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Alchemy of Fire
Constantinople, 672 ad. Ex-concubine Anna is attempting to raise her daughter well, but as an Arab invasion threatens and Kallinikos an alchemist working on a secret weapon to use in the seige comes into their lives, a secret about her daughter is forced into the open. Anna must accept huge upheaval, and recognize her feelings for Kallinikos . . .
247 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2004
119 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Bradshaw
52 books325 followersBorn in Arlington, Virgina, Gillian Bradshaw grew up in Washington, Santiago, Chile and Michigan. She is a Classics graduate from Newnham College, Cambridge, and published her first novel, Hawk of May, just before her final term. A highly acclaimed historical novelist, Gillian Bradshaw has won the Hopwood Award for Fiction, among other prizes. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 12, 2020
Plot: 3 (distracted and overly fractured)
Characters: 5 (genuine personalities not given sufficient development)
Accuracy: 10 (well-researched account including many obscure details)
The 7th century Arab siege of Constantinople is a great setting for a novel and the invention of Greek Fire is an amazing achievement in its own right. However, the book fails utterly to capture any sense of this wonder/horror. In fact, it seems largely uninterested in the Fire aspect and instead focuses on the perfume-manufacturing love interest of Callimachus, the Fire’s inventor. There’s nothing wrong with this and nothing says that a book about the Fire has to be about the Fire’s creator, but it quickly becomes apparent that the Fire is a sideshow to the main plot. Instead, the plot deals with the former concubine of Theodosius, a now dead and disgraced member of the imperial family, and her daughter with him. The interesting elements here are in seeing how one’s sense of identity can change when placed in a different environment. Specifically, the transition from being a reasonably free daughter of the lower class to being a tightly constrained princess of the royal line. This is an interesting story to tell. However, this isn’t the main story either. In fact, there is no main story. What we get is a lot of smaller plotlines stacked on top of each other and dragged out beyond reasonableness. It’s basically a slice-of-life novel, which is not what I expected or wanted really given the premise.
As for the two main plots: the Greek Fire plotline is never really developed, it’s merely the excuse for some class and employer conflict as Callimachus’ boss tries to suppress him to save his own job. Despite the opportunities to explore the technology and nature of Byzantine inventors we’re left with another clichéd corrupt nobleman story that has very little new to say. When Greek Fire is actually used it’s in the last chapter of the book, and while the description is good it’s very brief and perfunctory. The imperial princess plot is handled better, as it’s given more time, but since our only POV character is Anna, the girl’s mother, we never really go into depth here either. Instead we skip ahead two years and spend the last few chapters safely free from having to witness the actual drama that was the driving thrust of the first half. Wouldn’t want a reason to actually care.
I appreciate some of the thought that went into this and the unique choice of topics, but in general this book gives us little reason to care about the characters or the plot. It’s unfocused, with Greek Fire being used as a catalyst to tie some otherwise tricky plot threads together. Despite the unique setting, the plot seems clichéd and unimaginative. I think its worst sin though is introducing plot elements and emotional journeys that it never follows through on. Most notably, the way in which the main conflict of the first half of the novel (her fears of her daughter being stolen from her by the imperial family) is basically ignored in the second half. She’s just content with it now, and so’s her daughter. This is just lazy writing, and I don’t get why it had to be this way. If you want to tell the story of an illegitimate offspring of the imperial line then commit to that. If you don’t then focus on something else. Just because a novel’s set in the Byzantine empire doesn’t mean it needs to focus on byzantine machinations. Particularly not when the author seems generally uninterested in them.
Characters: 5 (genuine personalities not given sufficient development)
Accuracy: 10 (well-researched account including many obscure details)
The 7th century Arab siege of Constantinople is a great setting for a novel and the invention of Greek Fire is an amazing achievement in its own right. However, the book fails utterly to capture any sense of this wonder/horror. In fact, it seems largely uninterested in the Fire aspect and instead focuses on the perfume-manufacturing love interest of Callimachus, the Fire’s inventor. There’s nothing wrong with this and nothing says that a book about the Fire has to be about the Fire’s creator, but it quickly becomes apparent that the Fire is a sideshow to the main plot. Instead, the plot deals with the former concubine of Theodosius, a now dead and disgraced member of the imperial family, and her daughter with him. The interesting elements here are in seeing how one’s sense of identity can change when placed in a different environment. Specifically, the transition from being a reasonably free daughter of the lower class to being a tightly constrained princess of the royal line. This is an interesting story to tell. However, this isn’t the main story either. In fact, there is no main story. What we get is a lot of smaller plotlines stacked on top of each other and dragged out beyond reasonableness. It’s basically a slice-of-life novel, which is not what I expected or wanted really given the premise.
As for the two main plots: the Greek Fire plotline is never really developed, it’s merely the excuse for some class and employer conflict as Callimachus’ boss tries to suppress him to save his own job. Despite the opportunities to explore the technology and nature of Byzantine inventors we’re left with another clichéd corrupt nobleman story that has very little new to say. When Greek Fire is actually used it’s in the last chapter of the book, and while the description is good it’s very brief and perfunctory. The imperial princess plot is handled better, as it’s given more time, but since our only POV character is Anna, the girl’s mother, we never really go into depth here either. Instead we skip ahead two years and spend the last few chapters safely free from having to witness the actual drama that was the driving thrust of the first half. Wouldn’t want a reason to actually care.
I appreciate some of the thought that went into this and the unique choice of topics, but in general this book gives us little reason to care about the characters or the plot. It’s unfocused, with Greek Fire being used as a catalyst to tie some otherwise tricky plot threads together. Despite the unique setting, the plot seems clichéd and unimaginative. I think its worst sin though is introducing plot elements and emotional journeys that it never follows through on. Most notably, the way in which the main conflict of the first half of the novel (her fears of her daughter being stolen from her by the imperial family) is basically ignored in the second half. She’s just content with it now, and so’s her daughter. This is just lazy writing, and I don’t get why it had to be this way. If you want to tell the story of an illegitimate offspring of the imperial line then commit to that. If you don’t then focus on something else. Just because a novel’s set in the Byzantine empire doesn’t mean it needs to focus on byzantine machinations. Particularly not when the author seems generally uninterested in them.
July 18, 2017
If you’re looking for thoughtful, well-researched historical fiction, Gillian Bradshaw is a good bet — and she doesn’t always stick to the beaten path, producing stories about Caesars and Cleopatras. Island of Ghosts, for example, surprised me by having a Samartian hero, serving the Roman army in Britain. Not an Italian, not a Brit, but a whole different view I don’t think I’ve seen anyone do before. Her writing reminds me of Rosemary Sutcliff, at times — it scratches the same sort of itch — though her books are more adult.
Alchemy of Fire is set in Constantinople, and follows the fortunes of the owner of a perfume shop. There’s intrigue and politicking, and there’s romance as well, and the story is set against the backdrop of the Arab attacks on Constantinople. It’s the invention of ‘Greek fire’, but it also deals with motherhood and the experience of seeing a child you love grow up, with grief, with falling in love against all sense and without realising, but not in some instantaneous magical way. The emotional journey felt real, and I was rooting for it from the beginning because it didn’t feel as though Anna was somehow destined to marry. It felt like it could have remained friendship, or ended badly, or… anything.
I found it touching and absorbing, even though I wouldn’t call it “unputdownable”. It takes its time, for all that it only comprises 250 pages or so. It didn’t strike me with brilliance like a couple of Bradshaw’s other books, but I enjoyed it.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
Alchemy of Fire is set in Constantinople, and follows the fortunes of the owner of a perfume shop. There’s intrigue and politicking, and there’s romance as well, and the story is set against the backdrop of the Arab attacks on Constantinople. It’s the invention of ‘Greek fire’, but it also deals with motherhood and the experience of seeing a child you love grow up, with grief, with falling in love against all sense and without realising, but not in some instantaneous magical way. The emotional journey felt real, and I was rooting for it from the beginning because it didn’t feel as though Anna was somehow destined to marry. It felt like it could have remained friendship, or ended badly, or… anything.
I found it touching and absorbing, even though I wouldn’t call it “unputdownable”. It takes its time, for all that it only comprises 250 pages or so. It didn’t strike me with brilliance like a couple of Bradshaw’s other books, but I enjoyed it.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
March 14, 2024
I was interested enough by the historical details that I finished this but I would not recommend it except as a remedy for insomnia.
September 24, 2024
I’m afraid this particular novel by Gillian Bradshaw isn’t up to par with her previous works. She always chose an interesting and unusual period but this time there’s no plot going on at all. Alchemy of Fire is basically a slice of life, to be read casually but the story isn’t that inspiring. Every chapter was just a slog to get through. It seems like a romantic historical fiction but there’s little romance involved. It tries to emulate Bradshaw’s former work The Sand-Reckoner, a kind of story about an inventor who only cares about his works but not the power or political intrigue behind his innovation but falls short of it. The only thing that keeps me going on is because Bradshaw’s writing isn’t bad but there’s no plot line. It’s an everyday life kind of story but without purpose.
Ex-mistress Anna of Byzantine prince successfully managed her own perfume-making business and seemed to live contentedly with her daughter, Theodosia, until a certain Greek Syrian by the name of Kallinikos came to their shop to purchase an ambix (used in alchemical distilling). Kallinikos is passionate about alchemy, specifically, the making of fire that can burn even in water (the origin of Greek Fire). However, Kallinikos was sabotaged by Stephanos, his own superior in Constantinople’s Arsenal. And that’s where the basic formulae of this story. How Anna, Theodosia, and Kallinikos fought against all sabotaging attempts by Stephanos to discredit Kallinikos despite the latter’s work is important for the defensive strategy against the Arab invasion.
Despite the interesting historical period, it’s difficult for me to enjoy this book. There are far better good works by Gillian Bradshaw but perhaps not this one.
Ex-mistress Anna of Byzantine prince successfully managed her own perfume-making business and seemed to live contentedly with her daughter, Theodosia, until a certain Greek Syrian by the name of Kallinikos came to their shop to purchase an ambix (used in alchemical distilling). Kallinikos is passionate about alchemy, specifically, the making of fire that can burn even in water (the origin of Greek Fire). However, Kallinikos was sabotaged by Stephanos, his own superior in Constantinople’s Arsenal. And that’s where the basic formulae of this story. How Anna, Theodosia, and Kallinikos fought against all sabotaging attempts by Stephanos to discredit Kallinikos despite the latter’s work is important for the defensive strategy against the Arab invasion.
Despite the interesting historical period, it’s difficult for me to enjoy this book. There are far better good works by Gillian Bradshaw but perhaps not this one.
February 4, 2024
Gillian Bradshaw returns to historical fiction with this book set in the 674 Siege of Constantinople by the Muslim Caliphate. Our protagonist, the former mistress of an imperial prince, is raising her daughter in middle-class Constantinople while running a perfume shop. She meets a Syrian refugee with an idea about fire, and starts to fall in love - and when he happens into trouble, her daughter decides it's time to appeal to her imperial relatives.
And yes, this's the siege where Greek Fire was first deployed.
Bradshaw hasn't fully lost her historical-fiction touch. This isn't one of my favorites of her books, but it's still very good. As I continue my readthrough of her novels, I hope to see more historical fiction.
And yes, this's the siege where Greek Fire was first deployed.
Bradshaw hasn't fully lost her historical-fiction touch. This isn't one of my favorites of her books, but it's still very good. As I continue my readthrough of her novels, I hope to see more historical fiction.
January 27, 2025
The plot of Alchemy of Fire is rather meandering, and some aspects of the story (Anna's fear about her daughter being subsumed within the royal family) end up dropped within the narrative and others (Anna's relationship with Kallinikos, Kallinikos developing the Greek fire) are sidestepped by the two year time jump. Bradshaw's research is fascinating, but I don't think this is anywhere close to her strongest works like The Beacon at Alexandria or Island of Ghosts.
January 8, 2026
Another excellent historical fiction by Gillian Bradshaw. This book is about the use of Greek fire to defend Constantinople against Muslim invaders, but as is typical for the author it's told in a very interesting way. The main character is a perfume maker, the former concubine of an executed imperial prince. All she wants is to run her business, maintain her independence and respectability, and see her daughter grow up safely. She fears the imperial court almost as much as she fears siege and invasion, but she gets involved in both after making the acquaintance of a Syrian refugee obsessed with mastering the element of fire.
May 9, 2020
If Bradshaw spent more time on imbuing her characters with the life and culture of the period and less time showing is she’s done her research on it, she could be a good his to all fiction writer. She could learn a lot from Mary Renault. As it is, couldn’t get past the 1st 100 pages before Giving up out of boredom.
June 5, 2018
One of the best historical fiction authors. This is about the invention of Greek Fire and so much more...
August 5, 2016
Gillian Bradshaw is one of my favorite historical fiction writers, so I look forward eagerly to new books from her. Sadly, Alchemy of Fire was a disappointment (and I say that with great reluctance). Set in Constantinople in the 7th century CE, it tells the story of Anna, a perfume maker whose daughter is the product of Anna's union with the now-dead brother to an emperor, and of Kallinikos, a Syrian who has fled to Constantinople to escape the Arab invasion and is now working on a secret weapon with which to fight the Arabs.
Bradshaw is usually skilled at bringing other times and cultures to life in her fiction, but this time, the characters and setting fail to come completely alive. The dialogue is wooden (and filled with italics -- so many that I counted nineteen italicized words on two consecutive pages at one point), and I never really cared about the characters or the plots they were caught up in. Having been reading lately about medieval Islam, I was intrigued to see what Bradshaw might make of its clash with Byzantium, but unfortunately, the answer was: not much.
Skip this and go read The Beacon at Alexandria instead, if you haven't read Bradshaw before. You'll get a much better sense of what she can do with historical fiction.
Bradshaw is usually skilled at bringing other times and cultures to life in her fiction, but this time, the characters and setting fail to come completely alive. The dialogue is wooden (and filled with italics -- so many that I counted nineteen italicized words on two consecutive pages at one point), and I never really cared about the characters or the plots they were caught up in. Having been reading lately about medieval Islam, I was intrigued to see what Bradshaw might make of its clash with Byzantium, but unfortunately, the answer was: not much.
Skip this and go read The Beacon at Alexandria instead, if you haven't read Bradshaw before. You'll get a much better sense of what she can do with historical fiction.
October 11, 2010
I really like Gillian Bradshaw, but I think I've read too many of her books. I found this novel completely predictable. The characters -- beautiful independent business woman and nerdy scientist love interest -- were identical to those that have appeared in her other historical novels. The plot didn't have any twists or surprises, and the setting of Constantinople didn't really shine through as vividly as some of Bradshaw's other venues. So, a nice read, but not quite as enjoyable as I was hoping.
December 29, 2014
Alchemy of Fire by Gillian Bradshaw is a well researched historical drama about Anna, a single mother, and her teenaged daughter living in seventh-century Constantinople just before an invasion threatens the city and their lives. Anna is in a unique position as a woman shop-owner; she is a perfumer, distilling her own essences from local flowers and herbs. Interesting story with meticulous details describing life in Constantinople at that time.
August 30, 2008
I was warned about this book.
Bradshaw never manages to bring this together; the perfume-maker is never convincing about her work; the alchemist charmless; the illegitimate daughter of an emperor's brother, a brat. It's as though she's become so accustomed to creating appealing characters in historical settings that she tried a shortcut and never laid the groundwork of her other works.
Bradshaw never manages to bring this together; the perfume-maker is never convincing about her work; the alchemist charmless; the illegitimate daughter of an emperor's brother, a brat. It's as though she's become so accustomed to creating appealing characters in historical settings that she tried a shortcut and never laid the groundwork of her other works.
June 6, 2011
This was a very cute story. I felt like it was a little short and the events could have gone by a little faster and maybe over a longer period of time. I feel like there were loose ends. Like her worries and concerns for her daughter's future. I gave it 4 stars mainly cause it was a really nice little story.
June 7, 2016
The story starts slow, but it was more interesting once I saw where it was going. I didn't quite care enough about the main character or her daughter, but the supporting cast was good, particularly the enthusiastic eunuch. Some of the plot line follows The Sand Reckoner (which did it better), but this was still an enjoyable book.
February 3, 2009
so far, i'm not into this book.usually, there is a real depth to her characters that seems to be missing in this book. i'm disappointed because i've really enjoyed the last 3 bradshaw books that i've read. maybe it will get better....i'm on page 100.
February 5, 2022
Not as beloved a book as some others by Bradshaw, but a good story that stands up to repeated reading. The characters are engaging, the historical facts are interesting and broadly accurate - I wouldn't mind more about these characters.
February 24, 2024
Perfume making. Palace politics. Alchemy and Greek Fire. Gillian Bradshaw weaves together a Byzantium world of intrigue and war, as two enterprising characters struggle to defend their homes—and the ones they love—not only from the dangers outside of Constantinople, but within it as well.
February 22, 2009
This is a light-weight but fun historical fiction set in Constantinople from 672-674. It had good pacing and I liked the main character, but it was a little bit lacking in depth.
March 19, 2009
Not bad. I like Gillian Bradshaw so I can be forgiving of boring parts of the book. Her books always have an interesting, strong female character and are good historical fiction.
May 17, 2014
Outstanding historical fiction. I am enjoying reading all of Gillian Bradshaw's novels, one after another. A delightful treat!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews