A dark YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where alchemy has led to income inequality as the rich eat gold to achieve eternal youth, and a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.
You cannot create good without also creating evil. 'DAZZLING' Chloe Gong
Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist. But for now, she's trapped practising an illegal form of alchemy - 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. But her reputation for raising the dead has followed her, and caught the attention of the Crown Prince himself.
Embroiled in a dangerous game of politics, it's only a matter of time before Zilan's past catches up to her - whilst something more sinister lurks behind the gilded walls.
A dark YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China!
GRIM, LUSH, FASCINATING - Guardian
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 the Book of Tea duology
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
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
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 writes incredibly immersive historical fantasies. So fans of C-dramas and Fullmetal Alchemist, look no further. The Scarlet Alchemist is an absolute treat - June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace
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