Unique alchemist's tale with beautifully descriptive prose

The author's prose is beautifully descriptive, easily creating pictures within readers' minds. The setting is nuanced and easy to fall into as we learn about Zilan's alchemal skills. This book feels unique from other stories of alchemists due to the social climate that's revealed and the "gold guzzlers" angle. The main character is ambitious and smart. These first chapters have captivated me, and I look forward to more.