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2012 Book Review #5: The Alchemy of Stone
Title: The Alchemy of Stone
Author: Ekaterina Sedia
Genre: Steampunk
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Mattie, an automaton who works as an alchemist, wants two things--a way to keep the city's gargoyles from turning to lifeless stone and the key to her heart. But her maker is on the opposite side of the growing feud between the mechanics and the alchemists, and Mattie is about to be caught in the middle.
Thoughts: I loved this book up until the last few pages.
The city of Ayona is a haunting place, atmospheric, vivid, and cruel. It's an enchanting bit of world building using lovely language. One begins with the conflict between the progressive but destructive Mechanics and the conservative Alchemists, but slowly realizes that the entire structure is built upon the slavery of children. Grace and horror intermingle. Mattie herself is fascinating and compelling, fully aware but never quite sure if she is thinking or feeling correctly because she is not sure how much of who she is has been manipulated by her creator, Loharri.
I'm generally comfortable with ambiguity, but I feel as if Sedia promises us a certain number of answers that are never fulfilled. What exactly is the nature of the gargoyles and what will happen to them now? What were Loharri's intentions? The unresolved questions make the already ambiguous ending somewhat irritating. It's beautiful, but unsatisfying.
An ambitious work, beautifully executed, but a little too jealous of its secrets.
Author: Ekaterina Sedia
Genre: Steampunk
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Mattie, an automaton who works as an alchemist, wants two things--a way to keep the city's gargoyles from turning to lifeless stone and the key to her heart. But her maker is on the opposite side of the growing feud between the mechanics and the alchemists, and Mattie is about to be caught in the middle.
Thoughts: I loved this book up until the last few pages.
The city of Ayona is a haunting place, atmospheric, vivid, and cruel. It's an enchanting bit of world building using lovely language. One begins with the conflict between the progressive but destructive Mechanics and the conservative Alchemists, but slowly realizes that the entire structure is built upon the slavery of children. Grace and horror intermingle. Mattie herself is fascinating and compelling, fully aware but never quite sure if she is thinking or feeling correctly because she is not sure how much of who she is has been manipulated by her creator, Loharri.
I'm generally comfortable with ambiguity, but I feel as if Sedia promises us a certain number of answers that are never fulfilled. What exactly is the nature of the gargoyles and what will happen to them now? What were Loharri's intentions? The unresolved questions make the already ambiguous ending somewhat irritating. It's beautiful, but unsatisfying.
An ambitious work, beautifully executed, but a little too jealous of its secrets.