Step into a world where alchemy and machinery intertwine, where ancient secrets hold the key to unlimited power, and where a young alchemist must navigate treachery and form unexpected alliances to safeguard the future. In "The Alchemist’s Code," embark on an exhilarating journey through a steampunk society teetering on the brink of revolution. Set in the sprawling metropolis of New Aetheria, this captivating tale follows the story of Lira, a gifted young alchemist who stumbles upon an ancient manuscript rumored to contain the secrets of unlimited energy. As powerful factions vie for control of this arcane knowledge, Lira finds herself thrust into a dangerous game of intrigue and betrayal, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death. From the bustling streets of the steampunk city to the hidden depths of the Arcane Forge, Lira must navigate a treacherous landscape fraught with peril and deception. Along the way, she forges unlikely alliances with rebels, engineers, and even mechanical beings known as the Gears, all while uncovering the truth behind the enigmatic Alchemist’s Code. But as Lira delves deeper into the mysteries of the code, she soon realizes that unlocking its power comes with a price. Caught in a web of secrets and lies, she must confront her own fears and insecurities, lest she succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume her. "The Alchemist’s Code" is a riveting tale of adventure, discovery, and the power of friendship in the face of adversity. With its richly imagined world and compelling characters, this spellbinding novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Prepare to be swept away by the magic and intrigue of "The Alchemist’s Code," a thrilling steampunk adventure that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

It is said the legendary Maestro Nostradamus is able to glimpse the ever-changing future, but even he cannot see the danger that is about to envelop him when he is hired to find a foreign spy by Venice’s ruling Council of Ten. Especially since the only clues are the spy’s intercepted messages, encoded in a seemingly unbreakable cipher. But Nostradamus soon detects evil influences working against him, and realizes the spy can only be caught by occult means. He turns to his able apprentice, the daring young swordsman Alfeo Zeno, whose unique talents may prove essential to unraveling the truth. But the truth may be the end of both master and apprentice… “One of the best writers in the fantasy world today.”—Writers Write

An Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within.

Alfeo Zeno must clear Nostradamus' name after he's accused of poisoning a person to advance his own reputation.

THE greatest of English dramatists except Shakespeare, the first literary dictator and poet-laureate, a writer of verse, prose, satire, and criticism who most potently of all the men of his time affected the subsequent course of English letters: such was Ben Jonson, and as such his strong personality assumes an interest to us almost unparalleled, at least in his age. Ben Jonson came of the stock that was centuries after to give to the world Thomas Carlyle; for Jonson's grandfather was of Annandale, over the Solway, whence he migrated to England. Jonson's father lost his estate under Queen Mary, "having been cast into prison and forfeited." He entered the church, but died a month before his illustrious son was born, leaving his widow and child in poverty. Jonson's birthplace was Westminster, and the time of his birth early in 1573. He was thus nearly ten years Shakespeare's junior, and less well off, if a trifle better born. But Jonson did not profit even by this slight advantage. His mother married beneath her, a wright or bricklayer, and Jonson was for a time apprenticed to the trade.

A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho. Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

A 400-year history of the development of alchemy in England that brings to light the evolution of the practice. In medieval and early modern Europe, the practice of alchemy promised extraordinary physical transformations. Who would not be amazed to see base metals turned into silver and gold, hard iron into soft water, and deadly poison into elixirs that could heal the human body? To defend such claims, alchemists turned to the past, scouring ancient books for evidence of a lost alchemical heritage and seeking to translate their secret language and obscure imagery into replicable, practical effects. Tracing the development of alchemy in England over four hundred years, from the beginning of the fourteenth century to the end of the seventeenth, Jennifer M. Rampling illuminates the role of alchemical reading and experimental practice in the broader context of national and scientific history. Using new manuscript sources, she shows how practitioners like George Ripley, John Dee, and Edward Kelley, as well as many previously unknown alchemists, devised new practical approaches to alchemy while seeking the support of English monarchs. By reconstructing their alchemical ideas, practices, and disputes, Rampling reveals how English alchemy was continually reinvented over the space of four centuries, resulting in changes to the science itself. In so doing, The Experimental Fire bridges the intellectual history of chemistry and the wider worlds of early modern patronage, medicine, and science.