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marieintheraw's review
3.0
Overall, this is a very plot-driven story that sometimes gets a bit muddled in the execution.
I received an ecopy of this book through Wednesday Books through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Wednesday Books through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
ladytiara's review
4.0
I'm normally a voracious reader, but lately, I've been in a bit of a slump. Most of the books I've picked up lately just haven't grabbed me, and I've been in search of a book that will pull me in and break my slump. A Golden Fury was just the book I needed. I devoured it and my slump is over. A Golden Fury is a great read.
Thea Hope is a terrific character. She's a feisty young woman in an era when woman had few rights or prospects. She wants to be an alchemist like her mother, but when her mother comes close to making the Philosopher's Stone (the ultimate goal of alchemy), she shuts Thea out, and then goes mad and nearly kills Thea. Thea is forced to flee revolutionary France to Oxford where the father she's never met lives. But safety is elusive, and everyone in the alchemical world is after Thea because she has the knowledge to make the elusive Philosopher's Stone.
I found the story really engrossing. It falls into the historical fiction category, because it's set in a actual time and place, but there's a fantasy/magical element because of the alchemy. I think the real world historical setting worked well for the story. The late eighteenth century is a time of revolution and enlightenment, and the ancient art of alchemy is looked down upon by many as a fool's passion. But there are wealthy patrons willing to pay a lot of money for alchemists to do their bidding, even if the practice is considered suspect.The plot is fast-paced, and Thea is in near constant danger, from a mother who tries to kill, and then from many others who want her unique skills. She has to rely on her wits and her vast alchemical knowledge to survive, all while fighting against the restrictions society places on women. It's a compelling story, and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fantasy and books with strong heroines.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher in return for a review. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the opportunity to be on the blog tour.
Thea Hope is a terrific character. She's a feisty young woman in an era when woman had few rights or prospects. She wants to be an alchemist like her mother, but when her mother comes close to making the Philosopher's Stone (the ultimate goal of alchemy), she shuts Thea out, and then goes mad and nearly kills Thea. Thea is forced to flee revolutionary France to Oxford where the father she's never met lives. But safety is elusive, and everyone in the alchemical world is after Thea because she has the knowledge to make the elusive Philosopher's Stone.
I found the story really engrossing. It falls into the historical fiction category, because it's set in a actual time and place, but there's a fantasy/magical element because of the alchemy. I think the real world historical setting worked well for the story. The late eighteenth century is a time of revolution and enlightenment, and the ancient art of alchemy is looked down upon by many as a fool's passion. But there are wealthy patrons willing to pay a lot of money for alchemists to do their bidding, even if the practice is considered suspect.The plot is fast-paced, and Thea is in near constant danger, from a mother who tries to kill, and then from many others who want her unique skills. She has to rely on her wits and her vast alchemical knowledge to survive, all while fighting against the restrictions society places on women. It's a compelling story, and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fantasy and books with strong heroines.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher in return for a review. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the opportunity to be on the blog tour.
lyoungthebookfae's review
5.0
Thrilling, intoxicating, and so very wonderful! I had no idea where the story was going at points, and it surprised me in the best way. It has just a hint of magic and darkness, enough to satisfy, and I loved that so much. Perhaps not as ‘spooky’ as some like for a fall read, but I would still recommend it for the spookier season! ;)
Thank you for allowing me an advanced copy to read!
Thank you for allowing me an advanced copy to read!
ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Golden Fury was something. In it, you will meet characters that you will eventually hate. Unless you have some insta-hate feelings but I'm not sure if that's even a thing. It should be though because so many people annoyed the living shit out of me. For example, Thea's mom, supposed best friend, and her father.
Speaking of Thea, I loved how she wanted to be a alchemist. No matter how awful her own mother was towards her, she still tried to help her out. Then when she was sent away to go meet her sperm donor, I had no idea what to expect. To say I wasn't surprised by how selfish he was would be an understatement. Thea definitely needs better parents who see her as a human being, instead of whatever they were thinking would float their boats.
Then there's Will. Oh lord, at first I was blind. I didn't see how manipulative this little turd was until it was way too late. Boy, do I hate him so much and I am not satisfied by how this book ended one freaking bit.
Besides that, I did like the whole plot throughout this book. Even if the twists were a bit weird and confused me. I probably would've liked this book a whole lot more if I got a different ending.. but I will accept what I got. I guess.
A Golden Fury was something. In it, you will meet characters that you will eventually hate. Unless you have some insta-hate feelings but I'm not sure if that's even a thing. It should be though because so many people annoyed the living shit out of me. For example, Thea's mom, supposed best friend, and her father.
Speaking of Thea, I loved how she wanted to be a alchemist. No matter how awful her own mother was towards her, she still tried to help her out. Then when she was sent away to go meet her sperm donor, I had no idea what to expect. To say I wasn't surprised by how selfish he was would be an understatement. Thea definitely needs better parents who see her as a human being, instead of whatever they were thinking would float their boats.
Then there's Will. Oh lord, at first I was blind. I didn't see how manipulative this little turd was until it was way too late. Boy, do I hate him so much and I am not satisfied by how this book ended one freaking bit.
Besides that, I did like the whole plot throughout this book. Even if the twists were a bit weird and confused me. I probably would've liked this book a whole lot more if I got a different ending.. but I will accept what I got. I guess.
xbookwormyx's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thecanadianbookworm's review
3.0
It was meh. An ok story, but nothing note worthy or ground breaking.
whitneymouse's review
4.0
**Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my rating**
A Golden Fury follows Theosebeia Hope (Thea for short), an alchemist, as she strives to create the Philosopher's Stone. The stone is the ultimate goal of all alchemists, promising eternal youth, endless riches, and the ability to heal maladies. However, Thea discovers that creating the stone comes with a cost...your sanity. Stuck between the choice of losing her mind or creating the stone to heal those she loves who have attempted it before, Thea goes on a wild journey of self-discovery and magic.
I really liked this. I thought the pacing was just about right. I never got into a part of the book where I felt a lull or like it needed to pick up or slow down. I will say though that if you do not know much about alchemy, it would behoove you to look into it a little bit. For example, early in the book, Thea describes an illustration of a "hermaphrodite" (her wording), which shocked me a bit. While the book is set in 1792 and the term is historically accurate for that time period, I wondered why the author would choose to make the illustration this specific subject since we now use the term "intersex". In doing some research, I found out that this illustration was important to alchemical codes to indicate a fusion of duality or a fusion of opposing qualities after purification. While this isn't require to enjoy the book, it will help the reader to better understand Thea's work process and what some of the references she makes clearer.
Thea as a protagonist was very interesting to read about. She is headstrong and clever but vulnerable in a way that a character with her sheltered upbringing would likely be. I really enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident of herself and her skill as the book went on. I think she's a character many readers would enjoy.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is simply because it's not a "new favorite" of mine. I would read it again and recommend anyone interested in an alchemy based take on magic systems check it out, but it isn't one of my favorite favorites of all books I read this year. This is partly to do with the romance aspect. I understand why it's there, but I almost wish it hadn't been. I don't know that it was entirely necessary to the plot. I feel there could have been another way to get it's purpose across in the book without introducing Will. He just wasn't my favorite. I adored Dominic, though.
The ending gives a satisfying conclusion for a stand-alone but also leaves the door open for a sequel, I feel. I would very happily read another book about Thea and how her life has changes after the events of this book.
All in all, this was a GREAT debut novel. Cohoe is obviously talented and presented a well-thought out and unique addition to the Fantasy YA genre. I'll be interested to see what she comes up with next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
A Golden Fury follows Theosebeia Hope (Thea for short), an alchemist, as she strives to create the Philosopher's Stone. The stone is the ultimate goal of all alchemists, promising eternal youth, endless riches, and the ability to heal maladies. However, Thea discovers that creating the stone comes with a cost...your sanity. Stuck between the choice of losing her mind or creating the stone to heal those she loves who have attempted it before, Thea goes on a wild journey of self-discovery and magic.
I really liked this. I thought the pacing was just about right. I never got into a part of the book where I felt a lull or like it needed to pick up or slow down. I will say though that if you do not know much about alchemy, it would behoove you to look into it a little bit. For example, early in the book, Thea describes an illustration of a "hermaphrodite" (her wording), which shocked me a bit. While the book is set in 1792 and the term is historically accurate for that time period, I wondered why the author would choose to make the illustration this specific subject since we now use the term "intersex". In doing some research, I found out that this illustration was important to alchemical codes to indicate a fusion of duality or a fusion of opposing qualities after purification. While this isn't require to enjoy the book, it will help the reader to better understand Thea's work process and what some of the references she makes clearer.
Thea as a protagonist was very interesting to read about. She is headstrong and clever but vulnerable in a way that a character with her sheltered upbringing would likely be. I really enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident of herself and her skill as the book went on. I think she's a character many readers would enjoy.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is simply because it's not a "new favorite" of mine. I would read it again and recommend anyone interested in an alchemy based take on magic systems check it out, but it isn't one of my favorite favorites of all books I read this year. This is partly to do with the romance aspect. I understand why it's there, but I almost wish it hadn't been. I don't know that it was entirely necessary to the plot. I feel there could have been another way to get it's purpose across in the book without introducing Will. He just wasn't my favorite. I adored Dominic, though.
The ending gives a satisfying conclusion for a stand-alone but also leaves the door open for a sequel, I feel. I would very happily read another book about Thea and how her life has changes after the events of this book.
All in all, this was a GREAT debut novel. Cohoe is obviously talented and presented a well-thought out and unique addition to the Fantasy YA genre. I'll be interested to see what she comes up with next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars