Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get this book as there has been a lot of hype around it and the story seemed fantastic. I loved that it was a historical fantasy and the feel of the era felt true to its time which sometimes falls flat, but Cohoe did a great job with that! Her characters were well developed and you really feel the emotions of them and the reasons behind their decision until the very end...The title A GOLDEN FURY was definitely deceiving as we saw no gold and more anger/rage then full on fury.

The alchemy side of it was so interesting and a lot of things went into play to create the elixirs and compounds but the title is A Golden Fury and they spent most of the time discussing the White elixir which makes silver and the stone that was supposed to make gold? But we never even SEE if it does and the conclusion of the entire ending was very disappointing. I had seen the story going into a different direction completely filled with gold and fury, but this ending, while very happily ever after-esque, gave me not much FURY and nothing GOLDEN...I wish the author would have written more and had a bigger struggle in the end. I didn't mind the suicidal tendencies of the character but I have a feeling other readers will not appreciate that much.

Overall a nice read, but did not live up to my expectations of the title.

This story was heavily character driven. It wasn't as fantasy or magical based as I anticipated, but it was enjoyable. Thea had a number of complicated relationships, and she changed a great deal over the course of the book. There were a couple of points where the plot dragged a bit, or where I got frustrated with the characters, but overall, I enjoyed the book.

A Golden Fury was an absolute delight to read. once I started this book I just couldn't put it down.
It's the perfect mix of Historical Fiction and Fantasy.

From the beginning I was immediately intrigue with all the of alchemic information within this story.
I could clearly visualize the process of making the stone and this book knows how to keep you in that state of 'is this magic or alchemy?'

I felt like each character had their role to play in this book and no one was left on the side lines and that world building and character development were very well done.

Now, one of the reason my book was so fun to read - its creepy factor.
From the beginning it is evident that 'the alchemist curse' it very much real. To me it felt like not only was it more possession than power but the entire time they're working on the process is like something is just waiting to latch on to the creator of the stone.

In shorter words this book was 'poetically spooky'

I haven't seen many high ratings for this book and it kind of upsets me because it feels like people are going in reading this because of the cover and no acknowledging that this is a Historical Fiction and its not a genre that everyone usually reads and they probably aren't appreciating this the 'monster' in this book creeps up ever so slowly on the MC which to me was pretty spooky.

If you like Historical Fiction and you like spooky trust me and pick this up.

A Golden Fury is a historical fantasy. Thea Hope is an alchemist raised by her mother one of the greatest alchemist the world has ever seen. Her mother almost creates the stone only to lose her sanity to the curse. War is looming on the horizon in France so Thea is sent away to meet the father she has never known. Knowing the steps to create the stone only puts Thea in the crosshairs of everyone she meets and old friends become untrustworthy and new allies are unreliable. Thea must risk her own mind to protect the people she loves in an action packed adventure that ends in the only way possible. The story moves swiftly and smoothly from an enthralling beginning to a predictable maybe slightly disappointing ending that does not leave options for a series from the story. Easy to read with a likable, strong willed heroine, the story was enjoyable and has me looking forward to the next Samantha Cohoe read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

**Review will be posted on my blog during blog tour spot on 10/8/20**

*3.5 Stars*

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

My Attention: Took me 3 days to read.

World Building: this is historical fiction, it starts in France, 1792 on the verge of revolution – then we travel to Oxford, England, but the fascinating bit is that we are following a character who is an alchemist.

Writing Style: flowed beautifully, engaging

Crazy in Love: not crazy, but it gets complicated

Creativity: to make the Philosopher’s Stone, you have to be prepared to go mad…

Triggers: violence, torture, harassment, descent into madness, self-harm, cheating/affair

My Takeaway: My sane mind vs. the power of the Philosopher’s Stone? I’ll chose my sanity! Haha

Likes:
*Thea is not the typical “likable” character. She grew up with no father and a mother who was more into alchemy than being a mother. Thea grew up alone except for Will who was her mother’s apprentice. Thea is smart, she’s talented at alchemy, can speak several languages but really has grown up differently compared to other girls her age.

*The Philosopher’s Stone – this book really delved into it and what happens when someone is close to making the legendary and somewhat mythical Philosopher’s Stone. It’s supposed to grant the owner immense power – but first, Thea sees there is a pattern, people that attempt to make the stone, succumb to utter madness. They hear voices, they get violent, they see things. It’s terrifying and asks the question if the stone is worth making.

*Thea gets threatened to make the Philosopher’s Stone, and she has to make some hard choices. Ultimately she wants to save a few people like her mom, her friend Dominic and her old friend/love, Will. This girl just needed some love.

Random Notes:
*Thea’s actions and choices when it came to Dominic was kind of suspect. She didn’t know him well, but he was her first friend outside of Will, who was an old friend she hadn’t seen in awhile. But poor Dominic – he got a raw deal!

*Thea’s dad – glad he tried at the end, but their beginning was so pathetic on his part. Poor Thea, she basically had no one!

*Would have like more world-building, especially because it takes place during the French Revolution! But I get that Thea was basically trapped in a house, in England, trying to make the Philosopher’s stone. But it wouldn’t been nice to get a feel for the time and place.

Final Thoughts:
The descent into madness trying to make the Philosopher’s Stone makes you question if having the stone is worth it. For Thea, a smart but very lonely girl, she realizes the stone is worth it to save the people she loves – but she loses her mind to it, literally. Overall, I enjoyed this entertaining, quick, dark story about alchemy.

🖤 ~ Yolanda

This book had me hooked from the very first page. Thea is written like a real teenage girl, not like an adult's warped sense of what teenagers are like. I really emphasized with her, and connected with her desire for justice and doing what's right.

Despite the fact that the book is set in France in the 18th century, it feels like it could have been set in America today, with the same themes of social unrest, power corrupting, and most especially, a strong main character who is constantly underestimated while actually being the moral center.

The only downside was that the pacing was a too quick at times; I would have enjoyed more upfront background information before characters are just thrown together and things happen to them.

The Philosopher's Stone has long been a quest alchemists have undertaken, but teenaged alchemist Thea Hope is determined to be the one to finally create the stone that can turn any precious metals into gold and heal any disease. But to those the stone deems unworthy, a price must be paid. When her mother succumbs to madness, Thea is sent to England to live with a father who doesn't even know she exists. Soon, Thea finds herself emboiled in a quest for the Stone, one where her skills are the answer to plots for greatness, love and revenge. Dark forces will stop at nothing to claim the Stone's power--and Thea herself--as its own.
A Golden Fury is a tale of ambition, heartbreak and a descent into madness. From the outset, Thea is a sassy and relatable protagonist with a passion to prove herself as a great alchemist to both her mother and the world. Her complicated relationship with her parents gives many readers someone they can see themselves in. I thought Thea's own descent into madness was very well done and gave this story the feel of a tale of horror that transcends genre. With influences of fantasy, horror and historical fiction, A Golden Fury is ultimately the story of a young woman wanting to prove herself to a world that restricts the freedoms and the aspirations of women, a story that asks the question of how far a person will go to save the people they love. It was a really enjoyable read that is perfect for the Halloween season.

Normandy, France 1792. Alchemists, Marguerite Hope and her young adult daughter, Thea are living with their patron the Comte Adrien. There is conflict brewing between England and France much as there is between mother and daughter. Marguerite is close to making the Philosopher’s stone, but it is driving her mad. The Comte sends Thea to England to her father, a man she has never met, but Thea has other plans. She wants to seek out Will Percy, a young man that she loves.

Upon arriving at the university in Oxford, she sees the man she believes is her father. His apprentice, Dominic, takes her to an inn. Thea wants to go with Dominic to her father’s laboratory where he is making an alchemical elixir. Thea knows what will come next – the madness. She and Dominic escape and head to London to find Will.

The pace of the book varies. At times there is a lot of action and then it seems to drag. The main characters are developed although there are many characters to keep track of. The story is written in first person point of view. The subject of alchemy is mysterious and that is the basis of the book. If you like alchemy or fantasy themed books, you will enjoy this book.

This story had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately the execution for me wasn’t great. I couldn’t sympathize with the characters and there wasn’t enough action to keep me invested. I think the author has the potential to be a great writer, but there were a lot of moments while reading where I found the writing to be quite clunky and it kept taking me out of the story because I would have to reread these passages multiple times before moving on.

I would be interested in checking out this author’s future works, because I think there’s definitely potential there. This one just missed the mark for me.

This was a very great book and I loved being immersed into this world. I give this 4 stars! I didn't want it to end! Thank you for this e galley NetGalley!

I was quickly immersed in the action. The context helped me a lot: I loved seeing the connection between alchemy and the political context. It's quite original to see these two elements add up to give a story with issues that we understand.

The story starts slowly but surely and presents us with a talented heroine, who has flaws that can quickly annoy. For my part, I found her often pretentious, too sure of herself and quick to judge others and to be angry.

With a mother like hers, I can understand that she compensates for her lack of self-confidence with contempt and condescension but still, she pissed me off with her impulsiveness. She would benefit from seeing beyond the tip of her nose, especially when the people in front of her are clearly trying to make her understand that there is an eel under the rock.

I thought there would be a romance but in fact, the story focuses more on the action and it must be said that this is quite sufficient. It alone was enough to keep me captivated from start to finish.

Thea and her friends are in a race against time. It will be the first who manages to get their hands on the famous Philosopher's Stone and at the same time, we are in suspense because there is a curse that accompanies it. We do not realize it but it represents a big suspense. I was a real ball of nerves!

So, I got very hooked on the action even though I didn't feel any attachment to Thea.

It was a lovely reading moment.

This book really caught my attention. A young girl studying alchemy in France and England in the late 1700s. I had high hopes for this book and it started out really good and then just fizzled out. It was well written and was an interesting read. There just wasn't enough wow for me and I didn't connect with the characters.
Thank you so much netgalley and Wednesdaybooks for sending me an early copy.

I received an ARC of A Golden Fury from Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. My rating is a 4.5 stars, but it is rounded down to 4 stars.

Thea and her mother are alchemists. They are trying to create the Philosopher’s Stone, which is an all powerful stone that can cure any illness and turn anything into gold. However, Thea’s mother seems to be losing her mind. Can Thea create the Philosopher’s Stone before she loses her mind or will the stone destroy her?

Wow was this book a wild ride from the beginning. I really liked that we learned about Thea’s background, Will, Dominic, and her mother as the story went along. I’m not a person who likes information dumps at the beginning and A Golden Fury didn’t do that. Thea was a very likable character and I emphasized with her greatly throughout the story. It was definitely a dark tale about the horrors of being so set on your goal and how that can destroy you. The addition of alchemy as the magic system was really interesting because I haven’t read many books that focused on alchemy before.

Another thing I have to mention is the cover. It’s so pretty and fitting for the story. I love all of the elements on the cover and can see how every single piece fits into the story.

I’m excited to read more by Samantha Cohoe as her writing style is absolutely beautiful. I know A Golden Fury is a standalone, but I definitely would read more in the world if she wants to revisit the world.

I loved the pace of this book as well as societies view on alchemy. So often magic is he highest regards so to see the reverse of that was enjoyable. I also thoroughly enjoyed the main characters growth throughout the book. From being a constant pawn to finally finding herself. I’m so happy I got to read an ARC and will be adding this book to my shelves as soon as it comes out.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of "A Golden Fury" by Samantha Cohoe. This book was so much fun. I really enjoyed Thea as an MC and her progression through the story was so relatable. She managed to both be strong and smart and still have so much room for growth, which is a hard balance to pull off. The take on alchemy was most familiar and unique and I really loved the ending. It wasn't necessarily surprising, but it felt right and satisfying. I would actually probably compare it to "A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" just for the take on the Philosopher's Stone, though the romance/humor levels are definitely not the same. This was a great historical fantasy with a beautiful theme about learning to see the good in the world, in those around you, and in yourself, despite all evidence to the contrary.

3.5/5⭐️

This one was just an “OK” for me.

Set in 18th century Europe, it’s the story of 17 yo Thea, an alchemist whose mother is jealous of her abilities and whose father never knew she existed. Thea is obsessed with creating the Philosopher’s Stone and harnessing its limitless power without invoking its Alchemist Curse which rendered her mother and friend Dominic insane, but can she trust those she meets along the way to help her in her quest?

A story of loneliness, of searching for a way to be accepted and admired. But also a journey to discover if what one really desires is worth the price of losing one’s self in the process.

My issue was mostly not connecting well with the characters, and I can’t really say why. Maybe I just didn’t feel invested? The writing was fine (the pace maybe a little slow in places), but there were some unfinished/unexplained parts left hanging for me.

Fans of YA fantasy will probably enjoy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #WednesdayBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

The beginning of the book was my favorite part. I didn’t want to put it down.

Thea wants to be a great Alchemist and she almost is but her mother has kicked her out of their laboratory and is pushing for her to leave the country. Thea just wants to finish what they started with the Philosopher’s Stone.

Things go awry and Thea finds herself with her father who didn’t even knew she existed.

Terrible things happen when people get near the making of the Philosopher’s Stone. They all go mad. Now Thea has to find a way to save the people she loves and herself before she goes mad.

This is a really interesting story and I found myself intrigued with what will happen but when we hit the halfway point the full steam engine died. A lot of relationship drama is introduced which slowed down the story but also felt very out of place.

I didn’t know or I didn’t remember this was a standalone going into this which could also explain the awkward pacing near the end.

Honestly, if she kept the relationship aspect out of this and just focused on the dramatics of the consequences of making the stone and becoming one with it would have had a more satisfying ending.

Overall, I would read something else from this author, as I did enjoy a majority of the story and characters.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Samantha Cohoe's debut young adult fantasy pulls from all of the great stories of alchemy and the philosopher's stone and puts them in the hands of a young girl. Thea has been raised as the student to her mother's successful alchemy career. More protogee than daughter, Thea's skills threaten to surpass her mother's. Every alchemist wants to construct the philosopher's stone, but Thea might just be able to do it. If she can endure the Alchemist's Curse along the way.

Cohoe's novel is high stakes from the very beginning. The plot was well paced and moved quickly. Thea is not your not-like-other-girls YA protagonist, she has depth and is multi-faceted and flawed. I liked that Cohoe chose to play alchemy straight rather than combining various other types of magic and the arcane. The effect was a crossover between fantasy, science fiction, and dark academia which I found to be very effective. The devolution of Thea's character was well-written and believable.

Ultimately, this was a strong debut which had a cool flair about it and is a welcome addition to the market. I look forward to Cohoe's future works.

Alchemy is a fascinating idea - wouldn't it be great to be able to turn common metals into silver or gold? I had to look it up and see if people still believe this can be done and I was surprised to find that alchemy is "making a comeback". I found that alchemy was used to be seen as an occult practice and was lumped in with witchcraft as a pseudo-science. It has an interesting history.

Thea Hope has worked beside her famous alchemist mother all her life and longs to be an alchemist outside her mother's shadow. The goal, to create the ultimate prize, the Philosopher's Stone. It has been said this stone can give immortality and turn any metal into gold. But, there is also said to be a curse that anyone who tries to make it will lose their sanity - what a price! Thea and her mother were living in France, but Thea was sent to Oxford to stay with her father, a man she has never met, due to the threat of the French Revolution.

I mostly enjoyed this debut novel, but at times I found some character weaknesses that I didn't like - but I figure they may fit women of that time period. And some parts I found were a little slow. But, the plot was good and the characters were well-developed and interesting.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I’ve never really read something quite like A GOLDEN FURY, and I was pleasantly surprised by what came out of it. Thea was an amazing character, the plot was so easy to follow but still relatively complex, and overall it was really good. I don’t really have anything I would want changed about this book. I also loved that romance didn’t completely take over. Thea had choices to make, and romance fueled some of her motivations, but she was her own person and her main goals were credit for her work and a cure for her mother.
I would recommend this book to people who like historical fantasy or regular fantasy. While the book had some romance, Thea was an intelligent, independent young woman who’s really an inspiration. I’m really glad to have gotten this book and I can’t wait to have all of my friends read it!