Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
on October 7, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary, Fiction / Thrillers / Supernatural
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
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It starts with a class in an old movie theater—Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by the mysterious Professor. Most students assume her stories are make-believe, but Holland St. James has always believed in magic. When she finds a local legend called the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, her suspicions are confirmed—until he tells her that she has just one day left to live. To save herself, she must find the mythical Alchemical Heart before midnight, even as she’s pulled into a dangerous, glittering world of secrets, half-truths, and a stranger who might be her salvation—or her undoing.

My Thoughts

If you’re looking for a supernatural thriller with a dash of mystery and an irresistible magical vibe, Alchemy of Secrets is the book for you. I was thrilled when our book club picked this one—especially because I loved Stephanie Garber’s Caraval series—and this felt like exactly the right book for my mood.

From the start, Holland is thrown into a whirlwind of enchantment and danger. She’s a bit naive and overly trusting at times (I found myself yelling at her more than once!), but that made the story even more engaging. I was completely wrapped up in her frantic search for the Alchemical Heart and the question of who she could really trust.

Throughout the book, I kept waiting for her sister, January, to call and clear up so many of the mysteries—because seriously, so much could’ve been solved with one phone call! The tension between what Holland knows, what she believes, and what’s actually true kept me turning pages late into the night.

Alchemy of Secrets left me full of questions, theories, and that delicious craving for more. I can already tell I’ll be rereading it to catch all the clues I missed—and to prepare for whatever comes next.

Final Thoughts

Garber delivers a story that’s equal parts eerie and enchanting, with enough twists to keep you guessing to the very last page. If you’re in the mood for something mysterious, magical, and a little bit maddening—in the best way—this one’s a must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️