New Book Alert: Midlife Alchemy Book 1: Paravel by Kate Swansea; Fun Enchanting Modern Fantasy With A Protagonist For The Rest of Us

 

New Book Alert: Midlife Alchemy Book 1: Paravel by Kate Swansea; Fun Enchanting Modern Fantasy With A Protagonist For The Rest of Us

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: A couple of years ago, a meme circulated around various writing groups on Facebook in which its author pondered why Fantasies often had Chosen One leads that were in their teens and twenties. Why couldn't the lead be an older woman in middle or late age, the author asked? At least one fantasy book, Dash Hoffman's Mrs. Parivale and the Blue Fire Crystal was a direct response to that meme, in which a 73 year old woman becomes the one that is destined to save a fantasy world. (I started reading it. It was delightful but after I had to end my Kindle Unlimited account, I lost that book as well and have been unable to finish reading or reviewing it.) 

While Kate Swansea's Midlife Alchemy series may not also be inspired by that meme, it definitely seems to suggest that there is a strong need to fantasy series starring characters that are older than the typical leads. I for one am looking forward to what will hopefully become an official trend.

For among the many positive qualities that Midlife Alchemy's first book, Paravel, possesses (and there are many), is its lead protagonist. Dr. Elise Clair is not some ingenue on her school break. She is a 45 year old dental hygienist with two adult children and is soon to be divorced. She caught her husband, Darryl, in the act with not one, but two, of his assistants. After kicking him to yon curb, as an amateur witch she puts a few hexes on him. They seem to work because the last that we see of Darryl, the overly religious ex is practically getting a bonfire ready for an old fashioned witch burning.

 Unfortunately, since many of the locals in her Minnesota town know Darryl better or are surprised that Elise (who took some time off to raise their children and work in Darryl's office) even is a dental hygienist, her career is faltering. Not to mention that she isn't over eager to remain in a town with so many bad memories.

 However, she gets an offer to work as a full time dentist at Black Lake Falls, WA. The offer is intriguing and so are the pictures of the beautiful Alpine town with Germanic style buildings. Elise accepts the position but is surprised to find that it's not a typical small town by any means.

The first red flag is when she asks outsiders about the town and no one has ever heard of it. It is actually cut off from everywhere else, not on a map or even a GPS locator, because it is described as a "border town." Black Lake Falls is actually a town inhabited by witches and vampires so they are able to use their magic to keep the town invisible unless one is invited. It doesn't just keep tourists away, it also keeps out the umbra.

 The umbra are demonic creatures that come in and out of the shadows and murder anyone that they encounter. The only thing that is keeping the umbra at bay is a gate that is guarded by an amulet held by the Warden. 

The Warden is revealed to be a powerful alchemist and has a connection to Elise. Oh and he's also dying and wants the Warden position to be passed along to another and guess who he selects? I'll give you a hint, she's not just in town to fix teeth.

Midlife Alchemy is a great fantasy for both younger and older Readers that brings a lot of delightful charm and magic. One of the highlights is Elise herself. She is a bit of fish out of water, asking questions about the landscape and the residents as any newcomer.

She is surprised by the role that she has been given and her familial connection to it, but she understands and accepts the gravity of the responsibility of protecting the town and possibly the world from umbra. Perhaps because of her age, she doesn't go through the obligatory "I don't want this responsibility" that many fantasy Chosen Ones have.

Elise is discombobulated because it's an inherited position that until now she didn't know about. But she realizes this is a job that she has to do not just because she is the best choice, she is the only choice. (Two other potentials suffered illness or breakdowns.)  She realizes that protecting the world from the umbra is much larger than herself. She knows that in protecting the people in town, she is also protecting her children and other people's children.

This moment is emotionally realized during a decisive battle between the umbra and the people of Black Lake Falls, Elise, unsure if she is going to make it out alive, sends a text message of love to both of her children. 

This moment shows the awareness of a larger picture that an older protagonist has that younger ones may not. Many times, younger teen protagonists either have terrible childhoods or are orphans. They show also very little acknowledgement to the people that they do like on the outside, that their actions in the fantasy world could affect them and they may never know why. This little act in which Elise remembers her children shows that she is full aware of what she could leave behind if she shirks on her duties.

Elise also shows a middle aged person's patience and adaptability in any situation. Even before she arrives in Black Lake Falls, there is a weird moment where one of her dental instruments turns into a weapon. She later learns that is part of alchemy, changing matter from one form to another. She studies the former Warden's journals which are full of odd symbols and arbitrary phrasing and works to interpret them. 

Even the very act of pushing the pins on the amulet to keep the gates closed and the umbra take awhile to learn but she manages. She also comes up with some clever plans to outsmart the umbra and unmask a traitor that is working with them.

Elise is also uncanny in using her talents as both a dental hygienist and an alchemist to make friends. One of the vampires, Nina, is openly hostile towards her (witches and vampires don't get along in Black Lake Falls) but Elise manages to make the vamp her BFF by fixing her damaged fangs. (Hey, vampires need dental care too.)

Elise also makes some mistakes such as assuming one character is a traitor which causes some lost time in chasing this red herring and fighting with the people with whom she is closest. (Also presumed traitor leaves town with the possibility of playing a bigger more dangerous part because of Elise's suspicions.)

Elise makes friends with many of the locals and in a town as lovely as Black Lake Falls it's easy to see why. It's a beautiful town with plenty of magic. It is the very town for these fantasies and Elise fits right in. 

 She also develops a romance with Theo, the General in charge of protecting Black Lake Falls from the umbra. Their romance seems similar to those Hallmark holiday rom coms where the newcomer becomes involved with a local (usually local law enforcement). 

However their romance is augmented by their fights against the umbra and the dangerous situations in which they find themselves. Bigger stakes like saving the world also can result in stronger emotions, more stress levels, holding onto one of the few people that can help them, and seeing them in a more romantic light. Plus it helps that Theo is a great character to help Elise forget about her unhappy marriage.

Midlife Alchemy is a brilliant start of

not only a potentially great series but a potentially wonderful trend of fantasies starring older female characters.