The Alchemist [Import] [Unbound]

Donna Boyd (Author)

Product Details

• Unbound
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 2002)
• ISBN-10: 0345454839
• ISBN-13: 978-0345454836
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Donna Boyd tells a magical tale, October 29, 2002

By 

Psboston7 "~ And so it Goes ~" (Upland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alchemist (Hardcover)

Well I'm coming off of reading her other book "The Passion" which I thoroughly enjoyed (see my review)and I just bought her other books under the name of "Rebecca Flanders" I really like this author's style. I chose to take a break from the Werewolf topic because I just finished "Circus of the Damned" by Laurell K. Hamilton and it dealt a lot with Were-people and this was a welcome diversion.

This book started out so engaging it got me from the first chapter and kept me. The whole premise is that there are 3 gifted students at the House of Ra, when these 3 students combine their magical energy their power is unmatched, however something happens early on and they do not complete the training they needed. Consequently their magic is flawed.... but they don't realize that, their young and think they are invicible.

This book has Magicians that are immortal, Dark Magic that goes wrong, Incest, Betrayal and all of this spans from the time during Pharoah to the present day. I recommend this book for a break from the norm it's great storytelling, if you like books with twist, you should enjoy this one. In my opinion the end was not as satisfying as the rest of the book but I guess she maybe left it that way to do a sequel.

Respectfully Reviewed

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept, characters are too flat, February 14, 2002

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Alchemist (Hardcover)

At the dawn of history, the House of Ra stands, training students in true science, magic, and every art. Three students stand head and shoulders above the others--Akan, Han, and Nefar--the woman both men love. Together they can work magic more powerful than any known, yet their use of magic is not unlimited and subject to great risk for themselves and those around them. The three agree to use their powers to build a paradise on earth, yet delivering on their promises is more difficult than their power would make it appear.

Author Donna Boyd has created an intriguing fantasy that spans all of recorded history. The three alchemists transform history, yet always reach for more than they can safely achieve. Unfortunately, THE ALCHEMIST is weakened by the narrative device that Boyd has chosen--a retrospective first person narrative that somehow distances the reader from the characters. Although THE ALCHEMIST is a tale of overpowering emotions, great good and evil, sibling rivalry that extends through the centuries, and even contains an intriguing twist at the end, the story-telling is strangely flat.

THE ALCHEMIST is an interesting book, certainly worth the read. It is also instructive for writers to see both how to create a compelling plot and setting, and how this fine concept can be brought up short of full fruition.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An very well written and imaginative tale!, May 2, 2006

By 

Wayne Didomenico (Boca Raton, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alchemist (Paperback)

I picked up this book thinking it was the well known Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, after reading it and enjoying it intensely. I saw Paulo Coelho's Alchemist and read his, needless to say, it was quite disappointing in comparison. Donna Boyd has an incredible imagination and captivating way of writing. I really enjoyed her book and was amazed that everyone has read Paulo Coelho's meager book and not hers. It is an excellent read!