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The Scarlet Alchemist #1
The Scarlet Alchemist
Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.
When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.
The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.
When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.
The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
450 people are currently reading
44267 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Lee Baker
13 books1,902 followersKylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, & Irish) as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and is pursuing a master of library and information science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. The Keeper of Night is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,214 reviews
January 15, 2025
KLB is becoming one of my go-to authors for all things historical asian fantasy.
she has a real talent for highly immersive and vivid writing, letting the reader feel like they are on an adventure with the MCs. i also appreciate how her storytelling never holds back. i finished this feeling like KLB put in everything she had into the characters, plot, and world-building, which left me highly satisfied.
i really enjoyed the alternate view of the tang dynasty and all the drama surrounding the royal family. the blood/death alchemy creates a high stakes element that works well with the tone and atmosphere of the story (the perfect autumnal read). and the characters are also wonderfully flawed and relatable.
overall, i had a lot of fun with this and am very much looking forward to the continuation of the series!
thank you for the ARC, inkyard press!
↠ 4 stars
she has a real talent for highly immersive and vivid writing, letting the reader feel like they are on an adventure with the MCs. i also appreciate how her storytelling never holds back. i finished this feeling like KLB put in everything she had into the characters, plot, and world-building, which left me highly satisfied.
i really enjoyed the alternate view of the tang dynasty and all the drama surrounding the royal family. the blood/death alchemy creates a high stakes element that works well with the tone and atmosphere of the story (the perfect autumnal read). and the characters are also wonderfully flawed and relatable.
overall, i had a lot of fun with this and am very much looking forward to the continuation of the series!
thank you for the ARC, inkyard press!
↠ 4 stars
June 6, 2023
Visceral to the core. The Scarlet Alchemist imagines alternate history with daring imagination and incredible detail. Even once you’ve turned the last page, you’ll still be entrenched within this dazzling world running with gold and blood.
Want to read
June 23, 2023wont even lie to you 90% of the reason I put this on my tbr is because I was scrolling through twitter one day and had to pause when I saw the woman on this cover (I am gay)
February 2, 2025
Holy heck! When can I get the sequel? Seriously, when?!
I really enjoyed Kylie Lee Baker's The Keeper of the Night duology. I was super impressed by the characters and dark imagery she delivered throughout those books.
I was expecting something similar here and happily, I received exactly what I was hoping for and then some.
In this story we follow Zilan, a teenage girl, who lives in an impoverished village in the South of China. Even though she is a member of the merchant class, Zilan has dreams to become a royal alchemist.
Zilan already practices a certain form of alchemy to make money to help her family, but it's illegal. She is able to bring people back from the dead. In spite of its illegality, she has earned a bit of reputation for her successes.
When the time for Zilan's imperial exams comes, she is able to travel to the capital, along with her two cousins, to compete against the best alchemists in the country.
During her time in the capital, Zilan attracts the attention of the royal family and is soon drawn into their dangerous political machinations.
Most interestingly, the Crown Prince, Li Hong, who knowing of her ability to bring people back from the dead, approaches Zilan for help because he fears he is about to be assassinated.
There is so much going on in this story, but it is beautifully told, fluid and engaging. It's easy to follow and I really grew to love these characters. Zilan is so well developed and I loved the exploration of her character.
As with The Keeper of the Night duology, there is some great character work involving complicated family dynamics.
Zilan was basically raised with her two cousins, Wenshu and Yufei. They call her sister and their relationship is very close.
However, Zilan is of mixed descent, with her father being a foreigner, so she looks very different than her cousins. It sets her apart and even though they have never treated her differently, she feels like an outsider; like she can never be truly accepted and loved for who she is.
I like that Baker includes these types of details. It adds great substance to the story and makes you feel like you're gaining a deeper understanding of MC and her motivations.
So, not only does this story include fantastic action and gripping intrigue, it also has thoughtful moments where more sensitive issues are touched upon.
Yet again, I was completely swept away by Kylie Lee Baker's storytelling. Once I got into this story, I couldn't put it down. She's so underrated, y'all.
You know what I'm gonna say. If you haven't checked out Kylie Lee Baker's work yet...
Thank you so much to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Baker is definitely one of my go-to authors. I can't wait to be reunited with Zilan in the next book. The possibilities are endless as to where this story will go next!!
I really enjoyed Kylie Lee Baker's The Keeper of the Night duology. I was super impressed by the characters and dark imagery she delivered throughout those books.
I was expecting something similar here and happily, I received exactly what I was hoping for and then some.
In this story we follow Zilan, a teenage girl, who lives in an impoverished village in the South of China. Even though she is a member of the merchant class, Zilan has dreams to become a royal alchemist.
Zilan already practices a certain form of alchemy to make money to help her family, but it's illegal. She is able to bring people back from the dead. In spite of its illegality, she has earned a bit of reputation for her successes.
When the time for Zilan's imperial exams comes, she is able to travel to the capital, along with her two cousins, to compete against the best alchemists in the country.
During her time in the capital, Zilan attracts the attention of the royal family and is soon drawn into their dangerous political machinations.
Most interestingly, the Crown Prince, Li Hong, who knowing of her ability to bring people back from the dead, approaches Zilan for help because he fears he is about to be assassinated.
There is so much going on in this story, but it is beautifully told, fluid and engaging. It's easy to follow and I really grew to love these characters. Zilan is so well developed and I loved the exploration of her character.
As with The Keeper of the Night duology, there is some great character work involving complicated family dynamics.
Zilan was basically raised with her two cousins, Wenshu and Yufei. They call her sister and their relationship is very close.
However, Zilan is of mixed descent, with her father being a foreigner, so she looks very different than her cousins. It sets her apart and even though they have never treated her differently, she feels like an outsider; like she can never be truly accepted and loved for who she is.
I like that Baker includes these types of details. It adds great substance to the story and makes you feel like you're gaining a deeper understanding of MC and her motivations.
So, not only does this story include fantastic action and gripping intrigue, it also has thoughtful moments where more sensitive issues are touched upon.
Yet again, I was completely swept away by Kylie Lee Baker's storytelling. Once I got into this story, I couldn't put it down. She's so underrated, y'all.
You know what I'm gonna say. If you haven't checked out Kylie Lee Baker's work yet...
Thank you so much to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Baker is definitely one of my go-to authors. I can't wait to be reunited with Zilan in the next book. The possibilities are endless as to where this story will go next!!
November 18, 2023
no, i don't want to talk about it 😭
October 5, 2023
Oh my God.
Oh my God.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod.
THIS BOOK WAS INSANELY GOOD!!! I just finished it and I'm sitting here, still holding my breath. And I'm supposed to wait till the next book is out like my soul wasn't just tumbled around all the way to the next century.
The Scarlet Alchemist was right up my alley, with my favourite setting to read about (China, in general, but specifically Tang dynasty, even though this is an alternate fantastical version), one of my favourite subjects to read about (alchemy, of course), in my favourite genre (fantasy), what more could a girl ask for? Brilliant characters? WE GOT THAT TOO!
Zilan was an amazing main character, one of my favourite characters ever. She cared about herself and her own success, but cared about her family and their wellbeing just as much. She proved everyone who underestimated her wrong and I loved seeing her do it.
I wasn't sure about Hong at first, I thought he was funny but didn't ship him with Zilan until maybe halfway into the book. I wanted to see if there was more to him than we originally saw, and there really was. You could tell that even though he was scared, he still wanted to do the right thing. On top of that, he was really sweet and kind to Zilan, his sisters and his ducks.
Oh how I love the ducks. There's even a possibly evil one, which is my favourite. I also used to feed ducks with bread before I knew it was bad for them, but I still treasure those memories with my uncle who fed them with me.
The plot was engaging and unpredictable, add that to the already fast pace, and this book will have you gasping for air. It's one of those reads that you just devour and immediately want to do it all over again.
This is my very first book by this author, and I can see now that I've seriously been missing out. So don't be like me, pick one of Kylie Lee Baker's books up today (preferably this one ahem ahem) and trust me that your whole world will never be the same again.
ALSO, don't look up anything about it, just go into the story as blind as possible and let Kylie Lee Baker's magical writing transport you into a treacherous court full of political intrigue, backstabbing royals, and alchemists who can create gold that makes you immortal...and thank me later.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Oh my God.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod.
THIS BOOK WAS INSANELY GOOD!!! I just finished it and I'm sitting here, still holding my breath. And I'm supposed to wait till the next book is out like my soul wasn't just tumbled around all the way to the next century.
The Scarlet Alchemist was right up my alley, with my favourite setting to read about (China, in general, but specifically Tang dynasty, even though this is an alternate fantastical version), one of my favourite subjects to read about (alchemy, of course), in my favourite genre (fantasy), what more could a girl ask for? Brilliant characters? WE GOT THAT TOO!
Zilan was an amazing main character, one of my favourite characters ever. She cared about herself and her own success, but cared about her family and their wellbeing just as much. She proved everyone who underestimated her wrong and I loved seeing her do it.
I wasn't sure about Hong at first, I thought he was funny but didn't ship him with Zilan until maybe halfway into the book. I wanted to see if there was more to him than we originally saw, and there really was. You could tell that even though he was scared, he still wanted to do the right thing. On top of that, he was really sweet and kind to Zilan, his sisters and his ducks.
Oh how I love the ducks. There's even a possibly evil one, which is my favourite. I also used to feed ducks with bread before I knew it was bad for them, but I still treasure those memories with my uncle who fed them with me.
The plot was engaging and unpredictable, add that to the already fast pace, and this book will have you gasping for air. It's one of those reads that you just devour and immediately want to do it all over again.
This is my very first book by this author, and I can see now that I've seriously been missing out. So don't be like me, pick one of Kylie Lee Baker's books up today (preferably this one ahem ahem) and trust me that your whole world will never be the same again.
ALSO, don't look up anything about it, just go into the story as blind as possible and let Kylie Lee Baker's magical writing transport you into a treacherous court full of political intrigue, backstabbing royals, and alchemists who can create gold that makes you immortal...and thank me later.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
October 17, 2023
A captivating world of royal intrigue intertwined with the mystical art of alchemy.
Zilan has always aspired to become a royal alchemist and worked tirelessly towards her dream. When an opportunity finally presented itself, she didn't think twice about taking it. However, before becoming a royal alchemist, she had to prove her skills and intelligence by passing the imperial exams. Unfortunately, the examiners and her fellow examinees didn't make things easy for her. The examiners purposely withheld necessary tools from her, and the other examinees didn't bother to lend a helping hand. Will Zilan be able to overcome the odds and pass the exams? Will her dream of becoming a royal alchemist come true?
The plot was very well-crafted, and it kept me hooked throughout. However, some minor complaints would be that the side characters were not as well developed as the protagonist, Zilan. Also, I would have loved to see more romance between Zilan and the prince. Nevertheless, it was a great read, and I would highly recommend it to fans of young adult fantasy novels.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kylie Lee Baker, and Inkyard Press for graciously sending me the e-book to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Zilan has always aspired to become a royal alchemist and worked tirelessly towards her dream. When an opportunity finally presented itself, she didn't think twice about taking it. However, before becoming a royal alchemist, she had to prove her skills and intelligence by passing the imperial exams. Unfortunately, the examiners and her fellow examinees didn't make things easy for her. The examiners purposely withheld necessary tools from her, and the other examinees didn't bother to lend a helping hand. Will Zilan be able to overcome the odds and pass the exams? Will her dream of becoming a royal alchemist come true?
The plot was very well-crafted, and it kept me hooked throughout. However, some minor complaints would be that the side characters were not as well developed as the protagonist, Zilan. Also, I would have loved to see more romance between Zilan and the prince. Nevertheless, it was a great read, and I would highly recommend it to fans of young adult fantasy novels.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kylie Lee Baker, and Inkyard Press for graciously sending me the e-book to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
November 13, 2023
My eight-year-old cousin's telling me that I just become like an old lady, very old...
Do I really get old for this, or is this just the terrible cold that causes me to want to smash my head against the wall or drown myself because of these very casual conversations?! childish heroine?! Oh, I'm not even going to talk about her first love, what was that?!
Asian fantasy has one my favorite genre for a few years now, but should I really consider giving up on it, the rude teenage girls who want to save the world and the story always seem like the previous ones more than to have something new!?
With that start you may find 3 stars too high, first, I have caught a very bad cold, and I'm angry don't know why exactly, and second in this case, I'm curious enough to read the second book, even the ending was to ... I don't know, unbelievable, I was like, and now so what?! and third, It had its sparks, its tale about alchemy, gemstones, immortal empress and the dead walk back to earth.
In the year 775 in Guangzhou, China, when imperial alchemists were creating an elixir of immortality, a young country girl named Zilan despises her Scotian father for naming her after cheap flowers and abandoning her and her sick mother. To make ends meet and save money for imperial exams and ventures to the capital, Zilan resorts to using her father's notes and does the forbidden art of reviving the dead.
I liked the part that was about the stones and their powers, you see, the story wouldn't have been so frustrating if I hadn't had to read much about her fuss and arguing.
"You cannot create good without also creating evil. That was alchemy’s key truth. Surely new life came at a great cost."
She eventually ventures to the capital for imperial exams (ring a bell?!), and guess who will fall in love with her?! And the rest of the story that I suggest you read besides my harsh judgment and very hope you like it more than I did.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for ARC via NetGalley, I have given my honest review.
Do I really get old for this, or is this just the terrible cold that causes me to want to smash my head against the wall or drown myself because of these very casual conversations?! childish heroine?! Oh, I'm not even going to talk about her first love, what was that?!
Asian fantasy has one my favorite genre for a few years now, but should I really consider giving up on it, the rude teenage girls who want to save the world and the story always seem like the previous ones more than to have something new!?
With that start you may find 3 stars too high, first, I have caught a very bad cold, and I'm angry don't know why exactly, and second in this case, I'm curious enough to read the second book, even the ending was to ... I don't know, unbelievable, I was like, and now so what?! and third, It had its sparks, its tale about alchemy, gemstones, immortal empress and the dead walk back to earth.
In the year 775 in Guangzhou, China, when imperial alchemists were creating an elixir of immortality, a young country girl named Zilan despises her Scotian father for naming her after cheap flowers and abandoning her and her sick mother. To make ends meet and save money for imperial exams and ventures to the capital, Zilan resorts to using her father's notes and does the forbidden art of reviving the dead.
I liked the part that was about the stones and their powers, you see, the story wouldn't have been so frustrating if I hadn't had to read much about her fuss and arguing.
"You cannot create good without also creating evil. That was alchemy’s key truth. Surely new life came at a great cost."
She eventually ventures to the capital for imperial exams (ring a bell?!), and guess who will fall in love with her?! And the rest of the story that I suggest you read besides my harsh judgment and very hope you like it more than I did.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for ARC via NetGalley, I have given my honest review.
April 11, 2023
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Everyone has a handful of authors that are able to drag them out of the deepest pits of a reading slump and Kylie Lee Baker is one of mine. I've been struggling to enjoy novels recently, but I devoured this one in a couple of sittings. I adore Baker's writing - it's atmospheric and descriptive, and highly addictive to read. For me, it really was the perfect book to bring me out of a reading slump.
The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a poor merchant's daughter who is aiming to become a royal alchemist through the national examinations. This book takes place in an alternative version of Tang dynasty China where alchemists have succeeded in extending the life of humans through alchemical gold, and while the poor are getting poorer by the day (because of inflation), the rich are quite literally eating gold and living on forever. Zilan and her two siblings do whatever they can to make ends meet - studying by day, and raising the dead by night.
In a lot of ways, The Scarlet Alchemist shares a lot of similarities with Baker's debut novel, The Keeper of Night (which I also loved). While the plot and the setting are vastly different, this book also explores similar themes of death, mixed-race identity, and sibling relationships. These are all themes I personally enjoy a lot, and I enjoyed exploring them in The Scarlet Alchemist as well.
Character-wise, I think Zilan also falls into the same category of angry/unhinged female protagonists that Ren from The Keeper of Night did. They're not the same character by any means, but are both the types of characters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want. Zilan is not a perfect character - in fact, I think she's quite unlikeable, but deliberately so. She's young, has a bit of a temper, and constantly makes mistakes that she can't help but try to fix. She's not likeable, but I found myself rooting for her anyway. I also really enjoyed the main love interest and their reluctant allies to lovers relationship, though if I were to nitpick, I'd say that the relationship developed a little too quickly for my liking.
The pacing of the book is very fast-paced, and while it worked for me, I can see it not working for some readers. I enjoyed the political intrigue and court politics a lot, and am excited to see how this continues to develop in the sequel. As I've come to expect from Baker, this book was action-packed, violent, and gory, and I loved every second of it.
Overall, I think that if you've read The Keeper of Night and you enjoyed it, you will also enjoy this one a lot. I think if you hated that book (because I do know it had a very mixed reception), I'm not sure if you'll like this one any more, but I do hope you'll give it a try anyway because it really is just such a fun, violent time. If you enjoy necromancy, historical fantasy, or dark fantasy, and haven't given Kylie Lee Baker a try yet, this is absolutely a must-read in my opinion.
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Everyone has a handful of authors that are able to drag them out of the deepest pits of a reading slump and Kylie Lee Baker is one of mine. I've been struggling to enjoy novels recently, but I devoured this one in a couple of sittings. I adore Baker's writing - it's atmospheric and descriptive, and highly addictive to read. For me, it really was the perfect book to bring me out of a reading slump.
The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a poor merchant's daughter who is aiming to become a royal alchemist through the national examinations. This book takes place in an alternative version of Tang dynasty China where alchemists have succeeded in extending the life of humans through alchemical gold, and while the poor are getting poorer by the day (because of inflation), the rich are quite literally eating gold and living on forever. Zilan and her two siblings do whatever they can to make ends meet - studying by day, and raising the dead by night.
In a lot of ways, The Scarlet Alchemist shares a lot of similarities with Baker's debut novel, The Keeper of Night (which I also loved). While the plot and the setting are vastly different, this book also explores similar themes of death, mixed-race identity, and sibling relationships. These are all themes I personally enjoy a lot, and I enjoyed exploring them in The Scarlet Alchemist as well.
Character-wise, I think Zilan also falls into the same category of angry/unhinged female protagonists that Ren from The Keeper of Night did. They're not the same character by any means, but are both the types of characters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want. Zilan is not a perfect character - in fact, I think she's quite unlikeable, but deliberately so. She's young, has a bit of a temper, and constantly makes mistakes that she can't help but try to fix. She's not likeable, but I found myself rooting for her anyway. I also really enjoyed the main love interest and their reluctant allies to lovers relationship, though if I were to nitpick, I'd say that the relationship developed a little too quickly for my liking.
The pacing of the book is very fast-paced, and while it worked for me, I can see it not working for some readers. I enjoyed the political intrigue and court politics a lot, and am excited to see how this continues to develop in the sequel. As I've come to expect from Baker, this book was action-packed, violent, and gory, and I loved every second of it.
Overall, I think that if you've read The Keeper of Night and you enjoyed it, you will also enjoy this one a lot. I think if you hated that book (because I do know it had a very mixed reception), I'm not sure if you'll like this one any more, but I do hope you'll give it a try anyway because it really is just such a fun, violent time. If you enjoy necromancy, historical fantasy, or dark fantasy, and haven't given Kylie Lee Baker a try yet, this is absolutely a must-read in my opinion.
December 2, 2023
This was a very intriguing story. I will admit I didn’t know much about the historical period this story took place in but I was very intrigued by the alchemists. The characters were interesting, but I didn’t really like any of them and I think none of them were as fullly developed as I would like. There was a lot of potential in them and the idea though. The concept of you can’t create good without creating evil was interesting and I was fascinated by the main character being able to resurrect people but not being sure of all of the consequences. I wasn’t as interested in the mysterious rich stranger offering to throw money at the poor but talented Scarlet Alchemist as I feel like that storyline didn’t feel as interesting or unique to me. The ending was a bit of a surprise and I am now very interested in the next book and where this series will be going. Overall I enjoyed the book and definitely will be keeping an eye out for the next one.
September 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
Drawn in by the cover, this new historical fantasy series is about a young woman who rises above her humble circumstances to become a powerful alchemist prodigy who catches the eye of the royal family. Unfortunately, it isn't too long before our main protagonist realizes that something even more horrifying is going on beyond the palace walls.
Although it took me a while before I was hooked, once Zilan and her cousins started out on their journey, I was not putting the book down. There's some action, romance, and a lot of focus on family bonds. I appreciated all the information that the author provides and felt it was cool that her character Zilan is loosely based on a historical Chinese culture figure.
I liked it but something( and I cannot quite target what) has me unwilling to go any higher. But would I read more from this author? Absolutely!
Expected Publication Date 03/10/23
Goodreads Review 09/09/23
#TheScarletAlchemist #NetGalley
Drawn in by the cover, this new historical fantasy series is about a young woman who rises above her humble circumstances to become a powerful alchemist prodigy who catches the eye of the royal family. Unfortunately, it isn't too long before our main protagonist realizes that something even more horrifying is going on beyond the palace walls.
Although it took me a while before I was hooked, once Zilan and her cousins started out on their journey, I was not putting the book down. There's some action, romance, and a lot of focus on family bonds. I appreciated all the information that the author provides and felt it was cool that her character Zilan is loosely based on a historical Chinese culture figure.
I liked it but something( and I cannot quite target what) has me unwilling to go any higher. But would I read more from this author? Absolutely!
Expected Publication Date 03/10/23
Goodreads Review 09/09/23
#TheScarletAlchemist #NetGalley
October 4, 2023
Edit: Happy release day! NOW GO READ THIS BOOK
No one is writing unhinged females like Kylie Lee Baker.
Zilan would rather raise the dead than starve. Barely scraping by, Zilan practices her illegal alchemy behind closed doors, all while dreaming of being a royal alchemist. When she finally gets a chance to prove herself in the capital, she is shocked at the grim lengths she will have to go to earn her spot in the palace. When the Crown Prince seeks her out for help, Zilan is entangled in a political assassination attempt that has been years in the making.
Kylie Lee Baker does not hold back when creating ruthless protagonists. Zilan is not an optimist. She relies only on the powers her alchemy provides. Outside of her immediate circle of family, she is brash and harsh, often making decisions that disgust those around her. She does not hesitate to wipe out the competition, through whatever means necessary, in order to be a Royal Alchemist and attain the wealth that comes with that. For all purposes, she should come across as an unlikable character, but her motivation is her family. Her deep-rooted love and fierce need to protect them drive her decisions, which immediately endeared her to me, despite the morally questionable decisions she makes. We also see her tenderness and vulnerability in her desperate desire to find her place: in her family, the palace, and in herself. She never quite feels like enough of anything, and this soft side completes a well-rounded and lovable main character.
The Scarlet Alchemist is just as dark and twisted as Baker’s debut duology, except with royal politics. The fantasy twist on the Tang dynasty was brilliant. Baker added mythology and magical elements while keeping all the brutality and culture of the original events. I’ve read very few books with alchemy in them, much less death/blood alchemy, but I will definitely be picking up more. It was such a fascinating element, and really added to the darkness Zilan already has inside of her.
I couldn’t put this book down. Between the political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters, and quick-moving plot, this book has everything I want. If you love books like The Poppy War and A Darker Shade of Magic, this book is right up your alley.
Just be prepared for the worst cliffhanger of an ending.
Thank you, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own!
No one is writing unhinged females like Kylie Lee Baker.
Zilan would rather raise the dead than starve. Barely scraping by, Zilan practices her illegal alchemy behind closed doors, all while dreaming of being a royal alchemist. When she finally gets a chance to prove herself in the capital, she is shocked at the grim lengths she will have to go to earn her spot in the palace. When the Crown Prince seeks her out for help, Zilan is entangled in a political assassination attempt that has been years in the making.
Kylie Lee Baker does not hold back when creating ruthless protagonists. Zilan is not an optimist. She relies only on the powers her alchemy provides. Outside of her immediate circle of family, she is brash and harsh, often making decisions that disgust those around her. She does not hesitate to wipe out the competition, through whatever means necessary, in order to be a Royal Alchemist and attain the wealth that comes with that. For all purposes, she should come across as an unlikable character, but her motivation is her family. Her deep-rooted love and fierce need to protect them drive her decisions, which immediately endeared her to me, despite the morally questionable decisions she makes. We also see her tenderness and vulnerability in her desperate desire to find her place: in her family, the palace, and in herself. She never quite feels like enough of anything, and this soft side completes a well-rounded and lovable main character.
The Scarlet Alchemist is just as dark and twisted as Baker’s debut duology, except with royal politics. The fantasy twist on the Tang dynasty was brilliant. Baker added mythology and magical elements while keeping all the brutality and culture of the original events. I’ve read very few books with alchemy in them, much less death/blood alchemy, but I will definitely be picking up more. It was such a fascinating element, and really added to the darkness Zilan already has inside of her.
I couldn’t put this book down. Between the political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters, and quick-moving plot, this book has everything I want. If you love books like The Poppy War and A Darker Shade of Magic, this book is right up your alley.
Just be prepared for the worst cliffhanger of an ending.
Thank you, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own!
October 20, 2023
The Scarlet Alchemist is the first installment of The Scarlet Alchemist series. And I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It contains the right mix of fantasy, horror, mystery, as well as light romance.
The story unfolds through the main character’s point of view. And it works really well for the story. I got to experience the terror, excitement, love, humor, disgust of Zilan — the main character. So as you can tell, I loved Zilan. But I also loved the secondary characters of Wenshu and Yufei. All of the characters were well developed and fleshed out. I enjoyed their banter, snark, as well as humor. All of their personalities shined through to make the story come to life.
There were a number of plot twists that made for an exciting and unputdownable read. A lot of surprises and “oh wow!” moments dotted the story’s landscape. Author Baker’s storytelling skills really shine in this area.
There’s also a bit of romance that lightened the darkly graphic scenes. A welcome respite from the horror interspersed throughout the novel.
Fantasy novels are either a hit or miss for me. But, The Scarlet Alchemist was definitely a hit. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about the novel. Except that I have to wait a year before the next installment gets released. *sigh* Five amazing stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Inkyard Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The story unfolds through the main character’s point of view. And it works really well for the story. I got to experience the terror, excitement, love, humor, disgust of Zilan — the main character. So as you can tell, I loved Zilan. But I also loved the secondary characters of Wenshu and Yufei. All of the characters were well developed and fleshed out. I enjoyed their banter, snark, as well as humor. All of their personalities shined through to make the story come to life.
There were a number of plot twists that made for an exciting and unputdownable read. A lot of surprises and “oh wow!” moments dotted the story’s landscape. Author Baker’s storytelling skills really shine in this area.
There’s also a bit of romance that lightened the darkly graphic scenes. A welcome respite from the horror interspersed throughout the novel.
Fantasy novels are either a hit or miss for me. But, The Scarlet Alchemist was definitely a hit. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about the novel. Except that I have to wait a year before the next installment gets released. *sigh* Five amazing stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Inkyard Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 24, 2024
1.5 stars
Warning: I did not like this book at all, and my review shows it. Do not read on if you cannot handle that.
I loved the fact that this was loosely based on an actual part of history. I was quite excited to read this, since the fact that Zilan can bring the dead to life through alchemy seemed really cool. However, I was quite disappointed with how this book turned out. The mysterious start was great, but it all went downhill after that. I mean, you market a book by emphasizing the fact that this chick can raise the dead, then literally show it once at the beginning, and then not feature it in nearly the entire story. That's fake marketing, and annoying as hell.
Although the alchemy powers seemed really cool, we barely got to see any of it. The actual worldbuilding and explanations of the different possibilities were lacking greatly, and I hated that. Furthermore, I HATED the constant use of Chinese words without explanations. I get that the writer didn't think it important to explain them, but for someone like me, who actually wants to know what they're saying, it's annoying as hell. It really took me out of the story, and started to annoy me more and more. Furthermore, the story started to drag, and it was hard to keep reading.
I kept seeing the crown prince as an actual child, and as a result, the others seemed very childlike at all. Zilan kept overreacting at everything he fucking said, and it was so insanely annoying. Her 'better than thou' attitude got old quick, and was just straight up bullshit. The worst written thing ever was their relationship though. They went from hate to love out of nowhere, it made no sense for Zilan to fall for him at all. They barely spend any time together to bond or some shit, it was such bs.
The brutal treatment of her and other halfbloods was interesting to see, and I did like how the author wrote that. The brutality of Chang'an and their lives was a nice plot aspect. Besides that though, the writing all felt very flat. The characters were painted to be one way, then behaved completely different the next moment. I mean,
I was surprised to learn that didn't see that coming damn. The one thing I did like, were the ducks. Yes, I said it, the ducks.
The thing that drove me mental, though, was the end. What the fuck was that bull. What the actual fuck. No, I'm done. And talk about the plotholes, That's just lazy writing and bs. Furthermore, fucking hell.
Overall, this book really annoyed me. It sounded great at first, but the blurb was insanely misleading and made me mad. There was a severe lack of explanations, literally nothing was explained, there were a lot of plotholes, and their relationship was terribly written. We barely got to see any alchemy, we don't even know whether she can create gold at this point. The entire book was about the prince and the games of the empress, and I'm less than impressed about that shit. I couldn't care less about any of these characters, and I'm so mad that this wasn't what it said it'd be. I'm just so disappointed, the book is so pretty and the storyline could've been so cool, but it's so terribly written. The constant Chinese, lack of explanations, names I couldn’t remember, lack of character/relationship development and literal children beating a empress and alchemists who have lived for ages is fucking bullshit and too YA. I'm so done.
December 9, 2025
3.25✨
For the first 30% this was a 4 stars read… unfortunately, things really started to go downwards from there.
I always think it’s a *choice* to make despicable main characters. Zilan was truly hard to read about, even if I could sometimes get where she was coming from. And what to say of Hong… he had no brain cells whatsoever. He’s got to be the stupidest character I’ve ever read about.
The plot was really interesting at first and so was the alchemy, but once I started asking questions - I felt like I could easily unravel the whole foundations.
The romance was unbelievable but the ending was well done. I will not be reading the sequel as I feel like it wrapped up nicely.
For the first 30% this was a 4 stars read… unfortunately, things really started to go downwards from there.
I always think it’s a *choice* to make despicable main characters. Zilan was truly hard to read about, even if I could sometimes get where she was coming from. And what to say of Hong… he had no brain cells whatsoever. He’s got to be the stupidest character I’ve ever read about.
The plot was really interesting at first and so was the alchemy, but once I started asking questions - I felt like I could easily unravel the whole foundations.
The romance was unbelievable but the ending was well done. I will not be reading the sequel as I feel like it wrapped up nicely.
Want to read
October 4, 2023This is literally a commoner/crown prince book i need it asap
August 11, 2025
read on:
(17.01.25.)
↪ ★★★★.5 shocked stars
❝ you cannot create good without also creating evil.❞
i. | preface + plot.
this book has a historical chinese setting, with royal politics and the most golden retriever-coded cute mmc u could ask for. the writing is phenomenal and the pacing is very fast paced and easy to get through + there's always some element to keep u hooked to the story!
THE PLOT IN HISTORICAL BOOKS>>>>> and this one was no exception. the plot twists, the constant danger lurking in the shadows, and the air of unease keeping the reader at the edge of their seat, it was all so well done. the main query that goes through your mind is :: can i trust this person? and we all know that those kinds of books are the absolute best. the struggle for power, the constant fight to get higher and higher and higher in the hierarchical system of the kingdom, as well as the imminent victory - so so so beautifully represented.
ii. | character analysis.
# fan zilan :: such an incredible fmc who's truly worth admiring! TALL GIRLS UNITE ❤️🩹❤️🩹 also how dare they call her ugly?? are you blind?? have you SEEN this girl??? anyways. she was funny, smart in her own way, kind and had moral values. she's calculating, cunning, gentle and warmhearted, all at the same damn time. ugh how i wish i could meet her
# li hong :: the way he was the cutest mmc i have ever read about??? HE'S SO SILLY AND WHOLESOME OMG I CANT. his pet ducks>>>>> ifykyk. THE MOST ADORABLE MMC I WILL PROBABLY EVER ENCOUNTER IN MY LIFE. such an endearing and truly gentlehearted character; unlike any i've read about before. ugh the way he was aware of his faults yet still ready to sacrifice all he's got to find his half-sisters and zilan 💔
# fan yufei :: she gave the classic younger sister vibes fs! charming, sassy, lovable, and always gets her way - yet you can't find it in you to hate her. I JUST LOVED EVERY WORD SHE SPOKE ASFIHAWIURGHIURGH such a funny character omg
# fan wenshu :: i enjoyed his character, and having him around, but im still not sure i forgive him for what he did 😭 him being the clean freak and always so annoyed with zilan and yufei is SO REALLLLLL. i do sometimes get pissed at why but it turned out to be okay by the end of the duology so ill let it slide
# the empress :: ladies and gentlemen, THAT is how you write a villain. an evil being who would do anything and everything to get what she wanted and keep her position in power. literally the opposite of stupid and what we need to see in villains nowadays!!
iii. | QUOTES.
👏 AREEEE 👏 YOUUUUU 👏 READYYYYY 👏 FOR EVERY SINGLE QUOTE I HIGHLIGHTED 👏👏 (there arent even that many lol excuse me being dramatic)
❝ wenshu let out a massive sigh, hunched over his desk. "did you kill anyone?"
yufei shook her head. "too many witnesses. but even if i did, zilan could just fix him."❞
❝ "that one is shu, that one is cong, that one is huluobo-"
"you named all of your ducks after vegetables?"
he shook his head. "after their favorite food."❞
❝ back then, i thought love was something endless and unbreakable, as constant as the beat of the tide on the shore. it wasn't until my parents were gone that i realized nothing in life is a promise, that everything good can simply stop existing one day, that the sun might not rise and the tides might lay still and the sky will go cold and dark.❞
❝ from now on, you will be known as the scarlet alchemist.❞
❝ "is this your girlfriend?" she said.
the prince let out a stiff laugh. "umm-"
"no," i said, frowning. "don't say umm like you need to think about it."❞
❝ you cower from death, like it's the worst thing that could happen to you, but in guangzhou, people far younger than you die every day. we live with that fear. we don't go around begging for help, because we know no one will answer. no one will save us.❞
❝ "i won't have to eat gold, will i?"
"have to? you don't want to?"
"i don't want to look seventeen forever," i said.
"but you're..." the prince hesitated, clamping his mouth shut as he blushed.❞
❝ you feed him too much. he's going to explode from bread crumbs like all your other pets.❞
❝ i just wanted to be chosen. but those girls didn't have a choice, not really. i don't want to be the cause of someone's suffering just because my father has purchased me the right. i want to be chosen freely, or not at all.❞
❝ i might be a fool for plenty of other reasons, but trusting you will never be one of them.❞
❝ it would be an honor to be robbed by you, fan zilan.❞
❝ "distract it!" i shouted.
the prince's eyes went wide. "distract it? with what, exactly? my death?"
"something else, if you can manage"❞
❝ because i know that the day i die and wake up in the river of souls, the first thing i will see will be a pair of bright, golden eyes. ❞
❝ i am the smoke that chokes the sky after lightning strikes, the simmering embers that devour thatched roofs.
i am the tiger's teeth as they bite down on a child very far from home.
i am the earthquakes that rip the earth to pieces and the corpses that fall into its fresh chasms.
i am the bones of all the planets.
i am silence.
i am the end.❞
in conclusion, go read this extremely underrated masterpiece!!
xx
almas
─────────────────── 𝜗𝜚 ───────────────────
pre-review.
oh. my. goodness. THAT ENDING???? LI HONG MY BELOVED 💔💔
4.25 stars !!
pre-read.
another rec by niyya the seaweed !! i lovelovelove asian literature, especially if it's historical so i'm reaaaaaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyyy excitedd 🫶
꒰🧪꒱ the scarlet alchemist by kylie lee baker
↪ ★★★★.5 shocked stars
❝ you cannot create good without also creating evil.❞
i. | preface + plot.
this book has a historical chinese setting, with royal politics and the most golden retriever-coded cute mmc u could ask for. the writing is phenomenal and the pacing is very fast paced and easy to get through + there's always some element to keep u hooked to the story!
THE PLOT IN HISTORICAL BOOKS>>>>> and this one was no exception. the plot twists, the constant danger lurking in the shadows, and the air of unease keeping the reader at the edge of their seat, it was all so well done. the main query that goes through your mind is :: can i trust this person? and we all know that those kinds of books are the absolute best. the struggle for power, the constant fight to get higher and higher and higher in the hierarchical system of the kingdom, as well as the imminent victory - so so so beautifully represented.
ii. | character analysis.
# fan zilan :: such an incredible fmc who's truly worth admiring! TALL GIRLS UNITE ❤️🩹❤️🩹 also how dare they call her ugly?? are you blind?? have you SEEN this girl??? anyways. she was funny, smart in her own way, kind and had moral values. she's calculating, cunning, gentle and warmhearted, all at the same damn time. ugh how i wish i could meet her
# li hong :: the way he was the cutest mmc i have ever read about??? HE'S SO SILLY AND WHOLESOME OMG I CANT. his pet ducks>>>>> ifykyk. THE MOST ADORABLE MMC I WILL PROBABLY EVER ENCOUNTER IN MY LIFE. such an endearing and truly gentlehearted character; unlike any i've read about before. ugh the way he was aware of his faults yet still ready to sacrifice all he's got to find his half-sisters and zilan 💔
# fan yufei :: she gave the classic younger sister vibes fs! charming, sassy, lovable, and always gets her way - yet you can't find it in you to hate her. I JUST LOVED EVERY WORD SHE SPOKE ASFIHAWIURGHIURGH such a funny character omg
# fan wenshu :: i enjoyed his character, and having him around, but im still not sure i forgive him for what he did 😭 him being the clean freak and always so annoyed with zilan and yufei is SO REALLLLLL. i do sometimes get pissed at why but it turned out to be okay by the end of the duology so ill let it slide
# the empress :: ladies and gentlemen, THAT is how you write a villain. an evil being who would do anything and everything to get what she wanted and keep her position in power. literally the opposite of stupid and what we need to see in villains nowadays!!
iii. | QUOTES.
👏 AREEEE 👏 YOUUUUU 👏 READYYYYY 👏 FOR EVERY SINGLE QUOTE I HIGHLIGHTED 👏👏 (there arent even that many lol excuse me being dramatic)
❝ wenshu let out a massive sigh, hunched over his desk. "did you kill anyone?"
yufei shook her head. "too many witnesses. but even if i did, zilan could just fix him."❞
❝ "that one is shu, that one is cong, that one is huluobo-"
"you named all of your ducks after vegetables?"
he shook his head. "after their favorite food."❞
❝ back then, i thought love was something endless and unbreakable, as constant as the beat of the tide on the shore. it wasn't until my parents were gone that i realized nothing in life is a promise, that everything good can simply stop existing one day, that the sun might not rise and the tides might lay still and the sky will go cold and dark.❞
❝ from now on, you will be known as the scarlet alchemist.❞
❝ "is this your girlfriend?" she said.
the prince let out a stiff laugh. "umm-"
"no," i said, frowning. "don't say umm like you need to think about it."❞
❝ you cower from death, like it's the worst thing that could happen to you, but in guangzhou, people far younger than you die every day. we live with that fear. we don't go around begging for help, because we know no one will answer. no one will save us.❞
❝ "i won't have to eat gold, will i?"
"have to? you don't want to?"
"i don't want to look seventeen forever," i said.
"but you're..." the prince hesitated, clamping his mouth shut as he blushed.❞
❝ you feed him too much. he's going to explode from bread crumbs like all your other pets.❞
❝ i just wanted to be chosen. but those girls didn't have a choice, not really. i don't want to be the cause of someone's suffering just because my father has purchased me the right. i want to be chosen freely, or not at all.❞
❝ i might be a fool for plenty of other reasons, but trusting you will never be one of them.❞
❝ it would be an honor to be robbed by you, fan zilan.❞
❝ "distract it!" i shouted.
the prince's eyes went wide. "distract it? with what, exactly? my death?"
"something else, if you can manage"❞
❝ because i know that the day i die and wake up in the river of souls, the first thing i will see will be a pair of bright, golden eyes. ❞
❝ i am the smoke that chokes the sky after lightning strikes, the simmering embers that devour thatched roofs.
i am the tiger's teeth as they bite down on a child very far from home.
i am the earthquakes that rip the earth to pieces and the corpses that fall into its fresh chasms.
i am the bones of all the planets.
i am silence.
i am the end.❞
in conclusion, go read this extremely underrated masterpiece!!
xx
almas
─────────────────── 𝜗𝜚 ───────────────────
pre-review.
oh. my. goodness. THAT ENDING???? LI HONG MY BELOVED 💔💔
4.25 stars !!
pre-read.
another rec by niyya the seaweed !! i lovelovelove asian literature, especially if it's historical so i'm reaaaaaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyyy excitedd 🫶
August 11, 2025
♡ 226/ 100
THIS WAS SO AMAZING, KYLIE LEE BAKER YOU COULD LITERALLY HAVE MY KIDNEY FOR THIS.
I cannot believe that I will need to wait around a year for book two... In no world is that morally okay.
The Scarlet Alchemist tells the story of Fan Zilan, a 17-year-old poor alchemist who raises the dead, despite it being extremely taboo in China during the 700s, in order to make enough money to survive. Her dream as a child was to become a royal alchemist, which is no easy feat. In order to do so you must go through several trials and only the best alchemist will prevail. However, Zilan's reputation has made its way to the palace and the crown prince asks for a favor. The prince believes that someone is going to assassinate him and he needs Zilan to bring him back. But there are darker secrets lurking in the palace's shadows.
This had me in its grasp, I was shocked at every plot twist. The romance was tasteful, the family drama was family drama-ing, and this book was CREEPY.
I personally believe this is a darker YA historical fantasy, as the topics and the gore are pretty up there. I think this can and should be read by an adult audience. It doesn't necessarily leave you on a cliffhanger either, but it does leave more to be desired to truly wrap up the story.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this upon its release on October 03, 2023, coming from Inkyard Press!
THIS WAS SO AMAZING, KYLIE LEE BAKER YOU COULD LITERALLY HAVE MY KIDNEY FOR THIS.
I cannot believe that I will need to wait around a year for book two... In no world is that morally okay.
The Scarlet Alchemist tells the story of Fan Zilan, a 17-year-old poor alchemist who raises the dead, despite it being extremely taboo in China during the 700s, in order to make enough money to survive. Her dream as a child was to become a royal alchemist, which is no easy feat. In order to do so you must go through several trials and only the best alchemist will prevail. However, Zilan's reputation has made its way to the palace and the crown prince asks for a favor. The prince believes that someone is going to assassinate him and he needs Zilan to bring him back. But there are darker secrets lurking in the palace's shadows.
This had me in its grasp, I was shocked at every plot twist. The romance was tasteful, the family drama was family drama-ing, and this book was CREEPY.
I personally believe this is a darker YA historical fantasy, as the topics and the gore are pretty up there. I think this can and should be read by an adult audience. It doesn't necessarily leave you on a cliffhanger either, but it does leave more to be desired to truly wrap up the story.
I HIGHLY recommend picking this upon its release on October 03, 2023, coming from Inkyard Press!
February 20, 2024
Wow. Surprising. Awesome.
One of my biggest gripes about fantasy is when awesome magic systems are created but authors forget to have fun with them and really showcase the levels of them throughout. Like, I always think there could have been MORE examples and layers.
BUT- IMHO, #kylieleebaker understood this assignment. 🧑🍳💋
Book 2 just shot to the my most anticipated books (Oct 2024). And I am so excited to see how she’ll push the creative world building envelope.
Now, here’s the skinny.
- What the FMC sort of an idiot? Maybe. But Zilan doesn’t make it easy.
- This plot isn’t for the weak hearted. There are plenty of gore & guts, so double check TW’s if you have hard stops.
- I would recommend to friends that read Bonesmith, A Deadly Education, Dread Nation & Little Thieves.
-If you wished Gideon of the Ninth was less… insane & confusing, but still looking for a solid page turner, I’d recommend to you also.
One of my biggest gripes about fantasy is when awesome magic systems are created but authors forget to have fun with them and really showcase the levels of them throughout. Like, I always think there could have been MORE examples and layers.
BUT- IMHO, #kylieleebaker understood this assignment. 🧑🍳💋
Book 2 just shot to the my most anticipated books (Oct 2024). And I am so excited to see how she’ll push the creative world building envelope.
Now, here’s the skinny.
- What the FMC sort of an idiot? Maybe. But Zilan doesn’t make it easy.
- This plot isn’t for the weak hearted. There are plenty of gore & guts, so double check TW’s if you have hard stops.
- I would recommend to friends that read Bonesmith, A Deadly Education, Dread Nation & Little Thieves.
-If you wished Gideon of the Ninth was less… insane & confusing, but still looking for a solid page turner, I’d recommend to you also.
November 5, 2023
2023 reads: 342/350
zilan dreams of providing for her family by becoming a royal alchemist. the most practice she’s gotten is practicing an illegal form, which involves necromancy, but now she’s off to the capital to participate in her imperial exams. there, the crown prince reaches out to her for help, suspecting an assassination attempt.
i adored kylie lee baker’s the keeper of night duology, so i’ve been highly anticipating this first book in a new duology(?)!! i loved how the historical setting in the tang dynasty was blended with the alchemy magic. i can’t think of any other books i’ve read featuring alchemy, so this was really interesting to me! i also loved the dynamic between zilan and the other characters, such as her cousins and the crown prince.
i highly recommend this book and i’m eagerly awaiting book two!
zilan dreams of providing for her family by becoming a royal alchemist. the most practice she’s gotten is practicing an illegal form, which involves necromancy, but now she’s off to the capital to participate in her imperial exams. there, the crown prince reaches out to her for help, suspecting an assassination attempt.
i adored kylie lee baker’s the keeper of night duology, so i’ve been highly anticipating this first book in a new duology(?)!! i loved how the historical setting in the tang dynasty was blended with the alchemy magic. i can’t think of any other books i’ve read featuring alchemy, so this was really interesting to me! i also loved the dynamic between zilan and the other characters, such as her cousins and the crown prince.
i highly recommend this book and i’m eagerly awaiting book two!
November 3, 2024
2024 reread: just as incredible on the second read as the first. *chefs kiss*
This is, quite frankly, one of the best fantasy’s I’ve read all year. The world building is wildly immersive without being convoluted, the concept was excitingly unique and the Kylie Lee Baker’s writing was smooth flowing and beautifully readable.
KLB held nothing back with this story and its characters. Each element had the perfect amount of depth and complexity, without ever being confusing or falling flat. Filan’s strong, vulnerable and feisty voice made for an exciting and engaging POV and a character I adored following. I thought the balance between action/politics/family ties/character growth and romance was spot on and honestly? The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the fact that I now have to wait a year+ for the next instalment in this bloody golden story because I could have kept reading for days. I. loved. It.
This is, quite frankly, one of the best fantasy’s I’ve read all year. The world building is wildly immersive without being convoluted, the concept was excitingly unique and the Kylie Lee Baker’s writing was smooth flowing and beautifully readable.
KLB held nothing back with this story and its characters. Each element had the perfect amount of depth and complexity, without ever being confusing or falling flat. Filan’s strong, vulnerable and feisty voice made for an exciting and engaging POV and a character I adored following. I thought the balance between action/politics/family ties/character growth and romance was spot on and honestly? The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the fact that I now have to wait a year+ for the next instalment in this bloody golden story because I could have kept reading for days. I. loved. It.
August 27, 2025
Set in an alternative China, Fan Zilans story is an exciting spectacular full of magic, monsters, an evil queen, and even a deep and expansive magic system.
In this truly dark tale Fan Zilan works to achieve her goals, falls in love, and battles a truly evil queen or in this case, empress. This story was full of so many twists and turns, I couldn't get enough of it. The ending, while leaving room for the upcoming sequel, still was well written and satisfying.
This story has a lot of important themes such as family, morality, classism, race and gender. The story itself is an excellent blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror where the true horror isn't the monsters but the ruling elite.
Zilan is an interesting character that has tremendous growth. Her story is fascinating and she herself is a well crafted, deep and unique heroine.
This is a book so good you'll preorder the next one before finishing it.
.
In this truly dark tale Fan Zilan works to achieve her goals, falls in love, and battles a truly evil queen or in this case, empress. This story was full of so many twists and turns, I couldn't get enough of it. The ending, while leaving room for the upcoming sequel, still was well written and satisfying.
This story has a lot of important themes such as family, morality, classism, race and gender. The story itself is an excellent blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror where the true horror isn't the monsters but the ruling elite.
Zilan is an interesting character that has tremendous growth. Her story is fascinating and she herself is a well crafted, deep and unique heroine.
This is a book so good you'll preorder the next one before finishing it.
.
May 14, 2024
Although I didn't vibe as hard with this one as I did with The Keeper of Night series, I will say: very few people can write descriptions of corpses quite like Kylie Lee Baker. loved the horror elements and the twist around the 300 pg mark
Want to read
October 28, 2021NO YOU DONT UNDERSTAND I CANT WAIT FOR THIS
December 22, 2024
Me: I'm not gonna cry, it's just a duology, and it's all about resurrection
Me at the end: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Starting the book, I had so many doubts and fears that it would disappoint me, but now I’m writing while my heart is racing like crazy.
Alchemy, an underground business for resurrecting people, exams on death.
I DEVOURED THIS WITH PLEASURE
It’s like a mix of The Poppy War, The Emperor's Soul by Sanderson, and a bit of zombies
The writing style is easy, really comfy to read, even though the vibe is intense
There are some horrifying descriptions, definitely not for the faint-hearted‼️
Me at the end: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Starting the book, I had so many doubts and fears that it would disappoint me, but now I’m writing while my heart is racing like crazy.
Alchemy, an underground business for resurrecting people, exams on death.
I DEVOURED THIS WITH PLEASURE
It’s like a mix of The Poppy War, The Emperor's Soul by Sanderson, and a bit of zombies
The writing style is easy, really comfy to read, even though the vibe is intense
There are some horrifying descriptions, definitely not for the faint-hearted‼️
January 5, 2024
first 30-40% is 5 stars, then it moves down to a humble 4.
June 16, 2024
That ending was a choice.
June 15, 2025
“You cannot create good without also creating evil”
This book was pretty creepy and dark for a YA. If you decide to read it, just be prepared for some intense descriptions of corpses.
The story revolves around a young girl Fan Zilan, an alchemist who knows how to bring people back to life. I instantly loved the whole concept. It felt fresh and original compared to most fantasy stories I’ve read.
I really liked Fan Zilan as a character too. Her dream is to become a royal alchemist so she can move to the capital and eventually help her aunt and uncle—but to do that, she has to pass three exams.
You know how in a lot of fantasy books the FMCs just get everything easily? They’re these perfect assassins, fighters, geniuses, etc. That’s not the case here, which made Fan Zilan feel way more realistic. She’s skilled in resurrection alchemy, yes, but she’s also poor and doesn’t have access to study materials, so she’s actually kind of uneducated. She really struggles with the exams, and it was so interesting to read how, through sheer stubbornness and determination, she pushes through all the difficulties.
Aside from her aunt and uncle, Fan Zilan has two cousins, Yufei and Wenshu. Even though they’re cousins, they’re super close, and I absolutely loved all three of them together. Their banter was really fun. Each character has their own unique personality, and the fact that Fan Zilan is their cousin—not their sister—adds some complexity to their relationship. The author did a great job showing the depth and messiness of sibling-like bonds.
There’s also a romance subplot with Prince Li Hong, who was another really well-written character—a gentle soul with a soft spot for animals. He was so precious, I just wanted to hug him. I liked that Fan Zilan played a role in his character development. In general, their relationship were sweet, but since the plot didn’t focus much on romance, I wasn’t super emotionally invested when the drama kicked in at the end.
Another character I just have to mention is Moon Alchemist—my favorite! I love those types who act cold and distant but actually care deeply underneath. She was amazing.
Overall, all the characters were really well-written. On top of that, the author portrayed class differences and gender inequality in ancient China really effectively. Plus, the writing style pulled me in completely, especially with all the little cultural details.
If the characters, plot, world, and writing were all so great—why not 5 stars?
The ending. It kind of let me down. It’s pretty obvious that the author wanted to set up a duology, so the ending felt a bit forced and illogical. As much as I loved the world, it doesn’t feel big enough to really need a sequel.
So, while I really liked this book, the ending made me question whether I want to read the second one. I might just pretend the story ended here.
This book was pretty creepy and dark for a YA. If you decide to read it, just be prepared for some intense descriptions of corpses.
The story revolves around a young girl Fan Zilan, an alchemist who knows how to bring people back to life. I instantly loved the whole concept. It felt fresh and original compared to most fantasy stories I’ve read.
I really liked Fan Zilan as a character too. Her dream is to become a royal alchemist so she can move to the capital and eventually help her aunt and uncle—but to do that, she has to pass three exams.
You know how in a lot of fantasy books the FMCs just get everything easily? They’re these perfect assassins, fighters, geniuses, etc. That’s not the case here, which made Fan Zilan feel way more realistic. She’s skilled in resurrection alchemy, yes, but she’s also poor and doesn’t have access to study materials, so she’s actually kind of uneducated. She really struggles with the exams, and it was so interesting to read how, through sheer stubbornness and determination, she pushes through all the difficulties.
Aside from her aunt and uncle, Fan Zilan has two cousins, Yufei and Wenshu. Even though they’re cousins, they’re super close, and I absolutely loved all three of them together. Their banter was really fun. Each character has their own unique personality, and the fact that Fan Zilan is their cousin—not their sister—adds some complexity to their relationship. The author did a great job showing the depth and messiness of sibling-like bonds.
There’s also a romance subplot with Prince Li Hong, who was another really well-written character—a gentle soul with a soft spot for animals. He was so precious, I just wanted to hug him. I liked that Fan Zilan played a role in his character development. In general, their relationship were sweet, but since the plot didn’t focus much on romance, I wasn’t super emotionally invested when the drama kicked in at the end.
Another character I just have to mention is Moon Alchemist—my favorite! I love those types who act cold and distant but actually care deeply underneath. She was amazing.
Overall, all the characters were really well-written. On top of that, the author portrayed class differences and gender inequality in ancient China really effectively. Plus, the writing style pulled me in completely, especially with all the little cultural details.
If the characters, plot, world, and writing were all so great—why not 5 stars?
The ending. It kind of let me down. It’s pretty obvious that the author wanted to set up a duology, so the ending felt a bit forced and illogical. As much as I loved the world, it doesn’t feel big enough to really need a sequel.
So, while I really liked this book, the ending made me question whether I want to read the second one. I might just pretend the story ended here.
June 27, 2025
Audiobook (12 hours) narrated by Natalie Naudus
The narration and audio are flawless.
Unexpected entertaining fantasy read.
This is the first book of a duology, I am already reading the second book.
Kylie Lee Baker uses fictionalized history as her backdrop. She goes over the differences at the end of the book. The details, the characters, all excellent.
The narration and audio are flawless.
Unexpected entertaining fantasy read.
This is the first book of a duology, I am already reading the second book.
Kylie Lee Baker uses fictionalized history as her backdrop. She goes over the differences at the end of the book. The details, the characters, all excellent.
March 24, 2024
This book is giving Fullmetal Alchemist vibes and I'm all here for it!
I always appreciate it when a fantasy author goes out of her comfort zone and writes something different from the norm. Maybe alchemy is a popular fantasy topic but I haven't been reading any so this feels refreshing to me.
In this book, Kyle Lee Baker's basis of alchemy is that you cannot create something good without also creating something evil. Balance is the key. If you want to conjure something or change something, you need to sacrifice too. Magic system like this helps to prevent any characters from becoming too overpowering and boring, so I'm glad the author decides on this.
Our protagonist is pretty much like your typical YA fantasy girl, an outcast who's skilled in alchemy. Everyone underestimated her so she took that as an advantage and played everyone, including the empress. Love the girl empowerment trope, that she can do anything if she sets her mind to it and doesn't any anyone to rescue her. In fact, she's the one doing all the rescuing.
There's a scene at the end that I really like. The one where she has to pick one out of the two most important men in her life to revive. Instead of making her pick her love interest like any typical YA romantasy book, she picked her family. The family that she thought had lost all faith in her. And because of this, the author gets to continue the book in the second book where she goes on a journey to search for answers to revive her love interest. I personally think that it's a clever way to prolong your book and leave it a cliffhanger so that readers can have something to look forward to.
I always appreciate it when a fantasy author goes out of her comfort zone and writes something different from the norm. Maybe alchemy is a popular fantasy topic but I haven't been reading any so this feels refreshing to me.
In this book, Kyle Lee Baker's basis of alchemy is that you cannot create something good without also creating something evil. Balance is the key. If you want to conjure something or change something, you need to sacrifice too. Magic system like this helps to prevent any characters from becoming too overpowering and boring, so I'm glad the author decides on this.
Our protagonist is pretty much like your typical YA fantasy girl, an outcast who's skilled in alchemy. Everyone underestimated her so she took that as an advantage and played everyone, including the empress. Love the girl empowerment trope, that she can do anything if she sets her mind to it and doesn't any anyone to rescue her. In fact, she's the one doing all the rescuing.
There's a scene at the end that I really like. The one where she has to pick one out of the two most important men in her life to revive. Instead of making her pick her love interest like any typical YA romantasy book, she picked her family. The family that she thought had lost all faith in her. And because of this, the author gets to continue the book in the second book where she goes on a journey to search for answers to revive her love interest. I personally think that it's a clever way to prolong your book and leave it a cliffhanger so that readers can have something to look forward to.
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