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frantically's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While this book is incredibly engaging and well-written, I struggled to connect with the MC. Baker tries very hard to make her a morally grey character, in the vein of "The Poppy War" but I found it hard to root for her. I loved the way the author incorporated actual Chinese history and how she adapted. Unsure if I'll continue with the sequel, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Torture, Blood, Sexual harassment, War, Child death, Bullying, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness and Sexual content
katyakat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Diving into "The Scarlet Alchemist" felt like stepping into a world where every page crackled with intrigue and possibility. From the get-go, I was hooked on Zilan's journey – from practicing illegal alchemy to navigating the treacherous waters of the royal court is nothing short of spellbinding.I was drawn into a world filled with political intrigue, magical secrets, and unexpected romance.
Baker masterfully weaves together themes of identity and self-discovery as Zilan grapples with her aspirations to become a royal alchemist. Her quest for acceptance and recognition mirrors our own search for purpose and meaning in a complex world. Baker's characters are as real as they come, grappling with love, loyalty, and the complexities of human connection.
The dynamics of power and politics play out against the backdrop of a society steeped in tradition and hierarchy. As Zilan navigates these murky waters, she must confront moral dilemmas and ethical choices that challenge her sense of right and wrong. Yet amidst the political machinations and alchemical intrigue, there beats a heart of romance.
"The Scarlet Alchemist" isn't just a fantasy novel – it's a journey of the soul. It challenges us to question our own values and beliefs, urging us to find strength in the bonds we forge and the choices we make.
So if you're in the mood for a tale that will transport you to another world and leave you pondering life's deeper truths, look no further than "The Scarlet Alchemist." It's a literary adventure you won't want to miss. 📖💫
Baker masterfully weaves together themes of identity and self-discovery as Zilan grapples with her aspirations to become a royal alchemist. Her quest for acceptance and recognition mirrors our own search for purpose and meaning in a complex world. Baker's characters are as real as they come, grappling with love, loyalty, and the complexities of human connection.
The dynamics of power and politics play out against the backdrop of a society steeped in tradition and hierarchy. As Zilan navigates these murky waters, she must confront moral dilemmas and ethical choices that challenge her sense of right and wrong. Yet amidst the political machinations and alchemical intrigue, there beats a heart of romance.
"The Scarlet Alchemist" isn't just a fantasy novel – it's a journey of the soul. It challenges us to question our own values and beliefs, urging us to find strength in the bonds we forge and the choices we make.
So if you're in the mood for a tale that will transport you to another world and leave you pondering life's deeper truths, look no further than "The Scarlet Alchemist." It's a literary adventure you won't want to miss. 📖💫
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Violence
sundayfever's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was wild and the ending was a batshit gory blood bath. I appreciated how chaotic it was and how it isn't your typical fantasy story about magic and resurrection. I loved the mixed race representation. The "lessons learned" here are very different than your typical story. The plot twists felt so unbelievable and hard to follow though. Read like gory indulgent violent fantasy, which I guess isn't my thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Body horror, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Xenophobia, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
shannonvonpesach's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved the writing, the story but above all the plot! It was a fastpaced ride and I need more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Sexual harassment
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
The world building in The Scarlet Alchemist is immaculate. The magic system, Death road, the harsh contrast between the poor and the rich - everything had such detail that the world and everything in it felt real. The necromantic alchemy was so interesting and played such a pivotal role through the story that I must note that the descriptions of the dead are equally, if not more, vivid and specific which gave the scenes life (ha!), but also a goriness and level of body horror I hadn't expected, but thoroughly enjoyed.
The overarching plot also really propelled the story. Though the book started slow, it builds the world well before launching into a plot that is all go-go-go after the 25% mark. Then there's no stopping. Watching Zilan do her exams especially was so interesting - again, digging into the world building and seeing what's possible through the magic system - and everything beyond it kept my interest piqued. While I don't know how I feel about the end of this installment, I'm so curious to see what book 2 has in store for us.
And that brings me to the characters. Until her exams, I honestly felt like I didn't get to know Zilan, let alone her siblings. It was like all the effort went into the world, and the characters got what was left. Yufei and Wenshu kind of just remain the same through the book - Yufei is a stubborn, pretty girl who loves to eat; Wenshu is a nerdy scholar, who protects his siblings. That's all they are for the whole book, even to the very end, and that was kind of sad, especially given the stakes. I couldn't buy into the ending because I didn't feel like I cared and knew them in the same way Zilan clearly did.
In contrast, I feel like Zilan, after she leaves for her exams, starts to find herself away from her cousins. We get to understand her motivations and see her personality start to shine. Even Hong we get to know slightly better than her cousins, though he's also kind of one-note. Their relationship is a bit insta-lovey, but I appreciated Hong's constant concern around consent and ensuring he doesn't abuse his princely power over her, as well as their move from strangers, to friends, to partners in crime, to possibly maybe lovers. Even though the declarations were a bit grand by the end, I understood the admiration they had for each other.
All in all, this book was an adventure. Full of magic and Zilan's gritty determination, The Scarlet Alchemist sets the stakes high and leaves you wanting more. I'm definitely not done with the world that was created here, so that's the biggest draw for me to come back for book 2. I'm so curious as to the heights Zilan will take her alchemy to next!
TW: death, gore, blood, murder, sexism, fire/fire injury, injury detail, racism, sexual harassment, self-harm (for ritual purposes), classism, bullying, animal death (not dog); mentions death of a parent, death of a child, vomit, kidnapping
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.
The overarching plot also really propelled the story. Though the book started slow, it builds the world well before launching into a plot that is all go-go-go after the 25% mark. Then there's no stopping. Watching Zilan do her exams especially was so interesting - again, digging into the world building and seeing what's possible through the magic system - and everything beyond it kept my interest piqued. While I don't know how I feel about the end of this installment, I'm so curious to see what book 2 has in store for us.
And that brings me to the characters. Until her exams, I honestly felt like I didn't get to know Zilan, let alone her siblings. It was like all the effort went into the world, and the characters got what was left. Yufei and Wenshu kind of just remain the same through the book - Yufei is a stubborn, pretty girl who loves to eat; Wenshu is a nerdy scholar, who protects his siblings. That's all they are for the whole book, even to the very end, and that was kind of sad, especially given the stakes. I couldn't buy into the ending because I didn't feel like I cared and knew them in the same way Zilan clearly did.
In contrast, I feel like Zilan, after she leaves for her exams, starts to find herself away from her cousins. We get to understand her motivations and see her personality start to shine. Even Hong we get to know slightly better than her cousins, though he's also kind of one-note. Their relationship is a bit insta-lovey, but I appreciated Hong's constant concern around consent and ensuring he doesn't abuse his princely power over her, as well as their move from strangers, to friends, to partners in crime, to possibly maybe lovers. Even though the declarations were a bit grand by the end, I understood the admiration they had for each other.
All in all, this book was an adventure. Full of magic and Zilan's gritty determination, The Scarlet Alchemist sets the stakes high and leaves you wanting more. I'm definitely not done with the world that was created here, so that's the biggest draw for me to come back for book 2. I'm so curious as to the heights Zilan will take her alchemy to next!
TW: death, gore, blood, murder, sexism, fire/fire injury, injury detail, racism, sexual harassment, self-harm (for ritual purposes), classism, bullying, animal death (not dog); mentions death of a parent, death of a child, vomit, kidnapping
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Classism, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Bullying, and Animal death
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Death of parent
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