I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Infinity Alchemist, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher. Kacen Callender is an amazing storyteller, I reallt enjoyed reading this book.

If you haven't already read this book, then you need to now. It's so freaking good. It's a bit twisted yet thrilling to read. And the world-building does take awhile but it's worth it. It's high strake through and through. It's going to keep you interested from the beginning until the very end. And the endless secrets is just out of the world.

The unique blend of science and that kept me interested. The protagonist has a lot of potential, and the journey to uncover secrets in this new world was really fascinating.

That said, the pacing could use some work since it’s a bit inconsistent. The characters, while intriguing, didn’t always feel fully fleshed out, which made it hard to connect with them on a deeper level. The plot twists, though present, didn’t have the impact I expected.

It’s a solid read, especially if you enjoy unique fantasy worlds, but it could have been more polished. 3/5 stars.

I won't lie, I love Kacen Callender and I love fantasy so when it was announced that they were writing a YA fantasy I got very excited. This book did not disappoint at all. I love the system of magic, the character growth, the twists, and the ending.

I wanted so much to love this book. And I did like it! But it was really difficult for me to get into. As always, the writing was beautiful, I just wish I was really hooked from the beginning to keep me wanting to pick this up.

I'm not sure how to review this book, as it was such a mixed reading experience--especially when compared to how much I unilaterally loved Kacen Callender's other, contemporary novels.

This one, though.... I didn't really have a reason to care about either of the main characters, and the writing was overly stilted and often so "on the nose" that it made me roll my eyes as I read. The writng style was unwieldy, likely because of the author's adjustment from contemporary to fantasy, because it's so much smoother and more natural in their other works. I man, is it really necessary to spend multiple paragraphs detailing the smallest actions, or refer to the same character with three separate epithets within a single sentence?

I will still pick up the sequel when it comes out, though, because the plot was really interesting and there's pretty much no other story like this one being told right now.

This was really interesting and unique. I liked what it did with the worldbuilding and loved that I finally found a book that explored polyamory well as well as gender fluidity. I'm surprised by Callender's range in genre hopping as I think I liked this even more than I did Felix Ever After. I think I'm only taking away one star because of Tobin and that cliffhanger ending aaah!

This was fantastic. I greatly enjoyed Ash's journey of illegally studying alchemy. I love the idea of alchemy, so I picked this up with more of an idea of what I thought this was going to be, but was pleasantly surprised. Ramsey is perhaps my favorite character and I hope we get a duology.

Having read previous works by Kacen Callendar, I was incredibly excited for this book. I think that there is a lot of interesting world building and this is definitely a unique take on a fantasy story that I think fans of their previous works will enjoy.

DNF at 70 pages. I am just not pulled into this story and I feel very confused about the alchemy aspect. Unfortunately I just don't think this one is for me after loving Callender's contemporary book FELIX EVER AFTER

Kacen Callender is very much my kind of writer. Though this was a departure from their previous books that I read and enjoyed, I enjoyed reading Infinity Alchemist, as well. Felix Ever After remains my favorite book by the author, but I am a fan and was glad to have an early copy of this.

Very cool read! Unique, and I love the diverse cast. It was a bit slow, but it’s enjoyable and I’ll definitely recommend it to other readers. The school setting is always a win in my book, and the magic system stands out.

I've really enjoyed Kacen Callender's other books which is why I picked up this book. Unfortunately, I didn't end up liking this book as much as I wanted to. I'm not quite sure what it is about this one that didn't exactly work for me. Ultimately I think Callender's contemporary books are more for me than their fantasy books.

Infinity Alchemist was such a unique and magical read. The setting is a world where alchemy is real, but only the privileged are allowed to study it. I also enjoyed the author’s use of gender fluidity in the book by tying it into the foundation of alchemy itself.

Infinity Alchemist follows Ash Woods, a nineteen-year-old trans boy, who illegally studies alchemy. Ash works as a groundskeeper at the same colllege that rejected him, this way he can learn alchemy in secret. One day he is caught practicing by apprentice Ramsay Thorne. Ramsay seeing how talented Ash is without any formal training, decides to work with him instead of turning him in.

Ramsay is trying to find the mythical Book of Source. The book will give the owner unlimited power. However, Ramsay wants to destroy the book instead of using it. Ramsay knows first hand how dangerous the search for the book can be. Their parents are infamous for murdering an entire town in their search to reach it. Ramsay believes their parents were framed and by reaching the higher realms with Ash, they can find the book and prove their parents innocence too.

Ramsay isn’t the only one looking for the Book of Source. Ash’s estranged father is also looking for it and he will stop at nothing to get it. After a brutal attack, Ash and Ramsay are separated, and Ash finds an unlikely new ally. An ally, that just happens to be Ramsay’s ex. If there is any hope of stopping Ash’s father, he’ll have to reunite with Ramsay so that they can destroy the Book of Source once and for all.

The way gender identity is approached in this book was really unique. The idea is that everyone is made of source or the energy that can be altered by alchemy. In this way people are often reincarnated and sometimes their bodies do not match their source identity. In this book Ash has always been male, but in this life his body does not reflect his identity. Some people have identities that shift. Ramsay is a character that their body and identity shift almost daily, so their pronouns change throughout the book to match their current identity. I really enjoyed the magic system too. There are different levels of alchemy, and only those allowed to study it can practice the higher levels. The action and adventure were awesome too. I especially loved any of the fight scenes where the alchemists used their powers.

Overall this was a fun and fast read. Perfect for anyone that likes books with magical worlds.

Kacen Callender’s *Infinity Alchemist* is a captivating and imaginative novel that seamlessly blends fantasy with deep emotional resonance. Callender’s richly crafted world and nuanced characters create a compelling story that explores themes of identity and transformation. The novel’s inventive plot and heartfelt storytelling make it a standout in contemporary fantasy.

Infinity Alchemist is absolutely spellbinding as an indie fantasy novel that swept me off my feet! I read it quickly and loved the story full of danger, love, and power.

Enjoyed the not as common line story here. Appreciated that it wasn’t just another love triangle, but could also see how readers would felt an agenda was pushed here. Emotions ran a little high at times, felt hard to believe, otherwise I enjoyed!

I feel like this story had way too much going on and I really struggled to get into it. I do think some people could get into it because it will have a sequel but it just wasn’t got me.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. This could have been a cool concept but because we have little background on Alchemy, the Houses, etc., when Ash starts practicing Alchemy, I found myself not interested because there was no background information to support this. The writing could use editing - going from run-on sentences to short and choppy. The flow of the novel is off. Ash is also a very whiny character (and I understand the systematic barriers behind this) but he makes assumptions about other people in the same manner that he doesn't want people to make assumptions about him.

Infinity Alchemist takes place in a world where magic is innate in everyone but practiced and mastered only by the privileged. Alchemists are both revered and seen as sinful and unnatural. We follow Ash, a young, talented alchemist who is not permitted to study or practice it. He forms an unlikely alliance with Ramsay, an alchemy student who offers to teach Ash in exchange for embarking on a quest that he sees as his life's mission. Kacen Callender is an excellent storyteller, weaving belonging, legacy, a destiny in a wonderfully queer, YA adventure tale that is full of heart and heartbreak. There is so much left to explore in this world and this book feels like an introduction. I am looking forward to learning more about this world in the upcoming novels.