I really liked this one. Up from 3.5 stars.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC.

I LOVED this book. From start to end, this was perhaps one of the strongest YA fantasy novels I've read in a long time. Everything about it--the setting, writing, characterization, twists--were fabulously executed and I am absolutely excited to pick up the sequel this fall.

This was my first book by Kylie Lee Baker as I haven't read her earlier books yet and I really enjoyed it. I thought the concept of the world and the roles of the characters was very unique and interesting to read. Per usual with any fantasy book I was lost quite a few times but I feel like the author did a great job of describing everything to help me figure everything out. This was one of few fantasy books where I could actually imagine scenes like a movie in my head and that's always a bonus for me when reading fantasy. I loved the main character and how much growth she had throughout this book and I'm really excited to read the author's other works now.

I’m almost hesitant to recommend The Scarlet Alchemist, not because it’s a bad book, but because it’s a fantastic book, but the sequel doesn’t come out until (it’s estimated) October. I gobbled this book up in one sitting and now I have to sit and wait pathetically to find out what happens next.


The story is set in a version of historical China where alchemists have figured out the key to immortality. The wealthy eat a special variety of gold that the alchemists make which prevents them from aging–you can still be killed though, as your body is not impervious to injury. As a result the wealthy sequester themselves in their homes, avoiding possible accidents or injury, and prolong their lives as long as possible.

The poor and working class have no access to this special gold, making the divide between classes even more apparent. The heroine of the novel, Zilan, is part of that working class which is barely scraping by. Her father was a White man and her mother Chinese, making her biracial and therefore viewed as inferior. Both her parents are dead, and she lives with her aunt and uncle and two cousins, who took her in even though they can barely feed themselves.

Zilan’s father came to China to study alchemy, and in his notes she’s found the secret to resurrecting the dead–an act that’s extremely forbidden. She performs this in secret, earning extra money to help her family, but her real goal is to pass the test to become a royal alchemist, earning herself a position in the royal court and enough money to send back home.

Zilan and her cousins travel to the capital where she will take the alchemist’s exam while they take exams to become royal scholars. Once they arrive, they realize something odd is happening in and around the royal court. People are being found torn to death as if by wild animals, and once Zilan passes her test (using her wits, as she never received formal training) she realizes the role of royal alchemist is not what she imagined.


Added to this is the fact that the Immortal Empress’s son and heir seeks Zilan out. He has heard rumors that she can resurrect people, and he’s been facing assassination attempts that make him believe his life is about to end.

I loved this book because it has so many elements–Byzantine court politics, mystery, romance (between Zilan and the prince) and high magic fantasy–and they all blend together seamlessly. Each element enhances the entire story, like adding the perfect blend of spices to a dish.

The prince has lived a pampered existence, and while he’s smart and aware of what’s really going on at court, he needs Zilan’s magic and grit to help him survive. The romance here is very much a “rescuing the princess,” but gender flipped. The prince is also kind and very gentle, something Zilan doesn’t have a lot of experience with.

There’s also a lot of world building and detail around the magic system that made the setting feel incredibly real and nuanced. I’ve also never read a book where the magic system was based on alchemy, so it was fun getting something brand new to me.

The pacing of the book is also excellent, and by the time the court intrigue picks up, things are rolling along at a speed that makes this book super hard to put down.

If you needed another reason to read this book, Zilan has to create life in one of her exams and manages to make a duckling named Durian. Because alchemy produces equal parts good and evil, he is sometimes a naughty duckling. I would die for Durian.

Although the main conflict is resolved, there’s definitely an element of a cliffhanger here and the next book is scheduled to come out late in 2024. Literally that is the only reason I would hold off on reading this book. The Scarlet Alchemist gave me a mega book hangover, and now I can’t wait for the sequel to come out.

firstly, this cover is gorgeous which is what hooked me, also the title is so badass. this book was a bit darker and gory than i expected. i’m not too fond of competition plot in books though lmao. i find that it’s a common theme in asian YA books.

the middle part dragged a bit, but it picked up toward the end. the romance was alright, but it could've used more buildup. really loved the magic system though. the plot was a little predictable, especially with the romance. and the main character's impulsiveness made things a bit too obvious, making the story a bit meh until the end.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book!

Literally from the first page I was hooked with the story, characters and historical and fantastical world building. From the first few pages I immediately knew The Scarlet Alchemist could become a new favourite book of mine.

The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a girl who dreams of becoming a royal alchemist. Joining her cousins on their quest to become royal scholars, Zilan finds herself among the royal court uncovering political plots and schemes. When the Prince appears, knowing of Zilan's ability to resurrect the dead, she discovers things are not as they seem.

I absolutely loved the world-building in this book. Zilan's home town? The royal palace? I could imagine every place and I felt transported into the story. I loved seeing the home life and relations between Zilan and her cousins and their secret resurrection business. The resurrections brought another element to the book including a rock based alchemy system that I really enjoyed reading about.

The characters made this book. Wenshu and Yufei's banter with Zilan made me laugh out loud. Each character has their distinct personality and there was never a dull moment with them. Two other characters I loved was the Prince and the duck, Durian. The entire scene at the pond with the ducks made me cackle out loud.

The only criticism I have is with the side characters, the alchemists. They clearly were a big part of Zilan's life and yet we never learned more about them than their titles (the moon alchemist being an exception here). The ending would've hit harder if we got to know the alchemists a little better.

Speaking of endings though, this book was plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. My mouth hung open wide at some points with the thought: "That did not just happen??" at the forefront. I cannot wait for book two, I desperately need to talk over this ending with someone!

ACTUAL RATING: 4.8 STARS

This was a good YA fantasy novel, with an interesting plot!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

Rating: 4.5 stars

Zilan Fan is an orphan who lives with her two cousins and her aunt and uncle in Ancient China. She is also an alchemist. Her family is poor so she uses her alchemy to raise people from the dead and make some extra money. The only way out of her circumstance is for her to become a royal alchemist. Will she be able to achieve her goal? Or will the trials be too hard?

I really enjoyed The Scarlet Alchemist! The characters were intricate, the magic system was interesting, and I love the historical Chinese setting and cultural aspects throughout the book. The pacing was good and I was interested the whole time. I wanted to know what Zilan would do read the second half of the book on one day. This book slightly reminded me of The Poppy War, but less graphically violent. I didn’t know there was a sequel coming out and now I am so excited for it!

Thanks to Frenzy Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is what you call a good book! I haven't had much time to really read recently due to college but this book had me locked in from the first chapter. I really really hope there is a sequel!

10/10

I really enjoyed this! It was so much more than I expected, and the romance side story was really well done. My favorite part was the sibling/cousin relationships within the story, the family dynamics are extremely well done. I also really liked all of the twists and turns and reveals, and it really does make you really need the next book in the series.

I love returning to Kylie Lee Baker! Amazing audiobook and captivating story.

World Building
I loved the historical roots of this book and the inspiration that the Chinese Empress Wu Zetian and her reign had to offer. The different provinces of China and the socioeconomic status of the various characters was portrayed in detail and this helped build a clear picture of the world. Names, dialects and professions as indicators of social status brought about prejudice and stereotypes from the general population and I liked this detail, especially as it related to Zilan.

I can’t remember the last book I read which had alchemy and that was another unique aspect of The Scarlet Alchemist. I enjoyed this type of magic with its dangers, gemstones, innovations, and grounding in the five elements. Zilan has been a diligent student of her father’s notes and has been a practicing alchemist for a long time. This really comes in handy during the exams as her education has been more practical than theoretical. I enjoyed her strategies and problem solving skills.

The use of gold for prolonging life and how it was causing a further divide between the rich and poor was portrayed very well! Zilan’s childhood in the South and her occupation as a merchant teaches her a lot. She is a keen observer of the human condition and is not afraid to use fear. There was a scene in the book when Zilan had to interrupt a meeting between the crown prince and his advisors. Knowing them to be privileged men, she uses their aversion to sickness and death to her advantage.

I hadn’t expected the consumption of gold to be described as euphoric but, in hindsight, it does make sense. Gold is pivotal to the Empress’ efforts for eternal life and an uninterrupted reign. I liked the perspectives offered by the Moon Alchemist.

The Pace & Narration
The pace of The Scarlet Alchemist was addicting. We read 4-5 chapters a day and sometimes, it was easy to lose track of time and read on ahead. It is full of trials and tribulations at every step. The stakes were high, whether it was the imperial exams or surviving in the capital. At the end of the day, Zilan might be strong but she has the naivety and enthusiasm of one who hasn’t lived long enough yet. The Moon Alchemist tries to impart some lessons to her but it is only later that she understands them. By then, it is too late.

Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Genre: Historical Fantasy
TW: PLEASE CHECK
Spice: None
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.5/5]
Format: E-Book & Audio
Review written by: M

I truly enjoyed the historical aspects of Ancient China throughout this book. It truly brought this book to life in a way only Historical Fiction/Fantasy can. The entire premises of the plot was extremely enticing, along with a stunning cover!
 
Zilan has only had one dream since she can remember, to become a Royal Alchemist. By doing so she would not only be able to leave her impoverished village of southern China, but she would also be able to provide for her family. Resurrecting the dead illegally, for a price, isn’t a long-term solution. As she faces more challenges than most due to her heritage, she strives to succeed her imperial exams, but little did she know that being a Royal Alchemist was a dangerous game once political games and lies begin to unravel. With her secret and illegal past threatens to surface she must decide where her alliances lie.
 
Unfortunately, this book did take me a while to truly get hooked. I was enjoying it, but it wasn’t until the character the muddy duck scene (can’t say anything else without spoiling it) that the book began capturing my attention.
 
The authors’ writing style was fantastic. Her descriptions were extremely vivid It allowed me to paint a very vivid image of the surroundings easily in my head.  It has awakened a want to explore more Chinese inspired fiction.
 
The ending did feel rushed and left me wanting more. The building of the climax was built up for so long only to have it peak right at the end leaving the last few pages to feel rushed. I am hoping that we get a lot more clarity in book 2.
 
Genre: Historical Fantasy
TW: PLEASE CHECK
Spice: None
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.5/5]
Format: E-Book & Audio
Review written by: M
 
 *Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I thought I was done with the whole " poor village girl goes to city meets Prince and falls in love", but if I had been I wouldn't have read this and found a new appreciation for "magic potion girl from small village goes to big city meets Prince and fixes the world". Zilan is part of a cast of memorable characters in a unique world of magic told in prose that wraps around you until the final page.

I definitely enjoyed this book. From the story, to the alchemy, to the characters; this was fun to read, although it’s not a light hearted read lol. It is very easy to digest and moves at a decent pace. Things happened that I truly didn’t seem coming which is always entertaining if not jarring lol. But I really liked it all. I felt like the overall world building wasn’t super detailed, but it’s still very interesting!

KLB has quickly risen on my top authors list. I really enjoy how she reimagines Chinese history while bringing in new aspects to the lore. I really enjoyed the full metal alchemist vibes.

I got the galley for this and wasn’t able to read it before it came out and I’m so upset I had to wait this long, because the Scarlet Alchemist lives up to the hype. I saw the author’s TikToks about how it was inspired by Fullmetal Alchemist, one of my favorite works of fiction of all time, and was immediately interested, but I had no idea how much I’d enjoy it on its own. I haven’t read any original YA (non-IP) in a while, and at first was hesitant, because while I love the genre, it hasn’t been right for me as I grew older. I’m so glad I gave it a chance, because it masters the best of YA that makes it approachable to many audiences.

There’s a lot or discourse about “tropes” either in popular books themselves or used in book marketing lately, and this book really exemplified how popular tropes can be present but still be interesting. Even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was still riveted at how it would occur. The main character is far from stereotypical, and her relationship with multiple siblings and a bit of an ensemble cast stands out through the whole book. The ending is BREATHTAKING, and the combination of both speculative historical fantasy and clear inspiration from other pieces of media was blended so well.
Maybe I have a soft spot for a necromancer who will do anything for their siblings because of FMA and MDZS, but the Scarlet Alchemist still feels fresh and interesting.

This ended up being one of my favorite reads from 2023!

- Dark YA Fantasy
- Blood & Gore
- Alchemy School/Guild
- Strangers to Bickering Allies to Lovers? (Medium Burn)

Baker has improved since her debut and I'm in love with this book. I'm impatiently waiting for book 2!! This was darker than what I expected it to be for a ya fantasy. The magic and world building is so well done. The internal and external struggles that Zilan and others face are done so well - the side characters don't feel hollow and actually enhance the book. Scarlet Alchemist is everything I enjoy in a book, it was so good!! <3

3.75✨

Fantasy. YA. POC author.

The Scarlet Alchemist takes place in an alternate history China and tells the story of Zilan, a lower class biracial girl from a merchant family who risks it all in an attempt to pass the alchemy exam in a world pitted against her.

This book was not what I was expecting! There’s necromancy, assassination attempts, and a world where the rich eat enchanted gold to extend their lifespans. The magic in this book was so different from anything I’ve read before, and the plot (and twists) were top notch. I loved Zilan as a main character, and I couldn’t help but root for. I also appreciated a lot of the themes in this book like the commentary on the socioeconomic gap as well as the feeling of not belonging because of being different.

The part of this book that didn’t quite work for me were the side characters, the beginning, and the end. I didn’t hate any of these, but the side characters, particularly Zilan’s cousins, were weaker characters to me. Also, it took me a while to get into the story at the beginning, and the end, kind of came out of left field, leaving me feeling confused and unsatisfied. I don’t know what that’ll translate to in the next book, but I’ll definitely be picking it up.

I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good non-western fantasy that plays on history and has a strong, female main character.