A kind thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC.

Notorious Sorcerer is an inclusive adult fantasy with alchemy and the notion of multiple planes. The world-building was certainly ambitious and intriguing, as there was a whole theoretical background to alchemy and how spells should be done. It wasn't just "poof" and done. I really liked that, but I found that the world-building never really reached the "wow" effect. It wasn't as exciting as I expected and hoped it would be.

Class division is also a theme that comes up often, and in my opinion, it was one of the best elements of the story. How a character from one class could do certain things and get away with it, while another character from another class couldn't even get education. The double standards and its impact on the characters' development was really well infused with the story.

The characters on their own were actually quite interesting. Siyon, the main character, was someone we rooted for, someone who longed for education and knowledge and belonging. Izmirlian was a delight. Anahid was a surprise and a delight. Zagiri had potential for a great character arc. Each character had their spark, but I didn't feel like they evolved individually or as a whole cast ensemble. I liked how Siyon and Izmirlian understood each other. The group dynamics were okay but didn't really reach their potential. And personally, I didn't like how it indirectly depicted one m/m couple as the bad guys since one of them made false promises to Anahid and trapped her into a loveless marriage. I believe that Anahid and Tehroun were the most intriguing characters, and I kept looking forward to seeing them in the scenes.

Overall, it was an okay adult sff read. It didn't really land with me, but I do appreciate the fresh world-building and inclusive cast as well as the quirky/snarky/somewhat funny tone of the story.

Notorious Sorcerer was a book I’d been anticipating for a while and it’s one that, in the midst of a minor book slump, I really enjoyed. Admittedly not something I completely loved, but still very much liked regardless (which, given the aforementioned book slump, I’ll take).

The story follows Siyon, primarily, who is making ends meet by travelling to other planes to collect alchemical ingredients, in the hopes of trading them for lessons. Because, in Bezim, alchemy is the remit of the rich and powerful, someone that Siyon is not. But then a series of events happens that shoves him, reluctantly, into the limelight.

The highlight of this book is the characters. There are multiple POVs, so it’s not just about Siyon (although he is probably the primary protagonist, if I had to pick), and each of those characters feels vibrant and real. That extended to the side characters too—it’s one of those books where everyone feels distinct. No one blurs into some amorphous mass of background characters, because here, you could imagine so easily even the most minor of side characters getting their own clear voice and POV. I wish I could say I loved all of the POV characters equally, but that would be a lie. While I did love them all, I think I have to say Izmirlian was my favourite, followed closely by Siyon.

And that was largely down to their relationship. I’m not quite sure how to describe it without spoilers, so I won’t try to. But. When I say “honey, you’ve got a big storm coming,” I mean it. If I think too hard about Siyon and Izmirlian, I have the uncontrollable urge to scream into a pillow. That’s the kind of thing you’ve got to look forward to.

Moving on from the characters, next up is the plot. This is a book that doesn’t lack for things happening, but manages to make it fast-paced, while giving events room enough to breathe. The plot as according to the blurb ends pretty quickly, and after that you’re kind of in the dark as to where things might lead, but in a good way. In the dark in a way that makes you want to keep turning pages. There are some books where you get to the end of the blurb plot and think, okay what could possibly happen from here, but not this one. And that ending! I need book two in my hands as soon as possible!

If there’s one weakness to this book—and I’d kind of hesitate to call it an out-and-out weakness—it’s the worldbuilding. The reason I’d not quite call it a weakness is because it’s not really weak so much as I wanted a little more. For the pace of the plot, this amount of worldbuilding works. It balances well between explaining the world without info-dumping, explaining enough about the world that you’re not confused, and letting what’s happening do the explaining. The reason I wanted more was because I always want more depth to the worldbuilding. I live in hope of worlds like Tasha Suri’s or Andrea Stewart’s, where it’s so intricately detailed and beautifully brought to life. That’s not to say this one was a bad world. But it wasn’t quite that (although, book two? I have some hopes, since the focus will probably be expanding).

Overall then, I think this is a book I’m going to be begging people to pick up. Writing this review alone makes me want to reread, so I’m hoping it does something for you too.

Well written with an enchanting storyline, well developed characters and a good level of worldbuilding, I didn't want it to end.

I love this book. I love Siyon. I love Izmir. I love Anahid. The world. Everything.

When I requested Notorious Sorcerer, I had a different idea of what the book would be. The actual product wasn't far off, but it was different in ways I didn't expect and I enjoyed it more for it.

Let's start with the city. Bezim is the only place of alchemical working on the planet. Where people can go delving for arcane materials in other worlds and perform feats of wonder through much theoretical study and applied learning.

Or if you're Siyon Velo, you do things off script and make it up as you go along.

It's much more fun that way.

Alchemy is broken down sorcery and it's just about allowed. If you're rich and azatani. The Inquisitors will poison you if you're not. Bit harsh. Siyon isn't rich or azatani. Siyon's make it up as you go along because he has no idea what he's doing method has him catching the attention of the Inquisitors, catching the attention of a lot of people including the family of Zagiri Savani.

Zagiri is technically azatani although she prefers to be one of the bravi scaling buildings, running tiles, and wielding her sabre. It's being one of these bravi, a Little Bracken that has her caught up with Siyon and sets the plot racing ahead on the wildly unstable Mundane plane.

In most ways, Notorious Sorcerer is about family and connection. What a mother would do for her son. What a wife will do to have her own life outside of her marriage. What a girl will do to put aside what her parents expect of her for just a bit longer. What blade brothers and blood brothers, and lovers, and aunties, will do for one another.

But these ties can be rocked and that's the magical issue here. The Mundane plane is highly unstable. It's the problematic one of the four and attempting to fix it and understand it was fun.

I enjoyed learning about balance and counterbalances, and cards, and Powers.

What I don't enjoy is having to wait until 2023 for the second book so if that could be delved from the author's mind into my lap, I'd be ever so grateful. I'll even provide the necessary tether.