Review: The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1) by Elise Kova

The Alchemists of Loom
(Loom Saga #1)

by Elise Kova

January 10, 2017

352 pages
 

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Goodreads Summary:

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.

Review

The Alchemists of Loom was full of intrigue, tension and action. While reading this book I did not want to put it down for anything. Even when I had to leave it it was incredibly easy to pick right back up. I'm immediately pulled back into the story from wherever I left off.

The story is pulse-pounding with tense relationships and the world is so complex with gripping politics. Elise has crafted a world that will drop jaws and squeeze hearts. It's breathtaking. Each part of the story is intricate and expertly woven together. The Alchemists of Loom is seriously a masterpiece.

There are four different POVs and they were all excellent. They're labeled and really, it's impossible to get confused since each POV is so different from the next. I especially appreciate the inclusion of Leona's voice. She is a powerful villain in every sense though I hesitate to call her a real villain. Her motivation came from her pride and desire to serve the one dragon she loves/obsesses over. Hers is a chillingly creepy but insightful viewpoint.

Florence really shines in her POV. She's constantly learning and adapting. Even when faced with her worst nightmare she doesn't shy away. She steps up. The transition she goes through must be excruciating but she persists and surprises us with just how strong she can be. Her developing friendship with Cvareh was cute, especially when they're teasing Arianna together.

Arianna is such a wild yet self-contained individual. "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." (ARC, p. 177). Her attitude and stubbornness doesn't win her any friends but she's extremely loyal and fierce to a fault. Pains from her past hardened her but I'm looking forward to see how Cvareh will break through her walls. It'll be tough but with their explosive chemistry, I'm hopeful.

Compared to Arianna and Florence I feel like we didn't get to know Cvareh nearly as well. He's a Dragon but not the usual ruthless type. Cvareh was determined if not a little pushy at times. The need to see his House in power propelled him forward to charge through all kinds of danger. Just like Ari, he's very loyal. The two of them share this magnetism and I can't wait to see what kind of sparks will be ignited!

I am so excited for the second book, The Dragons of Nova!! More kick ass actions, more gunfights and more Dragons please! I just know Elise Kova will deliver. Zero doubts.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the Advance Review Copy I received.