The Alchemist's Riddle

By G.B. Whitehall

Sixteen-year-old James Pembroke has always loved books, but when volumes in Dublin's ancient Thornfield Library begin crying actual tears and losing their words, James discovers an extraordinary truth: he is a Story-Walker who can physically enter the world of books.

Under the guidance of the enigmatic Madam Weatherall and a miniature dragon called Fafnir who chose literary criticism over gold hoarding, James learns he comes from a long line of those who can move between reality and fiction. But this inheritance carries a dangerous responsibility.

An entity known as the Editor is systematically extracting elements from literature-character motivations from Moby Dick, Elizabeth Bennet's perspective from Pride and Prejudice, Wonderland's logical nonsense-all to create one "perfect story" that threatens to standardise the infinite diversity of human imagination.

As libraries worldwide fall victim to this literary vampire, James must master his newfound abilities and embrace his Irish heritage as he journeys into beloved classics to battle mechanical extraction parasites. But the Editor has been waiting for someone like James-someone with a unique connection to the mysterious First Edition, the source of all stories.

James's quest will lead him to discover that he is far more than just a librarian with unusual abilities. His true nature may be the key to saving literature itself-or exactly what the Editor has been waiting for.

For readers who've ever wished they could step inside their favourite books-and suspected that sometimes, books step into us.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DYSQ46M4
• ISBN13: 9798312158946
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"