The Scarlet Alchemist

Welcome friend! In 2024, Ariel and I are reading together more! Our January pick was Kylie Lee Baker’s The Scarlet Alchemist. We loved The Keeper of Night duology and were excited to pick up the latest by the author. It was a great read that we found hard to put down. Take a look at what the book is about and read our discussion:

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The Scarlet Alchemist – Discussion

The Characters

The Cousins

Kriti: The cousins are one of my highlights for this book! Zilan and her cousins have long dreamed of leaving their town to become an alchemist and scholars respectively at the capital. They have labored hard, studying late into the night. Every exam put before Zilan to become an imperial alchemist puts her at a disadvantage. But they would never forget their roots and as they study, they have saved as much money as possible to make their parents’ life smooth after they leave. I liked the considerations they gave their guardians. 

Ariel: I thought the cousins were great. There was clever banter and you could really tell that the cousins supported each other in their shared dreams. The opening scene of the three of them raising the dead together felt iconic and really set the tone of their dynamic for the rest of the book.

The banter between the cousins was humorous and entertaining. Their relationship evolved over the course of the book and the more Zilan got involved with the crown prince, the more dangerous life in the capital became for Wenshu and Yufei. What did you think of the changing attitudes of the siblings towards Zilan?

As Zilan reaches towards her goal of being a court alchemist, her cousins begin to realize that the three of them could be in grave danger, and tension between the three of them grow. We follow Zilan’s perspective as her insecurities impact how she perceives her cousins and I appreciated how it all resolved in the end.

What did you think of the exams Zilan had to face? Did any of them stand out to you? I found the second one where she had to find the one pure piece of gold most interesting! Zilan’s belief in her knowledge was commendable. 

I do love an academic setting, and this was no different. The competitive nature of these exams raised the stakes in a way that captured my attention and kept me engaged throughout. Zilan figured out very quickly that the system would be actively working against her to see that she failed, and so she was able to show that she had nothing to lose. 

The Crown Prince

Fearing for his life, the crown  prince seeks out Zilan in her hometown. In her years of offering her services as an alchemist who can bring back the dead, she has made a name across the country. She is constantly angry with the privilege he has grown up with and tries to expand his perception of the world, highlighting the ways in which his family has failed the working class and how terribly self-centred he is for not doing more for the people. But his good nature finally wins her over. He is the first to openly admire her and that touches Zilan’s heart. She agrees to play along with the farce of being his concubine and help him with saving his sisters. What did you think of the crown prince?

I thought he was quite naive but in a charming way. I liked how he had a softness for animals and cared deeply about his pet ducks. In spite of his softness, he also understood the danger he was in with the queen and I found it interesting to see his character develop throughout the story.

World Building

I loved the historical roots of this book and the inspiration that the Chinese Empress Wu Zetian and her reign had to offer. The different provinces of China and the socioeconomic status of the various characters was portrayed in detail and this helped build a clear picture of the world. Names, dialects and professions as indicators of social status brought about prejudice and stereotypes from the general population and I liked this detail, especially as it related to Zilan.

I can’t remember the last book I read which had alchemy and that was another unique aspect of The Scarlet Alchemist. I enjoyed this type of magic with its dangers, gemstones, innovations, and grounding in the five elements. Zilan has been a diligent student of her father’s notes and has been a practicing alchemist for a long time. This really comes in handy during the exams as her education has been more practical than theoretical. I enjoyed her strategies and problem solving skills. What is your experience with alchemy, Ariel?

I agree, I don’t really see alchemy in fantasy very often, and I thought this was a really interesting magic system! I think the most my experience with alchemy is with the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood. Even still, FMAB has a different approach to the concept of “equivalent exchange.” The alchemical cost in The Scarlet Alchemist has to do with good and evil, and Zilan spends a lot of time considering the cost of her magic.

The use of gold for prolonging life and how it was causing a further divide between the rich and poor was portrayed very well! Zilan’s childhood in the South and her occupation as a merchant teaches her a lot. She is a keen observer of the human condition and is not afraid to use fear. There was a scene in the book when Zilan had to interrupt a meeting between the crown prince and his advisors. Knowing them to be privileged men, she uses their aversion to sickness and death to her advantage. 

I hadn’t expected the consumption of gold to be described as euphoric but, in hindsight, it does make sense. Gold is pivotal to the Empress’ efforts for eternal life and an uninterrupted reign. I liked the perspectives offered by the Moon Alchemist. What were your thoughts on the gold in the economy? 

Yes I also found the consumption of gold to be an interesting foundational element of the story, and we only see gold being eaten on page a couple of times. Each time gold is consumed, the characters eating the gold are said to be completely lost in the experience and the feeling of immortality unlike anything else. With the characters completely lost in the euphoric moments of eating gold, it is easy to see how such consumption would create very selfish and greedy mindsets, as well as paranoia that someone would take away that feeling from them.

The Pace & Narration 

The pace of The Scarlet Alchemist was addicting. We read 4-5 chapters a day and sometimes, it was easy to lose track of time and read on ahead. It is full of trials and tribulations at every step. The stakes were high, whether it was the imperial exams or surviving in the capital. At the end of the day, Zilan might be strong but she has the naivety and enthusiasm of one who hasn’t lived long enough yet. The Moon Alchemist tries to impart some lessons to her but it is only later that she understands them. By then, it is too late. Both of these aspects made the story a true YA Fantasy for me. What did you think of the pace?

I felt like the pace was well balanced between explaining the world and moving the plot forward. Each chapter concluded at very exciting parts and I had to really pay attention to make sure I didn’t read too far ahead. It was an engaging read and I was hooked to the last page.

With audiobooks, the narrator is important in how we experience the story. Natalie Naudus is fantastic! She is true to the emotions and highs and lows of the plot. She does justice to Zilan’s character and her pronunciation of Chinese words was helpful in immersion. Previously, I have heard her productions of The Daughter of Moon Goddess which I adored.

The Scarlet Alchemist and The Keeper of Night series

As I neared the end of The Scarlet Alchemist, I kept thinking of The Keeper of Night and the protagonist, Ren.

• While The Scarlet Alchemist is a Chinese historical fantasy, The Keeper of Night was set in Japan and England. Both have biracial protagonists and this influences how people view them. In the world of The Scarlet Alchemist, biracial humans are observed to be better at alchemy. The reader gets a minimal glimpse of Zilan’s father, who was the foreigner. In The Keeper of Night, Ren was brought up in England as a reaper. Later, she travels to Japan to reconnect with her mother’s roots. By her birthright, she is also a shinigami, and shunned there too for her uniqueness.
• Zilan and Ren were reluctant both to fall in love but it was inevitable. The death of their lovers is also a common thread between the two stories. While at the end of The Keeper of Night, Ren herself kills Hero to become the Goddess of Death, in The Scarlet Alchemist, Zilan faces the hard choice between the crown prince and her cousin.
• The mothers of both Hero and the crown prince are formidable, goddess and empress, that inspire fear and hate.
• Sibling bonds are important in both the series. To Ren, Neven was everything and she spent a lot of time searching for him in the darkness. To Zilan, Wenshu and Yufei are family. She resurrected them when they died as children and later, she chose them over the life of the person she loved.

If you really had to pick between The Scarlet Alchemist and The Keeper of Night, which one would you return to? The Keeper of Night would still be my favorite and have moved to my reread pile.

I found that they were both excellent in their own right and it’s hard to choose a favorite for me 🙂 But both reads are excellent and I’m a fan of Kylie Lee Baker and very interested in continuing to read her works as she writes them!

The follow up to The Scarlet Alchemist, The Blood Orchid, is scheduled for October 2024. Kylie’s debut Adult novel, Bat Eater, is scheduled for February 2025. 

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Have you read The Keeper of Night series? It was fun to chat with Kylie about it in this interview. Check out the discussion for The Keeper of Night and The Empress of Time.