Ruthless Alchemy

Hettie Stormheart #2

by Jen Bair

In this exhilarating sequel, Hettie, Deryl, and Ouri reunite with the formidable Widows' Will to confront Lord Vincent head-on. With Sedrios rallying behind them, their army swells, poised to crush the dark lord’s forces threatening their land.

But as they plunge into the heart of the conflict, chaos reigns supreme. Hettie's mission to rescue the oppressed is thwarted by a malevolent alchemist turning the residents mad and enemies wielding power able to neutralize her magic. Amidst the turmoil, allies become adversaries, and Hettie finds herself trapped in a deadly game of deception.

With time running out, Hettie must unravel the mystery shrouding Vincent's twisted creations before they unleash devastation upon the realm. With unlikely allies by her side—a race of subterranean rock dwellers and a lovelorn stone spider—Hettie confronts nightmarish creatures to save the only family she has left.

Get ready for an electrifying adventure where every page crackles with magic, mystery, and the indomitable spirit of a heroine facing her greatest challenge yet.

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2024

Reviews

[Ligia Wit · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Fun exciting adventures! This second book in the series (trilogy?) follows Hettie, a witch who is leading an army against an oppressive lord. She’s a good powerful witch and Jen Bair did a great job with her, because she’s very likable.
I enjoyed the banter with Deryl, her… uh, magical eye, and the adventures overall, especially in the last 20%.
A bit gory, more than I’m comfortable reading but I skimmed those parts. Overall recommended for those who love adventures, banter, and FMC who’s the leader, and battles. No romance in sight.

[Leann Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished "One Good Eye," I immediately wanted more time adventuring with Hettie and Deryl, so when "Ruthless Alchemy" released, I jumped on it. And it did not disappoint. The upbeat adventure vibe and snarky conversations between Deryl and Hettie that I loved from book 1 still shined throughout "Ruthless Alchemy." Dare I say, there were even more groan-worthy dad jokes from Deryl in the sequel? Story wise, "Ruthless Alchemy" picks up right where "One Good Eye" left off. *Note: Reading ahead will include spoilers for both books.* We reconnect with Hettie in Garpoint just as she's reunited with her friends, and they quickly set off to conquer Lord Vincent for good. Vammi is as flirty as ever, and Johnathan continues to be sweet and steadfast. The two butt heads frequently as they, Hettie, and an old general lead the army against Vincent. It lets us get to know them better and is just endlessly entertaining to read. Jen is truly a master of snark and banter, my favorite humor.
But Hettie isn't quite the bright-eyed, light-hearted new adventurer we met in "One Good Eye." Losing her love and her family at the end of book 1 has hardened her. Jen does a great job showing how those losses effected her without focusing so much on the trauma that the story loses the fun tone. You can continue to count on this story to make you feel without shattering your soul. We also see the world expand. Despite the love Hettie finds in Poll's Wander, magic and magic users aren't welcome on the mainland, and Hettie is quickly thrown into danger because of that. While not a major plot line in "Ruthless Alchemy," the details about it Jen includes add to the world building and foreshadow where Hettie's adventures may lead. The battle at the end ties up loose ends from "One Good Eye" and offers a bittersweet victory for our heroes. Vincent's actions brought unimaginable horrors to his lands that Hettie and her friends weren't quite prepared for.
All in all, this a great sequel, and I'll absolutely be back for future installments to Hettie's story.

[Suzy Olear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely stunning read by Jen Bair. From start to finish, this book is an incredible thrill ride for Hettie. I loved Jen's first book, and her second novel is just as amazing. Hettie finds herself yet again on constant peril, alongside Deryl and ofc her faithful sidekick, Ouri. A perfect mix of good, bad, horror, suspense, mystery, thrills, spills, and adventure, this book will keep you up at night turning pages until you're done. I wasn't able to put it down. I loved every chapter and found myself wrapped up in the story so much the emotions where raw. Jen writes a masterful tale of sorcery, witchcraft, love, loss and adventure. She is a masterful storyteller and I look forward to everything she has to write. Do yourselves all a favor and read Jen's books. She will be one of the best authors you have ever read. She is both an amazing author and friend, and I cannot recommend her books enough. (She actually dedicated this book to me, which has left me full of love and unexplainable gratitude). So from me to you, read the Hettie series. It will be one of the best series you have ever read and will leave you knowing what I do. That Jen is an amazing and wonderful author, friend, and person. 5 stars, but would rate it 1000 if I could. I love Hettie, and so will you. A book spun into a fanciful tale, this book will leave you wanting more. I am looking forward to Jen's next novel. I will read each and every thing she writes.

[Jim Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hettie Trials

Awesome continuance of a well written story. I enjoyed the adventures and the humor. Keep it up, this story only gets better!