ALCHEMY OF SECRETS by Stephanie Garber

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber is an enchanting and atmospheric contemporary fantasy that marks the author's highly anticipated adult debut. The story centers on a mysterious university class called Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by an enigmatic figure known simply as the Professor. While most students dismiss the class's harrowing tales as fiction, protagonist Holland St. James has always believed that magic is real.

When Holland tracks down a local legend known as the Watch Man—who can supposedly predict the exact time of a person's death—her world shifts dramatically, only for the Watch Man to inform her that she will die at midnight the following day unless she uncovers an ancient artifact called the Alchemical Heart. This revelation plunges Holland into a dangerous and hidden magical underworld lurking beneath the streets of Los Angeles. Along the way, she crosses paths with a magnetic stranger who claims her sister sent him to protect her, initiating a high-stakes scavenger hunt where everyone seems to be keeping secrets. Blending signature elements of wonder, intricate puzzles, and romantic tension, Garber crafts an immersive tale that blurs the line between myth and reality.