The Alchemist 5

The Alchemist, Book 5

De: Roman Romanovich

Narrado por: Nick Flesher

In this odd world full of wonders and dangers, one thing is for sure—an alchemist's life is never boring.

Next to demons that are able to regrow limbs and space-bending Walkers, a new threat has emerged—the shapeshifters, whose appearance can mimic anyone.

This unprecedented threat on a national scale provides the alchemist with a new mission. First, survive when they try to kill you, and then arm the empire with the means to fight against this menace.

Difficult choices lie ahead. Demons, Walkers, and now the shapeshifters change the balance. But the appearance of the Emperor's new ally, an alchemist who can work miracles, shifts the rules of the game as well. This information has been leaked to foreign intelligence, meaning the stakes have risen, and the time has come for Ed to make a choice. Will he stay by the Emperor's side or go his own way?

On top of everything, a new school year is starting, and the heart longs for romance. Perhaps it's finally time for Ed to sort out his personal life, too.

©2025 Roman Romanovich (P)2025 Podium Audio

the series has been good so far

this is the first book in the series that I'm actually taking the time to leave a review on. as of the time of this review the first five books had received the audio treatment and book 6 is already out in ebook form. as a general rule I try to take it easy on the first book of a new series and then when it comes to sequels I'm basically looking for what made the last book worth reading plus a little bit more. this is the first time I've come across this author. I obviously enjoyed the preceding books well enough to continue on with the story. the performance from the narrator has been fantastic. the writing is really well done, but nobody's perfect. of course I'm not a fiction writer myself so you can take this critique with a grain of salt. there is a brutality in this series where from my point of view it appears that both the good guys and the bad guys Target friends and family. yet in this book there is a scene in which the characters appear appalled that the ultimate bad guys would Target children. the other characters had already been doing that. next is the family that wipes out our main characters family in the very first book. the mother is pushed off screen as an alcoholic. and the writer appears to basically focus in on the two siblings. there is sympathy for the pair suffering for the sins of the father. the male sibling is less sympathetic as he has committed sins worthy of any ill fate that befalls him in the story, but the sister definitely not. regardless of the author's background the story is taking place in an alternate version of Russia. perhaps there is something in that culture that warns about the tragedy that will be fall sheltered children. the sister comes off at being spoiled if you're being unkind and sheltered if you're not. there is an abrupt change of attitude with the sister character that ultimately leads to a bad end for that story thread. it doesn't really make sense to me or perhaps it's just done in a ham-fisted way. ultimately the character is a minor one for the most part. I didn't like it and I don't know that I'm doing Justice in the explanation in this review as I try and avoid too many spoilers. if it doesn't sound like you won't bother you then I say you're good to go.