Series: The New Alchemists #1
Release date: October 14 2025
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 518
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation, an exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates who market it to the world’s elite in the form of sand – a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of 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 from 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.

Review

Red City is my first book from Marie Lu and it was such a rollercoaster ride. This urban fantasy tale follows two people caught in the middle of two rival syndicates who fight for control of alchemy. Where once they might have fallen in love, now they are on opposite sides of a rivalry that is only going to get worse.

Red City was such an addictive read. Marie Lu is an author I’ve always wanted to try, and I’m so glad I got to read this one because I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed Lu’s writing style, and I was sucked into the story very early on. The worldbuilding was well done, and I loved the dark, gritty, dangerous setting of Angel City. I thought the alchemical magic system was really fascinating, and it was well explained without dumping lots of information on the reader.

Red City has some really compelling characters, and I thought the romance was executed perfectly. This felt very much like a character driven story, and I grew really attached to Sam and Ari as the story progressed. Sam is determined to find a better life, and joining the ranks of Grand Central is her ticket to the life she dreams of. Ari is the new young talent in Lumines, but he has been cut off from his family and his heritage. Lu really explores themes of family and identity in this story, and I cannot wait to see where she takes these characters in book two.

Overall, I thought Red City was a captivating urban fantasy tale with a brilliant mix of action and character progression. It’s marketed as ‘The Godfather meets The Magicians’ and I think that’s a perfect comparison. If you’re looking for a fantasy story with characters that will stick with you, Red City is a book you do not want to miss.