The scarlet alchemist

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Title :

The scarlet alchemist / Kylie Lee Baker.

Title:

The scarlet alchemist

Author:

Baker, Kylie Lee

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

424 pages, 4 unnumbered pages ; 22 cm

ISBN:

9781335458018

Production / Publication Information:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Inkyard Press, [2023]

Summary:

In an alternate Tang Dynasty China, aspiring royal alchemist Zilan, who has the ability to resurrect the dead, arrives in the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country and becomes drawn into the dangerous political games of the royal family.

Bibliography note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 425-428).

Language:

English

Genre:

Geographic Term:

Subject Term:

Royal houses -- Fiction.

Racially mixed people -- Fiction.

Resurrection -- Fiction.

Fantasy.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN FICTION BAKER	31330009391198	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Boxford Town Library	YA BAK	32115002215430	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA BAKER	32116004006702	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Carlisle - Gleason Public Library	TEEN BAKER	32117002198749	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Chelmsford Public Library	Y/FIC/BAKER	31480011746390	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Dracut - Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library	YA/FIC/BAKER	31482003098434	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Georgetown Peabody Library	YA FAN BAKER	32120001447836	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Groton Public Library	YA BAKER	37003701996531	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Groveland - Langley-Adams Library	YA FIC BAKER	32121000977005	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Hamilton-Wenham Public Library	Y BAK	30470002128931	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Haverhill Public Library	YA/BAKER K	31479007654048	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Ipswich Public Library	YA FIC BAKER, KYLIE	32122003067869	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lawrence Public Library	FIC BAK YA FANTASY	31549005073324	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Littleton - Reuben Hoar Library	NEW! YA F BAKER	39965002475712	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lowell - Pollard Memorial Library	YA SCI-FI/FANTASY BAKER	31481005727776	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newbury Town Library	YA BAK	32127001380602	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... North Andover - Stevens Memorial Library	TEEN BAKER	31478010242841	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rockport Public Library	YA BAKER SCARLET ALCHEMIST 1	32129002609781	Searching... Unknown
New books	Searching... Tewksbury Public Library	TEEN FICTION BAKER	32132003420455	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library	YA F BAKER	31990005197277	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Wilmington Memorial Library	TEEN BAKER	32136003592171	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A dark and glittering jewel of a book." --Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison

"Visceral to the core." --Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.

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.

Don't miss the Keeper of Night duology!

The Keeper of Night

The Empress of Time

Reviews (4)

School Library Journal Review

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

Publisher's Weekly Review

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.)

Kirkus Review

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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Political struggles, family, and the dangers of magic take center stage in Baker's duology starter, imaginatively set in an alternate Tang dynasty China. In a remote village, young Zilan aspires to lift her family from poverty by becoming a royal alchemist. As things stand, she makes money by illegally practicing necromancy, but when the opportunity to pursue her dream arises, she seizes it. Zilan makes her way to the capital, eager to participate in the ruthless imperial games required for this elite career in alchemy. While there, she connects with the crown prince, who confesses to needing her talents of bringing the dead back due to an impending threat, and tensions and complications ensue. 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.