Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Gollancz | Pages: 324 | Published: 07.10.2025 | Genre: urban fantasy
Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.
With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.
Did I read this book in one sitting on a work night? Yes. Was that a good idea and did I sleep enough? Also no. Was it worth it? Yes, definitely. I eat up Stephanie Garber’s stories. I just love her writing style a lot. Alchemy of Secrets is different to her previous books. It moves at a much faster pace, it is set in LA and is generally full of action.
I loved the beginning and the mystery Holland is thrown into. There are so many possibilities the story could take, Stephanie Garber expertly mixing reality and urban myths, magic and academia and pairs it with Hollywood and a broken family. The whole atmosphere was tangible, a tense sense of wrongness amidst the hustle of Los Angeles. My eyes were basically glued to the pages and I read, read, read.
But there were some things that I didn’t like, especially at later points in the story. Holland seems to trust very easily despite everyone telling her not to trust anyone, despite all the warnings. Still, she trusts the men that suddenly appear in her life immediately.
Then there are all the loose ends at the ending of the story and all the unanswered questions. Is this supposed to be a standalone or is this a “maybe we’ll do a second installment” kind of situation. Because I would have loved to get some answers about the people in Holland’s life, especially her sister and her friends who don’t seem to be what they look like. The ending left me underwhelmed and slightly disappointed because I was really, really enjoying the story. Now I either need proper closure or a second book.
Rating: 🗡️🗡️🗡️,5
Read Alchemy of Secrets if you enjoy…
Old Hollywood | urban legends | urban fantasy | fast paced books | academia | dark academia | secrets | secret worlds
Coldwire by Chloe Gong
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books | Pages: 496 | Published: 04.11.2025 | Genre: dystopia, science fiction
To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”
But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier or risk being labelled a spy.
Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.
Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…
Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.
Chloe Gong is never a miss for me. I open her books and go “ah yes, I’m back”. I really liked how the story was crafted, how reality is interwoven with a virtual world. I wouldn’t want that for my reality but I love reading about virtual realities. And I really liked how the two realities are connected and how the people living in one or two of them are connected as well. I enjoyed seeing the parallels and differences between those worlds through the eyes of two different characters, visiting places that are the same yet are completely different. The world building was a lot at some points but I do love a story heavy on world building and I feel like there is so much more to explore about it and I’m excited to do so in the second book!
I also adored the characters and how they are explored throughout the story. I liked how they develop and how all of them grew on me for different reasons. I also liked how they interact with each other, wether they were friendly before or not.
I also enjoyed all the action scenes and what they revealed about the characters. Especially during the last chapters I was on the edge of my seat. I could absolutely not stop reading. And believe me, I did not see those twists coming. Not one of them. They took me by surprise and it made the reading experience so much better and more exciting.
Chloe Gong has truly crafted another amazing world and I cannot wait to get into it again!
Rating: 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️
Read Coldwire if you enjoy…
Virtual reality | artificial intelligence | academic rivals | action | political tensions | family secrets | friend groups | dystopia | cyberpunk
Other books from these authors you might enjoy: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong | Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Have you read Alchemy of Secrets or Coldwire yet? What’s your favourite urban fantasy story? Do you like to read dystopian novels?
Until next time,
