Stephanie Garber, the bestselling author of the Caraval series, is making her debut in the adult fiction genre with a new supernatural thriller, Alchemy of Secrets. The novel, set for release this fall by Flatiron Books, follows college student Holland St. James on a thrilling and mysterious journey after receiving a death prediction from a figure known as the Watch Man.
Garber, renowned for her young adult fantasy works, offers readers a fresh narrative with Alchemy of Secrets. The story centers on Holland, who is captivated by a folklore class on local myths. Her belief in magic deepens when she tracks down the Watch Man, a figure who eerily predicts people’s deaths. When the Watch Man foresees Holland’s demise at midnight, she embarks on a high-stakes quest around Los Angeles to find the Alchemical Heart, an artifact said to prevent her death. Along the way, she meets a stranger who offers to help—but Holland soon learns that not everyone can be trusted.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Garber explained that Alchemy of Secrets was heavily influenced by her own interests in secret societies, old Hollywood, paranormal mysteries, and treasure hunts. She also drew inspiration from dark academia and star-crossed love stories. “When I first started writing these legends, I got a little carried away, and they became a huge inspiration for this story,” Garber shared.
Garber, a fan of fast-paced thrillers, cites The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness as key influences for her adult debut. “I wanted to create a story that blends supernatural and romantic elements in a way that is engaging and fast-paced,” she said.
While her previous works, such as Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart, were set in fantastical worlds, Alchemy of Secrets takes place in the real world, marking a significant shift for the author. “One of my goals was to tell a story where readers would have a difficult time telling the difference between the mythology I created for this book and the myths we encounter in our own world,” Garber explained.
The novel also represents a new chapter in Garber’s writing career. “Since this is my first adult novel, I really wanted to make sure it was separate from the Caraval series and completely accessible to new readers,” she noted.
Alchemy of Secrets will be released on October 7, 2025, and is now available for preorder wherever books are sold.
