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Alchemy of Souls
From New York Times-bestselling author Adriana Mather, comes the next big YA dark academia Alchemy of Souls, following two magically bound teens as they race to solve the mystery of an ancient magical key before it’s too late.
Grayson Stone is no stranger to deception. Under the watchful eye of his uncle, the High Chancellor, he has been well-trained in all four types of magic, all while secretly working against his uncle’s corrupt rule. Years of plans depend on him being marked Gifted during his University entrance exam, proving that he is the perfect heir and gaining his uncle’s trust. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, and he has only one person to Eloise Belrose.
Raised by a family of Laborers, Eloise is the most unlikely student to become a Mage, but through her hard work and long hours spent practicing she is finally admitted to the prestigious University of Magical Arts, guaranteeing safety and security for her whole family. Until things go very wrong, and she somehow becomes magically linked to Grayson Stone, the school’s arrogant, annoyingly attractive, golden boy, putting not only her University acceptance, but also her and her family’s lives at risk.
Eloise and Grayson are given less than two weeks to solve an impossible mystery—one that will give the High Chancellor even more power and control—or face the consequences. Forced to room together, with all the same classes, while pretending to date to hide their secret quest, sparks definitely fly. As their feelings grow more real it becomes harder to live the lies they’ve had to tell to survive. With time running out, will they be able to trust the bond between them or will their lies tear them apart forever?
Grayson Stone is no stranger to deception. Under the watchful eye of his uncle, the High Chancellor, he has been well-trained in all four types of magic, all while secretly working against his uncle’s corrupt rule. Years of plans depend on him being marked Gifted during his University entrance exam, proving that he is the perfect heir and gaining his uncle’s trust. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, and he has only one person to Eloise Belrose.
Raised by a family of Laborers, Eloise is the most unlikely student to become a Mage, but through her hard work and long hours spent practicing she is finally admitted to the prestigious University of Magical Arts, guaranteeing safety and security for her whole family. Until things go very wrong, and she somehow becomes magically linked to Grayson Stone, the school’s arrogant, annoyingly attractive, golden boy, putting not only her University acceptance, but also her and her family’s lives at risk.
Eloise and Grayson are given less than two weeks to solve an impossible mystery—one that will give the High Chancellor even more power and control—or face the consequences. Forced to room together, with all the same classes, while pretending to date to hide their secret quest, sparks definitely fly. As their feelings grow more real it becomes harder to live the lies they’ve had to tell to survive. With time running out, will they be able to trust the bond between them or will their lies tear them apart forever?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Adriana Mather
9 books2,597 followersAdriana Mather is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch, with family roots that go back to Sleepy Hollow, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Titanic. She's also an actor and producer best known for her role in the award-winning Honeyglue. She co-owns Zombot Pictures, a production company that makes feature films. Her first acting scene in a film ever was with Danny Glover, and she was terrified she would mess it up. In addition, her favorite food is pizza, she has too many cats, and a deep abiding love for all things autumnal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
July 30, 2026
Magical Academia, may you never stop being a good time 🙌🏻
Alchemy of Souls is a delightful YA story that follows two protagonists at a magical college who are forced to work together to summon a magical artifact. The book deals with class division, corruption, and relationships of all kinds. I always enjoy the dynamic of “privileged boy who has everything gets humbled by girl who has nothing but a spine of steel”. I think the romance worked really well mixed with the magical ultimatum. The way Grayson and Eloise had to slowly learn to trust each other with their magic and secrets was so sweet 🩷
This is technically an urban fantasy, which I wasn’t expecting, but it worked! I had some questions about how the integration between magical/non-magical communities was set up, but after the setting was moved to the magical college, I found myself not overly worried about it. Does that mean I was just vibing and not overthinking it? Maybe 😂 But I was having fun.
I won’t deny that as a standalone (or at least I’m pretty sure it is), there were some plot points that were rushed. The Lawless subplot especially happened very quickly at the end. But as I said before, I was having too much fun to be too bothered. Sometimes it’s refreshing to go back to YA for a fast paced, “let’s go defeat the big bad guy” energy. 🩷
••••••••••
Dark academia and a gorgeous cover?? I can’t wait 😍 Massive thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the advanced copy! ✨
Alchemy of Souls is a delightful YA story that follows two protagonists at a magical college who are forced to work together to summon a magical artifact. The book deals with class division, corruption, and relationships of all kinds. I always enjoy the dynamic of “privileged boy who has everything gets humbled by girl who has nothing but a spine of steel”. I think the romance worked really well mixed with the magical ultimatum. The way Grayson and Eloise had to slowly learn to trust each other with their magic and secrets was so sweet 🩷
This is technically an urban fantasy, which I wasn’t expecting, but it worked! I had some questions about how the integration between magical/non-magical communities was set up, but after the setting was moved to the magical college, I found myself not overly worried about it. Does that mean I was just vibing and not overthinking it? Maybe 😂 But I was having fun.
I won’t deny that as a standalone (or at least I’m pretty sure it is), there were some plot points that were rushed. The Lawless subplot especially happened very quickly at the end. But as I said before, I was having too much fun to be too bothered. Sometimes it’s refreshing to go back to YA for a fast paced, “let’s go defeat the big bad guy” energy. 🩷
••••••••••
Dark academia and a gorgeous cover?? I can’t wait 😍 Massive thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the advanced copy! ✨
July 20, 2026
Excuse me Adriana Mather, just where the heck did you come from? And where do you get off writing the most delightful YA dark academia magic book, like ever?
This was a blast to read! I got sucked in from the very first page and didn’t stop until I was done. (Excellent way to spend a weekend day, just saying.) Once again I found myself reading about a sentient key (also not mad about it either). This was such a beautiful story woven around all types of love, familial, friendship, and even romantic. And the best part? It’s a standalone, so you can dive in and not worry when the next one is coming. This was super fast-paced, immersive, funny, tragic, and downright adorable. I can’t recommend this one highly enough!
Grab yourselves a copy when it hits shelves on August 4, you’re going to love it!
Huge thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
This was a blast to read! I got sucked in from the very first page and didn’t stop until I was done. (Excellent way to spend a weekend day, just saying.) Once again I found myself reading about a sentient key (also not mad about it either). This was such a beautiful story woven around all types of love, familial, friendship, and even romantic. And the best part? It’s a standalone, so you can dive in and not worry when the next one is coming. This was super fast-paced, immersive, funny, tragic, and downright adorable. I can’t recommend this one highly enough!
Grab yourselves a copy when it hits shelves on August 4, you’re going to love it!
Huge thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2026
Grayson wants to bring down his uncle. Eloise wants a better life for her family. They've been in each other's orbit for years, but kept their distance...until they have no choice but to work together to ensure their mutual survival.
I had it in my head that this would be a boarding school book, but it's more of a restrictive college with boarding school rules (curfew, very limited freedoms, sneaking out to drink, etc.) setting. This is a highly regulated society with strict class division, which plays a huge role. Think dystopia books from the early 2010s; Eloise and her family are on the poverty track with very limited options for upward trajectory, while Grayson's family is high up in the food chain and determined to keep it that way.
I loved the premise (and the cover!) but could have used a bit more by way of worldbuilding. It was late in the book before I got a sense of what the wards were, and I never did figure out why Eloise's bestie from Maine has an aggressive Irish(?) accent. (Maggie doesn't serve a whole lot of purpose in the book—she's mostly accent and Eloise feeling guilty that she doesn't have time to hang out with Maggie because she's trying to save her own life.) I'd also be curious to know more about how the wards, which seem to have quite strict and limited borders, work across continents, and what exactly they do beyond keep out the "riffraff".
This is YA, so there's a romance; it's not really my jam, but it'll be good for readers who like enemies-to-lovers and a pretty high level of knight-in-shining-armor heroics. I wondered for a while whether this might be the first in a trilogy (again: dystopia books from the early 2010s!), but things feel fairly wrapped up by the end, so while it's possible that it'll spin off in other directions (or with other characters?), this makes for a quick read on its own.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
I had it in my head that this would be a boarding school book, but it's more of a restrictive college with boarding school rules (curfew, very limited freedoms, sneaking out to drink, etc.) setting. This is a highly regulated society with strict class division, which plays a huge role. Think dystopia books from the early 2010s; Eloise and her family are on the poverty track with very limited options for upward trajectory, while Grayson's family is high up in the food chain and determined to keep it that way.
I loved the premise (and the cover!) but could have used a bit more by way of worldbuilding. It was late in the book before I got a sense of what the wards were, and I never did figure out why Eloise's bestie from Maine has an aggressive Irish(?) accent. (Maggie doesn't serve a whole lot of purpose in the book—she's mostly accent and Eloise feeling guilty that she doesn't have time to hang out with Maggie because she's trying to save her own life.) I'd also be curious to know more about how the wards, which seem to have quite strict and limited borders, work across continents, and what exactly they do beyond keep out the "riffraff".
This is YA, so there's a romance; it's not really my jam, but it'll be good for readers who like enemies-to-lovers and a pretty high level of knight-in-shining-armor heroics. I wondered for a while whether this might be the first in a trilogy (again: dystopia books from the early 2010s!), but things feel fairly wrapped up by the end, so while it's possible that it'll spin off in other directions (or with other characters?), this makes for a quick read on its own.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alchemy of Souls is a thrilling adventure that has romance, suspense, and magic which makes every turn of the page more impossible to put down. The characters are fantastically matched with Eloise always rising to the occasion to do what is right while Grayson is the perfect blend of omission and challenge. He will do whatever is necessary to protect the people important to him and end his uncles corruption.
I was captivated by Eloise and Grayson, their romance blossoms through magic, understanding, and eventually trust in each other. They have quickly become one of my favorite book couples.
As an advance copy reader, I have read several of Adriana’s books and each one delights more than the last. I might even say that this is the best book yet by Adriana Mather.
I was captivated by Eloise and Grayson, their romance blossoms through magic, understanding, and eventually trust in each other. They have quickly become one of my favorite book couples.
As an advance copy reader, I have read several of Adriana’s books and each one delights more than the last. I might even say that this is the best book yet by Adriana Mather.
August 10, 2026
Alchemy of Souls captured me immediately, and turned out to be a book I found very, very hard to put down. Looking back, a big standout was the world building. Adriana Mather crafted a unique world with different social classes, magical abilities, and a corrupt political structure. While the magic system was complex, her stellar world building made the world and information easily digestible. Considering this is a stand alone book, I found this to be quite impressive, especially considering similar books/styles I've read are duologies/trilogies. Another element I loved was the academy setting. Transparently, academic/training programs are a favorite of mine so it's not unexpected that I enjoyed that piece, but I thought it added a fun layer of forced proximity to the mix.
I loved the world and setting, and I also loved our characters! For being a YA story/having young characters, I actually found Grayson and Eloise to have a maturity to them. They didn't feel ridiculously young or naive, and I found that to be quite refreshing. Also, considering this is a singular book, I was really impressed with Mather's ability to develop their relationship from reluctant allies (with a dash of enemies) to unlikely friends to fake dating to real dating/love. I never felt like it was all lust or instant attraction, and I was just obsessed with seeing how their relationship adapted throughout the book. Also, I'd be remiss to not mention the banter. Grayson was such a flirt, and I was kicking my feet reading their back and forth. This was even better on audio, I thought the narrators did such a good job bringing these characters to life. They were able to seamlessly switch from fun flirting, to a more emotional tone when discussing their pasts, families, fears, etc. I would 100% listen to these narrators again and again.
All in all, this was a great YA fantasy/romantasy! Anyone who likes dark academia or books with an academic background, enemies to lovers, or schemes to dismantle the current system will really enjoy this. I also think it'd be perfect for those wanting these things, but not wanting to commit to a 2-3 book series. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!
I loved the world and setting, and I also loved our characters! For being a YA story/having young characters, I actually found Grayson and Eloise to have a maturity to them. They didn't feel ridiculously young or naive, and I found that to be quite refreshing. Also, considering this is a singular book, I was really impressed with Mather's ability to develop their relationship from reluctant allies (with a dash of enemies) to unlikely friends to fake dating to real dating/love. I never felt like it was all lust or instant attraction, and I was just obsessed with seeing how their relationship adapted throughout the book. Also, I'd be remiss to not mention the banter. Grayson was such a flirt, and I was kicking my feet reading their back and forth. This was even better on audio, I thought the narrators did such a good job bringing these characters to life. They were able to seamlessly switch from fun flirting, to a more emotional tone when discussing their pasts, families, fears, etc. I would 100% listen to these narrators again and again.
All in all, this was a great YA fantasy/romantasy! Anyone who likes dark academia or books with an academic background, enemies to lovers, or schemes to dismantle the current system will really enjoy this. I also think it'd be perfect for those wanting these things, but not wanting to commit to a 2-3 book series. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
meh
Want to Read
February 2, 2026just so we're clear, I would read anything Adriana Mather writes. I would read her grocery list if she published it.
August 4, 2026
This cutesy YA book was a fun time! I really liked Grayson in particular, and I’m always a huge fan of forced proximity, which this one has in spades. I didn’t realize going in that this book is urban fantasy, so I was initially a bit thrown by such modern language/terms being used, but I also felt like this became less as the story went on.
I’d love to know if this is meant to be a standalone or if it will be a series, because I could see it going either way. The ending was satisfying, but there’s a definite opening that would make for an exciting sequel. In fact, the ending was a bit rushed, so I’d love for it to be explored further!
While I loved the fake dating, and really all of the romance aspects of the book, Eloise was a little off-putting at times, but in all reality she was probably just acting her age so 🤷🏻♀️ I also really liked Grayson and Eloise working together on their shared mission and watching them slowly be open with each other and trust one another. I would, however, have liked more content from the actual academy because that’s ultimately what drew me to pick up the book.
All in all, though, I really liked this one! I thought it was a solid YA romantasy, and I’ll be hoping for a second book. 🤞🏻
🎧This was a great one to listen to! I felt like both narrators really sounded their age (sometimes hard to accomplish in YA books) and really embodied their characters. I think the audiobook is a great way to enjoy this book!
I’d love to know if this is meant to be a standalone or if it will be a series, because I could see it going either way. The ending was satisfying, but there’s a definite opening that would make for an exciting sequel. In fact, the ending was a bit rushed, so I’d love for it to be explored further!
While I loved the fake dating, and really all of the romance aspects of the book, Eloise was a little off-putting at times, but in all reality she was probably just acting her age so 🤷🏻♀️ I also really liked Grayson and Eloise working together on their shared mission and watching them slowly be open with each other and trust one another. I would, however, have liked more content from the actual academy because that’s ultimately what drew me to pick up the book.
All in all, though, I really liked this one! I thought it was a solid YA romantasy, and I’ll be hoping for a second book. 🤞🏻
🎧This was a great one to listen to! I felt like both narrators really sounded their age (sometimes hard to accomplish in YA books) and really embodied their characters. I think the audiobook is a great way to enjoy this book!
August 6, 2026
3☆ | really this was an arcade and I finished it before it was published (yesterday) but I may or may not have forgotten to write the review so here we are..
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
One thing I just could not stand was the nickname that Grayson had for Eloise, Claws. I just hated it and I'm not sure why. To me it felt forced, and after a point, everytime he called her that I was just rolling my eyes because I did not like that nickname.
Another thing that just didn't work for me was the way the author described things (places, characters, etc.)
The writing was nice, and I liked the way the story was executed, but the descriptions of everything just felt off to me and I cant explain why. Some things were also just not explained enough? Like I feel like we didn't get nearly enough info about the Lawless, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 that does not mean we need an unnecessary book 2 or prequel or anything. I just wish it went into detail some more.
There was also a huge chunk of the book where it felt like we weren't going forward at all, nothing new was happening and it just felt a bit boring for a lot of the book because of that.
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
Definitely wasn't a terrible book but I think it could've used much more work and could've done with some changed before it was published but it was still an enjoyable read as it is!
Thank you to the publishers for reaching out to me and offering an arc in exchange for a review!
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
One thing I just could not stand was the nickname that Grayson had for Eloise, Claws. I just hated it and I'm not sure why. To me it felt forced, and after a point, everytime he called her that I was just rolling my eyes because I did not like that nickname.
Another thing that just didn't work for me was the way the author described things (places, characters, etc.)
The writing was nice, and I liked the way the story was executed, but the descriptions of everything just felt off to me and I cant explain why. Some things were also just not explained enough? Like I feel like we didn't get nearly enough info about the Lawless, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 that does not mean we need an unnecessary book 2 or prequel or anything. I just wish it went into detail some more.
There was also a huge chunk of the book where it felt like we weren't going forward at all, nothing new was happening and it just felt a bit boring for a lot of the book because of that.
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
Definitely wasn't a terrible book but I think it could've used much more work and could've done with some changed before it was published but it was still an enjoyable read as it is!
Thank you to the publishers for reaching out to me and offering an arc in exchange for a review!
August 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an advance audiobook copy of Alchemy of Souls in exchange for an honest review.
Alchemy of Souls was an enjoyable YA fantasy with an interesting magic system, strong world-building, and a sweet slow-burn romance. The story follows Eloise and Grayson, two students from completely different social classes who are forced to work together on a dangerous mission involving an ancient magical key. As they uncover long-buried secrets, the stakes continue to grow.
What stood out most to me was the contrast between the two main characters and how naturally their relationship developed. I also liked the focus on class inequality and how it was woven into the story without taking away from the adventure. The different magical disciplines gave the world a unique feel, and I found myself wanting to learn more about how everything worked.
The audiobook was easy to listen to, and the narration did a great job bringing the characters and magical world to life. It kept me engaged from beginning to end and made the story flow really well.
My only real complaint was that the ending felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the book. I was hoping for a bit more payoff after everything that had been building, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
If you’re looking for a YA fantasy with magic, mystery, a slow-burn romance, and an engaging academic setting, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an advance audiobook copy of Alchemy of Souls in exchange for an honest review.
Alchemy of Souls was an enjoyable YA fantasy with an interesting magic system, strong world-building, and a sweet slow-burn romance. The story follows Eloise and Grayson, two students from completely different social classes who are forced to work together on a dangerous mission involving an ancient magical key. As they uncover long-buried secrets, the stakes continue to grow.
What stood out most to me was the contrast between the two main characters and how naturally their relationship developed. I also liked the focus on class inequality and how it was woven into the story without taking away from the adventure. The different magical disciplines gave the world a unique feel, and I found myself wanting to learn more about how everything worked.
The audiobook was easy to listen to, and the narration did a great job bringing the characters and magical world to life. It kept me engaged from beginning to end and made the story flow really well.
My only real complaint was that the ending felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the book. I was hoping for a bit more payoff after everything that had been building, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
If you’re looking for a YA fantasy with magic, mystery, a slow-burn romance, and an engaging academic setting, this is definitely worth picking up.
August 9, 2026
Enjoyable and far better written than much of YA Fantasy.
This is not actually a Romantasy, which was great news for me but probably something to be aware of if that’s your preferred genre. This book is primarily a standard Fantasy with some dystopian elements and a very mild romantic subplot.
This doesn’t feel quite as atmospheric as Mather’s fantastic How to Hang a Witch books, nor is it as exciting as the Killing November duology. But it’s a well constructed world, has some decent magical campus vibes, and boasts a compelling enough story.
The magical system isn’t super well-defined here, but the rules of the game and the magical politics are, and in all it’s a good blend of palace intrigue and hero’s quest.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is not actually a Romantasy, which was great news for me but probably something to be aware of if that’s your preferred genre. This book is primarily a standard Fantasy with some dystopian elements and a very mild romantic subplot.
This doesn’t feel quite as atmospheric as Mather’s fantastic How to Hang a Witch books, nor is it as exciting as the Killing November duology. But it’s a well constructed world, has some decent magical campus vibes, and boasts a compelling enough story.
The magical system isn’t super well-defined here, but the rules of the game and the magical politics are, and in all it’s a good blend of palace intrigue and hero’s quest.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 1, 2026
4.5 rounded up to a 5!
this was sooo fast-paced & I flew through the audiobook in less than a day because of it! I also love that it’s a standalone — sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit. I loved Grayson & Eloise so much! this was a cute but high-stakes academy romantasy that had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter, and I really loved the narrators too. they did an amazing job at bringing Gray & El to life!
🔮 magical academy
🔮 rivals to lovers
🔮 fake dating
🔮 class war
🔮 standalone
🔮 forced proximity
🔮 found family
🔮 duet narration
4.5 rounded up to 5!
thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook copy!
this was sooo fast-paced & I flew through the audiobook in less than a day because of it! I also love that it’s a standalone — sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit. I loved Grayson & Eloise so much! this was a cute but high-stakes academy romantasy that had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter, and I really loved the narrators too. they did an amazing job at bringing Gray & El to life!
🔮 magical academy
🔮 rivals to lovers
🔮 fake dating
🔮 class war
🔮 standalone
🔮 forced proximity
🔮 found family
🔮 duet narration
4.5 rounded up to 5!
thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook copy!
February 28, 2026
Alchemy of Souls follows the characters of Eloise and Grayson as they attempt to understand the link they have to a mysterious key that only seems to appear in their presence. If you go into this book understanding that it is written for a young adult audience, it is an enjoyable read.
The magic system is interesting with students having specific talents that they attend university to master while a select few are deemed "gifted" due to being attuned to multiple types of magic. The characters are interesting if not a little less developed than I normally like; however, like I said, this is typical of a young adult novel so that is to be expected. I wish some of the characters (like Maggie, Adrien, and Akari) would have been present more in the book to allow for a deeper connection with them. They show up often enough to move the plot forward, but not enough to be truly meaningful outside of that. The developing romance between the main characters was sweet and fun to read at times, but doesn't go much beyond that in terms of depth which makes it a suitable romance for younger readers, but not enough for someone looking for something more.
The ending was predictable, but still had enough action that it was interesting to read. The first part of the book drug a bit, but picked up once the final conflict was set in motion. The resolution to the book was rushed and simplified, but (since I haven't said this enough) that's what makes it more suitable for a younger audience. The topics are complex enough for some teens, but still oversimplified at times.
Overall, I would recommend this to young adult readers with the caution that there is some more mature language at times that can take you by surprise. It does, however, have an interesting enemies to lovers trope with enough action to be engaging and interesting.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book to review!
The magic system is interesting with students having specific talents that they attend university to master while a select few are deemed "gifted" due to being attuned to multiple types of magic. The characters are interesting if not a little less developed than I normally like; however, like I said, this is typical of a young adult novel so that is to be expected. I wish some of the characters (like Maggie, Adrien, and Akari) would have been present more in the book to allow for a deeper connection with them. They show up often enough to move the plot forward, but not enough to be truly meaningful outside of that. The developing romance between the main characters was sweet and fun to read at times, but doesn't go much beyond that in terms of depth which makes it a suitable romance for younger readers, but not enough for someone looking for something more.
The ending was predictable, but still had enough action that it was interesting to read. The first part of the book drug a bit, but picked up once the final conflict was set in motion. The resolution to the book was rushed and simplified, but (since I haven't said this enough) that's what makes it more suitable for a younger audience. The topics are complex enough for some teens, but still oversimplified at times.
Overall, I would recommend this to young adult readers with the caution that there is some more mature language at times that can take you by surprise. It does, however, have an interesting enemies to lovers trope with enough action to be engaging and interesting.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book to review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2026
Review of ARC received by the author
I am currently in a reading slump right now because I feel like a lot of the newer books being published are severely lacking in that feeling I used to get when I was younger which is why I’ve been reading a lot of my old favorites trying to bring back that spark I once had. I certainly didn’t have to worry about that with Alchemy of Souls. (I never do with Adriana Mather’s books, though.)
The only “complaint” I have is that I want more! It has the classic foundation of a young adult novel with a unique storyline. So it healed a bit of that nostalgic void I can’t seem to fill lately while also providing a fresh new story that left me hoping for more to come.
I am currently in a reading slump right now because I feel like a lot of the newer books being published are severely lacking in that feeling I used to get when I was younger which is why I’ve been reading a lot of my old favorites trying to bring back that spark I once had. I certainly didn’t have to worry about that with Alchemy of Souls. (I never do with Adriana Mather’s books, though.)
The only “complaint” I have is that I want more! It has the classic foundation of a young adult novel with a unique storyline. So it healed a bit of that nostalgic void I can’t seem to fill lately while also providing a fresh new story that left me hoping for more to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately hooked from the start. The magic system is very unique, and I loved that Grayson and Eloise couldn't disclose their actions to anybody. It kept me on my toes, wondering if anyone was going to find out. I loved all the characters in this book, especially Grayson. He was the perfect MMC. This book is dual POV and has the fake dating trope in it. I highly recommend this read!
August 20, 2026
Alchemy of Souls is a young adult magical academy book about two first-year mages that are asked to conjure an important key.
On the day she’s supposed to test into the University for the Magical Arts, Eloise Belrose, the daughter of a poor laborer, should be conjuring spells that will secure her spot. Instead, she creates an image of a mysterious magical key—and her classmate, Grayson Stone. Unsure of how she managed to do it but desperate to gain access to the elusive key, the High Chancellor (who also happens to be Grayson’s uncle) sends them both to the University with one condition: they have to stay together and recreate the events that led to the key’s appearance. Of course, forced proximity leads to feelings along with a magical connection.
Alchemy of Souls is a contemporary romantic fantasy about two people who, because of their different social classes and magical abilities, would normally never end up together. I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry, which made this such a fun read. I also really liked the magical system and the way the class system was incorporated into the story. I’m definitely hoping there will be more books in this series!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration Notes: Alchemy of Souls was read by Stacy Carolan and Caitlin Kelly, who do an excellent job with the voices of Grayson and Eloise plus the various accents at their European University.
Disclosure: An ALC (advanced listening copy) was provided by LibroFM for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
On the day she’s supposed to test into the University for the Magical Arts, Eloise Belrose, the daughter of a poor laborer, should be conjuring spells that will secure her spot. Instead, she creates an image of a mysterious magical key—and her classmate, Grayson Stone. Unsure of how she managed to do it but desperate to gain access to the elusive key, the High Chancellor (who also happens to be Grayson’s uncle) sends them both to the University with one condition: they have to stay together and recreate the events that led to the key’s appearance. Of course, forced proximity leads to feelings along with a magical connection.
Alchemy of Souls is a contemporary romantic fantasy about two people who, because of their different social classes and magical abilities, would normally never end up together. I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry, which made this such a fun read. I also really liked the magical system and the way the class system was incorporated into the story. I’m definitely hoping there will be more books in this series!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration Notes: Alchemy of Souls was read by Stacy Carolan and Caitlin Kelly, who do an excellent job with the voices of Grayson and Eloise plus the various accents at their European University.
Disclosure: An ALC (advanced listening copy) was provided by LibroFM for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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June 5, 2026ARC Review - Goodreads Giveaway
Though this follows a pretty standard YA fantasy romance format/flow, the vibes were most certainly vibing, and the dark academia setting will always be my favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, devouring it over 3 afternoons. Although typically I am not one for modern settings in my fantasy tales, however light or high fantasy, there were no distractions with modern references pulling me out of the settings and ‘world’ elements so beautifully crafted in this book— which is a an admirable feat magnificently achieved by the author. There is magic, mystery, class-divide, adventure, betrayal, banter, friendship, and above all else character growth and inner & conjoined strength. “Nothing less!” — I am so excited to share this book with my niece when it publishes!
Though this follows a pretty standard YA fantasy romance format/flow, the vibes were most certainly vibing, and the dark academia setting will always be my favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, devouring it over 3 afternoons. Although typically I am not one for modern settings in my fantasy tales, however light or high fantasy, there were no distractions with modern references pulling me out of the settings and ‘world’ elements so beautifully crafted in this book— which is a an admirable feat magnificently achieved by the author. There is magic, mystery, class-divide, adventure, betrayal, banter, friendship, and above all else character growth and inner & conjoined strength. “Nothing less!” — I am so excited to share this book with my niece when it publishes!
August 9, 2026
Mather has such depth to her writing, and I cannot believe how many genres and ages she is able to successfully write! I really enjoyed this YA dark academia/fantasy. I think this would make a great "starter" fantasy as the world Mather has created is easy to dive into, the characters are well developed, and the story moved along at a good pace. It also is enjoyable for those who are seasoned fantasy readers who are looking for a lighter fantasy read. I look forward to reading whatever Mather writes next!
August 4, 2026
I’m such a sucker for dark academia, so I couldn’t say no to this YA spin on it. I thought Mather did well with this story. I really enjoyed the magical academia setting with the opposites attract main characters who are forced to work together to solve a mystery. We’re also treated to a fake dating scenario between Eloise and Grayson. Between the pressure to solve the key mystery and the fake dating, there’s definite chemistry brewing between the two that you can’t help but root for. I also liked the world building, especially the magic system. I do wish the pacing was a little more consistent as it took a little while to get hooked by the story. I also felt like the ending was rushed. The audiobook was easy to follow and I enjoyed the use of dual narrators. The performance was engaging and entertaining making for an easy binge read.
ARC courtesy of Mac Kids — Feiwel & Friends
ALC courtesy of Macmillan Audio
ARC courtesy of Mac Kids — Feiwel & Friends
ALC courtesy of Macmillan Audio
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved the magic of this world. Very simple but well written. And the book not the most perfect chemistry of the 2 but I still liked their character arcs one being grumpy other more sunshine and nice and wanting more of these characters since way it’s written seems it’s a stand alone but I’m hoping for a series.
So Adriana has made for a very fast paced urban fantasy I couldn’t put down.
So Adriana has made for a very fast paced urban fantasy I couldn’t put down.
July 20, 2026
First off, thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay… this book had me HOOKED. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” and suddenly it was way past my bedtime. 😭
Alchemy of Souls had everything I love in a fantasy: incredible world-building, magic that kept surprising me, twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, and characters I couldn’t help but root for. The atmosphere was so immersive that I felt like I was right there uncovering every secret alongside them.
One of my favorite things was how naturally everything unfolded. Every answer just led to more questions, and I was fully invested from beginning to end. I never hit a point where I wanted to put it down because I needed to know what happened next.
This was such a fun, magical, and captivating read, and it’s easily earned its five stars from me. If YA fantasy with mystery, adventure, and plenty of heart is your thing, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Okay… this book had me HOOKED. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” and suddenly it was way past my bedtime. 😭
Alchemy of Souls had everything I love in a fantasy: incredible world-building, magic that kept surprising me, twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, and characters I couldn’t help but root for. The atmosphere was so immersive that I felt like I was right there uncovering every secret alongside them.
One of my favorite things was how naturally everything unfolded. Every answer just led to more questions, and I was fully invested from beginning to end. I never hit a point where I wanted to put it down because I needed to know what happened next.
This was such a fun, magical, and captivating read, and it’s easily earned its five stars from me. If YA fantasy with mystery, adventure, and plenty of heart is your thing, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 10, 2026I absolutely devoured this. Every single second of it. The writing was so immersive, the pacing never let up, and I was hooked from the very first chapter.
Eloise and Grayson were such compelling characters. Eloise’s determination to secure a future for her family made her a character I was deeply invested in, and I loved how much heart she brought to the story. Grayson, meanwhile, had that perfect mix of arrogance, charm, and hidden vulnerability that made every scene with him interesting. Together, their chemistry was fantastic. Their banter was sharp, the tension was delicious, and I loved watching them get pulled deeper into the magical mess they were trying to solve.
Beyond the romance, I really enjoyed the mystery and the exploration of power, privilege, and corruption within the magical system. The stakes felt real, and the emotional weight of the story hit hard, especially the grief surrounding the loss of family members. That part felt incredibly real and tugged at my heart in a way that was especially personal for me, since I’ve recently gone through something similar.
Thank the Lord I was invited to read this ARC because this was everything I wanted from a YA fantasy. I already miss these characters.
Eloise and Grayson were such compelling characters. Eloise’s determination to secure a future for her family made her a character I was deeply invested in, and I loved how much heart she brought to the story. Grayson, meanwhile, had that perfect mix of arrogance, charm, and hidden vulnerability that made every scene with him interesting. Together, their chemistry was fantastic. Their banter was sharp, the tension was delicious, and I loved watching them get pulled deeper into the magical mess they were trying to solve.
Beyond the romance, I really enjoyed the mystery and the exploration of power, privilege, and corruption within the magical system. The stakes felt real, and the emotional weight of the story hit hard, especially the grief surrounding the loss of family members. That part felt incredibly real and tugged at my heart in a way that was especially personal for me, since I’ve recently gone through something similar.
Thank the Lord I was invited to read this ARC because this was everything I wanted from a YA fantasy. I already miss these characters.
February 5, 2026
I am grateful to have received an arc of Alchemy of Souls from NetGalley.
Alchemy of Souls begins with our FMC, Eloise, wanting to be the first from her family of laborers to get into the “elusive” Mage university. She ultimately gets into the university, along with what seems to be every other student from her school. However, during her entrance exam events happen that lead to her having to work alongside Grayson, the MMC from an elite Mage family, to retrieve a special key for the Chancellor that only their connection can access.
Character wise, I was not a huge fan of Eloise. I felt like she had unnecessary animosity towards Grayson, in the beginning, and was more focused on trying to enjoy college with her best friend than focus on the task at hand. She was almost one dimensional to me. Whereas, Grayson was a more likable character. He was witty and charismatic and I found myself enjoying his POV more because he had more character depth and a stronger personal storyline.
I do have to say that there was a huge part of the book where I felt nothing really happened. It wasn’t until about 70% in when things started to come to light, truths were revealed, and the plot started to pick up. And by that point, the book was basically over. If this is meant to be a standalone, I don’t feel like the author did a strong job of giving us enough insight into the “Lawless” people and what the ultimate goal was for them.
Alchemy of Souls begins with our FMC, Eloise, wanting to be the first from her family of laborers to get into the “elusive” Mage university. She ultimately gets into the university, along with what seems to be every other student from her school. However, during her entrance exam events happen that lead to her having to work alongside Grayson, the MMC from an elite Mage family, to retrieve a special key for the Chancellor that only their connection can access.
Character wise, I was not a huge fan of Eloise. I felt like she had unnecessary animosity towards Grayson, in the beginning, and was more focused on trying to enjoy college with her best friend than focus on the task at hand. She was almost one dimensional to me. Whereas, Grayson was a more likable character. He was witty and charismatic and I found myself enjoying his POV more because he had more character depth and a stronger personal storyline.
I do have to say that there was a huge part of the book where I felt nothing really happened. It wasn’t until about 70% in when things started to come to light, truths were revealed, and the plot started to pick up. And by that point, the book was basically over. If this is meant to be a standalone, I don’t feel like the author did a strong job of giving us enough insight into the “Lawless” people and what the ultimate goal was for them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An action-packed standalone (I think) YA romantasy... interesting themes about class and privilege with strong dark academia vibes! Full review to come closer to publication!
Thanks to MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 1, 2026
Ok. I’m guilty. I do judge books by their cover. And this cover drew me in like a kitty to catnip.
The synopsis of a magical university with a rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity premise backed up that beautiful cover and so I requested an early listening copy.
But covers can be deceiving. What I saw as a Regency Era setting by the artwork was quickly dispelled in the first chapters.
This book has a contemporary setting which took me aback for a moment. The beginning chapters take place in a modern day Maine where our FMC is getting ready for her university entrance exam. Coming from the laboring class, it’s a huge deal to be excepted into The University of Magical Arts so there’s a lot riding on her to perform her magic, Alchemy, well.
We begin in a general store which fit with the Regency time period but then there’s this jarring dichotomy of modern day technology and social media and cars and those timeless nasty entitled rich girls that just made me go, “whoa, maybe this isn’t the book for me.” Plus there’s the not-so-YA language with lots of F-bombs throughout the story.
But I was able to pivot and wrap my head around this strangely dystopian Maine where there’s a deep divide between the poor (Laborers) and the rich highly trained magical students. And then there’s The Lawless which both factions are against and there’s wards to protect both factions from them.
Despite the weird contemporary setting, my curiosity was piqued so I decided to proceed.
Things move quickly in this story. Strange occurrences happen during the entrance exam which set off a string of events that puts our heroine, Eloise Belrose, in close proximity with our rich hero, Grayson Stone.
Off we go to the university which is located in Ireland. Here the contemporary aspect didn’t bother me so much because it takes a back seat to the ancient setting. But I will say that the modern technology does have a part to play later in the story.
Our couple has two weeks to produce a magical key that will gain them entrance into an area where much of the magical knowledge is housed. Our power-hungry villain is Grayson’s uncle, the High Chancellor, and he wants access to this knowledge. And this story is all about how Eloise and Grayson discover how to call the key and thwart the uncle’s dastardly plans.
Along the way we have rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, close proximity, suave competition for Eloise’s affection, and a fierce friendship between Eloise and her life long friend, Maggie.
The story is dual POV and the chapters are short and snappy and things move along quickly so I was never bored.
The romance is sweet and believable. No spice just some kissing.
I enjoyed the magic system and the Irish setting. I also enjoyed Maggie who delivers much of the comic relief. And I’ve become a staunch supporter of standalones and this one is excellent! I’m kinda sad there won’t be more because I really enjoyed the characters and setting of this story.
The audiobook is exceptional and both of the narrators, Caitlin Kelly and Stacy Carolan, give wonderful performances! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
So, if you’re looking for a quick romantic and magical standalone, I highly recommend Alchemy of Souls!
4.5🌟-0🌶️-5🎧
The synopsis of a magical university with a rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity premise backed up that beautiful cover and so I requested an early listening copy.
But covers can be deceiving. What I saw as a Regency Era setting by the artwork was quickly dispelled in the first chapters.
This book has a contemporary setting which took me aback for a moment. The beginning chapters take place in a modern day Maine where our FMC is getting ready for her university entrance exam. Coming from the laboring class, it’s a huge deal to be excepted into The University of Magical Arts so there’s a lot riding on her to perform her magic, Alchemy, well.
We begin in a general store which fit with the Regency time period but then there’s this jarring dichotomy of modern day technology and social media and cars and those timeless nasty entitled rich girls that just made me go, “whoa, maybe this isn’t the book for me.” Plus there’s the not-so-YA language with lots of F-bombs throughout the story.
But I was able to pivot and wrap my head around this strangely dystopian Maine where there’s a deep divide between the poor (Laborers) and the rich highly trained magical students. And then there’s The Lawless which both factions are against and there’s wards to protect both factions from them.
Despite the weird contemporary setting, my curiosity was piqued so I decided to proceed.
Things move quickly in this story. Strange occurrences happen during the entrance exam which set off a string of events that puts our heroine, Eloise Belrose, in close proximity with our rich hero, Grayson Stone.
Off we go to the university which is located in Ireland. Here the contemporary aspect didn’t bother me so much because it takes a back seat to the ancient setting. But I will say that the modern technology does have a part to play later in the story.
Our couple has two weeks to produce a magical key that will gain them entrance into an area where much of the magical knowledge is housed. Our power-hungry villain is Grayson’s uncle, the High Chancellor, and he wants access to this knowledge. And this story is all about how Eloise and Grayson discover how to call the key and thwart the uncle’s dastardly plans.
Along the way we have rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, close proximity, suave competition for Eloise’s affection, and a fierce friendship between Eloise and her life long friend, Maggie.
The story is dual POV and the chapters are short and snappy and things move along quickly so I was never bored.
The romance is sweet and believable. No spice just some kissing.
I enjoyed the magic system and the Irish setting. I also enjoyed Maggie who delivers much of the comic relief. And I’ve become a staunch supporter of standalones and this one is excellent! I’m kinda sad there won’t be more because I really enjoyed the characters and setting of this story.
The audiobook is exceptional and both of the narrators, Caitlin Kelly and Stacy Carolan, give wonderful performances! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
So, if you’re looking for a quick romantic and magical standalone, I highly recommend Alchemy of Souls!
4.5🌟-0🌶️-5🎧
July 20, 2026
Alchemy of Souls started me off in a place of confusion and, unfortunately, that confusion never really abated, leading to a less-than-stellar reading experience. That’s not to say that the book didn’t have enjoyable aspects, since I ultimately finished it, but a lack of understanding of what was going on half the time outweighed everything else.
We start the story with Eloise desperately trying to prove that her magic is worth admission into the ultra-exclusive mage university. I love me an underdog, so I was here for it. And starting the story in a place where we see how she’s treated because she’s from a Laborer family rather than a Mage family made the world's politics (which is our world, but nobody knows about them, so it’s also separate) really stand out. Then, the book completely lost me. If you’ll take a gander at the summary, you’ll see that a magic key is mentioned one time. Turns out that magic key is integral to the entire plot, but shows up out of seemingly nowhere with no prior information for me to understand how important this key actually is. Somehow, Eloise summons it during her magical demonstration (this isn’t a spoiler, promise. All of this happens in the first couple of chapters.) and everyone knows exactly what it is. Except me. They’re going on and on about this key being super powerful and no one can ever find it and all this other stuff, and I’m sitting there going, “What does this key even go to (okay, obviously it probably goes to the archive since that’s in the name of the key, but what is the archive)? If no one ever sees it, how does everyone know what it is? What’s so special about it?” It was even in all caps in the book when it showed up. And italicized. “THE ARCHIVE KEY.” That’s a direct quote. I’m not knocking the quote; I’m just saying Eloise took one look at this key and knew exactly what it was, but didn’t tell me, so I don’t understand why it’s so important that it needed all caps and italicization. (This was how it was formatted in the ARC, so there is a possibility this will change. If that is the case, I apologize for my incorrect quote.)
Eventually I was informed that the archive is this super magical place full of super magical information, but it took an unbelievable amount of time for me to get that little tidbit. I honestly didn’t even know why the High Chancellor wanted to get in there so bad until the end, and it barely made sense. The High Chancellor in general barely made sense, but that’s a whole other thing that I don’t want to get into.
Speaking of not making sense: the Lawless. There was so much potential for this, but I felt they were terribly underutilized. They’re supposed to be the main point of conflict, aside from the High Chancellor, but they were just name-dropped here and there. I get wanting to focus on the romance and this magic key that I still don’t know what it does, but it felt like they were introduced just to have some kind of rebel group thing going on. A talking point, if you will, but nothing more. It was honestly disappointing.
As for the characters, Grayson was a bit of a dirtbag, but he did typically acknowledge his dirtbag-ness, so I suppose I can’t fault him too much. Eloise was … fine? I really don’t have anything to say about her, and she was the main character, which kind of sucks. The other characters were, unfortunately, unmemorable, especially seeing as I can’t remember their names and it hasn’t been that long since I finished the book. Everyone felt like they were just there, and introduced solely for having other characters.
Now, I know that was a lot of negativity, but one thing I really did like was the magic. The way it was broken up was super interesting: elemental, illusion, artificer, and botany. That’s a structure I haven’t seen before, and I enjoy when magic feels familiar, but is different enough that it stands apart. I really wish we had seen more of what all those sections could do, but given what the story focused on, I was mostly satisfied with what I got.
All in all, there is definitely a solid story here, but more explanations would have really helped. And not just about the key. About everything in general. I’m not opposed to having questions, but when the question concerns the main plot device, it’s a little frustrating not to know what’s going on. Alchemy of Souls was, unfortunately, not a favorite.
I received an advanced copy of Alchemy of Souls directly from the publisher through NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.
We start the story with Eloise desperately trying to prove that her magic is worth admission into the ultra-exclusive mage university. I love me an underdog, so I was here for it. And starting the story in a place where we see how she’s treated because she’s from a Laborer family rather than a Mage family made the world's politics (which is our world, but nobody knows about them, so it’s also separate) really stand out. Then, the book completely lost me. If you’ll take a gander at the summary, you’ll see that a magic key is mentioned one time. Turns out that magic key is integral to the entire plot, but shows up out of seemingly nowhere with no prior information for me to understand how important this key actually is. Somehow, Eloise summons it during her magical demonstration (this isn’t a spoiler, promise. All of this happens in the first couple of chapters.) and everyone knows exactly what it is. Except me. They’re going on and on about this key being super powerful and no one can ever find it and all this other stuff, and I’m sitting there going, “What does this key even go to (okay, obviously it probably goes to the archive since that’s in the name of the key, but what is the archive)? If no one ever sees it, how does everyone know what it is? What’s so special about it?” It was even in all caps in the book when it showed up. And italicized. “THE ARCHIVE KEY.” That’s a direct quote. I’m not knocking the quote; I’m just saying Eloise took one look at this key and knew exactly what it was, but didn’t tell me, so I don’t understand why it’s so important that it needed all caps and italicization. (This was how it was formatted in the ARC, so there is a possibility this will change. If that is the case, I apologize for my incorrect quote.)
Eventually I was informed that the archive is this super magical place full of super magical information, but it took an unbelievable amount of time for me to get that little tidbit. I honestly didn’t even know why the High Chancellor wanted to get in there so bad until the end, and it barely made sense. The High Chancellor in general barely made sense, but that’s a whole other thing that I don’t want to get into.
Speaking of not making sense: the Lawless. There was so much potential for this, but I felt they were terribly underutilized. They’re supposed to be the main point of conflict, aside from the High Chancellor, but they were just name-dropped here and there. I get wanting to focus on the romance and this magic key that I still don’t know what it does, but it felt like they were introduced just to have some kind of rebel group thing going on. A talking point, if you will, but nothing more. It was honestly disappointing.
As for the characters, Grayson was a bit of a dirtbag, but he did typically acknowledge his dirtbag-ness, so I suppose I can’t fault him too much. Eloise was … fine? I really don’t have anything to say about her, and she was the main character, which kind of sucks. The other characters were, unfortunately, unmemorable, especially seeing as I can’t remember their names and it hasn’t been that long since I finished the book. Everyone felt like they were just there, and introduced solely for having other characters.
Now, I know that was a lot of negativity, but one thing I really did like was the magic. The way it was broken up was super interesting: elemental, illusion, artificer, and botany. That’s a structure I haven’t seen before, and I enjoy when magic feels familiar, but is different enough that it stands apart. I really wish we had seen more of what all those sections could do, but given what the story focused on, I was mostly satisfied with what I got.
All in all, there is definitely a solid story here, but more explanations would have really helped. And not just about the key. About everything in general. I’m not opposed to having questions, but when the question concerns the main plot device, it’s a little frustrating not to know what’s going on. Alchemy of Souls was, unfortunately, not a favorite.
I received an advanced copy of Alchemy of Souls directly from the publisher through NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2026
⭐️ 5/5. This is absolutely going to be a contender for top book of 2026 because what do you mean there’s a magical academy, forced proximity, YA enemies to lovers, and a magic-based caste system?! Say. Less.
Eloise and Greyson have attended the same magical academy through high school but they could not be more opposite. Eloise comes from a laboring family while Greyson is the son of the High Chancellor. On the day of the exam that determines their futures, unexpected results push them into working together on a high stakes assignment from the chancellor that could mean their deaths if they fail.
If that weren’t enough, the lawless (those outside the magical wards) are threatening magical civilization and secrets are coming unwoven at every turn. Eloise and Greyson have to work together to find the truth and expose it before it’s too late.
This audiobook grabbed me from the first minute with an inner monologue from Eloise about the high stakes surrounding her graduation exam and I never got bored for a second after. The narrators had the perfect voices and tones for these characters, and the pacing of the audiobook was ideal.
The author wove a magical, emotional, unique tale full of friendships, secrets, privilege, and love. There were amazing side characters (Eloise’s best friend Maggie is a spitfire of a human being and I loved her! Also, she and I share a name!), and this story gave me everything I wanted from a magical academia book. It’s perfect for fall! I insist you pick this up ASAP.
And Adriana Mather if you’re listening, I loved these characters and will be crushed if there’s not a sequel. 😜
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
Eloise and Greyson have attended the same magical academy through high school but they could not be more opposite. Eloise comes from a laboring family while Greyson is the son of the High Chancellor. On the day of the exam that determines their futures, unexpected results push them into working together on a high stakes assignment from the chancellor that could mean their deaths if they fail.
If that weren’t enough, the lawless (those outside the magical wards) are threatening magical civilization and secrets are coming unwoven at every turn. Eloise and Greyson have to work together to find the truth and expose it before it’s too late.
This audiobook grabbed me from the first minute with an inner monologue from Eloise about the high stakes surrounding her graduation exam and I never got bored for a second after. The narrators had the perfect voices and tones for these characters, and the pacing of the audiobook was ideal.
The author wove a magical, emotional, unique tale full of friendships, secrets, privilege, and love. There were amazing side characters (Eloise’s best friend Maggie is a spitfire of a human being and I loved her! Also, she and I share a name!), and this story gave me everything I wanted from a magical academia book. It’s perfect for fall! I insist you pick this up ASAP.
And Adriana Mather if you’re listening, I loved these characters and will be crushed if there’s not a sequel. 😜
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 10, 2026
Well, dang it.
I had things to do today.
Actual things. Responsible-adult things. And then Alchemy of Souls came along and said, “That’s cute. Sit down.”
So I did.
And I read this entire book in ONE AFTERNOON.
That’s how good it is.
And before anybody asks: No, I do not regret it. My to-do list, however, has filed a formal complaint.
This book had absolutely no business being this addictive. Dark academia? Check. Magic? Check. Mysterious ancient key? Check. Corrupt government? Check. Arrogant, annoyingly attractive golden boy? Check and check.
Forced proximity? Fake dating? Magical bonding? A ticking clock?
Ma’am. You had me at magical university and then just kept adding problems.
Grayson and Eloise are thrown together in the most spectacularly inconvenient way possible, forced to room together, take the same classes, pretend to be dating, and solve an impossible mystery before the High Chancellor gets even more power.
Because apparently college wasn’t stressful enough.
I loved Eloise, especially watching this hardworking girl from a family of Laborers prove that she belongs at Mage University. And Grayson? That arrogant little golden boy had me rolling my eyes one minute and completely invested in him the next.
The pacing was fantastic, the world-building pulled me right in, and every time I told myself, “Okay, self. One more chapter and then you need to go do something productive,” the book basically said, “You’re almost done. You can’t stop now.”
Next thing I know, it’s three hours later, the book is finished, the afternoon is gone, and absolutely nothing on my to-do list has been accomplished.
As a librarian, I feel obligated to say this is an excellent example of the transformative power of literature.
As the person who was supposed to be doing something else?
I blame the book.
Would absolutely neglect my responsibilities for it again.
Many thanks to Get Underlined and Feiwel & Friends for the gifted copy.
I had things to do today.
Actual things. Responsible-adult things. And then Alchemy of Souls came along and said, “That’s cute. Sit down.”
So I did.
And I read this entire book in ONE AFTERNOON.
That’s how good it is.
And before anybody asks: No, I do not regret it. My to-do list, however, has filed a formal complaint.
This book had absolutely no business being this addictive. Dark academia? Check. Magic? Check. Mysterious ancient key? Check. Corrupt government? Check. Arrogant, annoyingly attractive golden boy? Check and check.
Forced proximity? Fake dating? Magical bonding? A ticking clock?
Ma’am. You had me at magical university and then just kept adding problems.
Grayson and Eloise are thrown together in the most spectacularly inconvenient way possible, forced to room together, take the same classes, pretend to be dating, and solve an impossible mystery before the High Chancellor gets even more power.
Because apparently college wasn’t stressful enough.
I loved Eloise, especially watching this hardworking girl from a family of Laborers prove that she belongs at Mage University. And Grayson? That arrogant little golden boy had me rolling my eyes one minute and completely invested in him the next.
The pacing was fantastic, the world-building pulled me right in, and every time I told myself, “Okay, self. One more chapter and then you need to go do something productive,” the book basically said, “You’re almost done. You can’t stop now.”
Next thing I know, it’s three hours later, the book is finished, the afternoon is gone, and absolutely nothing on my to-do list has been accomplished.
As a librarian, I feel obligated to say this is an excellent example of the transformative power of literature.
As the person who was supposed to be doing something else?
I blame the book.
Would absolutely neglect my responsibilities for it again.
Many thanks to Get Underlined and Feiwel & Friends for the gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC copy of Achemy Of Souls and it did not disappoint.
Alchemy Of Souls takes you on thrilling adventure of magic, secrets, action and a blooming relationship between the two main characters Eloise and Grayson, that originally started off as fake dating.
The story starts off with Eloise coming from a less fortunate family of Laborers who wants to go to University to make things better for them. Grayson comes from a long line of well-to-do Mages including his uncle who just so happens to be the Chancellor of the Mage University
.
During Eloise and Grayson's entrance exams, somethings goes wrong and both suspect the other "tampered with" the others spell. The Chancellor pairs the two together to call "The Key". Together they must learn to trust each other, and in doing so, a blooming relationship is formed.
Adriana has not written a book I did not like, however, as much as I love all her books, this has become a new favorite of mine!!. I can't wait to receive my own copy of this book just so I can revisit the story again. It was well written and I loved the banter between the characters. I hope we get more adventures with Eloise and Grayson. I mean, someone has to protect the University.... 😉 ❤️
Alchemy Of Souls takes you on thrilling adventure of magic, secrets, action and a blooming relationship between the two main characters Eloise and Grayson, that originally started off as fake dating.
The story starts off with Eloise coming from a less fortunate family of Laborers who wants to go to University to make things better for them. Grayson comes from a long line of well-to-do Mages including his uncle who just so happens to be the Chancellor of the Mage University
.
During Eloise and Grayson's entrance exams, somethings goes wrong and both suspect the other "tampered with" the others spell. The Chancellor pairs the two together to call "The Key". Together they must learn to trust each other, and in doing so, a blooming relationship is formed.
Adriana has not written a book I did not like, however, as much as I love all her books, this has become a new favorite of mine!!. I can't wait to receive my own copy of this book just so I can revisit the story again. It was well written and I loved the banter between the characters. I hope we get more adventures with Eloise and Grayson. I mean, someone has to protect the University.... 😉 ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2026
🎧 Title: Alchemy of Souls
✍🏾 Author: Adriana Mather-new to me author
📅Publication date: 8/4/26 |Read: 8/4/26
🗣️Narrator: Caitlin Kelly and Stacy Carolan voice all the characters with standouts from Eloise and Grayson. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.
🏃🏾♀️➡️Run Time: 10:37
Genre:
*Romantasy
*YA
*Mystery
Tropes:
*rivals to lovers
*fake dating
*dark academia
*magic
*roommates
*a quest-the Archive Key
*forced proximity
👆🏾POV: 1st person dual
⚠️TW: classism, corruption, bullying, murder, death of sibling-H
🌎 Setting: Maine to Ireland-University of Magical Arts
Summary: Eloise is accepted into an exclusive university to become a mage. She's spent years practicing at the academy to get her family out of poverty. Grayson is also accepted but has a plan to end his uncle's malicious reign as High Chancellor. When they have their entrance exams, they are mysteriously bonded together and invoke an ancient magical key. The High Chancellor wants that key and forces them on a quest to find it.
👩🏾 Heroine: Eloise Belrose/"Claws"-from a family of Laborers-lowest class/poor
👨🏾 Hero: Grayson Stone-Gifted- can wield all 4 magics
🎭 Other Characters:
*Liam-Grayson's brother-deceased
*Eloise's family-mom cleans houses for mages, grandmother, and little sister Delilah,6
*High Chancellor-Grayson's uncle
*Naomi-student @ uni who dislikes Eloise
*Maggie-Eloise's BFF
*Audrian-Gifted, flirts w/ Eloise
*Sage- daughter of the head of the lawless, dated Liam
*Acari-head of the guardians who hunt the lawless
My Thoughts:
-Gives Divergent/Hunger Games/Harry Potter/Fourth Wing vibes
-I connected to Eloise's love for her family and friends
-Loved the witty banter between Eloise and Grayson, especially in the beginning
-I wish I had a friend like Maggie
-A great HFN, hope for more adventures in this world
Rating: 5/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5 🔥 kissing only
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio| Macmillan Young Listeners, and Adriana Mather for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Adriana Mather-new to me author
📅Publication date: 8/4/26 |Read: 8/4/26
🗣️Narrator: Caitlin Kelly and Stacy Carolan voice all the characters with standouts from Eloise and Grayson. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.
🏃🏾♀️➡️Run Time: 10:37
Genre:
*Romantasy
*YA
*Mystery
Tropes:
*rivals to lovers
*fake dating
*dark academia
*magic
*roommates
*a quest-the Archive Key
*forced proximity
👆🏾POV: 1st person dual
⚠️TW: classism, corruption, bullying, murder, death of sibling-H
🌎 Setting: Maine to Ireland-University of Magical Arts
Summary: Eloise is accepted into an exclusive university to become a mage. She's spent years practicing at the academy to get her family out of poverty. Grayson is also accepted but has a plan to end his uncle's malicious reign as High Chancellor. When they have their entrance exams, they are mysteriously bonded together and invoke an ancient magical key. The High Chancellor wants that key and forces them on a quest to find it.
👩🏾 Heroine: Eloise Belrose/"Claws"-from a family of Laborers-lowest class/poor
👨🏾 Hero: Grayson Stone-Gifted- can wield all 4 magics
🎭 Other Characters:
*Liam-Grayson's brother-deceased
*Eloise's family-mom cleans houses for mages, grandmother, and little sister Delilah,6
*High Chancellor-Grayson's uncle
*Naomi-student @ uni who dislikes Eloise
*Maggie-Eloise's BFF
*Audrian-Gifted, flirts w/ Eloise
*Sage- daughter of the head of the lawless, dated Liam
*Acari-head of the guardians who hunt the lawless
My Thoughts:
-Gives Divergent/Hunger Games/Harry Potter/Fourth Wing vibes
-I connected to Eloise's love for her family and friends
-Loved the witty banter between Eloise and Grayson, especially in the beginning
-I wish I had a friend like Maggie
-A great HFN, hope for more adventures in this world
Rating: 5/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5 🔥 kissing only
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio| Macmillan Young Listeners, and Adriana Mather for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
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