The Tower's Alchemist

The Gray Tower Trilogy #1

by Alesha Escobar

A jaded spy reluctantly agrees to postpone retirement and extract a warlock from Nazi-occupied France. But when her cover is blown, she's pitted against a deadly vampire who seeks to devour her. It's an alternative World War II, where magic is not only real but is key to winning the war. Isabella George, a battle-weary alchemist and spy for British intelligence, wants nothing more than to retire and find love--but fate has other plans for her. She parachutes into Paris, bent on destroying an alchemical weapon known as the Plague and nabbing Veit Heilwig, the warlock who created it. It seems simple enough, but there's a catch. Someone within her own spy organization betrays her and exposes her identity, putting her life in danger and setting Marc, a Cruenti vampire, hot on her trail. Isabella is shaken by the fact that Marc wants to steal her powers, but she's determined to regain her footing and complete her mission. She still holds out hope that she can retire to a normal life, but Marc won't make it easy for her. He sends his minions, both human and inhuman, to hunt her down. Adding to the complexity of the situation, Isabella navigates the romantic attention of two men, both of whom bring out the best in her. She must decide if they will be a help or hindrance to her, in her deadliest mission yet. Reading order of The Gray Tower The Tower's Alchemist (Book 1) Dark Rift (Book 2) Circadian Circle (Book 3)

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Ebooks, Alternate History, Fiction, Magic

284 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2011

About the author

Alesha Escobar writes action-packed paranormal fantasy with a dash of humor and romance mixed in. She’s the author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy, a WW2 paranormal fantasy often described as “Agent Carter meets Hellboy.”

She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.

Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.

When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.

To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads

Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!

Reviews

[Jola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also on www.jolasbookshelf.wordpress.com

Nazi Warlock Vampires? It may sound weird, but Alesha Escobar found a way to make it good.
'The Tower's Alchemist' quickly puts reader right in the middle of the action. There isn't a lot of information about our main character, Isabella, but it wasn't a problem for me. I like books in which we have to wait to uncover things slowly.
The first book in a trilogy sets up a story for book 2 nicely and I will certainly pick it up.

Thanks to Alesha Escobar for offering me a chance to read her work!

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Verushka

Wizards and Nazi Warlock Vampires during World War II; an unusual combination to say the least, but Alesha Escobar shows a deft hand in bringing this, the first of her trilogy to life.

Isabella is a spy, an alchemist but more than anything she is tired when we meet her. Escobar takes great care to draw Isabella to help readers understand why she is tired of fighting the good fight, and readers will be able to understand where she is coming from. Escobar doesn’t shy away from the harshness of WWII. Isabella allows herself to be drawn into a final mission – to extract a warlock from the Nazi’s clutches and prevent him and them from releasing a plague on the Allies in Europe.

If only things were that easy for Isabella. Her mission becomes complicated – to say the least, and in between trying to resolve her feelings for two potential love interests and succeed in her mission, she also discovers that there are things about herself she never realized, things that change everything about her.

Thin on the plot I know, but there is so much happening it’s hard to know where to begin to accurately start describing this book, without forgetting myself and giving everything away. It reads like an old black and white war movie and I am making that statement with a straight face, I promise. Escobar’s attention to detail, to bringing an era long past to life in an urban fantasy is wonderful. Secondary characters, who do not have as many pages as they should to evolve, are nonetheless superbly drawn. In the atmosphere created by Escobar, they fit, details are given because they matter.

Isabella is a determined and relatable character. She has friends and family she sees too infrequently and misses, and yearns to be able to settle down. It is perhaps a case of the grass is greener on the other side, but that remains to be seen in the next couple of books. Her desire to love and be loved in return doesn’t over power her characterization but the problem lies in the fact that much of the first part of the book is devoted to how much she cares for a fellow spy, before he is shifted off, and her attention moves on to someone else. It’s not as quick as I am making it sound, but both romantic interests are such interesting, charismatic characters, more time should have been devoted to why they are, or they aren’t the man/men for her. It’s too quick of a jump from one to another.

Another strength of this novel is the pacing – from the first page, the pacing never lets up. It is frantic, as it should be considering the setting and Escobar’s writing draws you in and never lets go. However, that said, at some points there seems to be far too much going on and I felt there were at least two or three excellent plot points that could be separated into different books. There is so much happening, and so much Isabella has to deal with, I felt I couldn’t give each plot point as much attention as it deserved and I felt that Isabella did not have enough time to deal with emotional heart-wrenching elements that she should have.

I want to mention the world building here again – did I mention how much I loved it? Because I did – the historical detail is engrossing as much as the details of the power the wizards in Escobar’s world wield.

This is a fast paced, action packed book, with rich plot elements, that perhaps deserve more attention than they have been given in this title.

http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...

[Samantha LaFantasie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I'm not a spy novel person, nor do I keep up with things like Bond and what not. I don't purposefully set out to read them. And I don't particularly enjoy them.But what Alesha Escobar has done was create a vivid and intensely deep story that involves acts of espionage and magic. The story is wonderfully crafted with detailed and complex characters, vivid scenery and excellent twists. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels interlaced with reality and mystery.

I feel like I do need to mention that, because I'm not a spy guru or know much about that line of work, I had a hard time following the plot. It was riddled with so many twists that it was hard for me to keep everything straight. There are still many questions left unanswered that were presented at the beginning of the book that do keep me intrigued enough to follow the story through to its end. With that being said, I hope to read the next in the series and find out what had happened with the characters and just where this story is going to lead. The story was good, well written, and sure to capture the imagination.

This review will be posted on my site and Amazon as well as other sites as necessary.

[Y. Correa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine, if you will, an alternate earth where magic exists, along with many other mystical creatures: vampires, wizards, alchemists. Now, try to envision a different time. World War 2, to be exact.

In a time when a war is raging, and nothing is as it seems Isabella George finds herself in a tough situation. She’d grown tired of fighting, surviving and doing things that she’s been told were necessary for the well-being of many. Isabella George is a double agent (triple even) with the power of alchemy, which she needs to keep concealed. She realizes that she needs to go on one last mission and that her “particular set of skills” would be beneficial in order to accomplish it.

This world is jam-packed with magic, mayhem and the unknown—this includes Isabella’s past, for she longs to know what happened to her father, whom also honed her same talents. The only problem is that there is much more that Isabella doesn’t know, than what she does.

I had some real problems with this story—too many, to be honest. I truly dislike it when there is a book which lures me in with its idea (potential premise) then lets me down completely. This, unfortunately is one of those sort of books for me.

At one point it got so bad, that I began to nitpick. I don’t typically nitpick.

Suffice it to say, that I had a hard time getting through this book and I am going to give you a list of reasons why.

However, before I go there, I’ll start with the things that I liked about the read.

Pros:

1. I really liked the cover. There is something about abstract, simplistic art that always captures my attention. This book really nailed it in that aspect.
2. The idea. I am always attracted to “Out of the Box” literature. I love new ideas and original thoughts. So I found the premise to be intriguing and alluring. What nerd (like me) doesn’t love a good “alternate world and history” bit?
3. Stella (the best friend/office mate), I think was my favorite character. Out of all of the many characters that were introduced, she seemed like the most genuine.

That was about all I can present to you in the form of positives. I’m sorry. Now, before I get into the negatives, I feel the need to explain a few things about myself as I’ll be presenting you with the negatives from that perspective.

If you are anything like me, you enjoy a complex read, however said “complex read”, must be easy to follow.

This is what I mean:

In an abstruse read, there must be a steady rhythm and flow; a comprehensive “time line”, if you will. Something that while subtly unraveling an enigmatic story line will help the read not lose track of the happenings.

Think of it in a “Alfred Hitchcock’ sort of way. Our beloved Mr. Hitchcock had a knack for presenting a complicated story in a very comprehensive way. Then at the end, he’d hit us with a twist and left our mouths wide open and our minds blown. That is the sign of a truly genius way of writing a story which entails many facets.

It must be easy to follow, period. So, once again, if you’re anything like me, if a story is too difficult from the very start, then you find yourself undeniably frustrated and ultimately angered.

That being said, let me get into my thoughts as it pertains to the Cons.

Cons:

1. There were way too many characters introduced too quickly.
2. There were way too many different “groups” introduced too quickly.
3. The writing feels displaced. I’ll explain. While it’s based in the past, the writing is significantly modern.
4. The main character is supposed to be American, residing in England, yet her personality is too unstable. One minute she seems more English than American, the next minute it’s the other way round.
5. There were too many instances in which there was modern language/slang introduced into the story that did not exist in that day and time.
6. In the first few chapters, you are tossed directly into the middle of the action without even knowing how you got there. Basically, it was all over the place. I couldn’t, for the life of me, establish one main time line.
7. Then the story stagnates and basically loses all liveliness. Yet, still we are continually introduced to more and more characters without knowing who anyone really is, or what their actual purpose in the story is.
8. Way too many “code names” for the characters. You may need a pen and paper to keep track of who everyone is and what their code name is, and what role they play.
9. After a while the main character began to tick me off. She just seemed annoying after a while.
10. This book has several instances of “odd grammar” throughout. Little things, like not putting a space after an ellipsis. As well as too many ellipsis used.
11. Some awkward sentence structure as well. For example: (PDF Page 8) “I knew that if I kept pushing myself, that I’d faint.” It just sounds weird. It should be “I knew that if I kept pushing myself, I’d faint.”
12. Another example of odd grammar is whenever the main character, or any character for that matter quoted what another character said it was written incorrectly. Here is what I’m referring to; “Hmph…well enough. At least acknowledge all the hell I went through to get this formula here.” It should have been, “Hmph…‘well enough‘. At least acknowledge all the hell I went through to get this formula here.”
13. There was more odd terminology used, such as “high school girl”. In England it’s known as “Secondary Education or Secondary School”.
14. Oddly enough, I found a few hidden references to Sherlock Holmes. Like Baker Street, and Office #221B. Just weird. It made me wonder if it was intentional or not.
15. Most of the organizations named throughout the story weren’t even really explained. So the reader had no way of knowing what they really were.
16. Much of the characters seemed unoriginal. Like, a lot of the “bad guys” all sounded the same to me.
17. Even up until the very last chapter we are STILL being introduced to MORE new characters. This should be the point where things are being resolved. Yet, they are not.
18. There is absolutely NO resolution in this story. None of the problems were truly solved, things were still left in the air, there is a whole new level of conflict that is introduced—it’s an utter cliffhanger.

To make a long review, as short as I can without getting into anything else, I was very let down by this read for many reasons. I can only hope that the other two books are better because if I were to base my desire to read the other books on my experience with this one, I probably wouldn’t even attempt it.

Truthful Verdict: 2 Stars. I was highly unimpressed with this story.

[a_tiffyfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Argh! I have to wait now for the trilogy to be finished?! I really need to pay attention to publication dates!
Got this when it was free on amazon. It took a little bit to get into the story. I felt like I was missing a whole lot of background information, as if there was a previous book introducing everyone. You quickly get by that though and pulled into the story.
Isabella is a wizard, an american based in london, trained by the grey tower who oversees all wizards apparently, and works as a spy. it is world war II and the nazis are tapping all sorts of resources, magical and physical. Who do you trust? Those supposedly on your side betray you, your own family is a mess of lies, you are alone. There are creepy killers known as black wolves, barely controllable with no humanity left, and cruenti - vicious vampires who prey on wizards. There are powerful wizards with no scruples, and sweet normals trying to end the nazi regime.
I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to know more and more and was sad when it ended and I was left with too many unanswered questions. I'm going to wait til 2 and 3 are both published before reading 2 so I can get it all at once!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have run into the idea of Hitler using occult magic before, so I was curious to see how Ms. Escobar handled the concept. I was very pleased with the result. The alternate reality presented in The Tower's Alchemist "feels" real. There is lots of action as our heroine Isabella is an undercover agent for British SOE and spends most of the book in occupied France. Isabella is a sympathetic character, in part because she is the narrator of the book. Her character has added depth from the mystery of her father's disappearence and her conflicted relationship with the Grey Tower of wizards. I also enjoyed many of the supporting characters, and hope to see more of the surviving ones in the sequels. And there are plenty of loose ends and mysteries left for the next volume. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy. I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.

[Elise Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll first say that I found it a little bit difficult to get into the story at first. Mainly because I felt like the pieces of background offered were a bit fragmented. However, it was definitely worth the read because once I started putting things together, I was able to connect better with Isabella as a character. I was gripped by the suspense and intrigued by this alternate-reality world where wizards are used on both sides. I thought that Isabella's desire for a normal life made her a sympathetic character. The secondary characters were colorful and engaging. I was entertained and left looking forward to the second book in this trilogy!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the heels of the release of Dark Rift, the second book in this series, I have decided to write a much needed, and long overdue review of The Tower's Alchemist.

First, I have 3 main things that initially interested me in the book, based upon the summary information:
Nazi Warlock Vampires
Nazi Warlock Vampires
and just so the idea really hits you NAZI WARLOCK VAMPIRES.

The only thing that could have attracted me more would have been the phrase Nazi Warlock Vampire Zombies!

OK, now to the real review.

Spoiler-Free Plot Review:

The story is about Isabella George, who is working for a British espionage group during World War 2. Isabella has a unique set of skills, magical powers, and has been trained at the famed organization The Gray Tower as an Alchemist, a magician/warlock trained in manipulating the elements. However, Nazi Germany has it's magical beings as well, vampiric warlocks called the Crueti and Dark Wolves, creatures so overtaken by evil that they become beasts.

Isabella needs to thwart the Nazi's magically enforced germ warfare program while facing mounting evidence that past life events are about to catch up to her, in a very deep way. Along the way she meets several allies, including a priest with magical abilities and they forge friendships working toward the common good. But, will it be enough, and what does Isabella's haunted past have to do with all of it?

Review:

I can't emphasize enough what really attracted me to this book, Nazi Warlock Vampires. That being said, I enjoy a good fantasy/fiction/sci-fi book and when I saw the information about the book on Facebook, I had to pick it up and read it.

The story starts off a bit slowly, in order to give some background and to set the mood. It was a bit slower than I personally like, but, had enough bits of action to keep the story moving forward. However, once a reader hits the middle of the book, it becomes a very fast-paced and entertaining read.

The characters were well-written and enjoyable in their roles. The antagonists were dark, scary and really emphasize the evil that they have chosen to serve for the reader.

The sub-characters are also well-developed. Even though they might only have a short role in the story, they have deep significance and the reader feels almost as emotionally involved and connected to them as they are to the main characters.

The story itself is intriguing and unique. It has action, love, suspense, and everything else that makes up a great fantasy story. The settings are realistic to their historical times and the reader can really see this having the potential to have happened, albeit in a fictional universe.

So, despite the slow pace at times, The Tower's Alchemist is a great read. I would recommend it to lovers of fiction and fantasy and look forward to reading Dark Rift.

[Devorah Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most young women her age, Isabella would be happy to spend her time having fun with friends, reading brides’ magazines and planning a future with the man she loves. But the world is at war and the good guys need her for her unique and particular talents. She is an alchemist and can bend natural forces to her will. This makes her an ideal adversary to go up against Nazis who count wizards, vampires and terrifying Black Wolves among their numbers. Vowing to retire, the brave young woman takes on one last mission: to stop the Nazis from deploying a monstrously deadly bio-weapon. I cheered Isabella for her persistence and her commitment to the cause, and liked the way the details of the secret service she works for and biowarfare were inspired by actual WWII events. It made the story that much more believable.

[Travis Simonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally loved this book the characters were great and I am looking forward to the next book ! Great blend of fantasy with historical fiction.

[k.wing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escobar juggles a lot of interesting characters and wizards in this book (like wizards who drink other wizards' blood), but I do wish she had chosen a bit more dynamic scenes. It felt like there was a lot of sitting around and drinking wine and I was hoping for more action.

[Sarah]

http://www.bookwormblues.net/2017/08/...

[Emma Ann]

RTC!

[Annabell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read many historically based fiction but have enjoyed a few of them here and here so when The Tower’s Alchemist came along I was really curious to read how the author would manage pulling off mixing War World II with vampire-like wizards and Alchemist who are trying to take down Hitler. I was pleasantly surprised in many ways by this book.

Isabella George is an undercover agent for the U.S. who send in only their most skilled and trusted Alchemists to not only hunt down information they need but take down seriously deadly enemies. World War II seems as if it will never end and Isabella has decided her hunt for Dr. Heilwig, the wizard who created The Plague—a deadly virus that enters the skin and kills someone painfully slowly—will be her final mission. She dreams of falling in love and having a family but one major problem is the fact that her boyfriend, Ken, is also a secret agent for the U.S. and they barely see each other as it is. On her mission in occupied France, Isabella soon discovers that secrets have been kept from her and the father she thought had died when she was a child, may be alive after all but can she trust the secret messages being sent to her or will they lead her into a trap?

Isabella George is not exactly the type of girl a guy brings home. She’s blunt with her mouth and even tougher with her fists, especially when she uses magic. She’s a Alchemist having been trained by the Gray Tower, an exclusive organization that houses and trains powerful Alchemists. I liked certain aspects to Isabella’s character. She faces her fears head on, has a spine as tough as steel and manages to be vulnerable in just the right way.

The saving grace though of The Tower’s Alchemist is the world building. The author paid very close attention to detail and seamlessly wove the World War II era with the magical abilities of the Alchemists and Wizards. The plot also doesn’t shy away from showcasing the stark reality of what Would War II was really like. Hitler and his soldiers had no remorse, no compassion, no heart. The scenes where people would be killed in the street or taken from the school were heartbreaking. They added a deep realism to a fictional world. The action was also very well done throughout the story. The reader can feel the tight tension and adrenaline in the many fight scenes that pop up throughout the book.

I also really enjoyed the magical elements to the story. The way Isabella would gain her power and rejuvenation from fire or how the gold of a blade could be manipulated. One of my favorite things she can do is throw people back by using magic to manipulate wind. Those were pretty fun moments.

I also liked the Cruenti, warlocks who feed off of Wizards and Alchemists was a nice little twist. Marcellus is the scariest of them all and a great villain. I wouldn’t want to be caught alone (or really even in person) with him. He’s fast, ruthless, and untamed. I liked how dark and prideful he came off. He fit the role of a villain right on point.

But not everything worked in the book. Isabella had the annoying habit of making ridiculous decisions that only managed to place her and others in harm way when there didn’t need to be cause for it. So many people ended up having to sacrifice themselves for her because she was too reckless and lacking common sense to pay attention to the RIGHT details. There were a lot of moments I questioned if she really had any training and why she was considered so important as a spy when she seemed in capable to practicing self-preservation or wise decisions. None of the secondary characters really stood out for me or any of the other main characters (which I’m guessing were Ken, Renee and Dr. Heilwig but honestly I couldn’t really tell). Everyone sounded the same. There wasn’t enough depth to tell the difference between one character or another. Isabella’s narration was one note so it made it really hard to tell who was even speaking if the name of the character wasn’t mentioned.

The pacing was really choppy. The story starts off with intensity than wanes for a good while then attempts picking up but falls short because there is either too much happening in scene a reader can’t grasp all the details or nothing much other than Isabella telling the reader things she deems important. There were many scenes that ended abruptly that I would have liked to have seen better executed. Particularly the scene where Ken and Isabella call it quits. I never believed their romance then it just ended. The ending to the book was fairly interesting. It closed the book well enough while leaving room for the second without feeling like a cliffhanger which I did like.

I would venture to say The Tower’s Alchemist was a pretty good beginning to a trilogy with an interesting and unique concept.

Fans of both historical and spy fiction will most likely have a good time with much of this book.

http://www.nerdalien.com/2012/12/book...

[Queen Spades · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: This was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Pros of this work:
1. I really like the abstract look of the cover. For me, it adds to the mystery component.

2. I will give lots of points for the attempt to put out something “out of the box”. Spies, wizards, World War II—so many different elements in one story. It does take a lot of gumption to try and have all of that within one work. That is worthy of some finger snaps.

3. There are a few characters that I really liked. Renee really stood out. I admired her wisdom and her quiet spirit. Ken was a character that really caught my attention along with the intriguing make up of Father Gabriel. The support and tenacity of Otto also warmed my heart and made me smile whenever he was mentioned.

Opportunities for improvement:
1. In The Tower’s Alchemist, new individuals were introduced in practically every chapter. Sometimes, up to five new people. All before we even get to the main ingredient in the recipe, as they say. Not only are they placed in the chapters, but it’s done in a way that’s a bit nonchalant and we don’t know what purpose the person serves until much later, if not at all. Maybe it was to keep the whole element of suspense going but there is a way of bringing new people in without it feeling overwhelming. From a reader’s perspective, there are way too many characters thrown into the mix.

2. The first four chapters of The Tower’s Alchemist was action, action, action with no clear indicators of the cause. Once Chapter Five arrived, the author slowed down the pace and began to drop in more narrative. However, those eye drops felt more like cement bricks, and even worse, they were placed in strange spots. Certain elements that were placed on one chapter were better suited to go along with the action that related to the back story in another chapter.

3. The Tower’s Alchemist is supposed to be set during the time of World War II. The thing which threw me off was that some of the dialogue didn’t quite fit the setting. Whether this a true detriment actually depends on the reader. For those who don’t weigh in heavily on dialogue matching history, this obvious glitch may not even register. For those who thinks that dialogue matching the proper times makes a story even better, this will stick out like a swollen thumb.

4. Isabella being an effective spy is NOT believable at all. What type of spy reacts to the bad guys calling her by her non-spy name? Don’t they give classes on maintaining your poker face and not blowing your cover? Yet on more than one occasion, and through one-on-one dialogue at that, the moment someone she thought she could trust says her actual name, it’s like all of that goes out the window and she is like, “How do you know about me? How do you know my real name?” Multiple times she gets herself in jams where she should know better, or where other people have to come in at just the right moments to save the day. I’m not saying Isabella can’t make mistakes but you would think she would learn after the first couple of times to put up a more effective guard, and even more so, rather than go into an operation all rogue, you employ back up in case somebody goes flip mode.

5. The length of the chapters were all over the place. A few were about ten to fifteen pages while a few were closer to thirty pages. Chapters 13, 16, 17, and 21 really stood out because the action in the chapters, rather than utilizing scene separations, should have just been another chapter instead.

6. In addition to her spy swag being less than mediocre (aka atrocious), I’m not a fan of Isabella's overall disposition. Isabella stays stuck in this rut and she comes off as pretentious and insensitive. Perhaps Isabella will gain more likability as the series continues but as it stands right now, I don’t find myself caring about what happens to her.

7. Through this entire story, the spy angle and the element angle seemed more in competition that flattering each other. Part of it is how the alchemist information was placed in this work--almost like an afterthought or some type of commercial break. This is a shame because the usage of the magic is what I found the most enjoyable. I could have easily done without the added layer of Isabella being a spy because I wanted to experience what she could do with her magic. The information involving the different stones and symbols could have been better served as a glossary at the beginning of the book as opposed to the lackluster interlink attempts in the gargantuan blocks of narrative.

Verdict: 2 out of 5 Stars

Despite the ambitious aim of this work, The Tower’s Alchemist does too much in its goal to be out of the box. Too many characters, lack of a tidied resolution, major fail of Isabella as a credible and engaging main character, and the disproportion of narration, conflict, information, and historically accurate dialogue really hurt the star power of this undertaking.

[Tanya Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and WWII, strong female lead and spies, how could you go wrong? I definitely enjoyed this book!

[Tanya Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Towers Alchemist, the first book in The Gray Tower trilogy is a historical fantasy set in World War II, albeit not the one taught in history class. Isabella George, the books protagonist, works as a spy for a clandestine agency known as the SOE based in England. Not only is Isabella a talented spy but also a skilled alchemist who once attended The Gray Tower, an institution for training those with various magical skills. In the world Isabella inhabits, dealing with wizards, Nazi wizard vampires, spies, time travel, and of course alchemy is commonplace. The general public is not aware of the additional danger and atrocities that these magical and supernatural elements play in the war, but for Isabella a battle weary spy she is only too familiar and it has finally taken it's toll.

Right away you get the impression that she is not in any way a damsel in distress. She handles herself with confidence and even when she is fatigued she just pushes through it. I admire her incredibly strong character, she is quick thinking and a force to be reckoned with wether it be physical or magical combat, against enemies both male and female, magical and non magical alike. What's so lovely about this female character is that she does not have to sacrifice her femininity to be strong. She is feminine and strong, she longs for a normal life to meet someone and fall in love but that is also not her main objective. Yes there is romance and a bit of a love triangle, thankfully it does not distract from the story or become the books driving force. I feel the romance actually worked to make Isabella more relatable. Not everyone can relate to being an alchemist/spy during a World War, but almost everyone can relate to being in love. Isabella is by far my favorite character but the book has no shortage of well fleshed out and endearing supporting characters like the dashing Brande a Gray Tower wizard, or Renee the frenchwoman doing her part against the Nazi's. The book is full of great characters and it is no small feat that Alesha was able to give most of them a satisfying if small back story.

Alesha Escobar grabs the reader by the hand and says run, and you will enjoy every second. It is a fun action packed, supernatural, spy caper, romance, and it is done beautifully and perfectly balanced. This book is a definite must read.

[H.M. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I was intrigued by Escobar's book because it seemed so unlikely a read. That is, I could not fathom an author combining wizardry, alchemy, Nazi Germany, espionage, time travel and vampires into something intelligible. Boy, I was WRONG. And I've never enjoyed being wrong more. This book is not only intelligible, it is smart, sometimes funny, heartbreaking, thrilling, relate-able, and expertly paced.
Escobar seems to effortless combine all of these interesting fantasy and sci-fi tropes without completely overwhelming her characters, the plot or her reader. In fact, I, like so many of her characters, felt that it was only natural that Miss George, the main character, used her alchemy to fend of vampires and Nazis alike.
Indeed, the only reason this book would not receive a perfect rating (I would give it a 4.8) is that I wanted more of an outsider's view on the fantastical side of Nazi fighting resistance. I was left wondering how all of these magical and paranormal intrigues were kept at bay from the normal masses, but I have not read the next two books, though I fully intend to do so just after writing this review, so my wondering may yet be answered.
This book is made more wonderful because of the main character. So many strong female characters are written as unfeminine, off-putting or violent, and, while Miss George is sometimes forced to act similarly, at times, it is clear that she also craves normalcy, love, and long term stability. She is feminine and a arguably, feminist, by simply allowing herself to be feminine and strong simultaneously. I loved her p.o.v. I loved her complexity, the friends she meets along the way and her ferocious and frightening enemies. And, like Miss George, I'm always in skeptic mode, wondering which friend or enemy will reveal him/herself to be other.
The well paced plot, the effortless dialogue, the expertly edited and refined text, and the vivid imagination of Escobar all create a story that is quickly consumed but that leaves you thinking about it long after you've finished. Add Escobar to your MUST READ list.

[Rachel Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite the adventure! I'm not gonna say it was all a fun ride because there was genuine emotional turmoil included, but that just helped to make it such a good book. This world's use and acceptance of the reality of magic was seamless. It never seemed out of place for someone to be able to create symbols and unleash the elements.

Isabella is a strong and intelligent woman, as someone in her line of work should be. Her tools of the trade mix traditional spy gear with magical gear. She has emerald glasses that let her see in the dark. She has red garnet lipstick that, when kissed, allows her influence over the kisser. A wonderful blend of spy and magic gear.

My favorite part of this book is the entire cast and crew of characters. It's so easy to feel for the people she meets behind the lines, the people who have lost everything, the people who are tired of fighting but continue to do so. It is written in such a way that much of the history of World War II is still there, there's just magic involved as well. The people of Britain are still conserving every ounce of food and cooking with even the most disliked ingredients (liver sandwiches, bleh). The people of France are on strict rations with curfews and are killed on the streets if suspected of any Marquisard activities or sympathies. This book almost brought me to tears through its characters.

All of this and I've barely scratched the surface the Grey Tower vs the Black Wolves! The Order versus "vampires" that drink the blood of wizards to gain their energy. Plus, the hunt for Isabella's father who is believed to be a Drifter, a magician who can travel through time. There is just so much going on in this book, but it is so well balanced that it never feels overwhelming. It never feels like the author is skipping over important details.

This was a great read. If you like magic-in-the-real-world, or fictional stories set in World War II, or stories about magical forces at war with each other, I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the surface, this is exactly the type of book I'd enjoy. I mean... NAZI WARLOCK VAMPIRES, people! I was REALLY looking forward to meeting those guys. Unfortunately, while the Nazi warlock vampires pulled their weight (as much as Nazi warlock vampires do, that is), the book fell flat for me until the final confrontation at the end.

In large part, I think this was due to the somewhat extraneous characters introduced who would stick around for a couple pages before disappearing. That part wouldn't have been so bad, but these characters would pop up again later in the book and I'd have to really wrack my brain trying to remember who they were. And how they were important. While some of that could be explained by Isabella's transient and secret life as a spy (speaking of which, she goes by several different names in the book. I have a hard time wrapping my head around when main characters have multiple names.), following along with who was who and what part they played in her life was exhausting.

I will say, the ending really picked up. 'Splosions! Death! Secrets revealed! The underlying reasoning for why Isabella had become such a focus for so many different groups really amped up the intrigue. If the beginning of the book had the intensity of the end, I would have devoured it in one sitting. Alas, I had to content myself with the occasional sighting a Nazi warlock vampire instead.

Not going to lie, that doesn't get old to type.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Ellie Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower's Alchemist is a Fantasy novel which recreates the experience of the Second World War. Nazi warlock vampires are just one of the terrifying obstacles that lay in the path of Isabella George, part of the resistance fighting the Germans.

As a trained alchemist, I found her to be a strong and resourceful character with a good measure of independence. She is a true heroine and provides a terrific role model for young girls.

Isabella finds death and betrayal wherever she turns as she works with the British forces to try and put an end to chemical weaponry that is costing people their lives. Secrets involving her supposedly dead father are just another diversion she faces in this tale.

Set between Denmark and France, The Tower's Alchemist made for a thrilling read. The characters were lively and worked well to drive the story forward. Themes of mortality and loss were prevalent throughout and there was no shortage of awesome fight scenes. I found the start of the book to be rather intense as we dove straight into the first action sequence. It immediately captured my attention as a reader and made me question how the heroes were going to survive.

If you want a read that flows well, makes great use of humour, and leaves you guessing, then might I suggest The Tower's Alchemist, by Alesha. L. Escobar.

4/5 stars.

[Elle Jacklee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love paranormal, I love spy stories (especially with tough female spies), and I love historical fiction. So when I saw the premise of this book, I expected to enjoy it. And I wasn't disappointed. This story was a fast-paced thrill ride set in a vividly described WWII Europe where Nazis employ vampires and the occult to help them carry out their ghastly agenda. Alchemist Isabella George, the main character, has had enough of the danger and uncertainty of the spy life. She plans to fulfill one last mission before going on to lead a “normal” life that would include a husband and children. But as she is in the thick of the high-stakes mission along with her team (which includes friends/would-be lovers and a vampire-killing priest), she struggles with doubts about quitting. To make the decision even harder, clues about a mystery from her past begin to emerge, pulling her deeper in instead of out. The underlying current of Isabella's relationships with her fellow spies adds a layer of depth that complements the action-packed storyline beautifully. Ms. Escobar has done a great job of tidily tying up the ends that needed tying while leaving enough unanswered to make me eager to see what happens next in the Dark Rift, the second installment in the Gray Tower Trilogy. Excellent!

[liirogue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has a really neat plot, and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives.

I felt like I picked up the second book in the story. Escobar tosses you into this world from the start - and a lot of times that works. But the author never really fills in the world. People with magical abilities are running around - how does society deal with this? Do regular people know or just a select few? How has magic made this society different? So with some additional world-building, this would have really eased the flow of the novel for me. I could never get a feel for what this world was supposed to be like.

The book is set during World War 2, in the late 1930s. This book could have been set at any period, because nothing places the story in a particular time period other than the constantly referenced war. Nothing about fashion, technology, etc. It could have been a WW2 that occurred in 1985.

I had a hard time keeping all of the characters straight. Each character has a first and last night, and then a first and last fake name as well. I found it difficult to keep track of everyone because Escobar would switch from referring to a character by their real first name to suddenly refer to them by their fake last name, etc.

[Dicey Grenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book of its kind for me. I don't typically find history interesting, because it's nonfiction. I prefer fiction, where I can read for escapism and entertainment, which is why I love fantasy. Combining warlocks with WWII--that was different. When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued. Throw in some alchemy and occult magic, and I was in for something fresh and creative. The opening scene was action-packed, which was a good way to start it. After that, I had some difficulty adjusting to the world-building and felt lost many times. I chalk that up to it being over my head, but would be ideal for someone who normally reads this genre. I was pleased with the editing and writing style as well. Isabella is a likeable character and I wonder where her story will go from here. Dark Rift (#2 of The Gray Tower Trilogy) is sure to be just as imaginative and exciting.

[Francene Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This amazing novel focuses on an English spy working in France during WW2. However, the plot differs from other spy novels written about this period. The strong heroine uses alchemical symbols to aid her work. Spies on both sides of the war employ similar ploys. The heroine does her job as best she can despite the magical tricks others use against her, at the same time attempting to come to terms with co-workers who have died.

The writing style pulled me right into the mind of Isabella, or Emelie as she was sometimes known. The plot drew me along during skirmishes and revelations when she faced friend or foe, all the while trying to find her father and the link to her past. The end astonished me.

[Tom Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Now, for the rating! I hope you can tell that I think thi has been a greta book, and I dearly hope you’ll all read it. It’s $2.99 for Kindle – that’s like a packet of cigarettes you don’t need, or a coffee, or maybe a McDonald’s burger. I don’t believe there’s anybody who can’t afford a coffee for a good read and to help a great writer keep writing. I promise you won’t regret this book. I’m not a big reader of spy-books, but I really enjoyed this one.

The Tower’s Alchemist left me wanting more, so I’m giving it a 9/10. What a book."

This is an excerpt from my detailed review on my blog - please see the whole article here - http://datbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"People in the normal world would call them vampires. To wizards, they were a nasty bunch of warlocks called Cruenti. Blood Magic was one of the most powerful forms of magic, and Cruenti fed off of other wizards. They drank wizards' blood to cast spells, enhance their own powers...and to regenerate from gunshot wounds."

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this book... and the ending?? Didn't see it coming. I cannot wait to read the next one!

[Kreela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world: this is an alternate history. German forces are expanding across Europe during WW2, and they have taken France. However, in this case, spell-casters have developed weapons that allow the German army to lay a plague upon the countries.
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The magic: The wizards have different abilities like alchemy (duh) and healing. Isabella is trained as a spy, but her body magic and alchemy give her an edge in dismantling German technology. There are other wizards who are part of an organization called the Gray Tower, and the training seems to mimic the Nazi idea of conformity and loss of individualism. Then there are the Cruenti: people who steal powers and murder, but are known to become unstable and violent. The worst turn into the Black Wolves, a half-wolf form that is solely a murder weapon. I love the concept, but I wish Isabel had a limit. Every time she ran out of power or was too tired to go on, she went on. Huh?
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The Romance: The U.S. might not have declared war yet, but Isabel is already tired and ready for retirement. Her dearest wish is to find lasting love and settle down. On the way, she first meets Ken, another spy, and then Brante from the Gray Tower. This is not a reverse harem. Rather, it is a painful exploration of love, distrust, and love lost. At 52% I was utterly shocked at the turn in the romance. Ken was a loyal lover even if he was on a different team. Brante is the guy Isabel had a major crush on, and now he crushes on her. It is sweet. Then there is the Cruenti Marc. Obviously egotistical, murderous, and lacking empathy, he finds Isabel a worthy match…but I don’t know if that will be explored more in the second novel.
In his words: “That reminds me, I ran into his daughter a few days ago. She lit me on fire, shot me, and tried to make my heart explode. I like her.”
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The Plot: It was longer than I usually like. However, with the explosions, sword fights, angst, spying, etc. I just could not stop. It feels like the best James Bond movie in a book. The ending was soft, but had a twist. Keep reading even if it slows down for you.
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—single POV
—Wonderful secondary characters
—Angsty

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the beginning of the book being packed with action I got bored pretty quickly. The dizzying array of characters that were introduced and the multiple code names that they had made me think of making a spreadsheet so I could keep them all straight. The timelines jumping around didn’t help matters either.

As a spy Isabella had several TSTL moments that isn’t in keeping with what you would think a spy should be. Her poker face needs work if someone can get a reaction from you by using your real name, you are supposed to think on your feet and be ready for anything as a spy…or maybe that’s my interpretation of what an effective spy should be.

The bits of magic that was employed got me excited only to have that excitement take a back seat as it wasn’t used as much as I would have liked.

There were a few characters that had a nice and easy flow and feel to them. However, the bad guys were at times over the top. Too many modern terms made their way into the story totally throwing off the time period that the story was supposed to be happening in. Plus, the pacing went from action, action to plodding, repetitive then spurts of action to more plodding.

Remove some of the characters and the elements, keep the pacing steady, don’t go caricature with the bad guys and a bit more magic and I think this story would have done better with keeping my interest. While not a bad read, it’s just a very convoluted read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.