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THE ALCHEMIST'S CODE is the follow-up to Dave Duncan's novel THE ALCHEMIST'S APPRENTICE. This time around we find the young swordsman Alfeo Zeon, a brash quick-witted young gentleman and apprentice to Nostradamus, the renowned physician, narrating an account of murder and love in an alternative 16th C Venice. What starts off with Nostradamus restoring Grazia, the daughter of ducal counsellor Zuanbattista Sanudo, who has run off with her lover, Danese Dolfin (a former friend of Zeon's and a gigolo), to the bosom of her family leads to his becoming involved with the rural cabal of Venice, the formidable Council of Ten that includes the Doge of Venice. The Council of Ten believe that there is a spy within their midst and that he is using coded messages to pass on information. The Council want Nostradamus not only to break the code but also to track down the spy. Alfeo's and Nostradamus's investigations lead them back to the household of Zuanbattista Sanudo and Danese who is murdered. Things go from bad to worse and get really awful when one of the three state inquisitors becomes involved. As they battle the magic that is hindering the investigation they find themselves under magical attack. As we are told the story through Alfeo's eyes, we are also pulled into the way of thinking of that Machiavellian wizard Nostradamus. Lush with description and sent in a decadent Renaissance Venice, THE ALCHEMIST'S CODE is a curious but delightful mix of crime and fantasy. Alfeo's breezy narration of what is going on belies the fact that at times he is unaware of what is happening. Without a doubt he is the bag man for Nostradamus, very reminiscent of Nero Wolfe's Archie Goodwin. This is a fun fast read that will no doubt please not only readers of fantasy but also readers of cross-genre fiction. Suspend belief and indulge yourself in a spell-binding tale of magic and deduction. I hope that there will be further tales of Nostradamus and Alfeo Zeon because they are certainly worth reading about.
Reviewed by Ayo Onatade, July 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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