Quintessence Series by David Walton

Imagine an Age of Exploration full of alchemy, human dissection, sea monsters, betrayal, torture, religious controversy, and magic. In Europe, the magic is thin, but at the edge of the world, where the stars reach down close to the Earth, wonders abound. This drives the bravest explorers to the alluring Western Ocean. Christopher Sinclair is an alchemist who cares only about one thing: quintessence, a substance he believes will grant magical powers and immortality. And he has a ship.

Quintessence Sky continues the story of Horizon, the island perched on the edge of the flat Earth, that began with Quintessence (Tor Books, 2013). A strange fire burns in the sky, altering the balance of the elements and threatening all life on Horizon Island. Matthew Marcheford experiments to determine the cause, while the growing animosity of the manticores and the arrival of more ships from Europe jeopardize the colony's fragile peace... moreQuintessence Sky continues the story of Horizon, the island perched on the edge of the flat Earth, that began with Quintessence (Tor Books, 2013). A strange fire burns in the sky, altering the balance of the elements and threatening all life on Horizon Island. Matthew Marcheford experiments to determine the cause, while the growing animosity of the manticores and the arrival of more ships from Europe jeopardize the colony's fragile peace. When Matthew's fiancee, Catherine Parris, is betrayed and abandoned deep underground, the secrets she uncovers there may be Horizon's last hope. less