$16.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 8 hrs 40 mins
In Stock
$$16.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Scott Marlowe
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Engines of Alchemancy: The Alchemancer Book One Paperback – October 9, 2022

by Scott Marlowe (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 68 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.99","priceAmount":16.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"G98AkMeNcxRMiwKtcAGJ4sP19Sq0DrE5Yl9nELiWDju%2F97OaIRpI9GHaNUyspvDK%2FGVQre8Lrsa01d14%2FmuZLzAwnEpDVyFHOr55mmmfE1o9x%2B7LJLv67T9oeS5jvelPSM2yKcltixC4d9VxHJYnOQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Elemental magic consumes the world and only a sorcerer's apprentice who knows nothing about magic can stop it. The Alchemancer series begins.

Chaos erupts in the Barony of Fallmere when a surprise elemental attack destroys Norwynne Keep. Aaron Shepherd and Shanna Bonnerman survive, but Shanna is soon lost in the fallout of the keep's destruction while Aaron is forced to flee for his life.

Unbeknownst to Aaron, Shanna becomes a captive of the enemy who destroyed their home. This enemy, a savant who claims to follow the path of science, speaks of ancient, infernal devices and a quest to reclaim the greatest of them all. Certain the savant means to kill her, Shanna is instead surprised when she finds herself embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, only the worst of nightmares awaits Aaron. Pursued by dwarven raiders, mad sorcerers, and a host of demons who will not stop until he is dead, the only thing keeping him alive is his own wits and an eslar mercenary whose reputation as a killer might make him the worst threat of all.

Though Aaron and Shanna travel different paths, their purposes align when they each learn of a mysterious device known as the Fifth Element. Shanna sees it as the final piece of the puzzle that is her destiny. To Aaron's logical mind, it is an impossible ambiguity. Whatever the answer, the Fifth Element draws them back together and into a final confrontation where science and sorcery will collide.

Begin your adventure today with Engines of Alchemancy (formerly The Five Elements), the first book in the Alchemancer fantasy adventure series.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Alchemancer
  2. Print length
    415 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 9, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.04 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8357267887
  7. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Frequently bought together

Engines of Alchemancy: The Alchemancer Book One
$16.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Nullification Engine: The Alchemancer Book Two
$16.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

Alchemancer (top)

A sorcerer's apprentice who commands science instead of sorcery.

A mercenary consumed by revenge.

A mad savant hellbent on unlocking the secrets of the universe.

Alchemancer (bottom)

The Alchemancer series begins.

alchemancer def

bookcover

The Alchemancer series books

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wow - just wow. Scott blends magical realism, elemental powers, alchemy and mechanics into a fascinating story. The setting, characters, and action are superb."—Terra Harmony, author of The Akasha Series

"I loved the story and it was the perfect combination of elemental magic and adventure."—Ritesh Kala's Book Reviews

"Aaron in particular is a terrific character, both immature yet intelligent and enterprising, perfectly aligned with his age. I absolutely loved his ability to approach any problem in a logical, scientific way, and find a rational solution."—Fantasy Review Barn

"Life experiences can change people, and change friendships, and I felt that Marlowe addressed that complex issue in a realistic way that young adults and adults can both enjoy."—Bookworm Blues

"The characters...display very real and sometimes raw emotions. Very well written. An exciting plot [that] weaves a fantastic adventure."—Goodreads reviewer

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHRFTR58
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (October 9, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 415 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8357267887
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.04 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Scott Marlowe

Scott Marlowe

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Scott Marlowe lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Mountain Biking Capital of the World, where he drinks extraordinary amounts of coffee, rides his mountain or gravel bike whenever the opportunity arises, and writes stories that often end in wondrous, explosive mayhem.

Join his reader's group and get The Hall of Riddles (An Alchemancer Prequel) and The Assassin’s Dilemma (An Assassin Without a Name Prequel) as a thank you.

Find out more at scottmarlowe.com.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
68 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jo Michaels
4.0 out of 5 stars Clean Read with Epic World Building
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
I snagged a copy of this book during an event on my blog where I allowed authors to pitch titles to me for consideration. The Five Elements got me from the sample and I happily purchased the novel and added it to my TBR list for 2014. I'm a fan of fantasy, so this was right up my breezeway. Let's move to the good stuff you really want to know about.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I've been reading on this book for a while, putting it down and picking it up again. In the beginning, the characters didn't click with me on a care level, and I had a difficult time worrying about what would happen to them next. Pacing was a bit slow at the start but picked up about halfway through. I'm glad I didn't give up on this title! Once the action started, it never stopped. I was dragged through a world of sorcery and alchemists that was well built and kept me guessing through a number of turns. There was an excellent plot and a sub-plot I rather enjoyed, because it tied in with the main story well. But, I had problems with the characters' names and kept getting them confused. Too many began with the same letter: E. Both girls had similar first names, too (both beginning with an S); and that threw me off at times. There are several POVs in this book, and a couple of head-hops resulted. Having to turn off my editor's brain while reading isn't easy, but this is one of those titles I had to do that with. While the story was good, there were errors in the writing mechanics. Let's move on to that.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Too many pronoun confusions left me wondering at times if one of the characters was inflicting harm upon him/herself or upon another. As I mentioned before, the characters' names were too similar and I kept having to flip back to see who the heck I was reading about. Also, homophones were confused here and there. One glaring error was in the use of the word brooch when it should've been broach. Small things a reader may not understand, but will know something is "off." That being said, all this had minimal impact on the story itself, but did play a part.

Rating:
1 Star for an awesome sub-plot that tied into the main plot seamlessly
1 Star for world building
1 Star for surprising me a couple of times
.5 Star for pacing after the first half of the book
-.5 Star for confusing me with the names
.25 Star for quality of story and sentence construction
-.75 Star for pronoun, character names, and homophone oopsies
Overall: 3.75 stars out of 5. But I round up, so this book gets a 4. Overall, a clean read suitable for teens with epic world building.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
C. L. Mountney
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
I really likd this book . Was hard to put down . . . . . . . . .
Helpful
 Report
Eoghann Irving
3.0 out of 5 stars All The Elements Are Here But It Doesn't Quite Gel
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2012
Verified Purchase
Sometimes I like to read a traditional fantasy story. One that doesn't twist the plot too radically and just tells me the sort of story I rather enjoy. That is basically what The Five Elements is trying to be. And it almost succeeds.

It has all the elements I want from young protagonists with a mysterious past to wizards and enigmatic warriors. The opening chapters are strong and the setting is evoked convincingly with characters that while tropes to an extent are likable.

But it goes wrong in the middle, introducing additional characters and settings but failing to give them the depth or conviction displayed in the earlier chapters. And just a few too many side plots are stacked up which never really get a good resolution or explanation.

When an author signals that an interesting new character has joined the narrative and you're already three quarters of the way through the book, you know they're not going to get to develop properly.

But really the biggest failing is one of execution. There's a significant character moment in this book that reminded me of the disappointment I felt watching Annakin abruptly turn into Darth Vader. A feeling that the change had been forced rather than grown organically.

For all that I came away really liking the characters and the book is clearly set up for sequels which I would be inclined to give a chance. Because the author shows promise and so do his characters.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
bookblogger
4.0 out of 5 stars A solid fantasy offering
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
The Five Elements is a fairly straightforward fantasy novel. The alchemy part of the book is intriguing and the fact that Aaron is studying with a master was a huge plus for me. The story has some familiar aspects, such as two friends from a similar background being separated by tragedy thinking the other dead. Aaron's companion on his journey was an excellent character in the eslar mercenary.

There were a few parts of the story that I thought dragged a little bit, but on the whole the book was very enjoyable. The characters were done well and the elemental magic system was uniquely done. This book is a fine read for people looking for a fantasy that is a quick high quality read.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dana Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of action and fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
I picked this book on special. I enjoyed the world building and felt the scenes were written vividly. I could see the action come to life in my mind. Built on the hero's journey, there were some nice shifts to keep it from being the same old story line. This was a nice change of pace for me and I'd recommend it for anyone wanting a good adventure.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
mary
4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing and visual world
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2012
Verified Purchase
The author creates a very visual world which captures and intrigues, and where events tumble one after another to keep the reader's attention. I enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next one in the series.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I love when books explain how magic interacts with the world ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
I love when books explain how magic interacts with the world the story takes place in, and I was immediately intrigued by The Five Elements and the way magic and science have seemed to meld together in their world. Well written, and not even one single sentence was boring. 5 stars all day, every day.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars A reasonable effort
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2013
Verified Purchase
As a self-contained early effort by a writer, this is pretty reasonable. It leaves you wanting more of the world and its characters but it never truly achieves an epic or lasting stature.

Pros: To re-attack the earth / air / fire / water elemental and alchemical conceits takes a fair amount of bravery after all the times it's been attempted. The author does a credible job of re-imagining them and keeping them a part of a relevant story. Relatively interesting characters and a plot that maintains interest.

Cons: The foreshadowing was a bit heavy-handed. The pacing of the story was off a bit and came together suddenly at the end rather than having a natural ebb, flow, climax, and denouement. The interesting characters were unfortunately saddled with less-than-stellar development.

Summary: Worth the time, effort, and cost to read, even if it doesn't blow you away.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Roberto
4.0 out of 5 stars Elemente kreativ verpackt
Reviewed in Germany on June 17, 2016
Verified Purchase
Im Zentrum der Geschichte stehen die Freunde Aaron und Shanna. Erst von einem Assassinen angegriffen, erwartet sie nur kurze Zeit später eine Katastrophe, die das Leben der beiden gewaltig verändern wird.

Schon alleine die Thematik um die Elemente hat mich von vornherein interessiert, meine Erwartungen wurden aber übertroffen. Zwar sind die Elemente ein wichtiges Thema im Roman und der Anfang erinnert beispielsweise dezent an Baldur's Gate, allerdings geht es noch um so viel mehr. Getrennt voneinander, müssen die Protagonisten von einer Gefahr zur nächsten ihre Identität neu entdecken - und nicht immer ist die Erkenntnis erfreulich. Die eingewobenen Steampunk-Elemente schaffen zusätzlich einen interessanten Aspekt, der konsequent im Kontrast zu den natürlichen Elementen steht. Auch die Hintergrundgeschichte ist interessant. Manchmal stimmt lediglich der Erzählfluss nicht ganz. Zu Beginn wirken manche Ereignisse zu sehr langgezogen, während sich das letzte Viertel stellenweise zu wenig Zeit nimmt. Ferner werden auch Zivilisationen und Rassen eingeführt, die dann aber nicht weitergeführt werden.

Die beiden Protagonisten sind gut ausgearbeitet. Schon vom ersten Moment an wirken Aaron und Shanna natürlich mit ihren eigenen Stärken und Schwächen. Schön zu sehen ist dabei, dass aufgrund dieser Schwächen nicht immer die beste Entscheidungen treffen, was folgenschwere Konsequenzen nach sich zieht. Die Antagonisten wirken im Gegensatz dazu eher schal. Zwar haben sie ihre Motivationen, doch diese wirken etwas konstruiert, sodass der Plot überhaupt zustande kommt. Die Nebencharaktere werden ihrem Namen gerecht. Sie sind da, tragen ihren Teil zur Handlung bei und haben ihre Besonderheiten, selten wird bei diesen aber großes Interesse geweckt.

Insgesamt hat mir The Five Elements gut gefallen, es verpackt eine Geschichte um die Elemente mit interessanten Protagonisten in ein ganz anderes Format. Ich freue mich schon, den Nachfolger zu lesen.
Report
Pauline M Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars An unusual and fast paced fantasy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I'm not at all sure how to categorise this. There are elements of steampunk, there's alchemy, there's a fairly standard form of elemental magic and there's a fair dose of science in the mix as well. I don't know whether it's intended as YA, but the protagonists are fifteen and there's nothing that would trouble a reader of that age, although some of the `experiments' are a little gruesome. There's an interesting premise - one of the main characters, Aaron, is a sorcerer's apprentice, but unlike the usual such character, he's a scientist, using logic and scientific knowledge to investigate effects related to his master's work. Less radically, the second main character, Shanna, is apprenticed to a soap-maker, but on the side is also a thief and scavenger. Then there is the intriguing idea of the fifth element, in addition to the usual earth, air, fire and water.

The opening is a little wobbly. We see the two main characters in their environment, and they're both very likeable, but some of the events seem a little forced. Would the ogre really toss the head sorcerer's apprentice over the cliff-edge? Is there no justice system which would step in, this being (apparently) a well-ordered city? Would Shanna really be able to push the ogre over so easily? But even so, I liked the relationship between Shanna and Aaron.

Shortly after this, all hell breaks loose, and suddenly we're hurled into a breathless rush of dramatic, page-turning action. Many books don't reach this level of intensity before the finale, but here it works perfectly to rip the main characters out of their setting in the most natural way possible, while raising any number of questions about what is going on. Neatly sidestepping the conventional gang-on-a-quest setup, the two main characters are separated and have to make their own way through their post-apocalypse world, and end up on different sides, which is an interesting twist on things. And although there is a quest, Aaron and Shanna are simply sucked into someone else's plans. This part of the book, the events at Norwynne, is terrific.

From then onwards, the pace is rapid and there's a dizzying array of twists and turns, to the point that I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen next, or who was a good guy and who was a villain, almost to the end. Virtually all the characters have depth and behave believably. Aaron in particular is a terrific character, both immature yet intelligent and enterprising, perfectly aligned with his age. I absolutely loved his ability to approach any problem in a logical, scientific way, and find a rational solution. This is so refreshing in fantasy, which all too often turns to magic at such moments. Shanna I found less interesting, a bit too sulky and short on initiative, and not always terribly bright. Amongst the other characters, the dwarf and the savant both stood out. The mysterious Ensel Rhe worked less well, I feel. His backstory seemed a little contrived to get the reader's sympathy, and he had an all too convenient knack of turning up in the nick of time to effect a rescue (not always successfully, it has to be said). The magic system is fairly simplistic, but the rest of the world-building is fascinating, with an array of (I suppose) steampunk additives for flavour. I loved all the various machines, even if the descriptions sounded a bit hokum.

The book could do with a final polishing edit, with a few mistakes and clunky moments, but otherwise the writing is excellent, perfectly judged to carry the plot without being intrusive. I particularly liked the author's economical descriptions, which convey a great deal of evocative information in the minimum number of words. There were a couple of places where a character jumped to the right answer rather easily, which felt a little convenient, but there was enough foreshadowing to get away with it. The ending is appropriately grandiose and with unexpectedly thoughtful undertones. The author is to be commended for not taking the easy way out at this point. Overall, I totally enjoyed this, and tore through it at high speed - that just-one-more-chapter syndrome. It's an unusual, pacy story, with an unexpected plot-twist in almost every chapter, and great fun to read. Four stars.
One person found this helpful
 Report