A tale of light and shadow where revenge turns inconveniently emotional—and the God-King isn’t nearly as cruel as he was made out to be.

Sylvie, the youngest sister and convenient family spare, travels with her older sister Adria to the capital’s grand festival—officially to honor Ronan, the God-King; unofficially to murder him and achieve their vengeance and independence. A simple enough plan, except Ronan’s lightborn magic lets him feel every emotion around him, including hers, and unfortunately he’s infuriatingly handsome, idealistic, and far too caring for a tyrant.

The worldbuilding shines: the interplay of light and shadow magic that usual cancel each other, but for them strengthen their magic is a clever twist, and the political layers—intrigue, betrayal, and tangled family loyalties—add satisfying emotional depth. Sylvie’s gradual realization that her own house isn’t innocent in their people’s suffering grounds all the yearning and chaos.

MMC scent: spice, cedar, and incense— a scent that fits someone who carries both warmth and quiet conviction.
The tension simmers beautifully, and I adore Kira, the sweet griffin, who steals the title of favorite side character.

Complex, morally tangled, and impossible to put down. I’m already screaming for the sequel to this planned duet.

⭐ 4.5 (rounded up because I lost sleep over it).

Thank you NetGalley, Glasslook Press and the author, Amy Yorke, for the opportunity to read this ARC - or should I say devour!?

Firstly - add this to your TBR.

Secondly - wow!!!

Gosh I bloody loved this book! Alchemy & Ashes is full of magic, tension, plot twists, and a wonderful sense of becoming her own woman. Sylvie starts as a sheltered, somewhat neglected young woman but grows in confidence in who she is and what she wants to stand for. There is so much trauma and history between our main couple but I just adored them. I loved that we had them coming together then needing space. I loved the way he fell hard. I loved that Sylvie was relatable, her growth was relatable, she had so little belief in herself and watching that confidence grow was beautiful, Ronan… I mean he is a god-king… what can I say!!

I really enjoyed the Greek gods and goddesses vibes - with enemies literally everywhere. I enjoyed the gritty history between the people. I thought Ronan was written well, and I loved how thoughtful and emotionally mature he was. It’s nice to read an MMC that isn’t ‘alpha-mine’ etc etc.

Some bits were a bit predictable but I really didn’t mind. I enjoyed Amy’s writing, her characters are well thought out and the plot makes sense. The book has great pacing and I didn’t feel bored at any point. I honestly don’t know what’s coming next but that cliffhanger…. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. My only issue is that I now have to wait for book 2, can I have it now please Amy!?

#AlchemyAndAshes #NetGalley #AmyYorke