The Gorgon's Blood Solution — Jeffrey Quyle

Being an apprentice to a successful alchemist has its challenges, but Marco thought he knew how to manage his time so that he could enjoy life with his friends on the street. But when a stranger offers him an unusual coin, he begins to understand alchemy a little better, and suddenly thinks that it could be a way to make a living after all. Marco's problem is that fate doesn't plan for his life to fit that plan, at least not at Algornia's shop in the Lion City. An evil force is rising, and sending its destructive energy out to scour kingdoms and cities for some unknown purpose. Marco becomes an inadvertent pawn in the machinations of the evil, when he is caught up in the violence and drama of a Corsair raid, and taken away from everything - the Lion City, Algornia's shop, even Constance the model. There are undreamt of allies and friends and opportunities though, and escape is possible. Starting over a new life is not quite as easy however, as Fate starts to hunt Marco down, demanding that he live up to the challenges that are thrown his way, as a champion begins to emerge to face the brunt force of evil. The Gorgon's Blood Solution is the first volume in Alchemy's Apprentice, a new fantasy series by Jeffrey Quyle.