Hmm. HMM. Frankly, I was disappointed with this, but for various reasons I went in really hopeful about it, so perhaps the letting down of my high hopes evens out at not bad really.

My feeling, though, is that the plot lacked power and significance (by which I mean it didn't build itself solidly, or have big damn consequences front and centre keeping one's attention riveted), the storytelling was too caught up in minutiae and justifications (by which I mean there were a lot of little scenes of characters doing little things for little reasons that were too closely explained), and the prose was workmanlike and not sufficiently elevated by its Elizabethan gracenotes.

Mostly, I was just hoping for more - more skullduggery, more magic, more machinations, more breathtaking scope - and mostly this was concerned with theatre and personal issues. ( )

Larry Rostant’s Renaissance cover art has once again persuaded me to take a punt on a novel: a compelling blend of fantasy and gritty historical fiction, populated by players, spies, noblemen, and swordsmen who are down on their luck. This is London, in the fading days of Elizabeth I’s reign, but not as you know it. The queen tarries at Nonsuch, mourning her late husband Robert Dudley, while the reins of power are in the hands of her elder son Prince Robert. The capital seethes not only with religious strife, but also racial tension, for the discovery of the New World has brought Europe into contact with the skraylings: human-like and yet not human; great craftsmen, traders and warriors. And the imminent arrival of the first skrayling ambassador to the Court of St James may well be the spark that ignites the blaze. Imagine Shakespeare in Love seasoned with grit, intrigue and more than a hint of otherworldly magic...

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/02/07/the-alchemist-of-souls-anne-lyle/ ( )

good character development - likable characters - good dramatics - good world building - half the primary characters are gay
not sure if I will read more by author. ( )

This would be 4 1/2 stars if GoodReads wasn't so fixated on whole numbers. Competent handling of a dizzying array of plots and secrets, solid characterization, and a neat re-imagining of an Alternate Elizabethan England. I was not as satisfied with the ending as I might be, but room must always be left for sequels this days, of course. Can't wait to see what the rest of this world is like, with Skraylings in it! ( )

This is the first book of The Night's Masque trilogy. In this book, the author has created an alternate history in which Queen Elizabeth I has married Robert Dudley and given birth to two sons. However, the Queen is not a main character; the alternate history backdrop is simply there to set the scene as far as I can tell. The main story revolves around Mal and Coby. Mal is hired on as a body guard for a skrayling ambassador. Skraylings are mystical human-like creatures who have the ability to be reborn (guise) as humans and also they are able to walk through people's dreams.

As of the time of writing this review, I have already read the second book in the series, so I am trying to be careful to not confuse the two stories or give away any plot points in the books. Anyway, the skraylings are fascinating, and they are very reminiscent of a type of Native American mysticism. Kiiren, the skrayling ambassador, was delightful in that he was tied to the old ways of his skrayling brethren, but also excited and wanting to learn more about human customs and society.

Coby was the other main character. She is a girl who is working with a theatre troupe undercover as a boy for her own safety. She is wonderfully head strong in the way that is typical of the feminine hero in today's literature. Other than the character of Ned (Mal's friend and comedic sidekick), Coby was far and away my favorite character in this book. I especially loved the details of the behind-the scenes Shakespeare-era theatre.

Mal and Coby come together because Coby is fluent in trade-speak with the skraylings, and she is to teach Mal this language in preparation for his duties as the ambassador's body guard. Coby falls head-over-heels for Mal, but there is the tension of her masquerading as a boy that keeps the story interesting. Also, I enjoyed that Lyle was able to have Coby convincingly lust after Mal without making it the sole aspect of her personality. Coby maintained a distinct personality and humor outside of her "romance" with Mal which I appreciated.

The story was fascinating and a relatively quick read. It definitely left me anxious to read the second book. And as a side note, after reading the second book, I am looking forward to the third. I am curious to see if Ms. Lyle has any other stories to tell after the Night's Masque is concluded, because I feel she is an intelligent, humorous writer, and I would love to hear more from her. ( )