Goodreads Link: The Alchemist of Souls (Night’s Masque #1)
Author: Anne Lyle
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars

I love Elizabethan, Renaissance, and Shakespearean stories, and this novel did not disappoint! I liked the alternate history and the integration of magic into the story, along with well-researched historical details. The skraylings were an interesting culture to add into historical London. I also thought it was interesting that the troupe of actors featured in the novel was not the one with Shakespeare, but a rival company. Since so many stories are written about Shakespeare I liked the variety.

And of course, I’m a sucker for any story where a girl disguises herself as a boy, so naturally Coby was my favorite character. I thought the romance between her and Mal grew naturally and added an extra dimension to the story. Between their growing attraction, and Mal’s concern for his brother Sandy, the character relationships were quite deep and carried the main force of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am definitely going to read the next part of the series!