Thank you to Netgalley and Gollancz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This post may contain spoilers.
Set to the backdrop of Los Angeles, Stephanie Garber’s adult debut Alchemy of Secrets (pub 7 Oct 2025) is a filled with Hollywood glamour and mystery that incorporates folklore and conspiracy theories all suggesting magic is real and everyone famous in Hollywood has made a deal with the devil in some form. After calling The Watch Man and discovering she will die on Halloween night, Holland St. James must follow a series of breadcrumbs to find the one thing that will save her life, the Alchemical Heart.
I absolutely devoured this book! It was very twisty and the reader never knows who to trust. I adored the old Hollywood glamour and the references to LA and how the story took place in this setting. It was an unnerving treasure hunt with Garber’s signature whimsical writing and atmosphere. I really enjoyed the Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths classes taught by the mysterious, The Professor peppered between chapters and the feeling that the reader was apart of the story. I also enjoyed the way Holland’s back story was revealed in drips and how all these different threads suddenly linked her to the bigger picture. The story also highlights what happens when curiosity gets the better of someone and how the thrill of following these myths and legends recited in the folklore classes is very dangerous.
That being said I did feel the story felt muddled at times and it was difficult to keep track of the plot about mid way. Considering this was a standalone I was hoping to have more answers by the end. There were a few things I still didn’t quite understand and wonder if this will be explored a little further in a second book. Some big reveals were not explored deep enough or were left unfinished, such as January and Gabe. I didn’t really connect to the characters as much as I’d like, many were one note and only popped up to move the story forward but didn’t really have any personality. I did enjoy the twists and the unnerving atmosphere of time running out and who to trust. Adam and Holland had an interesting dynamic and I liked that the reader couldn’t quite trust him but was also very much captivated by his character. Holland’s dark backstory really helped with the vibe of the book. Overall, Alchemy of Secrets is a twisty read with Stephanie Garber’s signature whimsical writing and a plot that kept me on my toes.
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Amy is a writer and reviewer and her action-packed debut novel, CORNELIA FAIRFIELD AND THE DARKENED HEART is set to be published in 2026! For more content click here to read book reviews, short stories and updates on Amy’s writing journey.
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