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Infinity Alchemist is a spellbinding novel about a quest that leads three young alchemists toward unexpected love and unimaginable power.
With their signature "prowess" (FIYAH) and "unbridled creativity" (New York Times Book Review), acclaimed author Kacen Callender turns their formidable skill to young adult fantasy for the first time.
For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime.
Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic—so when Ash is rejected by Lancaster College of Alchemic Science, he takes a job as the school's groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret.
When he's discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he's about to be arrested—but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash's secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power.
As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists—Ash's estranged father included. Ash's journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.
Featuring trans, queer, and polyamorous characters of color, Infinity Alchemist is the hugely anticipated young adult fantasy debut from the extraordinary author of Felix Ever After, King and the Dragonflies, Queen of the Conquered and more.
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[I received an arc for an honest review]
Infinity Alchemist is author Kacen Callender's first YA Fantasy and since I have enjoyed all her previous books I am not surprised I ended up really enjoying it. It's filled with an interesting magic system, a trans main character, a polyromance, power, betrayal, and sacrifice.
"Maybe power isn't inherently good or bad," she said . "Just what you do with it. What would you do with all the power, Ash?"
I liked the leading character, Ash. He is flawed and makes impulsive and sometimes selfish decisions, but what teenager doesn't? He struggles, but in the end he tries to make the right choices. I was fully invested in the growth of his relationship with both of the love interests. At first, I was hesitant and while I do think it was a bit too much on the insta love side of things, I was here for them working it out.
"It's lazy to put a multifaceted human being, created from the alchemy of the universe, into a box if good or bad. No one is only one of the two."
I loved the queer rep and the thought that a person can have infinite love to give. One of the main characters is gender-fluid and literally shifts genders depending on how their body feels that day.
Infinity Alchemist ends on a "things are settled for now" type of note, with the foreshadowing of more doom to come in the next book. I am definitely interested in spending more time with the three main characters and will be reading book 2 when it comes out.
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