I don’t even quite know what to make of Samantha Cohoe’s A Golden Fury. I think I started with certain plot & character expectations & the book kept blowing them up. This made for a reading experience that was both captivating & somewhat disorienting & I didn’t feel like I had quite found my footing until the end.

Beginning in Normandy in 1792, A Golden Fury tells a story centered around alchemy.

Thea has long worked for & with her famous alchemist-mother Marguerite. They’re very close to creating the White Elixir & then hopefully the Philosopher’s Stone when her mother cuts her out of the process & kicks her out of their lab.

Thea has never looked to her mom for kindness but this last betrayal is huge.

On the same night that Thea discovers that her mother has figured out how to create the Elixir & the Stone, her mother seems to have gone mad & tries to murder her.

Out of other options Thea travels to meet the father she’s never met before but not before grabbing some of the White Elixir. She will make the Stone on her & cement her reputation as the foremost alchemist.

But things never go as one hopes...

Inventively plotted & featuring complex characters, A Golden Fury is intriguing. I love the focus on female alchemists, how Thea constantly rises above the narrow expectations men have for her & forges her own way again & again.

This critique likely reveals my own biases, but while I loved that Thea is often unlikeable, there are times that I find her unadmirable & hard to connect to as well. Ditto for most of the other characters, who rarely do “good” things & who live in a world that mostly feels dark & unsettling until the end--which feels a little too hopeful to be entirely believable to me.

(Just to be clear: I don’t have to like and/or admire characters to love a book but in this one the individual characters seem portrayed unevenly & I had a difficult time emotionally connecting to them & to the book itself.)

On balance, I appreciated how unpredictable this book is, how it took me for a thrilling ride that wasn’t afraid to venture into dark territory, but I also didn’t feel overly invested in any of the characters or their fates, & that's a bit of a disappointment to me.

3⭐️. A Golden Fury is available on 10/13. Thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Thank you Wednesday Bos and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

This is a YA historical fantasy debut. The cover for this book is amazing it drew me to this book. As a whole, I liked this story. I would say that this book is much more historical than a fantasy the only fantasy element is the search for the philosophers stone, but then again this was something that did happen. So for me, I was hoping for a little more fantasy but that was just me and no fault of the book.

This book starts out at a slow pace, then it picks up, then slows down again. I am specifying this just so you know not to go into this looking for something that is fast-paced. I was lucky that what I needed at the time was a slower book so this fit the bill perfectly. When the book slowed down in the second half of the book there were times where it felt the story got lost. During this time I became annoyed with some of the characters that I had liked up to that point.

In the second half of the book, I became very annoyed with some of the characters that I liked up to this point. And by the end, there was only one character that I wanted to have a good ending.

I enjoyed the book as a whole and I would definitely read something by this author again.

“There is only one way to keep a man from betraying your trust, said my mother’s voice. Don’t give it to him.”

Thanks to NetGalley I’ve been able to read an advance copy. I have found this book very original and enjoyable. I would define Thea as a Slytherin character, she is so confident in her abilities and she really wants to accomplish high achievements... like creating the Philosopher’s stone. There is only one problem: her mother has succeeded and in doing so she has gone mad... because it’s the stone that chooses the alchemist. Thea is sent to her father who didn’t know about her existence and that turns out to be very disappointing but at least she meets Dominic, a true friends that she wants to help at any cost. When she finds out that her former friend and lover is very sick she is determined more than ever to complete the creation of the stone, even if that means loosing her mind. Thea is very strong, she has her own ideas and she is very skilled.. but in the end she is only just a girl. When she meets a handsome and charming boy she is attracted by him, in particular because he gives her the affection she has always wanted by her mother, a woman as cold as ice. All the people she meets wants to make her think less about herself just because she has fallen in love with the wrong guy or even just because she has wanted a guy in the first place, but I think that even if he was not the most honest person in the world, if she felt that way toward him, it was right to live it and help him.. even if he didn’t deserve her love. In the end we don’t have to do things just because we want other’s approval, but because it makes us feel better.

This ended up not really being for me, but I still enjoyed it! I was hoping for a story a little less focused on the romance, especially with the promising set up of alchemists and secrets.

Thea and her mother are alchemists trying to complete the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical stone that supposedly heals people and turns things into gold. Suddenly Thea's mother attacks her and goes crazy. It is then decided that Thea would go to England to meet her father to keep her safe. Thea ends up on the run from the police and in serious threat of danger. Will she create the Stone and save her mother from madness,? Will she go mad herself?
This is an adventure filled story. It has romance and danger. It was very original and entertaining. I didn't want to put this book down. I needed to know if Thea could make the Stone and save her mom. I really liked everything about this book except when Thea whined. She was a strong character but she had quite a bit of moments where she whined like a petulant child. Despite this, I really enjoyed reading this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

Star Rating: 3.5

A Golden Fury is something often missing in mainstream YA: historical fantasy and also a standalone. On both of these points, this book does an excellent job. It was easy to sink into the European time period this was set in, and the story felt very complete without any need for a sequel or addition. This novel had a story to tell and it focused on that.

The plot was rich and intriguing. I loved the pursuit for the Philosopher's Stone and what it meant to Thea throughout the story. Prestige. Coercion. A downward spiral that separates the self from the mind. The journey of completing this impossible task was thrilling and harrowing and fully engaging!

On the other hand, characterization was where the story lost most of its stars for me. The characters most interesting and sympathetic in this story are the ones that don't get the full fleshing they deserve. Also for much of the book, Thea very much comes across with the "Not Like Other Girls" trope and truly, we don't need more of that directed towards young women.

It was bad enough that majority of the cast, largely men, kept emphasizing this point. It was even worse when Thea had her moments of absolute derision towards the likes of frills and interests of women not like her—particularly a woman she had not even met. She does regret it later, and a portion of the aggression can indeed be chalked up to the spiral into darkness and possession. However, I do not like how the story frames that women in STEM are automatically at odds with women of other pursuits. There also isn't a single healthy relationship with another woman throughout the entirety of the story. Considering this is YA and technically for teen readers, this isn't something to tout.

So, as a story, I very much enjoyed the ride and was very much invested! But the story could have used more balanced characterization. A solid and imaginative debut, but certainly with room to grow!

Thank you NetGalley and the Wednesday Books team for an advanced copy for review!

First, I want to say a big thank you to Wednesday Books (an imprint of St. Martin’s Press) for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was so surprised and so excited to get an unsolicited copy of this book in my e-mail. A Golden Fury is a story about a 17 year old girl studying alchemy under her mother’s tutelage and her trying to convince the people around her that the path to the Philosopher’s Stone leads to madness. The book is available for pre-order now and comes out on October 13th.

This book is coming at the perfect time since Spooky Season is just around the corner. It’s perfect for anyone who likes reading about the 18th/19th century and anyone interested in magic systems or alchemy. I had some trouble with this one, but I feel like most of that stems from the fact that I don’t like historical fiction. It played a bigger role in the book than I expected when I accepted the ARC and had I known better I might not have. I read the occasional historical fiction, but it’s mostly not a genre for me. I was interested in a lot of the things that had historical significance in the book, but discussions of dress and architecture and decor of the time aren’t my thing.

I did enjoy the magic/alchemy side to the story. I wish it had been explained in a more thorough way, but with everything that happens in this book I don’t know if it would have made sense to add another 25 pages for that reason alone. I liked the idea that to be the one person who can create this stone you also have to be willing to lose yourself in the process. I also really enjoyed some of the characters. I thought that Valentin had such a rich backstory and I loved seeing the two sides of this character. He was probably the most morally grey character out of all of them so: is it really a surprise that I loved him? The setting of the manor house in London was my favorite setting. I could imagine all of the rooms pretty easily and I enjoyed that so much of the grit of the story happened there.

This was a pretty quick read once I finally got more than half an hour at a time to devote to reading. These last few days have been chaos, but I’m so glad I finally got a couple of hours to sit down and read this one.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

So initially I was excited to read this one, the era it's set into sounded promising with women working on alchemy, chasing the dream of the philosopher's stone.
The opening was what I imagined it to be heading in, cut about 30% in it took a nosedive into a teenage girl being shuttled off from one place to the next (running from this, running from that, abducted into finishing the stone), the descriptions of the alchemy was pretty vague. I was hoping for more world building to be done around that.

She keeps encountering madness by everyone working on the final stage of the philosophers stone.
And for something that had never been done before, I found it a bit odd that she would keep running into alchemists on the verge of completing it. And that while she wasn't witnessed to the final stage, her mother had booted her out of the laboratory before it had been done. And then had gone mad from the process.
Only she could be the one to complete it at 17, alchemists with decades of experience can't.
With a touch of french revolution thrown in for effect. But had no bearing on the storyline at all.

There were just too many plot holes. And the ending just disappointed me more.
It was a great idea, that just felt partially finished, with more time. It could have been great.

None of it is as it seems! An unconventional romance, an unlikely hero and an unanticipated villain. Even though the genre is out of my norm, I enjoyed this one immensely.

Thank you to the publisher through Netgalley for an advanced copy.

First things first...I was interested in this book at first sight. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but when it's so appealing I can't help but assume it's good. Secondly, the synopsis had me mighty intrigued off of alchemy and the mention of philosophers stone because hi, Harry Potter!? I know, I know a huge reach there but it got me anyways.

The book starts off with a good leap, pulls you in and keeps you interested and wondering "what's going to happen next?". The characters could use some more development to keep you cheering for them but the story moves along well enough to make up for that.

I'm not much for historical type reads, unless highlanders are involved, but this holds its own. I enjoyed it for what it was and would be willing to reread it.

What a great face paced story. I enjoyed this thrilling ride and the main character he such a great arc that made me want to keep reading not wanting to put down the book. I also loved that it was a stand alone and gave me such a great closing to the story. Though I totally see how it could be continued and I would totally support that!

I was really impressed with this book. It's interesting. It's engaging. It's exciting. It was hard to put down. The writing itself is superb.

Thea's mother is an alchemist. When she goes completely mad, Thea must find a way to save her. Plus there's a revolution happening, so it'd be best if she got out of France. So she travels to England in search of a way to help her mother, but she needs a lab and materials. So she can't just turn up anywhere. That is where the adventure begins.

On a side note: Sometimes it annoys me when other languages are translated within the text. It's like reading the same sentence twice. This author didn't do that all of the time and I found it refreshing. Also, when there was a German phrase I didn't know, I highlighted it on my Kindle and the Kindle told me what the translation was. I felt like I had discovered a new planet or something. New favorite Kindle feature, btw (and it's probably been there all along and I just never used it before).

A Golden Fury is an intriguing story about a young woman’s alchemic quest to save her mother. Thea is a highly trained alchemist apprentice. She was trained by and still works for her mother, who is famous for her skill in the craft. Together, they attempt to create the Philosopher’s Stone, which gives the owner immortality and wealth.

Thea’s mother, in a fit of madness and rage, destroys the stone because the stone turns all who aren’t worthy mad. Desperate to help her mother and prove her worth as an alchemist, Thea travels to work for her father, another alchemist, in again creating the Philosopher’s Stone. However, this time it’s to save her mother’s life.

I enjoyed Thea’s story and thought her character was well-developed. She lives in a male-dominated world and defies many of the gender norms. She is intelligent and brave, and she fights for what she believes in. Though her decisions aren’t always the best, and I questioned her actions sometimes, she showed a lot of growth.

A story about the desire for power, complex familial relationships, betrayal, and the search for identity, A Golden Fury will appeal to readers who like unique and dark stand-alone historical fantasies. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

What an intriguing story! I really enjoyed the character development of Thea even though I feel like she didn’t often make choices that made sense to who had been presented to the reader. I was also disappointed in Will’s ending, but the overall ending was satisfactory. Some of the pseudo-scientific explanations were a little murky as well.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Fury is the debut novel by Samantha Cohoe. This historical fantasy delves into alchemy, where the competition is fierce, and everyone is vying to be the first to create the Philosopher’s Stone.

Thea Hope has been extensively trained by her mother, a world-renowned alchemist, and works as her apprentice. Together they are trying to create the Philosopher’s Stone, which is foretold to turn any metal to gold and grant immortality. As the pair grows closer and closer to the Stone’s creation, Thea notices her mother acting strangely. At the cusp of making the Philosopher’s Stone a reality, Thea’s mother suddenly destroys the Stone in a fit of rage. By examining her mother’s notes, Thea discovers that the Philosopher’s Stone’s curse caused her mother’s descent into madness. Anyone who attempts to make the Stone slowly loses their sanity.

With the French Revolution looming, Thea is forced to flee France for England. Here she finds her father, who was not aware of her existence. She tries to warn him and his colleagues about the Stone’s curse, but the pursuit for fame and fortune outweighs Thea’s warnings. Thea quickly finds herself in danger for her knowledge of the Stone has drawn the attention of some unsavory characters. In the end, Thea must choose to save the lives of her loved ones or lose her sanity while creating the Philosopher’s Stone.

Thea’s story is fast-paced and well written. Despite her age, Thea is portrayed as a strong intelligent woman. Her mother ensured to offer her many educational opportunities growing up and taught her that she does not have to be reliant on a man in a time where women did not have many options. Even though this book was a bit dark, I found that I could not put it down. I had to know if Thea accomplished her goal to create the Philosopher’s Stone or if she fell victim to its madness just like her mother and all the alchemists before her.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

This book is full of betrayals, madness, and an all encompassing need to make the Philosopher’s Stone. Thea's mother goes mad trying to create the stone which forces Thea to go to Oxford to find her father whom she has never met and doesn't know she exists for help. Once there, she is betrayed by her father's lab assistant and then her father himself all because they want to be the one to make the Stone. After Dominic, another lab assistant, murders in self defense he and Thea flee to Thea's mother's former assistant Will. Soon after arriving at Will's, they are all kidnapped and forced to make the Stone to fulfill Will's debt to the Prussians, but the stone isn't what everyone believes it to be. Who will survive?

A Golden Fury is a fast-paced, engaging, and fun story. It is the perfect blend of magical realism combined with historical fiction. Most young-adult readers will easily identify with the thoughts, actions, and struggles of Theosebia Hope. In addition to the fast-paced story, there are also several important underlying messages. I would heartily recommend this title to any and all young-adult (and adult) readers.

The plot summary really got me on this one. What a brilliant idea!! I was afraid the execution would disappoint, but it didn't. I swallowed this in under 24 hours. I could not put this one down. Loved this one and I wish it was getting more hype. It is good, y'all!

In all honesty the ending is a bit jumbled, but I am not mad at it. Actually I think the note it ends on is empowering and also leaves room for some imagination. Y'all, the more I think about this ending, the more I actually love it. So there, it is ALL good. This book is actually brilliant overall and I am a fan.

I wish it was part of a series because I would like to see the future of some of these characters, but as a standalone it satisfies. Did I mention I was a fan of this one? It is getting mixed reviews and I don't understand why. Loved this one!! I am clutching this book close to me and protecting it like it is the Philospher's Stone.

Thea Hope has learned alchemy as her mother's apprentice, forced into the shadows when all she wants is equal credit and to be respected in her own right. For years, they have been trying to create the Philosopher's Stone. Just when it seems possible they might have succeeded, Thea's mother flies into a rage, destroys the stone, and attacks Thea. Thea finds a passage in her mother's research that indicates a curse to whoever makes the stone. With this in mind and the threat of revolution on the way, Thea is sent to Oxford to her father, whom she has never met, who studies alchemy as well. As the pressure builds to recreate the Stone, deadly threats lurk around every corner who want the information Thea has at any price.

What I Loved about A GOLDEN FURY:

-The pace- From the first chapter, A GOLDEN FURY takes a quick pace and doesn't let up. There are twists and intrigues building on one another throughout. This is definitely the kind of book you could be compelled to read in one sitting.

-The premise- I love historical fantasy, and Cohoe's France and Oxford feel realistic, the alchemic ideas fitted snugly in the setting. I particularly enjoyed how we got to see France on the verge of revolution as well as Oxford where many people were headed to escape the chaos.

-Thea's passion for science- It's always wonderful to see characters with a passion for STEM areas, historical or otherwise, and Thea's dedication to science is one of her best characteristics. You can feel her passion for it and her desire to contribute to the field and make a name for herself. She is well aware of the limitations society has on women but she perseveres anyway.

What Left Me Wanting More:

Unfortunately, outside of Thea, most of the secondary characters felt flat. They seemed to have little depth or development. There were some scenes where it felt we were finally going to get more from some characters only to have it cut short. While I liked Thea, it would have been nice to have the secondary characters rounded a bit more.

Something about the story left me wanting more. I'm not sure if it was the resolution or the relationship development or quite what it was exactly, but at some point, the promise of the premise didn't match my expectations at the end. As with any review, I definitely think this is subjective and plenty of readers could walk away completely satisfied.

Overall:

If you want a story that takes on the concept of alchemy, places it in historical France/Oxford, and throws in high-stakes/lives-at-risk kind of plot lines, A GOLDEN FURY is for you.

A delightful dive into greed and trying to find the ones who deserve your love.
Thea was an interesting character that I feel did a good job a breaking down some of the traditional gender roles you see in these books. She is smart, driven, and scrappy. I do wish there had been more character development, as well as with the other characters, but overall she was intriguing in how she dealt with the situations thrown at her. The only exception would be the love interest, whom she seems to have blinders on for.
I feel the other characters were used properly to move along the story, and none of them seemed wasteful or underdeveloped, but again I do feel like some could have been fleshed out a little more for some added relationship building.
The plot did have some pacing issues, and the writing seemed to have shifted about half way through, almost like it wanted to become a different story. But, overall an enjoyable read.