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: Initially I was not sure that the book would be for me when I heard about it. But it is Laura Bickle we’re speaking about and so far I have not been disappointed by one of her novels. It was finally a good thing to try this adventure as the author conquered me again. Here we find a very original story mixing alchemy, mystery, murder, and magic.
Petra went to Temperance after a difficult history that left her a little disoriented. This city is the last known place of her father years before and the young woman hopes now to find him. Yet her research will quickly get complicated when she realizes that this place contains many secrets. Two powerful characters of the city compete in secret. It’s quite difficult to identify exactly what they are and what they really want to achieve, but one thing is sure, they are ready to do anything to achieve their goals. Accompanied by a coyote with whom she befriended, Petra finds herself in the middle of the intrigues of the city. Indeed, she finds a kind of compass on her land and it seems that the boy who calls himself the Alchemist is determined to get it back! But on top of that, she is interested in Gabriel and tries to understand him. This is a man who works for Sal and it looks like everyone avoids these people at all costs. The guy has many secrets and even though she knows that discovering everything could be dangerous, Dee is determined to understand what’s going on, especially when bodies start to appear all over town.
I enjoyed discovering our heroine, she tries to understand what is happening in this strange city, without forgetting that her primary purpose is to find her father. She will end in a story completely beyond her but always accompanied by her friends. I loved her relationship with coyote, this animal who appreciates her but who is not so ordinary. It’s funny to see how the two will become inseparable over the chapters. And then there was this man … Oh Gabe is very difficult to define and to understand. He’s hiding something and has some quite extraordinary powers and I was very curious to learn the truth about him. Besides, I have to say I was very surprised because the author had some very interesting and different ideas while creating a new myth.
I will not say more because we discover many things in the story, but in any case I was very interested from beginning to end and I hope we’ll have a sequel soon because I’m curious to see what happens to the characters after that. Laura Bickle once again presents a book at the height of her previous writings.
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blodeuedd
I saw it was ebook only so…I can’t even buy it. I do want options, so no
Melliane
Oh yes difficult, I understand, I didn’t know about that.
Jessica @ a GREAT read
OOOoh very nice!! I have read Laura’s one series she wrote under another name and have her previous series in my massive TBR Mountain of Doom. I enjoyed her previous work in the one series at least. Very curious about this one now! It sounds unique and still has a paranormal sense to it! I am definitely all over this one! Great review!!
Melliane
I had tried it as well and I liked it. I hope you’ll try her other series, it’s good! I’m sure you’ll like it too.
Ramona
Finally, a review for this one – and a nice one at that! The blurb sound fascinating to me, and I loved the cover from the very minute I saw it đŸ™‚ I can’t wait to read it!!! Excellent review.
Melliane
I hope you’ll enjoy it, it’s different and intriguing.
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
Everybody is loving this book AND this author.I’m gonna have to pick up one of her titles before long đŸ™‚
Melliane
Oh yes you definitely need to try!
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Gabe sounds quite curious. I love when an author can spin a new myth or storyline. Fun to see that unfold. I’ve got one of hers from another series. I really should read that.
Melliane
right? He is!
kindlemom1
I still can’t believe that I some how missed that she had another book out. I just loved her YA series. I must grab this one too!
Melliane
yes she is quite good! I’m sure you’ll love this one as well.
Braine
happy to see positive reviews for this! I plan to squeeze this in this week!
Melliane
I can’t wait to see your opinion about it!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I’ve been seeing this around and I totally want it. Now with your review I want to read it more! I still need to read her other series. Have that first book now just to find the time…
Melliane
yes you should tyr all of them! She is good at atmosphere and all.
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Thanks for the review! I saw this ebook for a good price and I had preordered it and now I have it and it’s in my Kindle, so I’m glad to see that you enjoyed it and that it’s been getting some favorable reviews! đŸ˜€
Melliane
lol at last you’ll read it one day as well
Joy
i didn’t quite enjoy her zombies series, but there is a certain appeal to this one that’s calling to me. đŸ˜€
Melliane
it’s a bit different. I really liked this one.
Carole Rae
Interesting take on a “western”.
Melliane
yes I agree
Silvia
The alchemy, mystery, murder, and magic mix really got me intrigued… I haven’t tried her books yet, but this one sounds like it could be a good start for me!
Kirsty-Marie
Awh, I love it when they have animals with the MC, always so cute, and I think is a great characteristic with a character, animal friendly. đŸ™‚ Glad you weren’t disappointed! đŸ˜€
Kim @ BookSwoon
Oooh you have me very curious with this one too, Melliane! Western with Coyote, Alchemy, murder…and Gabriel. *Runs off to buy*
Thanks Melliane đŸ™‚
kimbacaffeinate
I’ve enjoyed this author and have this one on my Nook ready to be devoured!
LilyElement
Looks interesting, can’t say I’ve read a book with a Geologist as a character.
Brandi Breathes Books
Does sound like a nice heroine to get to know