Book Review: Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson offers a new take on the fantasy of alchemy, mixing steampunk and psychology together to tell a thoroughly engaging and creative story.

I think what works best for this book is its narrative format. Using the premise of an alchemist on trial for murder, chapters flip back and forth between the present and the past, using context clues to slowly paint a picture of what happened, and what might happen next. I’m not normally a fan of flashbacks, as I tend to see little value in it over linear storytelling, but here Melanson used it to great effect, using the frequent interludes to further develop the reader’s understanding of the characters. Rather than feeling like needless interruptions, switches in perspectives were placed precisely when the change would help snap everything back in to focus.

As a work of fantasy, I greatly enjoyed Melanson’s portrayal of alchemy, as well as the industrial town that makes up the setting of the story. I’ve never been more excited to hear about characters drinking strange cocktails of magical materials, because the deeply imaginative twist of combining inception-like dreamscapes with conventional science and psychology made for an absolutely gripping experience. I love any writing that attempts to capture the wild and perturbing scenes that our minds create when we dream, and it was thrilling to see the author do that here, especially given how well it worked alongside the Victorian era aesthetics.

I quickly came to adore the main character, Alchemist Ortez, mainly thanks to the way the character dialogue was written. Possessing a sharp wit and a healthy dose of empathy, his manner of speaking and how he interacts with other characters carried an intelligence that never felt arrogant or unearned, while still carrying plenty of charm. I’ve read countless books that had bold concepts, but lost my attention with a bland or aggravating protagonist, and I’m so glad that this is a pitfall that the Trial of the Alchemist firmly avoided.

This book is the complete experience, and a worthy pick up for any reader who enjoys a good mystery, a little steampunk, or just a fresh concept. While the ending still left me with some unanswered questions, I’m content with the story that was delivered, and if Trevor Melanson ever wants to revisit the town or its characters, I would gladly come back with him.