Alchemystic (A Spellmason Chronicle) [Mass Market Paperback]

Anton Strout (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 25, 2012 | Series: A Spellmason Chronicle (Book 1)

AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY...

Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name... Lexi's great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason--an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor's most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis. Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the novels of Anton Strout:

“Following Simon’s adventures is like being the pinball in an especially antic game, but it’s well worth the wear and tear.” —Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Make room on the shelf, ‘cause you’re going to want to keep this one!” —Rachel Vincent

About the Author

Anton Strout was born in the Berkshire Hills mere miles from writing heavyweights Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. He is an always writer, a sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the world's most casual and controller-smashing video gamer. He currently works in the exciting world of publishing and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Original edition (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1937007790
• ISBN-13: 978-1937007799
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.8 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Fantasy author Anton Strout was born in the Berkshire Hills mere miles from writing heavyweights Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville and currently lives in the haunted corn maze that is New Jersey (where nothing paranormal ever really happens, he assures you).

He is the author of the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series and Alchemystic, book one of the upcoming Spellmason Chronicles for Ace Books, a division of Penguin Group (USA). Anton is also the author of many short tales published in anthologies by DAW Books.

The Once & Future Podcast is his latest project, where he endeavors as Curator of Content to bring authors and readers together through a weekly news show format.

He has been a featured author guest of honor, speaker and workshop leader at San Diego Comic-Con, Gencon, New York Comic-Con, the Brooklyn Book Festival and many other conventions.

In his scant spare time, his is a writer, a sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the worlds most casual and controller smashing video gamer. He currently works in the exciting world of publishing and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great start to this new series September 25, 2012

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Unlike the rest of her real estate mogul family, Lexi Belarus is much more whimsical, preferring to surround herself in art like her great-great grandfather rather than focus on money. But everything changes when she is attacked and saved by a creature beyond imagination. Turns up dear old Grandad was involved in a lot more than just sculpture and real estate as he used alchemy and his Spellmason powers to create a gargoyle named Stanis out of stone to protect his family and legacy over the ages. Lexi quickly realizes that she has a bit of that same Spellmason power herself, albeit very rough and untrained, it still makes her an even bigger target for those who would seek to bring her family down. With time quickly running out on the protections placed upon her family home, she'll have to learn to master her abilities fast before even Stanis's protection isn't enough.

Lexi's voice in Alchemystic felt very fresh and unique. Although her talking about being a non-violent person at the beginning of the book was rather amusing to me as early on, it became very apparent that she has a rather nasty temper. Aside from that she's a fun and quirky girl who has a penchant for getting herself into trouble more often than not, but luckily she has fiercely loyal friends and her gargoyle protector to get her out of her messes relatively unscathed. In fact, the whole dynamic between the team really sucked me right into the book. Rory is like the sidekick friend everyone needs to have as she is spunky and fun, but also isn't afraid to speak her mind, especailly when she thinks Lexi is headed in the wrong direction. Also she can majorly kick butt, which honestly makes her rather awesome in my book. I even loved how Marshall's uber geekness in his role playing games wound up saving them more often than not. I mean the guy lives and breathes the stuff, but he also finds a way to apply that fantasy world into real life application when it matters most.

Now onto the gargoyle. Honestly, this was the number one factor that drew me to wanting to read this book. I'm still crazy in love with the Urban Fantasy genre, with the vamps, witches, fey, and weres galore, but I have to admit it is always refreshing to read about other types of creatures for a change of pace. I loved Stanis as he was very calm and steady throughout, being much like the stone he is made out of. Of course that does start to change as Lexi seeks to restore him to his full power, and bit by bit he gains a little more humanity. Don't get me wrong, he still is very strong and steady, there is just more emotion behind him rather than simple practicality. I cannot wait to see more of him in future books!

The magic behind Alchemystic was incredibly intriguing. It did take a while for any real answers to happen, but I never felt frustrated with the pace, as just enough was revealed to keep me moving along happily. That being said, I have a feeling the surface has only been scratched, and there will be so much more involved as Lexi learns more about her heritage and abilities. The only thing I could possibly complain about in Alchemystic was the complete lack of romance, which isn't really a complaint, but more of a stylistic preference. I will say that the intrigue of the story and the action kept me more than entertained, so I didn't miss the lack all that much in the end. All in all, Alchemystic was a very solid start to a new series, that will definitely be on my radar for future releases.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun UF Adventure October 4, 2012

By H. Newton

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Yay! Been waiting for this one for too long. Sure, I'd prefer a new Simon Canderous novel, but this makes up for it.

This isn't a conventional UF--your three human heroes are definitely not run-of-the-mill, which is nice; they're all likeable, which is nicer. You want to spend time with them, you want them to come out on top, you want the giant, nigh-humorless and nigh-invulnerable, living statue to come to their rescue. Which works out for everyone, because that's what the statue wants, too.

Stanis, the statue--gargoyle--in question here is a pretty nice character, too. Can't get into all of it without entering spoiler territory, but for a superhero that gets, but doesn't totally get, these odd humans, he's pretty fun.

That's a good description for the whole book--pretty fun. Not as intense, or dark and brooding, as a lot of UF. But a nice, fun, character-driven read. Good ending, that's not quite a cliff-hanger, but whets the appetite for volume 2.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty, action-packed, must-read start to series October 10, 2012

By Melanie C. Duncan

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Alexandra "Lexi" Belarus, an artist from a family of real estate moguls, is fascinated by her ancestor Alexander Belarus' legacy of architectural design. When she is attacked on the street by a knife-wielding thug, she discovers his legacy is much more than architecture. Alexander was a Spellmason, capable of infusing stone carvings with life and of molding stone to his will. His greatest creation, Stanis, is a gargoyle tasked with protecting the Belarus family, although Stanis prefers the term "grotesque". Once Stanis breaks his creator's rule of never allowing humans to see him when he rescues Lexi, he is drawn into Lexi's plan to restore him to his full strength and potential, so he will be better able to protect her family. Lexi's best friends, Rory, a dance student, and Marshall, a gamer, are also drawn in to Lexi's plan. Rory questions Lexi's headlong rush into experimenting with Alexander's spells and provides a voice of reason when she isn't bashing the heads of cult-like figures who keep attacking Lexi. Marshall is the quintessential gamer geek, whose gaming knowledge comes in handy when Lexi drags them off on quests to recover the pieces of Stanis' soul scattered throughout New York City. Strout launches his newest series with a witty, action-packed, must-read for urban fantasy and role-playing game fans who know the magic out there is waiting to be found.