Book Review: Dark Alchemy

Title - Dark Alchemy

Author - Laura Bickle

Genre - Urban Fantasy

Format - Kindle review copy

Published - March 24th 2015

Publisher - Harper Voyager 

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Geologist Petra Dee arrives in Wyoming looking for clues to her father's disappearance years before. What she finds instead is Temperance, a dying Western town with a gold rush past and a meth-infested present. But under the town's dust and quiet, an old power is shifting. When bodies start turning up - desiccated and twisted skeletons that Petra can't scientifically explain - her investigations land her in the middle of a covert war between the town's most powerful interests. Petra's father wasn't the only one searching for the alchemical secrets of Temperance, and those still looking are now ready to kill. Armed with nothing but shaky alliances, a pair of antique guns, and a relic she doesn't understand, the only thing Petra knows for sure is that she and her coyote sidekick are going to have to move fast, or die next. 

Review

I received Dark Alchemy in return for an honest review from the publisher. Petra is a geologist running from an accident that happened six months earlier that changed her life. She’s hoping to find her father who went missing back in the 90’s. Petra has moved to far away from the ocean where she used to live to Temperance a western town in Wyoming near Yellowstone where her dad last was. Petra is quickly sucked into the small town life, picking up an old vehicle and adding pair of old pearl handled guns she’s fitting right in.

As Petra digs deeper into what happened to her father she is pulled into a mystery with the ranch hands and the goth kids that hang out in the garden. Soon strange bodies are piling up and only Petra seems to be connected to them. She befriends a social worker from the local reservation who’s uncle thinks that Petra is the answer to stopping the hungry one. At least Petra won’t have to go it alone as she’s befriended a coyote who’s taken it upon himself to move right in. Will Petra find what happened to her father? What’s really going on with the ranch hands?

I really liked Petra she’s a smart character who’s moving on after tragedy and handles the unusual things happening in Temperance very well. I found her to be an interesting character she doesn’t rely on men she handles her own trouble and reminds me very much of an old west cowgirl. I liked several of the supporting characters like Gabe, Mike, Maria and even Frankie they enhanced they added to the Petra’s new life.  However my favorite character aside from Petra was Sig he just grew on me through the whole story and I think I need one of my own Sig’s.

I didn’t even read the synopsis when I requested Dark Alchemy because I’ve read all the authors’ books so I knew that it would be good. The characters are easy to connect with I found the memorable they captured my heart. Since I didn’t read the synopsis other than assuming it was a Wild West story I didn’t know what to expect and found it doesn’t disappoint. Dark Alchemy is fast paced loaded with mystery and intrigue a perfect mix of fantasy is thrown in creating an intricate story. The concept I found new and exciting it’s not often I find an urban fantasy that reminds me of the old west but with a modern twist. I really enjoyed the authors writing style it flowed smoothly from start to finish and I think she did a great job creating a captivated story.  I enjoyed Dark Alchemy it was hard to put down I was drawn into Petra’s story and had to know how it would play out. As far as I know Dark Alchemy is a standalone but I wasn’t ready for it to end so I’m crossing my fingers for more. I look forward to seeing what the author has planned for next.