First of all, let me tell you how beautiful is this cover! I would buy the book even if I wouldn't read the sinopsis. Yes, I'm that kind of bookdragon. But the catch with these beautiful covers is that you have high expectations. Even if I'm trying to not judge a book by its cover, I can't stop myself. Back to A golden fury, I can say that I wasn't disappointed for having high expectations. It was an easy read, perfect for this month (especially when you are not a fan of spooky things), full with adventures and magical moments.

I'm in love with the idea of alchemy because it's not just magic, it's more magical science which is more plausible than a wand. So for me the plot caught me from beginning, mostly because the story was narrated by Thea. She is for sure one of my favourite main characters. I love her personality, her confidence, her superiority when she knows what she is talking about.

For a debut novel, A golden fury is an interesting read. I can't wait to find out what would be the next adventure from Samantha Cohoe because she has potential to be a very good author. Thank you TBR and Beyond for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this book because the synopsis reminded me of An Affair of Poisons. If you are a fan of it then you will most likely love this book. Mothers who go crazy, subtle romance, and a ton of alchemy. The first half of the book was absolutely amazing and had so much action and plot twists. In fact the first chapter drew me in so much that I read this in one sitting.
The main character has a lot of ignorance for being so smart about alchemy. She doesn't want the philosophers stone for power but instead to impress and hopefully fix her mother who went mad. This fact drives most of the plot.

Before I dive deep into the review, I must admit, I didn’t know much about alchemy. Yes, I’ve heard of it a couple of times but I never had the desire to look deeper into it. So when I got the chance to participate in A Golden Fury blog tour hosted by Wednesday Books, I jumped in right away! I’ve been eyeing this book for a while since I first spotted on NetGalley. Without further ado, here are my thoughts about the book!

Starting from the beginning, the atmosphere was tense and suffocating. Cohoe painted the characters’ emotions so well I could feel Thea’s frustration and anger deep inside me. It helped me understand our FMC better, why she felt or acted this way. The pace is also quite fast though I couldn’t help but notice how some situation or expression is repeated which I’d guess is to remind the readers about the details. There’s nothing wrong with that though I wished it didn’t have to be.

I love the setting, both the era and the places! I think it was interesting when Thea has to go back to England because of the current situation at that time. This predicament helps the story to expand and readers to explore both countries, but we travel a lot in England. Also, can I say that I’d love to see the dress Thea wore in arts or pictures? At this point, the descriptions of them in words are not enough. I was already way too deep into the book.

Now let’s talk about the characters! I always try to be spoiler-free in my book reviews so I’ll only mention some of them. Theosebia Hope or Thea is our FMC. She was a determined, talented, and kind young woman. It wasn’t easy for me to understand her but once I did, she was remarkable. Then there’s Dominic who was probably the purest and gentlest person in the book. The more I spent my time getting to know him, the more I wish I could have a friend like him. Lastly, there’s Valentin. I wouldn’t say much about him except that he was an unexpected and interesting character. I’d love to know more about him!

Aside from the three I’ve mentioned, I feel the need to give a shout-out to Thea’s father and Will for different reasons. If you have read this book, you’ll know. If you haven’t prepared to be slapped so hard by the plot twists *wink* Also, I need more from Marguerite Hope! Yes, I did get enough of her character as Thea’s mom but I want to know what does she like as Marguerite, the most popular woman alchemist. She was an intriguing character, some things still left unsaid about her.

Overall, I enjoyed A Golden Fury. It was a great story with amazing characters and a beautiful ending. I loved how everything turned out though it’s kinda hard for me to say goodbye to Thea and Dominic. If you’re looking for a quick and engaging standalone young adult novel, I recommend this book to be added to your TBR!

What initially attracted me to this book, besides the beautiful cover, was the alchemy aspect. Alchemy is such an interesting, mythical topic. I’ve heard of the Philosopher's Stone and its powers, but I haven't read many books about it. A Golden Fury not only discusses alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone, but our main character is an alchemist herself.

Thea has grown up her whole life learning about alchemy. Her mother is one of the most renowned alchemists in the world. However, things between Thea and her mom are tense at the beginning of the book. Thea’s mom has basically kicked Thea out of the laboratory, prohibiting her from helping her further. This enrages Thea because her mother wouldn't have gotten as far in the process of creating the Philosopher’s Stone if not for Thea. Soon, Thea realizes things are far worse than she thought. Her mother has gone mad from the Alchemist’s Curse, and the only thing that can save her is the Philosopher’s Stone.

Thea reminds me a lot of Audrey Rose from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. They’re both strong, determined young women ahead of their time. However, in the second half of the book, Thea loses her strong will for a boy. If I had liked Will’s character and saw chemistry between him and Thea, then I might not have minded it so much. Their relationship felt forced to me. I wasn’t invested in it.

A side character I really liked was Dominic. Dominic encouraged Thea to put herself first. He didn’t want her to put her sanity in jeopardy to save others. Dominic also tried to show Thea that some people deserve second chances even if they did hurt you. He was such a ray of sunshine. Dominic needs to be protected at all costs.

Overall, this was an easy read. I blew through it in one day. Cohoe’s writing is very descriptive and each scene flows from one to another. You’ll be done with the book before you know it! One thing I should mention is that this is a plot-driven book. If you’re a fan of character-driven books, then this might not be the book for you. The reader doesn’t really get to know the side characters very well.

TW: self-harm, mention of mental illness, mention of madness, assault, threat of sexual assault, hallucinations, discussion of a suicide attempt

4.5 rounded up

• Book Review • { Thank you @wednesdaybooks @netgalley for my gifted copy }

QOTD: What's you're most anticipated read that publishes soon?

Honestly there are so many great books out there that are publishing soon. Some of my favorite authors having books publishing within the next six months and I can't wait to read every single one of them.

Review: If you love an Alchemyst story with magical realism, a bit of fantasy, and a touch of romance, this is the book for you.

What I loved about this book:

1. I loved how addicting this book was. I've been struggling to read lately, but I finished this one in one sitting because I was unable to put it down. I was so immersed in Thea's world and was 100% invested in her character.

2. Have I mentioned before how much I love stories about alchemy, especially when it's centered around philosopher's stone? I love them sooooo much. This was a great take on a familiar story.

3. This is a debut novel and I thought Cohoe did a great job making this story unique and interesting. While I found one part a bit of the novel slower paced, it's still a completely enjoyable read with great characters.

Does this sound like a book you would enjoy

This was a fun, unique read that’s perfect if you like witchcraft/alchemy or if you are just interested in the legend of the philosopher’s stone. I really loved Thea and how headstrong she was, and I definitely loved the descent into madness for the stone itself and that even though everyone knew it was coming they still thought it was worth it to make.

The only reason I didn’t give this a higher rating was because some of it dragged a little bit and I thought it could’ve been shorter. I also felt that the overall tone of the book was a bit boring/flat. Some scenes were really well written and you can get really into them, but others were simply meh and I was waiting around for something to happen. There was a lot of time spent on scenes that ultimately meant nothing in the end.

I suppose overall I wish the dialogue and the plot would have been more- sped up, a little more maddening, and perhaps a few more twists thrown in. But if you’re looking for a quick read about something that is definitely lacking in YA (something different than all the other dystopia/fantasy tropes we’ve become used to), I’d definitely recommend it.

I have yet to finish this book, but from what I read so far I am really enjoying and am predicting that this will be a 4 star read. One of the things I love the most was the complexity of Thea’s relationship with her mother. I hope to finish it within the coming days and tell you my complete thoughts.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

I enjoyed the setting of A Golden Fury and liked that it featured Alchemy. I find Alchemy an interesting premise for a book and would love to read more books that feature it.

Thea finds herself in Oxford facing the father who never knew she existed after fleeing France. Her mother has lost her sanity after making the cursed Philosopher's Stone. She doesn't know if she can trust her father and when he manages to find her mothers notes the greed of wanting to accomplish the task of creating a new one convinces Thea she can't trust anyone.

So much happened in this book that at times it became very confusing. There were moments where it was hard to stay on track with who was who and what was happening. I'm still foggy on what was defined to be the cause of the madness when it came to the stone and had to talk with someone to make sure I was understanding it all.

I think that because the plot felt a bit all over the place I wasn't able to connect with the characters as much as I'd hoped. There was a feeling of some kind of romance coming about through all the chaos but then none. It's ok to have books without romance but I felt like it was setting us up for one and then nothing came of it.

I also felt that the ending left me more questions which is tough when it's a standalone novel because you hope for resolution across the board. Overall I do feel like there are a lot of people who will enjoy this but for me it just fell a bit flat.

A Golden Fury follows Thea Hope as she strives to become an alchemist like her mother and create the Sorcerer's Stone. Her mother cuts her out of the creation process abruptly and starts behaving strangely, eventually succumbing to madness caused by the creation of the stone.

Unfortunately, this story really never gripped me. The stakes are very high as Thea rushes to create the stone and save those that she loves. However, I never really connected with any of the characters or their quest. Once Thea heads to Oxford to meet her father (who doesn't know she exists), I was frustrated by her small worldview and naiveté.

This book tried to knock itself out of the tropes of the YA Fantasy genre, which is why I am rating it at 3 stars. It sought to surprise you, I just wish it didn't do so at the expense of our heroine's character.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When reading and reviewing YA novels, I think it’s important to put oneself in the mindset of a young adult. That’s not always easy (obviously), but I also don’t see the point of reviewing a teen novel with adult perspectives.
That being said, this YA novel has an awful lot going for it and that can be split into two parts.
First, in a generation brought up by Harry Potter, the promise of learning more (or different) information about the Philosopher’s Stone should be intriguing. And it is. All of the parts regarding alchemy and the steps to make the stone were well-researched and informative.
The author also has a particular talent for creating vivid scenes. The details and descriptions of locations are realistic but carry a hint of the mystery that surrounds alchemy. It’s a deft touch that is effective in keeping the story interesting.
We learn early on that Thea’s mom has figured out the secret to the final steps of creating the stone and has done so largely because she pays attention to Arabic alchemists as well as western European ones. This is a nice touch that broadens one’s thinking.
Unfortunately, there is a secret that goes along with the stone: anyone who attempts to create it to the full extent will descend into madness. Doesn’t that throw a monkey wrench into things?
We do see the results of that in the very earliest pages of the book. I think, however, that it is questionable as to whether Meg was actually trying to protect Thea (by sending her away) or if she was more glory hungry. An argument could be made either way; that’s a strength of the book, because it doesn’t seem as if there is a right or wrong answer.
Second, there is the romance angle. This is where I think the author got a little bit tripped up. I found that these sections pulled focus from the story; they didn’t fall in seamlessly. They also seemed a bit forced and verging on melodramatic.
But one has to remember that this is a 17- year-old girl we’re talking about and they are nothing if not melodramatic, especially when it comes to love. In that regard, the author was successful in capturing the attitudes of a teenage girl. Apparently, they are the same no matter what the century.
I do wish that the author had stuck more to the alchemy and Philosopher’s Stone and let the romance/personal life play more of a backseat. But I think that teens and other young adults will find the balance to be perfectly acceptable and will enjoy this book immensely.

Warnings of self harm and attempted rape.

Surprisingly liked this historical fiction.

Thea is an apprentice alchemist to her mother and they are trying to make the Philosopher's Stone. Turns out trying that makes you mad. So Thea gets shipped off to her father in Oxford who has no idea she exists. Thea now has to try and find a cure for her mother before the worst happens.

This was really easy to read, I enjoyed Thea as a character and how she was trying to be a strong independent woman in a man's world yet also being super innocent and gullible.
All of the male characters were gross and I honestly think we could have lived without them. They were only there to keep the plot moving.

Thank you to Meghan Harrington and Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read and review this intriguing, gripping, and creepy story. I knew this story was about alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone, but I didn't realize how much of a creepiness factor was going to be in it until I was reading about madness in the middle of the night and was a bit jumpy when I saw a shadow move.
This is a great read especially for this time of year and it was a very well done debut novel. I finished it only the other day and I haven't stopped thinking about it or the parts that made me a little freaked out. If you're like me and more sensitive to creepy and scary things, you might not want to read this late at night at least not without a light on.
This book is about a girl, Thea Hope, who wants to be an alchemist like her famous mother and wants to make a name for herself so she doesn't have to rely on the fame and notoriety of her mother. She and her mother are working together to create The Philosopher's Stone to attain immortality and wealth. They get so close to getting it when her mother destroys it in a fit of madness.
So, Thea goes to read through her mother's notes about creating The Stone and discovers there's a curse on The Stone that is said to cause anyone who tries to make it to go mad. Also at this time, there's a revolution about to happen and so Thea's mother sends her to live with the father she has never known and who doesn't know of her existence either.
Others want The Stone as well and don't believe Thea when she tries to warn them about how it can cause a person to lose their mind and go mad. When she goes to meet her father to introduce herself to live with him, he's an alchemist as well and she takes her mother's notes with her to try to do The Stone again herself. She ends up finding a boy who she had loved and lost a year earlier, he'd moved away to England from where he was with her and her mother in France and finds him very sick and decides that she wants to help those she loves to be healed by creating The Stone.
She ends up after trial and error, discovering that herself and others who try to do anything with creating The Stone will go mad that if she really does want to heal and help those she loves as well as making a name for herself than she has to make The Stone and sacrifice her sanity or let her loved ones die.
There is adventure, twists and turns, and a lot about mental illness and madness in connection to the Philosopher's Stone throughout this story that makes it more unnerving and creepy. It also is a story about family relationships, how they're messy, and figuring things out for yourself, who you are, and who you want to be in your life.
It's also about deciding how much and how far you're willing to go to achieve your dreams and what you're willing to sacrifice or give up to attain them. There's a lot packed into this and yet it's also a fun creepy take on alchemy, an alchemist's curse, and The Philosopher Stone.
For CW/TW - there's a lot about madness and mental illness, also some self-harm other than those things if they're something that might bother you, there isn't really any other major things I can recall after reading.
If you love reading historical fiction, creepy stories, stories about alchemy, curses, magic, love, and the like then make sure to go pick this one up and check it out now!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an advance reader copy of A Golden Fury in exchange for an honest review.

This standalone was an adventure! I wasn't sure where this story was going to go and really enjoyed it. Thea is still fairly young at 17 and she was sheltered and is still trying to figure out her place in a world that only expects women to sit and look pretty. Thea is right to be slightly mistrustful of the world and to be protective of what she knows. The romance for me always felt a bit unsure in regards to where it was going to go in the story but I actually really liked how it all ended.

I liked that Thea's quest to make the philosopher's stone really took center stage. This is a main character that knows what she wants (for the most part) and follows through on it. She refuses to be forgotten in the land of men and to not get the credit she deserves which I think is a great mindset.

I do wish she could have seen her use all her skills a bit more such as her Arabic and Spanish speaking skills. Also even though the reality of the time meant she would mostly only meet fellow men in her field it would have been nice for her to have one positive female relationship. I had originally assumed it was a series and so was a bit confused as later chapters started to feel like the perfect cliffhangers but I still had about 20% left of the book. I do think a standalone was best for this story and I didn't feel too rushed.

Overall I think a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing future books from Samantha Cohoe. I think it would make a great fall sort of spooky read! I give it a 3,5/5 rounded up to a 4.

Let me just say- if you are looking for an October read, one where you want to snuggle into a soft blanket and forget about the cup of tea you made- this is the story for you!

I have long awaited another book to include alchemy in it and I was not disappointed! From the first page I was filled with question that kept me reading long into the night because- I needed answers!!!

Samantha Cohoe did a wonderful job completely emerging this reader into the late 1700's. She truly captured the Victorian feel all the way down to the dialogue.

This book was ultimately shorter than I wanted it to be, but I'm a sucker for long, slow books where we get to see and interact with every character. But I will say that it was a wonderful fast paced read, once I got past the 30% mark, I could hardly put the book down.

But in the end it was Thea's strength and determination that made me really enjoy this book. This book brought something fresh and new to the YA genre and I can't wait to see what Samantha Cohoe creates next.

(Trigger Warnings: Self harm, mental illness/madness)

3.5 stars

Two of the quickest ways to get me to pick up a book are a gorgeous cover and a female protagonist in STEM, so it should come as no surprise that A Golden Fury had me hooked before I even turned to the first page.

Our protagonist, Theosebia (Thea) Hope, is the daughter of a renowned alchemist and a talented practitioner in her own right. She is ambitious and intelligent, unafraid to speak her mind or stand her ground. I loved her strong will and her determination to carve out a place for herself in a world where women do not have a lot of agency.

A Golden Fury also provided a new, interesting take on the Philosopher's Stone. In Cohoe's hands, the Philosopher's Stone wasn't just a tool that could provide great wealth; it was a character in and of itself, reminiscent of the ring in Lord of the Rings or the black stone in A Darker Shade of Magic. The act of creating such a powerful object requires sacrifice, and I loved reading about both the alchemy process and the resulting descent into madness.

The one area where the story fell flat for me was the romance. I'm all for a second-chance romance, but I felt that the love interest hadn't received enough development or redemption to warrant the unwavering devotion and concern that Thea showed. I understood where she was coming from, given that she grew up in a fairly insular environment and had few friends or close connections to speak of, but I just couldn't root for it.

Overall, A Golden Fury was a strong debut that I finished in one sitting. I can't wait to read more from Samantha Cohoe, and would happily read more of Thea's adventures.

I was fascinated by the first half, with the imperious Hope women and their intimate knowledge of alchemy, regardless of the source of any particular resource or formula - as well as the frenetic energy dedicated to a quest for the philosooher's stone and all that it promises. We have a brilliant, dedicated MC in Thea and an interesting array of antagonists in her mother, her father, Valentin, and [redacted]. One thing that this book does really well is show many sides to characters particularly when it comes to Valentin and Thea's father. Valentin is gruff and stiff but also fair and tender; his character felt real enough to step off the page. Same with Dominic.

**SPOILERS BELOW (skip to the "TL;DR" if you want my overall vibe without being spoiled)
The whole second half of the book hinges on a love story that we weren't sold on - ever. Indeed, I thought Thea saw right through him as soon as the Germans mentioned his story and as soon as he confirmed even part of it. Thea's lack of commitment one way or the other made me think she was pretending for his sake. So consider me shocked when she trusts him and then his betrayal surprises her. With the latter half of the book now hinging on her finding him and convincing him to give something up. It came out of nowhere and was totally unnecessary.
**END SPOILERS**

TL;DR It felt like Cohoe didn't know how to incorporate the "required" romance elements (this is YA fantasy, after all) and so just dove in to make up for a total lack of build-up. Strong debut and I would 100% read her next book, but the second half left much to be desired.

Alchemy is not something you find in books that much anymore and I'm glad Cohoe made it the central element of the story because it's fascinating and it lent some gravitas to a story that would not have stood out as much without it.
This book is a great combination of historical novel and light fantasy, in that the fantasy is just believing that alchemy is real and that the Philosopher's Stone can be created. Even the majority of the people in the world of the novel don't believe in alchemy, so it made the struggles of leading lady, Thea, seem a bit more sensational.
Following along with Thea's story as she leaves France after her mother succumbs to an alchemist curse, arrives in Oxford to a father that didn't even know she existed, and then winds up in London being forced to complete her mother's work if she has any hopes of helping herself and others she cares for, is a wild ride that kept me turning pages in the hopes that more would be revealed.
There is great character development when it comes to Thea, but almost every other character falls a bit flat just by way of not having much space within the story to grow. It's all about Thea, her insights, and how she experiences the situations. That made it a tad easier to accept that even the love interest is a bit of a caricature that is never fully realized.
Overall, I really enjoyed the inclusion of alchemy in the story and the pace at which the plot moves. It's not something that I would shout from rooftops about, but definitely a rec if you're looking for different, interesting, and quick.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the early read.

~Thank you netgalley for a e-arc.

The story starts out with Thea living with her mother them trying to figure out how to make the Philosopher’s Stone. Thea's mother is a harsh woman who is only using Thea for her smarts and takes everything she's done for her. Eventually while making this stone Thea's mother goes mad and tries to kill her leaving Thea with no choice but to flee.

Thea ends up going to her father who doesn't even know she exists until she knocks on the door. There she meets Dominic and a professor who is helping her father. Thea tries to explain that the making of the stone made her mother mad. Her father doesn't seem to believe her until something happens that makes her and Dominic flee once again to London.

I ended up really enjoying this story. I was sucked in right right away. I enjoyed Theas friendship and loyalty.

When I saw that I had a chance to read a historical fiction book about female alchemists, I jumped right on it! This book definitely scratched that itch for me. Thea was such an inspiring character. After all she’d been through with her mother, she still didn’t give up home and still wanted to be into alchemy just like her. She never collapsed from the pressure of her friends succumbing to the Alchemist’s Curse and instead kept on her mission to find the Philosopher’s Stone.

Thea’s mother is a famous alchemist and Thea wants to follow in her footsteps. Her mother is a stickler, and Thea is almost always walking on eggshells around her. But she knows that simply having access to her mother’s lab puts her on track to being one of the best alchemists in France. Then, she realizes that the Philosopher’s Stone is turning alchemists mad. The only thing that might be able to heal them would be the Stone itself, so she has to risk going mad herself in order to have the chance to save her mother. With the help of some friends and people she meets along the way, Thea goes on a quest to finish the job that her mother started.

This book’s pacing felt a bit off at the start. It took me a while to get into the characters, but things definitely picked up after I reached the 20% mark on my ebook. A few side characters seemed distracting to me as they were only in the book for a very short time before they left, but I was able to keep track of who was important pretty well. The inclusion of these characters did not ruin the novel for me.

This book is full of a lot of action. I was on the edge of my seat from the middle to the end as I was wondering how the curse would affect Thea’s journey next. Also, her connection with the character Will was fun to read about. After the wild ride that was this story, I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new historical fantasy/fiction novel or a new book that includes alchemy.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

3.75

Thank you to Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC of the book in exchange of an honest review

One brave young women against all odds- an impossible goal- A daunting curse- A risky gamble

I was immediately drawn towards the gorgeous foiled cover as soon I saw the ebook widget in my email, the illustration on the cover and the colors on the cover are tastefully done to suit the plot of the book. Furthermore, when I read the synopsis I realized that it falls under magical realism and I was more than sold because I have never read anything with this premise or the genre, I am only vaguely aware of the Philosopher's stone myth so naturally I jumped right in. I enjoy books set in regency era in Europe, the book starts off in Normandy, France but takes us to Oxford,London as the story progresses, I particularly enjoyed the writing style, you would be surprised to know that the author is a debutant

As for the plot and characters, I'd say the plot had me engrossed for a good 65% of the book but then it went downhill for me because it kept dragging until the very end going in loops.It is a totally plot driven book so you'd know how important it is to maintain the pacing, but that being said I didn't feel like I had to push myself through the chapters because I wanted to see how the story enfolds itself around the set plot line.The author also did great job with blurring the lines for the readers regarding who are friends and who are foes to the MC in her quest, I for one though skeptical couldn't conclude my judgement over certain characters and their fate

Finally coming to the characters, Thea the MC's character is really well written and I enjoyed the entire story narrated in her POV. She is exceptionally smart, driven young lady that is overshadowed by her famous mother, fighting against all odds where Alchemy was considered a mere deferment and is considered a mockery of actual chemistry and the scientists. Her struggle for a sense of belonging and to be loved and taken care of really strikes a chord with the readers, there is a family dynamic and drama that surrounds her while she tries to decipher this horrible curse that seems to follow her
The book definitely is promising and a great debut but I felt like the second half of the book could have been better