Marie K. Savage is a new to me author. I was taken aback by this fantastic book. It was a well written page turner I couldn't put down. There are many worlds and a cornucopia of genres blended into this tale like time travel, reincarnation, mystery, and romance that will pull at your heartstrings. The different plots this author weaves are what kept me engrossed. It contains drama and suspense. The chemistry of the main characters, Michael and Kat, is off the charts sine they meet in front of the artifact that somehow deeply connects them. It's a full circle story that ties all plots together at the end. One-click this book and be prepared for an exciting journey. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author. 5 stars all the way!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blank Slate for the advanced copy of The Alchemist of Aleppo! This was such a fun and unique read, and I quite enjoyed diving into this world.

From the get go, I was drawn to Kat and Michael’s story of trying to figure out the secrets of The Luck while figuring out their own pasts and secrets. I was rooting for them to finally get a happy ending in this lifetime. I also loved Michael’s family, especially Leila, they were all memorable side characters.

What wasn’t for me was, unfortunately, the amount of different POV’s we got in this book. I generally dislike reading more than 2 POV’s as it can get confusing, and sometimes I was indeed confused as to which POV we were in.

Overall a great story. Could use some more editing for spelling mistakes, spacing errors and the like.

The Alchemist of Aleppo by Maria K. Savage is a captivating novel that explores reincarnation, fate, and the power of past lives. The story follows Michael Samaan and Kat Musgrave, whose intertwined lives across centuries, starting in 14th-century Aleppo, are shaped by a mystical goblet known as the Luck of Edenhall and an alchemist who manipulates their destinies. As Michael struggles to recall his past lives to save his family, Kat seeks to understand her role in the unfolding events. Savage’s rich character development and seamless shifting between timelines create an engaging, thought-provoking narrative about how our past actions reverberate through time, making this a must-read for fans of historical fiction with a supernatural twist.

The Alchemist of Aleppo follows two characters, Katherine “Kat” Musgraves and Michael Samaan, who are inexplicably drawn to a blown glass piece called the “Luck of Edenhall.” They’ve each dreamt of the piece for years, but their chance meeting one day at the museum’s display brings back memories and emotions that seem to have been hidden away for centuries. Kat and Michael seem to go on a journey through time as they piece together the history of the “Luck” and themselves.
One of my favorite details of this book is how Kat and Michael remain as rational-thinking as possible for as long as they can. It makes the characters feel so much more real because they aren’t willing to fall into the fantasy as soon as it shows itself. I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. Some things were easy to pick up on early on, but some mysteries kept me reading until the very end, which I appreciated.
I do wish there had been more character development for both of the main characters, although I feel like I know Michael more than I do Kat. Kat feels very secretive about her teenage years like she doesn’t want to think too much about what happened, but I think she could have opened up more as the story went on and come to terms with her past in a way that would have brought her and Michael even closer together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and give it four out of five stars. I will definitely recommend this book to others when it is released.

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Mystical /Time Travel/Fantasy

Review:

This was an interesting story. I liked the mixture of fantasy, romance and a bit of mystery. Not my usual genre but I thought it was well done. The story flowed well. The main timeline is set in the present with several short flashbacks set at different times in the past. The story flowed well and the different timelines were nicely interwoven in the main story and added an extra dimension mystery and intrigue to the book. The characters were interesting and likeable and their actions were well explained.

Overall:

A well written story with interesting characters,the right amount of mystery and magic mixed in with a bit of romance to keep you captivated till the end.

Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.

I tried to get into this one but the writing style combined with multiple POVs made my head spin a bit and I was not able to fully indulge in this one.

While it was not for me, if you heavily enjoy multiple POVs, I think you will love this read.

Thank you for the opportunity to leave honest feedback!

Michael and Kat are both pulled towards a century’s old goblet in the Victoria & Albert Museum. When they arrive at the goblet at the same time, they quickly realize that they also have a connection to each other. They each have their own strengths with Michael being an art historian and Kat being a geneticist, so they work together to learn about the history of the goblet and their own past lives. Why are they called together? Who else is enthralled by an ancient piece of art?

The Alchemist of Aleppo is a stand-alone novel that is a blend of magic with a historical fiction tale. The story spends much of its time in the present with many trips back into other centuries. The overarching story was entertaining, but it was missing the spark that is needed to make it a well-rounded hit. The Alchemist of Aleppo will be a good read for those who like this subgenre.

At a synopsis level, this book is a fun romp -- interesting concepts for dynamic between characters (and all their past lives), fun magic/science, and the piecemeal reveals of shared history. At a page level, I found myself skimming and sighing. While there are lots of fun ideas bouncing around in The Alchemist of Aleppo, the prose never managed to show those ideas at their best.

My main frustration was that everything took place off-screen. Interesting conversations and tense moments are related as flashbacks or recounted to other characters from a place of safety. As a result all the tension drains out of the book -- which, with a plot driven by dark magic and mysterious assassination attempts, should be high! This wasn't just a problem with action scenes; some of the most frustrating parts were character introductions. For example, Kat, the female lead, suffers from "desolation dreams" which have upset her life since she was a teenager and sent her down the path to becoming a geneticist (and ruined her one long-term relationship). They're central to her life, yet while we're told she has them over and over again, it's at least five chapters before we get any detail on what they contain. Michael's introduction also suffers from the same problem, where we learn that he is haunted by "a darkness," but with no specificity to what that looks like day-to-day. The characterizations end up feeling flat because we're just hearing the same information and never letting it evolve.

Once the two leads meet, the book picks up and we're treated to intrigue in the form of the identity (and goals) of the billionaire Sergei, as well as assassination attempts and revelations about what the alchemist actually did, but in truth I'd call the back half of the book cozy. Overall if you're looking for an easy contemporary romance read with fantastical and historical elements, The Alchemist of Aleppo might just fit the bill.

This one wasn't my cup of tea. I liked the premise but found the dialogue to be pretty stilted, which kept me from enjoying things fully.

The Alchemist of Aleppo by Marie K. Savage is a captivating blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and romance, offering readers a rich and immersive experience. The novel follows Michael, a British art historian, and Kat, an American geneticist, as they uncover the deep, soul-stirring connection between themselves and a mysterious 14th-century glass goblet. Savage's writing skillfully weaves together past lives, science, and history, creating a narrative that explores the intersection of love, fate, and the mysteries of time. The concept of reincarnation and the alchemist’s work to infuse the goblet with the essence of love offers a compelling hook for those drawn to stories that blur the lines between the tangible and the mystical. The unfolding mystery, combined with the romance, keeps readers intrigued and emotionally invested in the characters’ journey.

While The Alchemist of Aleppo is deeply imaginative and offers a thought-provoking exploration of love and destiny, some readers may find the pacing slow at times, especially as the narrative toggles between timelines and unravels the characters’ intertwined pasts. The complexity of the plot and the dense layers of historical and magical elements can occasionally feel overwhelming, making the story challenging to follow for those who prefer a more straightforward narrative. However, for readers who enjoy books that delve into the mysteries of the soul and love transcending time, Savage’s novel will be a rewarding and unforgettable experience. The Alchemist of Aleppo is perfect for those who crave an enchanting, philosophical journey through history and magic.

This was an enjoyable, easy to devour book. The author obviously researched the art history mentioned which grounded a lot of the themes and made for a really interesting backstory. The author did a great job of building a mood and main character backstory. I do wish we could have had some more in depth interactions between the main characters that built relationship and were not plot advancing. I was dying to know more about Micah and Yasmin's meeting and story, as well as more interation between Elias and Emmaline.

It did feel like there were some open ended items near the end of the novel that could nod to a follow up or a spin off.

Overall this was a fun read and I would have no trouble recommending.

This was such a great book! I loved every second of it. The combination of magic and a forever kind of love is always a big hit for me. The writing is descriptive but without exaggerating, it transports you and makes you forget reality for a while. It has different POVs but it never gets confusing. It’s such a creative story, even more so once you read the author’s notes. I have already recommended this book to every single bookish friend I have; is not a usual thing that you get so lost into a book.

The Alchemist of Aleppo is an intriguing time-travel/reincarnation story about a medieval glass artist of extraordinary talent. He becomes enamored of the dark arts so common to the era and creates a process he believes is a blessing but becomes a curse. The curse follows him and the others for whom he used the process down through centuries.
Overall, I felt the story pacing was slowed by the repeated references to dreams and unresolved anxieties. When certain reincarnated personalities met again there was instant recognition and I found that somewhat unbelievable too. However, the book was entertaining and the historical aspect of the story was believable enough.
Thank you Marie K Savage and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Michael and Kat are haunted by a past they don’t understand and drawn together by mysterious circumstances that will make you question the nature of love, death, and the eternal consequences of one man’s choice. This standalone novel has beautifully written prose and a tight plot that drives toward a satisfying conclusion. Atmospheric and well-researched.

Loved this book. Not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it. I was not sure what to expect, but it is well written, and the storyline really drew me in. It is set over eight centuries, and each era has its characters. The concept was excellent and in the end I could not put it down. I loved the main characters in the present day, who brought such colour and intrigue to the storyline. The next time I am in London I well certainly be heading to the V&A to see ‘The Luck of Edenhall.’

The Alchemist of Aleppo was such an intriguing blend of fantastical elements along with mystery and romance, it kept me hooked from the beginning. I wasn't exactly sure how much I would like the reincarnation/tied to past lives element of the story since I'm not usually a big fan of them but they worked so well with this story and were so interesting and fun! I really liked the characters and the different plot lines that followed along with the main one, all of which were tied up together in the end. Overall, a really fun and intriguing read that I definitely recommend!

A gorgeously written mystery that combines timelines and cultures across centuries.
Beautifully written characters and good pacing that keeps you invested from beginning to end.
I really enjoyed the glimpses into the past, piecing together the mystery of the Luck of Edenhall and the slow burn romance.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I loved the way this showed different centuries in this story, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of this. Marie K. Savage has a strong writing style and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that element that I was looking for and was glad everything worked together to tell the story.