Staff Review: ALCHEMY OF SECRETS

ALCHEMY OF SECRETS by Stephanie Garber
9781250789150
10/7/25
Flatiron Books
Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary

Stephanie Garber’s adult debut has finally arrived, and it’s a spellbinding blend of folklore, old Hollywood glamour, danger, romance, and unforgettable storytelling.

Holland St. James has always believed in magic. So when she discovers a mysterious university course called Folklore 517, where students must solve riddles each week just to find where the class will take place, she’s instantly drawn in. In class the enigmatic Professor recounts tales of Local Legends and Urban Myths. One such tale claims the Devil haunts a Hollywood hotel and will owe you a favor if you buy them a sidecar cocktail. Most students assume these stories are just that—stories. But not Holland.

Her belief is put to the test when she encounters a local legend herself: the Watch Man, a mysterious figure who supposedly knows when you’ll die. When he tells Holland she has only until 11:59 pm on Halloween—less than 24 hours—to live unless she finds an ancient object known as the Alchemical Heart, her world turns upside down.

As she chases riddles and stories that may lead her to the Alchemical Heart, Holland begins to realize that in this intoxicating new world, no one is telling the whole truth. And when multiple men appear, each claiming her twin sister sent them to protect her, Holland has no idea who to trust—or who to follow.

Stephanie Garber once again proves she’s a master of creating lush, escapist worlds. I was captivated by the celebration of Hollywood lore, the intricate riddles, and the layered myths woven throughout. The romance and twists make the novel compulsively readable and you will become absorbed in the hunt for the Alchemical Heart.

ALCHEMY OF SECRETS is a contemporary fantasy that brims with rich historical detail and imaginative new myths. Only Stephanie Garber could dream up a world like this. Readers will be enchanted by every glittering, dangerous corner.

Anchor

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“I’ve never read anything quite like ALCHEMY OF SECRETS—it’s full of adventure and magic and quirky twists that will keep you guessing until the very last line. What a fantastic adult fantasy debut for Stephanie Garber!”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“As dazzling as a jewel box, ALCHEMY OF SECRETS immediately charmed me with its layers of mysteries, magic, and twists. No one does world-building like Stephanie Garber. I want to live in this book!”—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child