Quick Synopsis – Ashen Woods is an unlicensed alchemist and all they want is to be accepted into alchemic society. He gets swept into Ramsay Thorne’s orbit after cleaning their office and seeing notes on the mysterious book of source. 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.

Song This Reminds Me Off – Silk Chiffon by MUNA

Publication Date – Feb. 6, 2024

Spicy Rating – 🌶🌶

Overall Rating – 3.5 ⭐ out of 5

Review – Infinity Alchemist is the kind of book I wish I could have read when I was in high school. I thought the descriptions of the characters’ sexualities and exploration of polyamory were excellent. It’s a very complex conversation, and having these characters explore that together in a loving and trusting way is important. Even if you are not queer or interested in polyamory, reading books like this can broaden your understanding of other communities, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

Ashen Woods is an unlicensed alchemist, which is a crime. He practices his alchemy in secret and works hard not to get caught. One day while cleaning the office of alchemy professor Ramsey Thorne, Ash spies interesting writings on the Book of Source. He can’t help but glance through the notes and becomes inspired to use alchemy to create one of the symbols drawn in Ramsey’s notes. Of course, Ramsey chooses that moment to return to their office and catches Ash in the act. Instead of turning Ash in, Ramsey offers a bargain. Help them find the Book of Source and learn alchemy from Ramsey, or be turned in. Obviously, Ash helps Ramsey.

This is where the story takes off as we learn more about Ash and Ramsey. Ramsey is a genderfluid character whose parents committed mass murder in the search for the Book of Source. Ash is a trans man whose mother passed away a few years ago, and whose father is a prominent advisor to a top house. Of course, his father doesn’t know he exists. Further on in the story, we’re also introduced to Callum, who is Ramsey’s ex-boyfriend and a member of the Redguard (the police).

I did think this was a wonderful, complex story that deals with class and barriers to education/wealth. So often in the story, people of the higher class will tell Ash that if he wants something, then he simply has to work hard for it. Ash tries to point out barriers to entry and other systemic issues, but most of the time the ruling class’s response is “tough luck kid, try harder.” This type of rhetoric is so common, and I think it can be helpful for younger readers to read these arguments.

The thing I didn’t love about the book was that the main storyline dragged for me. I found the personal relationships way more interesting than the search for the book. None of it was very engaging, and the description of how alchemy worked was so confusing. I felt like the author could have easily added about an extra chapter of information about how alchemy worked and the levels. In the front of the book, there is a breakdown of the houses, and I felt like they could have easily included a list of alchemy levels.

This is a good book, but I don’t think I’ll read the next in the series.

Thanks NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.