The book takes place in a pseudo-LA setting, called ‘Angel City’. Actually there are a lot of cities that have fun names like Gotham and Londinium. It makes you know where they are or go but it also sets up the world as inherently different than ours. And it certainly is! This is a world where alchemy is a physical, magical science and Sand is the Philosophers stone turned drug. Several world wide syndicates control the making and distributing of this perfection-enhancing pill.

Sam and Ari are the two protagonists who find themselves on opposite sides of the turf war between the Lumines and Grand Central. They met in school as kids but their lives ended up going in different directions but then end of their high school years. Sam’s ability was always her knack for being overlooked, and the training she receives from Grand Central certainly helped her hone that trait for their benefit. She is able to slip in and out of places unnoticed, reporting everything back to the Grand Central boss, Diamond Taylor. The one person who has always noticed her was Ari. He was plucked of the streets of Gujarat as a kid and trained to be a Bioalchemist with the Lumines, not knowing that his enemy syndicate later hired his childhood friend. When finally they meet after many years apart, the sparks already fly. They are drawn to each other, always have been, and manage to help each other escape and avoid assassination multiple times.

Marie Lu’s ability to write yearning was spectacular. Whether it was yearning for money, influence, or merely perfection above all else, every character has this vice and is clearly driven by their wants. When Sam and Ari find each other again, their connection is palpable. They have lived their lives separately, have grown up as they lived apart, but their yearning for each other is always present. The magic system Lu created is vast but so well set up, you understand how it works without having to be lectured on the ancient science of Alchemy. I found myself constantly flipping back and forth between the front glossary of alchemical symbols and the chapter headings, such a creative use of simple foreshadowing.

You will have to read the book to find out more, because I can’t possibly get into more details without giving away plot points!

And yes, of course I’ve already drawn fan art!

(Keep posted to my Redbubble shop for more!)