THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST

Natalie Naudus narrates this YA fantasy set in an alternate Tang dynasty in China. Impoverished teenager Fan Zilan, who is able to resurrect the dead, studies to be a royal alchemist for the Empress. When Fan travels to take her exams at the capital, listeners feel the emergence of her strength and endurance as she competes against wealthy men with far more advantages. Crown Prince Li Hong enlists her help in standing against the Empress, who desires immortality. Naudus's narration sparks disbelief and shock as Fan must face the truths of her own past if she is to survive her future. Naudus's mastery of Chinese pronunciations brings listeners more deeply into this compelling story of family secrets and female empowerment. L.M.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]