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Georgia Lee #1
The Imperial Alchemist
A legend buried for 2000 years. A woman compelled to uncover the truth. 210 BCE, CHINA. The most powerful emperor China has ever known is on the brink of death. In desperation, he sends his most gifted alchemist and sorcerer on a quest for the mythical elixir of life. His fleet never returned…. NOW, world-renowned archaeologist Georgia Lee is compelled to hunt for a mysterious man who may hold the secret to the greatest discovery in human history. Her search takes her on a thrilling journey from an ancient tomb in China, through traditional Japan, to the blistering Australian outback, and the dizzying heights of verdant mountains in tropical Taiwan. But what begins as an investigation into an archaeological riddle turns into something very sinister. Georgia starts to suspect that perhaps she is the one being hunted instead…. Meticulously researched, this is a tale interwoven with rich historical facts to recreate all the drama, intrigue and mystery of East Asian culture. If you love an intellectual Adventure Thriller that is also a page-turning mystery, buy THE IMPERIAL ALCHEMIST now. "As Miles Davis would say, this book is a motherf**cker. [...] a stunningly brilliant debut novel"
- Mark Will, author of Of Letters and a "....Move over Dan Brown!"
- Taylor Love, author of Not My Type "Enough twists and turns for a blockbuster movie!"
- Leon Cameron, author of The Greatest Humans
- Mark Will, author of Of Letters and a "....Move over Dan Brown!"
- Taylor Love, author of Not My Type "Enough twists and turns for a blockbuster movie!"
- Leon Cameron, author of The Greatest Humans
392 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2018
948 people are currently reading
1224 people want to read
About the author
A.H. Wang
3 books80 followersA.H. Wang is a contemporary visual artist and author with a deep fascination for ancient history and a passion for adventure. Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, her travels have taken her across five continents and dozens of countries. Throughout her journeys, she became fascinated by the local cultures and the lore of ancient civilizations.
As well as making art and writing, you will find her deeply involved with her meditation practice. In a previous life, she was also a scientist, an engineer, a holistic counselor and a Reiki master. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband.
Find out more about her art practice at www.anniewangartist.com
Sign up to her mailing list at: https://www.ahwangauthor.com/contact-me/
and follow her on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-h-wang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahwangauthor/
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahwangauthor/
As well as making art and writing, you will find her deeply involved with her meditation practice. In a previous life, she was also a scientist, an engineer, a holistic counselor and a Reiki master. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband.
Find out more about her art practice at www.anniewangartist.com
Sign up to her mailing list at: https://www.ahwangauthor.com/contact-me/
and follow her on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-h-wang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahwangauthor/
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahwangauthor/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
September 16, 2018
Fantastic Book
The Imperial Alchemist by A. H. Wang is a thriller full of Chinese history, legend and mysticism. Archeologist Georgia Lee uncovers a tomb that has been hidden for more than 2,000 years in China. This major find should have benefactors lining up to invest in it's excavation and examination. Instead she is told to return to Australia because most of the department funding has been cut.
Millionaire Mark Lambert contacts Georgia with an offer to investigate an old chinese legend of Hsu Fu a healer who was sent on an exploration to find what amounts to the fountain of youth for Emperor Qui around 200 B.C. New information acquired by Lambert indicates that there may be a lot of truth to the legend and Hsu Fu did find "the elixer of life."
Promised future funding to excavate the tomb she just discovered Georgia agrees to look at and follow the evidence that might lead to answers about Hsu Fu. Georgia doesn't believe there can possibly any truth to this ancient legend but then pieces start falling into place. Following the leads she goes on an exhaustive search which leads her to her grandmother's home in Taiwan. From there things really get exciting and dangerous as clues keep falling into Georgia's hands.
I loved this book. It's a wild romp around Asia and incorporates Chinese history and legend into the story. Georgia is a really likable well defined character. There are a few storylines happening throughout the novel and all weave together effortlessly. The full cast of characters are well fleshed out and either extremely likable or total villains.
The book is a very easy read and immediately hooks the reader with an interesting and exciting storyline that keeps getting better as the book moves along. I can't wait for Georgia's next adventure and hope to see a series that revolves around her. The added bonus of Chinese history and legend add so much to the story and it gives the book a true feeling of the orient.
I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed every second of it. I honestly didn't want to put it down and then I didn't want it to end. The intertwining storylines meshed so well and the history was so interesting I can't wait for the next in the series.
The Imperial Alchemist by A. H. Wang is a thriller full of Chinese history, legend and mysticism. Archeologist Georgia Lee uncovers a tomb that has been hidden for more than 2,000 years in China. This major find should have benefactors lining up to invest in it's excavation and examination. Instead she is told to return to Australia because most of the department funding has been cut.
Millionaire Mark Lambert contacts Georgia with an offer to investigate an old chinese legend of Hsu Fu a healer who was sent on an exploration to find what amounts to the fountain of youth for Emperor Qui around 200 B.C. New information acquired by Lambert indicates that there may be a lot of truth to the legend and Hsu Fu did find "the elixer of life."
Promised future funding to excavate the tomb she just discovered Georgia agrees to look at and follow the evidence that might lead to answers about Hsu Fu. Georgia doesn't believe there can possibly any truth to this ancient legend but then pieces start falling into place. Following the leads she goes on an exhaustive search which leads her to her grandmother's home in Taiwan. From there things really get exciting and dangerous as clues keep falling into Georgia's hands.
I loved this book. It's a wild romp around Asia and incorporates Chinese history and legend into the story. Georgia is a really likable well defined character. There are a few storylines happening throughout the novel and all weave together effortlessly. The full cast of characters are well fleshed out and either extremely likable or total villains.
The book is a very easy read and immediately hooks the reader with an interesting and exciting storyline that keeps getting better as the book moves along. I can't wait for Georgia's next adventure and hope to see a series that revolves around her. The added bonus of Chinese history and legend add so much to the story and it gives the book a true feeling of the orient.
I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed every second of it. I honestly didn't want to put it down and then I didn't want it to end. The intertwining storylines meshed so well and the history was so interesting I can't wait for the next in the series.
September 18, 2018
I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.
The Imperial Alchemist is a brilliant mystery adventure book with a main story line rooted in Asian history, archaeology and geography. I can't say that there are too many similar books that have been written in this context, as most of these adventure type novels tend to be based in the Western world. A very pleasant change!
The protagonist Professor Georgia Lee is instantly likeable - smart, beautiful with a fierce intellect. In all honesty, it seemed as if Georgia would fall into the flawless overpowered cliche main character description which would be a bit boring. However, as the story evolves, we learn that Georgia is not infallible and has very real human issues to deal with. I loved this. It made her someone I could connect with as a reader and someone I cared about as the adventure unfolded. I would go so far as to call Georgia the Asian version of Indiana Jones - which is pretty high praise!
We are introduced to a few more characters as well, and I felt that most of them were fleshed out quite nicely and their character lines were brought to a satisfying close at the end of the novel. Of course, this is in consideration that there is a sequel! No spoilers, but there were enough open ends at the end to keep me wanting the sequel straight away!
The adventure itself is extremely well thought out. Not once did I have to seriously question any courses of action that seemed impossible or not grounded in reality. You can really tell that the author has thoroughly researched everything. I appreciated the attention to detail, especially the tidbits of Asian history and the common misconceptions from the Western world. A good novel that is blended in history will ALWAYS make me want to fact check! And I can tell you that I spent quite some time googling/wikipedia-ing the Qin dynasty, Japanese culture and Taiwanese indigenous people! I suspect Google will see a spike in searches for "Hsu Fu green eye painting Gugong" from me alone!
A lot of these modern mystery adventure books are all about the quick simple prose like an action movie script. Think Matthew Reilly books (which I love by the way!). But compared to Matt Reilly books, I definitely feel the prose is superior and written by someone well grounded in literature. It made me feel more invested in the novel and that my brain actually did some work in processing the history and lore that was being presented.
If there was anything I hoped for more, it would be that I wished the character Charlie had more time in the novel. A highly interesting character and hugely central to the plot. Some of the revelations were stupendous and I cannot help but feel that there was so much more to be offered from him. As Georgia herself thought "What do you ask such a man?". I can only hope that he may make an appearance in the sequel!
All in all, this was an impressive debut novel and it pleases me greatly that there will be a sequel. I am very interested to see what the next adventure brings for Professor Georgia Lee.
Congratulations on a wonderful first novel! (Although to be honest, you really cannot tell it's a first novel!)
The Imperial Alchemist is a brilliant mystery adventure book with a main story line rooted in Asian history, archaeology and geography. I can't say that there are too many similar books that have been written in this context, as most of these adventure type novels tend to be based in the Western world. A very pleasant change!
The protagonist Professor Georgia Lee is instantly likeable - smart, beautiful with a fierce intellect. In all honesty, it seemed as if Georgia would fall into the flawless overpowered cliche main character description which would be a bit boring. However, as the story evolves, we learn that Georgia is not infallible and has very real human issues to deal with. I loved this. It made her someone I could connect with as a reader and someone I cared about as the adventure unfolded. I would go so far as to call Georgia the Asian version of Indiana Jones - which is pretty high praise!
We are introduced to a few more characters as well, and I felt that most of them were fleshed out quite nicely and their character lines were brought to a satisfying close at the end of the novel. Of course, this is in consideration that there is a sequel! No spoilers, but there were enough open ends at the end to keep me wanting the sequel straight away!
The adventure itself is extremely well thought out. Not once did I have to seriously question any courses of action that seemed impossible or not grounded in reality. You can really tell that the author has thoroughly researched everything. I appreciated the attention to detail, especially the tidbits of Asian history and the common misconceptions from the Western world. A good novel that is blended in history will ALWAYS make me want to fact check! And I can tell you that I spent quite some time googling/wikipedia-ing the Qin dynasty, Japanese culture and Taiwanese indigenous people! I suspect Google will see a spike in searches for "Hsu Fu green eye painting Gugong" from me alone!
A lot of these modern mystery adventure books are all about the quick simple prose like an action movie script. Think Matthew Reilly books (which I love by the way!). But compared to Matt Reilly books, I definitely feel the prose is superior and written by someone well grounded in literature. It made me feel more invested in the novel and that my brain actually did some work in processing the history and lore that was being presented.
If there was anything I hoped for more, it would be that I wished the character Charlie had more time in the novel. A highly interesting character and hugely central to the plot. Some of the revelations were stupendous and I cannot help but feel that there was so much more to be offered from him. As Georgia herself thought "What do you ask such a man?". I can only hope that he may make an appearance in the sequel!
All in all, this was an impressive debut novel and it pleases me greatly that there will be a sequel. I am very interested to see what the next adventure brings for Professor Georgia Lee.
Congratulations on a wonderful first novel! (Although to be honest, you really cannot tell it's a first novel!)
January 14, 2019
Imperial Alchemist by AH wang had me hooked from page one. I went into the book blind and it turned out to be the perfect read for my little reading adventure. The book has an exciting storyline and the references to well- researched Asian history, mythology and legends make the story more believable. The characters are fleshed out and likable. The story gets more and more entertaining with each chapter and the end does not disappoint either. The book was a certified page-turner for me and I highly recommend it.
February 12, 2019
Loved it. It made me stay up late in a sleep-deprived state just to finish it, it was that good! Really well researched, great style and characters. Can't wait for the next one!
September 25, 2018
What if someone tells you that there exists elixir somewhere in the world, making the person immortal who drinks it. Would you believe it?
The Imperial Alchemist takes you on one such adventure trip. Georgia, an archaeologist is assigned the task of finding the elixir by a business tycoon Mr. Lambert. The task is much difficult then it seems and much twisted then you would expect. Georgia who first thinks it is just an unrealistic demand of a copious businessman, soon realises it is well planned conspiracy.
The story takes place in China, Japan and Taiwan.
The story unfolds beautifully, disclosing right amount of information at right time.
The story is part historical, part mythical, and part legend, and many of its characters are based on actual historical figures.
Though it contains lot of historical content but it never seems boring. The author has clearly done a detailed research about each and everything related to Qin Dynasty, Hsu Fu and the places where the story takes place.
The writing style is brilliant.
The character development is really interesting. They are very realistic. Every character gets it's fair share of role in the story. You feel emotionally connected to them even if that character has no present existence.
The story ends with decent amount of lose ends to be caught up with in the sequel.
I couldn't stop myself from finishing the book. Neither did I want it to get over so soon.
Desperately waiting for the release of the sequel.
If you like to read history, mystery, adventure or thriller then this book is definitely for you. Even if you are not very keen about these genres then this is the book which will make you a fan of these genres. (I am was not a history enthusiast either.)
The Imperial Alchemist takes you on one such adventure trip. Georgia, an archaeologist is assigned the task of finding the elixir by a business tycoon Mr. Lambert. The task is much difficult then it seems and much twisted then you would expect. Georgia who first thinks it is just an unrealistic demand of a copious businessman, soon realises it is well planned conspiracy.
The story takes place in China, Japan and Taiwan.
The story unfolds beautifully, disclosing right amount of information at right time.
The story is part historical, part mythical, and part legend, and many of its characters are based on actual historical figures.
Though it contains lot of historical content but it never seems boring. The author has clearly done a detailed research about each and everything related to Qin Dynasty, Hsu Fu and the places where the story takes place.
The writing style is brilliant.
The character development is really interesting. They are very realistic. Every character gets it's fair share of role in the story. You feel emotionally connected to them even if that character has no present existence.
The story ends with decent amount of lose ends to be caught up with in the sequel.
I couldn't stop myself from finishing the book. Neither did I want it to get over so soon.
Desperately waiting for the release of the sequel.
If you like to read history, mystery, adventure or thriller then this book is definitely for you. Even if you are not very keen about these genres then this is the book which will make you a fan of these genres. (I am was not a history enthusiast either.)
April 3, 2019
This book was the Winter 2019 F-BOM Book of the Month. Full review here: https://f-bom.com/2019/01/01/the-impe...
"As a Chinese major in college, there’s nothing I love more than an Asian-influenced science fiction or fantasy novel. The Imperial Alchemist is also a thriller, which means in typical thriller style Georgia is bouncing around the world following clues. The attention to detail is awesome, and after following Georgia around I have a few new museums (and hiking locations!) to add to my travel wish list in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
Also in true thriller style, there’s plenty of nail-biting action as the search for immorality–and the power it would give–comes to a head.
Immortality is always a fun concept to explore, and A.H. Wang leaves no stone unturned as she shows how mortality influences all our lives."
"As a Chinese major in college, there’s nothing I love more than an Asian-influenced science fiction or fantasy novel. The Imperial Alchemist is also a thriller, which means in typical thriller style Georgia is bouncing around the world following clues. The attention to detail is awesome, and after following Georgia around I have a few new museums (and hiking locations!) to add to my travel wish list in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
Also in true thriller style, there’s plenty of nail-biting action as the search for immorality–and the power it would give–comes to a head.
Immortality is always a fun concept to explore, and A.H. Wang leaves no stone unturned as she shows how mortality influences all our lives."
September 12, 2018
One of the best books I have read this year! And I am thrilled that there is to be a sequel soon. I always hate it when a really great book ends, don't you? But a sequel solves that problem!!
A. H. Wang's book, The Imperial Alchemist has so many things I love in a book. It is certainly. an action adventure thriller. It has historical and legendary info about China, Japan and Taiwan. Georgia, our heroine, is an Archeologist working in the area of ancient civilization and its artifacts. And there is just a touch of the supernatural. There's some philosophy as well. An a touch of romance to round it out.
This would make an incredible movie! I received an early copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. Absolutely 5 stars.
A. H. Wang's book, The Imperial Alchemist has so many things I love in a book. It is certainly. an action adventure thriller. It has historical and legendary info about China, Japan and Taiwan. Georgia, our heroine, is an Archeologist working in the area of ancient civilization and its artifacts. And there is just a touch of the supernatural. There's some philosophy as well. An a touch of romance to round it out.
This would make an incredible movie! I received an early copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. Absolutely 5 stars.
September 9, 2018
This is a remarkable page turning adventure mystery. The rich history of China, Japan and Taiwan is interwoven into a magical tale that keeps you turning pages to see what happens. A.H. Wang's writing is quite precise and not overly descriptive so I was able to imbue the experience with an overlay of my own imagination that drew me even further into the story.
The characters are archetypal without becoming typecast and drawn with sympathy and insight so that even as the book ended I wanted to know what the next instalment would bring.
For all lovers of well written magical adventures, don't hesitate to read this book, it will keep you inthralled until the last word.
The characters are archetypal without becoming typecast and drawn with sympathy and insight so that even as the book ended I wanted to know what the next instalment would bring.
For all lovers of well written magical adventures, don't hesitate to read this book, it will keep you inthralled until the last word.
May 28, 2019
Alright read. I wasn’t a fan of some of the grammar
December 24, 2020
Loved this book. It had mystery, history, interesting characters and kept my interest the entire time. Well written.
July 25, 2021
Wow! ... It's difficult to believe that this is A.H. Wang's first novel. So well written, meticulously researched, just outstanding. The mix of fact and fiction make for a fascinating read, a real page turner you won't want to put down. This young lady was born to write! Adventure, mystery, supernatural, this book has it all. The heroine of the tale, Professor Georgia Lee is a compelling character you will love. You might even learn a few new words! Would make a brilliant movie!
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
April 10, 2019
This was a fantastic read! I spent many nights reading page after page into the early hours of the morning. I loved the mystery and the twists in the story that you don't see coming. The heroine, Georgia, is such a wonderful character - so full of integrity and a thirst for knowledge. She's so incredibly intelligent and yet so humble and courageous. And what adventure story isn't complete without a love interest - always cheering for Georgia right to the end!
Definitely a worthwhile read - go get it now!
Definitely a worthwhile read - go get it now!
March 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in a weekend - I couldn’t put it down! The historical storyline was fascinating and the suspense and drama of the plot had me hooked. I also loved then beautiful imagery of the Taiwan countryside. The author’s style is very easy to read and I highly recommend this novel.
April 26, 2021
What a story, what a ride!
It’s like a fishing trip, the author casts the line and I bite, she slowly reels me In until I am in the boat, then the fun begins as I read the story taking me on a journey that has many twists and turns. Well written and the characters nicely developed, keeping me from putting the book down, which I did not.
It’s like a fishing trip, the author casts the line and I bite, she slowly reels me In until I am in the boat, then the fun begins as I read the story taking me on a journey that has many twists and turns. Well written and the characters nicely developed, keeping me from putting the book down, which I did not.
September 17, 2018
Awesome
Great tale throughout. Historical and travel galore. Kept my attention from the first page til the last. Deals nicely with spiritual concepts.
Great tale throughout. Historical and travel galore. Kept my attention from the first page til the last. Deals nicely with spiritual concepts.
January 10, 2019
Absolutely loved this book. It was a thrilling read from beginning to end and really didn't want the book to finish.
Cannot read to read more from A H Wang
Cannot read to read more from A H Wang
September 17, 2021
The Imperial Alchemist is A. H. Wang’s first novel, however you would not think that when reading it. She has written a mystery adventure book with a main story line rooted in Asian history, archaeology and geography. The storyline ties together a 2000 year old legend with current times and weaves a story that is well tied together. I totally enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next novel by A. H. Wang.
March 2, 2019
The Basics:
Thousands of years ago, Emperor Qin of China sent out an expedition in search of the elixir of life. Now, professor of archaeology Dr. Georgia Lee has been given the opportunity to pick up where that lost expedition left off. By tracing the clues across East Asia, she hopes to make a few new discoveries about a world-shaping period of Chinese history and perhaps secure the funding to save her research department, but before long, she finds herself chasing the secrets of her own past and of human mortality itself.
The Downside:
Although certainly not an outlier in the thriller genre, I’d describe The Imperial Alchemist as plot-driven to a mild fault. The prose is utilitarian, invisible except for the occasional peculiar word choice (I’m not sure I was supposed to laugh when a character being imprisoned, drugged, and interrogated in a remote basement lair described her mood as “hangry”), and much of the characterization feels paint-by-numbers. Grandmothers are doting and traditional, couples with dead children can’t bear the sight of each other, power-hungry tycoons have abusive alcoholic daddies, and gay administrative assistants say “fabulous” a lot.
The Upside:
The archetypal characterization does not extend to Georgia’s gender. She’s an archaeologist, she’s the hero of a globetrotting mystery adventure, and she happens to be a woman. That’s pretty much that.
And as a globetrotting mystery adventure, The Imperial Alchemist is not only fast-paced but wonderfully flavorful. Throughout Georgia’s travels, the local history and mythology act more as her costars than her backdrop, vividly interweaving with each other and with the story, allowing the reader to experience not only her sightseeing opportunities but her blurring perception of reality and fantasy.
Wang’s knowledge and passion for research are on prominent display from beginning to end, adding depth to the world without ever bogging down the story. The doses of reality aren't all pretty travel ads and grade school history crafts, either. Some of the glimpses of the past are gut-turning in a completely different way from the expected car chases and shootouts of a race for the elixir of life, and the truth of what happened millennia ago remains as complicated and subjective as a current events debate in any living time and place.
Fans of James Rollins and anyone who loves Lara Croft but wishes she were a better archaeologist should definitely check this one out.
(This review and others originally posted on www.fjrtitchenell.weebly.com)
Thousands of years ago, Emperor Qin of China sent out an expedition in search of the elixir of life. Now, professor of archaeology Dr. Georgia Lee has been given the opportunity to pick up where that lost expedition left off. By tracing the clues across East Asia, she hopes to make a few new discoveries about a world-shaping period of Chinese history and perhaps secure the funding to save her research department, but before long, she finds herself chasing the secrets of her own past and of human mortality itself.
The Downside:
Although certainly not an outlier in the thriller genre, I’d describe The Imperial Alchemist as plot-driven to a mild fault. The prose is utilitarian, invisible except for the occasional peculiar word choice (I’m not sure I was supposed to laugh when a character being imprisoned, drugged, and interrogated in a remote basement lair described her mood as “hangry”), and much of the characterization feels paint-by-numbers. Grandmothers are doting and traditional, couples with dead children can’t bear the sight of each other, power-hungry tycoons have abusive alcoholic daddies, and gay administrative assistants say “fabulous” a lot.
The Upside:
The archetypal characterization does not extend to Georgia’s gender. She’s an archaeologist, she’s the hero of a globetrotting mystery adventure, and she happens to be a woman. That’s pretty much that.
And as a globetrotting mystery adventure, The Imperial Alchemist is not only fast-paced but wonderfully flavorful. Throughout Georgia’s travels, the local history and mythology act more as her costars than her backdrop, vividly interweaving with each other and with the story, allowing the reader to experience not only her sightseeing opportunities but her blurring perception of reality and fantasy.
Wang’s knowledge and passion for research are on prominent display from beginning to end, adding depth to the world without ever bogging down the story. The doses of reality aren't all pretty travel ads and grade school history crafts, either. Some of the glimpses of the past are gut-turning in a completely different way from the expected car chases and shootouts of a race for the elixir of life, and the truth of what happened millennia ago remains as complicated and subjective as a current events debate in any living time and place.
Fans of James Rollins and anyone who loves Lara Croft but wishes she were a better archaeologist should definitely check this one out.
(This review and others originally posted on www.fjrtitchenell.weebly.com)
December 3, 2020
I love historical fiction and this book lived up to my standards. Packed with knowledge yet filled with fiction it was a joy to read. Will keep this author on my to read list. Once I started I could not wait to get back to it.
July 6, 2020
Thoughts: I loved this book and really sort of stumbled over it by accident! A world-renowned archeologist searching for a life enhancing elixir. This is really fun. Highly recommended!
November 26, 2018
An archaeological and historical adventure with many twists and turns, The Imperial Alchemist has been described by some readers as an East Asian variation on The Da Vinci Code. In this reviewer’s opinion, however, A.H. Wang’s mystery thriller is of a higher order of literature than Dan Brown’s.
Wang skillfully evokes the world of the ancient Far East in a series of flashbacks which relate to the legend of Hsu Fu, a sorcerer of the Qin Dynasty. But the continuities between past and present are highlighted in a parallel narrative set in modern times. While reading, I was often reminded of Faulkner’s principle: “The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.”
The novel also features strong and compelling female characters. It is impossible not to sympathize with the protagonist, archaeologist Georgia Lee, as she searches for the deeper meaning of Hsu Fu’s story in her own life. Georgia’s driving ambition is counterbalanced by the earthy humor and practicality of her “tiger mum” assistant Sarah, an interesting character in her own right. And the personal history of Georgia’s “amah” or grandmother provides the novel’s most poignant subplot.
The maps, drawings, and reproductions of aboriginal art add another dimension to the text. The reader seems to discover these scattered artifacts along with Georgia, helping her piece the puzzle together and construct a narrative which links the present to the past.
Overall, this well-researched book offers an excellent introduction to the ancient history of the Far East, as well as fascinating perspectives on modern Taiwan, China, Japan, and Australia. I highly recommend The Imperial Alchemist both to the general reader and to those with a specific interest in Asian culture and history.
Wang skillfully evokes the world of the ancient Far East in a series of flashbacks which relate to the legend of Hsu Fu, a sorcerer of the Qin Dynasty. But the continuities between past and present are highlighted in a parallel narrative set in modern times. While reading, I was often reminded of Faulkner’s principle: “The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.”
The novel also features strong and compelling female characters. It is impossible not to sympathize with the protagonist, archaeologist Georgia Lee, as she searches for the deeper meaning of Hsu Fu’s story in her own life. Georgia’s driving ambition is counterbalanced by the earthy humor and practicality of her “tiger mum” assistant Sarah, an interesting character in her own right. And the personal history of Georgia’s “amah” or grandmother provides the novel’s most poignant subplot.
The maps, drawings, and reproductions of aboriginal art add another dimension to the text. The reader seems to discover these scattered artifacts along with Georgia, helping her piece the puzzle together and construct a narrative which links the present to the past.
Overall, this well-researched book offers an excellent introduction to the ancient history of the Far East, as well as fascinating perspectives on modern Taiwan, China, Japan, and Australia. I highly recommend The Imperial Alchemist both to the general reader and to those with a specific interest in Asian culture and history.
September 11, 2018
This is one fast-paced, funny, heart wrenching, fascinating story. The detail is incredible as are the depth of the characters, who drew me into the story with ease. My first all-nighter for as long as I can remember..just couldn't stop reading! I loved it.
Probably the best book I have read since Dan Brown released the DaVinci code, seriously! The only problem now is waiting for the next book.
Probably the best book I have read since Dan Brown released the DaVinci code, seriously! The only problem now is waiting for the next book.
January 2, 2019
I would highly recommend this book. It was a real page turner with an enthralling plot that twisted and turned! The character portrayal was very good. The protagonist was likeable and somewhat enigmatic. I also liked how the history was embedded into the story itself. I’m not usually one for history in the form of non-fiction or even in historical novels. However in this novel the history was so relevant to the plot that it really came alive. I can’t wait for the sequel!
October 26, 2018
An archeologist searching for an elixir that makes humans immortal is right up my alley. The characters were interesting, although they might have been developed a little more deeply. There was a lot of action in the plot, and the historical themes were interesting. I really liked this story.
December 6, 2018
Fascinating
Amazing story. Wonderful characters. Enjoyed the history. I love to fact check historical fiction and learn new ideas and research new areas . So this was a delight. Looking forward to the sequel.
Amazing story. Wonderful characters. Enjoyed the history. I love to fact check historical fiction and learn new ideas and research new areas . So this was a delight. Looking forward to the sequel.
October 25, 2018
Great!!!
I loved this book. The story was great and the history was fascinating, so different than other books. Thanks thanks
I loved this book. The story was great and the history was fascinating, so different than other books. Thanks thanks
November 27, 2018
Awesome book !
If you like The Da Vinci Code and Chinese history (like the movie Hero), then you will love this book !
If you like The Da Vinci Code and Chinese history (like the movie Hero), then you will love this book !
February 22, 2021
2021 Popsugar reading challenge: A book set in multiple countries
Countries: Taiwan, Japan, China, Australia
This is more of a 3.5 stars read that I might round up to 4 stars since I did enjoy the reading experience a lot.
So, this is a very broad category that could fit tons of novels. And yet, when I first read it, I immediately thought of books like the Da Vinci Code. I had a couple non-action/adventure books listed as potentials for this category, but then this book was advertised on Facebook to me and I took it as a sign. (And now that I've proven advertising works on me, I'll be followed by this choice for all time.)
This book isn't for everyone. Like the Da Vinci Code, it takes facts about history, mythology, art, architecture, and pretty much dumps it into prose or dialogue wholesale. If info-dumping is a deal breaker, then you probably won't like this one. I love historical tidbits, though, and honestly adored those parts of the book. First of all, I've been obsessed with Qin Shi Huang's tomb since I saw a documentary about it as a preteen, and it was so fun to have an action adventure built around the mysteries of his reign (rather than the well-trod mysteries of Egypt, say.) Meanwhile, I also learned a ton about things I never knew about, such as all the ambiguities surrounding Xu Fu. Oh, to be a an official Court Sorcerer and sail off into the sunrise, leaving a ton of unanswered questions in your wake :,)
Georgia is also a fun character and I think I will most likely check out the sequel because I love Mongolian history. My biggest problem with this book was the characterizations of almost everyone beyond Georgia, her grandmother, Sarah and . Action-adventure books aren't often character studies, but some of the choices were strange. There's a gay character, for example, and pretty much all of his dialogue revolves around being gay. He wasn't the dissolute gay stereotype, so I wasn't offended. But it did make me raise an eyebrow. Likewise, we learn very little about Georgia's ex-husband, which is a bit of a problem because
Three star reads are funny ones. Sometimes I feel entirely meh about them. Others - like this one - I thoroughly enjoyed, but can also see room for improvement. Like I said before, I'm very likely to check out the next book. So it's safe to say this overall worked for me.
Also, tying it back to the reading challenge category, I really did appreciate how much fun the author had with historical facts for all the different regions explored in this book. A few years ago I listened to a course about the history of Japan and it really hammered home how much cross-cultural exchange was going on in the ancient periods of east Asia. It was incredibly fun to see this filtered through an action-adventure book. It was also very, very cool to learn about areas and sites that are unique to specific countries. For example, the descriptions of Taroko were quite vivid and let me go on a mental vacation from the same four walls I see in quarantine. I'm very glad I spent time with this book.
Countries: Taiwan, Japan, China, Australia
This is more of a 3.5 stars read that I might round up to 4 stars since I did enjoy the reading experience a lot.
So, this is a very broad category that could fit tons of novels. And yet, when I first read it, I immediately thought of books like the Da Vinci Code. I had a couple non-action/adventure books listed as potentials for this category, but then this book was advertised on Facebook to me and I took it as a sign. (And now that I've proven advertising works on me, I'll be followed by this choice for all time.)
This book isn't for everyone. Like the Da Vinci Code, it takes facts about history, mythology, art, architecture, and pretty much dumps it into prose or dialogue wholesale. If info-dumping is a deal breaker, then you probably won't like this one. I love historical tidbits, though, and honestly adored those parts of the book. First of all, I've been obsessed with Qin Shi Huang's tomb since I saw a documentary about it as a preteen, and it was so fun to have an action adventure built around the mysteries of his reign (rather than the well-trod mysteries of Egypt, say.) Meanwhile, I also learned a ton about things I never knew about, such as all the ambiguities surrounding Xu Fu. Oh, to be a an official Court Sorcerer and sail off into the sunrise, leaving a ton of unanswered questions in your wake :,)
Georgia is also a fun character and I think I will most likely check out the sequel because I love Mongolian history. My biggest problem with this book was the characterizations of almost everyone beyond Georgia, her grandmother, Sarah and . Action-adventure books aren't often character studies, but some of the choices were strange. There's a gay character, for example, and pretty much all of his dialogue revolves around being gay. He wasn't the dissolute gay stereotype, so I wasn't offended. But it did make me raise an eyebrow. Likewise, we learn very little about Georgia's ex-husband, which is a bit of a problem because
Three star reads are funny ones. Sometimes I feel entirely meh about them. Others - like this one - I thoroughly enjoyed, but can also see room for improvement. Like I said before, I'm very likely to check out the next book. So it's safe to say this overall worked for me.
Also, tying it back to the reading challenge category, I really did appreciate how much fun the author had with historical facts for all the different regions explored in this book. A few years ago I listened to a course about the history of Japan and it really hammered home how much cross-cultural exchange was going on in the ancient periods of east Asia. It was incredibly fun to see this filtered through an action-adventure book. It was also very, very cool to learn about areas and sites that are unique to specific countries. For example, the descriptions of Taroko were quite vivid and let me go on a mental vacation from the same four walls I see in quarantine. I'm very glad I spent time with this book.
February 1, 2021
January 29, 2021
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book:“The Imperial Alchemist” by W. H. Wang
I purchased this book on Amazon in the Kindle format. It sounded so interesting even though this genre of book is not on the top of my list but since I love History, I took a chance. I am happy I did. This book was both interesting it was superbly entertaining and gave me some insight into Chinese history and thought.
A servant of first Emperor of a unified China, the same Emperor responsible for the Great Wall, which came into existence under Qin Shi Huang, who also sought to live forever, and sent a trusted aristocrat named Hsu Fu to find the “elixir of life” supposedly located in the Pengai Mountains, the fabled home of the Eight Immortals. He sailed east with a fleet of ships, hundreds of sailors but they never returned.
A little over two thousand years later. An Australian professor of archaeology named Georgia Lee, of Chinese ancestry, who is involved in an archaeological “dig” of significant importance, regarding the First Emperor of China on behalf of the university where she teaches. Distraught over losing her archaeological grant, she is contacted by a prominent billionaire named Mark Lambert who offers her a job. The job is to find Hsu Fu who he believes is still alive and to find the source of the elixir of life. Lambert believes that this discovery could have significant use in his pharmaceutical business in helping humanity overcome deadly and inherited diseases. After considerations she agrees with Lambert to take on this project.
As the search for this location the story takes on a number of mysteries that are intriguing and compelling to the reader. The characters, some related to Lambert and others related to Professor Georgia Lee, namely her grand mother who is well read and inquisitive woman who also works at a museum on Chinese culture in Taiwan who provides Georgia with significant background information identifying the location of the Pengai mountains as well as some historical background on Hsu Fu the original emissary sent by the first Emperor.
The story continues with a number of twists and turns reminiscent of numerous stories seeking the truth about legendary myths.
The story as it unfolds, has many intriguing and unexpected developments as well as some predictable side events. There is a romantic twist that become a possible dist ration to Georgia Lees quest which adds greater interest to the story as it is played out.
The real question which drives the reader on, is whether the “elixir of life” is real and reachable after more than two thousand years. It certainly kept my interests focused and I found my self staying up late a couple of nights and left me with a conundrum, if the finding of this elixir will be of benefit to human kind and would I really want to live forever. I still can't decide but the answer of whether Georgia finds this objective will have to be determined by the readers.
I totally enjoyed this book and it kept me on the edge through out its pages. I happily gave this book four stars out of five primarily because of the predictability, for me of the unfolding events. I would unhesitatingly, however, recommend this fast paced story to all of my friend that enjoy a well written historical mystery.
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book:“The Imperial Alchemist” by W. H. Wang
I purchased this book on Amazon in the Kindle format. It sounded so interesting even though this genre of book is not on the top of my list but since I love History, I took a chance. I am happy I did. This book was both interesting it was superbly entertaining and gave me some insight into Chinese history and thought.
A servant of first Emperor of a unified China, the same Emperor responsible for the Great Wall, which came into existence under Qin Shi Huang, who also sought to live forever, and sent a trusted aristocrat named Hsu Fu to find the “elixir of life” supposedly located in the Pengai Mountains, the fabled home of the Eight Immortals. He sailed east with a fleet of ships, hundreds of sailors but they never returned.
A little over two thousand years later. An Australian professor of archaeology named Georgia Lee, of Chinese ancestry, who is involved in an archaeological “dig” of significant importance, regarding the First Emperor of China on behalf of the university where she teaches. Distraught over losing her archaeological grant, she is contacted by a prominent billionaire named Mark Lambert who offers her a job. The job is to find Hsu Fu who he believes is still alive and to find the source of the elixir of life. Lambert believes that this discovery could have significant use in his pharmaceutical business in helping humanity overcome deadly and inherited diseases. After considerations she agrees with Lambert to take on this project.
As the search for this location the story takes on a number of mysteries that are intriguing and compelling to the reader. The characters, some related to Lambert and others related to Professor Georgia Lee, namely her grand mother who is well read and inquisitive woman who also works at a museum on Chinese culture in Taiwan who provides Georgia with significant background information identifying the location of the Pengai mountains as well as some historical background on Hsu Fu the original emissary sent by the first Emperor.
The story continues with a number of twists and turns reminiscent of numerous stories seeking the truth about legendary myths.
The story as it unfolds, has many intriguing and unexpected developments as well as some predictable side events. There is a romantic twist that become a possible dist ration to Georgia Lees quest which adds greater interest to the story as it is played out.
The real question which drives the reader on, is whether the “elixir of life” is real and reachable after more than two thousand years. It certainly kept my interests focused and I found my self staying up late a couple of nights and left me with a conundrum, if the finding of this elixir will be of benefit to human kind and would I really want to live forever. I still can't decide but the answer of whether Georgia finds this objective will have to be determined by the readers.
I totally enjoyed this book and it kept me on the edge through out its pages. I happily gave this book four stars out of five primarily because of the predictability, for me of the unfolding events. I would unhesitatingly, however, recommend this fast paced story to all of my friend that enjoy a well written historical mystery.
September 12, 2018
I received a gratis advance copy in return for my honest opinion and review. My thanks to Ms Wang for her generosity!
Just to let you know, I dropped the second book I was reading in a series I was really into so I could read this. I am not sorry. At. All.
There are a few extra words and a few missing words and one capitalization error. Only the capitalization error disrupted my immersion, though.
The narration is third person current tense (I guess), i.e. "Georgia watches him" instead of "Georgia watched him", which I find unusual and threw me off at first. Then I flexed a couple of brain cells and accommodated it.
The language used is very simple. History and concepts are explained clearly and are easy to understand. The author provides a short pronunciation guide at the front for the Chinese names. Any 7th-grader could read this.
I liked the characters, but as with almost any first novel, the main character could use a little more...something. She seems more naive than just good-hearted. Although her beauty is mentioned several times, specifics are not dwelled upon which is refreshing.
Most authors end up using well-worn tropes somewhere in their books and Ms. Wang is no exception, although they are pretty much saved until the last 20% or so. There are no cliffhangers and everything was tied up, but I found the endgame a bit of a letdown because it seemed very familiar.
What grabbed my attention and kept me going with no effort was the history. The history and the stories told within this book are completely new to me and my imagination was snagged on those horns and pulled through time. I want to look up several things mentioned!
My final word: I look forward to the next book in the series!
Just to let you know, I dropped the second book I was reading in a series I was really into so I could read this. I am not sorry. At. All.
There are a few extra words and a few missing words and one capitalization error. Only the capitalization error disrupted my immersion, though.
The narration is third person current tense (I guess), i.e. "Georgia watches him" instead of "Georgia watched him", which I find unusual and threw me off at first. Then I flexed a couple of brain cells and accommodated it.
The language used is very simple. History and concepts are explained clearly and are easy to understand. The author provides a short pronunciation guide at the front for the Chinese names. Any 7th-grader could read this.
I liked the characters, but as with almost any first novel, the main character could use a little more...something. She seems more naive than just good-hearted. Although her beauty is mentioned several times, specifics are not dwelled upon which is refreshing.
Most authors end up using well-worn tropes somewhere in their books and Ms. Wang is no exception, although they are pretty much saved until the last 20% or so. There are no cliffhangers and everything was tied up, but I found the endgame a bit of a letdown because it seemed very familiar.
What grabbed my attention and kept me going with no effort was the history. The history and the stories told within this book are completely new to me and my imagination was snagged on those horns and pulled through time. I want to look up several things mentioned!
My final word: I look forward to the next book in the series!
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