In her debut novel A Golden Fury, Samantha Cohoe weaves a story of magic and danger, where the curse of the Philosopher’s Stone will haunt you long after the final page. Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone–whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold–but just … turn any metal into gold–but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of a revolution looming, Thea is sent to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse–instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.more
Science and magic collide in this stunning debut novel about the study of Alchemy and the power of the Philosopher’s Stone. This was a very unique story with a very intriguing plot and a bunch of interesting characters. If you’re into dark academia like I am, then you might want to read this book.
The concept of Alchemy is very rare to find in many books. I liked that the author of this book is using this concept and managed to write a very unique storyline that got me hooked from the very first page. Let’s be honest, the study of Alchemy is also very rare in today’s world unless you count the study of Chemistry which is part of modern science that is a bit similar to the study of Alchemy but isn’t exactly the same.
I also loved the setting of the story. It was very gloomy which really set the frightening vibe on the story and also why this book can be quite terrifying but not in the horror way. It was also quite enjoyable to read a story with this type of setting, really set the mood for reading in rainy days and it gives me a very strong dark academia feel. Also, the languages used in this book was a great combination, and really made the story look even more powerful in my opinion. You have English for the majority, and some French and German too. Amazing languages in an amazing book? This book is so high-class.
In this book, you have a teenage girl being sent to live with her father who had no idea of her existence, two teenagers running away to save their lives, another teenager in hiding from bad soldiers, a bad man with a good heart, using the study of Alchemy to make the Philosopher’s Stone, the said Stone acted strangely, a double betrayal, more madness and chaos, stressful situations, and lastly there was little-to-no romance at all which I really don’t mind because this book did great without having any romance in it.
Thea is the protagonist and she is fierce, smart, and loyal. A young woman of high quality, and also a young woman who is pretty with a genius brain. Despite getting her work stolen twice, she never give up hope, she kept on working so hard to reach her goals, and for that I really admired her. She was also a loyal and good friend to Will and Dominic, never once did she ever forget them, she always remembered them and wanted to save their lives by using the Stone.
She’d been through a lot in the story, the things she had to deal with are so exhausting. The fact that she still managed to keep everything together even though her world was like it might fall apart made me respected her even more. Not many can handle big challenges like she does.
Thea is a phenomenal and a brilliant young woman, she is a legend in her mid-teens and already made history by successfully creating the Philosopher’s Stone. Her level of intelligence is admirable. Her selflessness showed that she doesn’t care what happen to her, as long as the people she hold dear are fine. She sacrificed so much of herself to make the Stone even after she knew the huge risk and what it will cost her. Her character growth make her so likable.
Dominic is a sweet and kindhearted young man. He is the total opposite of Thea in so many ways, but he is definitely Thea’s only good friend, well scratch that, he is her only friend. Anyone would be lucky to have him as their friend. I really liked his character a lot. He was so humble, so kind, respected Thea’s privacy, he even gave Thea a space to think things, and he also offered Thea to stay at his mother’s house when her father didn’t know what to do with her. His attitude and personality is worth swooning over. He was so good toward other people even though some people doesn’t deserve his kindness.
The ending was really bittersweet to me. I’d hoped for a different ending but the one I got was fine too in an emotional way. It would be nice if there’s a novella to give an insight to the readers on how Thea’s life is like living with her father, and how her friendship with Dominic is going. I liked how the author wrap things up for this book despite the flaws in the story like: why we didn’t meet Graff Ludwig when he was mentioned many times, where did Rahel disappeared to, and will Graff Ludwig ever come to find Thea since he still needed the Philosopher’s Stone??? So many questions but I would like to think that everything will be fine for everyone.
This book took me by surprise because for a debut standalone novel, I didn’t expect too much from it but what I got was far better. Usually, a debut novel is a hit or miss but luckily this one turns out to be successful. It was an enjoyable book to read and definitely one of the best debut novel I’ve read this year. I’m looking forward to read more books from the author. Everything was solid and on point; the story, the plot, the pacing, the development, the characters, and the Alchemy theme. Experiencing this story was really great, to witness everything from the characters point of views are magical.
Thea Hope is a heroine one is sure to like immediately! She’s smart, strong, and unexpectedly honest. This makes her vulnerable. She also wants to be an alchemist which adds to the fact that she’s pretty cool
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“A Golden Fury” is in a sense a self-discovery story. It’s about a girl who has had her life molded by the choices of others. And still, in these flawed human beings who might be accused of having failed her, Thea discovers her calling and greatest love — alchemy. And like any great alchemist, Thea knows she must pursue the discovery of the Philosopher Stone.
But when she discovers the true meaning of this journey, she will face her greatest challenge yet— admit who she really wants to be. I’m looking forward to reading whatever this author comes out next with 🙂
*I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I’m excited to share A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe as part of the Wednesday Books blog tour! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Wednesday Books. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
*****
ABOUT THE BOOK
Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.
*****
THE VERDICT
Alchemy is a concept I have trouble believing, even fictionalized, so that put me off the story a bit. The idea of a curse upon the stone is a good one because if such an object did exist, it would not be a stretch of the imagination to think it poisonous or deadly.
Thea is a, mostly, strong heroine who has an unfortunate hang up with a trifling male. Thea acts and seems out of character, diminishing her credibility and, somewhat, severing connections readers may have had. Thea’s behavior stalls the story’s momentum, and full recovery does not happen.
While I was intrigued, my interest waned in the latter half of the book. Maybe the tempo? Aggravation about a couple of things? But, there are positive aspects, too. The story is rife with creepiness and darker magic in the shadows. I love a well developed eerie atmosphere, especially during this time of year. Thea is flawed, but overall, she is an admirable heroine. This story is a darker tale than some young adult fantasy stories I have read. Also, note the potential triggers before reading.
STAR RATING:
1/2
Rounded up to
A Golden Fury is a historical fantasy. Thea Hope is an alchemist raised by her mother one of the greatest alchemist the world has ever seen. Her mother almost creates the stone only to lose her sanity to the curse. War is looming on the horizon in France so Thea is sent away to meet the father she has never known. Knowing the steps to create the stone only puts Thea in the crosshairs of everyone she meets and old friends become untrustworthy and new allies are unreliable. Thea must risk her own mind to protect the people she loves in an action packed adventure that ends in the only way possible. The story moves swiftly and smoothly from an enthralling beginning to a predictable maybe slightly disappointing ending that does not leave options for a series from the story. Easy to read with a likable, strong willed heroine, the story was enjoyable and has me looking forward to the next Samantha Cohoe read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
3.5
All Thea Hope has known is life as an alchemist learning under her famous mother, moving between one patron and another as they work towards creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. When it seems like they’ve cracked the code, Thea’s mother inexplicably begins distancing herself and closing Thea off from her work. When her mother attacks Thea in a blind rage and ruins the Stone in its final steps of creation, Thea combs through her mother’s notes and finds a mysterious curse befalls alchemists who take up the mantle of the Stone causing madness.
Now, sent to live with her estranged father, Thea discovers that her mother was far from the only alchemist looking to create the Stone. When no one seems to heed her warning about the curse, Thea goes on a run looking for a cure, but she may end up losing herself in the end.
In Samantha Cohoe’s debut, we are given a strong, intelligent heroine whose ambition is to follow in her parents’ footsteps by becoming an alchemist. What I mainly loved about this is the fact that Thea’s ambition for alchemy is not balked at, it’s openly encouraged. The idea that she has a dream and desire that doesn’t involve being a wife and/or mother isn’t seen as outside of the norm. I just wish we had gotten more of a sense of the relationship between Thea and her mother which wasn’t easy as her mother is a very driven woman herself, but the fact that she did take Thea under her wing speaks volumes. Unfortunately when the story starts Thea’s mother is already well on her way to being cursed by the Stone and already not acting completely herself. All information gathered is from Thea’s own ruminations and not experienced through character’s actions which I think takes away the emotional impact.
I further enjoyed the idea of this young woman, despite the opportunities given to practice alchemy, is also rather naive when it comes to interacting with people. When she leaves her mother in France and goes to her father at Oxford, Thea’s eyes are opened wide. Learning the lengths people will go to obtain wealth and power and also learning about trust and loyalty. I loved seeing Thea come into her own during her journeys. It adds to her strength of character. But it’s another thing I didn’t think the story went far enough to elaborate upon. There wasn’t enough time taken to establish the relationships built, therefore, when things happen, as a reader, I didn’t feel the emotional connection like I wanted to.
The story itself is faced-paced and doesn’t really slow down, which makes this a quick and engaging read. However, I wish more time could have been spent building up those characters surrounding Thea, those that inform her life and her action.
As it stands I feel like the story almost goes too far in prioritizing action over substance. I’m hoping, however, that this will not be the last time we see Thea Hope in which case I could easily forgive my gripes if characterization is built up across another book. Overall, if you’re looking for a story that champions young women taking control of their own lives, having their own dreams and desires, The Golden Fury does a fine job.
This was kn-knife… Nuff… Nice. Kudos to anyone who gets that reference.
After reading the blurb, I was ready to step into a world of magical realism and the author’s take on creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone (got’em LOTR vibes!)—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—from the female alchemist perspective. It failed to wow me and I was terribly bored, and the slow paced of the novel didn’t bring in any favors. Characters wise, I didn’t care much for Thea or her wishy washy relationship with her mother, Marguerite, and father, Vellacott. Dominic and Will were far more interesting and kept me intrigued enough to see the conclusion of this story.
All in all, there was potential and though it failed to meet my high expectations, I will most likely give this author another go. Fingers crossed the next one is a keeper!
I’m at a bit of a loss with this one because it honestly read like two different stories that were fused together.
I’ll start with what I enjoyed, which was the first 50% of the book.
As a female scientist myself, I was immediately drawn to Thea’s character. She’s devoted to alchemy and refuses to allow anyone to take credit for her sheer brilliance when it comes to her research and abilities (which includes her own mother). I loved the whole idea surrounding creating a new Philosopher’s stone and using it to cure the madness that Thea’s mother suffers from. Furthermore, we see interesting character dynamics between Thea, her mother, her father, and Valentin.
That being said, the author takes the second half of the book and throws it off of a cliff so to speak. We go from having this fierce and independent heroine to an instalove situation that no one is sold and and that shouldn’t even be a part of the plot. I feel like the author threw in the romance subplot since we see it so frequently in YA fantasy, but it was definitely not appreciated here.
What started off as an original and solid debut that I was thoroughly engrossed devolved into a story that I just wanted to be over with by the end, which is unfortunate.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
This book is a fascinating historical fantasy that drew me in from the first page.
Thea as a character is so completely relatable; even as an adult I connected with her desire to make her mark on the world and her frustration with not being taken seriously. I keenly felt her drive and ambition and rooted for her to show the entire world why they were wrong to underestimate her.
Her journey was one fraught with danger and a mystery trailing her footsteps that kept me guessing. I found her relationships with other characters to be fully fleshed out and proving if a lot of insight into her emotional and mental headspace.
There was also a very insightful takeaway from this book, a cautionary warning that ambition can be taken too far. So far that we lose ourselves in it. My life isn’t nearly as fantastical as hers but that message really resonated with me as someone who is a bit of a workaholic at the expense of my health and social relationships.
However, I will say that I would not read this for the romance; it was a bit touch and go. Somewhere in the middle of the book it seemed to lose its footing a bit and was not as strong as the first half.
This book is an amazing adventure for anyone who is a fan of alchemy, Stalking Jack the Ripper, or historical fantasy.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and chose to review voluntarily.
When reading and reviewing YA novels, I think it’s important to put oneself in the mindset of a young adult. I don’t see the point of reviewing a teen novel with adult perspectives. In a generation brought up by Harry Potter, the promise of learning more (or different) information about the Philosopher’s Stone should be intriguing. The author has a particular talent for creating vivid scenes. There is also a romance angle. These scenes seemed a bit forced and verging on melodramatic. But one has to remember that this is a 17- year-old girl we’re talking about and they are nothing if not melodramatic, especially when it comes to love. I think teens and young adults will be able to relate to Thea and would therefore recommend this book to that age group. For me, I wanted more of the alchemy, less of the romance. But I’m not the target for this book. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for a digital ARC of this book.
A Golden Fury is an intriguing story about a young woman’s alchemic quest to save her mother. Thea is a highly trained alchemist apprentice. She was trained by and still works for her mother, who is famous for her skill in the craft. Together, they attempt to create the Philosopher’s Stone, which gives the owner immortality and wealth.
Thea’s mother, in a fit of madness and rage, destroys the stone because the stone turns all who aren’t worthy mad. Desperate to help her mother and prove her worth as an alchemist, Thea travels to work for her father, another alchemist, in again creating the Philosopher’s Stone. However, this time it’s to save her mother’s life.
I enjoyed Thea’s story and thought her character was well-developed. She lives in a male-dominated world and defies many of the gender norms. She is intelligent and brave, and she fights for what she believes in. Though her decisions aren’t always the best, and I questioned her actions sometimes, she showed a lot of growth.
A story about the desire for power, complex familial relationships, betrayal, and the search for identity, A Golden Fury will appeal to readers who like unique and dark stand-alone historical fantasies. Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
When I started A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe, I’m not sure what I was expecting. A historical fantasy? A romance? Intrigue? I got all of those things and more! I’m not one to usually compare books because that usually leads to disappointment, however if you enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper you will devour this book. Set in the Victorian period, A Golden Fury takes the reader on a high stakes quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, alchemy’s highest prize.
Thea Hope is the star of this book! Told entirely from her POV, I found myself hooked to her immediately. She is not like your typical heroine of the time period. She isn’t in need of a man to save her. On the contrary, Thea plans to do the saving. She’s smart, distrusting, and slightly desperate. After her mother succumbs to the alchemist’s curse in her attempts to create the stone, Thea is forced out of a revolutionary France into the countryside of England and the home of her unknown father. To say she is happy about any of this is laughable. Thea is angry and wants nothing more than to return to her mother and save her. She knows that she is the only one that has cracked her mother’s code and can create the stone to save her from the curse. But nothing is ever that easy.
Desperate to prove herself among the men, Thea shows her father her mother’s notes. This becomes the catalyst that leaves her and her father’s apprentice, Dominic, on the run. The plot of this one is fast moving. I had a hard time sitting it down once I started. I had to know what would happen. I love the bits of science and alchemy the author throws in with the danger of what Thea must do. It’s all believable, making what occurs that much more interesting. Thea faces a mad scientist, heartbreak, and a gang of Prussians in her quest, and yet that doesn’t stop her.
Overall I really enjoyed A Golden Fury. I liked how science is interwoven with fiction, how the history of the time period affects what happens to the characters, and the bits of romance the author teases us with. I’m not going to lie, I wanted more romance, but it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment without it. If you like historical fiction with a bit of romance, adventure, and fantasy thrown in, I highly recommend you grab a copy of A Golden Fury today!
Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.
This is a YA historical fantasy debut. The cover for this book is amazing it drew me to this book. As a whole, I liked this story. I would say that this book is much more historical than a fantasy the only fantasy element is the search for the philosophers stone, but then again this was something that did happen. So for me, I was hoping for a little more fantasy but that was just me and no fault of the book.
This book starts out at a slow pace, then it picks up, then slows down again. I am specifying this just so you know not to go into this looking for something that is fast-paced. I was lucky that what I needed at the time was a slower book so this fit the bill perfectly. When the book slowed down in the second half of the book there were times where it felt the story got lost. During this time I became annoyed with some of the characters that I had liked up to that point.
In the second half of the book, I became very annoyed with some of the characters that I liked up to this point. And by the end, there was only one character that I wanted to have a good ending.
I enjoyed the book as a whole and I would definitely read something by this author again.
Story was a bit slow and a bit long for what it covered. The story itself was a good one. Philosopher’s Stone is a mystery in itself and Thea’s lifetime of trying to figure out to make it involved losing herself and her mind. There seemed to be no extreme climax to the story. With a bit more polish I think this would make a great read.
Normally when I’m reading a book, I make notes as I go along to prepare for my review. That didn’t happen with this one because I got so drawn into the book, I forgot to make notes.
The storyline was addicting. I felt for Thea. Her mother was cold and impossible. It’s easy to dismiss Thea’s devotion with Will as maddening. And yes, in a way, it was. Thea was raised fairly isolated, in a cold home that was always changing to where the money was for her mother. Aside from Comte Adrien, there was very little positive attention for Thea. Of course she would latch on to the first bit of attention she receives.
I liked all the characters, even the ones you loved to hate. I think once Thea broke free from her mother, her wings broke open, and she could see who she was without her. I loved that Dominic was the person who could follow her. Cohoe has written this story well. I didn’t find it a slow read as others did, because it was so addicting. A super fun read. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this one along!
An excellent debut novel, A Golden Fury, brings to life the Philosopher’s Stone with alchemy and magic through the lens of Historical Fiction.
Compelling Characters
a golden fury
A Golden Fury
by Samantha Cohoe
Wednesday Books
Theo is a great main character. Cohoe did an excellent job of giving her character life to connect to the reader.
What makes Theo great is that she is not just a woman but a young lady, on the cusp of 18 in 19th century France. Raised to think, Theo is an educated woman who is more than just an ornamental piece. Her mother may be tough and unlikable, but she made sure to raise a young woman who knows her worth to society. Theo holds onto her intelligence as the story progresses, maintaining a tough façade; Theo holds her head high up and meets the challenges head-on.
It creates an incredible amount of tension for the story, but it mainly creates a strong character. During this period, women were not valued much for their intelligence, but to see Theo valued and respected for her intelligence creates an excellent picture for the reader. Moreover, the fact that Theo never plays dumb or submits herself to the whims of men makes her a compelling protagonist.
Wonderful Storytelling
What also works well for the story is the pacing and direction of the story. The reader already knows the story is about the philosopher’s stone and the curse surrounding it. Theo is the only one with enough sense to see the cost of all the power that comes with it, yet no one will listen to her.
However, the story is about more than just creating the stone; it is about the curse, and the stone itself. Cohoe gives the stone life; she gives it personality and explores this curse. A Golden Fury is not a fast-paced novel, but it holds the attention of the reader through the mystery. The curse compels the reader to see how the story unfolds and, in the end, it leaves the reader satisfied.
Final Thoughts
A Golden Fury is an excellent debut. It gives readers a strong female protagonist with a compelling narrative and a story that keeps the reader intrigued until the very end.
This was the first time in reading this author with the story drawing my attention. Thea Hope is a character that is strong and draws our attention right away. Already drama runs into her with what her mother does. She does get a answer or two but then her life changes again. This is set in a time of turmoil with also her life being in a turmoil also. We follow her so closely wishing at times you could reach through and keep her safe. This is a historical read that gives alot of energy and much pleasure in reading.
As you may know, I am attempting to read outside my comfort zone. A Golden Fury sounded so interesting – alchemy! Who wouldn’t be interested in a female alchemist from 1792!?
And at the beginning, it was very interesting. The story of the Philosopher’s Stone, the history of alchemy, and the curse all kept me hooked. Thea seemed like a strong character regardless of the gender limitations she dealt with (it is 1792 after all!).
But then it broke apart for me. Once Thea met back up with Will (her maybe ex-crush/friend?), she started to unravel. Her desperate clinging to Will, despite information about his secrets and past, seemed unlike her as a character. And the romantic aspect felt odd. She seemed to form these quick relationships with multiple men, like a boy crazy teenage girl. Which would have been fine, had the first half of the book not disavowed that.
The magic of alchemy was so interesting, and it nearly felt like a fantasy book. But it just fell apart for me and felt unfinished.
3.5/5
This one was just an “OK” for me.
Set in 18th century Europe, it’s the story of 17 yo Thea, an alchemist whose mother is jealous of her abilities and whose father never knew she existed. Thea is obsessed with creating the Philosopher’s Stone and harnessing its limitless power without invoking its Alchemist Curse which rendered her mother and friend Dominic insane, but can she trust those she meets along the way to help her in her quest?
A story of loneliness, of searching for a way to be accepted and admired. But also a journey to discover if what one really desires is worth the price of losing one’s self in the process.
My issue was mostly not connecting well with the characters, and I can’t really say why. Maybe I just didn’t feel invested? The writing was fine (the pace maybe a little slow in places), but there were some unfinished/unexplained parts left hanging for me. Fans of YA fantasy will probably enjoy.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #WednesdayBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
‘A Golden Fury’ is a unique story that is easy to read. It’s genre is kind of historical fiction meets fantasy. Being a student of history and an avid reader of historical fiction there are some pain points regarding accuracy. Overall, the story was interesting and a quick read.
Thea Hope has been her mother’s apprentice her entire life. Recently, Thea’s skills in alchemy have surpassed those of her mothers. When Thea’s mom attempts to create the Philosopher’s Stone, an object that allows one the ability to self heal and turns metal in to gold, things take a nefarious turn. Hope is urged by her mom’s patron to flee France, which is in the midst of a revolution, to travel to England and a father she has never met. There she hopes she can complete the work she had started on the Stone. While in England Thea meets up with an old friend who is escaping a past of his own.
Can Thea successfully create the Philosopher’s Stone without falling victim to it’s evil lure?
This story is a stand alone.
2.5/5 stars!
During a tumultuous time in history, the heroine and her alchemist mother were striving to create the Philosopher’s Stone when her mother ended up trying to kill her. For her own protection, the heroine was sent to a father who didn’t know of her existence. Even as she makes a decision about her future, she must tackle nefarious troublemakers who wants the Philosopher’s Stone, even with the curse of madness linked to it.
Though the idea of the Philosopher’s Stone is intriguing, I didn’t find the story flowing as smoothly as it could be nor did the tone grabbed my attention. It needed more details in some parts to make the story better. As for the characters. I didn’t find the heroine to my liking, even as she showed how she changed throughout the story. Also, I wanted a better transition of how her father changed during the story. In conclusion, this is an intriguing story that has a solid premise and an acceptable ending.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**