The Alchemist's Descent

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Fendrel Solinar was never a successful alchemist. Struggling to make a name for himself in a city riddled with crime, he thought his dreams were over—until the parasite took root. With his life now dependent on brewing deadly poisons to keep the creature inside him at bay, Fendrel is thrust into a world of danger, deceit, and alchemical mastery.

But there's a catch: the parasite inside him grows stronger with each poison he brews.

As rival factions vie for control of his unique skills and the city guards close in, Fendrel must navigate an increasingly perilous path, balancing between a life of crime and hope for normalcy.

Trapped between the demands of the parasite, the threat of powerful underworld figures, and the authorities hunting him, Fendrel’s choices could either save him—or drag him further into darkness.

What to expect:

- MC who tries to survive

- MC is an alchemist

- MC is completely cool dealing with criminals

- There will be sex and stuff down the line

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Xylarian

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.1/ 5.0
Followers: 45
Views: 21,473

Reviews

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Community Reviews(6)

CKJ5Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Disclaimer: This review is based on the first chapter and may not reflect the story as a whole.
The Alchemist’s Descent is described as a progression LitRPG featuring adventure, high fantasy, and grimdark elements, with a strong, anti-hero male lead.
The first chapter introduces Fendrel, a middling alchemist who receives ominous messages compelling him to craft poison or succumb to a parasite taking over his body. While LitRPG system mechanics don’t typically appeal to me, I have to admit that the integration of the messages works well within the premise, creating a constant sense of urgency. This affliction pushes Fendrel into mastering poison-making—a skill both illegal and potentially lucrative.
Grammatically, the chapter is strong, with no glaring errors, and the prose flows smoothly. One critique I have is the time skip between Fendrel’s meeting with his colleague and his arrival at the tannery for another meeting. Given that this meeting involves illegal activities and is outside his comfort zone, a brief scene showing Fendrel preparing, calming his nerves, or reflecting on his situation would have added depth and tension.
Overall:
The Alchemist’s Descent delivers a compelling start with a unique premise that gave me strong Breaking Bad vibes in a fantasy setting. Fendrel’s predicament and the parasite’s influence effectively explain his daring, nothing-to-lose attitude as he ventures into a world he knows little about. I’m intrigued to see where this story goes and will be keeping an eye on it.
O. B. WilderRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Really enjoying this ride. First off, the pacing is quick which works really well here. Fendrel is constantly fighting against the clock as he tries to fight off the parasite within him. To keep the story moving quickly, as Fendrel is forced to make decisions big and small, we're experiencing that constant rush of survival that our protagonist is forced to face. I love it.
I'm really enjoying the system at play. It seems to evolve throughout the story, starting simple enough to not be overbearing. But as Fendrel levels up, the concoctions he creates become more complex, adding to his struggles.
At this point in the story (about Chapter 12) characters are more of a means for Fendrel to accomplish his goal of staving off the parasite for one more day. They're not described in-depth, with the exception of one or two characters who are starting to play a larger part (from what I can estimate). I would still like to see a larger roster of familiar faces built out around him, instead of cloaked faces that just come and go. I'm sure this will happen with time, however.
Will be keeping a close eye on this story. I'm looking forward to a time when our MC has established himself enough/resisted the parasite long enough to take a breath, and see what moves he makes towards a future for himself. I'd like to imagine he's going to end his day with a cocktail of poisons that keep the creature at bay while he sits by the fire, like one would end a long day with a glass of whiskey.
Great stuff so far.
Tenebris77Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Grammar 5/5: If there are mistakes, they never bothered my reading experience. The sentences flow beautifully and never made me stop in my pace.
Style 5/5: Excellent third person style! When reading this story I felt like reading novels written by seasoned authors. Words flow well and the tone is consistent. What I love most is the balance of literature elements. There's no filler chapters, each leads the story forwards. The fights are interesting but won't take more than a chapter. The pacing is not slow, nor too fast. There's dialogue, but none is meaningless or made for the sake of the word count. Adjectives are used in fair amount.
Story 4.5/5: There are alchemy fantasy novels but this one is a gem. Recipes and process are, while being fictional, put in a way that make them credible. Each character seems so far to have their own personnality. Fight scenes are written reasonably when considering Fendrel is no fighter.
I give it a high note for another reason, the plot twists. I cannot predict what will happen next. Which means clichés are rarely used and the author does try to make their story original. However, I cannot give it a full five because of world building. We're well into arc 2 and we still barely know this boiling pot of a city. If a name was given, I cannot even recall it.
It's your typical social class conflict but except three or four criminal groups, we only know of one noble house. We really don't know much about the dynamics and history of this city. Another thing is Fendrel seems like the center of the universe and everything around seems to stop until the author needs Fendrel to venture in the world again.
I would have appreciated to feel like the world is as alive as Fendrel is trying to survive. It would have been interesting to read another character's perspective. Perhaps not a full chapter, but at least to learn more about the thoughts of people who interact more or less with Fendrel.
Character 4/5: To continue about another's perspectiv
americansmartiesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Minor spoilers for the premise. No specific names, places, or actions, but talks about MC's situation which isn't necessarily clear at first.
Main character has a metaphorical guillotine over his neck that forces him to make poisons. He started off as "jUSt a NoRmaL DuDe" but within a few chapters he's kind of accepted his situation and tries to find ways to make poison to stay alive in peace. Good story up to 44, which is where I've read to, but I somewhat worry the author might not have a plan for what to do once he settles down in relative safety, if he'll simply never actually get where he wants to be and instead keep fluttering around a bunch of different random labs somehow, or if he'll find a safe space and then be forced to leave it for more exotic ingredients, or if the author will do something else entirely. Good story though, no complaints about grammar or world building.
Lord Turtle the firstRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The story begins with a strong and captivating premise, immediately drawing readers into the main character’s plight. The narrative holds its momentum, maintaining an intense pace as the protagonist’s situation steadily spirals downward. This consistent string of challenges creates a compelling sense of tension and desperation that keeps readers invested, rooting for the main character despite the seemingly insurmountable odds.
The system within the story—though relatively simple—serves its purpose effectively. It is easy to grasp for readers, which allows the plot to remain focused on the protagonist's struggles and the unfolding events, rather than bogging down the pace with overly complex mechanics. Its simplicity works as an advantage, as it complements rather than overshadows the character-driven nature of the story.
For those who enjoy stories where the odds seem insurmountable, with an undercurrent of tension and grit, this tale is definitely worth a try.
M.E. CheRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Alchemist's Descent is a fantasy crime story that follows Fendrel an alchemist forced into morally compromising situations to survive. With a parasite threatening his life and a criminal organization pulling strings, Fendrel must navigate a dangerous world of poison, deals, and escalating consequences.
Intriguing Premise: The blend of alchemy, crime, and a ticking time clock creates a compelling narrative hook.
Brisk Pacing: The story moves quickly, making it an easy and engaging read.
Clear Stakes: The protagonist’s actions have tangible consequences, driving the plot forward and reinforcing the theme of descent.
Recommendation
Alchemist's Descent is a great choice for readers who enjoy:
Fast-paced fantasy stories with clear stakes.
Themes of moral compromise and descent.
Alchemy and crime-driven narratives.
While the story has some areas for improvement, its strong premise and brisk pacing make it an engaging read and definitely worth a try.