Alchemy of Secrets, page 29
She wondered about him more than she wanted to. After the events of yesterday, she was wondering again if January had actually sent him. The only way to know for sure was to talk to her sister. January still hadn’t texted Holland on the burner phone Gabe had given her, which made Holland think he’d been lying.
Another wave crashed, and in that moment, Holland felt a sharp pinprick of awareness, right between her shoulder blades.
Someone was watching her.
She turned around, but it was only a couple of beachgoers. They dropped their towels and ran toward the ever-cold Pacific. And she told herself she was glad no one was watching. That no one had found her there. It was good to have this moment alone.
Another wave crashed. Children squealed as they ran from it. And Holland felt it again, a pinprick of awareness followed by a shift in the air.
She turned, hoping maybe her sister had found her. But it was Mason Bishop, walking toward her. He’d changed out of his white dinner jacket into expensive jeans and a pale blue shirt, which looked even better on him than the jacket.
He sat down beside her, and again she was overwhelmed by the humanness of him. By the power he seemed to carry. As he sat there, she played that game where you wait for the other person to break the silence. At first because she felt oddly nervous and unsure, but then because it was surprisingly nice to sit there in the quiet and watch the waves crash with someone else.
“I missed this,” he said finally, looking at the ocean. “You think you can remember the sound and the smell and the way it feels when the sun burns through the fog. But memories are never quite as good as the real thing.”
“No, they’re not,” Holland agreed. She thought about her parents then, and for a second, she regretted that she hadn’t brought them back.
“You’re wishing you used the Alchemical Heart,” said Mason.
Holland’s head snapped his way.
He responded with another look that seemed to say, I know you, remember?
“I actually did use it again,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “You gave yourself an ability?”
“I did.” Holland hoped that as she said this the magic power would finally appear, but she didn’t feel any different. And there was still no tattoo on her wrist.
“Good for you,” Mason said. “But don’t tell anyone else.”
“Why?”
“People treat you differently when they know. If they think you’re ordinary, they leave their guard down a little more. People will figure it out eventually, but even when they do, don’t tell them what it is.”
“Do people know what your ability is?”
“No, and I prefer it that way.”
“Will you tell me?” Holland asked.
He gave her a look that said not a chance.
“I’ll figure it out,” she told him.
“Good luck with that.” Mason looked back at the ocean, watching the waves crash and retreat, until Holland’s curiosity finally got the better of her.
“Is there a reason you came here?” she asked. “Of all the beaches, in all the world, why did you choose to sit on mine?”
“You could say this is my version of a thank you.” Mason shoved up from the sand. “You brought me back to life yesterday, and now I owe you a debt.”
He reached toward his back pocket, just as Holland’s phone rang. Her heart gave a sudden jolt. She pulled it out and looked at the name: January.
Her sister was finally calling.
She looked up to tell Mason to just hold on. But apparently guys like Mason don’t wait. He was already walking back up the beach. Again, he didn’t say goodbye. But he had left something in the sand. A matte black business card with a gold art deco border.
Closing Credits
I thank God I was able to write this book. This might have been the most challenging book I’ve ever written, and it feels like a small miracle that it’s actually done.
I spent years working on this story and there have been so many amazing and wonderful people who have helped and encouraged me along the way. Thank you, Caroline Bleeke, for being all around brilliant and so patient with me. Thank you to my amazing agent, Jenny Bent. As I type this it’s our ten-year anniversary and I continue to be so grateful for you and everyone at the Bent Agency!
Thank you so much to my incredible and loving family who have put up with me talking about this book for years. Mom, Dad, Allison, Matt, and Matt—I love you all so much!
I couldn’t be more grateful for all the amazing, beautiful people in my life! Thank you.
Isabel Ibañez, Anissa de Gomery, Mary Pearson, Margie Fuston, Brandy Ruscica, Stacey Lee, Sarah Barley, Nancy Trypuc, Rachel Griffin, Adalyn Grace, Adrienne Young, Jenny Lundquist, Shannon Dittemore, Katie Nelson, Amanda Altamirano, Kerri Maniscalco, Kristen Williams, Richelle Latona, and Kyle.
I also want to give the biggest thank-you ever to the so real Victoria VanVleet—this book literally wouldn’t be the same without you. Another special thanks to Bill, Robert, and Michael for the amazing tours!
Thank you so much to my fantastic US publisher, Flatiron Books, and to all the amazing people there who worked on this book. Thank you, Maris Tasaka, Laywan Kwan, Marlena Bittner, Jane Haxby, Donna Noetzel, Frances Sayers, Morgan Mitchell, Emily Walters, Vincent Stanley, Steve Wagner, Mary Retta, Malati Chavali, Louis Grilli, and Megan Lynch. I am so grateful for my brilliant UK publishing team at Gollancz! Thank you so much, Katie Espiner, Bethan Morgan, Cait Davies, and Anna Valentine.
ALSO BY STEPHANIE GARBER
The Once Upon a Broken Heart Series
Once Upon a Broken Heart
The Ballad of Never After
A Curse for True Love
The Caraval Series
Caraval
Legendary
Finale
Spectacular
About the Author
Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Alchemy of Secrets is her debut novel for adults and will be published around the world. You can sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Flatiron Books ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Folklore 517
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Folklore 517: The Best Sidecar in Town
Chapter Three
Folklore 517: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Chapter Four
Folklore 517: The Bank
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Folklore 517: The Chained Library
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Folklore 517: Until Further Notice
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Epilogue
Closing Credits
Also by Stephanie Garber
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ALCHEMY OF SECRETS. Copyright © 2025 by Stephanie Garber. All rights reserved. For information, address Flatiron Books, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.flatironbooks.com
Cover design by Laywan Kwan
Cover art: woman © Mosuno / Stocksy; sparkles © Android Boss / Shutterstock; sparkles © Android Boss / Shutterstock; lamp © Noctiluxx / Getty Images; hair © Irina Bg / Shutterstock; key © B.Dpunkt / Shutterstock
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-78915-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-42067-1 (signed)
ISBN 978-1-250-41907-1 (international; sold outside the U.S., subject to rights availability) ISBN 978-1-250-78916-7 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250789167
The publisher of this book does not authorize the use or reproduction of any part of this book in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. The publisher of this book expressly reserves this book from the Text and Data Mining exception in accordance with Article 4(3) of the European Union Digital Single Market Directive 2019/790.
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, business, educational, and specialty retail/wholesale use. Please contact MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First U.S. Edition: 2025
First International Edition: 2025
Stephanie Garber, Alchemy of Secrets
