In this transformative debut, Coelho crafts a story of grief, healing, and growth, the first in her Lionheart Chronicles, intended to “transport you to worlds unseen and dance with the beauty of other cultures, other belief systems, other ways of life and love.” The story centers on 21-year-old Scarlett Leonelli as she navigates the tragedy of witnessing her father’s death. When Scarlett meets a mystery woman named Gelena aboard a flight from Oregon, she is gifted a free plane ticket—to visit Gelena in Costa Rica, at a "special place you need to be." Young and adventurous, Scarlett takes the risk, traveling to a tranquil village surrounded by the Costa Rican jungle.

Scattered throughout this moving tale are Scarlett’s poems and stunningly beautiful illustrations, exposing her innermost feelings of pain and heartbreak. “I inhaled this Beast called Death,” she writes, “feeling the readiness in my bones//to ask my questions, to demand my answers.” Upon her arrival in Costa Rica, she meets locals with a penchant for magic, who believe their very soil is enchanted, and through conversations with staff and other tourists, Scarlett is forced out of her protective shell, embarking on once-in-a-lifetime excursions, meditative sessions, and dance classes, all of which reawaken her creative spirit.

Drowning in the consuming weight of grief, Scarlett is staggered by this transcendent journey, through which she allows herself to be pulled out of darkness and into the light of healing and learning how to live again. Coelho maneuvers through heavy themes with poignant anecdotes, poetry, and wise lessons from the eclectic group of characters Scarlett encounters in the village, as when her friend Shawna reflects that the stars are “a map that was made just for you. By god, by the universe, by destiny, or whoever you want to believe in.” The writing is expressive and symbolic, a mystical voyage of letting go.

Like many novels that outline an imagined world that functions far differently from our own, this one is mightily impressive in its scope. To borrow a quote from the foreword, the reader is a “traveler” invited to “be a pilgrim on the paths of this book.” Such language persists throughout the novel, which, together with the inspirational quotes that punctuate it, has the tone of a motivational speech, in which Scarlett is merely an example used to make a point. Despite the intricacies of its plot, this book serves as a one-size-fits-all guide to navigating grief.

The Alchemy of The Beast is a work of fiction in the literary and metaphysical writing subgenres and is the opening novel of the Lionheart Chronicles. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Alyssa Noelle Coelho, the plot follows Scarlett V. Leonelli, a young woman grappling with profound loss and seeking solace in an unfamiliar world. Devastated by tragedy, Scarlett embarks on a journey to a hidden village in Costa Rica, guided by enigmatic clues and mystical experiences. As she delves deeper into the jungle, Scarlett confronts her grief and unravels the mysteries surrounding her existence. Along the way, she meets romantic encounters, mysterious guides, and transformative adventures that challenge her perception of reality.

Author Alyssa Noelle Coelho draws upon her background in sociocultural anthropology and personal travels to deliver an incredibly well-informed and poignant work of literary fiction. As the novel explores themes of loss, identity, and the human quest for meaning, the narrative shifts between deeply resonant and realistic moments of connectedness and into the myriad of alternative perceptions of our lives and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of it all. This is conveyed well in the narrative itself, but also in the fantastic descriptive imagery that paints vivid and atmospheric backdrops to fully complement the mood and emotions that Scarlett experiences. Overall, The Alchemy of The Beast is a captivating tale that weaves together elements of adventure, romance, and self-discovery, inviting readers to ponder life's deepest questions and celebrate the beauty of diverse cultures. I would not hesitate to recommend it to fans of highly accomplished literary fiction everywhere.

The Alchemy of the Beast is a breathtaking journey through the ache of loss, the clouds of confusion, the sparkles of hope, and the rush of liberation. This story is both magical and relatable as the dark and muddy parts of healing collide with the glimmer and dance of hidden truths and boundless possibility. The lessons available from (quite literally!) leaps of faith, trusting the obscure, and following the harmony of the heart offer a roadmap for finding one’s way through the darkness and into the vast world of new beginnings.

Be swept away to the beauty of Costa Rica with The Alchemy of The Beast. Journey with Scarlett as she moves from the lead of grief to the gold of transformation with self-awareness, forgiveness and new connections. Truly a novel way to return to your wellbeing within.

This book will enchant, bewitch, and caress you into the magic and transformative power of your own soul’s journey. Alyssa Noelle Coelho knows the power of words and courageous testimony, guiding readers through her pain and joys in order to inspire us with the knowledge that we have worlds to discover, that await the light of our own hearts.

Magical realism meets humanity in all of its tragedy and resilience in this beautiful story. As someone who has traversed many a dark night in the belly of several proverbial beasts, I found Scar’s journey to be profoundly truthful and utterly inspiring. The wisdom of shapeshifting guides, glimmering crystals, ever-present cups of coffee, delicious dances, and captivating scenes of a determined reclamation of a Lion Heart regularly dance across my mind as I make daily choices to alchemize Life’s inevitable tragedies and reclaim my own.

The Alchemy of the Beast is a fantastic journey of healing and growth, where fiction and reality cannot be easily discerned. The stories Alyssa Noelle Coelho eloquently tells against a breathtaking background jungle experience siphon the reader through the pain of grief, triumph of a broken heart, enlightenment, self-empowerment and healing.

If you have experienced the pain of loss and crave deep healing, and magical adventure you will be thrilled by Coelho’s descriptions of Scar’s bewitching odyssey. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment of The Lionheart Chronicles, please don’t make us wait too long, I need to see where Scar takes us next!

In this magical story, raw emotion collides with realism as fictional character, Scar, embarks on a soul-searching journey for answers to the questions tearing her soul apart. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering Scar on as she throws caution to the wind, allowing herself to embrace the fears, doubts, and dreams that create pivotal moments of awareness and adventure along the way.  

The Lionheart Chronicles depicts a journey through the human experience. The tragedy and triumph, brokenness and healing, pain and joy, curse and blessing that are all a part of the human condition. Alyssa Noelle Coelho takes you traveling within yourself, through the agonizing and beautiful path of healing and acceptance. Both heavy and lighthearted, The Alchemy of the Beast is an exciting adventure, a literary victory.

The Alchemy of the Beast intrigued, fascinated, and captured my heart… all while pushing my church-girl buttons. But oh, what a magical journey back to oneself! The beauty found in the pages and the poetry… muy delicioso! Alyssa Noelle Coelho’s writing and insights are as rich and smooth as the coffee Scar so thoroughly enjoyed during her stay in Costa Rica. Grab your favorite cup (or two or ten) and buckle up for a literary ride that will have you saying, 'More, please!'