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oldmanbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I absolutely love this author! Kylie Baker is awesome at fusing mythology and mysticism with history and real events.
Most of her books have an absolutely insane twist at the end that is absolutely tragic. This book is no different, though this books ending is a little less “OMG” than her Empress of Time series.
This book is extremely bloody and gory with vivid descriptions of humans being torn apart, blood and gore, and mass death.
Her take on alchemy is awesome and unique involving everything from eating stones for element, to specific stones with special properties like earth, air, or fire.
Cant wait to read the 2nd book in her series.
Most of her books have an absolutely insane twist at the end that is absolutely tragic. This book is no different, though this books ending is a little less “OMG” than her Empress of Time series.
This book is extremely bloody and gory with vivid descriptions of humans being torn apart, blood and gore, and mass death.
Her take on alchemy is awesome and unique involving everything from eating stones for element, to specific stones with special properties like earth, air, or fire.
Cant wait to read the 2nd book in her series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
como022's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really exciting and fun read! I’m looking forward to the sequel.
At times it’s a bit brutal with the gore but I really enjoyed it.
At times it’s a bit brutal with the gore but I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
everlymayreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual harassment
ethapagesofwonder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I recently finished The Scarlet Alchemist, and I have to say,I found the story quite interesting, especially with its setting in ancient China, based on a real dynasty, where alchemy is real and humans have mastered the art of creating longevity elixirs and resurrecting the dead. The concept of using alchemy in this context was refreshing and reminded me a lot of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime.
The first half of the book was really compelling. I was drawn in by the main character’s fierce determination to become a royal alchemist. Her single-minded focus on her goal, even with the male lead in the picture, was admirable. I also appreciated the strong family bonds, particularly the loyalty between the protagonist and her cousins, which added depth to the story.
However, as the story progressed into the second half, my interest started to wane. The protagonist began making frustratingly childish and irrational decisions, which led me to pause reading a few times out of sheer irritation. While I liked the depiction of her family relationships, I wasn’t sold on her romance with the crown prince. Their love story didn’t resonate with me, and I found the crown prince to be the least interesting character—despite being different from the typical male lead, he didn’t contribute much until the very end.
I enjoyed the climactic fight toward the end, but the cliffhanger has left me undecided. There’s a sequel coming out, but I’m still debating whether I’m interested enough to pick it up.
Overall, The Scarlet Alchemist offers a unique take on historical fantasy with its intriguing alchemical elements and a strong start, but the second half left me feeling conflicted. If yo 're interested in historical fantasy and curious about alchemical concept this book has, you might want to give this one a try.
The first half of the book was really compelling. I was drawn in by the main character’s fierce determination to become a royal alchemist. Her single-minded focus on her goal, even with the male lead in the picture, was admirable. I also appreciated the strong family bonds, particularly the loyalty between the protagonist and her cousins, which added depth to the story.
However, as the story progressed into the second half, my interest started to wane. The protagonist began making frustratingly childish and irrational decisions, which led me to pause reading a few times out of sheer irritation. While I liked the depiction of her family relationships, I wasn’t sold on her romance with the crown prince. Their love story didn’t resonate with me, and I found the crown prince to be the least interesting character—despite being different from the typical male lead, he didn’t contribute much until the very end.
I enjoyed the climactic fight toward the end, but the cliffhanger has left me undecided. There’s a sequel coming out, but I’m still debating whether I’m interested enough to pick it up.
Overall, The Scarlet Alchemist offers a unique take on historical fantasy with its intriguing alchemical elements and a strong start, but the second half left me feeling conflicted. If yo 're interested in historical fantasy and curious about alchemical concept this book has, you might want to give this one a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Murder
mleisa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a very easy read, and I was happily entertained by the story.
That being said, I also think that Zilan has been very immature and kind of a jerk to the people around her, which was unpleasant to read about since it never really changed.
What bothered me most isthe fact that everyone seems to be smarter than Zilan. I understand she is up against adults who have lived for a decade or more but reading about the Empress outsmarting her for the umpteenth time is pretty unsatisfying.
I'm kind of put off by the ending though because what the fuck? Im not sure I can really forgive that.
But generally I found the idea and setting very interesting and cool to read about. I would have loved to see this book not as a YA but as an adult story with a mature protagonist that is better equipped to deal with the horrors thrown at her.
That being said, I also think that Zilan has been very immature and kind of a jerk to the people around her, which was unpleasant to read about since it never really changed.
What bothered me most is
I'm kind of put off by the ending though because what the fuck? Im not sure I can really forgive that.
But generally I found the idea and setting very interesting and cool to read about. I would have loved to see this book not as a YA but as an adult story with a mature protagonist that is better equipped to deal with the horrors thrown at her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
mandieroz's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Zilan has a lot of quirky/sassy and downright rude people around her. Zilan herself is training to be an alchemist in spite of her father, whom she believes betrayed her and her mother. The story is good enough to keep you moving forward but there is some downright GORE in this book that I was not expecting or ready for when I started the book. The breaking and changing of monologues and internal thoughts really needed some help and I winded up having to re-read things several times to understand when the change happened. I would have rather had some break on the page or even just a new chapter to show there was a break. At one point you loose an entire day or two (I'm still not sure) and just pick up in the next timeframe with no warning.
Once Zilan learns everything she can about her past, present and possible future for this book, it kinda of ends on a cliff hanger and.. I'm still not sure if I'll read the second at this point.
Once Zilan learns everything she can about her past, present and possible future for this book, it kinda of ends on a cliff hanger and.. I'm still not sure if I'll read the second at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
da_bonkerz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Racism
loischanel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
A morbidly dark young adult fantasy about the mysterious world of alchemy, set during an acient Chinese empire. Fan Zilan is a merchant girl from the poor South, who performs illegal resurrection alchemy, with the help of her cousins, so her family can afford to live. She has an unwavering desire to climb the ranks and become a royal alchemist, despite the bigoted hostility she faces because of her mixed heritage. But the more she pursues her dream, the more she discovers bone-chilling secrets about the royal court and herself.
Lee Baker's writing is graphically vivid and full of suspense as we read about Zilan constantly having to surmount the next obstacle that comes her way and deal with the many twists and turns that are thrown at her.
I believed in the close sibling-like yet fraught relationship between Zilan and her cousins, Wenshu and Yufei, who were both endearing characters to read about. And the shy romance that started to surface was an embracing relief from the relentless depictions of death and decay and rotting corpses, which became very stale the more I read.
I thought the ending was both strange in a way that didn't sit well with me, but also clever in it's unexpectedness. However, it did diminish the feeling of high stakes that the novel would've otherwise had. Overall, I liked the intensity of the story and how well it sets up the next book in the duology.
Lee Baker's writing is graphically vivid and full of suspense as we read about Zilan constantly having to surmount the next obstacle that comes her way and deal with the many twists and turns that are thrown at her.
I believed in the close sibling-like yet fraught relationship between Zilan and her cousins, Wenshu and Yufei, who were both endearing characters to read about. And the shy romance that started to surface was an embracing relief from the relentless depictions of death and decay and rotting corpses, which became very stale the more I read.
I thought the ending was both strange in a way that didn't sit well with me, but also clever in it's unexpectedness. However, it did diminish the feeling of high stakes that the novel would've otherwise had. Overall, I liked the intensity of the story and how well it sets up the next book in the duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death and Child abuse
thesummerstorms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
I don't think this book was bad per se, but I was probably not the target audience. I would have preferred more character development, and I wasn't a big fan of the gore.
I should've expected that going in, given that the book, deals with necromancy, but I got the book as a subscription box and enjoy cultivation novels, so I didn't look closely enough before reading.
No star rating because I don't feel like my opinion would be a fair ranking.
I should've expected that going in, given that the book, deals with necromancy, but I got the book as a subscription box and enjoy cultivation novels, so I didn't look closely enough before reading.
No star rating because I don't feel like my opinion would be a fair ranking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexism and Xenophobia
frantically's review against another edition
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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness and Sexual content