What am I doing wrong (alchemist)

So my alchemists die around ~18, the last one was fine, I shouldn't have been standing where I was, was over confident and got a boulder in the face (that 1hit K/O'ed me).

However the other alchemists I just don't get what I did wrong - This, this, and this.

Escort rewards go to golem, usually magic or str (if no magic), if choice is dex and cun, I choose dex for MC (plan to do crafty hands at 42).

I add Golem Power due to the heal to the Golem (otherwise refitting is useless, propping it to at least 3 make a huge difference)

--

I prefer Frost thematically, I know 'acid' is generally prefered, but does it make that much of a difference? Or is it just that Shalore is a terrible Alchemist?

--

Edit: I have a couple of victories (Necromancer and Berserker), so I understand the 'basics' of the game (res > armor, stats > power, alt dungeon = probably leave and/or death), but I just don't see what I can/could do different with the alchemist this early.