Amethysts & Alchemy

De: Rachel Rener

Narrado por: Lia Langola

I used to eat rocks as a child.

The family doctor diagnosed me with pica, dooming me to years of intensive therapy and extensive dentistry work. It wouldn’t be until much later that I would understand the all-consuming, insatiable craving that spurred me to eat a variety of rocks and minerals wasn’t a mental disorder, but an innate gift that allows me to extract the magic contained inside them: tourmaline for speed, celestite for strength, augite for a powerful laxative effect (that I had to discover the hard way).

Twenty years later, I’ve hidden my abilities beneath a white lab coat, working as a small-town pharmacist who creates proprietary “naturopathic” tonics that treat everything from memory loss to erectile dysfunction. Those tonics, in turn, fund my expensive lifestyle of solo flying around the world to search for more rocks. What more could an airplane-loving, mineral-munching, magical alchemist want?

Unfortunately, my arch nemesis, Heath Spencer, has recently taken it upon himself to single-handedly ruin my life. No longer content with annoying me from afar with his overpriced, tacky rock shop, Heath has decided to further antagonize me by dangling the opportunity of a lifetime right in front of my face: traveling to an ancient copper mine in China, which is home to some of the rarest and most stunning minerals on Earth.

It’s not until after I’m trapped halfway across the world with my least favorite person on the planet that I’m forced to come face-to-face with three terrible realizations: everything I thought I knew about Heath Spencer is wrong, some minerals were never meant to be ingested, and – worst of all – I’m not the only one who’s been keeping secrets...

©2024 Lightning Conjurer Books LLC (P)2025 Lightning Conjurer Books LLC

Sparkle, Snorts and Soul

Rachel Rener has crafted something truly magical with Amethysts & Alchemy. Delaney Stone isn’t just a pharmacist with a sharp mind, she’s also a pilot with a daring spirit, and that combination makes her one of the most memorable heroines I’ve read in fantasy. Her world is built around a fascinating mineral based magic system that feels fresh and brilliantly imagined.

What really touched me, though, was Delaney’s bond with her emotional support pig, Topie. He’s more than comic relief; he’s a grounding presence, offering comfort and loyalty when Delaney needs it most. Their relationship adds warmth and humor to the story, and I found myself smiling every time Topie trotted onto the page.

The romance is equally compelling. Delaney’s rivalry with Heath Spencer crackles with tension, and watching their relationship evolve from sharp edged competition into genuine connection was deeply satisfying. The banter, the sparks, and the eventual tenderness all make their dynamic unforgettable.

This book has everything: originality, adventure, humor, heart, and characters you’ll carry with you long after the last page. It’s a five star read in every sense, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who loves romantic fantasy with both sparkle and soul.

A fresh change on how magic happens

I normally don’t read or listen to a new series when there’s only 1 book out. But I’m glad I decided to this time and I can’t wait for the next! I really enjoy how the MC’s neuro-spicy mind works, I feel like I can relate in many ways. I also love the different take on how side acquires her ‘magic’ which she doesn’t believe could be magic of course. Eating rocks lol lol the author could’ve come up with so many different ways but I LOVE the connection of absorbing ‘rocks’ or minerals and gems to manifest powers.

My only complaint with the narrator is about the sections when she’s telling the narrative and not doing dialog. She is so monotone and speaks at like 2.5x speed. I find myself gasping for breath when she finally finishes what she’s saying. It’s like she challenges herself to not breathe and talk as fast as possible to get through a paragraph. I could understand the dialogue sections when Delaney is speaking in monotone to protect herself from feelings that she doesn’t understand. Maybe that’s just how this narrator speaks, I will have to remind myself to not hold my breath when she’s fast-talking through paragraphs and just breathe normally.

Other than that, you’ve got hunky hunky Heath and an adorable piggy named Topaz. What else could you possibly need?

LOVED IT!

I loved having a neurodivergent female lead character! I thought this novel was well planned, fun, and interesting. I also enjoyed the narration, which I listened to at 1.75 the regular speed.

Loved how 'real' this story felt

It's a new and unique magic system.
And the author sounded very knowledgeable about a wide range of topics.
I found the main character very interesting to read.

Another favorite

Anything by Rachel Rener is an instant hit with me. The spice level is always believable and proportionate which I greatly appreciate (a lot of authors way over do it and it takes me out of the story!). Her character development is perfect. I like that she doesn't droll on about insignificant details but I still get a good feel of who I'm reading about. The world building is sufficient, not very detailed but she does transport the reader with her words.

I would love to see the sequel in audio format and I'll be regularly checking for that. I'd also very much like her other series (a certain lightning conjurer comes to mind) in this format as well. Thanks again for a beautiful book. Only thing I would change is to have the artwork attached as a PDF <3