I liked All that we see or seem better and it was my first Ken Liu book(I think his other books are fantasy) and my first techno thriller. Took me a few chapters to get into the story but I loved the character interactions and the villain pov, for some reason I loved reading about his little delusions. There was a plot twist about 2/3 in the book I didn’t expect and it ruined any theories I had as to how the book ended and then there was the final bit of the book and ending which I enjoyed. Took me a few days to figure out how to feel about the book. But I enjoyed it.
Alchemy of secrets is a rather short book, only about 330 pages. Very quick pace which fits the story but I’m not too sure what this is. Is it a cozy thriller? Or just a thriller with magic and fantasy? I did enjoy the kinda nostalgia it gave while reading, but I’m very confused about why I felt that way, maybe it was her writing? As for the plot and love, it’s got your typical love intrests, dark broody and blonde golden retreivor. Thankfully neither had shadow powers but I honestly didn’t care for them and was rooting for the random who showed up in like the last five chapters, also no spice. And really wasn’t even romantic in anyway fmc just thinks their hot and kisses both. The plot itself is pretty neat, Boyfriend #1 is murdered, and she runs from #3 with #2, before going with #3 and fleeing #2 and all the bad guys. And she has a time limit of like 1 day before she dies and has to find a magical item nobody has found for like over a decade or she dies. Honestly, I enjoyed it but was questioning every decision this woman made.
