Review by 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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by 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.)
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Review by 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
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Review by Kirkus Book 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.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
