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gkaltam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless of the lack of stars. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Wow, this was such a wild historical fantasy adventure! Zilan is a young alchemist (the future "Scarlet Alchemist" of the royal family) from the impoverished South, who travels to the capital to take the imperial exams in order to become a royal alchemist and pull her family (aunt, uncle, cousins-but-she-calls-them-sister-and-brother Yufei and Wenshu) out of poverty. When Zilan was young, her parents passed away so her aunt and uncle took her in as one of their own.
Zilan, Yufei & Wenshu practice an illegal form of alchemy, bringing back the dead (look, it pays the bills!), and this dark reputation spoils her chances of having a fair shot in the imperial exams. The crown prince Li Hong goes to Zilan to ask her for a favor, but she turns him away, and then runs into him at the capital Chang'an, where the odds and the judges are stacked against her! Fun fact: in the capital, the royals eat magical gems (like gold and pearls) to live forever. Ah, the price of youth. WILD! COULD NOT BE ME! SEE YA IN HELL!
This book moves fast, and the constant twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end! I had to remind myself to let out a breath I didn't know I was holding (I finally understand this phrase in books now hahaha). Kylie Lee Baker did a phenomenal job of building up tension & mystery, shocking and horrifying readers, and then providing a glimmer of hope in rooting for Zilan to succeed! The political power plays at the palace (omg this alliteration is so annoying, I'm sorry) begin to unnerve Zilan, who also begins spending more time with Hong, and unraveling the inner workings of the palace history. It's DARK, and it's uncomfortable.
I really enjoyed Zilan as our main character - her tenacity, determination, and ability to investigate and troubleshoot make her a millennial dream even though she's not one hahaha. I also loved the dynamics between her and her cousins, who you could tell she cared for so deeply! I love this representation of a close-knit extended family! Zilan's dynamic with the Moon Alchemist was a fun mentor x mentee relationship to watch grow too.
The villain in the story was so fascinating - we have seen variations of the woman in power who remains obsessed with youth and maintaining her position of power before; it's a huge part of history, especially with empress consorts and queen mothers! Though this character felt familiar, I didn't think it was too derivative! Plus, she was modeled after a real empress in Chinese history. (Though remember, this is not historical fiction - it may be loosely inspired, but it's fantasy and an alternative history if you will!)
This is my first read by Kylie Lee Baker and I will absolutely be looking more into her backlist because this was a wild ride!
Wow, this was such a wild historical fantasy adventure! Zilan is a young alchemist (the future "Scarlet Alchemist" of the royal family) from the impoverished South, who travels to the capital to take the imperial exams in order to become a royal alchemist and pull her family (aunt, uncle, cousins-but-she-calls-them-sister-and-brother Yufei and Wenshu) out of poverty. When Zilan was young, her parents passed away so her aunt and uncle took her in as one of their own.
Zilan, Yufei & Wenshu practice an illegal form of alchemy, bringing back the dead (look, it pays the bills!), and this dark reputation spoils her chances of having a fair shot in the imperial exams. The crown prince Li Hong goes to Zilan to ask her for a favor, but she turns him away, and then runs into him at the capital Chang'an, where the odds and the judges are stacked against her! Fun fact: in the capital, the royals eat magical gems (like gold and pearls) to live forever. Ah, the price of youth. WILD! COULD NOT BE ME! SEE YA IN HELL!
This book moves fast, and the constant twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end! I had to remind myself to let out a breath I didn't know I was holding (I finally understand this phrase in books now hahaha). Kylie Lee Baker did a phenomenal job of building up tension & mystery, shocking and horrifying readers, and then providing a glimmer of hope in rooting for Zilan to succeed! The political power plays at the palace (omg this alliteration is so annoying, I'm sorry) begin to unnerve Zilan, who also begins spending more time with Hong, and unraveling the inner workings of the palace history. It's DARK, and it's uncomfortable.
I really enjoyed Zilan as our main character - her tenacity, determination, and ability to investigate and troubleshoot make her a millennial dream even though she's not one hahaha. I also loved the dynamics between her and her cousins, who you could tell she cared for so deeply! I love this representation of a close-knit extended family! Zilan's dynamic with the Moon Alchemist was a fun mentor x mentee relationship to watch grow too.
The villain in the story was so fascinating - we have seen variations of the woman in power who remains obsessed with youth and maintaining her position of power before; it's a huge part of history, especially with empress consorts and queen mothers! Though this character felt familiar, I didn't think it was too derivative! Plus, she was modeled after a real empress in Chinese history. (Though remember, this is not historical fiction - it may be loosely inspired, but it's fantasy and an alternative history if you will!)
This is my first read by Kylie Lee Baker and I will absolutely be looking more into her backlist because this was a wild ride!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Medical content, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Confinement, and Body horror
plush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Not sure what I was expecting out of this book, but honestly this was not it in the best of ways.
I knew I was going to like this book when in the content note the author explained that modern Chinese was used in the novel for practical reasons as well as “ a reluctance to learn a dead language for the sake of a fantasy novel”. This is my first book by this author, and suddenly I need to add everything else she has written to my TBR.
This book revolves around Zilan and her two siblings who are trying to make ends meet (or more accurately trying to “unend” meat). Zilan is desperately preparing for an exam to become a royal alchemist in order to support her sick family, with a casual side business of reviving the recently deceased.
Honestly, you would think this was going to be a light-ish, kinda funny YA fantasy. And at some points it is funny. I laughed out loud. But it is not YA and the content is not light. There are some plot moments and twists that are downright gruesome. I honestly spent a medium amount of time confused, but in the fantasy world building kinda way not the bad way.
I had a wonderful time throughout this entire novel. I absolutely love Zilan. She is smart, witty, stubborn, and just an absolute treat of a FMC. She is 17, and she feels 17 in a really authentic, naive way. The kind of 17 where you’re invincible and you’re going to change the world. She is really well fleshed out, and one of the best representations of a teenager I’ve seen in fantasy in awhile. Really all of the characters feel incredibly well done. ESPECIALLY the antagonist. *not spoiling who* but they are so intelligently wicked, I loved it.
The entire thing was spectacular. I laughed. I cried. I’m devastated that I’m ready for book two when book one hasn’t hit shelves yet.
Thank you so very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I knew I was going to like this book when in the content note the author explained that modern Chinese was used in the novel for practical reasons as well as “ a reluctance to learn a dead language for the sake of a fantasy novel”. This is my first book by this author, and suddenly I need to add everything else she has written to my TBR.
This book revolves around Zilan and her two siblings who are trying to make ends meet (or more accurately trying to “unend” meat). Zilan is desperately preparing for an exam to become a royal alchemist in order to support her sick family, with a casual side business of reviving the recently deceased.
Honestly, you would think this was going to be a light-ish, kinda funny YA fantasy. And at some points it is funny. I laughed out loud. But it is not YA and the content is not light. There are some plot moments and twists that are downright gruesome. I honestly spent a medium amount of time confused, but in the fantasy world building kinda way not the bad way.
I had a wonderful time throughout this entire novel. I absolutely love Zilan. She is smart, witty, stubborn, and just an absolute treat of a FMC. She is 17, and she feels 17 in a really authentic, naive way. The kind of 17 where you’re invincible and you’re going to change the world. She is really well fleshed out, and one of the best representations of a teenager I’ve seen in fantasy in awhile. Really all of the characters feel incredibly well done. ESPECIALLY the antagonist. *not spoiling who* but they are so intelligently wicked, I loved it.
The entire thing was spectacular. I laughed. I cried. I’m devastated that I’m ready for book two when book one hasn’t hit shelves yet.
Thank you so very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent
maiareadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First, Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review!
This beautiful masterpiece destroyed me. That stayed up of night to finish it kind of destroyed. The good kind of destroyed that makes you dream about it for a week after. The Scarlet Alchemist excels across the board. It has phenomenal worldbuilding, an intense writing style, complex characters, and a plot that leaves you glued to the pages.
The Scarlet Alchemist is a high fantasy deeply rooted in Chinese history with a backdrop of romance. Our main character, Fan Zilan, is a dirt-poor half-Chinese, half-White merchant set on her path to becoming a royal alchemist. However, consequences have a habit of always catching up to you, especially when you dabble in illegal resurrections. Zilan and her two cousins, who are taking the civil service exam, make it to the capital city, Chang'an, in hopes of a better life. Life as a royal alchemist is not as rewarding as it would seem. As a reader, you will be kept on your toes by the fast-moving plot and unveiled secrets. This book also has a fair amount of terror, suspense, gore, and body horror. Overall, an astonishing 5-star read!
P.S. I have become a champion for Kylie Lee Baker. I will follow her in whatever direction she may go, and I would kill to see this on the big screen.
This beautiful masterpiece destroyed me. That stayed up of night to finish it kind of destroyed. The good kind of destroyed that makes you dream about it for a week after. The Scarlet Alchemist excels across the board. It has phenomenal worldbuilding, an intense writing style, complex characters, and a plot that leaves you glued to the pages.
The Scarlet Alchemist is a high fantasy deeply rooted in Chinese history with a backdrop of romance. Our main character, Fan Zilan, is a dirt-poor half-Chinese, half-White merchant set on her path to becoming a royal alchemist. However, consequences have a habit of always catching up to you, especially when you dabble in illegal resurrections. Zilan and her two cousins, who are taking the civil service exam, make it to the capital city, Chang'an, in hopes of a better life. Life as a royal alchemist is not as rewarding as it would seem. As a reader, you will be kept on your toes by the fast-moving plot and unveiled secrets. This book also has a fair amount of terror, suspense, gore, and body horror. Overall, an astonishing 5-star read!
P.S. I have become a champion for Kylie Lee Baker. I will follow her in whatever direction she may go, and I would kill to see this on the big screen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Sexism, Death, Abandonment, Torture, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, Classism, and Gore
catreads247's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
LOVED this one! It does lag a bit in the middle, but holy cow does it pack a punch. Zilan is a total badass! Trigger warnings for a lot of body horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gore, and Body horror
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