The Alchemist of Souls: Night's Masque, Book 1

I enjoyed the book quite a lot. It's a historical-fantasy based in London with a bit of magic etc and a good amount of mystery and action to keep it interesting.

Quite similar to the Locke Lamora books in terms of the type of fantasy novel.

The book does have a gender-role breaking sub-theme but the protagonist is not part of it and it is definitely not what the book is about.
The book has a grand total of TWO gay characters. The other reviewer who mentions every second character being gay is exaggerating quite a lot...

But even if there were more than two gay characters, it's hardly a reason to read or not read the book. The problems you would face reading it are no different than if a hetro guy was reading a book with a straight female protagonist...

Overall there is very little explicit details gay or straight. A few scattered sentences is about it.

Given the price ($8 when I bought it), this book is DEFINITELY worth a read. Very very cheap for 15 hours of solid entertainment!

I was sad that book 2 isn't here or isn't written yet.

I will never be able to finish reading this book. For me I find the moral reality being promoted in this novel to be offensive. I made a mistake purchasing this book!

I really enjoyed this story, historically it was fascinating. Not as much magic in it as I usually like in a book though, but enough fantasy to keep me interested. I really liked the heroine, she is really original and I liked her a lot. Each character was really interesting in their own way too. Not sure if I'm interested enough to go the second book though, for some reason. Maybe because I like more fantasy and magic?

Engaging characters, compelling action, a little mystery, and hilarious English slang, a great combination making for a great listen.

Michael Page is amazing. I've listened to seven or eight books he's read and I've not been disappointed yet.

Really though, there were like more gay men than straight men... I just really don't enjoy listening to a dude talk about how nice an ass another guy has.

40% of it was pointless and should have been edited out.

no

bordem

I forced myself to listen to this because I purchased book 1 and 2 at the same time. It should have been called: "Homosexuality and Crossdressing In an Age of Religious Fanaticism" She doesn't explain anything about the main thrust of the story or the side characters. It was agony getting through it. I had hoped book 2 would be better once things were established but no.