A Forbidden Alchemy

The Artisan Trilogy #1

by Stacey McEwan

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Audiobook, Fiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2025

About the author

Stacey McEwan lives in Queensland, Australia with her husband and two children. She is a teacher by day, writer by night.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wanted your romantic fantasy to cup your face gently and say, “Hey, by the way, privilege is built on generational exploitation,” then A Forbidden Alchemy might be for you!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s also angsty and romantic and thick with tension which is what we’re probably looking for when it comes to romantasy.

However, I didn’t expect it to explore such profound themes. The backdrop isn’t glamorous. It’s set in a mining town, filled with morally gray, lovable, calloused-hands characters and systemic inequality designed to grind people down.

That’s what makes the acts of love and care even more striking. Romantic yearning doesn’t soften the story, it sharpens the contrast to the themes of power, manipulation, exploitation, classism, who gets to decide whose life is worth more, alongside the hoarding of wealth and privilege by the “chosen” elite.

The social divide gave me Hunger Games flashbacks (the Capitol vs. the districts), but with elemental magic instead of televised slaughter.

Try as I might, my brain just wouldn’t quit picturing the main male character, Patrick Colson, as Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders the entire book. Eventually, I stopped fighting it, why argue with my brain’s casting choices? Patty even has the deadpan wit and tortured soul under all those steely blue eyes and peaked cap. Except here, Patty Colson actually cracks a smile. He may even dance. Try picturing Thomas Shelby doing that.

Finally, a shoutout to the dialogue, it felt extremely authentic and full of fun banter, pretty much how people talk in real life. The chatter between the Colson brothers was a highlight and Nina also snuck in some pearlers.

Someone please option this for film, because it would make a stellar one.

﹏﹏﹏﹏


Patrick has Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders energy, therefore I have accidentally already inhaled a third of this book.

[Marianna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He heard her laughter, and he thought its sound could end a war.”

I AM SO UNWELL THAT ENDING HAS ME SO GAGGED I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME A PLOT TWIST HAD ME REELING LIKE THIS!!! My heart aches. I actually feel sick. I would sacrifice my pinky toe for book 2!!!! No like how is anything gonna be okay??

This book is for my peaky blinders girlies.

PATRICK. COLSON. My new favorite fictional man. I’m literally barking at this point. Tommy shelby in book form I’m losing my mind. HES BEEN THINKING ABOUT HER EVERY DAY FOR 13 YEARS!!!! The way this many adores her no I am sick.

Patrick and Nina own a piece of my soul at this point I’m obsessed with them and HER!!! Ugh and the found family. Bye. I need more!

This was so unique but definitely a slow start pleaseeeee give it time to cook it will be so worth it!!

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thought about this book approximately 3 times a day, everyday, since I first read it.

A romantasy with a class system rift, a rebellion, a torturous love story and dual POV.


Also, Patty 😭😭❤️❤️❤️

[Emily-Rose At The Rose House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider me buried alive🪦That’s how many plot twists got piled on top of me during the last few chapters!💀

“You will sink this tunnel. Bury us all.”

In a world divided by power, your destiny is determined by a single vial of Idium. Drink it, and your blood could awaken elemental magic, marking you as a prized Artisan. But if nothing happens? You remain unchanged, a lower class Crafter.

But what if Idium isn’t distributed equally?🧪

Our two main characters Patrick & Nina uncover this brutal corruption & find themselves on opposite sides of a class war, Artisans vs Crafters.

Patrick leads the Crafters revolution, imagine Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders 🙌🏼 Morally grey but fiercely loyal to his family & town. I was swooning during his chapter POV’s.

“He’s bad to those who’re bad. No idea if that makes him good, though.”

Nina who is a powerful Artisan finds herself constantly pulled between both sides of the war but the biggest pull is towards Patrick. Hello banter, tension & possession 🔥

“Trust me, darlin’, he’s always lookin’ at you, even when you think he’s not.”

This book is for you if you love
>Elemental Magic
>Political Intrigue/Class war
>Secret identities
>Multi POV
>Found family (Donny🙌🏼)
>Tension & slow burn
>Betrayal & Plot twists that leave you emotionally unwell 💁🏼‍♀️
>Australian Author ✍️

“We’re stuck between two guns now…That’s all there is to it.”

Thank you NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the E-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I will be racing to buy a physical copy on release day!

[Uswah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My expectations were pretty high because of all the positive reviews I'd seen, and it's safe to say this book delivered 🙂‍↕️💙

First of all, I want to thank my bestie Laura 🥹🫶 for buddy-reading this with me. It feels like ages since our first buddy read, and it felt sooo good to do it again 🥹🎀 We definitely need to do more of these 🙂‍↕️ I love youuuu so much, Laura bestie!!! Mwah 💋🫶

Now, back to the book 🙂‍↕️
It was genuinely enjoyable 🤭🤭 I had so much fun reading it. I was a little worried that it might not live up to the hype 😭 but thank goodness it did 🙂‍↕️

There was one twist that completely caught me off guard 👀 Bestie Laura knows exactly which one I'm talking about 🤭 It didn't even cross my mind, and it left me absolutely wide-eyed. Then there was another twist that didn't surprise me as much because I had already suspected it 🙂‍↕️ However, part of that twist was later revealed, and that caught me by surprise all over again 😂 I absolutely love moments like that 🤭 Those surprises alone made this book worthy of 4 stars 🙂‍↕️😌

Now, let's talk about the love triangle. Technically, there is one, but it never really felt like a typical love triangle to me 🙂‍↕️ Sure, there are two love interests, but it was written in a way that made it feel more like an almost love triangle rather than a full-blown one 👀 So, if you're not usually a fan of love triangles, I'd still recommend giving this book a chance because it didn't give me those classic love-triangle vibes 🙂‍↕️🫂

Nina is definitely not a damsel in distress 🙂‍↕️ She's an absolute baddie, and that instantly made me love her 🤭🫶 While I also enjoy softer FMCs, it's surprisingly hard to find genuinely badass female protagonists in fantasy these days. I love her so much 🥹

Now, here comes Patrick 🤭
Boy, oh boy, do I love this man 😌
I desperately needed more of his POVs and more scenes with him 😔 Book 2 better give me plenty because I am starving over here 🤭 Judging by the way this book ended, I think it just might 🙂‍↕️

Ngl, I actually liked Theo at first 🙂‍↕️ He didn't annoy me, and I didn't get any suspicious vibes from him either. So yes, I liked him (though obviously not more than Patrick 🤭). But then, somewhere in the middle, a switch flipped 😃😃 He started irritating me so much 😭 Like, bro... please stop 💀 Then, by the end, he did something that made me like him again—or at least dislike him less 🙂‍↕️ So my feelings toward him are still a little conflicted 😂 But I still love Patrick more 🙂‍↕️🤭 I just hope Theo becomes a better person in the end and maybe stays friends with them or something 👀

Overall, Laura bestie and I had an amazing time reading this together 🥹🫶 I had been missing fantasy reads lately, and this book gave me exactly what I needed 🤭🙂‍↕️ We had so much fun with it!!!!!

Yea, that's it guys. Love y'all. 🫶💙🖤

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⚗️🧪🔮⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ pre-read ⚗️🧪🔮⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

BESTIE LAURA AND I ARE BACK 😼 WITH ANOTHER BR!!! But this time, it’s a romantasy 🤭💙 We both have high hopes for this one, so I really hope we love it 🙂‍↕️🖤

[Laura Jane ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars (rounding up) - oh i had such a good time with this!! the peaky blinders with magic vibes that are promised were definitely delivered. the old mining town setting and the split of classes and society really brought the rebellion to life. i loved how we were thrown into secrets instantly too - it definitely hooked me and continue to captive me through until the last page! the world building was immersive, but simple and the magic system was easy to grasp and interesting. the pacing worked really well here too, it kept the plot moving and kept things engaging without zooming past plot points.

i really like both nina and patrick as mcs.
patty is giving such tommy shelby vibes and it was definitely a bit of me 🙂‍↕️
this mobster man… like whatever rebellion he’s leading, i’m crawling towards.

nina and patty’s relationship is soft and tender, and underpinned with romantic moments. i really liked the fact they have always been tied to each other from their pasts, but i do kinda wish their love had developed a tad slower. as much as i like these two - i think some more on page development, drawn out moments & longing would have benefited! it’s not really a complaint as such, because i enjoyed the book and i like the dynamic, but it just seemed to escalate into i love you territory faster that i’d have personally liked! i think it kinda made sense but if it been developed a little more intense on page & gave me some yearning, i could see myself rating higher, because it would allow me to form a deeper connection to the romance.

’if he’d had a talent for art, he’d have wished to freeze time to paint her, just the way she was’

admittedly i did guess most of the revelations along the way - i’m getting too do at this lol but it didn’t distract from my enjoyment levels. look it’s nothing groundbreakingly unique but a really good time regardless. i swayed between 4, 3.75, 4 constantly but i really do think this is a decent read and very enjoyable. i settled on 3.75 rounded up 🤣
the ending was a wild time, like clutching my pearls. then next minute i’m like ACKNOWLEDGMENTS? bruh.

enjoyed reading with my bestie girl uswah even if we had to save notes cus i was reading in the sky & off usual schedule.

that as good as a review you’re getting out of me atm soz 🤣

___________
i know we are a little late to the party but i’ve been excited to give this one a go for ages! peaky blinders vibes too!! buddy reading with my lovely bestie uswah - hoping for a win for us 🥰🤍

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩ 4.75 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Childhood Connection
➼ Enemies-to-Lovers
➼ He Falls First
➼ Found Family
➼ Secrets & Betrayal
➼ Elemental Magic
➼ Class War/Rebellion/Oppression
➼ Plot Twists
➼ Cliffhanger
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Nina’s Chapters in First Person POV & Patrick’s in 3rd Person POV

This was a phenomenal read! Everyone is comparing this to Peaky Blinders which I haven’t watched, but now I think I might need to! Often when you start a series it can feel a bit info dumpy as the author introduces the world and the characters, etc., but this author’s world building was seamless. There were no lulls in the story or lengthy explanations you have to struggle through before the plot gets good, just great pacing all the way through!

The love story did feel a bit insta lovey, but their childhood connection made their draw to each other feel very romantic. Each character has their own secrets and motivations that slowly come to light as the story progresses. There are lots of twists and revelations that make it difficult to know who to trust. I also thought the way the POV was written was very interesting and unusual. The book switches back and forth between first person POV chapters from the FMC’s POV and third person POV chapters loosely from the MMC’s perspective. I believe this helped to maintain a sense of mystery surrounding his character that I think actually added a lot to the plot. Interestingly though, the FMC may have been hiding more secrets than anyone. 👀 At this point I might trust her the least, which is a strange feeling considering she’s the main character.

This does end on a cliffhanger that will likely lead to a change of scenery and potentially the introduction of some new characters. I’m very intrigued by the element based magic system and am hoping we will get to see more of those powers in action as the series progresses. This is definitely a very political story so I feel confident it will eventually lead to an all out war, but I’m interested in seeing how it all plays out. I could just as easily see our rebels outsmarting their oppressors as overpowering them, so we’ll see which direction the author will lean. Maybe a little of both! 😉

Stacey McEwan has offically gained a new fan! 🫶🏻 Moving her other series up my TBR!

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Wow! Those are impressively high ratings! (4.5 star average) I’ve followed this author on Instagram for years and she is hilarious! 😄 I’ve wanted to read her books for a while now and somehow I just never got around to them. If I love this one, I’ll have to move Ledge up the list. 💗

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Connect with me on Instagram

[Hannah 🌺 (very busy - grad school) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such high hopes for this! 🩷🧪 also pls ignore the fact that I’ve started several other books that I haven’t finished 😅


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A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan is full of heartbreak, found family, love, betrayal, secrets, and so much more, which is why this was a 4.5/5 star read for me!

This one took me a little while to get through, not because it was bad at all, but because life was busy and I was juggling other things at the same time. Even with those breaks, it was really easy to jump right back into the story every time.

My heart absolutely breaks for Patrick. 😭❤️‍🩹 He went through so much, and I’m really hoping that in the next book he’s able to forgive Nina and truly understand why she did what she did. She genuinely fell in love with him and wasn’t acting out of malice, even though the situation was so painful and complicated (and honestly… we can thank Polly for a LOT of that 🙄).

Nina is a powerful FMC and I loved her perspective and growth. I did like Patrick just a tiny bit more because he was a bit more relatable to me, but Nina has also been through a lot. After reading her stories from Scurry and what happened with her and Theo’s relationship, I understood her a lot more.

I accidentally saw one of the big spoilers while reading, but even knowing it ahead of time didn’t take away from the emotional wreckage it put me through 😭 Patrick still completely broke me in the end when he said, “I am Patrick Colson, the last remaining alchemist,” and willingly gave up his secret so no one else would be hurt. That moment was devastating and powerful and really showed how selfless he is. And once again… we were only in that position because of POLLY. I truly thought we could trust her and that she genuinely loved Otto, but apparently not.

Theo was honestly frustrating and pretty unlikable for about 95% of the book, but I have to admit he surprised me by the end. His growth and final choices made me appreciate him more than I ever thought I would.

I am SO sad (but also excited) that this is a trilogy and I have to wait to see what happens next because of that ending!

Overall, this book delivered so much! I’m very invested in where this series is going next and already bracing myself for more heartbreak 💔

[MillennialMomReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

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).

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhhh… I’m so stressed?? Genuinely feeling ill by the end of this book.

I LOVE PATRICK COLSON SO MUCH. It’s truly unhealthy how much I love him. Is he a bit morally grey? Yes but I feel like war warrants that?? Or maybe I’m excusing bad behavior? Do I care? No…

I love the Colson family so much, I know Gunner sucked, but he started growing on me- and i LOVE Donny. So.

Theo, on the other hand? The most annoying man in the world. He 100% calls his dad “daddy” in his mid twenties. I was done with his shit.

AND NINA. I know she was in a precarious situation but she didn’t handle it well. I really hope for groveling and redemption in book 2, lol.

Anyways, 4.5 ⭐️, all for Patrick.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ I think this would be the most perfect book for starters who are venturing out into the fantasy world. It’s a historical dystopian slow burn romantasy (what a mouthful) that has a great yet very simple elemental magic that is well explained and pretty easy to follow. A plot full of twists and turns, a lot of “oooh” and “aaahs” and secrets & betrayals that are a total page turner. The romantasy aspect of the story was brilliantly executed, a fated mates kind of love full of patience, understanding, layered on years of separation and longing. The romance sneaks up on you in the best way, never feeling rushed but more so earned. The book overall gave off crazy good Peaky Blinders/Thomas Shelby vibes that were a total hit for me because .. well.. if you know you know.

In the world of A Forbidden Alchemy, Nina and Patrick are on the opposite sides of a class war, but their past connection as children (they met when they were 12) complicates their loyalties. They uncover a world changing secret that sets off a series of events that eventually turn into a violent class war. They are reunited after many years of separation but Nina is struggling in choosing a side while navigating love. The forced proximity was chefs kiss.

Patrick Colson was literally all hot Thomas Shelby with gorgeous bright blue eyes, the Irish accent and suave, the protectiveness, family values. His intentions towards Nina were straight forward, pretty pure without any mind games. Their romance was truly slow, well developed. McEwan took her time to build their connection and tension, creating a powerful love story that’s rooted on deep connection allowing even the smallest moments between them feel significant.

The side characters were a total vibe. Patrick’s brothers were not only hilarious but also morally grey on their own. Everyone was fighting their own battles, with hidden secrets that surprise you when you least expect it. Their interactions elevated the “feels” of the book, keeping the reader engaged and moving the narrative forward.

This is probably the easiest fantasy read of the year for me.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!!!

[Kristina Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually obsessed with this dystopian, Peaky Blinders–style world! Oh my gosh, do I LOVE Patrick and Nina. 🩵
I think it is safe to say A Forbidden Alchemy completely consumed me. The gritty, Peaky Blinders–esque dystopian setting mixed with magic and forbidden desire was absolute perfection. It felt like stepping into a smoke-filled underworld where power is currency, danger lurks behind every whispered deal, and every stolen glance feels like a sin.

And Patrick. My god, Patrick. I didn’t think anyone could out-hot Tommy Shelby, but somehow he did it. Brooding, brilliant, and just the right amount of unhinged—he’s the kind of character that walks straight off the page and wrecks your entire existence.

The writing was cinematic and visceral—the kind that drags you straight into the grime, the tension, and the slow-burn chaos. Never a dull moment, and so many passages were so beautifully written I had to stop and reread them a few extra times. The forbidden romance was electric—dangerous, magnetic, and utterly impossible to look away from.

If you love morally gray characters, dark romance, and a world that feels one heartbeat away from collapse, A Forbidden Alchemy will absolutely ruin you (in the best possible way). I don’t think I’ve been this mind-warped since Metal Slinger. I thought I knew where this book was going… I was so wrong.

I didn’t totally agree with some of Nina’s choices, but I understand them. I also absolutely cannot deny the hold this story has on me—I seriously cannot get it out of my head. I need book 2 ASAP!!!

Not to mention the hardcover with the sprayed edges is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. 😍

[Mel Lenore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a big sad review for me to write. I expected to really enjoy this one as a revolution is one of my favorite tropes. Unfortunately, I found that lacking in this book. The first 25% felt very unnecessary to me. I didn't need that history OR I actually would have loved this whole first book to be set at the school. I got too little for me to feel invested but too much for me to need it if that makes sense? When we got to the main timeline, I was hoping for more revolution. More ruthlessness, but really we wander around with him showing her he's actually a good guy. Where was my morally grey MMC? The romance was too instalovey for me personally. Once they finally met again it didn't take any time for him to start talking about marrying her and they'd had 2 conversations. In the end, this just wasn't for me, and that's okay. I loved the idea, and would try more from this author in the future.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

There should be trigger warning for cliffhangers…
I loved the story but hated the ending. The book exceeded my expectations: well: written, original with relatable characters and interesting plot. It follows two children who accidentally discover government’s conspiracy, and it changes their lives forever putting them on the different sides of a class revolution. Despite fantasy elements the story mostly about exploitation, suppressed anger and fight for justice. And a hint of a slow-burn romance.
I would’ve given it four stars if not for the cliffhanger.

[Natilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book IS that girl. And it is quite literally all I’ve thought about since I picked it up.

A Forbidden Alchemy is SUCH a strong start to what I already know is going to be an amazing series!

From the very first chapter, we’re thrown straight into the corruption of Belavere, and I was SAT. The world-building was so rich, with an insanely unique magic system and a social divide that hit hard. It has that gritty, industrial, old-world crime vibe; a ruthless undercurrent where trust is a gamble and guns meet magic.

On one side, we have the Crafters — the handiworkers, the miners, the tortured souls. I could feel their suffocation on every page. On the other side, we have the Artisans — the so-called creatives, living in an unfair luxury built on a lie. There’s something about the Artisans’ craft that pulled me in and made me want to know more, even as the injustice of it all burned strong, but my heart still craved the grit and warmth of Kenton Hill. The more I learned, the more I never wanted to leave.

This romance was so intriguing. I wanted them. I feared for them. From the very beginning to the last page. This is one of the few books that truly made me believe the “I don’t know if I can trust you” line, because I did not know if I could trust EITHER of them the entire time. I was constantly on my toes, yet constantly melting with them when they gave in. This is a romance built on betrayal, fate, and unbearable stakes. THIS is how you write deep, layered love in just one book. Please, let them be happy.

Patrick and Nina own my heart. Patrick is the perfect book boyfriend: a sharp tongue (Patrick Colson’s favorite word is fck ;)), morally gray in a way that makes me fear him as much as I adore him, unafraid to get DOWN AND DIRTY, unflinching devotion to his people and his woman? Oh, and he is SO hot.

Meanwhile, I KNEW Nina. I WAS Nina. I could feel every internal battle, truly understand her difficult decisions. She never made the “just to move the plot forward” kind of dumb choices — every decision felt raw, like a human who is ACTUALLY pressed against a wall in situations that are nearly impossible to weasel out of. I UNDERSTOOD her demons, her hopes, her losses, her hopelessness. Seeing her development within herself, her roots, and Patrick was INCREDIBLE and deeply saddening… considering… that freaking ending. IT HURT (I am so sad right now wtf).

Even the side characters DEVOURED (Donny I love you).

Her writing style was pure mastery. All I want to do is read more Stacey McEwan books so I can feel all of the beautifully crafted metaphors that let me experience every single emotion the characters were feeling, to the point that it made me sick. The storyline was simple, the troubles were human, and yet I could FEEL the weight of lifting a finger in that world; the real alchemist is Stacey, because that woman is masterful.

I can’t recommend this book enough. This is your sign: pick it up right now.

Thank you, Saga Press and Stacey McEwan, for the honor of reading such a fantastic story… can we get book 2 perchance…?

[amandathebookworm 📚🪱 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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” 😆


⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
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.
- 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.

[Athena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything about this book was mediocre except for the characters; they were downright awful.

The world-building is acceptable, and the pace is neither slow nor particularly engaging. The story begins when the main characters are twelve, followed by a series of fast-forwarded chapters that offer nothing of importance. I would have expected meaningful events or interactions to help develop the characters and their relationships, especially since the two main male characters are on opposite sides of the war and these chapters were meant to explore the MFC’s bond with one of them.

The real downfall, however, lies in the characters. They’re utterly bland. The MFC is just a girl with a rare power, and that’s it. Ironically, she lacks any actual character. None of the side characters stand out either.

Overall, nothing about this book drew me in enough to keep going, so I decided to DNF it.

P.S. who names their dog “Isaiah”? FFS

[Allison E · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the love of Thomas Shelby and all that is Peaky Blinders in the world: heck ya.

I’ll be the first the admit that I took a look at this here A Forbidden Alchemy cover and said y’all are lyingggg to me once again aren’t you? But you were not! This was so fun and the writing is quite solid.

If you care for a light synopsis, this story follows Nina and Patrick, both kids from “brink” mining towns. They meet as children during the “Belavere siphoning ceremony” an annual sifting of children to be placed in the either the “crafter” or “artisan” class of society. That’s just fantasy speak for upper and lower class, and the upper class is predisposed to have magic and get access to invaluable “idium” - a concoction that awakens elemental powers essentially.

As these things go, the events of that day dramatically set Nina and Patrick on diverging paths, but when a Craftmans revolution begins years later, the pair will be thrust together again… but which side will they be fighting for?

To quote Esta’s review:

“If you've ever wanted your romantic fantasy to cup your face gently and say, "Hey, by the way, privilege is built on generational exploitation," then A Forbidden Alchemy might be for you!”

Anyway! There’s so many places to begin with my thoughts. I’ll start with saying this IS Romantasy and anyone who argues I feel like has only read bad Romantasy where the fantasy isn’t actually developed and/ or there isn’t any substantial plot to support the story (besides the romantic arc).

Romance wise - not bad not bad. I actually found myself a little more interested in the fantasy plot which is different for me. I really liked Nina (her inner turmoil I found compelling, she’s feisty but not annoying) but was unsure how I felt about Patrick. I ended up just fan-casting him as Thomas Shelby and that honestly did the trick.

“It isn’t your business to know who I love.” Patrick waited an interminable moment, until it was impossible not to look at him again. “If it’s all the same to you,” he said, low and exact, “I’m inclined to make it my business.”

We love a man who knows what he wants and doesn’t hesitate to show it! Men who yearn are men who earn and all that.

The supporting cast was good too - I LOVE when there’s a parental figure that actually has a personality and is not just some strange amalgamation of stern “adult” traits. Also Theo ?!?

Plot wise - there’s some delicious twists and turns in this. I think you’ll guess at some but not all. BUT HERE LIES THE ONE THING IM REALLY PISSED ABT. I hateeeee when you have a character that’s been a reliable narrator thus far and then there’s this huge reveal that’s only possible bc the narrator never once thought about it for the first 50% of the book despite it being completely relevant in every way. It just feels like a cheap move for the sake of a plot twist.

But that ending though? YUMMM I will be reading book 2 100% and that’s a rare inclination from me.

So like 4? 4.5 maybe bc of the whole end sequence? And also the general vibes <3

[Yasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. I am undone.

Cannot believe I now have to wait for the 2nd book. Going to go wallow now in tears. 😭😭😭

[sakurablossom95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It blows my mind that this book wasn’t even on my radar until a few weeks before release! And after finishing the book in a few days….now obsessed!! It was the perfect balance of romance and fantasy! I can’t get over Nina and Patrick, They just had the perfect chemistry which just made the betrayal hit harder! And I seriously can’t stop thinking about it.

I loveeee Nina and Patrick. Their chemistry was Off. The. Charts! They had that perfect balance of banter, tension, and quiet yearning that had me clutching my chest and reading with my feet in the air at 3am. I’m honestly too embarrassed to show my tabs because it’s just Patrick POVs/lines😂. And that betrayal??? DEVASTATING. Their connection made it all hit so much harder. I can’t wait to see how the fallout out of that will play out in book 2!

I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did especially since romantasy can be hit or miss for me lately (and let’s be real, it’s mostly been misses). But this one surprised me in the best way. It gave me Peaky Blinders vibes with its grimy mining town setting, class divides, exploitation, and a magic system that felt unique (elemental type magic? YES PLEASE).

The pacing at the start was a bit rocky for me and I felt like the politics of the world could’ve been a bit more fleshed out. But by the time I hit chapter 15? Game. Changed. It felt like everything before that was just one long, simmering prologue. The action kicked in hard and from there, I just flew through the pages so fast!

The characters are where this book truly shines. It’s rare for me to be so invested in the whole cast. But these characters have my whole heart! I was all in for them! Found family? Check. Flawed, deeply human characters making difficult decisions? Check. I genuinely don’t want anything bad to happen to any of them 😭.

And that last 5%? DIABOLICAL. Stacey McEwan, how dare you leave me hanging like that!! I didn’t expect to be so heavily invested in the story and the characters! I loved every second of it. Catch me banging the gates for the next book!! Don’t sleep on this one like I almost did.

Thank you Saga Press for the ARC!!

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

bumping this one to a full 5 because I can’t stop thinking about patrick <3

I loved this one so much. The class war and the two loaded guns Nina is between created such insane tension that I could not put this down. The twists and turns were so unpredictable!!!

The politics of this world felt so real. Nina and Patrick both have to make impossible choice after impossible choice, but are drawn to each other in such a powerful way even if they are on opposite sides of the war.

I loved all the characters in this one. The surprising found family took me completely off guard but I was completely obsessed with every single one (and I have a soft spot for Donny!!)

The romance in this was omg. Patrick is so completely gone for Nina and she didn’t expect him.

I can’t say much because of spoilers but I will be sitting here with bated breath until book 2 bc that ended rocked me.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new favourite romantasy.
I can’t believe we got this and Red City in the same year.

Nina and Patrick, children of the underdog miner Craftsmen, uncover that elite mages (Artisans) are chosen, not born. Years later, they reunite on opposite sides of a class war - she a powerful Artisan, he a rebel.

I was only twelve. Later, it would be a litany. A lullaby. You were only twelve. You couldn’t have known.

From the start, I was strapped in for some amazing character work and tension. Nina arrives with a vicious thrill, Patrick with a simmering dread.

I could picture their dynamic with clarity. I was living (and dying) for pre-teen Nina and Patrick messing around to when they meet once again as 25-year olds.

Nina bends over backwards to fit in with the elite and hide her secret. Patrick goes Peaky Blinders, Kaz Brekker edition in getting involved in the bloody and gritty revolution.

“We all turn back into boys when it comes to girls,” he said again, though I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or to himself.

You get a simmering (one-way) love triangle where possessive, jealously, and HEAT is dialled all the way up. Let her COOK.

The world-building slightly let me down in terms of the academic setting which is flown over, as well as learning the rules and limitations.

However, the Peaky Blinders aesthetic is there and adds a whole other level of secrets and sharp wit and quick anger/humour.

You betcha I’m diving into my arc copy of the sequel ASAP.

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[Maeghan &#x1f98b; · Rating 3 out of 5]

« You’ve got a mind of your own. Don’t let those fuckers take it. »

This story had a lot of concepts that were appealing to me, and were it not for the characters - could’ve been a 5 stars read.

« It was one thing to be down, and quite another to dig yourself a grave. »

I think the world building is fantastic. The writing flow, however, was uneven for me - sometimes flowing easily and other times being quite dense. It was filled with fillers and made me eager to finish it after 200 pages.

« So often, it seemed, I sounded less than I was. »

The world was harsh and I liked reading about the rebellion and everything it involved. But as a character driven reader, I was left wanting. I disliked the characters and *despised* Theo.
The characters were uneven for me. Nina’s feelings towards her mom vs dad was a bit random? He was an alcoholic but he stayed… her mom did abandon her. But she didn’t bat an eye for her father whereas she kept talking about her mom? He was the one who stayed? She was also depicted as smart but super naive, and feisty in moments she didn’t need to be and didn’t say a word in moments where she should’ve punched someone. Her forgetting all about where she came from the moment she was on their side really rubbed me the wrong way. I won’t talk about Patrick but I disliked him more than the FMC.

As always, reading is subjective and I know a lot of people will love this. I just really didn’t like the characters.

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not see that coming!

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am literally crashing out so bad for the last 10% of that book like you HAVEEEEEE to be kidding me. You absolutely have to be kidding me….who ends a book like that. Who ends a book like that!!! I can’t sit still. I have enough energy to power a wind turbine and give all of New York City electricity for a decade.

Woah…..I’m trying to find words. This is an insane 5 star book through and through never once wavering. I could sit here and write another books worth of thoughts on how much I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS. The pacing of this is incredible. So much action and so entertaining from front to back. I had to physically slow myself from inhaling every second of this in one sitting.

I need to stop everything and talk about THE MMC….lets hear it for our MMC cause….Stacey did her damn thing with that man…I’m gonna start crying actually because he’s so perfectly gruff, protective, violent, morally grey, sassy as HELL while also being the sweetest little pea you ever did see. His energy is giving me cowboy Cade Eaton but like make him a sexy ass miner union member hello. I’m in love I’m in love and I don’t care who knows!!!!!

The FMC is so good. She’s so intelligent, head strong, compassionate, and witty. The banter is so excellent this whole entire book. It’s so romantic. It’s so endearing. Her internal dilemma and struggle added to the depth of her character for me. I cannot even explain all the feelings this book gave me.

And the characters are 25!!!!! I love reading fantasy where they are actually adults!!!!

At its heart it’s really a story of a class war of the working class of miners who risk their lives everyday and want a better way of life vs the elites who take advance of them. And a girl stuck in the middle. There’s so much to think about it’s thought provoking and tons of twist and turns at every angle. I cannot truly cannot stop screaming about this book. The magic system is so unique and refreshing. The world building enraptures you effortlessly.

Fans of Blood Over Bright Haven, Shatter Me, and Heartless Hunter would adore this book.

Thank you to Saga Press, Stacey McEwan & NetGalley for this eArc (but now I have to wait even longer for the next book please Stacey give up your summer and write it for me I’m gonna go crazy until I get the next one in my hands.)

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 ;)

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to finally get through this chunky book because the ending made every single part of this book WORTH the minutiae of the early chapters. As I listened to the Spotify audio and read the book in tandem to complete it while at home and throughout my workdays, I must say - I was not expecting the book as a whole. (But maybe I should have considered how much I really enjoy the author's presence on social media..?!)

For starters, the world-building was amazing. It's what I imagined a cleaner more whimiscal London / dreary English countryside to look like.. but still with sweeping oceans and the grit of Peaky Blinders. Listening to the audio also made a significant difference because the unpolished accents and differences in character origins were noticeable and added elements to the story I'm not sure I would've experienced otherwise.

There are so many layers to A Forbidden Alchemy, from childhood dreams, to an oppressively polarizing society, to romances that shape the course of major world-defining decisions. In some ways I forget that while reading books like this.. there are actual historical accounts of Helen of Troy who's 'face launched a 1000 ships'.. and then I feel like the characters' actions just came even more to life.

My only complaint with this novel is the main character, Nina Harrow. She may have been scared and a little naive, but I feel like her character made almost every wrong choice one could make, and the miscommunication trope was employed so heavily that I wasn't prepared for that. I felt myself getting frustrated with her consistent lack of mental fortitude and unwillingness to see another way. {Probably because I'm in my 30s now and I can't understand that side of humanity in general...? But I digress.}

Early Notes:
-Not actually finished, but wanted to make a note, I would definitely see - Chapter 37!? A twist I completely did NOT see. - Really starting to get good here.

[Carleen ☾ ☀︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋆˚ I was twelve years old in a courtyard, and a furtive hand slipped vials into my pocket. “You’ve got a mind of your own,” the boy said. “Don’t let those fuckers take it.” And then he faded from view. ˚⋆
꒰ ⚒️✨🚂🔥⛰️🧪💥🥃 ꒱


🎧/🔲┆A Forbidden Alchemy
╰┈➤ ✰┆ ˗ˏˋ 𝟚 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˊˎ˗

📆┆˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Dates read: 11/3/25 - 11/9/25

𓂃🖊┆𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
⚒️ Found family 🫂
✨ Slow burn 🔥
⚒️ Love triangle ⚠️
✨ Morally gray MMC
⚒️ Revolution ⛓️‍💥
✨ Hidden powers 🗝
⚒️ Elemental magic 🔮
✨ Class war/political intrigue 👑

🏷️┆𝓐𝓽 𝓪 𝓰𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮:
➛ Adult political romantasy, first in an incomplete series (possibly 3 books)
➛ 1920s gangster vibes - Peaky Blinders x Six of Crows
➛ Rebellion in an oppressed society
➛ Slow-burn romance
➛ Mild spice 🌶️🌶️ across three chapters (open door, non-descriptive)
➛ Dual POV (1st person FMC & 3rd person MMC)
⚠️ tw: violence (war, murder, and police brutality), drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, grief, death, mental health issues

📋┆𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼:
「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 Patrick’s rebel group captures her. Despite the years and conflict that separate them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help on a mission that could turn the tide 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.」

“And do you love him still?” He asked it so quietly I strained to hear. His face took on the visage of a ghost, lantern light only settling on the sharpest bones. Breath weighted my lungs, and my feet sank another inch. Why did all things become heavier in the dark?
“It isn’t your business to know who I love.” But I said it to the ground, where there was no brilliant blue. Beneath my skin, blood raced. Silence. Sounds suffocated in the hot air.
Patrick waited an interminable moment until it was impossible not to look at him again. “If it’s all the same to you,” he said, low and exact, “I’m inclined to make it my business.”

🎵 ┆𝓝𝓸𝔀 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰: ♫ The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars ♪
↻ ◁ 𝕀𝕀 ▷ ↺ Volume: ■■■■■□□□
1:04 ────|────── 3:33

─────── ⋆.˚ ✩ ⋆˙⟡ ───────

💭┆𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
╰┈➤ 📌┆Initial Thoughts:
➛ So this was a chore to finish, definitely not worth the hype 😮‍💨 I know this is an unpopular opinion, looking at all the raving reviews. It was just overwhelmingly boring. I'm sorry! Just didn't work for me. It's not common for me to write negative or harsh reviews, so buckle up.

╰┈➤ 📝┆Plot and Pacing: 2 stars ✰✰
➛ The majority of the plot moved so slowly. The awkward time jumps made it feel disjointed. It started to pique my interest only near the end. Many things didn’t add up or make sense with numerous plot holes. The big supposed twist came out of nowhere (especially because we follow the main character in 1st person!). I don’t particularly enjoy switching from first person to 3rd person (more on that later). Most of the story felt somewhat predictable, too, which made it unenjoyable. Everything culminated in a lackluster cliffhanger, but at that point, I didn’t care what happened next. So yeah, not continuing this series.

╰┈➤ 👫┆Characters: 2 stars ✰✰
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ⛰️┆Nina Harrow
➛ The main characters had no depth (or backbone); I felt zero emotion towards them. And Nina was incredibly unlikable and inconsistent. Not a strong nor fierce FMC, which greatly weakened the story. She wanted to stay neutral so badly despite being born and raised among the oppressed. She personally witnessed the atrocities that occurred in the working class as a direct result of the actions and laws made by the artisans. She didn’t want to use her powers to help the rebellion because it would hurt civilian lives, yet her inaction cost innocent lives regardless. Failure to act when you have the power to change something is being complacent, which makes you just as guilty.


ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 🧪┆Patrick Colson
➛ His character also felt forced to me. Everything felt utterly bland. He was more likable than Nina, and at least he had a backbone with an unwavering belief system.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Romance/Spice
➛ There was absolutely no chemistry between the love interests. And the love triangle? Very superficial. Honestly hated the romance aspect of the book. It was very forced, and the spice was unnecessary. Should not have even tried.

╰┈➤ ✎┆Setting and Writing: 2 stars ✰✰
➛ The writing was easy to read, if not mediocre at times. The prose really set the scene and made the reading experience immersive in terms of the world's aesthetic. However, the world-building was lacking and severely flawed. The story was essentially set up for failure. The characters were inconsistent and made no sense. The FMC did nothing with her rare magical abilities, as in she can move dirt, very interesting (*cue sarcasm*). The writing was shallow and lacked depth, making this read like a YA book. It actually would have been better as a YA book minus the weird spice/cursing. The alternating first- and third-person POVs also made it difficult for me to feel fully immersed in the story, and they were jarring at times.

╰┈➤ ☁️┆Themes: 3 stars ✰✰✰
➛ The cliché themes of class war, political corruption, oppressive societies, rebellion, and social injustice don’t make this novel stand out in any way. The market is currently oversaturated with these types of books imo.

╰┈➤ 💕┆Emotional Impact: 1 star ✰
➛ Not invested. It could've killed the main characters, and I would not have cared.

╰┈➤ ✨┆Enjoyment: 1 star ✰
➛ I almost DNF several times, and I honestly should have. I could not be less interested in the plot or the characters. I was so incredibly bored, and I was forcing myself to continue, thinking it would get better. The audiobook narration was truly horrible imo. The character voices did not match the voices in my head at all. Will not be continuing the series.

─────── ⋆.˚ ✩ ⋆˙⟡ ───────

╰┈➤ 🚨┆𝓑𝓸𝓽𝓽𝓸𝓶-𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮:
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ You will enjoy this if you like a slow burn romantasy with a 1920s gangsters aesthetic, think Six of Crows x Peaky Blinders. Filled with secrets, twists, and betrayals in a world at war between magic and non-magic users. Unfortunately, I'm growing tired of these books. I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters, leaving me feeling incredibly indifferent and bored. Just not for me. I blame the audiobook narration. It truly did a disservice to the story.

➛ ✔ 𝓦𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓘 𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭? Sorry, but no!

➛ 📚┆𝓢𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓪𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼:
➷ Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
➷ Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
➷ Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

─────── ⋆.˚ ✩ ⋆˙⟡ ───────

“He shook himself from his reverie. “Well,” he said. “That fuckin’ showed me, didn’t it?”

[Sophie ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a sign to finally pick this up, this is it. I am seriously begging you to go read it right now.

I didn’t just read this book. I inhaled it. What drug did they put in this

The duplicity was next-level. Every plot twist mind boggling. I couldn’t trust a. single. character.

The last 10% really put me through the wringer!! WHAT WAS THAT ENDING

I have no idea how I’m supposed to wait until July, and my heart goes out to every single one of you who’s been waiting a year for the sequel.

My emotions are all over the place, and I need time to process this.