Sometimes, for no apparent reason, you put off reading a book and this one falls into that category. Maybe the cover? Maybe the title? Maybe nothing? In any case, I enjoyed the story very much -- and am somewhat in awe of the ins and outs of a complex plot which nonetheless I could follow. That is not a simple thing to do. Although I make that comment as a writer who can barely move people from one room to another. The characters are tolerably good, especially the strong relationship between Jean-Claude and Isabelle. The setting also is entertaining and well described albeit full of unexplained phenomena, but who cares, this is fantasy! Well done, I will continue the series! **** ( )

I have started this review in four different ways—incoherent verbal flailing about how good the book is, slightly more coherent flailing about the characters, exhortations to read the book so there’ll be a second one, and demands that you read the book because it’s just that awesome. And I’ve deleted all four because they all fall short.

Craddock absolutely knows his way around a novel. The characters are complex and well-defined even when falling into tropes, the world is rich and different, and the plot doesn’t stop. The first hundred pages alone felt like they could’ve been a whole novel in someone else’s hands and the intrigue was captivating, deliciously twisty, and kept me guessing to the end. There’s adventure and action, horrific villains, a lot of heart and it’s feminist and calls out ableist mindsets!

Seriously, guys… the way Isabelle grows from a timid closet mathematician to a genuine badass, the magic system with shadows and mirror-walking and holy genetics, the French- and Spanish-derived cultures on floating islands, the fact that Jean-Claude reminds me strongly of Sam Vimes, the end results and reasons for the political everything… I do need that second book, I really do.

This is beautifully written, entertaining, epic, captivating, and all-around excellent. Go read it.

Warnings: Muslim-coded people are historical “heathen” invaders only. Use of “swarthy” (to refer to Spanish-coded people). Mind-controlled slaves and associated instances of body horror. Abusive parents. Sexist and ableist characters.

9/10 ( )

Disclaimer: I initially received this book for free in exchange for reviewing it once it would be published. But that was many years ago, and an early draft, so when the book was finally published I wasn't confident it hadn't changed in editing. So I bought the official version and this review will be based on that.

If you like fantastical science, strong female leads, wormfingers, political intrigue, and/or witty comebacks, it's safe to assume you'll enjoy this book. Well, as long as you also like books that have you thinking "There's no way this situation could get any wors—oh... How in the world are they getting out of this one?" While not as bleak as media such as Attack on Titan or Game of Thrones, the world of The Risen Kingdoms is still not a happy fantasy land. Being important doesn't keep people safe, and being smart doesn't mean you're safe from evil plots. Even the main characters' dashing personalities and wits still aren't enough to keep them ahead of the many nefarious plots and betrayals waiting for them at every corner. Unlike the aforementioned stories however, this book is less about "surviving" than "persevering", which is an important distinction in tone.

While fantasy may not be my favourite form of speculative fiction, I do appreciate steampunk aesthetics and science-focused details, both of which this novel has in abundance. But calling this novel steampunk would be a disservice to the fact that it's actually aetherpunk, and we all know that aether is a better form of steam. :) My main gripe with fantasy as a whole is that there are some very common tropes that it seems unable to escape, especially in regards to the basically-interchangeable settings (generic Medieval England anyone?). While An Alchemy is still very obviously fantasy, and full of fantasy tropes, it at least avoids most of the annoyingly common ones. The steampunk aspect necessitates a setting that's more Victorian than medieval, and the Kingdoms are culturally distinct (in fact, I would say that having passing familiarity with French and Spanish language is useful, though not necessary).

The magic systems are unique, but every fantasy novel requires as much. More kingdoms and systems of magic are hinted at, but I think it was a good idea to focus on only two, since the story doesn't info-dump its explanations. At times the novel can seem a bit literary or self-indulgent, but I typically assume that means the author is having fun writing, which is fine even if it takes me out of the story a tiny bit. I generally prefer flawed characters, and though the characters are flawed they're perhaps a bit too competent for my tastes. However, they stay far enough away from being Mary Sue's that it's not an issue; and as I stated earlier, being competent is just barely good enough to survive.

Looking forward to the sequels, and I'm glad they were all mostly finished before this novel was released, so that we don't have to wait a decade between each book. ( )

4.0 stars

What a delight! Delicious worldbuilding, fantastic characters, and the twistiest of plots! I hope Craddock becomes as wildly popular as he deserves to be. ( )

The first half sets up a creative world, interesting and sympathetic characters, and an intriguing plot. The second half, on the other hand, is a total mess, both incomprehensibly chaotic and also incredibly dull. I admit to skimming the last few chapters out of sheer boredom.

Sorry, Jess. ( )