Raising the dead, alchemy, court politics, and monsters come together in this story about a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead who gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. Zilan has dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, it would let her practice her alchemy freely and would provide for her family. She has a secret, she's been illegally practicing soul alchemy, reviving the dead. After her mother died and her father disappeared, she vowed to do whatever it took to provide for her remaining family. That means she has to pass the royal alchemist exam, but that means competing against the best alchemists in the country in tasks that she'll be lucky to survive. It doesn't help that she has garnered a reputation for raising the dead and the Crown Prince himself ha come to her seeking her help as he believes he'll be assassinated soon. The more she succeeds in her alchemy the more she gets caught in the dangerous political gams of the royal family... and the more she is starting to realize that there is a price for alchemy that might destroy her. This book was a wild bloody ride, filled with tensions, action, and alchemy! I found myself completely enraptured by the story and Zilan's adventure as she navigates the deadly court. She is a survivor and the decisions she had to make were so tough. There is no learning curve, it's a life or death situation, and it was such a brutal but amazing read. This is the first book in the duology and I cannot wait to see where the second book goes and how Zilan's story ends. Seriously, the twist and turns of this book were fantastic and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for deadly court politics, competition, monster fighting, and high stakes books (with a touch of romance)!!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

😲 Well that escalated quickly. Here I was, having a good time. And then S T R E S S. Thank you for the emotional damage, Kylie Lee Baker.
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"The Scarlet Alchemist" by Kylie Lee Baker takes you on a WILD ride through a world where alchemy, politics (and wealth discrepancy), and some seriously twisted secrets collide. Zilan is a feisty poor alchemist who illegally practices necromancy with her ride-or-die cousins. Zilan has big dreams of becoming a royal alchemist to lift her family out of poverty. The alchemists have solved the problem of immortality through the consumption of gold to stay forever young. Zilan gets a shot at her big break by taking the imperial exams through a series of life-threatening trials that she might not survive. And if that's not enough, the Crown Prince himself comes knocking, suspecting an assassination plot and preemptively seeking her services.

Things start off pretty fun, with Zilan, her siblings, and an endearingly naive crown prince to distract from the mounting tensions. There's even a nod to our favorite cabbage vendor from The Last Airbender, which I adored.

But then.

The action hits, and emotional trauma comes knocking. Monsters, necromancy, alchemy—it's a rollercoaster of gruesome and visceral beauty that leaves you gasping for breath. Prepare to have your heart torn out and served back to you on a silver platter because no one is safe in this story. The mystery and tension build up like a pressure cooker. If you're anything like me, you'll be begging for a second book by the end of this one to soothe your heart.

And yes, there's an adorable (and possibly evil?) duck thrown into the mix. It's a wild ride, folks.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

This distinguishes itself remarkably from other YA historical fantasy books. I loved the alternative history nested within the Tang dynasty (coupled with the fact that Zilan is loosely based on a Chinese cultural figure); it gives some context for Kylie Lee Baker's worldbuilding. Zilan is oddly relatable, and I adored her stubbornness and courage in the face of bloody violence and death. (I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is much more visceral and gory than I was expecting.) The alchemical system, though not unfamiliar, is also fascinating and fleshed out well. The romance, on the other hand, is not--it was tough for me to see the trajectory of Zilan's feelings for the prince--but that's understandable given the ending.

While I think this could have ended as a standalone, I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

Zilan has always dreamed of becoming a Royal Alchemist and being able to provide for her family, but she doesn't see a way out of her impoverished village where she has to do the illegal to put food on the table, raise the dead. When she gets the chance to take the imperial exams she finds herself wholly unprepared for the task, as well as the attitudes of her fellow competitors, and to top it off her reputation for raising the dead has followed her, leading The Crown Prince to seek her out asking for her help after he believes an assassination attempt is coming. Zilan's dreams are coming true, but the more she succeeds, the more eyes she has on her and once she gets the attention of the Empress, Zilan will realise the true danger she is in, and it will only be a matter of time before Zilan's past, and her secrets catch up with her.

Zilan is a character you can't help but empathise with, but is equally dislikable in parts and extremely morally ambiguous. She lost both her parents as a child and was raised by her Aunt and Uncle alongside her two cousins. She's always felt loved, but has always been aware that if she doesn't add something to the household, find a way to provide that the love, and the safety that comes with it, could be taken from her. Because of this, Zilan holds people at arms length, never quite willing to fully trust and give herself over. She's also someone who is more than willing to claw herself a place in this world, no matter who she has to take down in the process. She's incredibly strong and capable, but she's also got this soft and vulnerable underbelly, a side of her that simply wants something or someone of her own, not something that she feels is almost on loan, just waiting for it to be called back.

Alongside Zilan we spend the most time with her cousins, her fellow alchemists and the Crown Prince. It was interesting seeing Zilan's different relationships unfold, seeing how she keeps little parts of herself from people to ensure they never get too close. Both the familial and romantic relationships were complicated in their own ways, but incredibly well written and they add plenty of tension, drama and emotion to the story, as well as Zilan's own journey.

Baker certainly doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the emotional and almost horror elements to this story. For a YA book I found it incredibly dark and graphic in parts, something that I loved, and some parts were so shocking I gasped out loud. The main story is Zilan becoming a Royal Alchemist, but Baker throws in plenty of sub plots and epic plot twists to ensure that we as the readers are kept entirely on our toes. The writing style is almost as brutal and blunt as the story, but again this added to the tension and drama and made this such a hard book to put down.

I thought the romance was a nice addition, and well woven throughout the plot. It was slow burn, hilarious in parts, but also haunting and heartbreaking in others. These two people couldn't be further from one another, not just in station but in temperament as well, but they fit nicely together. It's certainly not the easiest or prettiest romance out there, but that just made it feel more realistic and again added to the the emotion and tension of an already heightened story.

If I had one little niggly annoyance it was that the end of the book seemed to fly by. Though the story itself was incredibly fast paced, it seemed to just amp up at the end, and I would have enjoyed a little more time to explore those events. That being said I am incredibly excited for the next book & can't wait to get my hands on it.

Ever since the death of her mother and subsequent disappearance of her father, Zilan has been determined to master the art of alchemy her father practiced before her. And Zilan’s focus is on the art of resurrecting the dead, which she does with the aid of her two cousins who have taken her in as a sister. All three youths are determined to travel to the capital city of Chang’an, but Zilan is not granted the same permission as the others to fairly sit her alchemical exam. Nonetheless, they find their way to Chang’an together, and it is there that Zilan discovers her true potential in a world that has always preferred to cast her aside.

This compelling historical fantasy novel transports readers to China in the year 775, where alchemists have discovered the secrets of immortality and only the wealthy have the power to secure extended life. Language, culture, and setting come together to immerse readers in Zilan’s world, and an author’s note at the beginning describes where true historical elements and artistic license intersect to become Zilan’s tale. Beautiful writing is filled with descriptive metaphor, which lends an elegant and mesmerizing quality to a story that is rife with struggle and death. This dichotomy is intriguing and unique, and readers are drawn to Zilan’s experience even though it is not always pretty.

Fans of Garth Nix will appreciate the similarities Zilan has when walking in death to the Abhorsens of Nix’s universe. But as with all magic, there is a cost associated with changing what is into what could be, and Zilan is not fully aware of just how heavy that price can be. Focused primarily on the wellbeing of the family that took her in when she needed them most, Zilan will do whatever it takes to ensure their ongoing financial security. The cost Zilan must pay is higher than most would prefer, but she must fully break in order to recreate herself into the practitioner she always knew she could be. This is a gripping and immersive historical fantasy that is well suited to mature young adult readers.

I’ve always loved novels set during or inspired by the Tang Dynasty, and this book is no exception. The characters are well rounded and the blood alchemy is chilling in the best possible way. I highly recommend reading this one!

While I did enjoy the writing to an extent, my reading experience was rather detached on a whole. There were so many new characters being introduced, with barely any meaningful characterisations and dialogue, that it detracted from the story for me. There was also a predictable quality to the plot and an over-reliance on tropes. Can definitely see other readers enjoying this one, although it wasn't for me.

Wow what an amazing concept for a book. Alchemy has always been an interesting concept. To take it and look at it from a cultural perspective, then twist it and make it so that alchemy not only works but is engraved in that culture, live and presents, such an interesting book. There are so many twists and turns throughout this story. They build upon each other so lovely. Zilan is such a strong character and her character growth from the start of the book to the end is amazing. I love that she can keep her spark throughout the story. Teens and adults alike are just going to enjoy getting lost in this world. I truly hope that there is another book in this series.
Thank you to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I was hesitant to pick this one up not because of the content warnings but because I didn’t entirely enjoy the author’s debut novel. I am happy to say that her latest novel was a rollercoaster ride from the beginning and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Zilan. She comes from a poor family and is also seen as an outcast because her father was a foreigner and gave her a common name that isn’t proper. She is made fun of because of it and even when it gets to be a lot she will do anything to prove that she is more. I loved her fighting drive! She owned who she was and made no excuses for her choices or wanting to do great things in the face of hardship. She embraced being different and used it as an advantage. She is morally grey to a fault too and it really upped the ante! I honestly have nothing bad to say about her.

The minor characters were also really good too. The Empress is something haha. The Crown Prince is a cinnamon roll who fumbles over his words when it comes to Zilan and it was cute and hilarious all at the same time. There is a bit of romance but it doesn’t take up a large part of the plot. It was good and I can see where it is going but it is not my favorite part of the story. Zilan also has two cousins that play major roles in the book and I liked reading about their dynamic and how strong their bond was or lack of at times. They have a complex history and I know we will get more out of them in the sequel.

There is a lot of death and gore in this book. I didn’t even know there were trigger warnings mentioned until someone mentioned them on my blog. It isn’t as dark as some other books I have read but I definitely get why they are mentioned. The animal death wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. With all that said, this book was intense from the very beginning! I was infatuated from the first page and wanted to race through the pages to see what would happen next. The plot twists are intense and I couldn’t help but let out a few gasps. They were that good! The magic system is explained well and I didn’t feel lost while trying to navigate this world or the power the alchemists possessed.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read! If you are a fan of darker fantasy then I would highly recommend this one!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Scarlet Alchemist releases October 3, 2023

<i>“Alchemy always had a price. Sometimes it didn’t take what you offered, but what it wanted.”</I>

THIS! Wow, this was so good. The way everything unfolded scratched an itch in my brain I didn’t even know was there, and the amount of times I was gasping at things that were happing was insurmountable. It’s gritty and unflinching, with no shortage of character loss — be careful who you get too attached to!

If some of your favourite Asian fantasy books include: These Violent Delights, Iron Widow, and The Poppy War, you’ll likely love this new series from Kylie Lee Baker.

Zilan, our biracial main character, helps run her aunt and uncle’s shop by day while studying for the civil service exams with her two cousins. Her hope is to become one of the royal court alchemists.
By night, Zilan dabbles in a black market adjacent hobby where she resurrects corpses.

I loved the fiery nature of the characters, the straightforward deadpan humour, and the slow burn romance with a devastating outcome.
There’s monsters, nuggets of gold that grant the prolonging of life, and a cute pet duck.
The love interest is a prince, and he shows an abundant amount of endearing grovelling! Baker even goes as far as having him bow down on his knees to the fmc which is pretty badass.

I found it really bittersweet how both Li Hong and Zilan both grew up just wanting to be chosen for who they are as a person, rather than the titles they hold (prince and mixed race/foreigner), and how they end up in each other’s paths.
The scene towards the end where Zilan takes agency over her name was so powerful and was something I really loved seeing as a biracial reader from a biracial character.

Very eager for the next installment!! I can’t wait to see the Fan family’s influence from the top of the food chain.

<i>“I didn’t need something to be eternal for it to matter.”</I>

Alchemy, necromancy, a strong FMC full of feminine rage, Chinses historical fantasy alternate timeline, this book has so much going for it!

I was hooked from the beginning and it was hard to put this one down. I loved the main character Zilan and her character development throughout the book was perfect! I loved how she was the one full of rage and powers while the prince was sweet and the one who needed to be saved.

The ending of this book killed me! Everything comes together so perfectly and I can't wait for book 2.

When I saw the cover reveal for this one back in February I think I swooned, and reading the blurb had me wanting to get my hands on it immediately!❣️✨ Anyway, I'm glad that I could read this one early because it was amazing!😍 It's been a while since I devoured a fantasy read as quickly as I did with this one!

Set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemists have managed to extend lives with alchemical gold, this book follows Fan Zilan, the daughter of a merchant family who yearns to become a royal alchemist and she won't let anything get in her way. To make ends meet while she stays with her uncle, aunt and cousins, she brings the dead back to life(for a price of course) even though she doesn't know the exact ramifications of going against nature. As she and her cousins take part in the imperial examinations and travel to the capital, Zilan who's mixed race faces more challenges and becomes even more determined to succeed. But, the closer she's to attaining her dreams the danger also increases - with monsters in the Imperial Palace and power struggles within the royal family.

Zilan was such an interesting MC - a bit brash, ruthless to herself and others, and eager for quick success. But I think these flaws made me love her more because it made her feel so real and provided room for a lot of character development. The bond between her and her cousins stood out because she loved her family more than anything. She had a lot of sharp edges but is soft on the inside and had me wanting to give her a hug at times. On the other hand, the Crown Prince Li Hong is her opposite as he's quite clueless and naive(somewhat of a himbo at times😂) but this makes him very endearing. Honestly, any other prince would have beheaded her for the amount of disrespect that she showed him lol😂

The alchemical aspect made this one very unique and interesting. And what surprised me was the spooky touch with the monsters and the subsequent events that kinda veered this toward dark fantasy. I think what made me enjoy this one even more is the fact that unlike other YA books - Zilan underestimates her opponents at times and faces the consequences. It shouldn't be that easy to bring down an antagonist who's like 10 times your age right😂 So this made it more realistic for me as Zilan acts the way any teenager would. It was so fast-paced and the action ramps up in the second half. I literally couldn't bring myself to put this one down and after that ending, I'm dying to get my hands on the next book!

Do read this one if you're in the mood for an amazing historical fantasy with a determined MC and some alchemy(along with a reanimated 🦆)!

I had a hard time getting into this book at first. Zilan is a very juvenile character; she never seems to think things through and she's very rash. She's foolishly trustworthy of everyone and, of course, completely underestimates those around her. This also made the book VERY predictable and I was a little bored reading through the story because there were no surprising factors until the very end. This book definitely reads as a YA story. As for Hong, he's an extremely flat character and I wish he had a larger role. He doesn't contribute much at all and he doesn't have many strengths. Also, Zilan and Hong's romance is so abrupt and awkward. I personally feel like we barely got to see the growth in their relationship and both of them are very rash in their decisions. They're also quite naïve. The most frustrating part about this book is just how easy it was to predict what happened because of how Zilan overestimates her own capabilities despite everyone around her pointing out inhibiting factors. There were a lot of things that should have been obvious to her, considering the history of everything, like how cunning the Empress is.

Despite all this, the author does an incredible job creating some eerie vibes. There were some pretty bittersweet moments as well as moments where I was squirming because of how creepy it was (which I actually loved). The plot twists were very predictable, but the twist at the end was a very good one. I do wish there were some things that happened differently but honestly, it did make me look forward to the next book.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker (she/her)
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fantasy
Vibes: Full Metal Alchemist meets Tang Dynasty China, bloody and full of political intrigue, a sensitive sweet Prince, and a feral girl with abandonment issues who just wants to prove everyone wrong.

God, I loved this book. Kylie Lee Baker is an auto buy author for me at this point, because every character and world she brings to life has me ravenous for more!

From the author who brought us biracial baddie Ren Scarborough, comes Fan Zilan, a scrappy, self-taught alchemist who can raise the dead and is set on joining the royal alchemists. In an alternate Tang Dynasty, where alchemists succeeded in creating gold that lets the rich live forever, Zilan is determined to claw out of the poverty she was born in to provide a better life for her adopted family. Things just get a bit complicated when the Prince drags his royal politics into the mix.

Once again, Baker has succeeded in writing a protagonist that is ruthless yet relatable. There were so many times Zilan had me gasping in delight and horror, her determination and resourcefulness. Every chapter builds on the momentum, leaving the reader eager for more. I was constantly excited to pick this book back up and continue where I left off! The pacing of this was excellent, filled with intriguing characters, and a plot that twisted and turned and kept me up way too late at night just to finish it.

Just give me all the historic Asian fantasy books right now! Also, when will I get the sequel?

Amazing world building, dynamic and well developed characters, tons of action/drama. Literally nothing in this book drags. Super applause to KLB for knocking it out of the park, because it is super easy to just drown in all of the details of starting a new fantasy series and she did not let that happen.

I love this and I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing this advanced readers copy for my review.

4.5/5 stars

Fan Zilan lives a fairly humble life in southern China – orphaned, she lives with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, a merchant family barely scraping by – but she has big dreams. Someday, she has vowed, she will become a Royal Alchemist, making a living by creating the life gold that the wealthy consume in order to stay supernaturally young and beautiful. Once that dream is realized, her family will want for nothing. But until she can take the exams that will let her achieve her goal, she provides for her family through a forbidden form of alchemy – bringing the dead back to life. There is a rule of alchemy - you cannot create good without also creating evil. Zilan has been practicing this dangerous alchemy without knowing what kind of evil it costs. She pursues her dream with single-minded determination, heedless of the danger she is putting herself in by raising the dead and getting involved with the power-mad Empress and her political games. And when she discovers the consequences of her actions, it may unravel everything.

This is the second YA-alternate-history-fantasy that I’ve read in a row, and I loved this one just as much as the last! The worldbuilding is solid and extensive, with the fantasy elements well thought out as well as being heavily grounded in historical research and facts. I loved all of the characters, and the writing was fantastically vivid (including the gory parts, of which there are many, so if you’re squeamish be warned.) All in all this was an excellent book, though it ends with a lot of loose ends that are going to make it REALLY hard to wait for the next one.

Representation: Chinese characters and biracial main character written by Chinese-American biracial author

CW: colorism, racism, classism, gore

This book didn’t let me REST. It grabbed me by throat in the first few pages and didn’t let go until the end. Gory, funny, and incredibly tense, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I loved the trio of siblings/cousins and their antics, and the love interest is the most pure, golden retriever boy you will ever meet. I could not relax while the main character, Zilan, resided in the royal palace. There are creepy monsters, alchemists doing bad things, and no escape from the immortal empress with too much power. If you like the dark humor, high stakes, and moral quandaries of Fullmetal Alchemist you will devour this story. Kylie Lee Baker has such a talent for creating unique worlds and crafting compelling prose, and I can’t wait to see what she will write next.

I don’t know how to feel about this books, because while it had everything I could have wanted, I just struggled to get through the books, which makes me wonder If was simply not in the right mindset for this book. I’m a big mood reader, and I find that my mood can heavily affect how I enjoy a book. And that might have been my mistake to continue reading this book while I was not in the right mood for this book.
The thing is I think Kylie Lee Baker created a really interesting and intriguing world, and I’m usually a sucker for that kind of book. Yet, I struggled to really get into the story, and pretty much read this book a few chapters at a time, because I was not getting hooked. I
Overall, it was interesting, and I would probably revisit the book at some point to see if I end up enjoying it more. I’m probably going to check out her other books, to see more of what she has written.

Mud and clay is what Fan Zilan knows to help support her family. With the price of gold meaning less and less, she knows that she needs to do more to care for her family whose health is declining. Unknown to her aunt and uncle, Zilan and her two cousins are running a side hustle—resurrecting the dead using alchemy. With this money they have been working to save for the trip North to take the civil service exams. Fan Zilan’s goal is to become an Alchemist for the Royal Family.

Before they leave Zilan learns that she has gained notoriety for resurrection skills as a stranger has come to use her skills. This would mean she would have toabandon her goal which is out of the question. As they make it to the exam, Fan Zilan learns that it was not just anyone she declined, but the Crown Prince who believes the Empress, and who Zilan hopes to be employed by, is out for his blood. Zilan is caught in the middle and will soon learn what the true price of alchemy is in this dark and beautiful world Baker has created.

While placed in a historical context, Baker acknowledges the liberties that she has taken for The Scarlet Alchemist and how her liberties vary from what is historically accurate. This allowed a unique freedom to learn about some of the historical Chinese culture and be immersed in Baker's version of it at the same time. The world that Baker built from the historical template? Phenomenal! It’s a high stakes world that has me waiting for the next book already!

Thank your to Kylie Baker, Inkyard Press and NetGalley for offering an eARC in return for my honest review.

if you like:
- feral magic woman x weak naïve prince
- alchemy and science
- plots to kill corrupt rulers
- historical Chinese setting

This is your sign to pick up The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker out on 10/3!

This plot is wild from start to finish. Baker masterfully weaves in unexpected but plausible plot twists and reveals that had me gasping in shock! There is a lot of political intrigue and complicated dynamics but the focus is definitely on the alchemists and treason not like countrywide politics.

Zilan is a knife sharp main character with the softest romantic interest, I absolutely loved the subplot of romance between Zilan and Hong. Zilan made some absolutely unhinged choices that, as a reader, kept me so intrigued because I never quite knew what she was going to do.

Baker's dialogue is also a huge strong point for this book. It was honestly hilarious. I was laughing out loud and highlighting so many ridiculous lines. There are lots relating to ducks which was just absurd, making it even funnier.

I did find the side characters to be rather inconsistent. Zilan's siblings seemed to change based on how she saw them at that moment. I did ultimately like how their joint arc developed, very Parasite, but up until then I did feel uncertain about them. It also felt like there were some plot threads that were forgotten about or very randomly brought back in. Neither of these things hindered my overall enjoyment much though.

The trigger warnings for this book are many but there are a lot of animal deaths so be warned that got a little difficult to read.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I think fans of Last of the Talons or Our Hideous Progeny would enjoy it!