ARC Review: The New Alchemists #1

Red City by Marie Lu

Publication Date: October 14, 2025

Summary from NetGalley:

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world’s elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city—and the paths of their lives—will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates’ brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

ARC provided by Tor Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

Confession:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this adult debut by one of my favorite YA authors. It is full of morally gray characters, an enticing magical system and beautiful world building.

The story is told mostly from both Ari’s and Sam’s points of view, with a few chapters from other characters. I just loved Sam and Ari and felt for them throughout the whole story. They are both caught up in lives that were created for them and that they are forced to participate in, in order to survive and save their families. It was heartbreaking at times to see them make choices that given better circumstances they wouldn’t make.

The story starts off with how the two of them met when they were children and how their relationship grew and how they were recruited into their respective syndicates. They had to keep secrets from each other, but even though they never admit it to each other, you can feel the love that develops between them. When they meet as adults on opposite sides, things get very complicated. But even as they are betraying each other, they are still trying to protect one another.

The magical system is wonderful, even though I did have a few issues with it. I loved the idea of alchemy being the basis of a magical system. Being able to touch something and change it into something else, makes for some interesting magic. I did have an issue with them creating a fully functional gun out of say, a wall, but I decided to just let it go and enjoy the rest of the story. The addition of ‘sand’, a drug that enhances everything about you including your magical abilities was fascinating. I also really liked the waring drug cartels aspect of the story.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story that is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, with a fascinating magical system, morally gray characters, and a darker vision of our world. If you enjoy any of these things then this is a story you don’t want to miss.