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This world is sprinkled with many historical references and explanations of ancient Chinese culture that were a joy to read about.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

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book, while dealing with very dark topics, was a fun read. I enjoyed the magic system, the world building, and the dynamic between the characters. The romance was good but honestly took a back seat (for me) to the relationship between the main character, Zilan, and her siblings. There is a touch of more modern language and humor that the author acknowledges at the beginning, but it does contribute to the fun I had reading this book. Overall I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one.

Zilan is a strong-willed girl who cares deeply for her family. She wishes to become a Royal Alchemist, partly to spite the father who presumably abandoned her and her mother even while she was dying, and partly to have enough security and income to live as a mixed-race woman without discrimination and to support her sick uncle and aunt who took her in after her mother passed away. She forms a strong bond with her cousins - Wenshu and Yufei - and they have easily become one of my favourite fictional trios ever. I loved reading about their interactions so much that it actually ruined my enjoyment of the book a little (more on this later). Having no alchemist skills, Wenshu and Yufei are also studying hard to pass exams in order to have secure jobs to get out of poverty and relieve the burden on their parents.

Little does Zilan know that 1. the kind of reputation she will have for resurrecting people as a side business and 2. what being a ROYAL Alchemist ACTUALLY entails when the Empress, having found the way to immortality, has ruled with an iron grip for an extra 100 years.

This is as much as I can say about the plot without spoilers. Trust me when I say it's a WILD ride.

I loved reading the criticism of wealth inequality, which is extremely relevant to today's society. Zilan has compassion and a strong sense of justice, which is a huge motivation for her actions but also causes her to make many hasty mistakes. I didn't feel convinced by some of the plot developments but perhaps my mind will be changed if I read the 2nd book in the duology (what do you mean I have to wait until 2024??).

One thing that dampened my enjoyment of the book was how much I liked the trio. [Spoilers] Understandably, their paths diverged after they reached the capital for more exams. Two of them focused on academy while Zilan focused on alchemy. Their circumstances also vastly changed when she became a Royal Alchemist and got herself involved with essentially Royal Businesses. I think I was just disappointed that I didn't get to read more of their silly but loving interactions. [End Spoilers]

Another thing that I disliked was the vague terms of services (?) surrounding the resurrection alchemy and how it seemed too convenient at times. Currently I am willing to overlook that given how good everything else was, and also withholding my judgement until book 2. (Once again, what do you mean I have to wait until 2024???)

I recommend this book to fans of The Poppy War series (which is mentioned as a source of inspiration) and Iron Widow, and anyone who's interested in reading about magic-like alchemy in the veins of Fullmetal Alchemist and toppling an unjust regime.

Thank you to netgalley for providing the e-arc!

The Scarlet Alchemist hooks you from the very first page. I am not the biggest historical fantasy reader, but the synopsis drew me in -- and the story definitely delivered! I really enjoyed how atmospheric this was, and I felt like I was inside of the world living the events of the book too. The plot was very unique and dark, and I did not have a hard time getting into the book. The worldbuilding, the high stakes, and the imagery were all well done. I do believe this book could have been better if the side characters were more developed. I didn't feel much connection to them, which is a shame. The main character, Zilan, was a joy to read about, however. I look forward to reading more by this author, and I will definitely be checking out her previous books as well as anything she writes next! Even if you don't read historical fantasy/fiction, this book should be at the top of your reading list for 2023.

This book was soooo good! The idea of what would happen if China had been able to come up with an immortal elixer is so intriguing. The romance was such an interesting twist for me because I caught myself both hoping they got together and hoping they didn't because I didn't want them to get hurt. I loved her family and honestly some elements of this just kept me guessing. The part that had me hooked the most though was about reviving the dead and how she did that. Learning the consequences of it and just how it had affected her life.

The Scarlet Alchemist is a griping fantasy ride that delves the reader into not only a story of guts and glory, glitter and gold, faith and truth, honor and humanity, darkness and blood, but into a story of a class divide and a girl's choices and there reverberations for the future.

A ride and a half, this is one story you do not want to miss.

I loved this story and I simply cannot wait for more. I received an ARC via NetGally and Inkyard Press and I am leaving an honest review.

Thank you so much Inkyard Press, Kylie Lee Baker, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I previously read Kylie’s The Keeper of the Night duology and fell in love with it! I enjoyed it so much that I was ecstatic to meet her in person in 2022 at YallFest. Because of my love for Kylie and her books, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that I was approved for this ARC. The book was a bit slow at first, but it was the worth it, because the world building was excellent. The story takes place in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, so I loved the incorporation of Chinese culture in a fantasy book. I really enjoyed Zilan because she’s smart, talented, and resourceful. She loves her family and wants to provide a better life for them by becoming a royal alchemist. However, the more she tries to achieve this dream, the more she realizes how dangerous the royal family’s political games. The plot was entertaining. I loved the unexpected twist and turns because it left me wanting more and more. The ending was satisfying because I didn’t expect that at all! Hopefully, Kylie will have more book signings in the future, because after the book is published, I’d love to get a physical copy of this book and ask if she could sign it. I would highly recommend this book!

The writing style worked really well for me. The prose was beautiful and there were times that I felt like I could feel the things described in the page like it was happening to me, which is simply great when a book can make you feel like that. The concepts of the magic system were also great. It reminded me a little bit of Alchemy of Souls (which is probably my favorite kdrama) but way darker. I liked the characters too, even if Zilan sometimes gave me anxiety with her impusive nature, but I could understand her desperation. Overall, a great read and I'm excited to see where the story goes in the second book after that ending!

Zilan has always dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist. However, coming from rural southern China no one expects her to succeed. By day, she helps her aunt and uncle in their store and by night she performs resurrections with the help of her cousins. Until one day, the Crown Prince catches wind of her abilities and begs her to resurrect him. For now at least he is very much alive but something more sinister is happening beyond the palace walls.

I’m going to need Baker to come pick my jaw up off the floor and put my heart back together again. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an author so ruthless and so willing to do what it takes to create an absolutely vivid and imaginative story. My best advice going into this... don’t get attached to anything, any idea or anyone. Because this story is twisty. Everything you think you know will be challenged as Baker takes you on a ride to save the empire from what might just be my favourite villain in recent memory.

She manages to create a world loosely based on historical Chinese culture and a figure, that a reader can really get a sense of values and culture without it being overly bogged down in details. To me it’s a sign of great writing when there is so much to be inferred from interactions, character’s choices and supporting character’s reactions. The world though is brutal and to survive in it you must develop a thick skin and a bit of ruthlessness. Or do you? Because Baker also shows you how much kindness can make a difference. She shows us that sacrifices are often hidden where you least expect them.

There’s a bit of romance woven throughout the story but by no means is it the main focus point. Baker also takes us through an exploration of familial love and acceptance.

Zilan reminds me a lot of Ren from the Keeper of the Night duology (which was a fantastic series!) in the sense that both are little hedgehogs (prickly on the outside with a heart of gold once they become familiar with you). Both characters are a product of what they had to become in order to endure the ridicule in their societies for being of mixed race, an experience shared by the author according to her author’s note. So it makes me wonder just how much Zilan and Ren are like Baker herself.

Thank you to Inkyard Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

★★★.75 /5

in an alternate tang dynasty, kylie lee baker paints the journey of fan zilan, a budding alchemist from southern china who fights her way to becoming a royal alchemist, in order to escape the plague of poverty. after accomplishing her dreams, though, she ends up facing more issues than she could have ever imagined.

fresh off of watching FMA: brotherhood, the premise of this book was just what i needed. baker illustrates the science behind alchemy so well that i could imagine and plot out a little web graph of elements being linked together in zilan’s mind every time she attempted an alchemical reaction. i also loved her as a character, in all her determined and headstrong characteristics (“eat the rich” incarnate). she has her flaws, of course – with “being senseless” as a glaring one lol – but it all works to represent her desperation and desire to succeed in the face of adversity.

the romantic subplot was sadly not for me. everything developed too quickly, without any (al)chemistry (haha) to spur the romance. they reach the “i would die for you” point out of NOWHERE and most of their time together in a relationship was just zilan *telling* us that he understood her in a way no one else did. in fact, a lot of the relationships in this book took a hit in favor of keeping the plot fast-paced and were quite under-developed, so it was difficult to emotionally connect with any of the side characters.

my biggest gripe was with the ending of the story. everything wrapped up TOO perfectly and QUICKLY, which detracted from all the suspense (that the author built up beautifully throughout the novel) and the stakes of zilan’s journey. this was just a sliver at the end of the book, so majority of the read was still enjoyable, but it really took me out of the moment ;-;

overall, though, this book excelled at keeping me on my toes. the twists and turns are plentiful (none of my guesses were right, but that might say more about me than the book) and there is no dearth of conflict in this story. also loved the historical context!!

durian supremacy 🫶🐥

thank you inkyard press for providing me with my first ARC!

I am in love with this book.

I was a fan of the The Keeper of Night Duology - both were excellent in my opinion, but this book is everything. I love the world so much, I love Zilan, I love that I didn't know what was going to happen and I was suprised at multiple points. Kylie also has the ability to jump in just the right way to me so the story moves along, but you don't feel like you are missing important things.

In short, I will recommend this book to everyone.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker is a dark and glittering jewel of a book, full of gold and fury. I devoured it in a day. It is perfectly paced, with dynamic prose, clever competition setups, and a protagonist who will leave you in awe of her resourcefulness.

I loved this book. It was a fantastic fantasy built around the idea of using earthly elements to create magic. Zilan and her cousins hope to go to the capital to help the family make more money. Zilan has been working for years to become an alchemist and wants to become one of the emperess's alchemists. She has learned how to ressurect the dead and hopes to be able to learn more with the rest of the world's best alchemists. When she gets to the capital she discovers things aren't as simple as they seem. With the prince's help, Zilan goes on a journey of discovery and growth. They hope that maybe they can help make the country a better place, if only they can defeat the "almost" immortal Emperess at her own game. A story about family, greed, and life, readers will enjoy every minute of this immersive read.

4.5🌟

Super immersive alternate historical fantasy with a drizzle of gory gemstone monsters. Loved how the alchemy magic system was developed and the light political intrigue at court. I found Zilan’s pragmatism very refreshing and really enjoyed her as a character.

This book became a fast favorite of mine, it was so good!

First off, I was enthralled by the magic system. I haven't read anything like it before and not only was it unique, but it felt very smart. It was so fun to try and figure out how Zilan was going to get herself out of every situation just using the alchemy knowledge you had from the book. Sometimes I could guess it (often thinking "oh there's no way she's going to do that, right?") and sometimes I would be surprised by her ingenuity. This made it a very fun book to puzzle through.

This book also had a really excellent blend of fantasy and historical fiction. I already mentioned how I loved the magic system. Well, I also loved the setting. If you've ever watched any historical c-dramas, then I think you will really enjoy picturing everything happening in the book (and if you haven't then you should because they are great just like this book).

I loved so many of the characters, but most of all I loved Zilan so much. She goes through a lot growing up without her parents and with her background of one parent of han Chinese descent and one from Scotia/Ireland. You feel so much for her and want everyone to treat her better. It can be a hard read because of that (there were so many minor side characters that I wanted to just shut up and stop being mean) but it's a really important perspective to tell a story from and I appreciated being able to see that as someone who doesn't have that heritage.

Besides our amazing main character, I also loved her cousins a lot. The relationship she has with her family was really beautifully written. I also loved the blooming romance between Zilan and the crown prince. He was so adorable, sweet, and naive but that balanced our strong Zilan out so well. I highlighted so many cute quotes from the crown prince throughout the book. Finally, I also want to give a shoutout to the other royal alchemists. Keeping it spoiler free I'll just say that they were a lovely addition to the book I did not expect.

The ending was just wow (again not saying much because I don't want to spoil anything) but it's got me so excited for the next book already and anything Kylie Lee Baker writes (now I need to go back and read her first duology)!

So basically, if you like strong, intelligent, loyal, and bad*ss women; an adorable man that loves our main woman so much; strong family bonds; exciting and unique magic; and historical settings with lots of scheming and palace intrigue then you should definitely read this book.

The epitome of historical Asian fantasy!! The imagination and detail was on another level. Can’t wait to dive back into this!!

thank you netgalley for the arc !

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 4/5 stars ✩࿐

read if you like:

♡ alternative history
♡ forced proximity
♡ political intrigue
♡ biracial rep
♡ bloodthirsty gf & her cinnamon-roll bf

⁀➷ performing her own feat of alchemy, kylie lee baker transforms tang dynasty history as we know it with the scarlet alchemist, reimagining the world as if chinese alchemists had succeeded in their toils to create an elixir of immortality. bladed with cut-throat political intrigue, the requisite alchemy, necromancy and a cast of morally grey characters - this fantasy infused alternative history will sink its claws into your bookish psyche.

⁀➷ zilan blows so many of her fellow fantasy heroines out of the water with her ruthlessness and consummate pragmatism - a trait of hers, which, when it rears its head, means no holds barred on her part. this unscrupulousness then fringed with the more sanded-down, likeable edges of her - evinced predominantly when in proximity to her family - zilan makes for an inimitable main character cut from a multifaceted gem. the filigreed detail to her is beyond what one would associate with ya fantasy. bearing in mind the force of her character, i’d wager there is little in the way of surprise that the other members of the cast are then effectively overshadowed by her presence. this is never more unequivocal than with her more diffident love interest, li hong, who, although personable and inspiring an uncomplicated affection in me, offered little else besides that.

⁀➷ the pacing is alacritous - there is never a dull moment with seamless transitions from the onset. i had the wind knocked out of me in certain scenes utterly fraught with danger, all but spasming with anxiety for the hapless zilan. with every page i was turning a blind-corner in breathless anticipation. the plot twists forevermore seem to be courting death and no one is safe for long in this viscerally painted, gore-drenched world of monsters plucked from any reader’s nightmare. suffice to say, that the villain succeeds still in inducing more goose-bumps in view of such horrors is ample proof of baker’s artistry. more impressive however, is the cleverly-hewn magic system - often carried out by means of gemstones - which we are introduced to through an ideal blend of telling and showing.

➸ conclusion :
a viciously unique transmutation of history, the scarlet alchemist promises the perfect literary sojourn in a world of violence and decadent alchemy - hitching your breath until the end tableau.

New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty. The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a poor merchant's daughter who is aiming to become a royal