I found this a lovely and striking read start to finish. From the beginning I am drawn into an interesting world of alchemy from start to finish with intense twists and turns throughout. The main character at first seemed almost too stubborn, but as things mount against her, it really shines through as a needed emotion to stay alive. I don't want to give too much away because the mysteries that this story hold are part of its absolute charm. There were a few points where I felt confused when it came to the plot, but those holes do get all sewn up in the end. Leaving me wanting more and hoping that there might be a sequel at some point.

This! Book!!! I cannnnot exaggerate the HOLD this book has on me.

In the Scarlet Alchemist, Zilan, a poor girl from a rural southern Chinese town, works with her siblings to become Imperial alchemists and bureaucrats. Action-filled drama ensues (You can find a better full summary elsewhere).

Zilan's character is delightfully pragmatic and morally grey. She is feral and has no qualms using her talent for necromancy for her own benefit.
Her siblings/cousins are equally well-developed. Her brother, Wenshu, is a neat freak at times, equally loving and condescending (as all big brothers are!). Her sister, Yufei, is beautiful and violent and hungry--she reminds me a bit of the main character of big YA from the 2010s, but is saved from being a trope because she is not the main character, and through Zilan's eyes, she is loveable and rediculous. The relationships between this trio, and the way their history and futures interact are at the heart of this book.

We also have a romantic lead, the opposite of the morally grey dark haired love, Hong is soft and kind, the kind of romantic lead it takes a while to warm up to, but now I would kill for him (as Zilan would!).

The world, a fictional version of Imperial Tang Dynasty China, is well thought out and rich. The magic system draws from Chinese traditions. This book does a good job of presenting this world in a way that should be readily accessible to people who are unfamiliar with those traditions. To those of us familiar with some medieval and modern Chinese science and medicine, this book has nothing that grates-- it is well-researched, drawing on real traditions while making clear departures into fiction.

This book never felt slow, as the author time skips just a bit to keep the action moving. The book also picks up considerably toward the middle and end, with driving action sequences that beg to be made into a live-action movie or anime series.

Kylie Baker does great job weaving this story with Imperial Chinese history, Alchemy and magic, epich villains and heroes, violence and sweetness, and the threads of family and romance. I really am not exaggerating when I say this is my favorite read of 2023 so far.

**4.5 STARS** Review will be posted in September, closer to publication date.

Content Warning: violence, death

Kylie Lee Baker is becoming one of my must-read authors. I just love how dark she goes into her writing, not being afraid of making her main character do questionable things, but there is always a reason.

I love the China alternate history in this story with fantasy elements. Zilan is studying to be a royal alchemist and not just for the honor of it, though it’s part of it. But she’s poor and an orphan so this is about survival. She’s not alone in her quest for success and survival, her cousins. I loved her interactions with them and as someone who grew up with cousins, it was relatable. I love Zilan’s feelings and questions about family and worth. Zilan is also half Chinese and half Scotian, and she receives some backlash over that which was interesting to see because she thought she was ugly because of it.

Zilan is a headstrong character. She’s impulsive but I liked her strength. She and the Prince, Li Hong were so different in temperament, I loved them together. He was timid for a royal and she is full of passion. The secondary cast was wonderful and full of personality.

I thought the story moved quickly as Zilan and her cousins try to pass their tests to advance. There is something mysterious happening at the palace though and it has to do with something monstrous. There is political intrique also. I loved all the alchemy and magic which is surprising because sometimes stories about alchemy leave me underwhelmed. But the way Zilan uses alchemy was very cool. I liked that the magic had consequences and there was always a strive for balance but Zilan pushed limits because of love. I loved the twist and the ending. I can’t wait to read book two!

Why you should read it:
*alternate Chinese historical fantasy fiction
*Zilan and her interactions with her cousins (which were funny) and her growing romance with Li Hong
*alchemy magic

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into dark magic and necromancy

My Thoughts:

This was a very entertaining book and I devoured it in one sitting. I love Zilan, her cousins and the Prince. The magic and alchemy was very cool and I thought the twist in the story was shocking. I loved this one and I’m looking forward to book two!

Thank you to Kylie Lee Baker, Inkyard Press, and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book caught me off guard. Just from reading the blurb I had a feeling it would be good, but not this good. Every time I thought I new what was coming next I was pleasantly wrong. Baker does a fabulous job keeping readers on their toes and throwing in surprises that you never see coming. I caught onto one of the many, but honesty that did not matter because it was the least surprising aspect of it all.

There are so many questions that I have after reading this book. I am already dying for book two and the first book is not even officially out yet. Zilan is an amazingly stubborn protagonist, and I am sure she will frustrate other readers just has much as she will make them love her. There is just something about her where even when she is being frustrating, her actions make so much sense. I also really appreciated how she called the prince out for his life of luxury in a way that was so tactful. She did not turn him away at times because he had money, but because of how his actions showed an ignorance that mirrors todays society really well. I highly recommend this book to all.

What would we choose when love is the reason that both kills and vitalizes the ones most important to us?

<i>The Scarlet Alchemist</i> is a thoughtfully planned book that highlights many societal and
individual themes that persist within humanity. So many things go wrong in this book, but it only keeps you more hooked and attached to the plot. There are so many twists, making every chapter so enjoyable and interesting to read.

Fan Zilan is an orphan living with her aunt, uncle, and two cousins. She loves them so much, but also feels like a burden who will get cast off at any second. Wanting to escape their poor village in the south, Zilan, along with her cousins Yufei and Wenshu, study and prepare diligently to pass the tests in order to work in the capital and make enough money to send back to their parents. Once in Chang'an, Zilan uncovers daunting secrets about her childhood and realizes that being a royal alchemist is not the job that she had imagined it to be.

The only bad part about this book is that I have to wait for the sequel. 😣

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an e-copy of this book for an honest review!

Let’s start off with that stunning cover. I’m for sure a reader that gets drawn in by a cover 75% of the time and this cover is absolutely stunning. The book itself does not disappoint.
What I love about this book is the main character Zilan. A fiery alchemist( a húnxie) with the power to raise the dead. As you can imagine a talent that makes her an outcast and despised.
When she is approached by the Crown Prince Li Hong himself fearing an assassination attempt she is thrust into a political game that will change her world forever.
I can relate to her on being an outcast cause in all honesty we have all felt like in an outcast in some way shape or form and had to adapt in any way we could. And I use wit as well to combat society.
The plot is quick paced and thought out with struggles as being a woman and mixed race. The side characters are just as colorful and will have you cracking up.
The action scenes kept me enthralled and on the edge of the seat the entire time. My screen is probably marked permanently from how fast I was speeding through this book. It was that good.
This book for sure sky rocketed to one of my all time favorite books. The Scarlet Alchemist is a enthralling, thought-provoking, insightful and knockout of a book. Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley & Inkyard Press for a ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Fantastic and creative historical chinese perspective. This book kept me on my toes all throughout. The magic system is different and creative.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. With the author’s vivid and compelling writing, I was fully hooked on the royal family, the tang dynasty, alchemy, sibling relationships and our unlikeable MC. KBL set an amazing tone with a gloomy and dreary atmosphere that only complements the high stakes setting of the book! I did not see the plot twists coming, and they only made me more eager to read the sequel!

All of the characters are incredibly flawed, but relatable. None more than our MC, she’s very brash and impulsive, but that only made me like her more! The Crown Prince did piss me off at times, but I did like him at the end. I do really hope to see more character development in all of them in the sequel!

If you’re looking for lots of romance, there isn’t much there. However, I did really enjoy the little that’s part of it!

Overall, if you’re looking to get into historical fantasy and are interested in necromancy I believe this is a must read!

The world and magic system is really cool! she has immersive easy but elegant writing that made it easy to follow! The MC while compelling and very morally grey, felt extremely inconsistent at times about her actions and intentions. For example, when the prince initially approached her in that first meeting offering her that hundred thousand gold, she was really rash in turning it down which was a little strange given her desperate financial predicament. But I could still see her POV given she said she wants to do the exams for alchemy. But I'm sure she could have negotiated a compromise, though she didn't. And she didn't inquire into the prince who she didn't know was a prince at the time, a little further. I mean if your goal is to be a royal alchemist, and the prince is approaching you (and it seems like he would've told her eventually he was the prince) does that not seem like the perfect win-win situation? The whole reason for wanting to be the alchemist is to support your family? It seemed like a glaring hole of logic to me and it seemed like she was being rash for the sake of being rash and this becomes a huge pattern in the book. Later, the prince needs her for EXTREMELY RISKY political help and she instantly says yes, at the cost for the asking for same amount of money but this confused me because she literally said she refuses to get sidetracked in political stuff, so she could focus on her alchemy subjects and exams. Yet the second the prince asks for VERY RISKY-like get your ass killed and thrown in jail-type political help, she says yes instantly? For that money? It just confused me.

Her treatment of the prince was also just boggling at times. While i understand why she doesn't like him, some of her treatment was so uncalled for. I liked though that she was ruthless and a go-getter.

However, besides the MC, the characters of EVERYONE ELSE, including her family, other alchemists, and the prince especially (which was the biggest disappointment), was beyond trope-y. Just walking archetypes - some nuance and originality would have been nice. Now that might not dampen other people's reading experience, but it did for me, especially the prince's characterization.

The other major issue I had with this book was that, while this book had a lot of risky cool brutally dark scenes (the alchemist trials) that I loved (loads of potential there), it would cut the dark tension behind those scenes with trope-y dialogue/humour and wouldn't let the darkness and brutality sink with us the readers a little longer. She would rush really fast past those moments and I wish we dwelled a little longer in them to feel the atmospheric tension and stakes. The build up to them was also a little lack luster.

I believe anyone who loves standard YA will enjoy his book but if you're looking for something a little more real and nuanced, you might want to pass on this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!

This book was so intriguing and fun, it made me upset I hadn't gotten around to reading Kylie Lee Baker's previous works. I was instantly hooked, and I can't wait to see where it goes in the sequel.

The Scarlet Alchemist begins in a hypothetical past China where Royal Alchemists actually succeeded in creating eternal life for the Emperor and fellow royals. Zilan is a poor biracial girl in Guangzhou who is studying to take an exam that will allow her to become one of the Royal Alchemists, taking her out of her life of poverty.

Zilan is a self-taught alchemist, and she uses notes from her father to work as an underground resurrectionist. *This being said, this book does have some fairly graphic body horror! Do not read while eating breakfast, a mistake I myself made!* While this form of alchemy, blood alchemy, is strictly forbidden, her reputation travels ahead of her and she is asked by a rich man from the North to resurrect him - despite the fact that he is still very much alive.

First and foremost, a huge theme of this book was wealth distribution and the ethics of the ruling class. As Zilan gets to know the wealthy man, she often critiques his inability to see the power that wealth has and how he can use his power to help those in need. The poor in this book are very poor, and the rich are very rich. It is not difficult for the reader to see clear parallels to our world today, despite the magical elements.

This book was very fast paced, and I was instantly hooked. The main character is very hot-headed, and struggles to maintain composure in a society where there are many rules regarding the treatment of those higher than you on the social ladder. She's not very likeable, but in an intriguing way. While this is marketed as a young adult book, it is very much on the adult end of that spectrum, dealing with some graphic body horror and darker themes. I read this as an adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. It is a fairly quick read, and the stakes were very high and intriguing.

This book is beautifully written. I love the connection between Zilan and her cousins. All of them care so deeply for each other and it's easy to see in all of their interactions. The way alchemy works in this world is super interesting. I found myself engrossed the entire time I was reading.

This premise had me hooked like no other, and I was totally here for it. Zilan is just so sharp and spiky, and it felt authentic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard for the ARC.

After reading the author Kylie Lee Baker’s novel “The Keeper of Night”, I was excited to see she had started a new fantasy novel series. I feel like the cover of this book fits this novel really well. It’s a book that is filled with eerie and unsettling imagery. However, this novel is also filled with humour and displays of one’s love for another.

Set in a fictionalized historical China, Zilan, the main character, sets out on a life changing journey that involves the royal family of China. Zilan is an alchemist whose reputation has started to spread across the kingdom. As she competes with fellows alchemists to gain the recognition of the great Empress Wu, she starts to learn of the secrets surrounding the royal family.

This book did not seem to have a dull moment. The author was able to fill each page with fantasy action or light banter between the characters. There are many twists and turns throughout this book. I was able to predict some but for the most part, I was surprised by the direction the book went. I would love to reread the book once again to see all those hints that led up to the final result.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Baker's historical fantasies are a wonderful gift to the readers because she never stops giving justice to the setting. Yet again, she's pulled me into the world of tang dynasty china and left me wanting more.

This was fantastic - unique premise, interesting magic system, strong characters, all of it. Kylie Lee Baker wove together a new concept with the familiarity of YA fantasy and a competition setting. Definite recommend, and can't wait to read the next book after that ending!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

I am reminded once again, by this book that Kylie Lee Baker is THE master at writing dark, uncomfortable and creepy books that match the vibes of her books so perfectly. The Scarlet Alchemist started off lightly with just a girl, Zilan, wanting to become a Royal Alchemist and studying her whole life to pass her exams. I loved her determination and ferocity towards accomplishing her goal. As always, I have to share my thoughts on the familial relationships and I can say that they were done superbly. I always enjoy complex sibling and parent bonds and the author totally delivered on this front. Similar to the author's previous book The Keeper Of Night, this book quickly became very dark and intense which I loved writing about but it was a bit too gruesome for me. Overall, I liked this book a lot and totally recommend to lovers of dark fantasy.

Rating: 4 stars!

In The Scarlet Alchemist, we follow Zilan as she studies and takes the exams necessary to become a royal alchemist, a dream she has had since her father left her and her mother many years ago. Before taking her exams, she lives a life as a poor merchant who also dabbles in the illegal resurrection alchemy in order to help provide for her aunt, uncle, and two cousins, who are also studying for exams to be civil servants. As she takes her exams, she realizes being a royal alchemist is all it’s cracked up to be.

I 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 in 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.

On of the highlights of this book is author’s prose; her ability to describe things so beautiful as well as things so gruesome. Some of her descriptions regarding the resurrection alchemy were absolutely gnarly but were so visual it really enhanced the reading experience and made me feel like I was there. This is definitely a fast-paced book, which also extends to the romance subplot. While I enjoyed the romantic interest and the budding relationship, it progressed a little too quickly for me. I don’t know the exact timeline of the book, but two people went from relative strangers to willing to die for each other pretty quickly. However, the relationship was cute and I was easily able to look past the fast relationship development.

The sequel cannot come fast enough! Overall, a highly enjoyable fantasy - 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

I really enjoyed this! I loved the alchemy and the romance (good ol enemies to lovers) , and I really enjoyed the court politics. I don't usually enjoy the political aspect of fantasy or sci-fi stories but this time I actually really enjoyed watching everything play out. There were so many twists and turns, and that ending really got me by surprise which doesn't happen often! I cannot wait for more in this world--I highly recommend this, especially if you enjoy historical fantasy!

What an absolutely fun, brutal and bloody book! The story grips you right from the beginning and doesn't let you go the entire time, and I am so excited for the sequel.

Our main character, Zilan, doesn't belong. She has the power to bring things back from the dead and is determined to use her skills to give her family a better life. But when she reaches her dreams, Zilan discovers that the palace uses more than just force and politics to keep the country in line. Sometimes, the monsters come from within.

I loved Zilan. Orphaned and adopted by her aunt's family, she wants nothing more than to secure a safe life for her family, but she is constantly aware of being different due to her half Chinese, half White lineage. Even so, she is unafraid of using her strengths to win a position as the Queen's royal alchemist, but now has to decide between her own morals and playing it safe. The pacing of the story is constantly moving and there is never a dull moment. Even the tender scenes between Zilan and the prince is used to develop her character.

The fantasy aspect was also beyond what I could've imagined. We are introduced to Chinese alchemy and how good vs evil comes into play, and how Zilan has to defeat an absolutely terrifying villain that will keep your heart pounding.