I saw this cover and immediately knew I wanted to read this book. The words within are just as vivid as the cover. The pace of the writing is on point and the story is chefs kiss. I loved it.. I'm thrilled to learn that there will be another title in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Inkyard Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a flawless combination of The Poppy War and Fullmetal Alchemist, while still maintaining its own story. The main character (Zilan) needs to become a royal alchemist so she can help financially provide for her family - and her two cousins/siblings are also attempting to take the civil service exams for the same reason. Alchemists have discovered the key to immortality, and joining the royal family as an alchemist comes with a significant amount of prestige - but there lies the risk of serving them forever. It’s also revealed that Zilan has discovered how to bring the dead back to life - an illegal use of alchemy that she does to keep their family business afloat.

While reading this book I could see a significant amount of references to Fullmetal Alchemist - clearly by someone who loves the series as much as I do. However, you in no way need to have watched/read FMA to understand this book - it’s more like easter eggs hidden in plain sight.

This book is amazingly fast-paced and there was never a dull moment to me as I read. Even when Zilan is doing her training as a royal alchemist, or talking with the prince, there is always something going on that will very quickly raise the tension and the stakes.

I also wasn’t expecting to love the romance in this book as much as I did. I thought the buildup between Hong and Zilan to be organic, as well as super sweet to read about - even amidst all the bloodshed of everything else going on in the book. I liked that despite how passive Hong can be, Zilan forces him to become a better version of himself despite his reservations. They make each other grow more as people, without ever trying to change each other into different people.

Finally - I know this book has a lot of inspiration from Fullmetal Alchemist. But. Could the ending have been slightly less Fullmetal Alchemist. Just as a treat? Did you HAVE to rip out my heart like that? .

(To the publisher: Reviews will be posted on Tumblr and Instagram the week of Sept. 18.)

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me this arc.

This is the second book by this author I’ve read and it was quite interesting. It takes place in an alternate historical China. Zilan and her cousins travel to the capital to take civil exams for officials. Zilan wants to become a royal alchemist.

This book is full of themes that ask questions. Fullmetal Alchemist is very similar themes.

The book was full of intrigue, secrets, and backstabbing. The cast of characters were all unique in the ways they acted toward their own goals. I enjoyed the darkness of it.

It had a twist I didn’t see coming, but was logical in hindsight.

Thank you again NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Drawn in by the cover, this new historical fantasy series is about a young woman who rises above her humble circumstances to become a powerful alchemist prodigy who catches the eye of the royal family. Unfortunately, it isn't too long before our main protagonist realizes that something even more horrifying is going on beyond the palace walls.

Although it took me a while before I was hooked, once Zilan and her cousins started out on their journey, I was not putting the book down. There's some action, romance, and a lot of focus on family bonds. I appreciated all the information that the author provides and felt it was cool that her character Zilan is loosely based on a historical Chinese culture figure.

I liked it but something( and I cannot quite target what) has me unwilling to go any higher. But would I read more from this author? Absolutely!


Expected Publication Date 03/10/23
Goodreads Review 09/09/23

#TheScarletAlchemist #NetGalley

This book was amazing. It is dark and violent and gory and I loved every second of it. I really loved the court politics and the political intrigue - they really help bring the alternate history to life. The plot is very fast-paced and there is non-stop action. The

My favorite part of the book was Zilan. Kylie Lee Baker has mastered the writing of morally-gray, angry, female protagonists and I AM HERE. FOR. IT. Zilan is sometimes a hard character to root for. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants, no matter the consequences.

Overall, Kylie Lee Baker is amazing and I will read anything that she writes.

4.5 stars

I genuinely am so lost on this book. I read the whole thing and understand many 15% of the plot. I will still have it in my library because people have made requests.

Wow, wow, wow. My first time reading a book by this author and I was hooked. This story sucked me in, I didn't want to put the book down. A quick check shows I have her other series on my want to read list so may need to move that up. The world building here was so rich and immersive, you really felt you could see yourself there. Quite a few crazy twists and then the ending was its own crazy twist. I can't wait to read the next one and see where this story goes.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Inkyard, and Harlequin for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this dark fantasy! This is my first book by Kylie Lee Baker but it will not be my last.

The world building was incredible, and admittedly, I don't know much about Chinese history, so the foreword/author's note at the very beginning about not taking this as a reference text for Chinese history didn't apply to me. However, for anyone who is deeply knowledgeable about Chinese history, just take the context of that with a grain of salt for this ~*~fantasy~*~ okay?!

I loved Kylie's writing, and I was very enamored by the main character/lead, while also very tense when the "villain" entered the picture. I think Kylie did a great job and I can't wait for more people to read this!

The Scarlet Alchemist” was an interesting and intriguing book. I appreciated that some of the most powerful characters were individuals who were generally despised because of their origins - having a parent who was a foreigner or from a “lesser” ethnic group. Zilan was a great character — determined, caring, headstrong, forceful but also at times unsure, insecure and naive. The idea of using alchemy to create gold and to achieve immortality are longstanding themes and dreams, but the author has put some interesting twists on them with the concept of "life gold" and the ability to resurrect the dead (with significant consequences for the alchemist involved). The story has some rather good surprises, including an ending I was not suspecting. The book also ends in a manner that sets it up well for a sequel.

The Scarlet Alchemist is going to be one of the best books published in 2023.

Take The Poppy War, cut away some trauma, and throw in Fullmetal Alchemist, mix well with a unique story and BAM - you get The Scarlet Alchemist. I started writing this review only 50% of the way through because I just needed to get all my thoughts down so I can really give justice to this incredible story. The fact Kylie Lee Baker is able to drop massive plot twists so casually and leave me reeling is amazing. After the first one I didn’t think she could get me again, but she did - two more times! Each twist was so well set up, dropped like a bomb into my lap, causing me to have to sit back and take a moment to process. I literally could not believe the things occurring right before my eyes. I would just chuckle to myself, shocked I could be this surprised multiple times in the same book. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t completely enthralled with the story, seriously this might be one of the best books I’ve ever read. I will never stop recommending The Scarlet Alchemist to anyone who will listen. The entire story is incredibly written, the pacing was perfect, the plot was fresh and unique while also being entertaining, and the ending sets up the next installment without a gut wrenching cliff hanger. Purchase and read The Scarlet Alchemist as soon as possible - you won’t regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Kylie Lee Baker for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately drawn to this book by its cover. I mean, look at it, it's a work of art. The quality of writing in this book certainly matched its cover. I had never read any books by Kylie Lee Baker before, but I already know I'm going to be reading all her books. This book was amazing.

The Scarlet Alchemist takes place in Imperial China and features a main character, Zilan, who is of mixed heritage (her mother was Chinese and her father was from Scotia). As a child, Zilan's father left and her mother died, so she was left in the custody of her aunt and uncle and grew up alongside her cousins Wenshu and Yufei. Since they grew up in a poor area of China, the cousins perform forbidden, illegal alchemy that brings the dead back to life in order to help provide for their family. However, the cousins have bigger dreams. Together they travel to the capital to try and pass Imperial exams so that they can serve the royal family.

While taking the exams Zilan faces many obstacles and has to fight against alchemists who have been professionally trained for years. Eventually, though, Zilan passes her alchemical exam and becomes one of the Empress' royal alchemists and is given the nickname "Scarlet Alchemist." She also becomes involved with the crown prince Li Hong and helps him plot against the Empress. I won't spoil anything more, but the plot of this book was amazing. There were so many twists and turns and I never knew what was coming next. I still cannot believe that the author killed off one of the major main characters. How am I supposed to wait until the next book to find out what happens?!

Zilan is such an admirable main character. It's not often that I read a book where the main character never annoys me, but Zilan was such a well-written character and I found myself rooting for her the entire time. I also really enjoyed reading about her relationship with Hong. He was such a sweet, albeit a little naive, character. I really hope there is a future for them in any upcoming books.

After the shocking ending of this book, I'm eager to see what happens next.

I really loved this book. Building on historical truth, this story looks at what could have happened had the alchemists searching for immortality succeeded. Here, Wu Zetian is the Immortal Empress, and main character Zilan dreams of taking the civil service exams in hopes of being a royal alchemist. Zilan is skilled at bringing the dead back to life, and plans to make use of this to help her family survive. While she succeeds in making it into the palace, Zilan finds herself thrown into political machinations and dark secrets she wasn't expecting to find. The plot was well done and very interesting, the mix of historical fact and fantasy blended well to create a believable setting with stellar worldbuilding. Zilan is a great mc, and her cousins are just as fun. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming, and the end was a total surprise, though completely in character and sets up the next book really well. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

"The Scarlet Alchemist" by Kylie Lee Baker is an exceptional addition to the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genre, perfectly tailored for Teens & YA readers. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed this book, I can confidently say that it was my best read of 2023. The author's imaginative storytelling effortlessly transports readers to a captivating world filled with magic, intrigue, and adventure. Kylie Lee Baker's ability to create a vibrant narrative and well-rounded characters makes "The Scarlet Alchemist" an absolute gem. I couldn't help but fall in love with the story, making it an unforgettable reading experience that I'll cherish.

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she's trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table-resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she'll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it's only a matter of time before they-and secrets of Zilan's past-catch up with her.


This was so so so good. Took a minute to get into it but holy cow I saw absolutely nothing coming. Zilan is a character I can relate to - she makes mistakes, she’s not the “chosen one”, and she creates a potentially evil alchemical duck. The prince is also such a sweetheart and I love him and want to put him in a little box and keep him. So excited for the adventure of book two

the scarlet alchemist is an incredibly entertaining twist of a novel. zilan is a believable, powerful female lead, in a classic rags-to-aspiring-riches trope. the side characters, and their importance to her, is so evident that it makes them feel important to the audience too. and the villain is so carefully, brilliantly crafted that it takes the story by storm.

this book is more emotionally compelling than baker's already-impressive debut, and i'm astounded at how quickly that caused me to read through it. and the worldbuilding is layered with historical liberties that are done with immense care and thoughtfulness.

i'm very excited for the sequel, and to see where zilan's ambition carries her next (as well as the inevitable twists that leave me gaping at my screen)

Short Synopsis:
The Scarlet Alchemist is a reimagined account of the Tang Dynasty and if alchemist were successful in creating an elixir for eternal life.

Zilan dreams of escaping poverty and becoming a royal alchemist. She heads to the capital with her cousins and against all odds, takes the entrance test.

My Thoughts:
After reading The Keeper of Night, I was expecting another dark, historical fantasy novel. And it was. But also not near as dark as Keeper of Night - as long as you can get on board with necromancy and slight monsters. 😂🫣

Anyways, I loved this one. There’s something for everyone in this one and it was such a page turner. I can’t wait until the next one!

Read if You Like:
✨ Side romance plot
✨ Morally grey characters
✨ Political drama
✨ Fantasy based in history
✨ Snarky one-liners
✨ Dark fantasy
✨ Action-packed books

This dark book full of gore and blood and amazing story telling!! I read this in one sitting (no I did not get anything else done that day) and loved every page!! This one with its alternative history is one I hope to get book two soon!! Because I do not know what I am going to do with myself.

I am so happy to be able to review this before publication and I am not disappointed. There are 3 overlaying topics Kylie tends to write into her books so far. That is, mixed lineage racism, family issues to the max, and VERY morally grey Female main characters.

If you liked her debut series, you will love these. The magic is not as complex since the FMC does not know much compared to The Keeper of Night. But you come to enjoy the familiar bonds and drama that has a more sinister and thriller like aspect as bodies and monsters keep running around the palace and city. The pacing was a little off and some of the plot predictable but there was an absolute gob smacking twists in there and sad parts as well.
Definitely recommend to new blended fantasy and history fans and a fan of gore, definitely cannot be weak stomached for this book.

While I cannot recommend this book to many of my students, I have recommended it to a few and some adults who share my love of reading.

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, after all her father who abandoned her and her sick mother wanted to be an alchemist. A major obstacle to her dream is that she is not only from a poor family in southern China, but she is of mixed heritage, which makes her less of a human than poverty.

She, along with her two cousin/siblings, study nightly to pass the exams required to work in the palace. Their goals are to pass the exams, move to the palace and send money home to their ailing parents. Zilan also practices illegal alchemy to raise the money for the exams by bringing the dead back to life.

Zilan and her cousins set off to take the exams and she faces many obstacles. She is made fun of because of her physical appearance and her impoverished upbringing. Although she practiced the language of the wealthy, she is quickly picked out as being a merchant from southern China. She has to fight for her place in the first part of the exam, even after paying the entrance fee. She is shorted tools needed when finally allowed to participate.

Zilan is able to prove herself again and again, and soon ends up being pulled into the political world of the palace. She finds out things are not always as they seem and those she sees as infallible have secrets and make mistakes. The book did end on a kind of a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to read the next chapter and see how the series, (I hope), continues.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A nail-biting, enthralling, page-turning fantasy book. This gave me a rollercoaster of emotions, and any book that can evoke such a multitude of emotions from me deserves a five-star rating!

The Scarlet Alchemist transports us to the Tang dynasty in China, where Zilan aspires to become one of the royal alchemists. Alongside Wenshu and Yufei, her cousins, they journey to the capital in pursuit of their dreams. The dynamics between the trio are great, akin to that of siblings. And then there's the crown prince, Li Hong, who gradually grows closer to Zilan. The narrative is fast-paced, so the slow build-up of their relationship effectively balances the pacing of the entire book. All the characters and their interactions with each other are exceptionally well-written.

While reading the book, I felt as if I was transported with Zilan, personally witnessing everything that was transpiring. There are many things happening, yet it's never confusing. The narrative is easy to navigate because all the elements, however intricate they may seem, are meticulously woven together, creating an exhilarating experience. As I approached the end of the book, I was always on edge—thinking one thing might happen, only to have something else occur. The continuous plot twists added to my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, this was an incredible read that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels with a touch of romance.

*Amazon reviews will be posted after the release of the book. Social media posts containing reviews will be posted within 2 weeks after I have submitted my feedback.