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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just wasn't having a great time.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kind of gory and dark book but filled with Chinese historical information. Very smartly done.
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
This was like nothing I've read before. Kylie Lee Baker continues to impress with her creative worldbuilding and unique characters.
Zilan is such a great FMC - she's prickly and mean at times but in a completely believable way. Hong was adorable and actually funny. I straight up giggled at some of his lines.
The setting was such a unique blend of magic and realism. This is also certainly a dark fantasy.
Overall I'm glad I finally read this and that the sequel is already on its way!
Zilan is such a great FMC - she's prickly and mean at times but in a completely believable way. Hong was adorable and actually funny. I straight up giggled at some of his lines.
The setting was such a unique blend of magic and realism. This is also certainly a dark fantasy.
Overall I'm glad I finally read this and that the sequel is already on its way!
4.75/5 stars
They're incredibly rare, but there are some books where I just don't really understand how not everyone reading them couldn't absolutely adore them and this is one of those books.
What I liked:
-I always love an alchemical magic system
-our MC is amazing, I love how strong she is, but also how vulnerable at times, it makes her endearing and relatable, and she's also really smart too, she's my ideal YA protagonist, truly
-the familial relationships
-one of the best novel climaxes I've read in a fantasy novel, I can't even, I'm still reeling from it
-the setting and world building (historical fantasy is definitely a new favorite subgenre for me)
-all the plottwists had me surprised, I love that for me
What I could have been better:
-it took me a while to buy into the romance, but mainly because it too a while for the prince to grow on me
I admit that because of the way things ended the sequel has potential to be incredibly messy. I'm nervous but also extremely excited for it!
They're incredibly rare, but there are some books where I just don't really understand how not everyone reading them couldn't absolutely adore them and this is one of those books.
What I liked:
-I always love an alchemical magic system
-our MC is amazing, I love how strong she is, but also how vulnerable at times, it makes her endearing and relatable, and she's also really smart too, she's my ideal YA protagonist, truly
-the familial relationships
-one of the best novel climaxes I've read in a fantasy novel, I can't even, I'm still reeling from it
-the setting and world building (historical fantasy is definitely a new favorite subgenre for me)
-all the plottwists had me surprised, I love that for me
What I could have been better:
-it took me a while to buy into the romance, but mainly because it too a while for the prince to grow on me
I admit that because of the way things ended the sequel has potential to be incredibly messy. I'm nervous but also extremely excited for it!
♥️⚜️ The Scarlet Alchemist ⚜️♥️
- Kylie Lee Baker
⭐️⭐️⭐️
• In The Scarlet Alchemist, we follow Zilan, a poor girl from the rural north of 775AD age China. I was so interested to learn more about this time period, an era I haven’t read much about!
• Firstly, the similarities of The Scarlet Alchemist to The Poppy War were impossible to ignore. I found Zilan to be such an unlikeable protagonist, much like Rin in the Poppy War. Again, her bullying from Zheng Sili was reminiscent of Nezha’s behaviour
• I loved the concept of the magic system; I feel like alchemy is something that is rarely used in fantasy and I was excited to learn more about this. However, it turned out to be more about resurrection and death than precious stones and metals. I’m not a fan of resurrection in fantasy - when someone dies, I like to be assured they are not coming back!
• Furthermor, I struggled with the constant misogyny. I understand this was technically historically-accurate, but it frustrated me nonetheless. There were so many seemingly random details, like Wenshu’s obsession with soap beans, that weren’t explained (what even are soap beans?) and felt very superfluous to the story.
• The romance subplot was also lacklustre. The Crown Prince didn’t have much of a personality (so much so that his name was barely used, instead he was referred to simply by his title!). There wasn’t much build-up and I was almost puzzled by their sudden declarations to one another.
• Overall, I enjoyed the brutality and changeability of the Imperial Games and if you’re looking for something similar to the Poppy War, though not as well written, I’d recommend picking up The Scarlet Alchemist. Otherwise, there are better fantasies out there.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Have you read The Scarlet Alchemist? Let me know in the comments! <3
- Kylie Lee Baker
⭐️⭐️⭐️
• In The Scarlet Alchemist, we follow Zilan, a poor girl from the rural north of 775AD age China. I was so interested to learn more about this time period, an era I haven’t read much about!
• Firstly, the similarities of The Scarlet Alchemist to The Poppy War were impossible to ignore. I found Zilan to be such an unlikeable protagonist, much like Rin in the Poppy War. Again, her bullying from Zheng Sili was reminiscent of Nezha’s behaviour
• I loved the concept of the magic system; I feel like alchemy is something that is rarely used in fantasy and I was excited to learn more about this. However, it turned out to be more about resurrection and death than precious stones and metals. I’m not a fan of resurrection in fantasy - when someone dies, I like to be assured they are not coming back!
• Furthermor, I struggled with the constant misogyny. I understand this was technically historically-accurate, but it frustrated me nonetheless. There were so many seemingly random details, like Wenshu’s obsession with soap beans, that weren’t explained (what even are soap beans?) and felt very superfluous to the story.
• The romance subplot was also lacklustre. The Crown Prince didn’t have much of a personality (so much so that his name was barely used, instead he was referred to simply by his title!). There wasn’t much build-up and I was almost puzzled by their sudden declarations to one another.
• Overall, I enjoyed the brutality and changeability of the Imperial Games and if you’re looking for something similar to the Poppy War, though not as well written, I’d recommend picking up The Scarlet Alchemist. Otherwise, there are better fantasies out there.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Have you read The Scarlet Alchemist? Let me know in the comments! <3
I disagree with the raving reviews.
It felt like a children's book.
The relationship dynamics were very juvenile. There were easy solutions for everything. Was annoyed a lot.
Also really annoyed by the naming of the alchemists. "Now you are "the Scarlet Alchemist." And than you have Moon, Comet, River and ... Paper?? And why are the title's sometimes used as nicknames but not always.
Magic system was cool.
Will not continue this series.
It felt like a children's book.
The relationship dynamics were very juvenile. There were easy solutions for everything. Was annoyed a lot.
Also really annoyed by the naming of the alchemists. "Now you are "the Scarlet Alchemist." And than you have Moon, Comet, River and ... Paper?? And why are the title's sometimes used as nicknames but not always.
Magic system was cool.
Will not continue this series.