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Synthers & Beasts
Born into a powerful magical family that focuses on medicinal synthing, an ability to diagnose ailments by seeing colors, Halla struggles balancing her family's legacy and expectations with her own career running her apothecary in a quickly modernizing world.
As she navigates through her own struggles, she gets entangled with a powerful family and framed for a poisoning, putting everything she's ever worked for at risk, which sets her on a journey with her ranyi, a reclusive and mythical six-taloned fish-snake, to rediscover her family history, reclaim synthing powers she's long suppressed, and figure out just who exactly is plotting against her.
As she navigates through her own struggles, she gets entangled with a powerful family and framed for a poisoning, putting everything she's ever worked for at risk, which sets her on a journey with her ranyi, a reclusive and mythical six-taloned fish-snake, to rediscover her family history, reclaim synthing powers she's long suppressed, and figure out just who exactly is plotting against her.
- GenresFantasy
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2026
About the author
Judy Liu
5 books27 followersInspired by her love of Marvel, sci-fi, old Taiwanese dramas, and ridiculous anime, Judy scribbles mini-stories wherever she can (and subsequently forgets them!). She graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas, studying history, Asian studies, and education. Judy is not unfamiliar with extensive writing, having published multiple pieces. She spent some time living in rural Japan before working in the legal and compliance sphere. With her debut novel The Vending Portal, Liu hopes to meaningfully add to Asian American literature to further enrich the YA genre.
Outside of work and writing, Judy enjoys dancing with her teammates and friends, exploring unknown spots or cities, caring for her plants, and making nonsense sounds to her sister.
Outside of work and writing, Judy enjoys dancing with her teammates and friends, exploring unknown spots or cities, caring for her plants, and making nonsense sounds to her sister.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 16, 2026
An Asian Fantasy-Mystery with Intrigue!
I purchased this book as part of a Kickstarter based on the premise that it was like Apothecary Diaries. There are definitely some Apothecary vibes in her, with natural medicines, herbs, political machinations, and a grand mystery to solve. However, the romance is light/almost nonexistent and the main character, Halla, is more of an egotistical woman than the slightly on the spectrum Maomao. That being said, I really enjoyed it. At the beginning, Herb (the inspector) really carried the story as Halla was very prideful and bratty. As the story developed, Halla grew on me, and Rex especially was lovely. Herb reminded me of famous inspectors in typical mysteries, which made it kind of fun in a world with mythological creatures and political families. The Asian bent isn't just in the medicine, tea, food, or families. It is in the characters themselves, as Halla rebels against her family's expectations. As for the mystery, I feel like it is a big spoiler, but I will say that it wasn't until nearly the end that I figured it out. So that was good! It is a very intriguing and satisfying Asian Fantasy-Mystery.
Content Warnings:
Cussing: none/use of Spittlebrok
Sex/Romance: mention of how Halla found a man muscular/attractive, mention of how a couple flirted.
Violence: someone is poisoned, a child deals with a lifelong illness (so possible trigger for parents who have dealt with that). A creature impaled a bad guy. Running. Hitting someone with a stun gun.
Alcohol/Drugs: Only traditional medicine (like ginger helps with headaches, but with fake medicine)
I purchased this book as part of a Kickstarter based on the premise that it was like Apothecary Diaries. There are definitely some Apothecary vibes in her, with natural medicines, herbs, political machinations, and a grand mystery to solve. However, the romance is light/almost nonexistent and the main character, Halla, is more of an egotistical woman than the slightly on the spectrum Maomao. That being said, I really enjoyed it. At the beginning, Herb (the inspector) really carried the story as Halla was very prideful and bratty. As the story developed, Halla grew on me, and Rex especially was lovely. Herb reminded me of famous inspectors in typical mysteries, which made it kind of fun in a world with mythological creatures and political families. The Asian bent isn't just in the medicine, tea, food, or families. It is in the characters themselves, as Halla rebels against her family's expectations. As for the mystery, I feel like it is a big spoiler, but I will say that it wasn't until nearly the end that I figured it out. So that was good! It is a very intriguing and satisfying Asian Fantasy-Mystery.
Content Warnings:
Cussing: none/use of Spittlebrok
Sex/Romance: mention of how Halla found a man muscular/attractive, mention of how a couple flirted.
Violence: someone is poisoned, a child deals with a lifelong illness (so possible trigger for parents who have dealt with that). A creature impaled a bad guy. Running. Hitting someone with a stun gun.
Alcohol/Drugs: Only traditional medicine (like ginger helps with headaches, but with fake medicine)
March 11, 2026
Synthers and Beasts, a Chinese-inspired fantasy like no other, combines beautiful mythical creatures, medicinal traditions, and futuristic concepts to create a story of mystery, political intrigue, and a longing to live life fully and freely. Judy Liu is no stranger to fashioning vibrant and unique worlds, and Synthers and Beasts does nothing but solidify her place in the speculative and mythically inspired fantasy world.
April 22, 2026
Through her lush language, complex characters, and intriguing worldbuilding, Judy Liu creates a book unlike any other. This is not to be missed.
June 19, 2026
An incredibly heartwarming cozy mystery tale filled with East Asian folklore, found family, and the magic hidden within.
Judy Liu crafts a serene, enthralling story following a doctor, Halla, who must go back to her magical roots to solve a child’s mysterious illness and clear her name after a sinister plot unfurls to besmirch her family name and reputation.
From the characters, mystical (and quite adorable) beasts, and the unveiling of the final plot twist this was a novel that kept my hooked and enchanted.
Highly recommend!
Judy Liu crafts a serene, enthralling story following a doctor, Halla, who must go back to her magical roots to solve a child’s mysterious illness and clear her name after a sinister plot unfurls to besmirch her family name and reputation.
From the characters, mystical (and quite adorable) beasts, and the unveiling of the final plot twist this was a novel that kept my hooked and enchanted.
Highly recommend!
May 18, 2026
This review was originally posted on FanFiAddict: https://fanfiaddict.com/synthers-beas...
This is a heartwarming, feel-good fantasy that does one of my favorite things the genre is capable of: it wraps real, relatable human problems inside a world full of magic and wonder.
Halla is a synther, someone who can diagnose ailments by seeing colors, running her own apothecary while trying to balance her family’s powerful legacy with her own ambitions in a rapidly modernizing world. What makes it sing is the emotional honesty underneath. Halla’s need for the approval of her family’s matriarch is something so many talented young people carry, and Liu presents it with all the pride, fear, and frustration that makes it feel painfully real. I found myself genuinely moved by those moments in ways I didn’t expect.
Halla herself is complex, multifaceted, and easy to root for. Rexford serves as a strong foil that gives Halla room to reflect and grow. But my favorite characters might be Mrs. Nuan and Grandma Wen, whose banter with Halla had me grinning constantly. The family dynamics in this book are a real highlight, full of warmth and humor that feel lived in rather than performed.
The worldbuilding is deeply inspired by Chinese folklore and traditional Chinese medicine, which gives the entire setting a freshness and specificity that stands out in the current fantasy landscape. The synthing magic system and the magical beasts (including Halla’s ranyi, a six-taloned fish-snake) are fascinating, and I found myself wanting even more of both because what’s there is so good. There are a handful of moments where the world is explained a little directly, but they’re few and far between.
The prose is clear and simple in a way that keeps things moving, and there are standout moments that show real range. Halla’s nightmare scene in particular was exceptional, dripping with dread and dream-logic that I could feel. The plot wanders a bit in the middle and things come together quickly at the end, but this is ultimately a character story, and on that front it delivers beautifully.
Synthers & Beasts is the kind of book that leaves you feeling good. It’s warm, it’s charming, it’s culturally rich, and at its core it’s about a young woman figuring out who she is apart from who her family expects her to be. That’s a story worth telling, and Judy Liu tells it with heart.
This is a heartwarming, feel-good fantasy that does one of my favorite things the genre is capable of: it wraps real, relatable human problems inside a world full of magic and wonder.
Halla is a synther, someone who can diagnose ailments by seeing colors, running her own apothecary while trying to balance her family’s powerful legacy with her own ambitions in a rapidly modernizing world. What makes it sing is the emotional honesty underneath. Halla’s need for the approval of her family’s matriarch is something so many talented young people carry, and Liu presents it with all the pride, fear, and frustration that makes it feel painfully real. I found myself genuinely moved by those moments in ways I didn’t expect.
Halla herself is complex, multifaceted, and easy to root for. Rexford serves as a strong foil that gives Halla room to reflect and grow. But my favorite characters might be Mrs. Nuan and Grandma Wen, whose banter with Halla had me grinning constantly. The family dynamics in this book are a real highlight, full of warmth and humor that feel lived in rather than performed.
The worldbuilding is deeply inspired by Chinese folklore and traditional Chinese medicine, which gives the entire setting a freshness and specificity that stands out in the current fantasy landscape. The synthing magic system and the magical beasts (including Halla’s ranyi, a six-taloned fish-snake) are fascinating, and I found myself wanting even more of both because what’s there is so good. There are a handful of moments where the world is explained a little directly, but they’re few and far between.
The prose is clear and simple in a way that keeps things moving, and there are standout moments that show real range. Halla’s nightmare scene in particular was exceptional, dripping with dread and dream-logic that I could feel. The plot wanders a bit in the middle and things come together quickly at the end, but this is ultimately a character story, and on that front it delivers beautifully.
Synthers & Beasts is the kind of book that leaves you feeling good. It’s warm, it’s charming, it’s culturally rich, and at its core it’s about a young woman figuring out who she is apart from who her family expects her to be. That’s a story worth telling, and Judy Liu tells it with heart.
June 23, 2026
I picked up Synthers and Beasts right after finishing Mi Abuela, La Loca by José Ignacio Valenzuela, so I was already emotional about grandmothers and the profound ways they shape their grandchildren's lives. Because of that, the opening chapter immediately resonated. I loved seeing Halla learn Synesthology from Grandma Wen. There was something comforting and familiar about those moments of learning, storytelling, and passing down knowledge from one generation to the next.
I appreciated Halla's struggle between following her own path and meeting the expectations placed on her by family and society. She can be stubborn, sometimes frustratingly so, but that makes her feel authentic. Growing up often means questioning what you've always been told and figuring out who you want to be. It was heartwarming to see such a supportive family dynamic, even as Halla struggled with the pressures surrounding the investigation and accusations.
The cozy mystery unfolds with good pace that keeps the plot moving and maintains reader interest throughout. The characters were another highlight for me. I enjoyed the inspector's determination to uncover the truth, sweet Rex, and I couldn't help but wish we got more page time with the potential love interest. What a tease! And of course, the delightful, mythical beasts added so much charm and wonder to the story. Every time one appeared, I found myself smiling and wishing for more.
Overall, Synthers and Beasts was a delightful blend of fantasy, mystery, and family. I hope the author has more stories and adventures to tell in this world because I would happily return to it.
I appreciated Halla's struggle between following her own path and meeting the expectations placed on her by family and society. She can be stubborn, sometimes frustratingly so, but that makes her feel authentic. Growing up often means questioning what you've always been told and figuring out who you want to be. It was heartwarming to see such a supportive family dynamic, even as Halla struggled with the pressures surrounding the investigation and accusations.
The cozy mystery unfolds with good pace that keeps the plot moving and maintains reader interest throughout. The characters were another highlight for me. I enjoyed the inspector's determination to uncover the truth, sweet Rex, and I couldn't help but wish we got more page time with the potential love interest. What a tease! And of course, the delightful, mythical beasts added so much charm and wonder to the story. Every time one appeared, I found myself smiling and wishing for more.
Overall, Synthers and Beasts was a delightful blend of fantasy, mystery, and family. I hope the author has more stories and adventures to tell in this world because I would happily return to it.
July 16, 2026
I picked up Synthers and Beasts to read yesterday and finished it because I did not want to put it down!
I love how much personality the author has baked into every character and the bonds they have with each other. High praises for originality! It is so hard to find that these days. I do honestly hope there is a book 2 coming! S&B is such an exciting, new world. Highly encourage readers to pick this book up if you’re in a reading rut.
I love how much personality the author has baked into every character and the bonds they have with each other. High praises for originality! It is so hard to find that these days. I do honestly hope there is a book 2 coming! S&B is such an exciting, new world. Highly encourage readers to pick this book up if you’re in a reading rut.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews