A matriarchal empire. A princess with forbidden magic. A mother who would kill to protect her own legacy.
As heir to the Min empire, Tori has spent her life under the iron will of her mother, Empress Zinchen—a sovereign determined to shape the world in her own image. But Tori has been hiding a dangerous secret: a forbidden elemental power tied to the world’s mythic past. If Zinchen discovers the truth, it will cost Tori her life.
Haunted by this threat, Tori flees into the hidden lands—an ancient realm of ghost-flowers, sentient forests, and immortals from a half-remembered age. But magic here is neither blessing nor curse—it is a reflection, a test, a force that shapes as much as it destroys. And as her trials progress, Tori is stripped of certainty and pride. To survive her mother’s ambition, she must use what she learns to suppress the power that could doom her—but in doing so, she risks losing the very future she was born to inherit.
Whispers of the Elixir begins the Order of the Ember series—a character-driven epic of legacy, sacrifice, and the strength of a princess destined to rise from the shadows and claim her place in legend.
In Whispers of the Elixir, you will find the political intrigue of Andrea Stewart, the mythic depth of Katherine Arden, and the emotional resonance of M.L. Wang.
What did I think?
Whispers of the Elixir is an outstanding debut novel from C. P. Silver. It's a fantastic start to a very exciting new fantasy series and I can't wait to read more. There's a map and a list of characters at the start of the book, which I always love to see in chunky novels like this.
I'm quite new to fantasy novels so it took me a little while to really get into the book whilst the world building was setting the vivid scene. This is a world where women rule, which adds a nice feminist slant to the story. Empress Zinchen is an intriguing character but it's her daughter Tori who is the main character. I loved Tori right from the start; she has a very strong mind and is filled with compassion for others.
Tori has a power that she has kept hidden but she is taught how to use it when she steps through the Veil of Ayenashi. I really enjoyed this part of the story that is filled with magic and rivalry, kind of like an open air Hogwarts. There's rivalry among the students and some hard to please teachers that keeps Tori on her toes.
Vivid, immersive and compelling, Whispers of the Elixir is pure escapism and so beautifully written that I had to double check it's a debut novel. C. P. Silver has very cleverly left the reader wanting to read more whilst still giving the book a satisfying ending. The Order of the Ember is going to be an epic series based on the events in Whispers of the Elixir and I can't wait to see where Tori's story takes her next.
I received a gifted copy for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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About the author
C.P. Silver didn’t set out to write epic fantasy. She spent years doing things far more sensible—practicing law, mastering French, even studying Chinese medicine. Yet between the courtrooms and the clinic notes, writing remained her quiet constant. Then came a tale that glimmered brighter than the rest: a daughter forced to lie to survive, and a mother who prized legacy over love.
Her debut novel, Whispers of the Elixir, unfolds in a world where matriarchy is absolute—from the first breath of creation to the empress on the throne, down to the smallest rhythms of family life—recasting questions of power, inheritance, and identity through an unapologetically female lens. In this empire, wielding the wrong kind of magic could cost you your life. Praised for its evocative prose and lush worldbuilding, the book explores power, identity, and quiet defiance.
Beyond the page, C.P. Silver finds inspiration in peaceful places—walking forest trails, reading the classics, or reflecting on worlds within and beyond language.
Follow C.P. Silver:
Instagram: @cpsilver_author
Facebook: cpsilverauthor
Website: https://www.cpsilver.com/
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