The Alchemy of Stone

[queer]

The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia.

I found this novel by searching for steampunk reads and I was not disappointed. From the back cover:

Mattie, an intelligent automaton skilled in the use of alchemy, finds herself caught in the middle of a conflict between the gargoyles, the Mechanics, and the Alchemists. With the old order quickly giving way to the new, Mattie discovers powerful and dangerous secrets -- secrets that can completely alter the balance of power in the city of Ayona. This doesn't sit well with Loharri, the Mechanic who created Mattie and still has the key to her heart -- literally.

The Alchemy of Stone tackles a multitude of issues -- race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, free will, and subjectivity. What I enjoyed most was the way these threads were woven into the subplots without detracting from the overall narrative. While it may be hard to see where Sedia is taking you over the course of the novel, at the end things become a bit more clear. And what an ending! It was one of those endings that stayed with me; I wasn't able to pull myself out of the world Sedia created until an hour after I put the book down.

I highly recommend this book for fantasy/steampunk lovers!

ISBN: 978-1-60701-215-3
Length: 301 pages (paperback, medium type)

Comments

[vampyreranger]

That sounds quite interesting!

[queer]

It's definitely one of my favorite fiction books! I found it at B&N for $14.99 but I'm sure it's priced lower somewhere else.

[littlebutfierce]

This book is amazing, yes! I also really liked Sedia's The Secret History of Moscow--especially great if you are tired of all the urban fantasy that only seems to mine Celtic mythology.

[queer]

Ooh, I'll have to find it! Thanks for the heads up! *Russophile*

[littlebutfierce]

Oooh, yay! Then you're even more likely to enjoy it. :)