Alchemy of Secrets

Stephanie Garber

55 pages 1-hour read

Stephanie Garber

Alchemy of Secrets

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Holland is a folklore graduate student living in Los Angeles who curates a film noir series at a local coffee shop. Using the surname St. James to maintain anonymity, she attempts to rewrite the public narrative surrounding the highly publicized deaths of her famous parents. She views her academic research into urban legends as a practical method to uncover the truth about her family's past.

Key Relationships

Twin Sister of January

Daughter of Benjamin Tierney

Daughter of Isla Saint

Student of The Professor

Student of Adam Bishop

Protected by Gabe Cabral

Friend of Cat

Friend of Eileen Cheng

Friend of Chance Garcia

Adam is a young, attractive faculty member in the Folklore Program who takes over academic duties at the university. He openly criticizes his predecessor's methods and orders Holland to abandon her research into Hollywood occult rumors. He maintains an authoritative yet highly charming presence when interacting with students.

Key Relationships

Brother of Mason Bishop

Thesis Advisor of Holland St. James

Replacement of The Professor

Gabe is a gruff individual who operates by a rigid personal code and drives a dark SUV. Bearing a distinctive antiquity eye tattoo on his wrist, he approaches Holland with claims that he was sent by her twin sister. He possesses a pragmatic worldview and understands the practical rules of the city's hidden magical community.

Key Relationships

Protector of Holland St. James

Associate of January

The Professor is an elderly academic who teaches a highly secretive, unlisted university class called Folklore 517. She frames her lectures around urban myths, hotel haunts, and Los Angeles history. She acts as a benevolent mentor to her students and guides them through the theoretical study of magic.

Key Relationships

Predecessor of Adam Bishop

Mason is a man who closely resembles an older, harder version of Adam Bishop. He frequents the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and maintains an air of mystery in a distinctive white dinner jacket. He watches the activities of the hotel guests from elevated vantage points.

Key Relationships

Brother of Adam Bishop

Observer of Holland St. James

Supporting Characters

Benjamin was a visionary Hollywood director known for his unfinished movie trilogy. He died fifteen years ago in a highly publicized incident alongside his wife. A dedicated father, he left behind a legacy of elaborate puzzles and a mysterious safety deposit box for his daughter to eventually find.

Key Relationships

Husband of Isla Saint

Father of January

Former Fiance of Vic VanVleet

Isla was a celebrated, glamorous actress from Hollywood's Golden Age. She passed away alongside her husband fifteen years prior in a sensationalized tragedy. Her grave at the local cemetery continues to generate public speculation and serves as the focal point for persistent urban legends.

Key Relationships

Wife of Benjamin Tierney

Mother of January

January is Holland's twin sister who is currently traveling in Spain. She shares a matching necklace and an identical antiquity eye tattoo design with her sister. She maintains a cautious distance from the events unfolding in Los Angeles but regularly communicates with her twin over the phone.

Key Relationships

Twin Sister of Holland St. James

Daughter of Benjamin Tierney

Daughter of Isla Saint

Associate of Gabe Cabral

Axel is a working actor operating on an undisclosed assignment to investigate a famous Hollywood family. He maintains a detailed dossier on his target inside his apartment. He tracks schedules and daily movements for an unknown employer.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Holland St. James

Cat is a folklore classmate who participates in the search for occult activity at local Los Angeles haunts. She works on the lot at Jericho Monroe Entertainment studios. She regularly attends monthly gatherings at historic hotels with her friends.

Key Relationships

Friend of Eileen Cheng

Eileen is a folklore classmate who works as a personal assistant under a strict non-disclosure agreement. She regularly meets her friends at historic locations around the city. She maintains a supportive presence in her friend group's academic and social pursuits.

Key Relationships

Friend of Cat

Chance is a former child actor who starred in the television show *The Magic Attic*. He remains active in the Los Angeles entertainment industry and attends local Hollywood parties. He shares a long-standing friendship with Holland and worries about her safety.

Key Relationships

Manuel is a representative for the First Bank of Centennial City. He arrives unexpectedly at Holland's home to deliver official documents. He provides notice regarding a safety deposit box leased fifteen years prior by a deceased family member.

Key Relationships

Messenger to Holland St. James

The Watch Man is a prophetic figure from local urban legends who operates out of a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. According to city rumors, he possesses the ability to reveal the exact time of a person's death. He receives visitors in a room crowded with exotic plants.

Key Relationships

Employer of Ernest

Ernest is an aide who works inside a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He assists during appointments with visitors who seek knowledge about their lifespans. He manages the practical requirements of receiving guests.

Key Relationships

Assistant of The Watch Man

Padme is a representative at the First Bank of Centennial City. She coordinates appointments over the phone and greets clients in the bank's lobby. She wears themed costumes during holiday shifts at the front desk.

Key Relationships

Bank Representative for Holland St. James

Vic is a movie director occupying a bungalow on the Jericho Monroe Entertainment lot. She holds complicated feelings regarding the Tierney-Saint family due to her past history with them. She protects her workspace and resents intrusions into her professional life.

Key Relationships

Former Fiance of Benjamin Tierney

Antagonistic toward Holland St. James

Tom is the head of the props department at Jericho Monroe Entertainment studios. He manages a vast collection of historical studio items and sets. He remembers past visits from prominent filmmakers who utilized the prop warehouse for unusual requests.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Benjamin Tierney