Review: Alchemy of Secrets - Stephanie Garber

Review: Alchemy of Secrets - Stephanuie Garber - October 2025

After falling head over heels for Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart series and Caraval, I've learned something important about reading order: sometimes it matters more than you'd think. While I adored Caraval, I made the mistake of meeting Jacks first in the Broken Heart series. When I later encountered his portrayal in Caraval books two and three, I just couldn't reconcile them , I'd already fallen for the version of him I knew, and seeing a different side felt impossible to accept.

So when I picked up Alchemy of Secrets, I'll admit my expectations were cautiously optimistic. I thought it would be a solid, perhaps average read. Reader, I was spectacularly wrong.

From the first chapter , a gripping twenty pages that had me cursing my lunch break's inevitable end. I was completely hooked. Stephanie Garber has crafted something truly special here, weaving together mythology, folklore, and urban legends into a darkly magical tapestry set in LA's seedy underbelly.

The story follows Holland St. James, a student whose folklore thesis about people making deals with devils is deeply personal. She's searching for the truth behind her parents' death, a tragedy that eerily mirrors a story her professor once shared. When Holland encounters the Watch Man and discovers her time of death, everything changes. Her only chance at survival? Finding the mysterious Alchemical Heart—an artifact nobody's certain even exists, let alone what it looks like.

What follows is a breathtaking treasure hunt where Holland quickly realizes she can't trust anyone. Once word spreads about her quest, everyone who needs the Alchemical Heart emerges from the shadows, each with their own desperate reasons. The world-building is magnificent, blending the familiar streets of Los Angeles with layers of magic and mythology that feel both fresh and timeless.

Stephanie Garber's writing sparkles with the same enchantment that made her previous series irresistible, but this standalone novel showcases her growth as a storyteller. The pacing never falters, the stakes feel genuinely high, and Holland's journey kept me turning pages long into the night.

This easily earns 5Ps and my highest recommendation. Whether you're racing to complete your twelve books before 2025 ends or planning your 2026 reading pile, Alchemy of Secrets deserves a top spot. Stephanie Garber has done it again proving she's a master of magical storytelling who knows exactly how to keep readers spellbound.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44aIrnQ