Marie Lu’s Red City presents an alternate version of Los Angeles, dubbed “Angel City,” ruled by rival syndicates who control the local economy and count political leaders among their clients. Membership in these syndicates is one of few reliable ways to achieve social mobility in this deeply unequal society. The capacity to practice alchemy is rare and innate, and mentor figures like Will and Rudra pride themselves on their ability to recognize undeveloped talent, plucking children from impoverished circumstances and offering them the chance to earn unimaginable wealth in exchange for absolute loyalty. This system is an allegory for the illusion of meritocracy in the real world, in which the elevation of a talented few serves to justify a system of pervasive inequality

Early in Sam’s training, Will explains why Grand Central places so much value in her:

“In theory,” he says, “anyone can become an alchemist, just like anyone can become a nuclear physicist. But some are obviously more suited for it than others. So it goes with alchemy. All you technically need is a soul, but most don’t have one strong enough for it, could attempt a transmutation their whole life and never successfully call upon that soul” (67).