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The Collegium #7
Alchemy Shift
A woman, her sword, and the bear-shifter who’ll steal her heart.
Delphi Cosmatos is an alchemist. She investigates the strange and magical objects that find their way to Collegium headquarters in New York. She has magic—and a big Greek family, all ready to “help” her (they mean, interfere). When Jet Walsh moves in next door with no family except the two young orphaned cousins he’s responsible for, it’s a situation of opposites attracting, especially since Jet is a bear-shifter.
But Jet can’t pursue a romantic relationship. He’s tracking the rogue mage who tortured and killed his cousins’ mom. Banned spells are being trafficked across the world and the center of the trade is New York.
Delphi knew her city was dangerous, but now her heart is in danger, too. Jet doesn’t have magic, yet he’s tangling with a powerful, ruthless mage. If she wants to save her man, she’ll need all the help she can get. No! Not from her family. Stashed in the evidence bunker at Collegium headquarters is the legendary sword Excalibur, and Delphi is just the woman to wield it. Maybe.
***Alchemy Shift is a stand-alone novel in the Collegium series - enjoyed by fans of Ilona Andrews, Seanan McGuire and Lisa Shearin.
Delphi Cosmatos is an alchemist. She investigates the strange and magical objects that find their way to Collegium headquarters in New York. She has magic—and a big Greek family, all ready to “help” her (they mean, interfere). When Jet Walsh moves in next door with no family except the two young orphaned cousins he’s responsible for, it’s a situation of opposites attracting, especially since Jet is a bear-shifter.
But Jet can’t pursue a romantic relationship. He’s tracking the rogue mage who tortured and killed his cousins’ mom. Banned spells are being trafficked across the world and the center of the trade is New York.
Delphi knew her city was dangerous, but now her heart is in danger, too. Jet doesn’t have magic, yet he’s tangling with a powerful, ruthless mage. If she wants to save her man, she’ll need all the help she can get. No! Not from her family. Stashed in the evidence bunker at Collegium headquarters is the legendary sword Excalibur, and Delphi is just the woman to wield it. Maybe.
***Alchemy Shift is a stand-alone novel in the Collegium series - enjoyed by fans of Ilona Andrews, Seanan McGuire and Lisa Shearin.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2016
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books592 followersAustralian author of strangely hopeful fantasy & science fiction. Independently published for over a decade.
Storyteller. Creator of Caldryn Parliament - Golden Age Mysteries in the Realm of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Storyteller. Creator of Caldryn Parliament - Golden Age Mysteries in the Realm of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 23, 2026
Short, contemporary, urban-fantasy, paranormal romance
I read this, the seventh and final book in this urban fantasy series, before I read all of the others, which I did read in order. This particular novel, unlike most of the others in this series, is written in conventional mainstream-romance format, with the third-person POV of both MCs. Though his age is never directly stated, the MMC Jet Walsh is probably around 30, because all the other MMCs in this series are between 29 and 30. No age is provided either for the FMC Delpha Cosmatos, but since all the other FMCs in this series are in their early 20s, I'm assuming she is too.
See my review of book 1, Demon Hunter, for an explanation of the rules of the magical universe of this series.
Jet is a bear shifter who is the newly appointed guardian for the children of his murdered cousin, who was also a bear shifter. The girl is nine and the boy seven, and they are also bear shifters, though they won't experience their first shift until they are teenagers. Other than them, Jet has no other living relatives.
Delpha is a moderately powerful witch who specializes in alchemy. Magic in her extended family has skipped everyone but her. She loves her job at the headquarters of the Collegium in New York City. She analyzes and classifies mysterious magical objects. Her most recent assignment is an ancient sword that the wizard who found it is convinced is Excalibur.
The Meet Cute that brings Jet and Delpha together is when he moves in next door to her, and she introduces herself to him and the children. They immediately become friendly acquaintances and, though they don't make it overtly clear to each other, Jet and Delpha are mutually attracted.
Similar to Delpha, Jet has bought a fixer upper, but he discovers to his dismay that it is in far worse shape than he previously believed when the roof caves in, making it uninhabitable. Because Delpha claims Jet and the children as her friends, her kind-hearted, generous family rides to the rescue, completely taking over all necessary repairs. Her extended family is huge and utterly devoted to each other. Each and every one of them is equally capable of having a terrific time as a gregarious group or providing supportive empathy one-on-one.
While the repairs are going on, Delpha insists that Jet and the children move in with her. Her house is large, and she has multiple guest bedrooms. Jet is impressed with how competent at child care Delpha is. She obviously really enjoys young children. Unlike Jet, she has had lots of experience with them, because she frequently babysits her twin 6-year-old nephews, who also get along well with Jet's wards.
This is an instalove romance with fated mates. But there is plenty of external conflict keeping them from making an immediate lifetime commitment. In typical romantic-suspense style, they work together to defeat an evil villain.
There are two onstage sex scenes late in this slowburn novel, but they are focused on tender emotion rather than lust. As is typical for this author, there are so few physical descriptions that the sex is barely above the level of closed bedroom door.
Overall this is a quick, enjoyable paranormal romance that includes two of my favorite tropes: an MC as an inexperienced but determined parental figure to the orphaned children of a relative or close friend, and a large group of blood relations who are far more fabulous than virtually any extended family in the real world could ever possibly be. (Nora Roberts is credited as the progenitor of this popular romance trope with her two short-contemporary series that began in 1984, The MacGregors and Those Wild Ukrainians.)
I read this, the seventh and final book in this urban fantasy series, before I read all of the others, which I did read in order. This particular novel, unlike most of the others in this series, is written in conventional mainstream-romance format, with the third-person POV of both MCs. Though his age is never directly stated, the MMC Jet Walsh is probably around 30, because all the other MMCs in this series are between 29 and 30. No age is provided either for the FMC Delpha Cosmatos, but since all the other FMCs in this series are in their early 20s, I'm assuming she is too.
See my review of book 1, Demon Hunter, for an explanation of the rules of the magical universe of this series.
Jet is a bear shifter who is the newly appointed guardian for the children of his murdered cousin, who was also a bear shifter. The girl is nine and the boy seven, and they are also bear shifters, though they won't experience their first shift until they are teenagers. Other than them, Jet has no other living relatives.
Delpha is a moderately powerful witch who specializes in alchemy. Magic in her extended family has skipped everyone but her. She loves her job at the headquarters of the Collegium in New York City. She analyzes and classifies mysterious magical objects. Her most recent assignment is an ancient sword that the wizard who found it is convinced is Excalibur.
The Meet Cute that brings Jet and Delpha together is when he moves in next door to her, and she introduces herself to him and the children. They immediately become friendly acquaintances and, though they don't make it overtly clear to each other, Jet and Delpha are mutually attracted.
Similar to Delpha, Jet has bought a fixer upper, but he discovers to his dismay that it is in far worse shape than he previously believed when the roof caves in, making it uninhabitable. Because Delpha claims Jet and the children as her friends, her kind-hearted, generous family rides to the rescue, completely taking over all necessary repairs. Her extended family is huge and utterly devoted to each other. Each and every one of them is equally capable of having a terrific time as a gregarious group or providing supportive empathy one-on-one.
While the repairs are going on, Delpha insists that Jet and the children move in with her. Her house is large, and she has multiple guest bedrooms. Jet is impressed with how competent at child care Delpha is. She obviously really enjoys young children. Unlike Jet, she has had lots of experience with them, because she frequently babysits her twin 6-year-old nephews, who also get along well with Jet's wards.
This is an instalove romance with fated mates. But there is plenty of external conflict keeping them from making an immediate lifetime commitment. In typical romantic-suspense style, they work together to defeat an evil villain.
There are two onstage sex scenes late in this slowburn novel, but they are focused on tender emotion rather than lust. As is typical for this author, there are so few physical descriptions that the sex is barely above the level of closed bedroom door.
Overall this is a quick, enjoyable paranormal romance that includes two of my favorite tropes: an MC as an inexperienced but determined parental figure to the orphaned children of a relative or close friend, and a large group of blood relations who are far more fabulous than virtually any extended family in the real world could ever possibly be. (Nora Roberts is credited as the progenitor of this popular romance trope with her two short-contemporary series that began in 1984, The MacGregors and Those Wild Ukrainians.)
August 12, 2024
Just An Oracle Between Friends
Collegium7
Carries on after Plague Cult (Collegium5) events, as we follow the sword…
Delphi Cosmatos is a Collegium mage who works in the Alchemy department. Alchemy focuses on the theories of magic, which can connect old beliefs and new practices. It also lets people have a 9-5 life. And that suits Delphi down to the ground.
Jet Walsh is the were-liaison to the Collegium; a position Steve Jekyll and Lewis Bennett created, to develop more cooperation between weres and mages. There is bigotry on both sides, that only working together can ameliorate. And, Jet has new family responsibilities that need him to shift from active marshal status. Jet is a demmed good investigator, but apparently, his mage “handlers“ don’t trust or believe that. It makes them less than inept.
Jet is trying to find out who used his cousin as courier and human sacrifice in a death magic ritual. The mages are treating it as a one-off event, choosing to lowball their investigation. Until Delphi looks at uses for death magic - and transmutation fits the scenario. If mobsters are being given new faces, no force, magic or mundane, can track them.
That is a whole new league of difficulty and a whole other level of priority. When one of Jet’s “handlers” uses magic to alert their quarry, things kick into high gear. In addition to apologizing, the chief Guardian gives Jet a new team - one that cooperates.
In the meantime, Delphi has proof that she has a magical sword that could be Excalibur; and the sword eats death magic. It glows when death magic has been worked and even tracks the working.
With this book, the world of Collegium is stretching to be interesting. The arc is complete, but others could follow. I hope they do.
Collegium7
Carries on after Plague Cult (Collegium5) events, as we follow the sword…
Delphi Cosmatos is a Collegium mage who works in the Alchemy department. Alchemy focuses on the theories of magic, which can connect old beliefs and new practices. It also lets people have a 9-5 life. And that suits Delphi down to the ground.
Jet Walsh is the were-liaison to the Collegium; a position Steve Jekyll and Lewis Bennett created, to develop more cooperation between weres and mages. There is bigotry on both sides, that only working together can ameliorate. And, Jet has new family responsibilities that need him to shift from active marshal status. Jet is a demmed good investigator, but apparently, his mage “handlers“ don’t trust or believe that. It makes them less than inept.
Jet is trying to find out who used his cousin as courier and human sacrifice in a death magic ritual. The mages are treating it as a one-off event, choosing to lowball their investigation. Until Delphi looks at uses for death magic - and transmutation fits the scenario. If mobsters are being given new faces, no force, magic or mundane, can track them.
That is a whole new league of difficulty and a whole other level of priority. When one of Jet’s “handlers” uses magic to alert their quarry, things kick into high gear. In addition to apologizing, the chief Guardian gives Jet a new team - one that cooperates.
In the meantime, Delphi has proof that she has a magical sword that could be Excalibur; and the sword eats death magic. It glows when death magic has been worked and even tracks the working.
With this book, the world of Collegium is stretching to be interesting. The arc is complete, but others could follow. I hope they do.
December 25, 2018
Becoming an instant father figure to two young children is difficult enough, but to be involved in their lives because of his cousin’s murder is more than Jet was prepared for. Still, he’s determined to find the murderer and even more determined to ignore the siren call of the beautiful woman next door. Fate deems otherwise because suddenly he and the children are staying in her house thanks to faulty wiring and burst hoses in his house and through her, a link to discovering more about his cousin's murder thanks to the human policewoman she calls ‘mother’. And that’s one more reason to stay away. As Bear shifters, they don’t belong in what the human world believes is ‘normal’. Delphi isn’t exactly ‘human’ though and she’s more than ready to handle a bear shifter, his cubs, and the serial killer her family are tracking because magic is about to cross their paths in a big way.
Another wonderful story with strong characters that are more than capable of looking after themselves, yet are the perfect foil and balance for the other. Again, it’s a standalone, but characters from the earlier books in the series are seamlessly intertwined throughout this story. I really liked Delphi. I like to think we'd get along (if I could just figure out how to get into the book.) As for Jet, hmm, I’m thinking I could do with a bear hug right now. ;) :)
Another wonderful story with strong characters that are more than capable of looking after themselves, yet are the perfect foil and balance for the other. Again, it’s a standalone, but characters from the earlier books in the series are seamlessly intertwined throughout this story. I really liked Delphi. I like to think we'd get along (if I could just figure out how to get into the book.) As for Jet, hmm, I’m thinking I could do with a bear hug right now. ;) :)
December 15, 2025
4 Stars
Alchemy Shift is the seventh book in The Collegium Series by Jenny Schwartz. With this series, I discovered a fun, fast-moving mix of urban fantasy, romance, and action, set in a world where supernatural beings - from demon hunters to dragon knights - live alongside humans.
Over the seven books, you meet a wide range of characters, each with their own quirks, loyalties, and love stories, all tied together by the mysterious and sometimes politically messy Collegium.
There are magical battles and plenty of supernatural drama, but the heart of the stories lies in the relationships - friendships, romances, and even the rivalries - and the way trust and betrayal shape them. The Collegium itself is a great backdrop, acting as both a safe haven and a source of trouble.
Each book has its own self-contained adventure and romance, but they all connect to paint a bigger picture of a world that keeps expanding.
Perfect for readers who like their fantasy worlds bustling with magic, danger, and a touch of sass.
Happy Reading…
Alchemy Shift is the seventh book in The Collegium Series by Jenny Schwartz. With this series, I discovered a fun, fast-moving mix of urban fantasy, romance, and action, set in a world where supernatural beings - from demon hunters to dragon knights - live alongside humans.
Over the seven books, you meet a wide range of characters, each with their own quirks, loyalties, and love stories, all tied together by the mysterious and sometimes politically messy Collegium.
There are magical battles and plenty of supernatural drama, but the heart of the stories lies in the relationships - friendships, romances, and even the rivalries - and the way trust and betrayal shape them. The Collegium itself is a great backdrop, acting as both a safe haven and a source of trouble.
Each book has its own self-contained adventure and romance, but they all connect to paint a bigger picture of a world that keeps expanding.
Perfect for readers who like their fantasy worlds bustling with magic, danger, and a touch of sass.
Happy Reading…
August 9, 2019
Great conclusion to a terrific series!!
This has to be my favorite Jenny Schwartz series. Of course, I say that about ALL of her books. Best characterization, best storyline, best heartwarming romance; what's not to love. I only found her recently, but I have read probably twenty of them.
This has to be my favorite Jenny Schwartz series. Of course, I say that about ALL of her books. Best characterization, best storyline, best heartwarming romance; what's not to love. I only found her recently, but I have read probably twenty of them.
February 21, 2018
Great series!
I have read two of the books in this series, and I love it. Strong characters, loving (nothing too explicit), and a good story line. I like how weres and magickals are working together.
I have read two of the books in this series, and I love it. Strong characters, loving (nothing too explicit), and a good story line. I like how weres and magickals are working together.
February 10, 2025
Fun book
This was a heartwarming love story with a very creepy villain and interagency politics. Lots of crazy action, insurmountable odds, newly uncovered magics are all a solid foundation for this book long adventure
This was a heartwarming love story with a very creepy villain and interagency politics. Lots of crazy action, insurmountable odds, newly uncovered magics are all a solid foundation for this book long adventure
September 11, 2025
Lovely Finale
Cozy present day fantasy romance, with mages, wears, adorable orphans, dire death magic, and a magical sword. This novel stands alone, but the entire series is well worth reading.
Cozy present day fantasy romance, with mages, wears, adorable orphans, dire death magic, and a magical sword. This novel stands alone, but the entire series is well worth reading.
June 7, 2026
A much better story than the last one, on a par with the best of Jenny Schwartz's writings. Tense and engrossing, it kept me reading long after I should have been in bed!
January 5, 2017
6/10: Good light-weight read, well done.
February 14, 2022
Great series, would love to see more!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews