"But the best alchemists, the ones I admired, who went the furthest - they saw past the riches, past fame. They knew what it was to stand outside of society, to look at the world and wish it were different. Better. If we could turn pewter and lead into silver, then we didn't simply have to take the world as it was given to us."
.
Alchemy. Science or Magic? Darkness or light? Some might say it's both.
.
The pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone is riddled with greed and heartache but for Thea it's more than that. A promise of possibility, of equality. Of Revolution.
.
Although the overall tone of this book was melancholic Thea, with her optimistic naivety, provides the glimmer of hope the story desperately needs. Maybe the legends are real. Maybe she can succeed where so many have failed and create the stone. Maybe she can save her Mother, her lover, her friend. She may lose herself in the process, but what is love if not sacrifice?

A Golden Fury is a YA fantasy with historical elements about a young alchemist named Thea Hope. The story starts slow but picks up quickly and pulls you in for an intriguing adventure full of fantastic themes; the struggle for power, politics, betrayal, family dynamics, dramatic, and fast-paced escapes.  A Golden Fury is the kind of story that leaves you wanting more and stays with you long after reading.

An excellent debut novel, A Golden Fury, brings to life the Philosopher’s Stone with alchemy and magic through the lens of Historical Fiction.

Compelling Characters
Theo is a great main character. Cohoe did an excellent job of giving her character life to connect to the reader.

What makes Theo great is that she is not just a woman but a young lady, on the cusp of 18 in 19th century France. Raised to think, Theo is an educated woman who is more than just an ornamental piece. Her mother may be tough and unlikable, but she made sure to raise a young woman who knows her worth to society. Theo holds onto her intelligence as the story progresses, maintaining a tough façade; Theo holds her head high up and meets the challenges head-on.

It creates an incredible amount of tension for the story, but it mainly creates a strong character. During this period, women were not valued much for their intelligence, but to see Theo valued and respected for her intelligence creates an excellent picture for the reader. Moreover, the fact that Theo never plays dumb or submits herself to the whims of men makes her a compelling protagonist.

Wonderful Storytelling
What also works well for the story is the pacing and direction of the story. The reader already knows the story is about the philosopher’s stone and the curse surrounding it. Theo is the only one with enough sense to see the cost of all the power that comes with it, yet no one will listen to her.

However, the story is about more than just creating the stone; it is about the curse, and the stone itself. Cohoe gives the stone life; she gives it personality and explores this curse. A Golden Fury is not a fast-paced novel, but it holds the attention of the reader through the mystery. The curse compels the reader to see how the story unfolds and, in the end, it leaves the reader satisfied.

Final Thoughts
A Golden Fury is an excellent debut. It gives readers a strong female protagonist with a compelling narrative and a story that keeps the reader intrigued until the very end.

3.25/5 stars: There were things I liked about this book, and there were things I didn't like. Things I liked include, the writing, the plot, the main character, and the commentary. The writing was fast paced but still somewhat descriptive. For a debut author it didn't feel too much like an amateur. The plot was really interesting. People fighting over who gets to "discover" the philosopher's stone first, and they are all willing to do what is needed, which keeps tensions high and makes the reader really feel what's at stake. Our main character was pretty good. While she made really stupid decisions, and was willing to give everything up for a boy, she had a strong mind, and knew what she wanted. Her mother sucked and she made do and really knew how to push her mother's buttons. The commentary was the best part. The whole plot is a guise for human greed, and she does a great job at not beating us over the head with it. Everyone is willing to do anything to get the stone, and it is definitely shown. Even our main character will do a fair amount, not as much as others which annoyed me, but still, she was in the fight.
The things I didn't like are, her bad mother (did nothing really for the plot), the under explanation of the stone and the madness, the female characters, the unnecessary setting, the reasoning, and our main characters expectations. Her mother sucks, and I don't know why. I'm really not a fan of parents who aren't the villain, but just suck. They're mean and abusive, but it did nothing for the plot. If it did something to our main character that meant she needed character development to get stronger, or stronger willed, or anything, then I'd understand. But it really did nothing for the plot, and our main character had no character development. The stone is explained well enough, but the madness that comes with it makes no sense. The main character explains it away with "you're going to believe in a stone that can make us immortal, but not a simple madness?" and that didn't work for me. The madness affected them all differently and I wished it affected them all the same, because then it could be explained as a side effect of something in the stone.
The setting starts in France during the French Revolution, but it did nothing for the story. I really wanted it to be a big part, maybe the two sides are fighting to find the stone and our main character is caught between them. But no. It didn't do anything besides be the reason for her to go to England, but that would have worked any number of ways. Along with this, I wish there was more of a reason for our main character to want to be an alchemist. She wants to rebel against her mother, and what better way than to not be an alchemist? I wish there was a competition, and for some reason she needs the prize money. Maybe her family is destitute. Or maybe she and her mom have a great relationship and she's really sick so our main character needs to heal her. Something to give more motivation than what she has, because it doesn't justify her making it even though she knows she will go mad.
The last thing I'm going to talk about is our main character's expectations. She expected everyone to be as morally good as her. She was surprised with torture, and when she did things in direct conflict with the bad guys, she was surprised there would be repercussions. This lead to a feeling of her being really stupid, even though she's supposed to be the greatest alchemist ever (at 17? I don't think so). Then, she goes to England to meet a father who never knew about her, and gets all angry and put out when he doesn't immediately acknowledge her to everyone, and isn't the happiest person alive because his life got flipped upside down. Now I don't really like the guy, but I still felt for him, and she had ridiculous expectations of him, that were never fixed by the end. I wish she would have realized (with character development that never happened) how life changing this was, and told him she understood, and their relationship could've gotten a do over and grown from there.
Overall, for a debut, it was pretty good, but there were some glaring issues with character, plot, and description.

"If we achieved this, we would become more than just women, even successful ones. There would be no more depending on patrons. No one would dare exclude us from any academy or salon. No one could deny our value. We would have respect."

Thrilling and absorbing. A Golden Fury surprised me with its strong female lead, not so perfect romance, and fresh take on the "hunt" for the philosopher's stone.

"He's not a bad man, Thea," he said. "You saw him at his worst."
"What better time is there to know a man than at his worst?"

I loved how we get so many deeply flawed characters that weren't all good, or all bad. Well, except for Dominic who is basically the light for which every other character's "goodness" gets measured against. Thea, our sharped edged heroine, has an unhealthy relationship with her mother. Her mother raised her to be like her, but is not affectionate. Thea has learned to protect her heart by protecting it behind a wall full of thorns, specially against her mother. Which means Thea often sees the worst in person and has come to expect it. Specially men. Thea is blunt, and obsessed with surpassing her mother's career by creating the philosopher's stone herself. You can see where that might create a few issues. We also get an awesome cast of side characters, mostly men, but I would have liked to actually see Thea creating a strong bond with a fellow brilliant woman.

I am not an expert on history, but I think the author nailed the feeling of helplessness when confronted by a Victorian (?) world ruled by men in which women were only expected to be arm candy and bear the children. I, along with Thea, could feel the pressure of not having options and having to depend on others, and it sucked. I am so thankful to be born in the 21st century 🤣

The plot moved along at a good pace overall. Even the parts where I thought the "action", as it was, slowed down were welcomed as it allowed the reader to take a breath and really sink into Thea's state of mind. Every single portion of the novel had a hook and kept me glued to the page and interested in the journey. Thea's voice is strong and distinctive, and basically grabbed my attention from the very first page. I think this was a great debut novel, and I cannot wait to see what else Samantha Cohoe comes out with in the future!!

PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher!

DNF at 34%
I tried to like this book but unfortunately, despite being very intrigued by the premise, I could not get into it. Every moment I spent reading felt forced. I would not advise against reading but personally I didn't find myself interested enough to actually care about what happened. I know other people have liked it and I hope more continue to do so, but I couldn't get invested.

Most people who’ve read fantasy have probably heard of the Philosopher’s Stone, but what about how it was made? Combine that with a young woman’s quest to find herself, and fighting a life that has been determined for her, with a thrill ride race against time - and you have Cohoe’s beautiful debut novel that will keep you turning the pages.

From the beginning of the story the stage gets built for our MC, Thea, who has a difficult relationship with her alchemist mother, always feeling in the shadows; her character gets established well and evolves throughout the story as she struggles to make choices to save as many people as she can. There’s a diverse cast of characters, that plays into the development of Thea; her father that didn’t know she existed, an out cast lover, unreliable friend, and plenty of brute force forcing her hand.

The world building and action kept the story going for me, never letting the pace feel stagnant and anything too overly explained / wordy. It’s tough to imagine the world of alchemy on paper, but Cohoe does an excellent job it detailing the parts that leave you imagining the process, and making you a believer.

I’m torn between 4 and 5 stars; because the ending wasn’t exactly where I hoped Theo would end up, but then it’s also a believable way things should work out. But not trying to give any spoilers; so go pick this one up and read it ASAP

*4.5 Stars

This has my favorite trifecta in YA plot devices: YA fantasy, historical fiction, and alchemy.
I'm not sure if this is a stand-alone or will have a sequel, but either way, I'm satisfied.
This tale was a perfect read on a chilly fall night.

A Golden Fury is the debut book from Samantha Cohoe, and I really enjoyed it. It combines YA fantasy, historical fiction, alchemy, and the Philosopher Stone legend for a quick-paced, well-written adventure.

Thea longs to be an alchemist and stand apart from her mother, who is a well known alchemist in France. Upon finding it too dangerous to remain in France with the onset of the Revolution, Thea is sent to her father in England. Now, more than ever, she is determined to create the Philosopher's Stone but finds danger the minute she lands in England from those also seeking the stone for their personal use.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I thought that the plot, the characters, and the action were all well written. I also loved the take on alchemy and the stone and everything that came with that. More importantly, I absolutely loved Thea and her strength and determination. She was clever and I enjoyed her very much. I also enjoyed the other characters - how there were some good traits within the enemies, and some questionable aspects with who were were supposed to root for. I also appreciated that this didn't fall into the trap of a love triangle, as well (because for the first third of the book, I thought that's where we were headed.)

I do feel like the ending struggled a little bit? And honestly, I would really love an epilogue to give the book just a little bit more of a full closure since it is a standalone.

I think this author did a wonderful job with this story and I look forward to her next book!

Thea has grown up surrounded by alchemy under the tutelage of her mother, who has become increasingly fixated on creating the Philosopher’s Stone. However, the Stone exacts a price upon those who seek it, plummeting many of them deep into mental agony and lunacy. Threatened by both the start of the French Revolution and her mother’s descent into violent madness, Thea departs for England to find the father who doesn’t even know she exists.
Tensions increase as Thea is given a less than cordial welcome by her father and most of those in his inner circle. Thea is second-guessed, underestimated, and attacked within days of her arrival, yet she continuously pushes against emotional and physical boundaries to find a way to create the stone in an effort to free her mother from its devastating effects.
In France and England alike, others greatly desire the stone and will stop at nothing to possess it, making Thea a target wherever she turns. With her allies few and not without their own motives, her independent nature and upbringing aid her as she moves from one dangerous situation to another. Her innate intelligence and unusual upbringing (her mother reminds me of a 1700s version of Joan Crawford) make her uniquely qualified for the task before her.
Rich and captivating language make this story enchanting from the first page. In this alternate history, the stone and alchemical magic feel as much a natural part of the world at the time as the true events scattered throughout. Although the Revolution and other key moments are mentioned, they never take center stage and are used to prop up the main storyline rather than overshadow it or turn it into a mini history lesson. Thea’s complicated feelings and allegiance to her mother added a deeper layer, where nothing and no one can be seen simply as good or evil.
4.5 stars to this stunning debut novel
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy and for choosing me to participate in the blog tour. This had no impact on my review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! Be prepared to immerse yourself in the secret world of alchemy in A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe. Theosebeia is a 17 year old young woman who was on the cusp of discovery when her mother seemed to begin losing her mind while living with a patron in France. Thea finds herself facing new territory mostly on her own. Although she may come across reasons to distrust those around her, she will also find a completely new way of life. This is a terrific read that comes out mid October this year and I will be recommending this to all my friends!

Book: A Golden Fury
Author: Samantha Cohoe
Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC.

This one was kind of hard for me to rate. There were certain elements that I did like about this book, but there was also a lot that I didn’t like. I liked the action packed nature of the book, but I also found it to be a little bit too much. I really enjoy the slowness between the action and getting to bound with the characters. I just felt like that kind of fell flat here.

I guess what I’m getting at is that I would have liked to see a bit of the character work fleshed out a bit more. I felt like the characters did in fact start out very strong, but they kind of fell apart about halfway through. If you are going to have this great build up in the beginning, you have to make sure that carries clear through the book. I just felt like we were missing something toward the end. I hope that this is fixed in the next book. If it’s not, then I feel like this series will not live up to its full potential. I also believe that the side characters could have been fleshed out a little bit more. They felt like they were really missing something as well. I don’t know what, but it just felt like that as a whole this book was missing something very important.

The writing was pretty solid with a fast moving plot. Once again, it was missing something to really drive it home. I think had we had a chance to actually flesh out our characters and give us a chance to become attached to them, then maybe the plot would have given us a little bit more of stakes. I just think we needed to have a reason to actually care about what was happening. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the high stakes a lot, but it just felt like we needed a little bit more to actually bring it home.

I think that had we had the same top notch story from the beginning to the end that this book would have gotten a much higher rating from me. It seemed like that once we got to the halfway point that everything just started falling apart. Once that balance is found though, I can see this series and this author going far.

This book comes out on October 13, 2020.

A Golden Fury is Samantha Cohoe's debut and it's a good one! I am super impressed by this books story and characters. Thea was a strong lead who I definitely got behind right from the beginning. I also really liked Valentin (but I'm not sure if I was supposed to or not- ha!) He has hidden depths I think!
This was a really easy read for me, I read it quickly because the story was fast paced but smooth. I think the only downside for me was how short it was! I think Cohoe could have made the book twice as long, included more detail and I would have loved it a lot more! The story demands detail and unfortunately Cohoe just misses the mark because of their simpler writing style.
I would recommend this for anyone looking for a devourable and different YA novel, the genre overlaps Historical with a little Fantasy which was great :)

What a fantastic magical tale. The characters are supernatural. It is a fast paced story with plenty of action and fraught with danger. I read it in one sitting. It was so exciting. This is one book you will not want to miss.

A Golden Fury is a young adult fiction novel that takes us on an adventure for the philosopher’s stone with our protagonist, Theosebeia (Thea).

Thea is a young adept alchemist who studied under her mother, who is known for being a highly skilled alchemist. Thea is a strong female lead, who is intelligent and clever. I fell in love with her immediately. She, like all the characters we meet, is well fleshed out with real characteristics. I found Thea to be relatable; you can feel her inner conflict with love, her mother, responsibilities, curiosities, and trying to remain true to who she is/wants to be as a woman and an alchemist.

I felt that there was great attention to detail throughout the novel. We are shown how the characters feel inside and what they are allowing others to see. There are emotional and intense scenes that show how realistic they have been created to react to different scenarios. We are fed action, adventure, and suspense as we are guided through the world of alchemy. I found learning about the philosopher’s stone and alchemy interesting and captivating. The story feels fresh and exciting!

I am impressed with the author’s ability to (visually) take her readers into this world and weave such a dynamic story with twists, surprises, believable characters, romance, complex relationships, and SO much more! I really enjoyed the sense of adventure and the uncovering of truths, and my love for Thea, to be the elements that kept me turning the pages and thinking about the story even when I wasn’t reading. I highly recommend A Golden Fury AND that you keep an eye on Samantha Cohoe, because this book does not read as a debut novel, it feels as if a seasoned author had written it… I can’t even begin to imagine the incredible stories she has coming in future novels!

I’m giving this book 4.5 stars and will average that up to 5 on Amazon and GoodReads.

Since I read the Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel in middle school I’ve been slightly obsessed with alchemy. To me when magic and science meld in the middle, there are so many possibilities. So when I had the chance to join the blog tour and read A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe, I was elated.

This tale surprised me in so many ways. I’d been on a historical fiction / romance kick earlier this year and this brilliantly interwove history, alchemy, mystery, and finding oneself together.

The dynamic between Thea and her parents is fraught with difficulties. Shipped off to an unknown, and slightly unwilling father, while attempting to save her mother Thea learns how to become herself. While her parents–at least her mother–seems to love her of sorts, it is her skill in alchemy that proves her worth.

Mix that with a deadly curse on those who get close to creating the Philospher’s Stone, the tension of French politics and a potential civil war, and the political machinations that occur in academia, Thea is constantly trying to prove herself. To her mother, to her father, to her past love, and to the young man who aides her father. Her kind heart is often overridden by her pride and this desire to prove herself and save her mother. This makes for a plenty bumpy journey, but I admire the mettle that she shows throughout even as her path continues to grow darker.

Hopping from frying pan to frying pan we follow Thea as the world seems to fold in around her, sometimes due to her own choices. I was enraptured by this fast paced novel, and often surprised by how things turned out. I would have never predicted the ending and thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading.

I am so grateful for NetGalley, Samantha, and Wednesday books for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m excited to follow the rest of the blog tour!

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing this eARC as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.

Thea Hope has worked at the side of her famous alchemist mother all her life and longs to build a name for herself. Their goal, like all alchemists, is to create the ultimate prize, the Philosopher’s stone which can turn any metal to gold and cure all illnesses, and they are closer than ever before, when her mother suddenly goes mad and tries to kill her. Looking through her notes, Thea finds out that there is a curse on the Stone which causes any alchemist not deemed worthy to go insane during the process. France is not safe for her anymore, not with the threat of Revolution, so she makes her way to Oxford to find her father, whom she has never met. But even in England, danger still looms, as alchemists will stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone.

Alchemy is such a fascinating backdrop for a story, and this story provides a unique spin on the Philosopher’s Stone. This version of the infamous quest was so unique, and I really liked the concept of the Stone having a mind of its own, in a way deciding which alchemist would be allowed to create it at all. When I have previously seen alchemy mentioned in books, it has always been as something in the background, and the minutiae are mostly left to the imagination. Though it is all fictional, this book delves much deeper into the process and I found it to be very intriguing. The setting was quite interesting, but did not play a big part in the story. I felt that the real historical events taking place in the background were merely what set Thea’s path in motion, taking her from France to England in search of safety and a way to restore her mother’s sanity.

This was a relatively short book, so personally, I didn’t have time to get a grasp on any of the characters apart from Thea. I honestly thought Dominic would play a more central role than he did, as he seemed like the only truly good, unselfish character in the entire book. Will on the other hand, felt untrustworthy from the beginning, and I found it odd that Thea never thought to question a single thing about his story until much, much later. The stakes were kept very high throughout the story, and that final twist was something I definitely did not see coming.

Thea is a great character, intelligent and determined, but her naivety was so frustrating at times. It’s quite obvious that she knows how important the knowledge she possesses is, yet the first thing she does in Oxford is give away some of that critical information – to virtual strangers, no less – and even after being betrayed once, repeats the same mistakes. But then again, if she’d been as cautious as she ought to have, I guess there wouldn’t be a story at all.

The ending did leave things a little up in the air, particularly regarding Will’s fate and Dominic’s future, but I find it nice to have a few things to wonder about once I finish reading a book. Overall, this was an excellent read and a very well written one, especially considering that this is the author’s debut novel. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by Samantha Cohoe in the future. Engaging and perfectly paced, this is one you will not want to put down. Highly recommended!

Title: A Golden Fury
Author: Samantha Cohoe
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.

While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.

But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.

The first half of this was fantastic: action and intrigue, a bit of romance, adventure…I feel like the second half got a bit off-track, with a dip into things I expected to happen. The writing is outstanding, and the setting was vividly drawn. The latter part of the book felt really similar to Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares novels (without the humor) to me.

Thea is a bit naïve, so I could see some things coming which she clearly couldn’t, and her family left a bit to be desired. Her mom was on quite the power/control trip even before she went mad and her dad did not get off on the right foot with her.

Samantha Cohoe lives in Denver. A Golden Fury is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Review live 10/9).

Thank you Wednesday Books for letting me apart of this blog tour and providing me with an eARC through NetGalley.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate that stunning cover? I love the colors on it and honestly it made me want to read this book even more than the premise!

This is one of those books that you devour in a day.

This book totally started out strong. You meet Thea and automatically know she is not happy with her mother. Her mother comes off as horrendous and cruel right from the start and you are rooting for Thea to get away from her. I mean, she is keeping Thea away from the only person who has every encouraged and cherished her the way she deserves... he just happened to be the apprentice of her alchemist mother. They have been writing letters back and forth and she knows she will see him again.

But Thea is more mad about the fact she and her mother were so close to creating the legendary Philosopher's Stone when her mother locked her out of the laboratory! She did this to take all the credit for herself when she KNOWS she was a key player in the creating of it as well! Little does Theta know that creating such a whispered-about item takes more than just smarts, but it also might take your sanity.

I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of Thea. She is strong, worried about herself and doesn't take no for an answer. She makes some pretty questionable decisions. As I mentioned before, the story started out super strong, but then it started to linger. The romance felt a little forced to me, and towards the end you find out why but the journey there wasn't for me. She felt a little love-struck with Will and I all I felt between them was her worry and desperation to be with him.

Dominic on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air. I loved that he kept trying to get Thea to see the bright side of things, even when there was basically nothing bright to see. Thea just... she just got on my nerves in a few parts. Which, she is a flawed character so that is to be expected, you know?

The writing was absolutely lyrical. I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction, but Cohoe makes me want to try more with her descriptions and the way she weaves sentences together.

Trigger Warnings : Assault (that read as a rape at first), self harm, mental illness and mentions of madness through out the whole book

3.5 stars

A GOLDEN FURY is a YA historical fantasy that entrenches the reader in the life of Thea. Thea is a young girl who lives with her mother in Normandy. Her mother is an expert chemist who has been teaching Thea the craft ever since she can remember. They are trying to create the Philosopher's Stone, though Thea's mother is trying to shut her out at the last minute.

After her mother succumbs to madness, Thea goes to live with her father, who did not know she existed, in England. There, alchemy is not really acknowledged, and he teaches chemistry, practicing alchemy in secret. He and his colleagues and working to finish the Philosopher's Stone. Thea knows the path they need, as she and mother had finished the steps, but she soon becomes wary of the madness that gripped her mother, fearing that the creation of the stone is what causes it. However, being a girl, most are unwilling to listen to her.

What I loved: The setting was really interesting, and I love the tidbits about alchemy that we get through the book. This was a new twist on the Philosopher's Stone and it ended up being really clever. Thea was an interesting character having been treated with love-hate by her mother, but raised to follow in her shadow. Her life has not always been easy, and she's developed an interesting attitude as a result. I overall enjoyed her story.

What left me wanting more: The book is a little slow and long-winded in places, and I found it a bit of a slow read for that reason. It was not a book that I found particularly engrossing.

Final verdict: Overall, this was an intriguing YA historical fantasy that tackles some interesting topics. Would recommend for people who enjoy a slower-paced, character-driven read.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.