THE POISON MASTER.

THE POISON MASTER by LIZ WILLIAMS.

On the planet Latent Emanation, human beings are the humblest class - at the mercy of their mysterious alien rulers, the Lords of Night. Alivet Dee is a professional alchemist - and, unknowingly, a descendant of famous Elizabethan mage Dr John Dee - who cannot help but question the Lord's rule ever since her twin sister was taken away to serve in their grim and enormous palace. She has saved every spare penny to pay her sister's un-bonding fee, but this plan is wrecked after one of her intricate potions goes wrong for a wealthy client. Subsequently, Alivet finds herself on the run for murder.

Her only ally then seems to be a Poison Master from the planet Hathes. Arieth Ghairen is seeking an alchemist of Alivet's expertise to find the one drug that can harm the Lords and topple their hierarchy. Sequestered in Ghairen's fortress laboratory, lied to by both her new employer and his daughter's enigmatic governess, Alivet doesn't know whom to trust or where to turn for answers. But, ever striving to rescue her sister, Alivet is driven relentlessly to hone her skills in time.

Even though time is running out .....

..... From the inner front cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (chapter one): "Are you certain this unnatural device will not fail us?" Sir John Cheke's face was a study in apprehension.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: The woman wore a long shift shift, of what Alivet initially thought to be velvet. Then she saw the dress was made of lichen: held together by a web of vines and starred with flowers. Elaniel's beautiful face was dusted with flowers.

Intrigued by the interesting cover (I wish I could include the back view) which seemed to tell a story in it's own right, I had to have a copy of this book. Set in two different worlds, many different planets many, many years apart this could have been a difficult novel to follow but wasn't. Not usually the type of genre I read, I must say that I really enjoyed The Poison Master with it's intricate twists and turns and fascinating characters including my favourites - the anubes who, like the Egyptian god, Anubis, were part human/part jackal.

Primarily about Alivet, a young alchemist, distinguished by the tattoo on the palm of her hand and the bands in her hair, the book also tells the story of her descendant John Dee both of whom are on a quest, Alivet to free her sister and John to, well you will have to read the book to find that out, I wouldn't want to give away any of the plot.

I loved Alivet who was both intelligent, resilient and yet, at the same time, vulnerable whilst I longed to know more of John Dee's story which I found to be a bit sketchy -  in fact so much so that I don't know if the book would have been any the less a read if this had not been included.

Easy enough to read and yet complex in detail, rather like a jigsaw I found myself having to fit together the various parts, I was unable to put this down wanting to know what happened next at the turn of every page.

The Poison Master was bought in Scarborough.