The Alchemist Books
Sam’s desire to protect his sister leads him to magic he never imagined. The powerful arcane arts have kept Olway safe for generations, taught only to those tested and proven to have real potential at the prestigious Academy. That power has never been found on the edge of the kingdom where Sam and his sister struggle to survive. Until now. A terrible mistake puts Sam at the mercy of a master of the arcane arts who brings Sam to the Academy to help learn what happened to the last of the Alchemists. Posing as a student, and with no magic of his own, he tries to navigate the Academy and discover the secrets of Alchemy. When he discovers a dangerous power that could destroy the Academy, Sam is tested in a way he’d never imagined. Having no magic of his own, his mind and wits might not be enough to stop a dangerous power that has turned its attention upon the Academy—and is now focused on Sam.
Alchemy is the key to stopping the Nighlan, but no Alchemists remain. The dangerous alchemy key has bonded to Sam, giving him access to the almanac that is the key to the ancient power of true Alchemy. He’s made an enemy of the Nighlan, but it’s those inside of the Academy he worries more about. Though he has no magic, he has continued to excel, which puts a target on his back. He has allies inside of the Academy, but remains an outsider. When the Nighlan attack in the city and Sam is targeted, his connection to the key is threatened. Without that and the almanac, the Academy lacks the defenses that can protect it. If Sam can’t find his connection to the key, not only might another claim it from him, but he could be permanently scarred. This time, his knowledge of Alchemy and the arcane arts might not be enough. Sam must find real power within himself for failure means that more than the Academy will fall to the Nighlan.
Sam is bound to an unstable power that he doesn’t understand. Having thwarted an attack on the Academy and learning the extent of the Nighlan infiltration, Sam knows that he must master true alchemy. It’s an impossible power that he still can’t believe he possesses, and it might be the key to staying at the Academy. When War comes to Tavran, Sam is helpless to stop it, though believes the almanac holds the answer—if he can understand it in time. A trained alchemist would know how to use the almanac, but none remain, leaving Sam as the only one with that power in the city. Mastering his power will take more than his quick mind and what he's learned during his time at the Academy, but it might not be enough to help those he cares about most.
Sam must master his connection to the source—and understand alchemy—if he wants to save the Academy. Sam had come to the Academy powerless and used his wits to keep his place until learning that he can command a different magic. With the Nighlan attacking along the border of the city in the hopes of freeing Rasan Tel, Academy students are called upon to fight. Having used his power to protect the Academy, Sam finds himself in a new struggle. Somehow, he has to balance his classes, lessons with a new alchemy instructor, all while working on a secret assignment in the war against the Nighlan. As he begins to learn the truths of alchemy and his unique connection to power, Sam knows that he holds a key to stopping the fighting, but only if he can master his power. The lessons he needs can’t be found in books, and the only person with the knowledge he needs is the same person he must defeat.
The Nighlan have been defeated but the real danger begins. Now that Rasan Tel has revealed his plan, Sam must find a way to seal him back into his prison. The barrier has weakened, and only Sam’s vrandel serves as a lock holding him back. When an attack nearly severs Sam from the source, he must find a new way of stopping Rasan Tel. The key rests in what he’s learned during his time in the Academy—if only he’s strong enough to find it. Alchemy and the arcane arts must combine to stop the war, but without a way of reaching the source, how can Sam stop the threat?
The discovery of a strange new power leads Sam to buried truths. Now that Rasan Tel has escaped, Sam works with others within the Academy to make preparations for the coming war. Increasing attacks on the outskirts of Olway raise the urgency to learn when and where the next attack will come, but Sam is caught between fighting the war and his new responsibilities to the Academy. A dangerous new form of magic leads Sam and Tara toward a discovery that will shake the foundation of what they believed about the war—and about how to stop it. If they fail to learn the truth in time, more than Olway will suffer an impossible fate. The thrilling conclusion to The Alchemist series.