Alchemy of Secrets

The novel presents three key figures who use storytelling to shape reality: Benjamin Tierney, the Professor, and Adam Bishop. Compare and contrast their methods and motivations. Can storytelling manifest as benevolent guidance, or is it always an exercise in control? Use examples from the novel to support your response.

Beyond providing an atmospheric backdrop, how does the novel’s use of film noir tropes shape its exploration of moral ambiguity and systemic corruption?

At what key moments does Holland begin to reject the narratives imposed upon her by her family, her mentor, and her romantic interests?

The Alchemical Heart transforms from a mystical artifact into the Professor’s journal. What is the symbolic significance of this development, and what does it reveal about the nature of power in the world of the novel?

How does the final revelation of the time loop retroactively reframe Holland’s physiological symptoms?

How does Alchemy of Secrets explore the destructive potential of family legacy?

How does Alchemy of Secrets use the subgenre of dark academia to examine themes of secret knowledge, institutional power, and dangerous curiosity?

Compare and contrast Alchemy of Secrets with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. How do these novels’ settings, themes, and atmosphere work to reinforce or subvert the nostalgia associated with the golden age of Hollywood? Which novel feels more nostalgic, and which feels more critical?