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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free e-arc in exchange of an honest review!
I had almost zero expectations going into this book as i hadnt heard much about and i'm not always a huge fan of YA. I have to say its one of my biggest surprises this year, as i LOVED it!
I really liked the magic system
I found it fast paced
I loved the family dynamics between siblings
I loved the banter between FMC + MMC
Fake dating trope!
Really good humour!
Cant wait for the second book!
Easily a 4 stars!
I had almost zero expectations going into this book as i hadnt heard much about and i'm not always a huge fan of YA. I have to say its one of my biggest surprises this year, as i LOVED it!
I really liked the magic system
I found it fast paced
I loved the family dynamics between siblings
I loved the banter between FMC + MMC
Fake dating trope!
Really good humour!
Cant wait for the second book!
Easily a 4 stars!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
This was another 2024 pick that hit JUST right. Illicit, self-taught alchemy practices, the underdog story of the year, a peek into the complicated dynamics of blended families, vivid and all-enveloping worldbuilding and set decoration... we love to see it.
Don't try to read too critically. Don't try to make too much logical sense out of anything. Just enjoy!
Don't try to read too critically. Don't try to make too much logical sense out of anything. Just enjoy!
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:
Yes
I struggled a bit with how to rate this book. While I enjoyed aspects of it, there were just some thing's I found that detracted from the story and it dragged it down for me.
I thought the alchemy magic system was really interesting and well done. It was nice seeing it was a magic system that outside of financial constraints didn't seem to be barred to a majority of people. The way the different stones could be combined and mixed was also interesting and something I wish had actually been shown more.
Zilan as a character was really interesting. Her age shone through at times with how emotional she could be but how cynical she was and how goal orientated, was refreshing. She was not the typical snarky teenager female lead. It was also nice seeing so much of her passion and her her goals being based around family and her connection to them. Espesially as the overall familial bonds in this book was one of the things I thought was done well.
I thought Li Hong as the MMC was actually quite a good change of pace from our typical male leads. He's weak, he's uncertain of himself and completely unaware of his luxury and how he shields him. He was also a coward till pushed and that was nice because it put the power in the hands of Zilan, something she needed.
Despite these positives for the book, I found the actual overall plot of the book really mediocre and the ending was highly disappointing and felt a tad rushed after a semi slow start to the book. I also think there were some aspects I would have liked seeing explored in a lot more depth, like the pearl controlled bodies, but it just felt quite glossed over to skip to the big end.
I'll eventually pick up the sequel, but I don't find myself in a rush to do so.
I thought the alchemy magic system was really interesting and well done. It was nice seeing it was a magic system that outside of financial constraints didn't seem to be barred to a majority of people. The way the different stones could be combined and mixed was also interesting and something I wish had actually been shown more.
Zilan as a character was really interesting. Her age shone through at times with how emotional she could be but how cynical she was and how goal orientated, was refreshing. She was not the typical snarky teenager female lead. It was also nice seeing so much of her passion and her her goals being based around family and her connection to them. Espesially as the overall familial bonds in this book was one of the things I thought was done well.
I thought Li Hong as the MMC was actually quite a good change of pace from our typical male leads. He's weak, he's uncertain of himself and completely unaware of his luxury and how he shields him. He was also a coward till pushed and that was nice because it put the power in the hands of Zilan, something she needed.
Despite these positives for the book, I found the actual overall plot of the book really mediocre and the ending was highly disappointing and felt a tad rushed after a semi slow start to the book. I also think there were some aspects I would have liked seeing explored in a lot more depth, like the pearl controlled bodies, but it just felt quite glossed over to skip to the big end.
I'll eventually pick up the sequel, but I don't find myself in a rush to do so.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
The Scarlet Alchemist offers a dark and intriguing journey, even if it stumbles near the finish.
Kylie Lee Baker drops us into a gorgeously grim world of alchemy, ghosts, and imperial secrets, and I was hooked. The setting is lush, the magic system eerie and inventive, and Zilan is a compelling lead with grit, grief, and guts to spare… even if she’s a bit too rash at times.
But while Zilan feels vivid and layered, the rest of the cast… not so much. Most side characters orbit her like plot devices, and the story itself plays a little too nice with convenience. You can almost see the narrative threads being tugged into place, and that predictability starts to dim the glow.
And then there’s the ending. No spoilers, but I sighed, more than once. Let’s just say it felt like a cop-out, undercutting the darker promises and emotional weight the story had carefully built. Plus, the queen could’ve used fewer monologues and more nuance. The villainy was just a touch too theatrical.
Still, there’s undeniable charm in the bones of this one: dark academia vibes, haunting alchemy, a heroine worth rooting for, immersive world-building, and solid writing. I just wish the payoff had matched the promise.
A strong brew of blood and bone… that falters in the final act.
The Scarlet Alchemist offers a dark and intriguing journey, even if it stumbles near the finish.
Kylie Lee Baker drops us into a gorgeously grim world of alchemy, ghosts, and imperial secrets, and I was hooked. The setting is lush, the magic system eerie and inventive, and Zilan is a compelling lead with grit, grief, and guts to spare… even if she’s a bit too rash at times.
But while Zilan feels vivid and layered, the rest of the cast… not so much. Most side characters orbit her like plot devices, and the story itself plays a little too nice with convenience. You can almost see the narrative threads being tugged into place, and that predictability starts to dim the glow.
And then there’s the ending. No spoilers, but I sighed, more than once. Let’s just say it felt like a cop-out, undercutting the darker promises and emotional weight the story had carefully built. Plus, the queen could’ve used fewer monologues and more nuance. The villainy was just a touch too theatrical.
Still, there’s undeniable charm in the bones of this one: dark academia vibes, haunting alchemy, a heroine worth rooting for, immersive world-building, and solid writing. I just wish the payoff had matched the promise.
A strong brew of blood and bone… that falters in the final act.
It's Full Metal Alchemist with a FML in a reimagined Ancient China. Interesting premise and a decent read but I wish there was more development overall.
The ML was ok - we're pretty much just supposed to believe that he's able to travel, learn about an alchemist who can resurrect people, find her and evade assassinations along the way? But he's also super sweet and innocent? And the Empress who is super keen on immortality never once heard anything about our FML and her illegal resurrections? But the ML did?
The romance also feels lackluster and more of a romance blossomed through shared proximity and experiences. Granted, we are told multiple times from our FML how she's surprised the ML understands her without her needing to say anything but it feels more like an easy plot device/excuse vs showing us how they've grown to trust one another.
The side characters are very much side characters with little to no growth. I wish we learned more about the other alchemists.
It was definitely an enjoyable read up until the 50% mark and then everything went downhill for me. Our FML who was once strong and intellectual somehow lost her ability to think and consider her environment and consequences. Granted, she's supposed to be 17 (I think) but with how great she was at the beginning of the book, I was just sad at how she went downhill for me :'(
The ML was ok - we're pretty much just supposed to believe that he's able to travel, learn about an alchemist who can resurrect people, find her and evade assassinations along the way? But he's also super sweet and innocent? And the Empress who is super keen on immortality never once heard anything about our FML and her illegal resurrections? But the ML did?
The romance also feels lackluster and more of a romance blossomed through shared proximity and experiences. Granted, we are told multiple times from our FML how she's surprised the ML understands her without her needing to say anything but it feels more like an easy plot device/excuse vs showing us how they've grown to trust one another.
The side characters are very much side characters with little to no growth. I wish we learned more about the other alchemists.
It was definitely an enjoyable read up until the 50% mark and then everything went downhill for me. Our FML who was once strong and intellectual somehow lost her ability to think and consider her environment and consequences. Granted, she's supposed to be 17 (I think) but with how great she was at the beginning of the book, I was just sad at how she went downhill for me :'(