Marshall Ryan Maresca

Alchemy of Chaos by Marshall Ryan Maresca is a somewhat enjoyable installment in the Maradaine world. It continues to carry forward the excitement of magic and gangs we met in The Thorn of Dentonhill and even introduces some deadly female assassins into the mix but I found myself bored by the novels end.

Once again Veranix Calbert, magic student and masked vigilante, gets in way over his head in his fight to stop the trafficking of the drug known as effitte. This time the trouble makes its way inside of the University’s walls and Veranix is fighting a war on several fronts- the malicious “pranks” happening on campus, the Deadly Bird assassins hired by Fenmere, and encroaching effitte trade. The whole situation is made even messier by the fact that Veranix is trying to pass his exams in the midst of this trouble.

How does Veranix deal with these new challenges? Will our masked vigilante pass his exams? Will his secret be discovered? How does he deal with facing flamboyant assassins and a formal collegiate dinner? You’ll just have to read to find out.

This book is full of character growth for our masked vigilante. Veranix is learning to rely (and trust) others to help him. He may have started as a solo vigilante, but taking out Fenmere’s entire effite trade is proving to be more than just a single man operation. Even powerful vigilantes need help sometimes (doesn’t Batman have Robin for a reason after all?). It's nice to see that Veranix has some limitations that prevent him from being completely unbeatable - he’s still a bit too eager for his britches. Without the help of his close friends and allies, the story would have gone much differently.

Alchemy of Chaos is a fast paced and fun book for fans of superheroes/fantasy/crime/academies of magic but the novel on the whole feels a bit pedestrian. And I think the problem is characterization. I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters and the magic system is honestly too simple (while attempting to appear complex) to be intriguing. And despite the danger that Mr. Marseca puts his characters into, you never feel as if they are ever really in any danger. I don't know how else to explain it other than to say that I was not invested in any of them so never had any concerns.

With that being said, there is an audience for this book, and if I were a teenager again, I would love the heck out of this series. But, alas, I think it’s just okay.

I’m not in a rush to pick up the third novel sadly. But if you love superheroes, fantasy, crime, schools of magic and all the trappings that come with it, take a chance of this one.… (meer)

"Thief!" a heavy voice shouted from the door.
That's rich, one of them calling me thief, Veranix Calbert thought. He had only arrived seconds before. He hadn't had a chance to steal anything yet.

This is how Marshall Ryan Maresca introduces us to the world of Maradaine with his debut novel The Thorn of Dentonhill, transporting us to a vibrant and diverse city where powerful mages, university students, assassins and street gangs all call home. Our protagonist is Veranix Calbert, a magic student by day and vigilante by night. When the sun goes down, Veranix ventures out into the streets, disrupting the local drug trade in the hopes of bringing down the notorious crime boss Fenmere, the man who killed Veranix’s father and destroyed his mother’s mind. Folks are saying it is a bit like Harry Potter meets Daredevil or Batman, and while there is some truth to this, Maresca brings his own fresh twist to the classic vigilante story.

Supporting Veranix is a cast of characters: his cousin, Colin (a street captain of the Rose Street Princes); Kaiana, a half-Napa half-Druth staff member; and his friend and roommate Delmin. There's also his Professor Alimen, Veranix's tutor in magic...who is a bit of Dumbledore/Snape rolled into one.

I really enjoyed the world Maresca has created. It’s surprisingly rich, featuring a long and complex history and populated by many cultures. Maradaine feels richly populated by interesting factions, university students, mages, etc. I love forward to reading more stories set in Maradaine.

For fans of: Harry Potter, Batman, Daredevil, Patrick Rothfuss, The Discworld Series.… (meer)

Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Now she is a mother and wife to Constabulary Inspector Loren who was so brutally attacked that it's a wonder that he is alive. But he is not able to support his wife and two daughters anymore so Satrine fakes her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to be able to support her family.

I was quite looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the blurb was intriguing. Satrine Rainey is a very interesting character and I liked her working relationship with Minox "Jinx" Welling. I especially like that there weren't any romance in this book. Well, Satrine is married, but there isn't any instalove to ruin the book. I liked this fantasy world and its characters, but I must admit that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but luckily it got better towards the end. One thing, though, I figured the bad guy quite fast, or should I say I guessed and that in a way ruined the story somewhat for me because I do like it when I'm kept in the dark. Sure I like to guess who the bad guy is, but I like twists, I want to arrive at the end and suddenly the rug is pulled out under my feet, figuratively of course.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this book for the most part and I liked the world and I liked Satrine and Minox so I will, without a doubt, read the next one in the series.

3.5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!… (meer)

Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Now she is a mother and wife to Constabulary Inspector Loren who was so brutally attacked that it's a wonder that he is alive. But he is not able to support his wife and two daughters anymore so Satrine fakes her way into the post of Constabulary Inspector to be able to support her family.

I was quite looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the blurb was intriguing. Satrine Rainey is a very interesting character and I liked her working relationship with Minox "Jinx" Welling. I especially like that there weren't any romance in this book. Well, Satrine is married, but there isn't any instalove to ruin the book. I liked this fantasy world and its characters, but I must admit that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but luckily it got better towards the end. One thing, though, I figured the bad guy quite fast, or should I say I guessed and that in a way ruined the story somewhat for me because I do like it when I'm kept in the dark. Sure I like to guess who the bad guy is, but I like twists, I want to arrive at the end and suddenly the rug is pulled out under my feet, figuratively of course.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this book for the most part and I liked the world and I liked Satrine and Minox so I will, without a doubt, read the next one in the series.

3.5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!… (meer)