Trial of the Alchemist

by Trevor Melanson

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.

Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets.

But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.

He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Steampunk

Paperback

First published April 4, 2023

About the author

About the Author:

Trevor Melanson is the author of Trial of the Alchemist. A former journalist, he now works at a clean energy think tank and lives near Vancouver with his wife and their two precious cats.

Reviews

[John Mauro · Rating 4 out of 5]

My SPFBO9 semi-finalist review with Whitney Reinhart is published at Before We Go Blog.

“Even a savored memory hurts when you have no space for it.”

Trial of the Alchemist is Trevor Melanson’s murder mystery set in a gaslamp fantasy world steeped in alchemy.

The novel opens in a packed courtroom, with Alchemist Ortez on trial for murder. Ortez is accused of poisoning Everett Day, the greatest mind and most successful entrepreneur in the mining town of Aurora. Also a generous and beloved philanthropist, Everett Day strikes me as a fantasy version of Andrew Carnegie.

Trial of the Alchemist alternates between third-person narration of the present-day trial and Alchemist Ortez’s first-person account of the events leading up to Everett Day’s untimely demise. Ortez recounts how he was initially called to Aurora to investigate a serious accident during the mining of cobrium, the key ore enabling Aurora’s recent advances in electricity and other modern technology.

The magical elements of Trial of the Alchemist are alchemical in nature. There are three kinds of alchemists presented in the book: psycho-alchemists such as Ortez, legal alchemists who assist with the integrity of the justice system, and research alchemists working toward the next alchemical discovery. During the trial, Ortez is forced to take an elixir that allows Alchemist Freya, a legal alchemist, to access Ortez’s mind in a lucid dreamlike state to ensure the veracity of his account.

Trevor Melanson’s background in journalism shines throughout Trial of the Alchemist. Melanson’s straightforward writing style is the perfect vehicle for unraveling this complex murder mystery which is full of political intrigue and unexpected plot twists. The ending was a complete surprise for me and very well done by the author.

Trevor Melanson impressively blends fantasy and mystery genres in Trial of the Alchemist, delivering a story that will keep readers glued to the pages until the final twist is revealed.

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alchemist Ortez is on trial for the murder of Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur. The court has invited another alchemist. It’s her job to go into the mind of alchemist Ortez, and find the memories that prove his guilt. But the tension in the courtroom can be cut with a knife. The murder victim was beloved by many, and the courtroom is filled with people who hate the alchemist on trial. Even the judge seems to think alchemist Ortez is guilty before the trial even starts. But the law requires evidence of his guilt. And, being an alchemist himself, some people believe that he might have a way to get away with murder.

We learn that the murder victim employed the alchemist to make sense of a discovery he’s made through his mining enterprise. And the alchemist quickly realized this discovery could change everything.


The beginning is very gripping. And the courtroom atmosphere is intense to say the least. It’s a solid and gripping mystery that’s slowly unraveled through many flashbacks. Once the story gets going with the flashbacks though, it’s a bit of a bumpy ride. It just lacks some focus. For example, there’s a bit too much religion for my taste to be found in this story, which keeps us away from the mystery plot. And after a while, the story started losing me a bit to be honest. Though it still managed to show flashes of brilliance all the way up until the end.


Overall, a cool concept and not a bad read. But it definitely had potential for a lot more.

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling]

*******

Pre-review - nabbed for FREE from amazon.com on 10/7/24. Thanks to the Fussy Librarian email blast for putting it on my radar 🤩

Part of their blurb that caught my eye:

The Night Circus meets Inception in this mind-bending fantasy mystery. Ranked one of the 20 Best Completed stories on Royal Road and a SPFBO 9 Semi-Finalist

Book blurb mentions Steampunk and generally sounds fascinating 🤓🤞🏼

[Sammie Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trial of the Alchemist was the 3rd place finalist in BBNYA 2024!

About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website
https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought
to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details
Length: 453 Pages
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Age Category: Adult
Date Published: April 4, 2023
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/aNNHuoH (Canada) https://a.co/d/anR8L4D (USA)
https://amzn.eu/d/g8MdUIG (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Story Graph Link:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f...

Blurb
Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.
Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets. But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.
He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a
cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night. The Night Circus meets Inception in this mind-bending fantasy mystery. Ranked one of the
20 Best Completed stories on Royal Road and both a SPFBO and BBNYA semi-finalist, Trial of the Alchemist is "a beautifully written tale of memory and murder… that will keep readers
glued to the pages until the final twist is revealed." (Before We Go Blog)
Author Bio
Trevor Melanson is the author of four novels, including Trial of the Alchemist, a semi-finalist of both the SPFBO and BBNYA competitions and previously one of the twenty best-rated
completed stories on Royal Road. A former journalist, Trevor now spends his workdays running communications at a think tank and advancing the transition to clean energy. He lives on the scenic Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two cats, having gleefully abandoned the big city life that once beckoned him as a younger man.
My Review
A brilliant mystery book, with two story lines. One of the trial of the alchemist and one going through his memories of the events that have led to the trial.
It has a very detective feel to it, with trying to figure out who did it and why. Using the art of alchemy they use elixirs to go back through his memories to find out what led him to be at the dock and if he is innocent.
Its a very absorbing and gripping story that has you not putting the book down. That 'one more chapter' feels to it. I can honestly see why this got 3rd place in the BBNYA.

[Twainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaslamp Fantasy … murder mystery. One of my favorite sub genres!! Nuff said! Wait … great audiobook … every time I heard … ALCHEMICAL … I smiled. Fun, fast, engrossing!!

[Bookish kingdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another brilliant BBNYA recommendation! It came in the top three in the 2024 competition so you know it is properly good!

The book is a captivating blend of gaslamp fantasy, murder mystery, and noir courtroom drama that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story follows Alchemist Ortez, who is accused of murdering Aurora’s visionary entrepreneur, Everett Day

Melanson’s unique alchemy system, intertwining psychology with magic, is a standout, particularly through the use of elixirs that allow legal alchemist Freya to probe Ortez’s memories in a dreamlike state. The prose is crisp and witty and the characters, especially Ortez are very well crafted. I really can't fault it

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I am so impressed by this amazingly intriguing book, the first I have read by this author but I know it won't be the last . This is a gaslight mystery novel whereby an alchemist, a certain Ortez is on trial for the murder of the biggest entrepreneur of Aurora, one considered even to be the heart of the city below the mountain. In fact he was the man who had sent for and employed the services of alchemist Ortez, who found out secrets which were well hidden from the rest of the populace. Now Ortez is facing the ire of all the citizens of Aurora but only he knows what his trial is going to unveil. He knows he is not guilty but has no clue who in fact is. Through alchemic elixirs the trial is carried out and these ensure the truth is provided and verified by yet another alchemist. I love the setting of this novel, the secrets, the magical elixirs used, and the characters in this very exciting mystery which is so full of twists and turns one doesn't know who the guilty party really is till the very end of the story. The creatures are way beyond fantastical and I love that Ortez is so good and kind to all living creatures and that he refuses to eat them as this strikes a chord with my own values regarding life.

[Elizabeth Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story feels refreshingly creative and new. With a fantastic setting and stellar characters, you'll have a difficult time putting this down once you pick it up.

Read my full review published on epicindie.net

[OldBird · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super slick PI tale with a fantastical twist, you'd never have guessed Trial of the Alchemist was originally indie published serial fiction. It's imaginative, clever, and incredibly original in how it's created the world it's set in. You want Wild West meets steampunk with a hint of fantastical Indiana Jones and dash of sleuthing? You got it.

(I read this in its serial form rather than the e-book edition; I was not asked to write this review but was compelled to by how good I found it to be)

Two timelines divide up our tale here: in one we see a courtroom where one Alchemist Ortez is on trial for murder. The second goes back through his recollection of events that led him to be in the dock, but not all is as it seems. Y'see, alchemy here isn't turning lead into gold, oh no - it's a much more cerebral magical art. Ortez is a psycho-alchemist, one who can use elixirs and conductors to see inside (willing) people's minds. He uses this skill to help said people work through their psychological issues. So when he's invited to the mining town of Aurora by none other than the head of the Day Mining Company himself with nothing but vague ideas of a potential job and the promise of a very high salary, Ortez almost doesn't bite. Almost. Curiosity is the curse of this particular alchemist, and it's about to land him in some very hot water.

The writing is 100% on point for the mystery genre, told as it is through the rather well-spoken tones of Ortez himself for the most part. Slightly florid and prone to musings, it gives you the sense of his character and how his mind works as well as evoking the time period this alternate historical world seems set in.

Oh, the setting is definitely a big draw here. Think a sort of alternate America at the time when electricity and cars where at the cutting edge of newfangled technology albeit powered by a strange Steampunk mineral. Aurora is a city of two halves; one above ground, much as you'd imagine with cobbles, big buildings and the like, but the other known as Downtown is literally down beneath the mountains being mined. While I might have liked it to have been a little more descriptive in general, I loved the way you never questioned the little details thrown in here and there. The Moonlight Inn felt like another character in and of itself.

And we haven't even got into the art of alchemy. Let's just say it's another clever and highly original element to the story that's explained with details deftly woven throughout. Ortez may stop to address the audience, but somehow his conversational tone makes sure it doesn't come across as a plain old info-dump.

The plot feels very much like a PI novel, taking one little mystery and spinning into out like a spiderweb of who-dun-what-and-why. It's not exactly one you can play along with, though the clues are all there in the narrative of Ortez's observations. It's subtle and wonderful plotting, with themes of corporate responsibility and compassion towards others that resonate from historical times right through to our own.

The one caveat to this though: one particular trope involving female characters. The guy gets the girl(s). By the time he and Belle have their moment I guess they'd kind of spent time together, though I wished they'd had a bit more banter and chemistry before diving in for the snog. It was Audra, the dame who came to call, that just was off to me. If she'd had a thing with Ortez prior to his mind-wipe, or something to that effect, maybe I could have gone with it. But why oh why did she jump into bed with him when she did? That, side characters who could feel a little sparse in relationship terms, and a character who changes their mind at a vital point for reasons I didn't get were the only things that left me less than gripped by this otherwise very good read.

The ending brings everything together in a wonderfully satisfying way while still leaving things open enough that there's plenty more of this strange new world to explore. I want more Em and Cassy, more pretty girls who can play the banjo, more steam trains and moonlit plains and all the fantastical places Ortez left us to wonder about.

I only hope we get to see more soon; this author is one to watch.

[Tabitha Tomala]

This was read as part of BBNYA 2024 and the full review and rating will be released during the book tour.

[Hollylovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book during BBNYA and wanted to read it! So good!

[d.kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

A well crafted and absorbing story. The character development is tight and concise adding to the pace of the book. I will be looking at other titles by this author.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[G.E.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alchemist Ortez has been accused of murder, and to defend his innocence, he recounts his memories from the past month to an angry courtroom. While he tells his wild story, a legal alchemist probes his mind to determine if he’s telling the truth.

This is a well-written book that pulls you into the world. Despite being self-published, it has better prose than many modern, traditionally published books I’ve read. All of the locations in the world feel carefully constructed, even if they are only the setting for one scene. Aurora, where the majority of the book takes place, is a young mining city where over half of the populations lives inside a mountain.

I really enjoy the take on alchemical magic. Alchemists are often associated with gold and immortal life, but Melanson’s alchemists use elixirs to enter minds, usually to help a person understand and process a dream or a memory. I love this concept, and some of my favorite scenes take place in someone else’s mind, as these scenes are bizarre and unique to each individual’s personality.

Regarding the characters, oddly enough, Everett Day is the one who stands out to me. Ortez took longer to grow on me. I think I kept expecting more emotional response from him regarding his lost memories, but having now finished the book, I respect the author’s approach to it: you can’t really mourn something you don’t know that you’ve lost. It’s realistic but hard for me to understand, just as it’s hard for all the surrounding characters to make sense of. I did question why alchemists’ memories would not have to be erased every few decades if they need clear minds? Perhaps there is an explanation for this and I missed it.

I only have a few minor qualms. Somewhere about halfway in the book, I was a little bored, but I quickly regained interest in the story. I also thought the portrayal of religion was completely negative, whereas I prefer when both the good and bad are examined.

This isn’t a bad thing, but on a side note, this reads more like a fantasy adventure than a fantasy mystery to me. I think this is because, while the murder looms over the plot, the plot is a recounting of the events prior to the murder and not a search for the killer.

It’s been a while since I’ve looked forward to a sequel, but I really hope there is more to come with this story.

[Georgiazilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

alchemy surprise

I licked this book as ‘hobson’s choice’, just looking for a book to fill time. What a pleasant surprise! Well written, unique world setting. Not quite steampunk, not quite Victorian. Relatable characters and enough twists to keep you glued. I’m a picky reader and hope this author writes a series.

[Belinda Richee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!

This is a beautifully crafted story that will keep you at the edge of your seat, waiting for the very last words to pass the page. The characters are perfectly magnetic, drawing you into their lives as if you were part of their story. Well done!

[Kaxandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited for the murder mystery element to this book, but gun to my head, I would never have guessed anything that happened. (Not in a particularly bad way, but not in a good way either?) It was…weird. Didn’t feel satisfied by the ending either. It was a big “oh by the way xyz happened” with a “clever” anecdote to wrap it all up, which just seems lazy to me.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a collaboration between duMaurier, Verne, Poe and Lovecraft.

[Chicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended reading!

This book truly takes the reader on quite a romp with a myriad of twists and unexpected turns. It is an in depth glimpse in how our human minds work and our foibles.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided for review by The Write Reads as part of the Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award. Thank you!

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson is a romance wrapped in a murder mystery that's set in a fantastical steampunk inspired world. When reading it, one is easily able to see why it was one of the top books for Book Blogger Novel of the Year.

The book revolves around a murder trial. Alchemist Ortez has been charged with the murder of Everett Day, a well known and well loved scion of the city of Aurora. Ortez maintains his innocence, but he is a stranger to the city - he is an outsider while Day was not. The citizens believe the alchemist guilty but the law is the law and a trial must take place.

Trial of the Alchemist is told in alternating narratives. It alternates between the trial itself, told in a present day type manner, and the events leading up to Day's death. Ortez tells the judge and the audience of how he received a letter from Day summoning him to Aurora. He relays how he was asked to look into a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a miner. He tells of how he handled the case as well as what happened afterwards.

The magical elements in Trial of the Alchemist are varied and are intertwined masterfully with the mundane elements. Potions and elixirs are featured side by side with horse drawn carts and open air markets. They are all equally important to the people that populate the world the book takes place in.

In Trial of the Alchemist, Melanson has created a world that is vast and wondrous. Though the main story takes place in the city of Aurora, with flashbacks to Ortez's home in Dellmere, mentions are made of other cities and other countries. We even experience one foreign land briefly through the memories of Everett Day. Though their mentions are brief, they are given the same care and consideration as the main settings.

I quite enjoyed reading Trial of the Alchemist during the various rounds for the Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards. From the opening paragraphs to the closing pages, I was held enthralled as the mystery of who killed Everett Day was unraveled. It was only when I read it a second time for this review, did I notice all the little clues dropped throughout the story that hinted at the twist in the end. It was so well done and it why I encourage any reader to read this book at least twice.

While I believe Trial of the Alchemist is meant to be a stand alone book, I can easily see it being made into a series. The world that Melanson has created is, in my opinion, simply too vast and too fascinating to be relegated to just one book. I encourage my readers to add this one to their shelves and to look out for anything else the author should provide.

[C.L. Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun gaslamp murder mystery. Alchemist Ortez - an alchemist capable of entering a patient subconscious to help them with dreams/traumatic memories - is slightly bored and dissatisfied with his lot in life. Which is why he accepts an assignment from an eccentric mining industrialist (very much in the rail/robber baron style) to investigate a mysterious death in the company's mines. But Ortez and the reader are several twists and turns away from the truth...and the titular trial of the book is for the murder of the industrialist himself.

The mystery plots are well-executed, with some sharp turns that don't detract from the story's pacing or atmosphere. I like the wild west-flavoured mining town and unravelling of the central mysteries. Ortez isn't the most vivid character - his personality isn't particularly interesting or memorable - but the only real issue I had with him was his to-ing and fro-ing about the assignment (you could kinda see the author putting his thumb on the scales to get him to stay in Downtown despite his understandable outrage at the industrialist).

I'd definitely check out more mysteries/stories from the author in this world!

[Patrick Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

There is definitely an audience for this type of book, but I'm not part of that group.

This is a murder mystery told via a fantastical element. I would expect fans of mystery novels would like this book more than someone looking to read a fantasy story. Looking at it through that lens, I thought the ending was fantastic, leaving just the right amount of mystery while letting the reader think that they might possibly maybe know what could have really happened. However, I do think the beginning of the book was a bit too straight forward. If I was a mystery reader, I would look for there to be more misdirection leading up to the big reveal. But instead this kind of unfolded exactly as expected until the big reveal.

I don't think this is a perfect book and I am definitely not the target audience, but I do think there is a market for this sub-genre and I think the quality of the book is good enough that this could have or maybe even should have been an SPFBO 9 finalist. I think the fact that this reads more mystery than fantasy is why it didn't thrive in SPFBO.

[ReadingMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trial of the Alchemist came in 3rd place in the 2024 BBNYA (Book Bloggers Novel of the year Award) and it absolutely deserved its high placing. The book is brilliant. It's an EASY five stars from me.

What really pulled me in was Ortez himself, a really brilliantly crafted character. The back and forths in the courtroom are really clever, and in my opinion most be so hard to write. I think writing stuff like this, in a way that is logical and believable and compelling, in a courtroom scenario must be very hard. But the author nailed it. I love that Ortez is not exactly a hero and not exactly a victim. He is somewhere in between. The basics or of the plot is outlined in other reviews so I don't feel the need to go in to them here.I just basically wanted to write a love letter to Ortez. Such an amazing character.

Easy 5 stars and well done to the BBNYA judges for recognising this book's brilliance.

[Booklover69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about Trial of the Alchemist due to it being a BBNYA finalist. I have also just found out that it was an SPFBO finalist too!! So to anybody who doesn’t know the indie world this book was rated as top notch by two of the most prestigious indie contests out there. If it was just one you might say ‘meh’ but both??  You know this has to be a good one!!! If you are going to try an indie book why not start with one of the best??

Ok that’s my bit of ‘why haven’t you bought this book yet!?’ So on to my review and yes I absolutely loved it. The author has created an enthralling fantasy novel that really drew me in. It’s set in a beautifully crafted world that feels alive and immersive. Melanson’s characters, especially Ortez are well-developed, each with their own voices and motivations that draw you in from the first page. The writing itself is real top quality stuff, easy to read, but still descriptive with some very pretty prose in places. Great read and highly reccomended

[Tom Mock]

This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.

The prose reminds me somewhat of Dickens’ present tense work. This is also 3rd person present, and competently introduces our scene and characters. Alchemists, a murder trial! Go on.

There is a dry humor to the prose. Our trial will proceed thus: elixirs will vividly enliven the accused’s memory, and he will be interrogated by an alchemist who will see all he sees.

He is surely guilty, all in attendance believe, and they don’t stop short of saying so, to the mixed provocation and discouragement of the red-faced judge.

The dialogue is as steady as the accused seems confident. Only the truth can set him free, he says. But is that what we’re really going to get? I want to know. I’m in.

[Necy Jeffers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed with this book but it wasn't a bad book. It took awhile to get to the meat of the story and I had difficulty with some of the visualizations, especially when the alchemist goes into other peoples memories to get at the truth. I had to reread some of those to understand what was going on. I also didn't like that the alchemist had to wipe his memory in order to be an alchemist. However, I did enjoy the concept and watching it play out on the page.
I don't know if I would read another book by this author but that is mainly because I don't particularly enjoy science fiction which I believe this to be. It was just not my cup of tea. It is classified as a steampunk novel but I don't remember any steampunk elements. However,if you like science fiction mixed with elements of apothecary (potions and elixirs) this is the book for you.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd. I picked this up since it was a SPFBO9 (I think 9) contender. It sounded interesting with the premise being that of an alchemist being on trial and how throughout the trial an even bigger thing was going to be unraveled. It sounded as though this was a magical/steampunk who-done-it mystery which really appealed to me.

However, I didn't get much of a steampunk world other than the alchemist being used. I wanted more details of the world or worldbuilding but it just felt like an alchemist thrust into the wild west or a mining town.

It wasn't necessarily bad but I am not one for western or mining town settings. I also have not read much steampunk and so this might have just been a wrong-fit book for me.

[Leanna Mackellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good genre smash of Gaslamp Fantasy, Murder Mystery, and Noir Courtroom Drama.

The narrative is framed in a way that lets you know right off the bat that the main character, an alchemist named Ortez, is accused of murdering Aurora Town’s most eccentric entrepreneur and visionary, Everett Day. But the narrative also lets you know he didn’t do it. Most of the book is the main character recounting his testimony for the judge while under an elixir.

The alchemy in the book was uniquely blended with psychology, I really liked it :)

Overall, a really good read :)

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trial of the Alchemist is a very well written courtroom drama set in the fantasy city of Aurora where Alchemist Ortiz is accused of murder. The best thing about it is the writing itself which is really crisp and sharp. I can't say a bad word about the author's prose. It did well in both BBNYA and SPFBO and though it didn't really resonate with me personally I can definitely respect the author's talent.

[Cel Rince · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, engaging steampunk novel. The characters are likable and memorable, particularly the protagonist. Mysteries are gradually doled out, explored, and solved at a pace that keeps the reader engrossed but not overwhelmed.

Well worth the read and I look forward to the author's next book.