2.75 stars rounded up to 3 stars

the pacing of this book was more favorable and engaging than the first installment. i feel like im left in the dark when it comes to the magic system. i feel like it could’ve been developed more. there were moments where i felt like the plot was moving and others where i felt like it was stagnant. i was screaming for Ash to get a back bone and fight for what he believes in throughout the majority of the book. too often, he was straddling the fence and it was soooooo frustrating to witness! also, Callum and Ramsey are both older than Ash…i get it. i feel like i was reminded of that a little too much in the writing. the emphasis on Ash’s age made him seem immature, irresponsible, and ill-equipped for the job. i’m not sure if that was intentional or not. overall, this book was pretty decent. i feel like i was left with too many questions tho…

thank you to NetGalley & Tor/Forg for the opportunity to read this eARC and share my honest opinion!

I did enjoy this one - I love throuples and the chaos that comes with it. HOWEVER it did feel like a middle book in a trilogy and the ending is very much a cliffhanger for the next in the series (trilogy? are we sure?). Will I read the next book? Probably.

Right from the first word, Kacen Callender continues the narrative of the first novel and in Chaos King has created a complex and beautiful sequel. The novel continues the emotional entanglements, the polyamorous relationship between Ash, Callum and Ramsey but where in the previous book, we had the passion of the three, in this novel it is grounded in the reality of how different the three truly are and how each handles the political pressures around them.
In the sequel, Ash, having grown up outside the families, sees the social power of the families far different than Callum or Ramsey and while all three want to change their world, each of them views that path differently. I love that even though Ash is surrounded by violence, he wishes to preserve life. I also like that he begins to see just how dangerous the anti alchemist violence is, with the narrative at times reflecting the hatred and violence that we see against trans people. And while I love how trans characters are embraced so fluidly in this world, I do like the reflection to the current difficulties facing trans individuals in our society.
The narrative is complex and the character growth is subtly written, with all three characters changing over the course of the novel but the focus is very much on Ash as he learns about the difficult choices he must make and learns new ways to wield his alchemical magic. I love the crafting of the world but also the painful options Ash is faced with in this story.
If you like complex and beautiful stories with incredible character growth, exquisite world building, and a powerful narrative with lgbtqia characters, this novel is for you. It is equal to the first book in the series with even more complex choices and heartbreaking moments. I truly hope that there is more planned for these characters and this world.

2.5-I really wanted to like this book. But in the end had to finally admit this duology was not for me. I liked the action and magic, but it was a little al over the place at times and hard to keep up with at times.

I loved Infinity Alchemist but I found this to be a disappointing sequel. The writing is still great, as Callender is a fantastic writer but it felt disjointed at times and like it tried to do too much.

I loved the first book in the series, but I just couldn't get into this one. The start was slow, and the characters were kind of grumpy, and it just wasn't connecting for me. It might have been more of a me problem, not being patient enough, but it just wasn't resonating for me this time.

Honestly I wanted to like this one more than I did, but it felt like the characters were running around in circles and the plot sort of got bounced around too much for me. Ash, Ramsay, and Callum are all settling into their new roles, but their challenges are only just beginning.

With a rebellion on the rise and new roles to play, they must figure out which choices will lead them to the results they want the most.

Sequels are such tricky business.

When I first read Infinity Alchemist, I was hooked from the start. As I mentioned in that review, the ending did not seem final. I expected Kacen Callender to turn this into a series.

I was excited to start reading Chaos King, but now that it’s over, I’’m dreading typing out this review. For many reasons, Chaos King is nothing like I expected.

Before I get into my thoughts, I’d like to clearly note that Chaos King is the second book in a series. As such, I will be sharing some spoilers.

This is hopelessness in book form. It’s unnecessarily depressing. Unlike Infinity Alchemist, I couldn’t stand to read Chaos King in long strings because the dark tone of this book brought me down with it. I was spiraling and it wasn’t pretty.

I read to escape but Chaos King felt like a trap.

Essentially, everything I liked about the first book is absent and everything I disliked is amplified.

- The romantic relationships are practically nonexistent.

When a book is as emotionally heavy as Chaos King, a romantic subplot is the perfect thing to lighten things up.

So tell me why Ash spent so much time apart from Callum and Ramsay…

With this sequel, the romance is on the back burner and, with the contradictory paths Ash and his partners have taken, I don’t see how a relationship could work.

This was such a disappointment for me because a major reason why I chose to continue with this series was the romance. Seeing polyamory representation pop up in YA has been such a highlight.

I am aware that being polyamorous isn’t dependent on being in a relationship, but seeing their love become twisted and toxic hurt to see.

- The religious undertone to the magical system went from subtle to too much for me.

In my opinion, the magical system of this series has always had a religious undertone.

All magic comes from the Source and this Source is love. There are several passages in both books about how love is limitless and alchemist are stronger when they accept this reality.

This all takes a turn in Chaos King when, early on in the story, we’re introduced to an alchemist claiming to be the reincarnation of a religious extremist.

Now, magic is dark and manipulative.

This came too close to home for me.

If you are also someone who has a complicated relationship with religion, this plot point might be triggering for you.

- Also, why is there endless buildup to a fight that lasts less than a chapter?

In Chaos King, there are two sides with no intention of talking things out. Instead, they’re both trying as hard as possible to suppress the other.

Similar to the first book, the fight is endless and yet the final battle lasts a single page. Chapter after chapter, we’re only going in circles.

Bottom line: Bring me a time machine so I can turn back the clock to a time when I hadn’t read Chaos King.

This sequel did not suffer from a second book slump at all. We get more world-building and character growth throughout this as Ash figures out who he is and who he wants to be. The beloved polycule goes through a lot of struggles during this as their responsibilities pull them in different directions.

I don’t want to give any spoilers in my review, but I do want to say “how dare you Kacen?!” over a certain event toward the end of the book. This book is such an emotional rollercoaster.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved Infinity Alchemist, and though the emotions evoked by Chaos King are more complicated, I found it excellent and just as powerful. This world of New Anglia that Callender has created is a feat, with its beautiful alchemy and spirituality, normed gender fluidity, history and social hierarchy and politics. In this book especially, Callender illustrates how religious discourses can be manipulated to fuel hate and justify oppression/violence. And even with the often unflinching ugliness of the above, these books have a lovely conception of the interconnectedness of human beings and the universe that created them. Ash’s conviction of the fundamental inherent worth of every person and his desire not to take life is something we don’t see as often in this kind of dystopian fantasy, even in YA.

-mild spoilers-

In Chaos King, Callender takes Ash’s polyamorous relationship, started in the intensity of their quest and the ensuing trauma, and muddles it with real conflict and diverging beliefs/paths. It’s heartbreaking and painful but beautifully rendered. Book 2 really highlights how Ash’s different upbringing and social power make his relationship to the government/institutions of this world different from Ramsay and Callum. Callender shows the blinders of privilege, the way Ramsay and Callum are almost participating in gaslighting themselves. Ramsay’s notion that she has to prove herself, Callum’s idea that he can reform the system from the inside, in a twisted way these well-intentioned beliefs make it easier for them to be used. Callum in particular is like a frog in boiling water.

Ash’s character development continues to be so nuanced. I love his combination of impulsivity and self-reflection, wisdom and immaturity, hard won cynicism but prevailing love. The one thing I wanted more of from this book was a bit more page time for the transformation of Ash’s relationship to the chaos magic, from that of an addict to that of a mystic.

The ending was incredible and devastating. Overall I thought this was a masterful book 2, though I won’t be able to fully say how I feel about it until I know if this is the end or if there is a book 3.

Overall I liked this sequel better than Book 1 , because the established lore allowed for more focus on action and relationship dynamics
I enjoyed the intertwined dual romantic and political plotlines
Established polyamorous triad
Ash: 19yo trans man
Callum: cis man, military commander
Ramsay: gender fluid, academic
If you want a healthy portrayal of polyamory with communication and processing emotions, this isn’t it lol (MCs are young and messy)
Shows how governments generate blind hatred and violence toward specific groups of people as a means of broader social control
Treatment of alchemists mirrors transphobia currently IRL
Contemplates philosophical questions about freedom, love, class, and violence
THAT ENDING!!! My HEART! GAH!!
Content warning: violence, murder, injury, multiple character deaths

Right before I started reading this, I realized this is the second book of a series. With that, I'm thinking shame on me for starting this without the previous story because of my internal fear of being lost within a story if I start anywhere other than the beginning. Fast forward to me while reading, along with post reading, I must say that I was not lost at any point. For me it felt as if this story was the beginning part because the characters and storyline were so well fleshed out. I teared up while reading, I gasped, and I cheered. I definitely feared for Ash at points, but I respect Ash's character so much for the decisions made.

I am curious if there would be a third story. However, seeing as the covers of both books have a connection (the first cover features an upright triangle while this story's cover features an upside-down triangle). The last cover could very well be two triangles within each other and on point features the star and the world.

Chaos King, the electrifying sequel to Infinity Alchemist, surpassed all expectations! While it took a few chapters to fully recall the events of the first book (a personal lapse, not a flaw in the writing!), I was quickly swept away. The plot unfolded with breathtaking excitement, the intricate political intrigue keeping me enthralled from beginning to end. I was particularly impressed by the authentic and heartwarming LGBTQ+ representation. The positive portrayal of polyamory, especially for a younger audience, was a delightful surprise. Furthermore, the inclusion of a well-developed trans characters whose identity is not thier sole defining trait is a significant win, demonstrating thoughtful and inclusive storytelling. The narrative's satisfying conclusion, while cleverly leaving room for potential future installments, left me utterly captivated. In short, Chaos King is a phenomenal read—a resounding 10/10—and I eagerly anticipate its publication!

I absolutely loved Chaos King! Callender delivers a worthy follow up to Infinity Alchemist that picks up right where the first book left off, and then heads in surprising and mesmerizing directions. With consistently thorough character development and detailed world building, Chaos King explores themes of tolerance, religion, freedom of expression, class, trauma, oppression and identity in nuanced and insightful ways. Ash, Callum and Ramsey’s love is tested, oscillating from tender to tense. The ending was surprising but satisfying, though perhaps bittersweet. I will definitely recommend this to my students and my friends!

3.5/5 stars; NOTE: This is the second book in a series. The Infinity Alchemist comes first. If you choose not to read The Infinity Alchemist before this, I feel like you will be extremely confused. So beware before reading any reviews!

The good:
- I enjoyed being able to see more of the alchemist world since we did not see too much of that in book one, Kacen is an extremely creative writer and it's brilliant.
- EXTREMELY twisty, which kept me on my toes and also almost made me cry.
- I feel like the pace of the story was done well overall.

The loss of 1.5 stars:
- Typically I enjoy politics in books, but this was extremely heavy on a new political system that was not explored in book one at all and I felt quite lost at points when it comes to the politics.
- The ending left me so confused. I'm really not sure if anything else is going to happen or what, but it was not so satisfying of an ending.

Overall, if you liked the Infinity Alchemist for aspects outside of the romance, you'll like Chaos King.

A thrilling and fascinating sequel to Kaen Callender's Infinity Alchemist that really lived up to the thrall of the first novel and built on the story in new and uniue ways!

Chaos King, while beautifully written and filled with fantastic characters, left me a bit adrift with its open ending and unresolved relationships. Perhaps more is coming?

It is so refreshing to read a book with diverse queer characters. The three main characters are in a polyamorous relationship, which is rare to see in YA. This book picks up from the last book and goes more in depth into the fantastic world building of this universe. All together, I enjoyed this book more than the last one, and the ending leaves room for a possible sequel.

TLDR: I love this series. I like this book slightly less than the first book and that is just because I got so excited about the Poly relationship in book one and that is not the focus in this book. This one is a lot more about the growing instability that has come after Hain is killed. This is an amazing book about power and what people will do for it and with it. It also has some of the best queer rep I have ever seen.

Plot: This book broke my goddamn heart in a way that books I love less cannot. Ash is a part of me now. The struggle between the two people he loves most in the world and literally the rest of the world had me on the edge of my seat throughout this book. I cried, I gasped, and I was shook by the end. I had no idea where the plot was going a lot of the time I was just being torn in to pieces along with Ash while his world was being torn apart around him. I cannot articulate how much I loved this book. The only reason this is not a five star like the first book is I'm not as much a fan of the type of ending that this book has (going to try to leave this vague). BUT both of these books will live rent free in my head forever I love them so much and I think the ending makes perfect sense with how high the stakes are in this series. Also, I don't think I have ever read a YA series that held nothing back like this one does. Highly recommend. OH and I have to talk about how kickass the magic system is in this! The alchemy, the source, the chaos! OMG it is so beyond cool and consistent and I love it! Powerful but it makes sense and it still has it's limitations, this book is so good!

Characters: I love everyone in this book. Ash is a very complicated character with his problems and hes going through so much in this series, but that didn't make me love him any less. I also think hes a beautiful representation of non-binary transgender person. He is comfortable with some parts of himself but not other and I just love how much different gender and sexuality representation is in these books, its so beautifully handled all while there is a war a foot. Marlowe is also just an amazing women throughout this series, also a very complicated character with a loaded background who has been through a lot but fights for what she believes in anyway and I love her in this. (I talk about the other 2 main characters, Ramsey and Callum in my review of Infinity Alchemist which you can find on my Goodreads or Storygraph, link below)

Worldbuilding: Great urban magic setting. The houses that are all over what we know of as New England in the US and being connected through magic portals is so cool. I also love having the capital with some of the more powerful houses being in one city that has such an obvious split of the Houses and the other people. There is so much tension built with geography and the buildings in this series its really beautiful. Even having the religious House, Lune being so far from the others so they can do thins with no oversight until it's to late. Also it is very outside of time because of magic the technology is still a little old, with trains, and no phones, and a lot of teleporting around to see people in person. It's just neat.

Review by Nic @polycraftory on Instagram, Tumblr, and Tiktok, where I do book reviews and crafts with my polycule. If you are curious about my thoughts on more books, you can find me @businesswife on Storygraph. You can also find content warnings on my Storygraph review of this book. You can also find my reviews @polycraftory on Goodreads.

Ever since fighting against his father, Ash has been woken up by nightmares every night. In his dreams, he’s haunted by strange dark orbs and always wakes up by the screams of his dead mother. Convinced she’s trying to tell him that the world’s still in danger, Ash is determined to figure out what that danger is before it’s too late.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an advanced copy of Chaos King by Kacen Callender to review! When I read Infinity Alchemist, I definitely thought it was a standalone, so I was surprised to find that we got to return to this world. Callender adds another level of darkness and complexity to Ash’s world, making this book grittier than the first one.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between Ramsay, Callum, and Ash. You don’t see polyamorous relationships often in YA, and the three of them are trying to make it work. Despite them not all agreeing on what route to take after the events of the first book.

We also get to see more of this world that Callender created, which has such an interesting magic system. By the end of the book, it does feel like there is more to the story, so I’m hoping that maybe there is one more book coming. There is some resolution in this, but I’m left wanting just a little more.

All in all, if you’re looking for a dark academia focused fantasy, definitely pick this series up!