“You cannot create good without also creating evil.”
The Scarlet Alchemist is a beautifully crafted and wonderfully written story of alchemy, blood, and family. In this gripping duology opener, Kylie Lee Baker delivers a pleasingly grim and dark page-turner full of action, intrigue, and vivid worldbuilding. This glittering story takes place in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemists have succeeded in creating an elixir for eternal youth through alchemical gold. The story follows a poor girl who dabbles in illegal practices of necromancy whilst she dreams of becoming a royal alchemist and as she navigates the dangerous political games of the royal family.
Fan Zilan, our protagonist, is a half Chinese half foreigner girl orphaned from a young age when her mother died and her father abandoned her. She now lives with her uncle and aunt and both of her cousins, Yufei and Wenshu, whom she brought back from the death. She illegally performs this life alchemy to resurrect the dead in order to support her family’s store, where they make and sell míngqì (clay vessels for burials). At the same time, Zilan and her cousins are studying to take the civil service exams in the capital of China, if they pass them, they will be able to live more comfortably. Competition is fierce for a poor half-foreign girl, but Zilan will do anything to win her spot in the royal palace and protect her family. Zilan’s illegal practices have earned her some reputation and the Crown Prince seeks her services. Now our protagonist will find herself embroiled in royal conspiracies and monstrous alchemical experiments.
Baker’s writing is highly immersive and vivid, creating a world that is richly detailed and atmospheric. The plot is well-crafted, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end and the concept of blood/death alchemy adds a high-stakes element to the story, perfectly complementing the tone and atmosphere of the narrative. Baker’s ability to create a captivating world of royal intrigue intertwined with the mystical art of alchemy is truly commendable. The book is fast-paced, filled with action, violence, and gore elements.
The concept of alchemy loosely based on the principles of Chinese Taoist alchemy during the Tang Dynasty is a fascinating take. In the book alchemists use qi energy and gemstones to transform the world around them. Depending on the results they want to achieve, they’ll use different stones: firestones, waterstones, woodstones, earthstones, or metalstones. Zilan uses her powers to help her with small daily tasks (as well as to resurrect the dead) but the rich are using alchemists to create gold that will delay their aging. Since only the wealthy can afford this, a massive wealth gap has been created. The political intrigue and court politics of this alternate history add an additional layer of excitement to this tale.
As for the characters, our protagonist is a sharp-edged and fierce heroine, a sort of working-class heroine. She is determined to become a royal alchemist and works tirelessly to achieve her dream and support her family. Whilst she is wonderfully flawed, she is also extremely likeable. Zilan’s older cousin, Wenshu, has the brains whilst her older cousin Yufei has the strength. On the other hand, the Crown Prince is the perfect representation of a golden retriever character. The sibling/cousin relationships and mixed-race identity explored in the book add an extra layer of depth to the narrative. While these side characters could have been more developed, Zilan’s journey and her relationships, including a reluctant allies-to-lovers dynamic, drive the story forward. It’s this developing romantic relationship that offers some light-hearted joy in the midst of all the grisly and ruthless events.
If you enjoyed Baker’s debut novel, The Keeper of Night, you will find The Scarlet Alchemist just as enjoyable. It features a strong, complex protagonist and shares similar themes of racism, classism, identity and familial ties.
In conclusion, The Scarlet Alchemist is a highly grim and satisfying visceral to the core read that showcases Baker’s talent for storytelling. With daring imagination and incredible detail, Baker creates a world that will leave readers entrenched and craving for more. A must-read for lovers of historical and dark fantasy. Also, those who love c-dramas and Fullmetal Alchemist, this is the read for you!
The Scarlet Alchemist is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.
When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.
The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.
