awakens Series is one of my absolute favorite fantasy series – thank you Facebook for suggesting it me. With that being said, I didn’t know how this one would compare. That sounds horrible doesn’t it, but that was a genuine thought that I had.

Not surprising, I ended up really, thoroughly enjoying this book, the world, the characters. There wasn’t any real big or small part that I didn’t like. It felt fresh and new, it wasn’t something that I had read a hundred times over, and I loved that about it.

I liked that this book featured some older characters, but even the younger ones were mature. Though, I didn’t really love any of the characters, but I enjoyed them all. I really liked the dynamic between Ari and Cvareh, and how it realistically their relationship progressed. I also liked how Cvareh was the more level headed one. I really enjoyed the relationship between Ari and Florence, and the trust that they had in one another.

I LOVED the relationship between Florence and Cvareh, and thought it funny that (in the beginning) it irked Ari.

I take back my words, there was one thing that annoyed me – not knowing anything about Ari’s past until almost the end of the novel, but as the reader, I was just supposed to accept her distrust and hatred. There were moments I thought she was being totally unreasonable towards Cvareh. For a Dragon who didn’t want anything but her help, and I understand that helping him cost her, she was pretty awful to him in the beginning. Ari had issues letting people in, understandably, but she doubted everything that came out of his mouth. Florence on the other hand was more willing to listen, and I loved that line where she basically told Ari that she had made up her own mind, and would need actual proof to change her mind.

I was so into Florence’s character arc. I think she grew the most throughout the book. From a girl who basically just followed Ari around and made stuff for her, to someone who was confident and sure of herself and what she wanted. She wasn’t going to be pushed around or coerced into certain mindsets. When given the opportunities, she stood up and fought. She fought for her friends, the people she loved, and most importantly she fought for herself, and in the end, she is legitimately stronger because of her actions. All three main characters grew so much in this book. From distrusting, to relying and needing – and it didn’t feel gimmicky or forced. Their progressions felt so natural.

The worlds. Oh my god.

I listened to this as an Audiobook on Audible – definitely recommend listening to it. The differences between Nova and Loom were such polar opposites. I thought it was so interesting that the inhabitants of Loom were kind of monochromatic, while the Dragons of Nova filled the color spectrum. Listening to these worlds being described, it was so, so incredibly easy to get lost. I always love the worlds Elise creates, and Loom and Nova didn’t disappoint.

I’m about to write something that is actually a spoiler –  Scroll down to where it says “SPOILERS ARE DONE” if you don’t want spoiled.

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SPOILER DEAD AHEAD.

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There was a part, the part when Leona dies, where I was actually shocked that she was killed off in book 1. I thought I was going to have to deal with her evil ass for at least another book and a half. I liked her character, even though I constantly wanted her to die.

Oh another part that did and didn’t shock me – I kind of saw it coming once the pieces started to fall into place – was the Philosopher’s Box, and how the only working one is in Ari’s chest. She made so much more sense as a character once that was revealed.

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SPOILERS ARE DONE.

I really did enjoy this book, and haven’t quite decided if I will listen to Dragon’s of Nova or if I’ll buy the physical copy and read it, but I will definitely be finishing this trilogy. Once again, Elise Kova has managed to capture my mind and heart with amazing characters, worlds, and stories.