I had such a hard time actually getting into this book that I almost gave up. I read some really positive reviews (and some not so positive from people who had the same challenges I had). The upshot, I decided to give it another go. It was vaguely steampunk-erish, somewhat of an adventure thread, but I still wasn’t really into it.

A NetGalley ARC

Good mix of intrigue and character; steampunk elements are thin but inventive. I wish the characters had more agency but there’s a lot of imagination at play.

This book was really well done! Full of plots and intrigue, powerful abilities and a whole new sky world! An excellent read!

This is one of those books that takes about three chapters to get to the actual beginning of the story, which is disappointing because once it gets there it's enjoyable fun. Isabelle, the disappointingly non-magical child of the magical nobility, and Jean-Claude, King's Own Musketeer in the best D'Artagnan tradition, share the main character spotlight and they're both so good that I was never disappointed when we switched from one point of view to the other, which is rare. The steampunk 17th century worldbuilding is delightful, the court politics just the right side of coherent, and the action thrilling.

Mild spoilers follow: I was disappointed, though, in a book where one main character and many side characters have physical disabilities, that most of them turned out to be magically cured, transformed, or turned out not to be all that important (eg. the character wasn't who you thought they were). There's a real missed opportunity there.

One of the cleverest books I have ever read! I’m really sad that I waited so long to read this one. It had all the feels and the cleverness rating was through the roof. There were some areas that felt a bit confusing, so I’m not sure if that was on my end of not catching the clues. Or if that was the writing style. Either way, it wasn’t enough to ruin any part of the book.
If you’re looking for a fun steampunk read, this book is for you.
If you’re looking for a main character with a physical impairment, this book is for you.
If you love reading about musketeers, here you go.
If you aren’t looking for a grand romance, check this one out.
If you want a clever female mc, whose male companion complements her mental acuity and independence, and a deranged immortal antagonist, why haven’t you read this book yet?
There is a touch of body horror in this one, but the language uses Victorian style entendre and contains no graphic sex. Older teens would probably love this adult fantasy.
Needless to say, I am greatly anticipating more in this series. I want to know more about the pantheon of gods. And to see where the court intrigue takes the story. And maybe to check on the romance that was introduced. I wouldn’t mind seeing if that goes somewhere or not 🙂

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock
Level of Romance: Low

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Fans of intricate fantasy novels would do well to check out Curtis Craddock’s An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors. Princess Isabelle des Zephyrs is engaged to a man she has never met. A man whose last two fiancés were murdered. A man who is prince in a kingdom on the edge of civil war. Lacking the magic that should have been her birthright Isabelle has only her wit and the help of her trusty royal musketeer to make sure that both she and Prince Julio de Aragoth live beyond their betrothal ceremony. She’s not sure she wants to marry him – but she is sure she wants to make that decision and not have some assassin make it for her! Julio, for his part, gives Isabelle ample enticement for marriage:

When he brushed his lips across hers, it was but a question, ever so politely asked. And because this was her time to do as she desired rather than as she ought, she parted her mouth for him. His lips caressed hers and her whole skin seemed on the verge of melting. Oh saints. She’d never felt anything like that before. Her toes curled in delight and she twined his dark curls around her fingers, luxuriating in the springy feel of them.

While Julio and his princess spend most of their time dodging dangerous magic enhanced murderers and engaging in political maneuvering, fans of classic fantasy tales may find enough here to satisfy their urge for dalliance amid a richly imagined world.

This was a fun steampunk adventure in a world mildly like our own. Set on a giant gas planet, the people live on floating continents high in the atmosphere. The two empires the novel is set in superficially resemble France and Spain (although with a magic 'Saintsblood' royal class). There is swashbuckling and political intrigue aplenty. This book's biggest problem is its pacing and length. The exposition in this book was tedious far too frequently and often did not serve to further the characters or plot. Worse, there were times when something was explained and did become relevant later on, but then the book reexplained it again at length. A good 40+ pages in the beginning were devoted to establishing Isabelle's clandestine love of math (which is great); and something touted on the cover blurb as being central to her skill at unraveling the mysteries of the plot. And yet, that skill and her need to hide it was pretty much irrelevant for the last 2/3 of the book.

This book would have easily been a 4 or 4.5 for me. But given it clocks in at over 400 pages in hardcover and it felt like it was longer; I'm downgrading it to a 3 for how desperately it needed an editor to trim the excess.

AN ALCHEMY OF MASQUES AND MIRRORS is a well-crafted, absorbing novel. In fact, Princess Isabelle might be one of my favourite characters. She kind, smart, and accustomed to the glares that come her way. Her disability and lack of magic make her an outcast. If she was male, then it might be easier to move forward in their religious society where women are pushed away from maths and science and forced into more appropriate activities. Her only trusted friend is Jean-Claude, the loyal musketeer. More a father-figure than a bodyguard, Jean-Claude trusts Isabelle's intelligence and is happy to make himself a fool if it will protect her.

Isabelle studies in secret. She’s scientifically-minded and follows these principles throughout the novel. She relies on wit instead of strength. When the arranged marriage was brought into the plot, I worried that the novel would shift its focus from an interesting treason investigation to a marriage ceremony. Thankfully, the plot stayed fast-paced and interesting.

Where AN ALCHEMY OF MASQUES AND MIRRORS might lose most of its readers is in the first few chapters. The first five chapters are a dense read. The magic system, the nobility class, and flight technicalities, are all thoroughly explained. Sometimes to the novel’s detriment. While all those detail do help to create a believable world, knowing about how the airships fly seems far less important than understanding the religion and magic lineages. Again, this is one of those rare novels where you wish there was a diagram at the front that explained the different types of magic and why they were important. Stick with it. Once you get past the introduction and focus on Isabelle, the 400+ pages fly by. The magic system is the one of the charms of the novel. There are limitations and reveals that affect the plot and challenge the characters. AN ALCHEMY OF MASQUES AND MIRRORS has riveting characters, amazing worldbuilding, and a plot with actual consequences. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Curtis Chaddock’s novel An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is inventive high fantasy. While it doesn’t hold all the elements of such stories, it has plenty to count it as such.

There’s a brilliant if young heroine, and she has a father-figure protector. And hey he’s a Musketeer, so what could possibly go wrong? Isabelle is a princess in the realm of l’Empire Céleste, which exists in a very different sky from our own. Her father agrees to betroth Isabelle to the scion of another land, which will hopefully tip the economic and political balance towards l’Empire. And, of course, intrigue ensues.

I loved the relationship between Isabelle and Jean-Claude, the musketeer. (Although I must admit that I thought of Laurell K. Hamilton’s vampire character of the same name.) Jean-Claude is twice Isabelle’s age, and treats her as a beloved daughter, something her father fails to do. Isabelle and Jean-Claude rely on each other, and I like how Craddock took two very different characters and gave them a unique relationship.

When I read books with young female characters, I often get frustrated. See my review of Queen of the Tearling. But AAoMaM didn’t feel like YA to me. First of all, Isabelle is a thinker and a mathematician. She’s not a helpless young girl, although she is forced to unexpectedly become stronger and smarter. It’s clear to that she’s comfortable in her own skin. I also appreciated that Craddock didn’t overdescribe courtly fashion or hair styles. Instead he focuses on moving the plot forward.

What Craddock does describe in detail is the world he’s created. Travel is done on skyships, which have open decks, masts and sails, but fly rather than sail. There are many imaginative constructs in scientific theories, machinery, and locations. I thoroughly enjoyed this world. However, Craddock was often quite long-winded in his explanations.

AAoMaM has long chapters, and I admit to considering bailing once or twice. I wish it hadn’t taken a full 50% of the book to get to intrigue and action. That said, quite a lot of world-building needed to happen. Hopefully the next two books in the trilogy will shift the balance further toward action. Altogether I found the story of Isabelle and Jean-Claude to be satisfying, if a little slow.

Thanks to the author and Macmillan/ Tor Forge for the opportunity read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a floating world filled with airships and royal sorcerers, Princess Isabelle and her trusty musketeer, Jean-Claude, fight against a sinister plot that has been thousands of years in the making.

I was immediately drawn in by the wondrous setting and Curtis Craddock’s beautiful prose. The humor and clever turns of phrase were perfectly matched to such a fantastical story.

Isabelle and Jean-Claude are wonderful protagonists to follow as they are cunning, capable, and easy to root for. Their bond is a joy to witness, so it was a shame that they spent so little time together in the story. To that end, I wish character relationships, in general, were more at the forefront of this novel. The political maneuverings and motivations were a bit hard to follow and full immersion into the political theater becomes difficult when you only have access to the POVs of two outsiders.

These misgivings aside, this was an entertaining adventure in a fresh new setting. I look forward to seeing where Craddock takes the story next, as he has started (world)building a sandbox with loads of untapped potential.

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors takes place in a couple of nations designed to be obvious stand-ins for 17th century France and Spain in a world that superficially looks nothing like our own. It's a world with continents that float in the buoyant aether, said to be shattered remnants of a prior world. The saints are believed to have survived this shattering, and their magical powers are preserved in the bloodlines of each country's nobility under the careful watch of the clergy, who also guard the remnants of ancient steampunk technology. In the present day, travel between the continents is achieved in skyships, and the skies function as the equivalents of oceans, even supporting flying sea life.

Isabelle is a cousin of Leon XIV (think Louis XIV, though he seems a somewhat wiser ruler than his historical counterpart), but was born with only one finger on her right hand, a defect frowned upon by the superstitious. Even more troubling for Isabelle is her failure to manifest the Sanguinaire nobility's sorcery of bloodshadows as she grows older. Without sorcery, Isabelle has no prospects for marriage, and secretly devotes her time to scholarship, publishing acclaimed work under a male pseudonym. Academia is strictly forbidden to women, but Isabelle is a natural genius, seeing connections between sophisticated mathematics and art, science, and literature.

Jean-Claude is a King's Own Musketeer, but after he intervenes on Isabelle's behalf at her birth, he is "punished" with the charge of guarding her, which he accomplishes surreptitiously through most of her early life by pretending to be an incompetent drunkard. But Jean-Claude becomes the true, loving father figure that Isabelle wouldn't otherwise have, supporting her academic pursuits and encouraging her sense of self-worth. It is a shock to both of them when Isabelle is offered a betrothal to the younger prince of Aragoth (Spain), not only because Isabelle does not expect to be able to marry, but because marriages between sainted bloodlines are strictly forbidden by religious doctrine. The nobles of Aragoth are Glasswalkers, with the ability to send a version of themselves traveling between mirrors. With a struggle for the throne between the two brothers on the horizon, why have Principe Julio's faction turned to Isabelle as a potential future queen?

It's a premise that feels a bit like Arabella of Mars meets The Goblin Emperor by way of The Three Musketeers. And that's all before the real plot begins to kick in. The majority of the book takes place in the country that we must think of as Spain, as Isabelle and Jean-Claude deflect attempts on the princess's life and start to unravel the densely tangled web of the true reasons for her mysterious, perilous, and increasingly baffling betrothal, which only get deeper and deeper as the mystery unfolds. It's a wild ride of intrigue, deception, and political turmoil, and with a seemingly inevitable war brewing that threatens massive consequences, Isabelle takes upon herself the perilous role of an advocate for peace. It's ultimately a plot-driven and twist-filled story, elevated by the strength of its characters.

With regards to Isabelle's disability, I appreciated that Craddock consistently portrays her as comfortable in her own skin regardless of the prejudice cast her way. There is also a series of interesting moments throughout as Isabelle encounters several other characters with disabilities and disfigurements, and has to identify and put a check on some of her own immediate reactions and biases. As for Isabelle's role in this world as a woman, there is a sharp contrast between her original "unmarriageable" state in which she nominally has no value, but can pursue illicit scholarship under the cover of near invisibility, and her sudden elevation in social standing. As a betrothed princess and a suddenly important political figure, she seems to unexpectedly gain everything she's been denied, but she is only really valued for her ability to produce offspring, which is also deeply unsatisfactory. It's interesting to see Isabelle grapple with this seemingly lose-lose situation and ultimately triumph.

A few minor quibbles: I wish we'd gotten to see our brainy heroine actually DO more real math and science over the course of the story, as opposed to just applying her logical skills to politics and intrigue. And the villain, once revealed, goes a little overboard with the outrageous evil stuff. A book this firmly plot-driven will very rarely win a full five stars from me, but in my mind An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors solidly earns its four.

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is crisply written, cleverly plotted, and highly imaginative; a fantasy which succeeds in combining elements from different speculative fiction genres into an entertaining opening to The Risen Kingdoms series.

The tale begins with dashing Musketeer Jean-Claude racing against time to arrive at the birth of the girl who will become the center of his life: Isabelle. This offspring of royal, bloodshadow magicians nearly killed after birth due to a deformed hand. Only Jean-Claude’s timely intervention saving her and thereby creating their strong bond.

Skip forward two decades, Isabelle is a young woman who has grown up being verbally abused and mocked by her father due to her lack of magical powers. This mistreatment culminating in the youth’s best friend Marie being assaulted by her father, transformed into a “bloodshadow” who is not alive but certainly not dead either; this hollowed out ghost of Marie acting as a reminder of Isabelle’s failure to find her magical power. But, our determined princess has found ways to survive and flourish, secretly studying and excelling at science and mathematics (Both subjects forbidden to women.), even going so far as to publish treatises under a male name. The only person who knows of her successes Jean-Claude; this musketeer pretending to be a drunk so as to subtly watch over his beloved Isabelle, even as he aids her in plotting an escape from her father’s household.

Circumstances take an unexpected turn, however, when a messenger arrives from the Kingdom of Aragoth. Prince Julio of that kingdom asking for Isabelle’s hand in marriage. The messenger being honest with Isabelle that this is a political arrangement, where the Prince must marry a woman of a house blessed with magic and she is the only suitable candidate. This future as the future Queen of Aragoth allowing her escape from her present situation but also sure to be filled with political machinations, courtly intrigue, and unlooked for deadly surprises!

What sets An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors apart from other recent fantasy offerings is the refreshing world building. Airships. Floating islands. Musketeers. Gunpowder. Magic. Clockwork cyborgs. Curtis Craddock incorporating these elements (and many more) into this world, creating a very unique setting which demands readers’ full attention, while also threatening to overwhelm them with the massive amount of information. Yet somehow, someway, the author never goes too far with his explorations of the setting, immersing his readers fully yet never submerging them completely.

As for the characters, they are what I would call standard with a twist. Standard in that Isabelle is the usual princess who is gifted yet ignored, abused yet determined, held back yet destined for greater things. And, Jean-Claude is the middle aged protector, who loves his ward as a daughter, and is willing to go through hell itself to see her safe, secure, and happy. All of which means readers have encountered these two archetypes before in other stories, but Mr. Craddock does add his own unique take on both with Isabelle actually showing how competent she is instead of just telling everyone and Jean-Claude behaving like a middle-aged musketeer would, not able to fight, run, or do anything like he once did.

The narrative itself starts off fairly slow, but the pacing does steadily pick up speed once Isabelle makes her choice regarding the marriage proposal. Villains rear their heads. Politics take center stage. And Isabelle and Jean-Claude must find a way – difficult as it may be – to survive the growing cataclysm in which they are embroiled.

The only criticism I can level at this novel is that it is a two character show: Isabelle and Jean-Claude. If you love them, then you will love the book. If you don’t like them, then the unique world building and exciting plot will not save the day here. I say that because this is truly an emotional journey about these people and their bond, not an action-adventure or epic fantasy which happens to focus in on a character or two.

Beautiful, compelling, and emotional, Curtis Craddock has crafted a unique fantasy with An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors, one which will delight many fantasy fans. No, it didn’t inspire me as it has so many other reviewers, but even I can acknowledge its unique creativity, pulse-pounding excitement, and delightful humor. Certainly, this is a novel lovers of strong female leads should immediately go pick up.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

A wildly entertaining romantic romp in the tradition of Dumas and Sebastien de Castell and Mary Robinette Kowal. In a steampunky alternative Paris, laced with political and magical intrigue, power dynamics and and murder, Princess Isabelle and her musketeer protector Jean-Claude are thrown into a world of turmoil, attempted assassination and intrigue.

I cannot properly convey how compelling the hook of this tale was to me nor how pleased I was with its exposition. Fun adventure matinee-style threaded in a fresh and compulsively readable voice that paints a unique and daring world with aplomb.

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series

Great story. Great characters...and a flying continent. This book was a great beginning for this series!!!

https://lynns-books.com/2017/09/11/an-alchemy-of-masques-and-mirrors-the-risen-kingdoms-1/
I’m pleased to say that I loved An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors. It was a great read, the storyline is rich with drama and intrigue, the world building is eloquent and the characters, well, I simply fell in love with them. I picked this up hesitantly, I didn’t really know what to expect but here is a story of love, a story that will undoubtedly spring to mind old time classics but which brings a modern feel and includes elements of steampunk and blood magic. An ageing Musketeer, a courageous princess, a dark and twisting plot and court intrigue aplenty.

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot really. We begin with a birth and almost a death. Isabelle is born with a deformed hand which nearly seals her fate until Jean-Claude steps in. Jeane-Claude is the King’s own Musketeer. He travels the world on missions and relaying messages and on the day in question, in intervening and saving Isabelle’s life (by default in the King’s name) seals his own fate to become Isabelle’s protector and confidante. He remains on the Isle des Zephyrs until Isabelle’s hand is sought in marriage and the two of them travel to the Kingdom of Aragoth to meet Prince Julio. This is the start of their adventure, and when I say adventure I really mean their fight to stay alive and prevent a war.

The world here is rich and imaginative. Huge floating islands make up the kingdom. People travel via airship. Conflicts and intrigue are the flavour of the day and people switch sides with supreme indifference. The nobles can be cruel and ambitious, their own magic used ruthlessly to kill and sometimes to steal the will of the victims they choose.

I really loved the main characters. Isabelle is an intelligent woman. She adores maths and can hold her own but given the world in which she’s born into she must mask her ability and play down her smarts. She gives her father a wide birth, he’s a cruel man who has no time for a daughter born with a deformity and even more so one with no magical ability. Jeane-Claude is an ageing Musketeer who is more than aware that he’s not quite as agile as he once was. He’s tenacious and clever finding relevance and clues where others failed to look. The two of them together are a great combination to read. They care so much for each other, in a none romantic way, but they have the sort of partnership that means they both go off and do their own thing. Isabelle isn’t sat around waiting to be rescued, she’s pursuing her own objectives whilst Jean Claude is himself risking life and limb in pursuit of would-be assassins.

So, great characters and an amazing world. What more could you possibly want. Oh, maybe a beautifully written story that puts you in mind of the likes of Dumas, easy to digest prose, vivid descriptions and a slippery eel of a plot that is huge in scope but that comes together in a very satisfying way? Well, if that’s what you’re looking for then prepare to be happy because it’s all here in abundance.

In terms of criticisms. Not really a criticism but an observation. This is not a story that you can rush through, you have to savour the politics and come to terms with the different families and their own hierarchies. If you’re looking for a speedy read then you might want to bear that in mind before picking this one up.

A mash up of European alternate history and steampunk told with flair and absolutely wonderful to read.

I loved this.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Thanks Macmillan-Tor/Forge and netgalley for this ARC.

This is one awesome ride. This alternate universe will blow your mind. Isabelle is a heroine we could all relate to and cheer. I loved this fantasy/action/thriller. Can't wait to read more.

This book would have been the perfect follow-up to The Three Musketeers. Reading as a fantasy take on the classic (though not a re-telling), An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors was honestly a delightfully swashbuckling read. 

To start off, I think this is actually the first book I've read where the protagonist has a disability. Princess Isabelle is born with a single finger on one hand, referred to as a "wormfinger." This has made her looked down upon based on the religion of the world and even within her own family as she also is lacking her family's blood magic. Rather than focusing the story on her disability, I think Craddock did a great job of making it a part of Isabelle's life but not a limitation. She deals with it and the prejudice held against her for the way she was born but it doesn't hold her back. I'm not sure there is much in general that could hold this twelve-year-old back. 

Honestly, what sold me on Isabelle's character was her strength and intelligence. We're not told that she's clever and intuitive -- we see it. We're not told that she rises above those attempting to hold her back -- we see it. This was a bit jumpy at times where she almost went from 0 to 60 but overall I think the author did well with her character. I especially liked that she was interested in math and science, especially as this contradicted what women could know at this time. Like many fantasies I've read, this book features an almost extreme patriarchal society but you see it through Isabelle's eyes and how she continues to defy the rulings against her gender. 

This world also brought a new twist to what readers might expect as seventeenth century Europe. To be clear, An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is set in its own world but like many fantasies, seems to draw on our own world. I liked all the airships that basically resemble galleys much like you'd see in Pirates of the Caribbean, and that the continents ("skylands") are quite literally flying islands that people fly between. Craddock keeps it simple and doesn't overwhelm the reader with a ton of different world elements but instead goes farther in-depth with the ones he includes so that you feel fully immersed without the added confusion. 

It took me a while to really get into this book but I was hooked by the end and can definitely say I recommend it to anyone who loves adventures and tackling a patriarchy and a resilient girl prepared to face the world.

Wow, did this book sneak under my radar! In spite of a slightly confusing description, I was able to get into the book and really enjoy the story. I never thought that reading about a mathematician would be such a treat; Isabelle was an excellent protagonist. Can't wait to read more!