“I’ve never read anything quite like Alchemy of Secrets – it’s full of adventure and magic and quirky twists will keep you guessing until the very last line.”
– Jodi Picoult
Alchemy of Secrets By Stephanie Garber will be published in hardback by GOLLANCZ on the 7th October 2025.
In a world that can be a bit much there is nothing I love more than escaping into a book, and, damn, does Stephenie Garber let you escape. Alchemy of Secrets is much anticipated and I was honoured to receive a copy. This book feels like the perfect autumn read. Partly set in a university class about urban legends and myths, you feel like you are immersed in a magical world. It is full of adventure as you are taken on a tension-filled treasure hunt through Los Angeles.
Set in old Hollywood, it is full of the glamour you would expect. I found it an enchanting read with a whole lot of twists. With first-class world building, characters that you will love and be frustrated by, and an original story that sweeps you away, Alchemy of Secrets is a stunner.
I love the way Stephanie Garber writes. Her books are highly addictive and fast paced. I was completely gripped through this book. It ends in a bit of a cliffhanger and is full of glorious lore. I can’t wait for book two.
It starts with a class in an old movie theatre.
Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor.
Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction. There isn’t a man in Hollywood who you can call to find out the time you’ll die. There’s not a haunted hotel bar in Los Angeles that the devil likes to frequent. There’s no such thing as magic.
But . . . most students don’t have the same tragic past as Holland St. James.
Now a graduate student, Holland is hoping to use her thesis to rewrite her past by proving that some of the most infamous deaths in old Hollywood were actually murders committed by the devil. She has no idea that this quest will lead her into a deadly world of century-old secrets and unimaginable lies and onto the path of two very dangerous men, both of whom are willing to do whatever it takes to find a magic that will either forever alter Holland’s life or completely destroy it.
Alchemy of Secrets is the first adult novel from global fantasy phenomenon Stephanie Garber, the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series.
About the author: Stephanie Garber is the No. 1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of the Caraval series and the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Her books have been published in thirty languages.
Ever wonder how to reduce your beauty bag? Is your skincare overflowing with multiple choice products, so much so that you find you neglect them or simply don’t know how to add this in to your routine? Consumerism has driven the availability of some brilliant products that are holy grail in our skincare routines, but also, the amount of steps to treat our skin can be overwhelming. So how much do we really need daily? Whilst everyone’s skin and skin needs are different (be it oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone, aging, etc), there are some staple skincare products that should be used by all. We spoke to skincare experts to find out what those are…
CLEANSER
Chartered Chemist, founder of SOS Serum Skincare, Bruce Green, says, “Cleansing is one of the single most important things you can do for your skin. Everyone’s skin gets dirty from dust, sweat, make-up, sebum and atmospheric impurities, at all times of the day. A nighttime cleanse clears the day’s gunk, giving your skin a chance to repair while you sleep. our skin doesn’t get that dirty while you sleep – unless you roll around in pizza at 3 a.m., a splash of water in the morning can be enough. It is estimated that over 50% of users of cleansers, suffer from skin discomfort, tingling or itching. In my opinion, many cleansers on the market contain too much ethanol and an excess of surfactants that can upset and unbalance the skins natural protective barrier, its ‘Acid Mantle’ – which can lead to redness, irritation, clogged pores and the skin feeling tight and the skins barrier being compromised. Do not over cleanse or use an aggressive cleanser as this can stimulate the skin to produce more sebum and the need to cleanse more. Your skin might even thank you for not scrubbing it like a kitchen countertop. Over-cleansing wrecks your skin barrierand can cause dryness, irritation and even more oil production. I recommend SOS Cleanse as your go to cleanser for healthy looking skin: alcohol-free & petrochemical free.”
MOISTURISER
Dr Bonny Armstrong, Teoxane expert and award-winning Aesthetic Doctor, says, “A healthy skin barrier protects against almost all skin issues including dryness, sensitivity, breakouts and early signs of skin aging. Even oily/acne-prone skin needs hydration to prevent overcompensation. If your skin “feels fine,” daily moisturising prevents problems before they start. Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin and protecting it with daily moisturiser keeps water in and irritants out. Throughout the day, your skin loses water (transepidermal water loss), and can lead to tightness, premature fine lines and sebum overproduction to compensate. Pollution, weather, indoor heating/AC and UV rays all wear on your skin daily, so finding a solid moisturiser that is protecting and nourishing to your skin makes a big difference to your skin’s appearance over time from daily use. Sometimes, we feel we want to avoid moisturiser, especially if it feels too heavy. Teoxane Advanced Filler Normal‑to‑Combination Skin is a light formula suited to normal or combination skin, delivering hydration, smoothing and anti-wrinkle benefits using RHA and a restructuring complex.”
SPF
Clinic Lead at Face the Future, Kimberley Medd, says, “If there’s one none-negotiable in your daily skincare routine – no matter your gender, skin type and age, it’s sun protection. Whilst skin cancer is rightly still the number one reason to wear SPF, there are a multitude of protective benefits to wearing sunscreen that go beyond sunburn. UVA protection in the UK is the key understanding to protect the skin from premature fine lines and wrinkles, which we are more at risk of throughout all seasons, whereas summer is more closely tied to UVB protection (protecting against sunburn). Other SPF benefits include minimising and protecting the skin from hyperpigmentation, sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, accelerated collagen depletion, drier skin from no barrier protection and maintaining an even skin tone. As skin gets thinner and less resilient with age, it becomes more vulnerable to UV damage. When we’re younger, we might not think too much about sun protection, but as we age, the consequences of not using SPF regularly—like wrinkles, age spots, and an increased risk of skin cancer—become more evident. This is telling in that the latest 365 Days of SPF report by Face the Future, 77% of the UK believe it’s important for people aged over 40 to wear sun protection.”
LIP BALM
Emma Coleman, Senior Magnitone Ambassador, Clinic Director and Dermatology Nurse, says, “Lips don’t have oil glands, so they dry out faster than the rest of your skin. They’re constantly under pressure from talking, eating, licking and weather. Applying lip balm can help prevent dryness, cracking, chapping from environmental factors, lip lines and irritation. Just like our skin barrier needs protecting, our lips are often neglected or seen as a “nice to have”. Even those with smooth and generally non-problematic lips can adhere to daily wear, as travel, lifestyle, outdoor exposure, or breathing through your mouth at night, can impact the health of your lips. Some balms cause the very dryness you’re trying to fix, so it’s important to watch out for irritants such as menthol, camphor, phenol, eucalyptus, or fragrances. Avoid lip balms with exfolitating ingredients like Salicylic Acid, which is too harsh for daily lip use. Some balms only offer an addictive feeling and not much healing – they give quick relief but don’t seal in moisture, leading to more reapplying. Instead, look for a lip balm with humectant qualities such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, ceramides and vitamin E. UV rays cause lip ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer, especially on the lower lip, so opting for an SPF enriched lip balm can also create an added benefit.”
Regular readers know I’m a massive fan of Tracklements, a Wiltshire-based family company who create quality food, using simple, honest ingredients. Their products are made by hand in small batches, using ingredients sourced from farms and small businesses across England. They boast a huge range of innovative products – using both traditional recipes, and also modern inventions, meaning that one can never be bored – there’s always something new and exciting to sample.
And now, as the weather cools and the nights are drawing in, I’m super excited about the Tracklements Christmas Gift packs. There are several to choose from, but I just love their Farmers Market Gift Pack, comprising three jars of fabulous hand-made preserves in an attractive gift box:
Green Tomato Chutney, 200g Particularly British Piccalilli, 170g Tomato & Chilli Chutney, 190g
Naturally I had to test them immediately and let’s just say that I wasn’t disappointed. I’ll do my best to share my experience.
Green Tomato Chutney – traditionally made to use up the tomatoes which didn’t ripen before the end of summer. The green tomatoes are mixed with apples, dates, sugar, cider vinegar and an amazing selection of spices. Absolutely delicious with cheese or on cold-cut meats.
Particularly British Piccalilli – a true British tradition, pickled vegetables mixed with sugars, vinegars and spices, predominantly mustard. This is the best piccalilli I’ve ever tasted and a great accompaniment for a ploughman’s lunch.
And finally Tomato & Chilli Chutney – tomatoes and tomato purée blended with onions, apples and dates together with cider vinegar, cane sugar, and spices, including of course red chillies. Warm, rich flavours, with a decent chilli bite – this could enhance a stew, or simply enjoy it with a cold spread – it really is a bit special.
Tracklements Farmers Market Gift Pack, RRP £13.80 is vegan and gluten free and it’s available at Tracklements, together with so many more jars of sheer loveliness. Don’t wait for Christmas – life’s too short.
By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice
Dr Fiona Hill is a leading foreign affairs advisor to a series of US Presidents, the UK government, and US National Security Council, who believes she has cracked the secret to success. As the daughter of a coal miner and midwife, Dr Fiona Hill is no stranger to success herself – the former White House aide and Senior Fellow at Washington DC’s Brookings Institution is considered one of the world’s top experts on Russia and Putin. But success, she says, lies closer to home: the North East to be exact.
Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Hill launches her new short podcast series, Forged in the North, at this year’s Durham Book Festival in October. Hill – who is also Chancellor of Durham University and a defence advisor to the UK’s Labour government – chatted to some of the region’s most successful minds in politics, the Arts, sport, and business, to work out the secrets of their phenomenal success. Her guests include the music icon Sting, Yale historian Paul Kennedy, author Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), screenwriter Peter Straughan (Wolf Hall/Conclave), North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, Dragon Den’s entrepreneur Sara Davies, Brendan Foster, who founded the Great North Run, and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Fiona Hill said: “The idea behind it was inspired by my memoir, There is Nothing for you Here, about growing up in County Durham and how the social fabric of North East life in the 80’s supported my ambitions in education, travel and social mobility.” Fiona added: “What Forged in the North is trying to do is put the spotlight on a region that is normally only in the headlines for something going wrong: child poverty, the lowest life expectancy, worst nutrition. But the North East is home of the Industrial Revolution – literally the engines of prosperity. 200 years ago, it was the forefront of innovation, and we’re saying, there’s still a lot of potential for innovation. This podcast is learning from all these amazing, successful people who were forged in the North.”
One of the common denominators of her guests was their sense of roots and home as a driver to success and part of the motivation of Forged in the North, she says, was to challenge the North-South imbalance. Hill found the North excels in ‘soft-power’ – now touted as a driver of success.“There’s YouGov research that shows the North East has the strongest sense of regional identity in the UK after Scotland. When they dug down, the reason why was people. There’s a sense of solidarity that’s been forged in adversity. Everyone’s thrown all kinds of rubbish at the North historically; but it has a resilience.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “This podcast celebrates the North East’s incredible legacy as home to some of the UK’s most successful people in sports, business, and the creative industries. It shows how talented individuals have transformative power, but also asks how we create what Fiona called the infrastructure of opportunity to let more succeed. It’s my vision the North East becomes a cultural powerhouse, and this important podcast shines a light on how with the right support, talent can truly thrive...’
But let’s leave the final thoughts to Dr Fiona Hill: “Being from the North East grounds you, it’s an anchor, a solid base with a strong sense of what’s right and wrong and a clear perspective and values. Social capital means those who succeed invest back. Sting has said recently in his interviews backing Gateshead’s Baltic that the North has been neglected and there needs to be a bit more national attention. It’s just giving people a chance. He is miles away, travelling around the world constantly, but feels a very strong affinity to the North East.” She adds. “The fact the region changed dramatically, from being the forefront of pretty much everything, has shaped my enquiry into the world: what does that imply for the rest of the world? What pitfalls lie ahead? How do you overcome that? How do you dig deep? That’s what I’m trying to think about. How you make societies more resilient? I keep coming back to these lessons from North East England.”
All episodes of the Forged in the North podcast series will be available to listen on 10 October on all the leading podcast platforms.
Fiona Hill will discuss her podcast Forged in the North at the Durham Book Festival on Sunday 12 October with Northumberland internationally bestselling author, LJ Ross, and Romani storyteller, Richard O’Neill.To book, visit www.durhambookfestival.com
Let’s get one thing out in the open from the off – this is not a farce. It’s not even a comedy. So, my expectations were dashed straight away. Silly me – two great comic writers and a title that the Whitehall farces in their heyday would have been green with envy to have…
No, this is a dramatic peek into what could have happened if a young Adolf had become acquainted with Freud. Could Freud have changed history? Or was Hitler’s mania an inevitability beyond anyone’s control?
A bleak, brown set captures the mood. Sadly, for me, it matches the script and the characters too much as well. To avoid comedy, Marks and Gran have dipped their toes into meaty territory, into the very mind of Hitler to try to see why he became what he did. And their device is through Freud’s methods. But, really, this is a play about Freud, not Hitler. To paraphrase, once Hitler becomes Führer, Freud exclaims that he doesn’t know whether to admire Adolf for achieving his dreams or to be appalled by the fact that he has achieved them.
Jonathan Tafler as Freud with Sam Mac as Hitler
And it is ‘dreams’ that is at the core of this play. A wonky doorway and window frame on one side of the stage, a straight one on the other, representing, one assumes, the closeness between sanity and insanity. The play plods along at a dull pace until the penultimate scene – the climax and the whole point of the production: where an elderly Freud faces a triumphant Hitler. A scene reminiscent of Salieri and Mozart, or when Frankenstein finally faces up to his monster… whose head are we inside, at this moment? Has it been a Freudian dream all along? Apart from this magnetic moment, the play had too many scenes, scene changes, lighting changes and characters. Although Jonathan Tafler played Freud convincingly, he was similar throughout. With no obvious journey, he was stuck in a character without much emotional depth. Sam Mac plays a few versions of Hitler, from child all the way through to German Leader. He has more growth, but his ‘temper tantrums’ are what any of us expect to see. Are we watching clichés or well-rounded characterisations?
Sam Mac as a young Adolf Hitler
Sadly, the rest of the cast have to find what space they can in the shadows of these two large characters. But they all come across as having different styles, as though they were in different plays.
The whole piece is disjointed and stutters towards its climax. I can’t help feeling that what began as a Radio Play from 2007 has accidentally been stretched too far and fallen almost into a televisual style. It says, in the programme, ‘Be prepared for an adventurous evening of theatre.’ I was, but it wasn’t.
Photography Chromolume Writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Director Isaac Bernier-Doyle Producer Annlouise Butt for Chromolume Productions Set & Costume Hannah Danson Lighting Design Simon Jackson
Cast Jonathan Tafler, Nesba Crenshaw, Ruby Ablett, Sam Mac, Brendan Lyle and Neil Chinneck
Venue Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Road, Highgate Village, London
The Knuckles mini stand was a huge hit with my gaming son, and also his little brother who wanted to use it as a toy. It looks great and is functional. I loved Sonic when I was a child. He is evergreen. A great addition to any gamers kit.
Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has become one of the most recognisable video game characters of all time. As the flagship icon of SEGA, Sonichas starred in dozens of games, television series, comics and blockbuster films, amassing a global fanbase across generations. With over 1.5 billion game downloads and sales worldwide, the Sonic franchise remains a cornerstone of gaming culture and continues to evolve with new content and licensed products for fans young and old
Long-time fans and new collectors alike can now bring the world of Sonic the Hedgehog into their everyday spaces with a striking range of officially licensed SEGA collectibles. These highly detailed figures aren’t just for show , they’re designed to hold phones, gaming controllers, Earbuds and small accessories, blending iconic character design with everyday function. The latest collection from EXG Profeatures both full-size Cable Guys and smaller Mini Holdem stands for gamers of all kinds.
Knuckles brings his iconic strength to this compact stand, which features sculpted hands designed to hold phones or wireless earbuds with ease. It’s a subtle yet striking way to integrate character design into a tech space.
Ilkley Literature Festival is building on its long legacy as a platform for poets this year, with a distinctly northern programme of poetry events. A major theme for the October festival is In Verse: The Rising of the North. The north’s longest standing literary festival was opened in 1973 by the poet W.H. Auden and has been a dedicated champion of poetry ever since with appearances from luminaries including Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, and Carol Ann Duffy. It commissioned the 50-mile Stanza Stones Poetry Trail with Simon Armitage, which was completed in 2012. The Poet Laureate returns this October as a headline guest as he reads from his new upcoming collection, New Cemetery inspired by the conversion of a local natural beauty spot into a municipal graveyard near his home in West Yorkshire.
The festival also showcases a series of new poetry commissions, centred on Tony Harrison’s controversial poem, ‘V.’ which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The poem was written during the Miners’ Strike and explores class, alienation, anger, and Northern identity. A televised performance made headlines and divided the nation due to Harrison’s use of profanities. ‘V.’ Reimagined is chaired by the Yorkshire poet Andrew McMillan and brings together three acclaimed Northern poets – Malika Booker, Jo Clement, and Paul Farley. The commission is a partnership with New Writing North and will be replicated at Durham and Manchester Literature Festivals.
Festival Director, Erica Morris, said: “We’ve been showcasing the cutting edge of poetry since our inaugural festival in 1973. This year our poetry strand has a distinctly northern accent. As well as welcoming the Poet Laureate, audiences can hear from the rising stars of the poetry scene and discover the talent coming out of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre.”
The festival’s New Northern Poets showcase features six emerging poets selected from a competitive application process to take part in a mentoring programme run by the University of Leeds Centre for Poetry and Word Up North, now in its third year. The six will debut new work resulting from their one-to-one mentoring with experienced poets. They’ll also take part in commissions, including podcasting, leading workshops, and reading groups, to help develop their poetic practice and expand their network.
The six are: Nóra Blascsók, a Hungarian poet based in Manchester; York-based Rachel Curzon; Nigeen Dara, a British-Kurdish doctor and finalist in the 2023 BBC Words First programme; Jamie Field, a Blackpool-based poet and winner of the inaugural Disabled Poets Prize; Vanessa Napolitano, a British/American poet who lives in Saltaire, and Laura Strickland, a carer and poet. This year’s mentors include Zaffar Kunial, shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize and Costa Poetry Award; Charlotte Eichler, shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre First Collection Prize and Maia Elsner, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award.
I have very sensitive skin and feel like I miss out on a lot of skincare that could make my skin look better. Especially as I get older. It looks like I don’t have to miss out anymore. Finally there is a Vitamin C serum which is gentle enough for me to use.
Dr Althea is What Your Sensitive Skin Has Been Waiting For
Vitamin C serums are everywhere, but if you’re finding it hard to bag one that actually works without wrecking your skin barrier? We’ve got you! Enter: Dr Althea’s Gentle Vitamin C Serum– the low-irritation, high-impact glow booster that’s winning over beauty fanatics, TikTokers, and sensitive skin warriors alike. This brightening MVP was made for skin that needs a little extra TLC. It’s feather-light, totally fragrance-free, and packed with a minimalist dream team of skin-loving ingredients:5% Niacinamide to fade spots + strengthen3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid for potent (but gentle!) radiance Hippophae Rhamnoides Water for a mega antioxidant boost Oh, and did we mention the genius oil capsule delivery system that keeps the vitamin C super fresh? At just £20, it’s the affordable skincare hero for anyone who’s ever said “Vitamin C breaks me out.”No irritation. No greasiness. Just glowy, even-toned skin.
