Publishers Weekly
★ 08/28/2023
Though the practice is punishable by death, 17-year-old Fan Zilan supplements her family’s meager income by resurrecting the dead through life alchemy. As a hùnxieˇ—a half Hàn Chinese, “half foreigner”—whose mother died and father disappeared, she lives with her sickly aunt and uncle as well as two cousins, Yufei and Wenshu, in the small southern town of Guangzhou. Bold Yufei and ever-cautious Wenshu are studying to take the civil service exams, which, if passed, will help them cultivate more comfortable lives; Zilan, meanwhile, is competing with other gifted youth to become a royal court alchemist, like the famed ones who developed a gold immortality elixir that halts aging once consumed. After passing the first exam, the three make their way to the city of Chang’an for the second, where Zilan finds herself embroiled in a royal conspiracy with an Empress who’s determined to rid her court of any threats to her crown. In this deeply immersive historical fantasy, a grisly duology opener, Baker (The Empress of Time) expertly navigates the societal constraints and pains of marginalization via visceral prose. A developing romance between Zilan and the Crown Prince offers lighthearted joy amid the narrative’s ruthless and gruesome happenings. A historical note concludes. Ages 14–up. Agent: Mary C. Moore, Kimberley Cameron & Associates. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
PRAISE FOR The Scarlet Alchemist:
“Kylie Lee Baker writes incredibly immersive historical fantasies. The Scarlet Alchemist is an absolute treat.”—June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace
“Readers will be drawn to Zilan’s character, whose determination is fueled by her big heart and generous spirit. The narrative, filled with lessons about the dangers of high-stakes competitions as well as the effects of political lies, is ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced scenes, action, and immersive storytelling.”—Booklist
“Perfectly paced, with dynamic prose, clever competition setups, and a protagonist who will leave you in aw of her resourcefulness. Kylie Lee Baker is an amazing storycrafter, and I would sell my soul for the sequel!”—Joan He, international bestselling author of Jade Fire Gold
"The Scarlet Alchemist is a dark and glittering jewel of a book, full of blood, gold, and fury. I devoured it in a day!" —Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison
"Visceral to the core. The Scarlet Alchemist imagines alternate history with daring imagination and incredible detail. Even once you’ve turned the last page, you’ll still be entrenched within this dazzling world running with gold and blood." —Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"I loved this book and you will too. The Scarlet Alchemist is perfectly paced, with dynamic prose, clever competition setups, and a protagonist who will leave you in awe of her resourcefulness. Kylie Lee Baker is an amazing storycrafter, and I would sell my soul for the sequel!" —Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of Strike the Zither
"Kylie Lee Baker stuns in this deliciously dark page-turner! An exhilarating blend of strikingly unique magic and masterful twists, with a sharp-edged, fiercely ambitious heroine who subverts the rules of life and death, clawing her way to the top—and into your heart." —June CL Tan, international bestselling author of Jade Fire Gold
"Vivid, twisting and thrilling! I loved this morally grey rollercoaster through an alternate Tang Dynasty with ruthless competition, intrigue and dark magic. Zilan is a captivating and complex protagonist, by turns relatable, loveable and monstrous—and always fascinating." —Vanessa Len, author of Only a Monster
“In this deeply immersive historical fantasy, a grisly duology opener, Baker (The Empress of Time) expertly navigates the societal constraints and pains of marginalization via visceral prose. A developing romance between Zilan and the Crown Prince offers lighthearted joy amid the narrative’s ruthless and gruesome happenings.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The Scarlet Alchemist is a beautifully crafted and incisively written tale of alchemy, blood, magic, and family that gripped me from the first page to the last. Full of twists I didn't see coming, a wry humor that made me laugh out loud, and a fierce, capable heroine I couldn't help but root for, this book is everything I look for in a fantasy novel. Read it!" —Rati Mehrotra, author of Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
“Full of twists I didn’t see coming, a wry humor that made me laugh out loud, and a fierce, capable heroine I couldn’t help but root for, this book is everything I look for in a fantasy novel. Read it!”—Rati Mehrotra, author of Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
“In a genre packed full of competition-based plots, Baker’s stands unique in its multifaceted worldbuilding and no-holds-barred gore. The historical detail and fantasy elements fuse to create a lush atmosphere while pushing the stakes increasingly higher. Zilan’s deeply flawed character remains sympathetic despite her temper and mistakes, cultivating a strong character arc that fuels the reluctant allies-to-lovers romance.”—School Library Journal, starred review
"An enchanting, immersive world in which the manipulation of elements knows no bounds. Centered around life and death, this fast-paced story is gory and gruesome but lightened by moments of levity... Grisly, dark, and utterly entrancing." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Zilan is a captivating and complex protagonist, by turns relatable, loveable, and monstrous—and always fascinating.”—Vanessa Len, author of Only a Monster
Praise for The Keeper of Night
"Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth." —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
"The Keeper of Night is an absolutely thrilling tale of one girl's search for identity and a sense of belonging. With its rich worldbuilding, high-stakes and well-drawn characters, Kylie Lee Baker has created a must-read tale." —June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones
"A triumphant debut, this thrilling fantasy tackles death, clad with a heroine unafraid to wrench a soul from the depths of a being and venture to the darkest of underworlds. A must for those in search of a place to call their own." —SLJ, starred review
"Dark, gruesome—and absolutely captivating." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
#1 New York Times-bestselling author Judy I. Lin
A dark and glittering jewel of a book.”
School Library Journal
★ 10/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—Baker once again plays with life and death, launching a new alternate Chinese history series for fans of Judy I. Lin's A Magic Steeped in Poison and Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow. Seventeen-year-old Zilan, who is biracial, white and Chinese, must head to the capital for the highly competitive civil service exams to become an imperial alchemist so that she can take care of her impoverished family and spite the father who abandoned her—but her illegal use of life alchemy to perform resurrections has drawn the attention of the crown prince who wants to hire her. As Zilan undergoes the grueling alchemy tests, she is drawn deeper into the rich and deadly politics of court as everyone seeks the power of immortality. In a genre packed full of competition-based plots, Baker's stands unique in its multifaceted worldbuilding and no-holds-barred gore, where the consequences of characters' choices are more than looming threats as the Empress strives to purge the royal court of perceived enemies. The historical detail and fantasy elements fuse to create a lush atmosphere while pushing the stakes increasingly higher. Zilan's deeply flawed character remains sympathetic despite her temper and mistakes, cultivating a strong character arc that fuels the reluctant allies-to-lovers romance. Fans of The Untamed will feel this novel was written especially for them. The main cast is Chinese. VERDICT A ruthless and standout series opener to a dark, adrenaline-fueled duology. Highly recommended for all collections.—Emmy Neal
JANUARY 2024 - AudioFile
Natalie Naudus narrates this YA fantasy set in an alternate Tang dynasty in China. Impoverished teenager Fan Zilan, who is able to resurrect the dead, studies to be a royal alchemist for the Empress. When Fan travels to take her exams at the capital, listeners feel the emergence of her strength and endurance as she competes against wealthy men with far more advantages. Crown Prince Li Hong enlists her help in standing against the Empress, who desires immortality. Naudus's narration sparks disbelief and shock as Fan must face the truths of her own past if she is to survive her future. Naudus's mastery of Chinese pronunciations brings listeners more deeply into this compelling story of family secrets and female empowerment. L.M.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-07-31
A young alchemist uses unconventional practices to climb the social ladder.
Seventeen-year-old Fan Zilan, who is Hàn Chinese and Scotian, dreams of becoming a royal alchemist like those who discovered the immortality elixir made of gold. Orphaned in a small village in Guangzhou, Zilan works at Auntie So and Uncle Fan’s struggling store, where they make and sell míngqì—clay vessels for burials. She illegally performs life alchemy to resurrect the dead and bring in extra money. Zilan and her cousins finally get the chance for better lives by heading up north to the capital to take the all-important civil service exams. Competition is fierce, and, as someone poor and half-foreign, the odds are against her, but Zilan must succeed in order to provide for her family. She’s garnered a reputation in Chang’an for her resurrections, and Crown Prince Li Hong seeks out her services. Tangled up in royal secrets, dangerous politics, and monstrous alchemical experiments, fierce Zilan struggles and fights for her place. Set in an alternate Tang dynasty China, this dark historical fantasy presents an enchanting, immersive world in which the manipulation of elements knows no bounds. Centered around life and death, this fast-paced story is gory and gruesome but lightened by moments of levity. Baker touches on racism, sexism, classism, identity, and family and friendship ties. Contemporary Mandarin and Cantonese words are woven into this dark duology opener.
Grisly, dark, and utterly entrancing. (content note, historical note) (Historical fantasy. 14-18)
