This is a well-structured fantasy book with fabulous prose and vocabulary. It’s set in the night life city of Bezim, populated with the Bravi (raucous, sword-wielding street performers) and alchemists, both of which are illegal and punished by the inquisitors. However, the inquisitors frequently turn a blind eye to these activities when the azatani (the wealthy, influential upper class) are involved.

Siyon Velo is both a Bravi and an Alchemist. He earns a living by jumping between the planes of reality to harvest alchemical ingredients and selling them to the wealthy azatani alchemists. When he breaks the laws of alchemy he is thrust into the inquisitor’s line of sight. At the same time, the balance between the planes of reality start slipping, threatening universal catastrophe. Now Siyon and his exciting new friends must rush to restore balance before he’s arrested and poisoned for the crime of alchemy.

Notorious Sorcerer has a wide vocabulary (including swear words) which Evans uses throughout the book. Several times I had to pause and look up some of the words, which I view as a positive since it expands my own vocabulary. Evans uses words that don’t exist in our world, like bravi, azatani/azata/za, negedic, abyssal, empyreal, aethyreal, all of which are very important to following the narrative. A glossary of such words would have been incredibly helpful.

From the beginning, the story was intriguing and compelling, and only improved as it continued. The imagination and creativity in the descriptions of the planes, alchemical ingredients, creatures and workings, was enrapturing. Notorious Sorcerer is the first book in this series.

Reviewed by Holly, Year 9
St Columba’s Catholic College, Springwood NSW
Age Guide 14+

Davinia Evans was born in the tropics and raised on British comedy. With a lifelong fantasy-reading habit and an honours thesis in political strategy, it was perhaps inevitable that she turn to a life of crafting stories full of sneaky ratbags tangling with magic. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with two humans (one large and one small), a neurotic cat, and a cellar full of craft beer.

Dee talks more about all of that on Twitter as @cupiscent