Stephanie Garber’s Alchemy of Secrets delivers gripping urban fantasy mystery and relentless pacing, but its unreliable narrator and unresolved ending leave the story emotionally incomplete.
Stephanie Garber’s Alchemy of Secrets is a fast-paced urban fantasy packed with mystery, secret identities, alchemical magic, and an unreliable narrator who keeps both the reader and herself constantly questioning reality.
As Garber’s adult fantasy debut, the novel takes a very different approach from her previous works, leaning into darker intrigue and relentless pacing rather than whimsical romance. While the book absolutely hooked me with its atmosphere and tension, I struggled to connect emotionally with its protagonist and found the ending far too unresolved to feel fully satisfying.
A Fast-Paced Urban Fantasy Full of Mystery
One thing Alchemy of Secrets does incredibly well is pacing. From the very first chapter, the story launches readers directly into Holland’s chaotic life and never really slows down. There’s a constant sense of urgency throughout the novel because Holland is racing against time to find the alchemical heart before it kills her.
That nonstop momentum creates genuine tension. The mystery surrounding her father’s missing screenplay, her sister’s disappearance, and the shadowy people surrounding her kept me engaged from beginning to end. Everyone in Holland’s life seems to have a hidden identity or ulterior motive, and that constant uncertainty creates an atmosphere filled with paranoia and intrigue.
The novel especially shines whenever the Folklore 517 inserts appear. These sections break up the pacing beautifully while adding layers of history, mythology, and mystery to the story. Honestly, I found those moments some of the strongest parts of the book because they deepened the atmosphere in ways the main plot sometimes struggled to do.
Holland as an Unreliable Narrator
Holland is very much an unreliable narrator, and while I usually love unreliable narrators, this one was complicated for me.
At times, I genuinely could not tell what was real, what was manipulation, and what existed only in Holland’s perspective. There were moments where I questioned whether certain characters — especially her sister — even existed at all or whether Holland herself was hiding deeper truths from both the reader and herself.
That uncertainty absolutely works in terms of suspense. However, it also created a major emotional disconnect for me.
I never fully felt like I understood Holland as a person. Despite being a graduate student, she often came across as far younger and more immature than the story seemed to intend. Some of her choices made sense within the context of fear and paranoia, but emotionally, I struggled to ground myself in her characterization.
With characters like Evangeline from Once Upon a Broken Heart, even when they make reckless decisions, you still feel like you understand who they are at their core. With Holland, I never quite reached that point. There was always a distance between me and the character that prevented me from becoming fully emotionally invested.
Secrets, Suspicion, and Rising Tension
The dynamic between Gabe and Alex was one of the more entertaining aspects of the novel. Both characters constantly accuse the other of lying while insisting they are the one person Holland can trust.
The entire situation honestly gave me major Scream energy — two people pointing fingers at each other while the protagonist has no idea who is telling the truth. That paranoia worked incredibly well for the tone of the story.
The magical bank, the hidden alchemical society, the mystery surrounding Holland’s father, and the race to uncover the alchemical heart all contribute to a compelling urban fantasy atmosphere. Stephanie Garber clearly excels at building intrigue and creating stories that feel cinematic and immersive.
An Ending That Feels Too Unresolved
My biggest issue with the novel is the ending.
Yes, Holland reaches the alchemical heart. Yes, major plot events occur. But so many storylines remain unresolved by the time the book ends that the conclusion feels incomplete rather than intentionally open-ended.
Gabe’s storyline feels unfinished. Alex’s arc feels unfinished. The magical bank remains largely unexplored. Even Holland herself still feels undefined by the final pages.
If this is the beginning of a larger series, then some unresolved threads make sense. But as a reading experience, I still wanted a stronger emotional payoff and more satisfying resolution to the mysteries the book spent so much time building.
Instead of finishing the novel feeling fulfilled, I finished it feeling like I still needed another hundred pages.
Final Thoughts
Alchemy of Secrets is an ambitious and intriguing adult fantasy debut filled with strong atmosphere, compelling mystery, and nonstop pacing. Stephanie Garber successfully avoids many of the pitfalls that often happen when YA fantasy authors transition into adult fantasy, particularly the tendency to rely too heavily on unnecessary romance or explicit scenes.
The mystery elements are genuinely gripping, the Folklore 517 sections add fantastic depth, and the urban fantasy setting feels unique and immersive.
However, the novel’s unresolved ending and my emotional disconnect from Holland kept me from fully loving the story. While I admired the ambition behind the book and enjoyed many of its twists and mysteries, I wanted stronger characterization and a more satisfying conclusion.
Ultimately, this was a solid 3.5-star read for me — engaging, fast-paced, and intriguing, but missing the emotional clarity and payoff needed to make it unforgettable.
