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A Forbidden Alchemy
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Expected 1 Jul 25Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 19:34:08
25 copies available
U.S. only
This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.
Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.
And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.
In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.
Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.
And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.
In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 1, 2025
59 people are currently reading
25.6k people want to read
About the author
Stacey McEwan
6books2,937followersStacey McEwan lives in Queensland, Australia with her husband and two children. She is a teacher by day, writer by night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
April 9, 2025
4.5 stars. holy f**k, my jaw hasn’t dropped like this since I devoured Metal Slinger. WHAT. who knew a hunger games X peaky blinders collab would slap so hard 😭😭
releasing this July!!!!
releasing this July!!!!
March 15, 2025
This. Book. Is. Stunning.
The twists and turns. The morally grey cast of characters. The unique magic system. The conspiracies. Hands down one of my favorite MMCs, and a really well developed and complex FMC. The found family aspect of this both enveloped me and broke me. If you want to be devastated, but in a really satisfying way, this is it for you. I think it may be among one of my top reads/series ever, which is a high bar! The biggest problem about reading an ARC? I have to wait even longer for book 2.
Thank you to Saga Press Books and Stacey McEwan for the ARC (and the emotional breakdown).
The twists and turns. The morally grey cast of characters. The unique magic system. The conspiracies. Hands down one of my favorite MMCs, and a really well developed and complex FMC. The found family aspect of this both enveloped me and broke me. If you want to be devastated, but in a really satisfying way, this is it for you. I think it may be among one of my top reads/series ever, which is a high bar! The biggest problem about reading an ARC? I have to wait even longer for book 2.
Thank you to Saga Press Books and Stacey McEwan for the ARC (and the emotional breakdown).
April 13, 2025
This was so goddamn good. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed the absolute shit out of this & my heart is racing right now. If you are looking for Peaky Blinders vibes in your romantasy, sign tf up for this ride. THANK YOU to the author for providing me with an ARC, but also how dare you (because that ending� you know what you did & I’m reeling). Plot, pros, & cons below 👇🏼
PLOT
12 year olds Nina & Patrick, both from poor mining towns, meet waiting to find out if they have magic. They head into the wealthy city to the annual magic-identifying ceremony that will either send them to the elite magical academy or back home without magic & without options. While waiting for their deciding ceremony, they discover that it’s all a sham & inadvertently kick off a revolt. This book has
- rebellion & class war
- smart FMC & morally gray MMC
- banter & tension
- solid twists & turns
- covers a large timeline (starting aged 12 & going to 25)
- Love triangle-ishhhhh & some jealousy moments
- cool magic system
- Peaky Blinders vibes with gangs
- lower spice
PROS
- The banter in this is TOP FUCKING NOTCH. Ohhhh my god. You know how sometimes banter can feel faked? Like it’s written SPECIFICALLY for a BookTok audio or Booksta highlighted post? & doesn’t actually sound like an conversation the 2 characters - let alone any humans - would have? Throw that out of the window for this because that worry doesn’t apply here. I’m obsessed. It is elite.
- I’m not kidding I was kicking my feet & had butterflies the entire like, back 2/3 of this book. This is some of the best banter & tension I’ve read in awhile.
- I LOVE Nina. She’s both sides of every spectrum & I love that. Strong but soft. Brave but vulnerable. She’s super smart, clever, & not afraid to show it.
- Patrick, my god. What a swoon monster. I love him so much it hurts my soul. I am obsessed with the exact kind of MMC he is & now you give him what I made in my mind an Irish accent? Gtfoh (complimentary).
- The side characters are all solid. Theo is interesting & surprised me quite a bit, my feelings for him are complex & I enjoy that. I LOVE Tess (I always love a prickly mom figure, so no surprise there). Donny is absolute aces. Gunner is suuuuuper interesting. The Miners Union inner circle I just fell for because they felt real. Giving each other shit as a love language but would die for one another.
- The worldbuilding was rich. I could just see it all quite well.
- I was on the edge of my seat basically like, 60% of the book. Whether from the general plot or the tension, I was just like 3 heartbeats away from cardiac arrest at any given moment.
- Jesus fuck I am reeling from that ending. I have so many feelings.
CONS
- I genuinely don’t think I have one. Maybe that selfishly I wanted like 1 Theo chapter but that’s not really a con, just me being demanding? Call me Demanda.
NOTES
- This is more of a note to the reader than anything but it took me a sec to realize she was telling the story from the future, of the past. I was like “damn these 12 year olds have insane vocabularies� & then I was like “oh no I’m an idiot look at all this past tense� 😆
⚠️ʰ鳧⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really quit reading
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The twist of Nina working with Tanner GOT ME. I didn’t expect that at all. Consider my bams boozled.
- WHO TF BETRAYED PATTY OF THE 7 WHO KNEW?! STACEY I WILL FIGHT THEM.
- I totally knew Pat would be an alchemist & I love being right, so the Smith distraction was interesting. Then the brothers being them instead was so fun & I LOVE it especially for Donny.
- Speaking of Donny the Ted Lasso darts scene was awesome.
- The ending is criminal. Fucking canary?! GAH!
- I didn’t expect Theo to come back! I expected him to sort of go villain mode & I’m sooo interested in what this means for book 2 & a love triangle dynamic.
I cannot wait for book 2 of this trilogy (it was going to be a duet but I confirmed with the author she said trilogy) omg.
PLOT
12 year olds Nina & Patrick, both from poor mining towns, meet waiting to find out if they have magic. They head into the wealthy city to the annual magic-identifying ceremony that will either send them to the elite magical academy or back home without magic & without options. While waiting for their deciding ceremony, they discover that it’s all a sham & inadvertently kick off a revolt. This book has
- rebellion & class war
- smart FMC & morally gray MMC
- banter & tension
- solid twists & turns
- covers a large timeline (starting aged 12 & going to 25)
- Love triangle-ishhhhh & some jealousy moments
- cool magic system
- Peaky Blinders vibes with gangs
- lower spice
PROS
- The banter in this is TOP FUCKING NOTCH. Ohhhh my god. You know how sometimes banter can feel faked? Like it’s written SPECIFICALLY for a BookTok audio or Booksta highlighted post? & doesn’t actually sound like an conversation the 2 characters - let alone any humans - would have? Throw that out of the window for this because that worry doesn’t apply here. I’m obsessed. It is elite.
- I’m not kidding I was kicking my feet & had butterflies the entire like, back 2/3 of this book. This is some of the best banter & tension I’ve read in awhile.
- I LOVE Nina. She’s both sides of every spectrum & I love that. Strong but soft. Brave but vulnerable. She’s super smart, clever, & not afraid to show it.
- Patrick, my god. What a swoon monster. I love him so much it hurts my soul. I am obsessed with the exact kind of MMC he is & now you give him what I made in my mind an Irish accent? Gtfoh (complimentary).
- The side characters are all solid. Theo is interesting & surprised me quite a bit, my feelings for him are complex & I enjoy that. I LOVE Tess (I always love a prickly mom figure, so no surprise there). Donny is absolute aces. Gunner is suuuuuper interesting. The Miners Union inner circle I just fell for because they felt real. Giving each other shit as a love language but would die for one another.
- The worldbuilding was rich. I could just see it all quite well.
- I was on the edge of my seat basically like, 60% of the book. Whether from the general plot or the tension, I was just like 3 heartbeats away from cardiac arrest at any given moment.
- Jesus fuck I am reeling from that ending. I have so many feelings.
CONS
- I genuinely don’t think I have one. Maybe that selfishly I wanted like 1 Theo chapter but that’s not really a con, just me being demanding? Call me Demanda.
NOTES
- This is more of a note to the reader than anything but it took me a sec to realize she was telling the story from the future, of the past. I was like “damn these 12 year olds have insane vocabularies� & then I was like “oh no I’m an idiot look at all this past tense� 😆
⚠️ʰ鳧⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really quit reading
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The twist of Nina working with Tanner GOT ME. I didn’t expect that at all. Consider my bams boozled.
- WHO TF BETRAYED PATTY OF THE 7 WHO KNEW?! STACEY I WILL FIGHT THEM.
- I totally knew Pat would be an alchemist & I love being right, so the Smith distraction was interesting. Then the brothers being them instead was so fun & I LOVE it especially for Donny.
- Speaking of Donny the Ted Lasso darts scene was awesome.
- The ending is criminal. Fucking canary?! GAH!
- I didn’t expect Theo to come back! I expected him to sort of go villain mode & I’m sooo interested in what this means for book 2 & a love triangle dynamic.
I cannot wait for book 2 of this trilogy (it was going to be a duet but I confirmed with the author she said trilogy) omg.
February 26, 2025
Ok. Um.
Well.
Currently googling how to give a book more than five stars on goodreads, because a measly five here is feeling too thin. It’s not enough. It is a true disservice to the story I just finished. So, if you’re here and you’re reading this review�. Know that it is not as honest as I wish it was. There should be five more lit up stars next to the first set.
In this Peaky Blinders meets Panem world that Stacey has crafted, our story begins with two characters from the outliers. The wrong side of the tracks, if you will.
Nina, a girl desperate to get away from her small town that offers nothing and Patrick, a boy desiring nothing more than to return to his.
But the two—who could not be more different—accidentally stumble upon a secret that could change the entire world, and certainly alters everything they thought they knew. Though, what exactly are children to do with such a large conspiracy plopped in their laps? And when Nina stays and Patrick returns back home, that should’ve been the end of their shared journey, shouldn’t it?
And so the story begins�..
Thirteen years later, the plot cracks off with a BOOM! (I’m such a dork lol) Nina and Patrick find themselves intertwined in each others lives again, for better or for worse. And the secret they’ve carried with them for so long (paired with new ones they are harboring from each other) are now unraveling, both above and below ground.
OKAAAYYYY HELLO IM SCREAMING!
When I tell you!!! WHEN I TELL YOU!
This book is a masterpiece, from the impeccable writing to the painfully yearning romance, to the twists, turns and betrayals (and would it even be a Mcewan book without heart shattering betrayal?) I genuinely hope and pray this becomes a tv show because the world and story were so brilliantly executed, it’d be a crying shame for it not to be.
Trust this review when I say: this book, and its ending, will leave you as breathless as Patrick left Nina when he had her begging for…� well, just read the book to find out what she begged for ;)
Well.
Currently googling how to give a book more than five stars on goodreads, because a measly five here is feeling too thin. It’s not enough. It is a true disservice to the story I just finished. So, if you’re here and you’re reading this review�. Know that it is not as honest as I wish it was. There should be five more lit up stars next to the first set.
In this Peaky Blinders meets Panem world that Stacey has crafted, our story begins with two characters from the outliers. The wrong side of the tracks, if you will.
Nina, a girl desperate to get away from her small town that offers nothing and Patrick, a boy desiring nothing more than to return to his.
But the two—who could not be more different—accidentally stumble upon a secret that could change the entire world, and certainly alters everything they thought they knew. Though, what exactly are children to do with such a large conspiracy plopped in their laps? And when Nina stays and Patrick returns back home, that should’ve been the end of their shared journey, shouldn’t it?
And so the story begins�..
Thirteen years later, the plot cracks off with a BOOM! (I’m such a dork lol) Nina and Patrick find themselves intertwined in each others lives again, for better or for worse. And the secret they’ve carried with them for so long (paired with new ones they are harboring from each other) are now unraveling, both above and below ground.
OKAAAYYYY HELLO IM SCREAMING!
When I tell you!!! WHEN I TELL YOU!
This book is a masterpiece, from the impeccable writing to the painfully yearning romance, to the twists, turns and betrayals (and would it even be a Mcewan book without heart shattering betrayal?) I genuinely hope and pray this becomes a tv show because the world and story were so brilliantly executed, it’d be a crying shame for it not to be.
Trust this review when I say: this book, and its ending, will leave you as breathless as Patrick left Nina when he had her begging for…� well, just read the book to find out what she begged for ;)
April 25, 2025
4.25⭐️ Well, that ending was a little rude.
I really liked this one! It’s late, and I need to process this and take my time to come up with a better review. Put this on your preorder list.
*EDIT*
Excuse me Stacey, the ending was a bit rude! This book became my obsession for 4 days. I was enthralled and couldn’t wait to sit down at the end of the day to read. I love when words on a page become a movie in my head. I forget that I’m reading because I’m so engrossed.
I loved the world that Stacey created. Peaky blinders mixed with alchemy is just what I needed. It was a nice touch starting the story with the FMC and the MMC being children. I liked getting snippets of Nina growing up and becoming an adult. I do wish we got more of her years after school, but I’ll take what I can get!
I loved the side characters just as much as the main characters! Especially Donny. He must be protected at all costs. Every character was fleshed out and had their own personality.
Warning—this is not a slowburn, but the relationship is done nicely! Patrick is so swoon-worthy.
I had some grievances, but they’re kinda spoilery, so I’ll save them for another time. I wanted to shake Nina a few times and tell her to “JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY�.
The twists and turns—chef’s kiss. I cannot wait for book 2–the ending was a bit abrupt and I need more.
Thank you Saga Press and Netgalley for the early review copy
I really liked this one! It’s late, and I need to process this and take my time to come up with a better review. Put this on your preorder list.
*EDIT*
Excuse me Stacey, the ending was a bit rude! This book became my obsession for 4 days. I was enthralled and couldn’t wait to sit down at the end of the day to read. I love when words on a page become a movie in my head. I forget that I’m reading because I’m so engrossed.
I loved the world that Stacey created. Peaky blinders mixed with alchemy is just what I needed. It was a nice touch starting the story with the FMC and the MMC being children. I liked getting snippets of Nina growing up and becoming an adult. I do wish we got more of her years after school, but I’ll take what I can get!
I loved the side characters just as much as the main characters! Especially Donny. He must be protected at all costs. Every character was fleshed out and had their own personality.
Warning—this is not a slowburn, but the relationship is done nicely! Patrick is so swoon-worthy.
I had some grievances, but they’re kinda spoilery, so I’ll save them for another time. I wanted to shake Nina a few times and tell her to “JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY�.
The twists and turns—chef’s kiss. I cannot wait for book 2–the ending was a bit abrupt and I need more.
Thank you Saga Press and Netgalley for the early review copy
March 19, 2025
Holy crapola!!!!! This book!!!!! How am I getting so lucky with these fantasy arcs. So thanks to NetGalley and saga press for this opportunity. This is for sure a 6 star read and when it comes out will be a hit. And the ending I don’t know how I will wait for this next book to come out because my goodness that was a wild ride! The world Stacey has built was so freaking cool and I loved all the characters and how the story unfolded with them. The class system in this book really does weirdly mimic our world in ways and shows how far people are willing to go to keep things the way they are. And Patrick oh my gosh this man!!!!!!! He was such a well rounded character and the whole time you are just rooting for him. Also I loved getting dual povs in this book. I always love getting to see both sides of a relationship. Can’t wait to explore more of this world in the future!
March 15, 2025
oooh this was an interesting start to a romantasy and it felt like a unique read. This had all the intrigue, magic, class wars, uprising, and alchemy plot. The book is a slow burn, and it builds as the two main characters, who are part of gritty low-class areas, are brought together to seek out their magic. I liked that there were these 2 different towns that the main characters come from and were able to see the disenfranchisement and how the class wars and mini rebellions started. I also liked seeing how the towns survived by doing what they had to do to provide for themselves.
The mmc is morally grey, he is kinda a rebellion leader from his town, and he enlists the help of the fmc with her magic aspect, not knowing the secrets she is keeping from him. I loved the tension in the slow burn romance, it's a bit steamy, but there was a lot of relationship development, which makes what happens in the end worse for the mcs. I'm here for the next book in the series! Thanks to Saga Press for this arc for an honest review.
The mmc is morally grey, he is kinda a rebellion leader from his town, and he enlists the help of the fmc with her magic aspect, not knowing the secrets she is keeping from him. I loved the tension in the slow burn romance, it's a bit steamy, but there was a lot of relationship development, which makes what happens in the end worse for the mcs. I'm here for the next book in the series! Thanks to Saga Press for this arc for an honest review.
March 25, 2025
A Forbidden Alchemy is all about magic, romance, betrayals, twists and turns! I had no idea that I would love it so much, because it was boring at the beginning. However, as I’m reading more of this book, it picks up and it does not disappoint! This is a book that does have morally gray characters and it does have some political turmoil in it as well. I feel like the author wrote this book perfectly, because it kept me wondering what was going to happen next! It is uniquely written, in a beautiful way. It is a slow burn romance, mixed with fantasy! That ending was left with a cliffhanger, so I am hoping a sequel to this book comes out soon.
This book is about two twelve year olds, a girl named Nina Harrow and a boy named Patrick Colson. They both pass a test to become artisans in Belavere City. Their views on becoming an artisan differ. Nina sees her magic as an escape to reality, whereas Patrick wants to return to his craftsman family. As the story unfolds, you will see what all happens between these two characters and all the magic that comes with it! Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Stacey McEwan, and S/S Saga Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is set to be published on July 1, 2025!
This book is about two twelve year olds, a girl named Nina Harrow and a boy named Patrick Colson. They both pass a test to become artisans in Belavere City. Their views on becoming an artisan differ. Nina sees her magic as an escape to reality, whereas Patrick wants to return to his craftsman family. As the story unfolds, you will see what all happens between these two characters and all the magic that comes with it! Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Stacey McEwan, and S/S Saga Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is set to be published on July 1, 2025!
February 19, 2025
5�
Thank you Stacey McEwan, Saga Press and Edelweiss Plus for the ARC!
A Forbidden Alchemy is Stacey McEwan's stunning new slow-burn romantasy duology traces a fated pair who stumble upon a world-changing secret in youth and are catapulted into a violent class war in adulthood, finding each other amidst love, loss, and devasting betrayals.
The rich world-building, the unique lore and history, the dystopian vibes and science fiction had me hooked to the story the entire time that I finished it within a day.
The world itself is very intriguing. The character are more intresting and we'll developed. Everyone has their a unique personality that defines them despite being side characters. Reading about the backstories made me sob so many times and with everything they've been through these characters deserve a better world. I loved the portrayal of the platonic and romantic relationships in the book and it was heartwarming to read about it.
The love triangles had me heart squealing and clenching. It's so devastatingly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved Patrick and Theodore. They played an important part in different times of Nina's life.
The plot twists hitting and changing the course of the love triangles had my jaw dropped. Each twist changed the course of action and i was struggling to stop my gasps.
Overall, this victorian-inspired high fantasy from Stacey McEwan is heart wrenching and beautiful. The words might seem to be there but the deeper meaning behind it makes it so much more than it is.
Thank you Stacey McEwan, Saga Press and Edelweiss Plus for the ARC!
A Forbidden Alchemy is Stacey McEwan's stunning new slow-burn romantasy duology traces a fated pair who stumble upon a world-changing secret in youth and are catapulted into a violent class war in adulthood, finding each other amidst love, loss, and devasting betrayals.
The rich world-building, the unique lore and history, the dystopian vibes and science fiction had me hooked to the story the entire time that I finished it within a day.
The world itself is very intriguing. The character are more intresting and we'll developed. Everyone has their a unique personality that defines them despite being side characters. Reading about the backstories made me sob so many times and with everything they've been through these characters deserve a better world. I loved the portrayal of the platonic and romantic relationships in the book and it was heartwarming to read about it.
The love triangles had me heart squealing and clenching. It's so devastatingly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved Patrick and Theodore. They played an important part in different times of Nina's life.
The plot twists hitting and changing the course of the love triangles had my jaw dropped. Each twist changed the course of action and i was struggling to stop my gasps.
Overall, this victorian-inspired high fantasy from Stacey McEwan is heart wrenching and beautiful. The words might seem to be there but the deeper meaning behind it makes it so much more than it is.
April 5, 2025
One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given
I cant believe I have no idea when the next book comes out
What am I supposed to do now
My heart just got ripped open
I feel SICK!!!!! WHAT DO I DO NOW
I cant believe I have no idea when the next book comes out
What am I supposed to do now
My heart just got ripped open
I feel SICK!!!!! WHAT DO I DO NOW
April 11, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review of A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan.
This was by far one of the best books I have read from the romantasy genre. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. I think about this book every day and wish I could read the second one now!
What a fantastic story. The plot, magic system, and romance were all so well written and intertwined. One did not overshadow the other. The TWISTS were so good and the storyline moves forward at a nice pace. There is also so much angst in this book and I just could not put it down. Some pieces of the end I saw coming, because we all know secrets never stay secrets, but also there was so much I did not see coming.
In regards to the characters, the FMC was strong and stood up for herself, yet not overbearing and always angry to the point she was arrogant, like how many other FMCs from this genre are written (this FMC was refreshing!!). The MMC, Patrick, was also very well written, demonstrating the complexity of war and trying to save one’s town. He is described as a gangster and the leader who is more “cold,� but he is only warm for his family, but specifically the FMC. I love the chapters from his view and the demonstration of his internal dialogue about trust. My heart loved these chapters! Patrick is one of my favorite MMCs. The side male character, Theo, was also well written, with a twist about him at the end I did not see coming.
I immediately purchased this book once I finished my ARC. I will anxiously wait for the second, which sucks because the first is not even out yet!
This was by far one of the best books I have read from the romantasy genre. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. I think about this book every day and wish I could read the second one now!
What a fantastic story. The plot, magic system, and romance were all so well written and intertwined. One did not overshadow the other. The TWISTS were so good and the storyline moves forward at a nice pace. There is also so much angst in this book and I just could not put it down. Some pieces of the end I saw coming, because we all know secrets never stay secrets, but also there was so much I did not see coming.
In regards to the characters, the FMC was strong and stood up for herself, yet not overbearing and always angry to the point she was arrogant, like how many other FMCs from this genre are written (this FMC was refreshing!!). The MMC, Patrick, was also very well written, demonstrating the complexity of war and trying to save one’s town. He is described as a gangster and the leader who is more “cold,� but he is only warm for his family, but specifically the FMC. I love the chapters from his view and the demonstration of his internal dialogue about trust. My heart loved these chapters! Patrick is one of my favorite MMCs. The side male character, Theo, was also well written, with a twist about him at the end I did not see coming.
I immediately purchased this book once I finished my ARC. I will anxiously wait for the second, which sucks because the first is not even out yet!
April 10, 2025
no notes I need time to process this was so good 😭
March 30, 2025
˾️⭐️
I’m telling you right now this is going to be in my top 3 books of the year. OH. MY. GOD. I am speechless.
Peaky Blinders meets fantasy IN THE BEST WAY.
I have not read a book in so long that has gripped me from start to finish. That left me gasping at the end. I am truly obsessed. STACEY I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW!!!
Thank you Saga Press for the ARC! I will be sending you and Stacey my therapy bills 🫶
I’m telling you right now this is going to be in my top 3 books of the year. OH. MY. GOD. I am speechless.
Peaky Blinders meets fantasy IN THE BEST WAY.
I have not read a book in so long that has gripped me from start to finish. That left me gasping at the end. I am truly obsessed. STACEY I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW!!!
Thank you Saga Press for the ARC! I will be sending you and Stacey my therapy bills 🫶
April 6, 2025
This romantasy was so fresh and different from any others I've read and I ATE IT UP!
The first part of the book is full of character and world building but it's done in such a beautiful way without feeling like an info dumping snore fest. I love getting to know our main characters through their childhood and adolescence, this helps us understand how they think and where they come from, in a way that the other characters don't quite understand. The found family and relationships here were so well developed and will pull on your heart strings. The magic system is unique and beautifully done and I can feel that there is so much more to be uncovered through the series.
Belevere Trench is a continent with magic wielders, known as Artisans and regular folk. known as Craftsmen. Your fate is determined at 12 years old when every child travels to Belevere city to drink a vial of Idium, and determine if they have been blessed with magic or not, but all is not as it seems. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are both from poor mining towns and they meet when they go into the city for the Siphoning Ceremony and stumble upon big secrets that ultimately change not only their future, but the future of the entire continent. They both choose a different path but fate has other plans and brings them back together years in the future amidst a revolutionary war that they might have sparked the beginnings of at the young age of 12.
The way Patrick and Nina's fates are woven together is perfectly done. Nina has so much trauma and fear propelling her forward throughout the book and I love seeing her grow and change through her experiences and relationships. Patrick on the outside appears to be a rough and tumble rebellion leader but underneath we get to see how deep and genuine he really is as he strives to make a huge change in their world and uncover the corruption that's rampant in Belevere City.
The plotting is done so well and I love that I didnt have a clear view of where the story was going.
The slow burn and tension was amazing, AND the emotional damage along the way was incredible and painful in the best way. That ending broke me, I cannot wait for the next book!!
The first part of the book is full of character and world building but it's done in such a beautiful way without feeling like an info dumping snore fest. I love getting to know our main characters through their childhood and adolescence, this helps us understand how they think and where they come from, in a way that the other characters don't quite understand. The found family and relationships here were so well developed and will pull on your heart strings. The magic system is unique and beautifully done and I can feel that there is so much more to be uncovered through the series.
Belevere Trench is a continent with magic wielders, known as Artisans and regular folk. known as Craftsmen. Your fate is determined at 12 years old when every child travels to Belevere city to drink a vial of Idium, and determine if they have been blessed with magic or not, but all is not as it seems. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are both from poor mining towns and they meet when they go into the city for the Siphoning Ceremony and stumble upon big secrets that ultimately change not only their future, but the future of the entire continent. They both choose a different path but fate has other plans and brings them back together years in the future amidst a revolutionary war that they might have sparked the beginnings of at the young age of 12.
The way Patrick and Nina's fates are woven together is perfectly done. Nina has so much trauma and fear propelling her forward throughout the book and I love seeing her grow and change through her experiences and relationships. Patrick on the outside appears to be a rough and tumble rebellion leader but underneath we get to see how deep and genuine he really is as he strives to make a huge change in their world and uncover the corruption that's rampant in Belevere City.
The plotting is done so well and I love that I didnt have a clear view of where the story was going.
The slow burn and tension was amazing, AND the emotional damage along the way was incredible and painful in the best way. That ending broke me, I cannot wait for the next book!!
March 11, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW�
The world Stacey created in A Forbidden Alchemy instantly drew me and left me wanting so much more in the second book. (I knew a cliffhanger would be coming but my, oh, my, that is an understatement!)
With a unique take on first-person and third-person perspectives this story has an incredible slow burn, plot twists that twisted hard, and an incredible cast of characters, it is an absolute must read for any fantasy lover!
major thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press books for the early opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
The world Stacey created in A Forbidden Alchemy instantly drew me and left me wanting so much more in the second book. (I knew a cliffhanger would be coming but my, oh, my, that is an understatement!)
With a unique take on first-person and third-person perspectives this story has an incredible slow burn, plot twists that twisted hard, and an incredible cast of characters, it is an absolute must read for any fantasy lover!
major thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press books for the early opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 25, 2025
WOWOW no notes, this book is incredible!
I was hooked from the beginning and truly could not put it down. Everything flowed beautifully and I loved the dual POVs.
The world building is really well done, and the stage is set from the beginning when the two main characters meet at the age of 12. There are a couple of time jumps but they are done perfectly and at no point did I feel like anything was missing.
It is the slowest of burns but worth every second. There are also some great twists and found family. I cannot wait for book 2!
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I was hooked from the beginning and truly could not put it down. Everything flowed beautifully and I loved the dual POVs.
The world building is really well done, and the stage is set from the beginning when the two main characters meet at the age of 12. There are a couple of time jumps but they are done perfectly and at no point did I feel like anything was missing.
It is the slowest of burns but worth every second. There are also some great twists and found family. I cannot wait for book 2!
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
March 4, 2025
Trying to write a review even though the book left me completely speechless.
I tried through at least the first 60-70% of this story to figure out what was going to happen, what kind of stories it reminded me of. But it took me by surprise so many times I had to give up. Of all the major plot twists I only guessed one correctly lol.
I cannot get over how much I loved this book, this world Stacey has created, and these complex characters who refuse to tell me if they’re good people or bad. It’s a story filled to the brim with morally gray in the best way. I absolutely couldn’t put this down and read through it in less than 2 days. I’m so excited for other people to read this book!
I tried through at least the first 60-70% of this story to figure out what was going to happen, what kind of stories it reminded me of. But it took me by surprise so many times I had to give up. Of all the major plot twists I only guessed one correctly lol.
I cannot get over how much I loved this book, this world Stacey has created, and these complex characters who refuse to tell me if they’re good people or bad. It’s a story filled to the brim with morally gray in the best way. I absolutely couldn’t put this down and read through it in less than 2 days. I’m so excited for other people to read this book!
April 12, 2025
4.75 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
This is the best ARC I’ve ever been privileged to read. Thank you NetGalley!!! 🥹 I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE BOOK TO COME OUT & THE SERIES TO CONTINUE! 🥲 As someone who LOVES historical fiction, romance, & dystopian/fantasy, this book is a great mix of the three genres! It’s about societal war & rebellion, magical powers based on alchemy, and a slow burn romance made of secrets. 🥺 It is toooo good, tooooo good! I hate how I have to wait for the next book to come out; oh please I hope to get the ARC for that one too!!! I’ll be buying the physical book for this! 😍
Writing: 4.5/5
Pace: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 5/5
(More in-depth analysis below)
👩🏻🏫� I received this book to read as an Advanced Reader/Review Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
💕Would you recommend this book?
YES YES YES YES YES!!!
🪶Favorite Quote:
� You’ve got a mind of your own, he reminded me. Don’t let those fuckers take it. �
🌶� Spice Level: 🔥
Slow burn but romantic steaminess 🥵🥰
—�
📝Writing Style: 4.5/ 5
We get two POVs: the female MC’s first-person POV and the male MC’s third-person POV. It’s really interesting how the story is written this way but I’m a fan of it. I also love Stacy McEwan’s lyrical prose� the writing FITS the Victorian era style, making me feel like I’m part of their time period. The only reason I knocked off half star is of some overuse and repetition of the same description/adjectives.
🏃🏻♀️Pace: 5/5
It’s unbelievable how fast paced this book was! In the beginning we’re graced with pivotal moments in the FMC’s youth from 12-18 years of age. I initially thought this was going to be another young adult story; but the story comes up to speed in the present time when she’s 25yo & still in a middle of a war and rebellion.
🗺️Plot: 5/ 5
Plot Themes/Tropes-
* Societal War/Rebellion
* Love Triangle
* Slow Burn Romance
* Secrets & Betrayals
* ⚠️Trigger Warnings/Other topics: Violence, bombs & explosions, murder, death, betrayal, secrets, treason
Summary: In world divided between magical Artisans and physically powerful Craftsmen, Nina & Patrick (two 12yo who grew up less-privileged) uncover a devastating secret: Artisans aren’t born with magical powers, they’re chosen. This revelation sets Nina & Patrick on divergent paths as Nina chooses to be an Artisan while Patrick goes back to his town as a Craftsmen. Years later, Nina, now an elite Artisan, is captured by the rebellion and is forced to choose sides.
The plot in this book is a mix of Hunger Games and Peaky Blinders. It’s set in the Victorian era, which I love because I’m a huge sucker for historical fiction and dystopian/fantasy! Some of the plot is predictable but it’s meant to be that way because the political conflict is the main storyline.
👨👩👧👦Characters: 5/ 5
Female Main Characters (FMCs):
Nina - I don’t know how to feel about her.. Most times I feel like she makes bad decisions. She’s supposed to be intelligent but she had a rough upbringing & I think that’s what causes her to think selfishly. This is the first time that I’m not a huge fan of the FMC of the story. I don’t hate her, but I don’t love her.
Male Main Characters (MMCs):
Patrick is rough around the edges and is painted as morally grey. He has a potty mouth too, but I love how loyal and loving he is to his family, town, and� Nina. I love the way he’s manly but when it comes to Nina, he’s reverted back to being a boy with a crush on a girl. It’s adorable.
Theo� I was iffy about him from the beginning, mainly because he’s painted like a typical teenage boy who doesn’t know of loyalty yet. That, and the fact his father is a Lord� he just gives off “rich boy who listens to everything his father wants� type. Bleh.
Supporting Characters: I love the Colson brothers� Donny more than Gunner though. At first, I wasn’t a fan of the mom, but she grew on me eventually.
I honestly love the relationships and banter between the characters. I feel like we’re meant to grow to like everyone because there’s more to the story that will leave an emotional impact. I’m just hoping that Nina will grow on me in the next book and that we see more about her family as well.
🎬Ending: 4/ 5
AHHHHHHHH!!! The climax at the end!!! So much action and so much emotion! Why did it have to be that way?! WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?!! I’m so mad that I have to wait for the second book when this book hasn’t even been released yet! LOL
🙂Enjoyability: 5/ 5
I loved this book so much! I think Patrick’s character brought the story to life. Him being rough around the edges but having a soft heart despite all the chaos in this rebellion! I enjoyed unraveling secrets & figuring out the loyalty and betrayal in these characters.
📈Final Rating Averaged: 4.75 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
—�
Rating Rubric:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?�
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
This is the best ARC I’ve ever been privileged to read. Thank you NetGalley!!! 🥹 I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE BOOK TO COME OUT & THE SERIES TO CONTINUE! 🥲 As someone who LOVES historical fiction, romance, & dystopian/fantasy, this book is a great mix of the three genres! It’s about societal war & rebellion, magical powers based on alchemy, and a slow burn romance made of secrets. 🥺 It is toooo good, tooooo good! I hate how I have to wait for the next book to come out; oh please I hope to get the ARC for that one too!!! I’ll be buying the physical book for this! 😍
Writing: 4.5/5
Pace: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 5/5
(More in-depth analysis below)
👩🏻🏫� I received this book to read as an Advanced Reader/Review Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
💕Would you recommend this book?
YES YES YES YES YES!!!
🪶Favorite Quote:
� You’ve got a mind of your own, he reminded me. Don’t let those fuckers take it. �
🌶� Spice Level: 🔥
Slow burn but romantic steaminess 🥵🥰
—�
📝Writing Style: 4.5/ 5
We get two POVs: the female MC’s first-person POV and the male MC’s third-person POV. It’s really interesting how the story is written this way but I’m a fan of it. I also love Stacy McEwan’s lyrical prose� the writing FITS the Victorian era style, making me feel like I’m part of their time period. The only reason I knocked off half star is of some overuse and repetition of the same description/adjectives.
🏃🏻♀️Pace: 5/5
It’s unbelievable how fast paced this book was! In the beginning we’re graced with pivotal moments in the FMC’s youth from 12-18 years of age. I initially thought this was going to be another young adult story; but the story comes up to speed in the present time when she’s 25yo & still in a middle of a war and rebellion.
🗺️Plot: 5/ 5
Plot Themes/Tropes-
* Societal War/Rebellion
* Love Triangle
* Slow Burn Romance
* Secrets & Betrayals
* ⚠️Trigger Warnings/Other topics: Violence, bombs & explosions, murder, death, betrayal, secrets, treason
Summary: In world divided between magical Artisans and physically powerful Craftsmen, Nina & Patrick (two 12yo who grew up less-privileged) uncover a devastating secret: Artisans aren’t born with magical powers, they’re chosen. This revelation sets Nina & Patrick on divergent paths as Nina chooses to be an Artisan while Patrick goes back to his town as a Craftsmen. Years later, Nina, now an elite Artisan, is captured by the rebellion and is forced to choose sides.
The plot in this book is a mix of Hunger Games and Peaky Blinders. It’s set in the Victorian era, which I love because I’m a huge sucker for historical fiction and dystopian/fantasy! Some of the plot is predictable but it’s meant to be that way because the political conflict is the main storyline.
👨👩👧👦Characters: 5/ 5
Female Main Characters (FMCs):
Nina - I don’t know how to feel about her.. Most times I feel like she makes bad decisions. She’s supposed to be intelligent but she had a rough upbringing & I think that’s what causes her to think selfishly. This is the first time that I’m not a huge fan of the FMC of the story. I don’t hate her, but I don’t love her.
Male Main Characters (MMCs):
Patrick is rough around the edges and is painted as morally grey. He has a potty mouth too, but I love how loyal and loving he is to his family, town, and� Nina. I love the way he’s manly but when it comes to Nina, he’s reverted back to being a boy with a crush on a girl. It’s adorable.
Theo� I was iffy about him from the beginning, mainly because he’s painted like a typical teenage boy who doesn’t know of loyalty yet. That, and the fact his father is a Lord� he just gives off “rich boy who listens to everything his father wants� type. Bleh.
Supporting Characters: I love the Colson brothers� Donny more than Gunner though. At first, I wasn’t a fan of the mom, but she grew on me eventually.
I honestly love the relationships and banter between the characters. I feel like we’re meant to grow to like everyone because there’s more to the story that will leave an emotional impact. I’m just hoping that Nina will grow on me in the next book and that we see more about her family as well.
🎬Ending: 4/ 5
AHHHHHHHH!!! The climax at the end!!! So much action and so much emotion! Why did it have to be that way?! WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?!! I’m so mad that I have to wait for the second book when this book hasn’t even been released yet! LOL
🙂Enjoyability: 5/ 5
I loved this book so much! I think Patrick’s character brought the story to life. Him being rough around the edges but having a soft heart despite all the chaos in this rebellion! I enjoyed unraveling secrets & figuring out the loyalty and betrayal in these characters.
📈Final Rating Averaged: 4.75 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
—�
Rating Rubric:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?�
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
March 25, 2025
A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Growing up in a mining town, Nina had big dreams for a better life. When, at 12 years old, she traveled to the big city for a ceremony to determine what she would do for the rest of her life she met Patrick, a boy from another mining town with very different aspirations from her own. Before the ceremony the two stumbled upon a highly classified secret and decided to take fate into their own hands to get what they wanted. Years later they reunite on opposite sides of a war that's seeds were planted the day they met.
A Forbidden Alchemy is the first book in, what I believe will be, a trilogy. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. If you're a fan of books with class struggle, like Divergent and The Hunger Games, but aged up with a touch of spice and Peaky Blinders inspo, you'll love this. It doesn't hurt that Patrick is an absolutely swoon-worthy book boyfriend! The things this man says 😍
I first learned about Stacey McEwan on IG and read The Glacian Trilogy in a week. I simply could not stop. When I started hearing about her next book I knew I'd have to read it. Thanks to NetGally and Saga Press I had the great fortune to read an advanced reader copy of this book, and the great misfortune of joining the other unfortunate souls that are now clamoring for the next book before this one has even officially been published.
A Forbidden Alchemy hits shelves July 1, 2025, but you can pre-order now and receive a little treat on your Kindle or at your door come release day. In the meantime, check out The Glacian Trilogy, it's complete and so so so good!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Growing up in a mining town, Nina had big dreams for a better life. When, at 12 years old, she traveled to the big city for a ceremony to determine what she would do for the rest of her life she met Patrick, a boy from another mining town with very different aspirations from her own. Before the ceremony the two stumbled upon a highly classified secret and decided to take fate into their own hands to get what they wanted. Years later they reunite on opposite sides of a war that's seeds were planted the day they met.
A Forbidden Alchemy is the first book in, what I believe will be, a trilogy. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. If you're a fan of books with class struggle, like Divergent and The Hunger Games, but aged up with a touch of spice and Peaky Blinders inspo, you'll love this. It doesn't hurt that Patrick is an absolutely swoon-worthy book boyfriend! The things this man says 😍
I first learned about Stacey McEwan on IG and read The Glacian Trilogy in a week. I simply could not stop. When I started hearing about her next book I knew I'd have to read it. Thanks to NetGally and Saga Press I had the great fortune to read an advanced reader copy of this book, and the great misfortune of joining the other unfortunate souls that are now clamoring for the next book before this one has even officially been published.
A Forbidden Alchemy hits shelves July 1, 2025, but you can pre-order now and receive a little treat on your Kindle or at your door come release day. In the meantime, check out The Glacian Trilogy, it's complete and so so so good!!
April 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Hot DANG. This book was everything! The magic system was unique, creative, and utterly intriguing. The politics carried the book in the best way. The main characters were so interesting, they left me wanting to know so much more which I feel like is exactly how it should be for the first book of a series.
A Forbidden Alchemy is perfect for lovers of Peaky Blinders, Divergent, and Mistborn. Between the schooling, war, & the plot twists left and right, I was hooked from the jump. This book was the perfect set up for an incredible series to come.
Overall, I will absolutely be recommending this book. It was a very well deserved 5 star book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press, and Stacey McEwan for this advance reader copy. It was well loved and well received & I am looking forward to the continuation of this story in the *hopefully near* future.
Hot DANG. This book was everything! The magic system was unique, creative, and utterly intriguing. The politics carried the book in the best way. The main characters were so interesting, they left me wanting to know so much more which I feel like is exactly how it should be for the first book of a series.
A Forbidden Alchemy is perfect for lovers of Peaky Blinders, Divergent, and Mistborn. Between the schooling, war, & the plot twists left and right, I was hooked from the jump. This book was the perfect set up for an incredible series to come.
Overall, I will absolutely be recommending this book. It was a very well deserved 5 star book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press, and Stacey McEwan for this advance reader copy. It was well loved and well received & I am looking forward to the continuation of this story in the *hopefully near* future.
April 21, 2025
I LOVED this book so much!!! I cannot rave enough about how insanely good I found this book to be!!! I was completely enthralled from the first chapter. The magic system was unique and fascinating. The world building was spectacular, and I felt fully immersed in this world. The twists and deceptions were top tier!!! I knew while I was reading this that this book was going to hurt me in the end. I wanted so badly to keep turning the pages, but I was also simultaneously scared of what lay ahead. Needless to say, I was not wrong about the level of hurt this book would inflict upon me. I do not think I will ever recover from the emotional damage of that ending!
I really enjoyed how we got to see the lives of these characters expand over the years. The book begins with Nina and Patrick crossing paths at twelve years old while awaiting to be tested for entrance into the elite Artisan School. While Patrick is content to stay with his craftsman family, Nina is determined to become more than the daughter of a minor in a small town. She dreams of passing Belavere’s test to obtain magic and gain entrance into the school. However, when Nina and Patrick accidentally uncover a dark secret of their governmental society, they decide to take charge of their own fate, changing the course of their lives forever. Years later Nina comes face to face with Patrick once again. They are very different people now who have chosen to live very different lives. Torn between two worlds, Nina must decide where her loyalties lie in the face of her seeming duty, her obligation to the ones she loves, past friendships, and her feelings for the boy she never forgot.
This was a story brimming with magic, deception, betrayal, love, and a divided social class. This book was filled with morally grey characters who are willing to do a little bad for their perception of the greater good. Honestly, the fact that the author stated Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows were inspiration for this novel should be enough incentive to get you to pick up this book immediately.
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley and for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My review is based solely on my own opinion, and I appreciate the chance to read A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan.
I really enjoyed how we got to see the lives of these characters expand over the years. The book begins with Nina and Patrick crossing paths at twelve years old while awaiting to be tested for entrance into the elite Artisan School. While Patrick is content to stay with his craftsman family, Nina is determined to become more than the daughter of a minor in a small town. She dreams of passing Belavere’s test to obtain magic and gain entrance into the school. However, when Nina and Patrick accidentally uncover a dark secret of their governmental society, they decide to take charge of their own fate, changing the course of their lives forever. Years later Nina comes face to face with Patrick once again. They are very different people now who have chosen to live very different lives. Torn between two worlds, Nina must decide where her loyalties lie in the face of her seeming duty, her obligation to the ones she loves, past friendships, and her feelings for the boy she never forgot.
This was a story brimming with magic, deception, betrayal, love, and a divided social class. This book was filled with morally grey characters who are willing to do a little bad for their perception of the greater good. Honestly, the fact that the author stated Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows were inspiration for this novel should be enough incentive to get you to pick up this book immediately.
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley and for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My review is based solely on my own opinion, and I appreciate the chance to read A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan.
April 10, 2025
Thank you so much to Stacey McEwan for allowing me to read your book early! I loved it! Everyone, add this to your TBR immediately!
This book felt like a breath of fresh air. It had everything that I love in a romantasy (slow burn, he falls first, touch her and die) but was so unique and like nothing I’ve read before. The MMC is amazing, and let’s just say, I’d be his “Scurry girl� any day.
This book has a unique magic system, a corrupt government, plot twists, betrayals, and dual POV. I absolutely loved the side characters in this book (I’m looking at you Donny). I also found the setting refreshing, as a large part of the book takes place in a mining village.
This book ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next one!
This book felt like a breath of fresh air. It had everything that I love in a romantasy (slow burn, he falls first, touch her and die) but was so unique and like nothing I’ve read before. The MMC is amazing, and let’s just say, I’d be his “Scurry girl� any day.
This book has a unique magic system, a corrupt government, plot twists, betrayals, and dual POV. I absolutely loved the side characters in this book (I’m looking at you Donny). I also found the setting refreshing, as a large part of the book takes place in a mining village.
This book ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next one!
March 8, 2025
My new identity: glutton for punishment. Why did I think that Stacey wouldn’t deliver the most delicious torture again� just like she did in Ledge/Chasm/Valley. I signed up for it, so I certainly can’t complain. But what an incredible ride this was! The writing is even better than the Glacian Trilogy, and that’s saying something. This book has so much going for it. A really unique plot, magic system, characters� and you’re never going to stop guessing what’s going to happen next! Hint: you’ll get it wrong. This book!!!!! So freaking good 😊
April 22, 2025
Forbidden alchemy was a whirlwind of twists and turns. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in one sitting. It is entirely unique which was amazing to see. I loved the magic system and the dystopian/ peaky blinders feel. Our FMC is a take no shit type of girl and it was fun to see her struggles between doing what is right and doing what she is supposed to do. I'm obsessed with the MMC, Patrick and without giving spoilers, there is another character who I don't particularly care for in the best way. I'm dying to read book two!! Thank you so much to Stacey, Netgalley, and the publisher!!
April 15, 2025
I love the Peaky Blinders-style setting and characters! This book had me stressed, and I’m still reeling from that ending.
April 25, 2025
4.5 review to come!
March 19, 2025
Massive thank you to sagapress & netgalley for the opportunity to arc read this gem!
My eyes might be bloodshot this morning, but my coffee is strong, and this book was worth the sleep sacrifice.
Attention: Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows fans! If you're craving a book that captures the same dark, gripping energy but with a fresh twist that sets it apart, look no further. This is the one you've been waiting for!
This was an incredibly satisfying read, packed with high-stakes elements, a unique magic system, and a beautifully done slow-burn romance brimming with tension.
Stacey serves us one major plot twist & then BAM she hits us with another one. I audibly gasped it was so good.
I am in love with these characters, and we’re given the best set up for book 2.
My eyes might be bloodshot this morning, but my coffee is strong, and this book was worth the sleep sacrifice.
Attention: Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows fans! If you're craving a book that captures the same dark, gripping energy but with a fresh twist that sets it apart, look no further. This is the one you've been waiting for!
This was an incredibly satisfying read, packed with high-stakes elements, a unique magic system, and a beautifully done slow-burn romance brimming with tension.
Stacey serves us one major plot twist & then BAM she hits us with another one. I audibly gasped it was so good.
I am in love with these characters, and we’re given the best set up for book 2.
March 20, 2025
I love this fresh take on romantasy! Stacey incorporates beloved tropes but with a delivery that keeps you wanting to devour every page. Just when I thought I figured things out, there would be a twist that made it impossible to put the book down. The world building, time jumps and surprises had me hooked. Slow burn, long lost friendship, dystopian vibes and incredible dialogue and banter! Already looking forward to more. This story is magnificent!
March 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Stacey McEwan for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Where to even begin??!! This book had my anxiety spiking through the roof the entire time. The amount of lies and betrayals were mind blowing. You live at the edge of your seat waiting to find out what will happen to Nina. Will she be found out at school? Will she reunite with Theo or Patrick? (For the record, I’m #teamPatrick all the way, and when Stacey said this would be a slow burn, she wasn’t kidding.) There were more twists here than in the tunnels being dug in the story. The last page had me screaming, “NO!!!”😭😭�. So many fates are up in the air, and I don’t know how I’m even supposed to wait for book 2. Well done Stacey McEwan. Well done.
5🌟
1🌶�
Where to even begin??!! This book had my anxiety spiking through the roof the entire time. The amount of lies and betrayals were mind blowing. You live at the edge of your seat waiting to find out what will happen to Nina. Will she be found out at school? Will she reunite with Theo or Patrick? (For the record, I’m #teamPatrick all the way, and when Stacey said this would be a slow burn, she wasn’t kidding.) There were more twists here than in the tunnels being dug in the story. The last page had me screaming, “NO!!!”😭😭�. So many fates are up in the air, and I don’t know how I’m even supposed to wait for book 2. Well done Stacey McEwan. Well done.
5🌟
1🌶�
March 24, 2025
Thank you to Saga Press/S&S for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of A Forbidden Alchemy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Nina Harrow is a young girl, living in the mining town of Scurry. At the age of 12 years old, she has the opportunity to travel to Belavere City to be tested for magical ability. Nina’s family belongs to the Craftsman class, but if the test reveals that she has magic, she will join the Artisan class, and become a weilder of powerful elemental magic. When she meets Patrick Colson at the siphoning ceremony, the two make a shocking discovery that could devastate the class system. Nina and Patrick end up on different paths, following the ceremony, but changes have been set in motion that could bring them back together on opposing sides. With the outbreak of war between the Craftsman and Artisans, Nina and Patrick will have to navigate lies, betrayals, and long-held feelings for one another, as those in power fight to keep it.
A Forbidden Alchemy was unputdownable! I devoured this book in a two day span, and fell in love with the setting, story, and characters. I love books with elemental magic, and McEwan adds a great twist to it, with the secret that the Artisans have been hiding. The setting really drew me in, with a mix of the mining towns and the juxtaposition of the opulence of the Artisans school. It definitely gave me vibes from Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series, with the dregs of society (Kaz Brekker and company) and the Grisha being the upper class of society.
I really liked Nina as an FMC. She grew up leading a hard life, and has the hope of finding something better with the possibility of becoming an Artisan. But her hopes eventually lead to manipulation by those in power and she has to find a way to survive on her own. Patrick is a great balance to Nina, with his hardened outlook and not trusting those around him. The two work well as a couple, because of their differences, and I loved the tension that built up in the relationship between the two of them.
McEwan also creates a looming sense of suspense throughout the story. You know things are not going to go well for the main characters, since this is the first book in the series, so the final chapters are definitely nail biters!!
If you love fast paced fantasy books, with opposing class systems, intriguing magic systems, opposites attract, and secrets and betrayals, then I would highly recommend A Forbidden Alchemy.
Nina Harrow is a young girl, living in the mining town of Scurry. At the age of 12 years old, she has the opportunity to travel to Belavere City to be tested for magical ability. Nina’s family belongs to the Craftsman class, but if the test reveals that she has magic, she will join the Artisan class, and become a weilder of powerful elemental magic. When she meets Patrick Colson at the siphoning ceremony, the two make a shocking discovery that could devastate the class system. Nina and Patrick end up on different paths, following the ceremony, but changes have been set in motion that could bring them back together on opposing sides. With the outbreak of war between the Craftsman and Artisans, Nina and Patrick will have to navigate lies, betrayals, and long-held feelings for one another, as those in power fight to keep it.
A Forbidden Alchemy was unputdownable! I devoured this book in a two day span, and fell in love with the setting, story, and characters. I love books with elemental magic, and McEwan adds a great twist to it, with the secret that the Artisans have been hiding. The setting really drew me in, with a mix of the mining towns and the juxtaposition of the opulence of the Artisans school. It definitely gave me vibes from Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series, with the dregs of society (Kaz Brekker and company) and the Grisha being the upper class of society.
I really liked Nina as an FMC. She grew up leading a hard life, and has the hope of finding something better with the possibility of becoming an Artisan. But her hopes eventually lead to manipulation by those in power and she has to find a way to survive on her own. Patrick is a great balance to Nina, with his hardened outlook and not trusting those around him. The two work well as a couple, because of their differences, and I loved the tension that built up in the relationship between the two of them.
McEwan also creates a looming sense of suspense throughout the story. You know things are not going to go well for the main characters, since this is the first book in the series, so the final chapters are definitely nail biters!!
If you love fast paced fantasy books, with opposing class systems, intriguing magic systems, opposites attract, and secrets and betrayals, then I would highly recommend A Forbidden Alchemy.
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