"Rich and multilayered fantasy tale full of action and intrigue"
Reviewed by Debbie Wiley
Posted February 9, 2016
Fantasy | Science Fiction
Veranix Calbert has his hands full. Between his studies
at the University of Maradaine and his nightly forays
into town disguised as The Thorn so he can fight the
deadly effitte drug trade, Veranix has little time for
other activities. Unfortunately, someone else has other
plans for the students at the University this exam week
as a series of rapidly escalating pranks have Veranix
trying to uncover the culprit before things turn even
more deadly. Meanwhile, things are heating up in Aventil
as The Thorn has now become the pursued rather than the
pursuer.
THE ALCHEMY OF CHAOS is the second book in the
Maradaine series. I highly suggest reading the
series in order as Marshall Ryan Maresca plunges readers
headlong into his complex and multilayered world with
little time for a recap of past events or characters. THE
ALCHEMY OF CHAOS features a plethora of factions, from
the Constabulary to the magic circles to the gangs and
even to the University. Each faction has other groups or
levels within it and the overall picture of life in
Maradaine can be quite confusing if one doesn't have some
the foundation of world building established in the first
book, THE THORN OF DENTONHILL.
THE ALCHEMY OF CHAOS expands upon the world we first visit
in THE THORN OF DENTONHILL, as we delve further into the
various gangs that inhabit Aventil. I love how Marshall
Ryan Maresca doesn't resort to stereotypes but instead
creates multidimensional characters. In particular, I
love that Colin Tyson and Jutie take on much bigger roles
as we begin to see the fight between the Rabbits and the
Princes in a much different light.
And Veranix—I can't help but love his heroism, even
when
he takes ridiculous risks! His heart is definitely in the
right place as he seeks to rid the city of effitte. THE
ALCHEMY OF CHAOS begins to develop his role a bit more as
Veranix starts to see himself more as a protector than
just a lone avenger fighting the effitte drug trade.
Veranix is quickly growing up, and I'm curious to see
whether we will see his character continue past his
university days as I'm quickly becoming attached to him
and his friends.
THE ALCHEMY OF CHAOS is a rich and multilayered fantasy
tale full of action and intrigue. With complex world
building and multidimensional characters, THE ALCHEMY OF
CHAOS continues the Maradaine series in a most
satisfying way. Marshall Ryan Maresca has definitely
moved onto my must-read list with his Maradaine
series!
SUMMARY
Veranix Calbert is The Thorn—the street
vigilante-turned-legend—and a
danger to Willem Fenmere, the drug kingpin of Dentonhill.
Veranix is
determined to stop Fenmere and the effitte drug trade,
especially
when he discovers that Fenmere is planning on using the Red
Rabbits
gang in his neighborhood. But Veranix is also a magic student at the
University of Maradaine, and it's exam week. With his
academic career
riding on his performance, there's no time to go after
Fenmere or the
Red Rabbits. But when a series of pranks on campus grow
deadly, it's
clear that someone has a vendetta against the university,
and Veranix
may be the only one who can stop them...
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