Alchemystic

A Spellmason Chronicle, Book 1

By: Anton Strout

Narrated by: Linda Borg

An old friend of the family....

Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name....

Lexi’s great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason - an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor’s most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis.

Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love....

©2012 Anton Strout (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Buyer Beware

I could not finish this book because Alexandra Belarus was so whiny and the voice of Linda Borg was so grating. The dialogue was so awkward. Alexandra lived in the family home. It and everything in it was build or purchased by her great-great grandfather Alex. Her great-great grandfather is mentioned in every sentence she says. I became annoyed with her whiny great-great grandfather. Was Anton getting paid by the number of words? Great-great grandfather could not have been shorten to grandfather Alex? If I want to hear whiny, I would visit my god daughter. She does it better, I can leave when I want and it does cost me $ or a credit.

Not sure how I feel about this book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story line could be very good, but I kept feeling like it was geared more towards teenage group. Too may childish behaviors and spats with the primary characters

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The scifi part. I enjoy the unusual.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

She read good... I just felt like the story line was too young.

Any additional comments?

I hate to say anything bad, it was a decent read, just felt young, and I didnt expect that.

OK if you are looking for a YA fantasy

The concept is intriguing, but the approach is more geared toward a "Twilight" audience, even though the protagonists are in their early 20's. Also, the narrator, Borg, sounded a bit young (teens) and didn't present a good range for the adults (well, older generations, as I can't think of Alexandra and her 2 friend as adults, even though they are in their 20's, given their puerile behavior). Borg's delivery is grating on some of the male voices and she is particularly off target for the centuries old gargoyle, Stanis. This would be a fun read for a teen audience or anyone looking for a fresh YA fantasy. If you are looking for grit, I would look elsewhere.

Was okay...

When I started to read this book it was absorbing but then it got to be unbelievable and unrealistic as to how the main Character would know certain things or do things that she'd never known before. I was sorely disappointed by some of the writing as I think it got sloppy in some parts like the author wanted to rush the story line or didn't know how to write certain scenes. As I said it was okay, somewhat far fetched and didn't absorb me as I usually get absorbed into a book.

For short insight: Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist that finds out some pretty dark secrets about her family and finds herself in a fight for her family and digging into her grandfathers past. She finds out she is a spell mason and has the abilities to manipulate a craft of magic with stones. She also somehow awakens a gargoyle that is her guardian through this.