THE NULLIFICATION ENGINE
Book Two of the Alchemancer Series
About the Book
The city of Brighton promises new beginnings for Aaron, Serena, and the taciturn eslar, Ensel Rhe. But, upon their arrival, Aaron and Serena are arrested for their role in the Chaos of a week ago, while Ensel Rhe slips away on business of his own.
The pair are given the opportunity to plead their case before the earl himself, whereupon they are released and assigned a very special duty, for deep below the palace lies the Nullification Engine, an ancient machine completed hundreds of years ago but never activated. Until now. While Aaron and Serena struggle to unravel the machine's mysteries, Ensel Rhe confronts his past once more when he learns his daughter has come to Brighton, but in the company of one of his greatest enemies.
A race against time begins as Aaron comes to realize the Nullification Engine was never turned on for a reason, for once the machine reaches a state of full nullitivity, it will destroy Brighton and everyone in it.
Reader Praise
"Scott Marlowe has definitely figured out how to get around the boring second series book curse with this title. The writing was strong and solid, and right from the beginning the personalities of the characters shined." - Ionia, online reviewer
"Marlowe continues to write strong female characters, which I find refreshing in sword-and-sorcery fantasy." - KadLady, online reviewer
"The star character was the Nullification Engine itself, which stole the show in every scene it was in, and was a wonderfully unpredictable and fascinating device." - Pauline, online reviewer
"Mr. Marlowe has great characters and he did a great job adding further depth. Once again, his plot was very well developed and he added to the richness and complexity of the world that he has created." - PHSheehy, online reviewer
Sample Chapters
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Maps
Characters
AcharatShaman and chieftain of Xirklx.
Alice Briggs
Griffin's quartermaster.
Ardus Arkor
Raider, explosives expert.
Arlen Walkerton
Serena's father.
Bekjris
A raspel. Crime-lord of Brighton.
Bella Kelm
Adopted daughter of Thorvid Kelm.
Blyden Kreg
Captain of the Griffin.
Chane Taldman
Steward of the House of Walkerton.
Clyde Mantock
Inn proprietor.
Dasinda
A Sunken Slums fortuneteller.
Dougal
Airman.
Durant Chandler
Field Marshal of Rockhaven's army.
Emily Stewart
A childhood acquaintance of Serena's.
Ensel Rhe Alon
An eslar mercenary.
Evan Kingsley
King's Patroller.
Gerwyn
Krill weapons master.
Hirad Bolheim
Raider.
Hosh
Shodeth warrior.
Hounds of Barathrum
- Carnage (Ugoshatha),
- Havoc (Shatach),
- Ravage (Sthu),
- Ruin (Sarshuath),
- Shatter (Elaqus),
- Agony (Hugony),
- Mayhem (Yathathac),
- Misery (Ggothista),
- Scourge (Uzulthoma),
- Discord (Mmazstagoth),
- Turmoil (Bhacthu),
- Terror (Zhac-kitha)
Ingrid Kane Kalara
An eslar trader.
Jacob Madison
First Mate of the Griffin.
Jakinda Rhe Alon
Daughter of Ensel Rhe.
Kimlor Rusk
Raider, stone expert.
Krosus
Houndmaster, demon.
Lundy Mortimar
The Griffin's boatswain.
Marcel Dadehill
Lord Chancellor of Kettering.
Miles Stanworth
Airman onboard the Griffin.
Nobu
Shodeth warrior.
Nod
Bella's bodyguard.
Othini
Chief Scientist of the Earl's Department of Alchemy and Science.
Persimmius Falconian
Mysteriarch and pyromancer. Serena's first master.
Philip Roberts
Earl of Brighton.
Poth
Shodeth warrior.
Purcil
Tinkerer rat.
Rachna
Leader of the shodeth.
Rail
A cabin boy.
Rebecca "Beck" Stratum
Ship's engineer.
Roe Tippin
An army sergeant.
Rohan Fuchs
Captain of the Earl's Guard.
Rolf
One of Thorvid's henchmen.
Sedgewick Gyles
Airman.
Thorvid Kelm
Dwarven crime boss.
Tobias
Airman.
Trevin
City guardsman. Clyde's brother-in-law.
Verna Walkerton
Serena's mother.
Willum
A research scientist.
Places
Barony of Agratis
A barony grown rich from its lumber and trade agreements with Brighton. Agratis is ruled by Lord Malcolm Roberts.
Barony of Fallmere
Leaderless since the attack on Norwynne, Fallmere is in a state of disarray.
Barony of Rulana
The richest and most prosperous of Kettering's territories, Rulana is ruled from Brighton not by a baron, but by the Earl of Kettering himself.
Brighton
A prosperous city located at the joining of three rivers, the Silvercross, Highbrook, and Whitecrest. It is the seat of power for the entire earldom and is known for its shipbuilding industry and as a trading gateway to the Barrens Ocean.
Earldom of Kettering
The southwestern territory of the fiefdom of Seacea. Made up of the baronies of Agratis, Fallmere, and Rulana. Kettering is ruled by the Roberts family.
Griffin
The Griffin is a one-of-a-kind airship specially designed for high-elevation travel.
Kirschnick
A city lying between Norwynne and Brighton on Galway Road.
Norwynne
A remote oceanside city-keep.
Rockhaven
Capital of Agratis.
Xirklx
An underground city located beneath Brighton.
The Series