Alchemy of secrets

I can’t put into words how much I adored this book. The main protagonist: Holland St. James believes in the magical stories and fairytales her professor talks about and the more she dives into this world the more dangerous it becomes and the more truths she uncovers - scary truths that are tied to her past. The absolutely best aspect of this book was the complete uncertainty. As a reader you were just as clueless as Holland, which was so refreshing and cool. You never knew, which person was telling the truth and who she could trust. Overall, this is a stunning YA Fantasy and the old whimsical Hollywood vibe added so much to the story. Stephanie Garber truly knows how to create a world you fall in love with and get completely drawn into. So addicting - Highly recommend!!!

This book was absolutely amazing! I practically flew through the pages, the writing style was so pleasent to read but really beautiful at the same time. I love treasure hunts in books, with a sprinkle of magic and a captivating story! I was always wondering what would happen next and who to trust! I'm really looking forward to the next book of the series!

I really liked this book, its full of mysteries and quests that lead to shocking twists. The tiny bit of romance was enough to make you question; who can/should you trust with your deepest and darkest secret?

A mysterious, magical story full of riddles, morally grey characters, and a supernatural scavenger hunt through a secret version of Los Angeles. The atmosphere is magical and mysterious, with a touch of folklore, old Hollywood glam, and art deco aesthetic. Not everything is what it seems, and you never really know who to trust, which I truly loved. The magical part was subtle, this really is not the typical fantasy novel. It's more like a mysterious, slightly spooky urban fairytale. I guess this makes it perfect for anyone just starting to explore light fantasy novels. I must admit that I did wish for a little bit more magic, more depth, and more darkness, I'm hoping for more of that in the second part. But all in all, I totally enjoyed reading it! The scavenger hunts, the atmosphere, the magical mystery of it all, I really liked it. It was easy to read and something different than usual. A great read for when you want something mysterious, magical, and a bit dark, but not too heavy.