I was really excited to get this book because I have read other books by the author. Unfortunately, about a third of the way through this one, I began to be distracted. I feel this one had a similar pattern and story flow with an almost predictable ending with her other books. Plus, my personal reading journey the past couple of months has been heavy on the Asian inspired stories. As a result, I think they are starting to resemble each other. Therefore, I set it aside for a later read (after setting a not-allowed-to-read-this-genre-for-at-least-two-months ban.) I will still recommend this book for those wanting an Asian inspired tale, because there is enough in it that makes me want to finish it.

3.5 stars rounded up.

First off, I really enjoyed Zilan and her family. Zilan sort of struggles with her morality and I really liked that. It was an interesting internal struggle that followed her throughout the novel. I thought her and her cousins/siblings were well fleshed out and acted like family. I believed their relationships.

I also really loved the world. Alchemy is done using different gems and stones and it's really interesting seeing Zilan work out how to get through a problem with the different types of stones and metals she has on her.

The major issues I did have were the love interest seemed almost too perfect and the villain seemed too evil. Major important revelations were happening and then there would be time with the love interest and I would be way more interested in the rest of the plot. I didn't believe their relationship. With the villain, they would do stuff that felt cartoonishly evil and didn't even try to look less like a villain. For a story that otherwise felt more realistic in many ways, these issues stood out.

First off, I really feel like one of the genres this book should fall in is Gothic Horror. The monsters, the gore, the resurrections- oh my! And when I say gore, there is a lot of it. Maybe I should have guessed this by the title - (scarlet, duh) - but I just thought that should be addressed. It was all wonderfully done, though, and made the book very excitingly creepy. (I could hear the off-key piano music in my head as I read this.)

I loved learning about Asian history, and while it’s an alternate view of the Tang Dynasty so not everything can be taken as facts, the author does explain after where things veered off from historical events.

The only thing I felt was lacking were some of the characters- particularly the crown prince. He just didn’t seem to have enough depth for me, and I couldn’t fully enjoy the development of their relationship.

All in all, this was another great book by Kylie Lee Baker. If you liked The Keeper of Night Duology, you would also like this. If you like YA fantasy, horror, historical fiction and Asian literature, you will DEFINITELY like this.

Thanks NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC of this book!

BECOMING A ROYAL ALCHEMIST UNDER A MYSTERIOUS EMPRESS
rating: 4 stars

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC!

In Imperial China, Fan Zilan lives in a village with her family, where she performs alchemy to resurrect the dead for others. She takes in her skills with pride and good practice, wanting to become a royal alchemist one day. As she seeks to complete her alchemical exams, she meets the Crown Prince, who wants her help with a problem that relates to the royal family. It's up to Zilan to continue her alchemy work while secrets begin to unfold, both of the royal family and of herself.

I discovered this book by its cover and went on to read its plot background, and I loved how it sounded. I like the twist the author did on the Tang Dynasty while being inspired by real-life people, and the visual written details on alchemy and the characters' surroundings. Zilan is a very intriguing character, as the hints to her past got me hooked, especially towards the end. The Crown Prince's character was a bit of a mystery to me at first, but I liked how the author opened him up and showed him to the reader. Whenever the Empress showed up, I would get chills through me. The plot and world building itself is beautiful, and this was a fun read that got my history nerd self excited to learn more about the setting.

I recommend this book to readers who are interested in history, fans of Chloe Gong, and science and historical fiction lovers. It's worth reading if you like books based on Asian history.

The Scarlet Alchemist is out October 3, 2023! Preorder now!

I need the sequel for this ASAP. This book has a couple of the best tropes of training to get into the elusive academy and the poor heroine. It kind of reminded me of the beginning of the Poppy war but it quickly departs from any likeness. This had a fun take on Alchemy and i was not expect that twist for Zilan and her siblings. Also it very much a young adult read so fun and just creepy enough to keep you reading. The Prince was a fun character and his and Zilan relationship kind of reminded me of Cardan and Jude from A Cruel to the Prince to a much less degree the prince proved to be a tad more inept but still likable and fun. I am excited to see what happens.

This book was so hard for me to put down, there was never a dull moment. I loved everything from the prose to the characters, the plot, and magic system. The writing was so beautiful that at times it read like poetry. The characters were well rounded and felt very real. The dialogue felt incredibly natural and there were many times I laughed out loud. I loved the complexity of the relationship with the main character and her siblings. The use of alchemy felt very well thought out and was a very believable magic system. I felt gutted when I finished the book and I really hope there's a sequel on the way. I'll be busy reading this authors back log now.

The scarlet alchemist

4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters:

I liked most of the characters, i feel they were well developed and there was more show than tell, my favorite was yufei and her obsession with food. My leas favorite was the prince for some reason he just felt under eloped and to unrealistic.

World building and Magic building:

There were some parts, that didn’t make sense, probably because I’m dumb lol. Overall i liked this section

Grammar:

There some mistakes ⬇️

Mistakes highlighted

“I can’t get up. Zilan kicked me to the death,” wenshu said laying on his Black. Pg. 108 ( on iphone)

“ iIt seems like such a waste,” i said. “Id rather you just gave me the gold and remade my tooth with a rock.”

Overall

A really good 4 star read, would recommend.

The Scarlet Alchemist hooked me from the first page…. nothing like starting a book off with a corpse that needs resurrecting. And it only got more interesting from there.

Zilan lives in Guangzhou, China, with her Aunt, Uncle, and two cousins—Wenshu and Yufei. They help run the family míngqì business and also happen to resurrect dead people on the side—a forbidden alchemy performed by Zilan. However, the three of them have dreams to move to Chang’an, Wenshu and Yufei to become scholars, and Zilan to join the royal alchemists. Of course, the whole plan almost gets derailed when a man shows up begging for Zilan’s help in resurrection, offering her a large sum of gold, only problem is that it’s him and he’s still alive. Zilan, though, doesn’t let that stop her and turns him down…. But, it certainly isn’t the last time she sees him.

This story really doesn’t let up from start to finish with political intrigue, corpses piling up by the dozens, alchemical magic, monsters, a love story between a cinnamon roll prince and a head-strong Zilan, and an Empress that will stop at nothing to retain her power and youth. Oh, and a very cute duck.

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the opportunity to read early! Loved this one and can’t wait for the sequel!

Alchemists, crown princes and ancient China are just a few of the threads weaving together an enthralling plot in Kylie Lee Baker’s latest dazzling book. “The Scarlet Alchemist” follows the story of Zilan, who is studying to be a royal alchemist in a world where the wealthiest of people can actually eat gold to extend their lifetimes. But Zilan has a special gift, one she fights to keep hidden — she can bring the dead back to life.

Close to unputdownable, “The Scarlet Alchemist” is the newest tour de force in YA. It is both powerful and poignantly written.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The Scarlett Alchemist is a captivating and wonderfully produced fantasy story that will attract readers and leave them wanting more. Kylie Lee Baker's creativity radiates through every page of this book, earning it a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars!

4.5 stars

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Scarlet Alchemist” does so many things so well, from the vividly drawn characters and labyrinthine plot to the raw emotion and deep family ties that hold it all together. It beautifully defies some YA tropes and pokes fun at others. Kylie Lee Baker draws on history and legend to create an alternate historical fantasy world in which Chinese alchemists have succeeded in creating life gold which keeps the royal family and their wealthy sycophants alive indefinitely. Empress Wu (based on Wu Zetian, China’s only female emperor) has been in power for over 100 years at the beginning of the tale.

Zilan is a biracial orphan living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in the impoverished south of China, dreaming of passing her exams to become a royal alchemist so that she can send money home to her ailing aunt and uncle. In the meantime, she and her cousins/siblings Yufei and Wenshu illegally revive the dead in their backyard for extra money. Something I wholeheartedly admire is Baker’s ability to write detailed characters in very little page space: almost instantly I felt like I knew exactly who the three siblings were, what motivated them, and their flaws.

The plot kicks into gear when a wealthy stranger appears and begs Zilan to resurrect him - even though he hasn’t died yet, he seems convinced that he soon will be. Once Zilan arrives in the capital, she becomes embroiled in political intrigue and infighting that endanger everybody in the palace, with the Empress (as compelling and devious a villain as any reader could want) at the center. While trying to pass the remaining round of alchemy exams, she is also trying to save the prince’s life, rescue scapegoats, and maintain her relationship with her siblings, who are pursuing their own paths separate from hers. While she learns more about alchemy itself, she must also face the repercussions of her own reckless resurrections.

This is a stunning story of family, identity, legacy, ambition, consequences, love, and the balance between good and evil. Readers will find themselves in the relentless Zilan, studious Wenshu, lovely but prickly Yufei, and sweet-tempered Prince Li Hong. This story does not shy away from the gore, so you may want to skip it if you are not a fan of the following: blood (gushing/streaming/pools/rivers/fountains/vomiting), corpses (putrefying/oozing/stinking/reanimated), graphic dismemberment and evisceration, or people’s skin being turned into bookmarks. Everyone else, though: no excuses for this not being at the top of your TBR this October.

4.5 rounded up.

Not sure what I was expecting out of this book, but honestly this was not it in the best of ways.

I knew I was going to like this book when in the content note the author explained that modern Chinese was used in the novel for practical reasons as well as “ a reluctance to learn a dead language for the sake of a fantasy novel”. This is my first book by this author, and suddenly I need to add everything else she has written to my TBR.

This book revolves around Zilan and her two siblings who are trying to make ends meet (or more accurately trying to “unend” meat). Zilan is desperately preparing for an exam to become a royal alchemist in order to support her sick family, with a casual side business of reviving the recently deceased.

Honestly, you would think this was going to be a light-ish, kinda funny YA fantasy. And at some points it is funny. I laughed out loud. But it is not YA and the content is not light. There are some plot moments and twists that are downright gruesome. I honestly spent a medium amount of time confused, but in the fantasy world building kinda way not the bad way.

I had a wonderful time throughout this entire novel. I absolutely love Zilan. She is smart, witty, stubborn, and just an absolute treat of a FMC. She is 17, and she feels 17 in a really authentic, naive way. The kind of 17 where you’re invincible and you’re going to change the world. She is really well fleshed out, and one of the best representations of a teenager I’ve seen in fantasy in awhile. Really all of the characters feel incredibly well done. ESPECIALLY the antagonist. *not spoiling who* but they are so intelligently wicked, I loved it.

The entire thing was spectacular. I laughed. I cried. I’m devastated that I’m ready for book two when book one hasn’t hit shelves yet.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow.....phew, this book put me through the wringer. The world building was top notch and while unfamiliar at first, I really got drawn to Zilan and her plights.
Here was a character I could relate to, root for, and sympathize with even when she wasn't being a good person. She struggled SO hard and fought tooth and nails to achieve her goals, all while feeling unloved, abandoned and looked down upon.
When she meets the Prince....he's also not a typical royalty. To most he would appear weak and pathetic, but....I loved him. He wasn't the typical hero with muscles, brute strength, and demanding and cocky. He just was scared, loved animals, admired Zilan and did what he felt was in his power for those he cared about.
Usually I get annoyed with the heavy reliance on magic in fantasy novels but this novel uses powers under the guise of alchemy and I wasnt mad about it. The author really made it feel like an alternate reality and had explanations and historical notes on a lot of it which I loved! I was fascinated and at the edge of my seat as it came to it's climax. Man, did that 2nd to last chapter had me darn near in tears 🥺
I have to know what happens next! 😭

**Review will be published on my site and socials release week!**

GOOD START.

I really love how unique Kylie Lee Baker’s stories are. I love the historical aspects (and the notes about them at the end!), the diverse cast and how it’s a lot more main character focused over a romance (though I admit to wanting the romance to be a bit more woven in here).

The alchemical aspects were cool and I appreciated that I could follow along with the magic system. It’s complex, yet manageable and all of the morally gray decisions are thrown in to make this a dark tale.

There were some good twists, lots of monsters (gruesome book folks!), and complicated family dynamics to keep the pages turning. The historical and fantasy combination is one of my absolute favorite genre blend and the storytelling is fantastic. Looking forward to book two!!

Overall audience notes:
- YA Dark Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-out
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, murder, loss of life, loss of family, kidnapping and torture, creature attacks, weapons violence, medical experimentation

I must say, this book was an absolute delight to read! From the very beginning, I found myself fully invested in every character, embracing their flaws and idiosyncrasies. The author's writing style was a perfect fit for me, gracefully flowing from one scene to another, immersing me in the story's world without drowning me in unnecessary details. The narrative maintained a captivating atmosphere throughout, skillfully avoiding the trap of excessive info dumping despite the intricately developed storyline.

One aspect that particularly impressed me was how the author managed to strike a balance between providing answers and introducing clever twists while still leaving us with intriguing questions that demand to be explored in the next installment. This is a sign of excellent storytelling, as it keeps readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter of the saga.

If I were to nitpick, I have to admit that the direction the plot took towards the end came perilously close to crossing the line of being slightly overwhelming. Yet, even with that minor reservation, I can't deny the excitement I feel for the next book in the series. In fact, I am practically itching to get my hands on it just to satiate my curiosity and discover what happens next in this thrilling adventure!

In conclusion, this book was a fantastic read that masterfully weaved together intriguing characters, an engaging writing style, and a well-crafted plot. Despite my tiny hesitation about the plot's direction towards the end, my enthusiasm for the story as a whole remains unaltered. I have no doubt that the forthcoming installment will provide the same level of enjoyment and keep me hooked until the very last page. Kudos to the author for creating such an enchanting and absorbing world!

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75 (rounded to 4)

The Scarlet Alchemist is a YA fantasy story inspired by the Tang dynasty and creates a world where alchemy is real and immortality has been found.

Fan Zilan is the daughter of a foreigner, with her Chinese mother dying early in her life. She lives in Southern China in a very impoverished town with her aunt and uncle, and her cousins. Zilan has been able to learn alchemy on her own, using the very illegal alchemy of raising the dead in order to make ends meet. She dreams of becoming a royal alchemist which she has to pass trials, while her cousins Wenfu and Yufei are studying to pass the scholars exams. Zilan gets wrapped up in the political machinations of the imperial court and starts to get close to the Crown Prince, Li Hong.

I found the first 50-100 pages to actually be very intriguing, we learn about alchemy and the magic system as well as understand the family dynamics. I find the magic system to be very unique and very well explained. The world-building was good, and the author did a good job of showing and not telling. I enjoyed learning about the cousins (who are more like siblings to her) and Zilan's struggle with her identity and belonging with true family. In fact, I think I liked Yufei and Wenfu more throughout the story.

The pacing was very fast, which I enjoyed for the most part. Towards the 60% mark, it felt like everything was going so fast and seemed a bit repetitive. There were a couple characters we spent so little time with and their deaths weren't impactful for that reason. From what I understand, this is pitched as a darker fantasy, I almost wish this book was more adult and they leaned into the goriness and gruesome aspect of the alchemy and creatures.

I think the romance also suffered from the fast-paced nature. There was a lot of banter, but I felt there was a lack of the tension and yearning that would have made the romance believable, especially since most of the time Zilan seemed annoyed with Li Hong and the romance developed rather quickly despite that.

The ending was a huge twist that I thought was done well, and it sets it up for an interesting sequel I am likely to pick it. I think this book had a lot of potential with its premise that it could have expanded on, but I did enjoy it overall. Unfortunately, it just didn't stick out to me, but I feel this is still a good choice to pick up if you like historical fantasy, trials, and political intrigue.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a fantastic book. With a few surprising twists and turns, I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. This action packed reimagining of the Tang Dynasty is focused on alchemy and the idea that it can prolong life, and even bring back the dead. This book is about family and making the decision to better yourself and to be the change that is needed in the world. Be warned that this story is a bit gory and very bloody.

After reading The Scarlet Alchemist, I will definitely check out Baker’s other series and I can’t wait until the next book in this duology comes out. I think that this could be read as a stand alone, though. Book Two is set up, but this book does have closure.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

AHHH!! This was incredible. I have not flown through a book in ages, but I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter.

We follow Zilan, a poor girl who was taken in by her aunt and uncle after the loss of her parents. She has grown up with her cousins Wenshu and Yufei as siblings and they have worked hard to keep food on their table. To supplement their income, Zilan begins experimenting with alchemy. She resurrects people at the request of their desperate family members. She is constantly in survival mode, and one day she is approached by a young man who asks her to bring him back as he is sure he will die soon. He offers an exorbitant amount of money, but she refuses. Zilan and her siblings have worked for years to become scholars and imperial alchemists, and she's not going to give up their opportunity to escape poverty now. After Zilan reaches the capital for testing, she realizes that being an imperial alchemist is not what she thought it was. Many secrets loom inside the palace. Dark and horrifying creatures plague the city. A kind and desperate young prince looks to her for guidance.

From there you see the struggles she faces as a mixed woman, the disregard the rich have for people of her caste, and the internal fight she has about belonging in a family that is not truly hers. It's a beautiful look at the insecurities anyone could face due to their circumstances, and the prejudice that women and people of color fight against in all aspects of life.

This world is sprinkled with many historical references and explanations of ancient Chinese culture that were a joy to read about.

Rapid thoughts:
I can just say that I screamed out loud multiple times during my reading. The stakes are high and the consequences for failure are deadly. HONG. My sweet sweet baby. I want the world for him! The Empress is SO INSANE. Cold as ice. Keeping their tags with their names?? Unhinged behavior. WENSHU. YUFEI. AHH. This book has caused me severe emotional turmoil and I demand restitution in form of book 2!!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing a copy of the book to read for free in exchange for a honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

The Scarlet Alchemist is a perfectly paced, action-filled book that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. The plot twists and foreshadowing were wonderfully executed!

The premise was interesting, the world-building was nicely handled, and the action proceeded at a good pace throughout. I loved the magic system it was so refreshing, I never read something quite like this! Zilan was a well-drawn and captivating character; however many of the supporting cast were not quite so deeply fleshed out. The ending left me intrigued to know what would happen next, so I would be picking up the next book of this series!

I also loved the concept of an alternate Tang Dynasty in which alchemists succeeded in finding immortality, or something close to it. The historical notes both before and after the book were an added plus, as I was not familiar with the Tang Dynasty enough to get all of the intricate historical aspects. The author was able to seamlessly add pieces of history with her own storytelling in order to create this alternative history. Within this historical context, the author explores themes of death, mixed-race, familial (primarily sibling) dynamics, and cutthroat politics.

Thank you NetGalley, InkYard Press, and Kylie Lee Baker for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"From now on, you will be known as the Scarlet Alchemist."

Politics, alchemy, and a whole lot of blood. This book follows Zilan who goes from practicing illegal alchemy - raising the dead - to working in the imperial palace as a royal alchemist. There are monsters lurking in the dark, encouraged by resident historical girlboss Wu Zetian. If you have enjoyed the author's Keeper of the Night series, The Red Palace by June Hur, or Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao - then I highly recommend you pick up this book.

This book would have been a full 5 stars for me, but I knocked one off just because there are several themes and plot points that felt like they had been taken and rewritten from Kylie's other series. There were also a couple of typos that I caught, but since I received an ARC they will likely be corrected before publication.

"Chang'an did not seem like a place where one could live quietly. It was a city with teeth, and it already knew my name."

I love the way Kylie writes her female protagonists. They feel so human in their decisions and make imperfect choices, it's nice reading from the perspective of a character that sometimes choses herself and her loved ones over being a hero. Zilan did not disappoint - she's unflinching in the face of violence, loves fiercely and selfishly, and will walk knee deep into a pool of blood if it means getting what she wants.

"If she was the ruler Heaven had chosen, then I would gladly burn through every layer of hell."

Wu Zetian is the villain of the story and she plays her role SO well. I love Wu Zetian as a historical figure, and I love reading reimagining's of her. I honestly just love a power hungry boss bitch and Kylie Lee Baker DELIVERED. Wu Zetian is brutal, violent, and extremely intelligent. It is genuinely unclear who is going to come out on top at the end of the story.

"He took my face in his hands and pressed a searing kiss to my lips, and for a moment, I wasn't standing in the bloody ruins of a kingdom I'd destroyed."

I'm a sucker for romance that feels like a heart-wrenching fantasy C-Drama and Scarlet Alchemist gives me just that. That being said don't pick up this book expecting romance to be the main focal point of the plot, if that's something you're looking for you might be disappointed. I also can't help but be distrustful of Kylie Lee Baker after she broke my heart in Keeper of the Night and then broke it again in The Empress of Time.

"I knew better than to stake my life on the kindness of the rich."

I wish we had spent more time with Zilan and her training with the alchemists and getting to know each of them a little bit more. We learned a lot about basic alchemy, and alchemy specific to Zilan but beyond that we didn't get much despite the Moon Alchemist promising to turn Zilan from good to great. There's also the claim that the Moon Alchemist is incredibly powerful, but I feel like that claim was never delivered on. I can understand the choice to leave that out, there's a lot of info-dumping already and that's not for everyone, but I love getting my hands on as much world-building as possible.

I wouldn't let this deter you from picking up the book, more something just to be aware of going in. As I feel like in book two we are going to see just how powerful some of these alchemists can be.