The Codex Arcanum 1888: The Alchemical Chronicles, Book 1

by Tasmin Turner

Against the damp shadows of 19th-century London, Clara Whitmore works as a quiet but dedicated clerk at the British Museum. One night, an anonymous donation arrives—a codex filled with arcane symbols and strange languages that only grow more mysterious with every analysis.
As Clara works to uncover the secrets of the text, she’s drawn into a world of free-thinkers, supernaturalists, and alternative histories—led by the enigmatic Madame Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society. What Clara discovers may connect to a forgotten civilization that lingers at the fringes of accepted history. And its secrets may be powerful enough to kill for.
The Codex Arcanum 1888 is a thrilling, richly imagined start to Tasmin Turner's series The Alchemical Chronicles—perfect for lovers of magic, history, and the seduction of the unknown.

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

I have a passion for writing thrilling legal dramas set in locations where I have lived and worked. I have several university degrees including in politics, law, and international relations. I've experienced life firsthand in the places that I write about.

I am currently living in New Zealand and write under a pen name for privacy. As well as writing, I enjoy volunteering for causes that I support, such as rehabilitation of native bird species. I keep up my European language skills, such as French and German, and enjoy frequenting the wonderful local cafes in the heartland of New Zealand.

I invite readers to explore my books and connect with me on social media to stay up-to-date on your latest writing projects.

Reviews

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner gained my immediate attention from the description, and the book fulfilled my expectations.
The Codex Arcanum 1888 was an intriguing read. It was set in London in 1888, rich with depictions of clothing and hairstyles of the wealthy women of the day. It had so many elements that immediately drew me in — the idea that a young Victorian woman was given the task of deciphering a mysterious manuscript anonymously donated to the British Museum. A manuscript filled with amazing drawings and texts. As Clara delved into the mysteries of the manuscript, she found herself meeting a wide range of free-thinking individuals (think John Dee), Madame Blavatsky the founder of the Theosophical Society and others who may or may not be guarding dangerous truths, and from that moment the story takes on a wonderfully charged, cryptic energy. The atmosphere, the pacing, and the blend of history, mystery, and hidden knowledge kept me turning pages, and I’m genuinely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wish Books, for the free DRC.

[M Steinbrink · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to be able to read The Codex Arcarnum. It sounded like a great premise with lots of interesting things going on - an ancient book, secret societies, alchemy, and Madame Blavatsky. Somehow the author managed to take all of these things and turn them into an incredibly boring book. There was no conflict in the book and not much of a plot. The main character just wandered from event to event and all the info she needed was just handed to her. It should have made her life easy, but she was just not bright enough to understand even the most basic information so she still struggled. For example, shortly after a murder occurs she hears the murderer confess. She doesn’t seem to understand the confession and spends the rest of the book wondering who the murderer could be. I almost didn’t finish the book, but I like to give authors that are new to me a chance and I just kept hoping it would get better. It never did get any better, but at least I finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Emma]

Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher/the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
✨
Unfortunately, I did DNF at 21%. I wish I could have liked this book. It was everything I like, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations.
The Pros:
I sadly don’t have any :(
The Cons:
Everything was so rushed
The characters? I just didn’t care. They kept getting introduced at rapid speed
The plot? I don’t even know what it was
The prose was very…immature for lack of better words. It genuinely read like a middle grade book, which sucks for a book advertised as being for adults.
Oh well. Hopefully this story finds the right audience!

[Katie Rodgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars, looking forward to the next in the series!
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this story! This is exactly my content - unraveling the upper echelons of society to find the dangerous esoteric truths at the heart of industry and power. I think this story would appeal to Dan Brown readers and historical fiction lovers - foggy, mysterious London! Maintaining one's reputation!
Where points came off (FOR ME/simply my opinion): even with the premise that the hidden knowledge/artifacts were drawn to the main character, it did seem like she faced zero difficulty discovering the exact things she needed, immediately. She learned one thing, happened to bump into someone who turns out to be a specialist in something that aids her, then the very next person she speaks to connects her to the next piece of the puzzle. It didn't bother me too much, but it was noticeable.
Additionally, the descriptions of clothing and hair got to be a bit forced/out of place to me, but I think a historical fiction lover would enjoy them more than me.
Overall I flew through this book and look forward to the next in the series. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the free eARC!