I would like to begin by thanking Wednesday Books for supplying an e-ARC through NetGalley. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in blog tours. Below is some information about the wonderful book, A Golden Fury, directly followed by my honest review. Read on after my review for the bio of Samantha Cohoe, author of A Golden Fury, and how to connect with her.
A GOLDEN FURY
Set in eighteenth century England, Samantha Cohoe’s debut novel, A GOLDEN FURY (Wednesday Books; October 13, 2020), follows a young alchemist as she tries to save the people she loves from the curse of the Philosopher’s Stone. The streets of London and Oxford come to life as this historical fantasy unravels. Weaving together an alluring story
of magic and danger, Samantha’s debut has her heroine making messy decisions as she toes the line between good and evil while it becomes blurred.
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.
A GOLDEN FURY and the curse of the Philosopher's Stone will haunt you long after the final page.
The following is my honest review.
I picked up A Golden Fury, armed with the information from the blurb, and I was hesitant. I did not go into this book without expectations. A few friends of mine had the opportunity to read the ARC as well, talking about how much they enjoyed it, which was a red flag. I tend to enjoy what these individuals don't like and dislike what they enjoy, so I was toeing this story with trepidation. On the surface it seemed like something I should enjoy: strong female lead, science (well, pseudoscience), hints of madness and magic and more, a revolution brewing in the background while other immediate dangers are occurring. I was also concerned about all of the above happening in a standalone novel, which is tricky. How could a book contain so many dangers and obstacles and totally wrap up by the last page? The book is only 352 pages, so the amount this book tackles seemed a lot.
But my concerns were unwarranted. I enjoyed this book immensely! It also felt right for this time of year; it isn't necessarily an autumn or Halloween story, but there is a spookiness shown that fits the season. I was also greatly reminded of two things: Evelyn from The Mummy movies and Audrey Rose from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. The main character, Thea, is a mix of Evelyn and Audrey Rose with a strong dash of calculating, emotionless reason. She is interested in science, much like Audrey Rose, and is methodical and brilliant in her study and execution of knowledge. She is also dabbling in a type of science that is a bit more occult than serious science, and the undeniable mystical forces at play remind me very much of the curses and reincarnation and magic Evelyn studies as an Egyptologist. I LOVE The Mummy movies, always admired Evelyn (and Rachel Weisz, the actress, to be honest), and I've been enjoying myself working through the Stalking Jack the Ripper series more recently. A Golden Fury ended up blending vibes and elements from stories I've loved and enjoyed.
Another aspect I'm in awe of is the amount of research Samantha Cohoe clearly did in order to write A Golden Fury. The amount of time period details (i.e. clothing items, names for specific patterns on décor/wallpaper/fabrics, the strained relations between different countries, the French Revolution, etc.) really brought this world in this story to life. I even learned several new words after having to look them up, like "chinoiserie"; I actually don't mind having to look up words I don't know since I'm a writer and always look for new words to absorb and use. Of course, you don't necessarily have to focus on these details to feel the heart-pounding urgency and paranoia throughout, but world-building is a part of a story I get sucked into. For a story to work, I need to believe this world is real. Fictional as it may be, the world in A Golden Fury felt so real because of the extensive blending of fact with her fictitious characters and situations.
I also want to draw attention to Thea herself. Her evolution takes her through stages of naivety, stubbornness, emotionless calculation, emotional realizations, enlightenment of other's characters and motives, what's most important in life and the world, and the dismantling of a wall she held around her heart. Her character arc was a wild ride, and I understood every stage of it too. We know why she was the way she was and why she struggled as she did to overcome her emotional obstacles. We were also there for every moment where she realized how wrong she was about certain parts of life, watching as she regained her footing, admitted uncertainty, and trudged forward despite that uncertainty. It was really admirable and I felt a connection to her journey regarding opening up to others and not turning to emotionless calculation when life is out of my control or my life is changing drastically. It is a coping mechanism I also use, even now, so I especially relate to Thea's emotional evolution.
One aspect that I did find lacking, and this is actually the only issue I have with A Golden Fury and it is so minor, is the explanation of the Stone and what was the unknown force behind it. There is some explanation, which I won't go into for the sake of remaining spoiler-free, but I felt like there was more that could have done. Is it magical? Is it godly or religious? What IS it? And the more I think on it while writing this review, there might be a point to those questions remaining unanswered. Perhaps the Stone was more of a path for Thea to discover the core of her character and the story is much less about the Stone and alchemy--a means to an end instead. I will definitely be thinking on this more and rereading A Golden Fury soon to see if I can come up with a more direct answer for myself.
Overall, I highly recommend A Golden Fury if you are feeling something with a historied tale with some unexplainable eeriness. It's a quick read that is sure to entertain. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Note on potentially triggering content: there are a few moments featuring self-harm, the harming of others, and the devolution of people from reason to madness and the violence that comes with it. If you are sensitive to descriptions of people harming themselves or others, please tread carefully. As much as I recommend this book, your mental health is important.
I picked up A Golden Fury, armed with the information from the blurb, and I was hesitant. I did not go into this book without expectations. A few friends of mine had the opportunity to read the ARC as well, talking about how much they enjoyed it, which was a red flag. I tend to enjoy what these individuals don't like and dislike what they enjoy, so I was toeing this story with trepidation. On the surface it seemed like something I should enjoy: strong female lead, science (well, pseudoscience), hints of madness and magic and more, a revolution brewing in the background while other immediate dangers are occurring. I was also concerned about all of the above happening in a standalone novel, which is tricky. How could a book contain so many dangers and obstacles and totally wrap up by the last page? The book is only 352 pages, so the amount this book tackles seemed a lot.
But my concerns were unwarranted. I enjoyed this book immensely! It also felt right for this time of year; it isn't necessarily an autumn or Halloween story, but there is a spookiness shown that fits the season. I was also greatly reminded of two things: Evelyn from The Mummy movies and Audrey Rose from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. The main character, Thea, is a mix of Evelyn and Audrey Rose with a strong dash of calculating, emotionless reason. She is interested in science, much like Audrey Rose, and is methodical and brilliant in her study and execution of knowledge. She is also dabbling in a type of science that is a bit more occult than serious science, and the undeniable mystical forces at play remind me very much of the curses and reincarnation and magic Evelyn studies as an Egyptologist. I LOVE The Mummy movies, always admired Evelyn (and Rachel Weisz, the actress, to be honest), and I've been enjoying myself working through the Stalking Jack the Ripper series more recently. A Golden Fury ended up blending vibes and elements from stories I've loved and enjoyed.
Another aspect I'm in awe of is the amount of research Samantha Cohoe clearly did in order to write A Golden Fury. The amount of time period details (i.e. clothing items, names for specific patterns on décor/wallpaper/fabrics, the strained relations between different countries, the French Revolution, etc.) really brought this world in this story to life. I even learned several new words after having to look them up, like "chinoiserie"; I actually don't mind having to look up words I don't know since I'm a writer and always look for new words to absorb and use. Of course, you don't necessarily have to focus on these details to feel the heart-pounding urgency and paranoia throughout, but world-building is a part of a story I get sucked into. For a story to work, I need to believe this world is real. Fictional as it may be, the world in A Golden Fury felt so real because of the extensive blending of fact with her fictitious characters and situations.
I also want to draw attention to Thea herself. Her evolution takes her through stages of naivety, stubbornness, emotionless calculation, emotional realizations, enlightenment of other's characters and motives, what's most important in life and the world, and the dismantling of a wall she held around her heart. Her character arc was a wild ride, and I understood every stage of it too. We know why she was the way she was and why she struggled as she did to overcome her emotional obstacles. We were also there for every moment where she realized how wrong she was about certain parts of life, watching as she regained her footing, admitted uncertainty, and trudged forward despite that uncertainty. It was really admirable and I felt a connection to her journey regarding opening up to others and not turning to emotionless calculation when life is out of my control or my life is changing drastically. It is a coping mechanism I also use, even now, so I especially relate to Thea's emotional evolution.
One aspect that I did find lacking, and this is actually the only issue I have with A Golden Fury and it is so minor, is the explanation of the Stone and what was the unknown force behind it. There is some explanation, which I won't go into for the sake of remaining spoiler-free, but I felt like there was more that could have done. Is it magical? Is it godly or religious? What IS it? And the more I think on it while writing this review, there might be a point to those questions remaining unanswered. Perhaps the Stone was more of a path for Thea to discover the core of her character and the story is much less about the Stone and alchemy--a means to an end instead. I will definitely be thinking on this more and rereading A Golden Fury soon to see if I can come up with a more direct answer for myself.
Overall, I highly recommend A Golden Fury if you are feeling something with a historied tale with some unexplainable eeriness. It's a quick read that is sure to entertain. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Note on potentially triggering content: there are a few moments featuring self-harm, the harming of others, and the devolution of people from reason to madness and the violence that comes with it. If you are sensitive to descriptions of people harming themselves or others, please tread carefully. As much as I recommend this book, your mental health is important.
SAMANTHA COHOE
Bio
Samantha Cohoe writes historicall-inspired young adult fantasy. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, California, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of beach trips, omnivorous reading, and writing stories brimming with adverbs. She currently lives in Denver with her family and divides her time among teaching Latin, mothering, writing, reading, and deleting adverbs. A Golden Fury is her debut novel.
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Samantha Cohoe writes historicall-inspired young adult fantasy. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, California, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of beach trips, omnivorous reading, and writing stories brimming with adverbs. She currently lives in Denver with her family and divides her time among teaching Latin, mothering, writing, reading, and deleting adverbs. A Golden Fury is her debut novel.
Social Media
Praise for A Golden Fury:
"Cohoe situates the supernatural among the historical, referencing the French Revolution and the Enlightenment while...keeping a sense of urgency as Thea struggles with the magical, demonic pull of the Stone."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The attention to detail in the story is excellent...Thea herself is a confident lead with a strong voice. A solid fantasy to flesh out the world of alchemy that most readers know only from 'Harry Potter.'"
-School Library Journal
"An engaging concoction of fantasy, romance, and historical ficiton."
-Booklist
"Cohoe transmutes the legend of the Philosopher's Stone into a dark, intoxicating tale of ambition, obsession, and sacrifice. Prepare for a magic that will consume you."
-Rosamund Hodge, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Beauty and Bright Smoke, Cold Fire
"Steeped in mystery and magic, Samantha Cohoe's A Golden Fury immerses readers in beautifully rendered world where magic and science mix, and where the intoxication of power can be deadly. Whip-smart Thea is a heroine readers will root for."
-Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The attention to detail in the story is excellent...Thea herself is a confident lead with a strong voice. A solid fantasy to flesh out the world of alchemy that most readers know only from 'Harry Potter.'"
-School Library Journal
"An engaging concoction of fantasy, romance, and historical ficiton."
-Booklist
"Cohoe transmutes the legend of the Philosopher's Stone into a dark, intoxicating tale of ambition, obsession, and sacrifice. Prepare for a magic that will consume you."
-Rosamund Hodge, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Beauty and Bright Smoke, Cold Fire
"Steeped in mystery and magic, Samantha Cohoe's A Golden Fury immerses readers in beautifully rendered world where magic and science mix, and where the intoxication of power can be deadly. Whip-smart Thea is a heroine readers will root for."
-Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician