Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Manipulation, Trauma, Violence, Betrayal, Blood
The Alchemary
by Rachel Vincent
Book 1 in The Alchemy Trials
Amber wakes up naked in a tower with no memory and two brothers claiming history with her, then has to survive deadly alchemy trials while figuring out which one to trust. Vincent layers dark academia, amnesia, and a love triangle into one knockout series opener.
goodreads 4.02/5 222 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length512 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice2/5 · Passionate / intense
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Love/hate tension
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Passionate / intense
- Addictive read
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- Morally gray
- Forbidden love
- Tension / anticipation
- Tension finally satisfied
- Brooding prince
- Mutual pining
- Slow seduction
- The angst delivered
- Dark/tortured soul
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Longing glances
- Obsessed
- Scholar/intellectual
- Push and pull
- Jealous/possessive during intimacy
- Book hangover incoming
- Secretly soft
- Academic rivals
- Tension
- Anticipation
- Wall pinning
- Eye contact intensity
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Love triangle
- Academy / campus
- Low fantasy / secret magic
- Humans only
- Coastal / island / beach
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- Academy / school
- Childhood sweethearts reunited
- Amnesia
- Dark academia romance
- Secret heir/royalty
- Competition romance
- Best friend's brother
Reading experience
- First person
- Mysterious
- Atmospheric
- Moderate
- High
- Bookworm/scholar
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- Brooding
- Dramatic
- Reluctant chosen one
- Dark
- Immersive
- Outcast/loner
- Intense
- Damaged survivor
- Secretive
- Character-driven
- Lush
- Magical
- Haunting
- Forbidden knowledge
- Morally complex
- Deadly trials
- Tournament arc
- Court of shadows
- Cliffhanger warning
- Page turner
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
512 pages Completed
Immortal Consequences
I.V. Marie
Similar because
Academic rivals · Scholar/intellectual · Mutual pining
Different because
Spice is lower (1/5 vs 2/5).
384 pages Completed
Tidespeaker
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Similar because
Bookworm/scholar · Secretive · Forbidden knowledge
Different because
Spice is lower (1/5 vs 2/5). A shorter read (384 vs 512 pages).
553 pages Completed
Arcana Academy
Elise Kova
Similar because
Brooding prince · Dark academia romance · Secret heir/royalty
Different because
Spice is higher (3/5 vs 2/5).
Book details
- Length
- 512 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book