Stephanie Garber takes a bold leap from the whimsical circus tents of her beloved Caraval series into the shadowy streets of Los Angeles with Alchemy of Secrets, her debut adult fantasy. The result is a mesmerizing tapestry of urban legend, academic intrigue, and romantic tension that feels both familiar and refreshingly mature.
A Darker Magic Awakens in the City of Angels
Holland St. James thought she was just another graduate student chasing stories in Professor’s Folklore 517 class, where Los Angeles myths come alive in an old movie theater. But when she seeks out the legendary Watch Man—a figure who supposedly tells people when they’ll die—her world tilts irrevocably toward the magical. The Watch Man’s prophecy is devastating: she has until Halloween midnight to find the mysterious Alchemical Heart, or face certain death.
What follows is a breathless race through a hidden magical Los Angeles where devils drink sidecars at haunted hotels, abilities are currency more valuable than gold, and nothing—not even blood—can be trusted as proof of someone’s humanity. Holland’s desperate quest pulls her into the path of Gabe, a magnetic stranger with shadows in his eyes and secrets tattooed on his skin, who claims her missing sister sent him to protect her.
Garber’s Los Angeles becomes a character unto itself, transformed from sun-soaked boulevards into a labyrinth of supernatural intrigue. The city’s landmarks—from Hollywood Forever Cemetery to the Roosevelt Hotel—pulse with otherworldly energy, creating an atmospheric backdrop that feels both recognizably modern and deliciously gothic.
Characters That Breathe and Bleed
Holland St. James: The Heart of the Story
Holland emerges as Garber’s most grounded protagonist yet. Unlike the fantastical heroines of Caraval, Holland possesses an refreshing authenticity that anchors the story’s more extravagant elements. Her belief in magic stems not from naivety but from genuine hope and curiosity—traits that feel increasingly precious in a world determined to crush them.
Her relationship with her twin sister January adds emotional depth that resonates beyond the central mystery. Holland’s desperate need to understand January’s secrets while maintaining faith in their bond creates a compelling internal conflict that drives much of the narrative tension.
Gabe: Darkness Made Flesh
If readers expected another charming rogue in the vein of Julian from Caraval, Gabe will surprise them. He’s darkness distilled—not the romanticized brooding of traditional fantasy love interests, but something rawer and more dangerous. His ability to control cars with a touch and plunge neighborhoods into darkness makes him feel genuinely otherworldly, while his fierce loyalty to January’s secrets creates fascinating moral complexity.
The chemistry between Holland and Gabe crackles with tension precisely because it feels wrong—dangerous in ways that go beyond the physical. Garber expertly walks the line between attraction and unease, creating a romance that feels earned rather than inevitable.
The Academic Gothic Atmosphere
The classroom setting of Folklore 517 provides brilliant framing for the story’s mythological elements. Garber captures the intoxicating atmosphere of academic spaces where stories feel more real than reality—that particular magic of old theaters and dusty libraries where legends seem to breathe in the shadows.
The second-person narrative sections that open each “class” create an immersive experience that pulls readers directly into Holland’s world. These interludes serve as both exposition and atmosphere, building tension while educating readers about the magical ecosystem Garber has created.
Strengths That Shine
Atmospheric World-building: Garber’s Los Angeles feels lived-in and magical simultaneously. The integration of real locations with supernatural elements creates a believable urban fantasy landscape that avoids the trap of feeling either too ordinary or too fantastical.
- Emotional Authenticity: Despite the magical elements, the emotional core of the story—particularly Holland’s relationship with January—feels genuine and affecting. The sisters’ complicated dynamic drives much of the plot’s emotional weight.
- Mature Themes: This represents a successful evolution for Garber’s writing. The themes of family secrets, identity, and the price of knowledge feel appropriately adult while maintaining the sense of wonder that makes her work distinctive.
- Pacing Mastery: The ticking clock element maintains relentless momentum without feeling rushed. Garber balances action sequences with character development and world-building with impressive skill.
Areas for Growth
While Alchemy of Secrets succeeds admirably as Garber’s adult debut, certain elements feel less polished than her previous work:
- Predictable Revelations: Some of the story’s major twists become apparent well before their reveals, particularly regarding Adam’s true nature and January’s involvement in the magical world.
- Secondary Character Development: While Holland and Gabe are fully realized, characters like Adam and even January feel somewhat underexplored, existing more as plot devices than fully autonomous individuals.
- Romance Balance: The romantic tension, while well-executed, occasionally overshadows the central mystery in ways that slow the narrative momentum.
A New Chapter for Garber
Readers familiar with Garber’s previous work will recognize her signature style—lyrical prose that turns even mundane moments into something approaching poetry, complex family dynamics that drive emotional stakes, and magic systems that feel both logical and wonderous. However, Alchemy of Secrets represents a clear maturation of these elements.
The writing feels more grounded than the deliberately fantastical tone of the Caraval series or the fairy-tale atmosphere of Once Upon a Broken Heart. Garber demonstrates her ability to adapt her distinctive voice to different subgenres within fantasy, suggesting exciting possibilities for future work.
Similar Reads and Series Connections
Fans of the following books will likely enjoy Alchemy of Secrets:
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – for its blend of modern setting with magical elements
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – for academic settings and family mysteries
- City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty – for complex magical systems hidden in familiar cities
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman – for dark academia vibes with dangerous magic
For Garber devotees, this book serves as an intriguing bridge between her YA fantasy roots and potential future adult works, maintaining her talent for immersive world-building while exploring more mature themes.
Final Verdict
Alchemy of Secrets succeeds as both a standalone urban fantasy and as evidence of Stephanie Garber’s continued evolution as a storyteller. While it may not reach the dizzy heights of originality found in Caraval, it offers something equally valuable: proof that Garber can successfully adapt her considerable talents to new audiences and genres.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its emotional authenticity. Beneath the magical intrigue and romantic tension beats the heart of a story about family, trust, and the courage to seek truth even when it might destroy the comfortable illusions we’ve built around ourselves.
For readers seeking atmospheric urban fantasy with genuine emotional stakes, Alchemy of Secrets delivers a satisfying blend of mystery, magic, and romance. It marks an promising beginning for what could become Garber’s most mature and compelling series yet—assuming future installments can build upon this solid foundation while addressing some of the predictability that occasionally diminishes the story’s impact.
Garber has once again proven her ability to create worlds readers want to inhabit, characters worth caring about, and mysteries compelling enough to keep pages turning well past midnight. In a genre often dominated by either pure escapism or gritty realism, Alchemy of Secrets finds a middle ground that feels both fantastical and emotionally honest—no small feat in contemporary fantasy literature.
