The Alchemists of Evernow

Heidi Catherine has done it again with The Alchemists of Evernow! This is the second book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series, and so far it's a series well worth reading.

The story tells us about Wintergreen, another of the Five Kingdoms of Evernow. The Alchemist has learned the secret of controlling people by means of scent, and Jasmine is one of many women in his thrall. When the Alchemist captures Jasmine's brother Raph, she must wake up - and she must seek help from Ari, the heir to the throne of Wintergreen. Ari is on a mission of his own, trying to solve a family mystery, but he agrees to help Ana. Can they save Raph, solve Ari's mystery, and break the hold the Alchemist has over people?

Heidi Catherine does a wonderful job of fleshing out another of the Five Kingdoms of Evernow. The first, Forte Cadence, addressed the power of the spoken word. Here, Wintergreen looks at the impact of the sense of smell. It is through the fragrant elixirs and salts he creates that the Alchemist wreaks havoc and gains power. Scent can heal or wound, kill or cure.

The world of Evernow is vividly imagined, and the characters are well written. Raph is a precocious boy who sees more than people may realize. Jasmine is a strong, caring young woman. Ari has a good heart and wants to do the right thing, even when it isn't easy. The Alchemist is wonderfully creepy and dislikable, but even he isn't just a one-dimensional bad guy.

Don't start these books unless you have time to dive in, because you will not want to put them down! The Alchemists of Evernow is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I'm ready to visit the other three kingdoms!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.