The Scarlet Alchemist

New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a dark YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where alchemy has flourished but so has income inequality, and a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family. Perfect for fans of Julie Kagawa and Chloe Gong.

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—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 in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Kylie Lee Baker is the author of The Keeper of Night duology. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Irish), as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish from Emory University and is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she watches horror movies, plays the cello, and bakes too many cookies.

"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

"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 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

"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