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11 days and 00:55:48
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Ruinous Fate Saga #1
This Wretched Alchemy
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 00:55:48
100 copies available
U.S. only
BETRAYAL.
In a fractured realm ruled by warring noble Houses and the tyrannical Prime, the most coveted power lies in god-shards - divine fragments that grant extraordinary abilities to those who possess them.
Revel’s brother was murdered in pursuit of one.
A DEADLY GAME.
For avenging him, Revel’s life is on the line. Forced into a treacherous bargain, she must compete in the Call - a bloody contest of heirs vying for the throne - on behalf of her enemies, and assassinate the realm’s most formidable alchemist, the Warbringer.
Victory means her family’s freedom. Failure means death.
A MONSTROUS POWER.
The Prime sets the heirs on a brutal race to find the god-shard that could shift the balance of the realms. Everyone wants the win, but Revel just wants the kill. Except, the Warbringer isn’t the monster she was promised. Bound by secrets of his own, he is as dangerous as he is disarming.
With betrayals mounting and desire warring with duty, Revel must decide who to trust in a game where even the gods have their favorites. This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and loyalty become the very weapons that could destroy everything.
A LOVE THAT CAN CUT DEEPER THAN ANY BLADE.
In a fractured realm ruled by warring noble Houses and the tyrannical Prime, the most coveted power lies in god-shards - divine fragments that grant extraordinary abilities to those who possess them.
Revel’s brother was murdered in pursuit of one.
A DEADLY GAME.
For avenging him, Revel’s life is on the line. Forced into a treacherous bargain, she must compete in the Call - a bloody contest of heirs vying for the throne - on behalf of her enemies, and assassinate the realm’s most formidable alchemist, the Warbringer.
Victory means her family’s freedom. Failure means death.
A MONSTROUS POWER.
The Prime sets the heirs on a brutal race to find the god-shard that could shift the balance of the realms. Everyone wants the win, but Revel just wants the kill. Except, the Warbringer isn’t the monster she was promised. Bound by secrets of his own, he is as dangerous as he is disarming.
With betrayals mounting and desire warring with duty, Revel must decide who to trust in a game where even the gods have their favorites. This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and loyalty become the very weapons that could destroy everything.
A LOVE THAT CAN CUT DEEPER THAN ANY BLADE.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 10, 2026
129 people are currently reading
24585 people want to read
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April 12, 2026⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (4/12/2026): THE BOOK IS READ NOW ON NETGALLEY FOR 72 HOURS! Go support a BIPOC debut author and get this book!💜🖤
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (2/20/2026): ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ GUESS WHO GOT THE ARC EARLY?! I’m SO eternally grateful to Tina Mars for letting me onto her ARC team for her debut novel so I get to read this EARLY! She was one of the very first people I followed on my Bookstagram account last June and when I found out she was releasing her debut novel, I knew I wanted to read it. Now it’s becoming a reality and I’m so thankful for the opportunity!
(Everyone else will be able to request the ARC in about 2 months on NetGalley—at least on the US NetGalley website—so keep your eyes peeled around April!) Congratulations to everyone else who got the ARC through her ARC team or through the St. Martin’s Press Early Readers influencer program!🎉
Thank you SO much to Tina Mars and Saturday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This Wretched Alchemy will be officially published on November 10th, 2026!
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (2/20/2026): ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ GUESS WHO GOT THE ARC EARLY?! I’m SO eternally grateful to Tina Mars for letting me onto her ARC team for her debut novel so I get to read this EARLY! She was one of the very first people I followed on my Bookstagram account last June and when I found out she was releasing her debut novel, I knew I wanted to read it. Now it’s becoming a reality and I’m so thankful for the opportunity!
(Everyone else will be able to request the ARC in about 2 months on NetGalley—at least on the US NetGalley website—so keep your eyes peeled around April!) Congratulations to everyone else who got the ARC through her ARC team or through the St. Martin’s Press Early Readers influencer program!🎉
Thank you SO much to Tina Mars and Saturday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This Wretched Alchemy will be officially published on November 10th, 2026!
Read
March 6, 2026Thank you so much to Saturday Books, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC.
This one was a huge letdown for me. I was very excited to read this book and so happy to get approved for the eARC.
First, I absolutely loved the idea of it. The worldbuilding mixes gladiators with Japanese folklore creatures and an alchemy based magic system, along with ruling houses, old gods, artifacts, and deadly games to find them. It sounded pretty unique.
But unfortunately I really struggled with the execution.
There are no major spoilers below this point, but some details might affect your reading experience, so continue at your own risk!
I will not be continuing the series. I am happy for everyone who loved it, but this one just was not for me. I thought about DNFing it a couple of times, but I decided to push through and give it a fair chance.
This one was a huge letdown for me. I was very excited to read this book and so happy to get approved for the eARC.
First, I absolutely loved the idea of it. The worldbuilding mixes gladiators with Japanese folklore creatures and an alchemy based magic system, along with ruling houses, old gods, artifacts, and deadly games to find them. It sounded pretty unique.
But unfortunately I really struggled with the execution.
There are no major spoilers below this point, but some details might affect your reading experience, so continue at your own risk!
I will not be continuing the series. I am happy for everyone who loved it, but this one just was not for me. I thought about DNFing it a couple of times, but I decided to push through and give it a fair chance.
Read
March 7, 2026Thank you to Saturday Books, the author and NetGalley for the eARC.
I need to see a Dr after the amount of whiplash I got from this book. I love him, no I hate him, no I love him but now I hate him. Pick a lane!!
I’ve never been so infuriated and confused by a book before. The FMC is all over the place. One second she hates herself for one mistake she made one time as a kid and the next she is fighting for the kingdom and her task. But it’s back and forth the whole time. She can’t decide if she wants to be strong or weak and annoying.
The plot is all over the place and I found myself forgetting what the whole point of the book was at about 40%. There were too many unnecessary side quests that really didn’t add anything to the story or to the characters development. Yes, the whole 1 cave scene wasn’t needed.
There was 0 tension other than hating each other between the MMC and FMC. And when they finally tried to do it? Best cock block I’ve ever read. I really didn’t need to read them doing it. But don’t worry, in the middle of the most important moment they decide to try again. Covered in days of travel and sweat and grime and blood while also trying to not be hunted and killed. Perfect timing guys.
I found a new ick: breathmints. The MMC is popping them like candy every 5 pages and there’s a moment where he eats one and then eats her. Sorry but that would probably burn a bit.
I should have DNF’d but I pushed through and I’m never getting that time back. There was promise but it needed many MANY more rounds of edits before it was ready.
I need to see a Dr after the amount of whiplash I got from this book. I love him, no I hate him, no I love him but now I hate him. Pick a lane!!
I’ve never been so infuriated and confused by a book before. The FMC is all over the place. One second she hates herself for one mistake she made one time as a kid and the next she is fighting for the kingdom and her task. But it’s back and forth the whole time. She can’t decide if she wants to be strong or weak and annoying.
The plot is all over the place and I found myself forgetting what the whole point of the book was at about 40%. There were too many unnecessary side quests that really didn’t add anything to the story or to the characters development. Yes, the whole 1 cave scene wasn’t needed.
There was 0 tension other than hating each other between the MMC and FMC. And when they finally tried to do it? Best cock block I’ve ever read. I really didn’t need to read them doing it. But don’t worry, in the middle of the most important moment they decide to try again. Covered in days of travel and sweat and grime and blood while also trying to not be hunted and killed. Perfect timing guys.
I found a new ick: breathmints. The MMC is popping them like candy every 5 pages and there’s a moment where he eats one and then eats her. Sorry but that would probably burn a bit.
I should have DNF’d but I pushed through and I’m never getting that time back. There was promise but it needed many MANY more rounds of edits before it was ready.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Tina Mars, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a huge Tina Mars fan. I’ve followed her for years, and I thought this was going to be my book of the year. I was so excited to get an early ARC, which honestly makes this even more disappointing.
There was so much potential here. The world-building was genuinely intriguing… from what I could understand of it. Unfortunately, a lot of it just wasn’t explained well. Orphy, her moving, essentially sentient tattoo, was such a cool concept, and I loved it, but the “how” and “why” behind it felt unclear when it was explained towards the end. Same with the shards. They’re central to the plot, and yet I never fully understood them, which pulled me out of the story multiple times. And I’m just going to say it. I’m a literal doctor, I promise I can follow complex concepts. Things were just not explained clearly.
The prose didn’t help the confusion. It leaned very heavily into flowery, metaphorical language, but instead of enhancing the story, it made things unnecessarily confusing. I found myself constantly rereading passages just to understand what was actually being said. At some point, it stopped feeling lyrical and started feeling exhausting. It also resulted in me taking way longer to finish it than it should have. I even read other books in between just to get a break, which I never do.
On top of that, everything felt way too convenient. Plot points just… fell into place. Conflicts resolved too easily, which made the story predictable and stripped it of any real stakes. Also, the stakes of the competition. It’s said that they’re supposed to kill each other but like… that didn’t happen and it’s as if it was totally forgotten that was supposed to be part of the plot. Like MMC could have at least pretended to try to kill FMC at LEAST once or something. ANYTHING.
The pacing and emotional development also fell apart. The romance went from zero to one hundred with absolutely no buildup. True insta-love. One minute there’s tension, and the next she’s talking about love, and I’m sitting there thinking… when did that happen? It’s been three days? It didn’t feel earned, which made the relationship hard to take seriously.
And the emotional whiplash. She hates him, then wants him, then hates him again, sometimes within the same page. It didn’t read as complex or conflicted. It read as inconsistent. Especially for something marketed as enemies-to-lovers… where were the enemies? Yes, she was sent to kill him but immediately she realizes he doesn’t suck and he’s nice to her from the start. A few days of inner turmoil does not equal enemies-to-lovers. And when FMC gets upset at MMC for always lying to her… did he though? He didn’t tell you about one thing. Not that he lied, he just didn’t tell you. Now he’s lied about EVERYTHING? He’s also not the one who killed your brother, a fact which you know. So why are we hating on him for .2 seconds. Idk it just wasn’t making any sense.
And I have to mention that I’m always on the hunt for the most absurdly placed sex scenes and him eating her out on an island that they desperately need to get off before it VANISHES, while she’s disgusting and grimy and literally dirty from being on the road, hasn’t bathed in god knows how long, may take the cake. While they’re also currently being hunted by a group of people in the same house they’re doing this in. And I know mints are his thing but why did he have pop one before eating her out?? Omg. It made me shiver in NOT a good way.
I really wanted to love this. I pushed through because I’m a fan. Truly Tina, I love you. I will forever support you. But it just didn’t land for me. It felt disjointed, confusing, and emotionally unconvincing, especially compared to what it could have been. Feels like it needed a few more drafts. I know this is her first book, and while this one missed the mark for me, I do think she has the potential to become a really strong author because the potential for this story was there
I’m a huge Tina Mars fan. I’ve followed her for years, and I thought this was going to be my book of the year. I was so excited to get an early ARC, which honestly makes this even more disappointing.
There was so much potential here. The world-building was genuinely intriguing… from what I could understand of it. Unfortunately, a lot of it just wasn’t explained well. Orphy, her moving, essentially sentient tattoo, was such a cool concept, and I loved it, but the “how” and “why” behind it felt unclear when it was explained towards the end. Same with the shards. They’re central to the plot, and yet I never fully understood them, which pulled me out of the story multiple times. And I’m just going to say it. I’m a literal doctor, I promise I can follow complex concepts. Things were just not explained clearly.
The prose didn’t help the confusion. It leaned very heavily into flowery, metaphorical language, but instead of enhancing the story, it made things unnecessarily confusing. I found myself constantly rereading passages just to understand what was actually being said. At some point, it stopped feeling lyrical and started feeling exhausting. It also resulted in me taking way longer to finish it than it should have. I even read other books in between just to get a break, which I never do.
On top of that, everything felt way too convenient. Plot points just… fell into place. Conflicts resolved too easily, which made the story predictable and stripped it of any real stakes. Also, the stakes of the competition. It’s said that they’re supposed to kill each other but like… that didn’t happen and it’s as if it was totally forgotten that was supposed to be part of the plot. Like MMC could have at least pretended to try to kill FMC at LEAST once or something. ANYTHING.
The pacing and emotional development also fell apart. The romance went from zero to one hundred with absolutely no buildup. True insta-love. One minute there’s tension, and the next she’s talking about love, and I’m sitting there thinking… when did that happen? It’s been three days? It didn’t feel earned, which made the relationship hard to take seriously.
And the emotional whiplash. She hates him, then wants him, then hates him again, sometimes within the same page. It didn’t read as complex or conflicted. It read as inconsistent. Especially for something marketed as enemies-to-lovers… where were the enemies? Yes, she was sent to kill him but immediately she realizes he doesn’t suck and he’s nice to her from the start. A few days of inner turmoil does not equal enemies-to-lovers. And when FMC gets upset at MMC for always lying to her… did he though? He didn’t tell you about one thing. Not that he lied, he just didn’t tell you. Now he’s lied about EVERYTHING? He’s also not the one who killed your brother, a fact which you know. So why are we hating on him for .2 seconds. Idk it just wasn’t making any sense.
And I have to mention that I’m always on the hunt for the most absurdly placed sex scenes and him eating her out on an island that they desperately need to get off before it VANISHES, while she’s disgusting and grimy and literally dirty from being on the road, hasn’t bathed in god knows how long, may take the cake. While they’re also currently being hunted by a group of people in the same house they’re doing this in. And I know mints are his thing but why did he have pop one before eating her out?? Omg. It made me shiver in NOT a good way.
I really wanted to love this. I pushed through because I’m a fan. Truly Tina, I love you. I will forever support you. But it just didn’t land for me. It felt disjointed, confusing, and emotionally unconvincing, especially compared to what it could have been. Feels like it needed a few more drafts. I know this is her first book, and while this one missed the mark for me, I do think she has the potential to become a really strong author because the potential for this story was there
March 10, 2026
4.5★ I’ve been following Tina since before I even started my little Booksta account, so receiving this ARC was beyond exciting. And oh my goodness!! The wait was so worth it!! This could easily be your newest dark romantasy addiction!😍
First of all: REVEL x AXUS. I’m already obsessed. Revel is a morally gray FMC facing one of the realm’s most formidable alchemists. But things are obviously not that simple.
The beginning does throw a lot at you.. major and minor houses, gods, sorceresses, new characters, the nature of alchemy, the Aeos, and all the different places. It took me a little time to adjust and keep track of everything. But once you settle into the world, the story flows so well. From that point on, it completely grips you and pulls you along until the very last page.
And the slow-burn tension? So good!🙂↕️
And Axus… him being territorial from the very first time they met??😮💨 I loved it. Add in the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and morally gray characters, and this turned into an absolute non-stop read.
The magic system was also really creative. The idea of transmutations and the way alchemy works in this world felt fresh and new to me. I also loved the little Japanese cultural touches.. bonsai, Japanese-inspired names, cherry blossoms, and even taking off your shoes (or boots) before entering a house… or, in this case, a temple.😉 And the writing? You would never guess this is her debut novel. Absolutely well done! Every element you could want in a romantasy is here.
But that ending??!
What was that, Tina?! What was that?! You’re so mean!!😭😭
Yeah, Tina… you’ve done it. With that ending, I’m pretty sure everyone is absolutely WRETCHED.🤯
First of all: REVEL x AXUS. I’m already obsessed. Revel is a morally gray FMC facing one of the realm’s most formidable alchemists. But things are obviously not that simple.
The beginning does throw a lot at you.. major and minor houses, gods, sorceresses, new characters, the nature of alchemy, the Aeos, and all the different places. It took me a little time to adjust and keep track of everything. But once you settle into the world, the story flows so well. From that point on, it completely grips you and pulls you along until the very last page.
And the slow-burn tension? So good!🙂↕️
And Axus… him being territorial from the very first time they met??😮💨 I loved it. Add in the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and morally gray characters, and this turned into an absolute non-stop read.
The magic system was also really creative. The idea of transmutations and the way alchemy works in this world felt fresh and new to me. I also loved the little Japanese cultural touches.. bonsai, Japanese-inspired names, cherry blossoms, and even taking off your shoes (or boots) before entering a house… or, in this case, a temple.😉 And the writing? You would never guess this is her debut novel. Absolutely well done! Every element you could want in a romantasy is here.
But that ending??!
What was that, Tina?! What was that?! You’re so mean!!😭😭
Yeah, Tina… you’ve done it. With that ending, I’m pretty sure everyone is absolutely WRETCHED.🤯
April 17, 2026
⭐️3.85
This is my very first ARCH read and review eeeeeek! I got it right before Ramadan and couldn't read it until it was over, and then literally last 2 hours before it expired, I was like ok lets do this and lemme say SOOOO WORTH IT.
It was so so so so so so good, especially THAT ENDING DIABOLICAL TINAAAAA AAAAK I was gagged. I loved how much it was eldest daughter core, I just felt like certain plotlines or parts could've had more depth, and at times the fmc did feel a tad one-track mind for my taste, but I lovedddd her regardless. And the MMC was everythingg…. I'm gagged. I don’t use that word usually, but here I was truly gagged.
I can't wait for the next one. I hope it gives revenge era, WOMAN IN POWER, BADDEST BICH ENERGY, MEN GROVELING ERA EEEEK !!
Thank you SOOOOOOO much to Tina Mars and NetGalley for the advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review. This Wretched Alchemy will officially be published on November 10th, 2026!
This is my very first ARCH read and review eeeeeek! I got it right before Ramadan and couldn't read it until it was over, and then literally last 2 hours before it expired, I was like ok lets do this and lemme say SOOOO WORTH IT.
It was so so so so so so good, especially THAT ENDING DIABOLICAL TINAAAAA AAAAK I was gagged. I loved how much it was eldest daughter core, I just felt like certain plotlines or parts could've had more depth, and at times the fmc did feel a tad one-track mind for my taste, but I lovedddd her regardless. And the MMC was everythingg…. I'm gagged. I don’t use that word usually, but here I was truly gagged.
I can't wait for the next one. I hope it gives revenge era, WOMAN IN POWER, BADDEST BICH ENERGY, MEN GROVELING ERA EEEEK !!
Thank you SOOOOOOO much to Tina Mars and NetGalley for the advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review. This Wretched Alchemy will officially be published on November 10th, 2026!
December 10, 2025
MASTERPIECE
formal rtc
formal rtc
May 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for gifting me this arc!
I wish that I loved this book. I feel like it had so much potential to be one of my favorite books ever but it just kept disappointing me again and again.
There are many things that I didn’t like about this book. One of those being that the characters fell so flat for me. As someone who loves deep and emotional characters, this book missed that for me by MILES. I can see that there was points where the characters were being emotional but I just could not find the effort in me to care. And I hate that because again, I wanted to love this book SO BADLY. But I find it hard to love a book when actions from characters don’t make any sense.
Another thing I didn’t like was the pacing of the romance. To me it felt off the entire time. This book was marketed as an “enemies to lovers” and “both characters are morally gray”. There was never a time when I thought that the two main characters were “enemies”. The first moment she sees the MMC, she goes on and on about how hot he is. That’s another thing I didn’t like. The romance was too lusty for me. It seemed that all she could talk about was his muscles and not about what he means to her.
There were a couple things I did like about this book and one of those being the world and the magic. I really liked those elements but I do wish that they were fleshed out a bit more. Half of the time I was really confused on why something did this or why something did that. It kind of was one of the things that had so much potential but was barely meeting it. Another thing I did like was that at the end there was a good plot twist. That is something I can admire because I love plot twists and this one definitely caught me by surprise.
I really try to look at books and find something about them that is good and can recommend to someone if they wanted it. But with this one, I just can’t. I didn’t have any motivation to read this book(for probably more reasons than I stated before) and I didn’t enjoy my time reading it. Which really sucks because again, I really wanted to enjoy this book.But I think combined with the wrong marketing giving me completely different expectations than what the book actually was and just my experience reading this book, made me not like it. If you have different opinions about it, then that’s okay! This book just wasn’t for me and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it.
I wish that I loved this book. I feel like it had so much potential to be one of my favorite books ever but it just kept disappointing me again and again.
There are many things that I didn’t like about this book. One of those being that the characters fell so flat for me. As someone who loves deep and emotional characters, this book missed that for me by MILES. I can see that there was points where the characters were being emotional but I just could not find the effort in me to care. And I hate that because again, I wanted to love this book SO BADLY. But I find it hard to love a book when actions from characters don’t make any sense.
Another thing I didn’t like was the pacing of the romance. To me it felt off the entire time. This book was marketed as an “enemies to lovers” and “both characters are morally gray”. There was never a time when I thought that the two main characters were “enemies”. The first moment she sees the MMC, she goes on and on about how hot he is. That’s another thing I didn’t like. The romance was too lusty for me. It seemed that all she could talk about was his muscles and not about what he means to her.
There were a couple things I did like about this book and one of those being the world and the magic. I really liked those elements but I do wish that they were fleshed out a bit more. Half of the time I was really confused on why something did this or why something did that. It kind of was one of the things that had so much potential but was barely meeting it. Another thing I did like was that at the end there was a good plot twist. That is something I can admire because I love plot twists and this one definitely caught me by surprise.
I really try to look at books and find something about them that is good and can recommend to someone if they wanted it. But with this one, I just can’t. I didn’t have any motivation to read this book(for probably more reasons than I stated before) and I didn’t enjoy my time reading it. Which really sucks because again, I really wanted to enjoy this book.But I think combined with the wrong marketing giving me completely different expectations than what the book actually was and just my experience reading this book, made me not like it. If you have different opinions about it, then that’s okay! This book just wasn’t for me and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This might be a little too niche but if you love Full Metal Alchemist, Rome, a deadly mission with just a dash of Inuyasha vibes you’ll LOVE this one 😅
I will just start off by saying Full Metal Alchemist was my favorite anime (until the ending 😅) so I liked this book from the jump. HOWEVER, there was waaaay too much taken from that anime and plopped right into this book for me 😬 I mean down to some crazy obvious details (the arrays, clapping then placing your hands down, the arm, the ARMOR??).
The story itself is different enough that I still enjoyed the read, but I think it means a lot when an author is creative about their magic system and the backstory surrounding that. The fact that this one was almost a carbon copy of the show was really disappointing.
_______________________________________
Revel is imprisoned and trained to compete in the Call, which can happen whenever the Prime feels like calling one (ha). To earn her and her family’s freedom, she’ll have to do the impossible and she learns very quickly just how impossible it is.
She meets the Warbringer, aka Axus Tassian aka Dominus Tassian 🤭 and there’s so much tension IMMEDIATELY that I ate up. The way their relationship ebbs and flows from “you’re the worst person I’ve ever met” to “😮💨🥵” killed me!
You’ll like this read if you’re into:
🏯 diverse culture
🔥 forced proximity
🗡️ enemies to lovers
🌅 gods and demons
Thank you so much to Tina for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I will just start off by saying Full Metal Alchemist was my favorite anime (until the ending 😅) so I liked this book from the jump. HOWEVER, there was waaaay too much taken from that anime and plopped right into this book for me 😬 I mean down to some crazy obvious details (the arrays, clapping then placing your hands down, the arm, the ARMOR??).
The story itself is different enough that I still enjoyed the read, but I think it means a lot when an author is creative about their magic system and the backstory surrounding that. The fact that this one was almost a carbon copy of the show was really disappointing.
_______________________________________
Revel is imprisoned and trained to compete in the Call, which can happen whenever the Prime feels like calling one (ha). To earn her and her family’s freedom, she’ll have to do the impossible and she learns very quickly just how impossible it is.
She meets the Warbringer, aka Axus Tassian aka Dominus Tassian 🤭 and there’s so much tension IMMEDIATELY that I ate up. The way their relationship ebbs and flows from “you’re the worst person I’ve ever met” to “😮💨🥵” killed me!
You’ll like this read if you’re into:
🏯 diverse culture
🔥 forced proximity
🗡️ enemies to lovers
🌅 gods and demons
Thank you so much to Tina for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
wishlist
March 10, 2026ooooou i want
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wowww I have so many thoughts but I think I'm going to keep this one simple. This was truly, at its heart, a story about a woman grappling with whether or not she is worthy of love. Our fmc, Revel, was just used in so many wrong ways by the people who are supposed to treasure you the most that it, understandably, skewed her idea of love and worth. Love became something conditional to Revel. Something that had to be earned and as we journey with her to find the night shard, we also journey together as she fights to come to the realization that she is, in fact, worthy of love. She's got a long way to go but she definitely made some huge strides by the end of this story. Axus, our MMC, is such a complicated character but some of my favorite moments in this book were him. He is so protective. Willing to sacrifice for her every comfort. He is down had for Revel and I'm down bad for him. I swooned and melted for this man. He is so freaking complicated though. Makes me want to tear me hair out! The end of this book was such a wild ride. There were some epic revelations, some that might gut you.. Because they certainly gutted me! The path for book two was laid down hard! I cannot imagine how this story will unwind itself but I'm looking forward to finding out! Thank you to Tina Mars, Saturday books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to arc read This Wretched Alchemy. It was a highly anticipated read for me and I'm so glad I was able to get my eyes on this arc!
April 21, 2026
“I feel a lot of things for you, Nightmare. But hate isn’t one of them. What I feel for you is much, much worse.”
Well dang, Tiiiina! That cliffhanger.
THAT.
CLIFFHANGER. 😱
This book needs to come with a warning label… “WARNING: You WILL fall head over sword in love with the villain. You WILL go on an adventure with a rag tag group of people that are ALL morally grey and betrayals are around every corner. AND you WILL be hanging off a WILD cliffhanger by the end, SCREAMING FOR YOUR LIFE.”
“You are my torture. My nightmare.”
Tina Mars is a beautiful genius and I truly couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried. Fantasy books are always a different bread of reading/writing. So much planning has to go into the world building for it to truly capture the readers within the first couple of chapters. Tina managed to not only capture me, but I was a willing prisoner to this book from start to finish. The world was SO carefully crafted and SO unique!
“I don’t fear you. Far from it.” I didn’t take my eyes off his as my tongue darted out, wetting my lips. “What if—” I swallowed. “—I want the monster?”
Our FMC, Revel Wyn, was a complete knockout. She’s fierce, broken, and willing to do whatever it takes to make up for the mistakes in her past. Including sacrificing her safety for that of her sister and mother. My heart broke for her. I found her character to be immensely relatable. She just wants to be enough and someone’s priority.
“Lie again and I’ll have you screaming your truths.”
When someone finally takes notice of her, and tries to care for her, she literally doesn’t know how to accept it. (Especially when it comes from the hands of the man she’s supposed to end.)
“There are no gods here to save you. The only name on your lips will be mine.” 🤭❤️🔥
There are so many twists and turns in this story. I was clutching my kindle and screaming, over and over again! The BETRAYALS. Ohmylanta, I just didn’t see nearly any of it coming.
“I would have let you.” My voice cracked. “I would have let you ruin me, Axus.”
I will just be here, DYING inside until book 2 comes out! Tina Mars is definitely a breakout author you NEED to add to your TBR! Romantasy lovers, this one is for you!
Tropes:
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ She’s On A Mission to ☠️ Him
🗺️ A Quest & Dangerous Creatures
👊🏼 Fierce FMC
🫠 “Let me worship you.”
🥵 “Eyes on me, Nightmare.”
💔 Plot Twist(sss) & Betrayals
😱 Cliffhanger That Will Leave You SCREAMING
❤️🩹 Tortured Hero & Heroine
🔥 Slowww Burn + Spice
Well dang, Tiiiina! That cliffhanger.
THAT.
CLIFFHANGER. 😱
This book needs to come with a warning label… “WARNING: You WILL fall head over sword in love with the villain. You WILL go on an adventure with a rag tag group of people that are ALL morally grey and betrayals are around every corner. AND you WILL be hanging off a WILD cliffhanger by the end, SCREAMING FOR YOUR LIFE.”
“You are my torture. My nightmare.”
Tina Mars is a beautiful genius and I truly couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried. Fantasy books are always a different bread of reading/writing. So much planning has to go into the world building for it to truly capture the readers within the first couple of chapters. Tina managed to not only capture me, but I was a willing prisoner to this book from start to finish. The world was SO carefully crafted and SO unique!
“I don’t fear you. Far from it.” I didn’t take my eyes off his as my tongue darted out, wetting my lips. “What if—” I swallowed. “—I want the monster?”
Our FMC, Revel Wyn, was a complete knockout. She’s fierce, broken, and willing to do whatever it takes to make up for the mistakes in her past. Including sacrificing her safety for that of her sister and mother. My heart broke for her. I found her character to be immensely relatable. She just wants to be enough and someone’s priority.
“Lie again and I’ll have you screaming your truths.”
When someone finally takes notice of her, and tries to care for her, she literally doesn’t know how to accept it. (Especially when it comes from the hands of the man she’s supposed to end.)
“There are no gods here to save you. The only name on your lips will be mine.” 🤭❤️🔥
There are so many twists and turns in this story. I was clutching my kindle and screaming, over and over again! The BETRAYALS. Ohmylanta, I just didn’t see nearly any of it coming.
“I would have let you.” My voice cracked. “I would have let you ruin me, Axus.”
I will just be here, DYING inside until book 2 comes out! Tina Mars is definitely a breakout author you NEED to add to your TBR! Romantasy lovers, this one is for you!
Tropes:
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ She’s On A Mission to ☠️ Him
🗺️ A Quest & Dangerous Creatures
👊🏼 Fierce FMC
🫠 “Let me worship you.”
🥵 “Eyes on me, Nightmare.”
💔 Plot Twist(sss) & Betrayals
😱 Cliffhanger That Will Leave You SCREAMING
❤️🩹 Tortured Hero & Heroine
🔥 Slowww Burn + Spice
March 13, 2026
3,5
C'est un très bon premier roman pour une romantasy. J'ai adoré l'univers et l'inspiration puisée dans la culture japonaise. L'héroïne a un fort caractère, mais elle a tendance à se dévaloriser à cause de son éducation ; j'ai trouvé que c'était une approche vraiment intéressante du syndrome de l'enfant du milieu. Voir comment sa position de seconde fille a façonné ses insécurités a apporté beaucoup de profondeur à son personnage.
Par contre, je ne sais pas si c'est parce qu'on n'avait pas son point de vue, mais j'ai trouvé la personnalité du prota un peu effacée, et je ne me suis pas vraiment attachée à lui. Dans l'ensemble, c'est une histoire solide avec une fin plutôt choquante 😵💫
This was good debut for a romantasy. I loved the world building and the inspiration from Japanese culture. The FMC is strong willed and has a tendency to depreciate herself because of how she was raised and it was an interesting take on the middle child syndrome. Seeing how being the second child shaped her insecurities added a lot of depth to her character. I don’t know if it was because we did not get his pov but the MMCs personality felt a bit lackluster and I did not get attached to him. It was an overall pretty solid story with a shocking end 😵💫
C'est un très bon premier roman pour une romantasy. J'ai adoré l'univers et l'inspiration puisée dans la culture japonaise. L'héroïne a un fort caractère, mais elle a tendance à se dévaloriser à cause de son éducation ; j'ai trouvé que c'était une approche vraiment intéressante du syndrome de l'enfant du milieu. Voir comment sa position de seconde fille a façonné ses insécurités a apporté beaucoup de profondeur à son personnage.
Par contre, je ne sais pas si c'est parce qu'on n'avait pas son point de vue, mais j'ai trouvé la personnalité du prota un peu effacée, et je ne me suis pas vraiment attachée à lui. Dans l'ensemble, c'est une histoire solide avec une fin plutôt choquante 😵💫
This was good debut for a romantasy. I loved the world building and the inspiration from Japanese culture. The FMC is strong willed and has a tendency to depreciate herself because of how she was raised and it was an interesting take on the middle child syndrome. Seeing how being the second child shaped her insecurities added a lot of depth to her character. I don’t know if it was because we did not get his pov but the MMCs personality felt a bit lackluster and I did not get attached to him. It was an overall pretty solid story with a shocking end 😵💫
March 26, 2026
3.75 thank you to NetGalley, Tina and the publisher for the early eARC!
RUIN MEEEE that ending hello???? Like here I thought I was a detective with all my theories but they were all wrong LMAO (except 1 i got right!) I wasn’t expecting that ending tbh
If you love fullmetal alchemist, you will notice so many little Easter eggs /influences to the plot in this book. I love the idea of alchemy so I was very excited to read about it.
Tina has put together a very unique world, and after reading the acknowledgements I loved how her children provided inspo for some of the monsters mentioned!
In terms of the romance, I really wanted MORE of a slow burn and emotional depth. It felt too insta love for me but otherwise they had very cute banter.
I also felt that way about the side characters, I really found myself liking Dex but maybe it was the pacing/timing? The relationships needed more time to build.
RUIN MEEEE that ending hello???? Like here I thought I was a detective with all my theories but they were all wrong LMAO (except 1 i got right!) I wasn’t expecting that ending tbh
If you love fullmetal alchemist, you will notice so many little Easter eggs /influences to the plot in this book. I love the idea of alchemy so I was very excited to read about it.
Tina has put together a very unique world, and after reading the acknowledgements I loved how her children provided inspo for some of the monsters mentioned!
In terms of the romance, I really wanted MORE of a slow burn and emotional depth. It felt too insta love for me but otherwise they had very cute banter.
I also felt that way about the side characters, I really found myself liking Dex but maybe it was the pacing/timing? The relationships needed more time to build.
March 18, 2026
♾️ stars full rtc!
Currently Reading
April 19, 2026I am 13 chapters in and I'm still waiting for something to happen that remotely sounds like the blurb. Updated review to come once I've decided to DNF or not.
February 28, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to DNF this title as I realised fantasy isn’t a genre I typically gravitate toward. There was nothing inherently wrong with the writing or story, but I found it wasn’t the right fit for my personal reading preferences.
Readers who enjoy fantasy elements and immersive world-building will likely have a very different experience with this one.
I decided to DNF this title as I realised fantasy isn’t a genre I typically gravitate toward. There was nothing inherently wrong with the writing or story, but I found it wasn’t the right fit for my personal reading preferences.
Readers who enjoy fantasy elements and immersive world-building will likely have a very different experience with this one.
March 1, 2026
First and foremost: Thank you to Tina and Saturday Books for the advanced e-galley of this book!
THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY by TINA MARS
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Pitch: Gladiator meets Fullmetal Alchemist
(My personal comps): The Hunger Games meets Gladiator with the magic system of FMAB
Synopsis:
BETRAYAL.
In a fractured realm ruled by warring noble Houses and the tyrannical Prime of House Aethryos, the most coveted power lie in god-shards--divine fragments that grant extraordinary abilities to those who possess them.
Revel Wyn's brother was murdered in pursuit of one.
A DEADLY GAME.
For avenging her brother's death, Revel should have received a death sentence. Instead, she's forced to make a deadly bargain: compete in the Call--a bloody contest of heirs vying for power--on behalf of her enemies, and assassinate the realm's most feared warrior and alchemist, the Warbringer.
A MONSTROUS POWER
The Prime sets the heirs on a brutal race to find the Night shard, a relic of immense power that could shift the balance of the realms. Revel must win a t any cost. But the Warbringer isn't the monster she was promised. Bound by secrets of his own to the cruel Prime, he is as dangerous as he is disarming.
With betrayals mounting and desire warring with duty, Revel must decide who to trust in a game where even the gods have their favorites. This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and power are the deadliest weapon of all.
A LOVE THAT CAN CUT DEEPER THAN ANY BLADE.
Tropes:
epic dark romantasy
enemies-to-lovers
strong female protagonist
games and trials/deadly competition
morally grey everyone
deadly quest
"I can fix him"
only one horse
fist clenching
animal companion
REVIEW:
TIna Mars.
Ms. Tina FREAKING Mars.
Light of my life.
Fire of my soul.
This could not have been your debut novel, because what was THAT?
I swear, this is the best romantasy book I've read this year and we're only on the first quarter. I just know that nothing will ever top THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY for me. This debut novel is IT.
For a long while, I've followed the author before she was an author and when news of her writing was shared, I could not get even more ecstatic. And my vibes was correct. I've connected to this book long before I got an early copy because of how strongly I felt about the characters upon first introduction, the representation, and just how Tina shows time and again how she writes about or write in the influence of the most important things that matter to her--which are also the things that matter the most to me.
THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY is set in the realm of Ryumere where alchemy is the main form of magic. This kind of magic system is so dear to me because of how much I've loved FMAB and how it affected me when I was little; it was one of the stories that raised me. THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY gave me that same feeling I had when watching FMAB not just because of the magic system, but also because it gave me the same sense of comfort and warmth, like coming back home.
The magic system is one of the most intricate one I've read in a fantasy novel, and I was truly impressed by how it was written. There is an equal division of exposition and on-page scenes of showing how the magic works, and I liked that a lot. Tina knew when to apply exposition and execute it in an effortless way, like in a memory being remembered by a character but that memory is also a huge part of the character's storyline so it was not like a filler or boring or written just so exposition could happen. There's a lot of brilliant ways Tina did this and this is why I was so floored, mouth-opened, jaw hanging on the ground impressed that this is her debut novel because my queen most definitely did not play.
Another element I really fell in love with is the world building, It was so rich and real, like George R.R. Martin's ASOIAF series. The world was vast and Tina did amazing with sprinkling facts and knowledge all throughout the story regarding the different cultures, traditions, religions, and histories of each nation. Even myths and lores, they were all woven into the story that made THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY a lived-in world with real people and real events and that definitely elevated my reading experience. I got really excited about the creatures and the in-world text because dayumn. Miss Tina Mars has also blessed us with her magical poetry found in epigraphs and embedded in the story as well. This book just has everything and it's overflowing while also making everything go together smoothly and seamlessly. I really loved the Roman and Japanese influences as well.
Tina also had talent for writing action scenes that read like movies in my head. The words were not clumpy and there's so much going on while the verbiage or wording was kept to a minimum--just enough to show plenty without over explaining to take away from the thrill. THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY's fight scenes are one of the best I've ever read. I was always immersed.
Now, the characters.
My absolute favorite part of this book.
Revel is my new favorite fmc and I wanna be her when I grow up. She's smart and funny and witty. Sassy and hot-headed and tender-hearted and I can see a reflection of myself in her. Revel is my salvation and revelation, a compassionate young woman who just wanted to belong. She is so eldest daughter coded, which was another thing I find we share and why I felt so connected with her. Whenever she thought herself not being enough, or having to conform to other's expectations to be seen or accepted, it tore at my heart. Our circumstances might not be similar, but I related to her experiences because I was also subjected to the same prejudices, judgments, and emotions. There had never been a character that resonated deeply with me until Revel Wyn. Honestly, I'm tearing up as I type this because of how raw her emotions were in the book and remembering them all too well.
I rooted for Revel, I screamed at her, chastised her, held her hand and comforted her. It's more like she understood me and all I ever wished and hoped and prayed for as she went on her adventure was she finds completeness and realize she's more than enough. That she see herself the way other people who loved her see her. As I was journeying with her, I have also come to the realization that these are the words I wished someone would've told me, that I could've learned to live by myself. Revel taught me to be brave and daring, she made me feel seen.
Then we have Dominus Axus Tassian, our Warbringer. Clouded with a dark past, it was impossible for him to open up and he wasn't that very good at communicating. This was such a real attribute for me because even at the beginning when he was described as invincible, he showed such humanity and flaws that endeared him to me. Much like Revel, he possessed characteristics that were so true and imperfect and I loved reading about him getting annoyed or being awkward or having a lapse in judgment, and learning about his bad decisions and all.
Revel and Axus were two characters that read like real people to me and even as I read the book and wanting to finish it immediately, I also found myself having a hard time letting go. They didn't know me, and they weren't real. Even if they were, I would be nothing but a stranger to them, but they're both precious to me. Their relationship developed in an organic way (from being true enemies literally physically fighting each other to how they were at the middle as the plot progresses), and Tina once again proved that she has written a magnificent romantasy. I could see THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY being the blueprint in the genre, a pioneer in slow-burn and enemies-to-lovers that gripped me from start to finish.
Not sure how much I could disclose here but I'm choosing to be extra careful because even I wouldn't want even tiniest hints to escape hehe every romantasy lover should read this book and discover its magnificence in their own because it was truly worth it and such a one-of-a-kind exhilarating reading experience. This is peak romantasy that should teach future books how to romantasy and also like E2L 101. The banter between our two hotties had me all giggling and kicking my feet, it was full of tension and could be at times really funny and adorable. Rev and Ax, or should I say mom and dad, are the it romantasy couple and I would ride until dawn with them and protect them with all my soul.
The other characters who were part of the gang were just as well-fleshed out as Revel and Axus. They all have distinct voices with different motivations that really played an interesting part in the plot and I especially love it when things get messy because of this lmfao Dex, oh Dex. He's one of my favorites and to know more about the other fascinating characters, you'll meet them all in the book.
What else am I missing? Ooh, the pacing! Every chapter is important and there were no filler scenes. I loved that about the writing. Clearly, there was a set purpose in each chapter and I think that's very well done in terms of planning and organizing. Each scene just keeps getting higher and higher too, like there were times when I thought I was reading peak scene like it was intense right? But then it won't even drop from there and it just went higher as I read more and more. It's like a playlist of songs that only kept on getting more and more energizing. That's what reading THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY felt like, actually.
And the end? My lips are sealed but it was one of the BEST, WELL CRAFTED endings I've ever read and now I don't know whether to laugh or cry that I got the e-galley and got to read and finish the book early because release date is in November (I've already pre-ordered the limited first print with all the gorgeous deluxe features in three different retailers because I live outside the US and one can never be sure when it comes to the security of their book package hehe) and book two is still in development so yeah I've been left in a steep cliff hanging with just my poor pinky. I'm not complaining; I am ever so grateful for the opportunity and this gift. I'm just saying that now my head is full of WRETCHED thoughts and this is going to be my condition until more news on book two are shared and until it's released. I'm gladly accepting and living in this torment because then I could reread THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY again and again and relive all the amazing scenes and my favorite parts and cry and have an existential crisis all over again.
Well, I guess, that is all. I hope I'm not forgetting anything but if I did, well. There's that.
TL;DR: THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY IS MY ROMANTASY OF THE YEAR I WISH I COULD FUSE MY SOUL WITH IT I LOVE IT SO MUCH Join the Revelution hehe but no seriously. Please read this book on release so we could all gush about how we love it besties.
Happy reading everyone!
THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY by TINA MARS
Release Date: November 10, 2026
Pitch: Gladiator meets Fullmetal Alchemist
(My personal comps): The Hunger Games meets Gladiator with the magic system of FMAB
Synopsis:
BETRAYAL.
In a fractured realm ruled by warring noble Houses and the tyrannical Prime of House Aethryos, the most coveted power lie in god-shards--divine fragments that grant extraordinary abilities to those who possess them.
Revel Wyn's brother was murdered in pursuit of one.
A DEADLY GAME.
For avenging her brother's death, Revel should have received a death sentence. Instead, she's forced to make a deadly bargain: compete in the Call--a bloody contest of heirs vying for power--on behalf of her enemies, and assassinate the realm's most feared warrior and alchemist, the Warbringer.
A MONSTROUS POWER
The Prime sets the heirs on a brutal race to find the Night shard, a relic of immense power that could shift the balance of the realms. Revel must win a t any cost. But the Warbringer isn't the monster she was promised. Bound by secrets of his own to the cruel Prime, he is as dangerous as he is disarming.
With betrayals mounting and desire warring with duty, Revel must decide who to trust in a game where even the gods have their favorites. This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and power are the deadliest weapon of all.
A LOVE THAT CAN CUT DEEPER THAN ANY BLADE.
Tropes:
epic dark romantasy
enemies-to-lovers
strong female protagonist
games and trials/deadly competition
morally grey everyone
deadly quest
"I can fix him"
only one horse
fist clenching
animal companion
REVIEW:
TIna Mars.
Ms. Tina FREAKING Mars.
Light of my life.
Fire of my soul.
This could not have been your debut novel, because what was THAT?
I swear, this is the best romantasy book I've read this year and we're only on the first quarter. I just know that nothing will ever top THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY for me. This debut novel is IT.
For a long while, I've followed the author before she was an author and when news of her writing was shared, I could not get even more ecstatic. And my vibes was correct. I've connected to this book long before I got an early copy because of how strongly I felt about the characters upon first introduction, the representation, and just how Tina shows time and again how she writes about or write in the influence of the most important things that matter to her--which are also the things that matter the most to me.
THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY is set in the realm of Ryumere where alchemy is the main form of magic. This kind of magic system is so dear to me because of how much I've loved FMAB and how it affected me when I was little; it was one of the stories that raised me. THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY gave me that same feeling I had when watching FMAB not just because of the magic system, but also because it gave me the same sense of comfort and warmth, like coming back home.
The magic system is one of the most intricate one I've read in a fantasy novel, and I was truly impressed by how it was written. There is an equal division of exposition and on-page scenes of showing how the magic works, and I liked that a lot. Tina knew when to apply exposition and execute it in an effortless way, like in a memory being remembered by a character but that memory is also a huge part of the character's storyline so it was not like a filler or boring or written just so exposition could happen. There's a lot of brilliant ways Tina did this and this is why I was so floored, mouth-opened, jaw hanging on the ground impressed that this is her debut novel because my queen most definitely did not play.
Another element I really fell in love with is the world building, It was so rich and real, like George R.R. Martin's ASOIAF series. The world was vast and Tina did amazing with sprinkling facts and knowledge all throughout the story regarding the different cultures, traditions, religions, and histories of each nation. Even myths and lores, they were all woven into the story that made THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY a lived-in world with real people and real events and that definitely elevated my reading experience. I got really excited about the creatures and the in-world text because dayumn. Miss Tina Mars has also blessed us with her magical poetry found in epigraphs and embedded in the story as well. This book just has everything and it's overflowing while also making everything go together smoothly and seamlessly. I really loved the Roman and Japanese influences as well.
Tina also had talent for writing action scenes that read like movies in my head. The words were not clumpy and there's so much going on while the verbiage or wording was kept to a minimum--just enough to show plenty without over explaining to take away from the thrill. THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY's fight scenes are one of the best I've ever read. I was always immersed.
Now, the characters.
My absolute favorite part of this book.
Revel is my new favorite fmc and I wanna be her when I grow up. She's smart and funny and witty. Sassy and hot-headed and tender-hearted and I can see a reflection of myself in her. Revel is my salvation and revelation, a compassionate young woman who just wanted to belong. She is so eldest daughter coded, which was another thing I find we share and why I felt so connected with her. Whenever she thought herself not being enough, or having to conform to other's expectations to be seen or accepted, it tore at my heart. Our circumstances might not be similar, but I related to her experiences because I was also subjected to the same prejudices, judgments, and emotions. There had never been a character that resonated deeply with me until Revel Wyn. Honestly, I'm tearing up as I type this because of how raw her emotions were in the book and remembering them all too well.
I rooted for Revel, I screamed at her, chastised her, held her hand and comforted her. It's more like she understood me and all I ever wished and hoped and prayed for as she went on her adventure was she finds completeness and realize she's more than enough. That she see herself the way other people who loved her see her. As I was journeying with her, I have also come to the realization that these are the words I wished someone would've told me, that I could've learned to live by myself. Revel taught me to be brave and daring, she made me feel seen.
Then we have Dominus Axus Tassian, our Warbringer. Clouded with a dark past, it was impossible for him to open up and he wasn't that very good at communicating. This was such a real attribute for me because even at the beginning when he was described as invincible, he showed such humanity and flaws that endeared him to me. Much like Revel, he possessed characteristics that were so true and imperfect and I loved reading about him getting annoyed or being awkward or having a lapse in judgment, and learning about his bad decisions and all.
Revel and Axus were two characters that read like real people to me and even as I read the book and wanting to finish it immediately, I also found myself having a hard time letting go. They didn't know me, and they weren't real. Even if they were, I would be nothing but a stranger to them, but they're both precious to me. Their relationship developed in an organic way (from being true enemies literally physically fighting each other to how they were at the middle as the plot progresses), and Tina once again proved that she has written a magnificent romantasy. I could see THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY being the blueprint in the genre, a pioneer in slow-burn and enemies-to-lovers that gripped me from start to finish.
Not sure how much I could disclose here but I'm choosing to be extra careful because even I wouldn't want even tiniest hints to escape hehe every romantasy lover should read this book and discover its magnificence in their own because it was truly worth it and such a one-of-a-kind exhilarating reading experience. This is peak romantasy that should teach future books how to romantasy and also like E2L 101. The banter between our two hotties had me all giggling and kicking my feet, it was full of tension and could be at times really funny and adorable. Rev and Ax, or should I say mom and dad, are the it romantasy couple and I would ride until dawn with them and protect them with all my soul.
The other characters who were part of the gang were just as well-fleshed out as Revel and Axus. They all have distinct voices with different motivations that really played an interesting part in the plot and I especially love it when things get messy because of this lmfao Dex, oh Dex. He's one of my favorites and to know more about the other fascinating characters, you'll meet them all in the book.
What else am I missing? Ooh, the pacing! Every chapter is important and there were no filler scenes. I loved that about the writing. Clearly, there was a set purpose in each chapter and I think that's very well done in terms of planning and organizing. Each scene just keeps getting higher and higher too, like there were times when I thought I was reading peak scene like it was intense right? But then it won't even drop from there and it just went higher as I read more and more. It's like a playlist of songs that only kept on getting more and more energizing. That's what reading THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY felt like, actually.
And the end? My lips are sealed but it was one of the BEST, WELL CRAFTED endings I've ever read and now I don't know whether to laugh or cry that I got the e-galley and got to read and finish the book early because release date is in November (I've already pre-ordered the limited first print with all the gorgeous deluxe features in three different retailers because I live outside the US and one can never be sure when it comes to the security of their book package hehe) and book two is still in development so yeah I've been left in a steep cliff hanging with just my poor pinky. I'm not complaining; I am ever so grateful for the opportunity and this gift. I'm just saying that now my head is full of WRETCHED thoughts and this is going to be my condition until more news on book two are shared and until it's released. I'm gladly accepting and living in this torment because then I could reread THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY again and again and relive all the amazing scenes and my favorite parts and cry and have an existential crisis all over again.
Well, I guess, that is all. I hope I'm not forgetting anything but if I did, well. There's that.
TL;DR: THIS WRETCHED ALCHEMY IS MY ROMANTASY OF THE YEAR I WISH I COULD FUSE MY SOUL WITH IT I LOVE IT SO MUCH Join the Revelution hehe but no seriously. Please read this book on release so we could all gush about how we love it besties.
Happy reading everyone!
March 8, 2026
Alright…prepare to be sick of me because WHAT?! Tina, you are absolutely insane for this book in the best possible way. You said you wanted feral readers. You said prepare to be ruined. Well, congrats…because this book absolutely destroyed me and I will be losing my ever-loving mind until I have at least 5 copies AND book 2 in my hands. Okay, now this is the part where I try to form coherent sentences to do justice to this absolute freakin’ masterpiece of a read.
First of all, I will say that this book pulls you in right from the jump. There is no easing into it. There is no “just wait for it to build”. From page one, I was absolutely immersed in the stunning, rich, decadent yet harsh world Tina has created. I immediately felt drawn into the story and to the characters in a way I haven’t in a very long time. Yes, this book has all of the tropes that make us bookish humans weak in the knees but it’s done in a way that makes it feel new.
Secondly, the writing is absolutely beautiful. Tina has such a way with words that makes this book stand out from the rest. If I hadn’t been following her from the start, I would never have believed that this is her debut novel. The incorporation of elements of Japanese and Roman culture brought so much substance to the story and Revel’s journey of exploring her self-worth was so enchanting to read while still being utterly raw and poignant. The complexity of the characters and the things they endure truly made me feel the need to stare at a wall for a while.
This book is sure to check all of the boxes for such a diverse readership and I seriously cannot wait for y’all to have it in your hands…not to mention that I need emotional support and someone to scream into the void with over that cliffhanger!! I know I’ll be saying a lot more about this book as we wait for release day but, for now, I just want to thank Tina and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read an early copy. For all my NetGalley peeps, look out for another opportunity to ARC read this one soon. I know it will become a favorite for you just as has for me.
Infinite stars 💫
First of all, I will say that this book pulls you in right from the jump. There is no easing into it. There is no “just wait for it to build”. From page one, I was absolutely immersed in the stunning, rich, decadent yet harsh world Tina has created. I immediately felt drawn into the story and to the characters in a way I haven’t in a very long time. Yes, this book has all of the tropes that make us bookish humans weak in the knees but it’s done in a way that makes it feel new.
Secondly, the writing is absolutely beautiful. Tina has such a way with words that makes this book stand out from the rest. If I hadn’t been following her from the start, I would never have believed that this is her debut novel. The incorporation of elements of Japanese and Roman culture brought so much substance to the story and Revel’s journey of exploring her self-worth was so enchanting to read while still being utterly raw and poignant. The complexity of the characters and the things they endure truly made me feel the need to stare at a wall for a while.
This book is sure to check all of the boxes for such a diverse readership and I seriously cannot wait for y’all to have it in your hands…not to mention that I need emotional support and someone to scream into the void with over that cliffhanger!! I know I’ll be saying a lot more about this book as we wait for release day but, for now, I just want to thank Tina and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read an early copy. For all my NetGalley peeps, look out for another opportunity to ARC read this one soon. I know it will become a favorite for you just as has for me.
Infinite stars 💫
February 27, 2026
I was anticipating the hell out of this read ever since I discovered it was coming, and I have the honor of being an early ARC team member. Thank you to Tina Mars and Saturday Books!
I genuinely don’t even where to start to talk about this book; I’ve been sitting with my feelings for days. DAYS I tell you. I finished reading in less than 24 hours and I have officially been consumed and wholly possessed. Tina has put her all into this, and you can tell that This Wretched Alchemy is a true labor of love that she has poured into the pages. Eldest daughters, this one is for you. Readers, please prepare to be ruined in the best of ways.
If you’ve ever talked to me about books then you know that I THRIVE with a good world build, and I need it injected into my veins. I was SAT and fully immersed from the first page. That is not an easy thing for me, so when I say it I am so serious! I read so much fantasy that one thing is I genuinely do seek new magic systems, and this one is by far one of my favorites. As a girl that loves alchemy and has a deep obsession with all things crystals, nature, and esotericism, this magic system hits an incredibly deep itch in my brain that I didn’t even know I needed. It’s raw, it’s dark, it works incredibly different for everyone, and the use of it always comes with a cost of some kind.
The story follows Revel— the eldest daughter that has put the weight of the world on her back whilst harboring immense feelings of guilt for what has happened to her family. A major theme for Revel as she goes on this deadly journey is battling her sense of self worth, and her ability to take up space in the world. Is she not enough, is she TOO much? is she worthy of love, or is she the problem? where does she fit in? All of this internal struggle is happening and she is still an incredibly strong willed (but still soft hearted) stabby badass that is quite literally fighting for her life.
Her sense of self worth directly ties into the way she utilizes and learns to use her magic throughout the book, and seeing the pattern of her growth is such a beautiful and heartbreaking experience. Revel is 100% bringing Asian representation which is incredibly needed and refreshing to see, but Tina wrote her in a way that all women of color can feel seen and find something of themselves in her, and I truly admire that in a way that is soul deep.
Warbringer? Honestly don’t even get me started. I am DOWN BAD first of all; but I cannot say a lot about him without feeling like I’ll give away too much. Just know that his character is as equally layered as Revel, if not more. You will love to hate him, and hate that you love him. The ride is WILD.
And the SIDE CHARACTERS? SO. MANY. SIDE CHARACTERS. I love them ALL. I am in utopia. I will not name names yet to keep the mystique, but the pansexual panic is real and I have a deep obsession (How many times can I say obsessed in one review? Idk what to tell you, my feelings are very deep chile LMAO). When Tina says morally grey everyone, she meant that with her whole chesttttt I’m telling you. Every single character is so complex with layers, motives, and struggles of their own, and they’re all incredibly well written. I guarantee you’ll find someone to love… or to hate. Love hate? Hate love? You get it. It’s giving dysfunctional found family.
The world is so beautiful! it’s rich with culture and creatures that will have you both terrified and utterly thrilled; maybe both at the same time and on various occasions? Who knows. The politics, the lore, the tension that is felt in your bones, the YEARNING? The betrayal, the HEARTACHEEEE? THE PLOT TWISTS? I don’t think I took a breath for the last 5 chapters. Just yeah. This was an experience and my heart has been ripped out, my edges snatched. I am pleased, I am sat, and I need the next book yesterday.
When I tell you I think this was a masterpiece? I can’t even imagine how much better this will get when the final copy is out. This Wretched Alchemy will be available to be requested on NetGalley by the general public in roughly two months, and an official release date of November 10th! PLEASE get this on your immediate want to read list, it’s so incredibly worth it.
I genuinely don’t even where to start to talk about this book; I’ve been sitting with my feelings for days. DAYS I tell you. I finished reading in less than 24 hours and I have officially been consumed and wholly possessed. Tina has put her all into this, and you can tell that This Wretched Alchemy is a true labor of love that she has poured into the pages. Eldest daughters, this one is for you. Readers, please prepare to be ruined in the best of ways.
If you’ve ever talked to me about books then you know that I THRIVE with a good world build, and I need it injected into my veins. I was SAT and fully immersed from the first page. That is not an easy thing for me, so when I say it I am so serious! I read so much fantasy that one thing is I genuinely do seek new magic systems, and this one is by far one of my favorites. As a girl that loves alchemy and has a deep obsession with all things crystals, nature, and esotericism, this magic system hits an incredibly deep itch in my brain that I didn’t even know I needed. It’s raw, it’s dark, it works incredibly different for everyone, and the use of it always comes with a cost of some kind.
The story follows Revel— the eldest daughter that has put the weight of the world on her back whilst harboring immense feelings of guilt for what has happened to her family. A major theme for Revel as she goes on this deadly journey is battling her sense of self worth, and her ability to take up space in the world. Is she not enough, is she TOO much? is she worthy of love, or is she the problem? where does she fit in? All of this internal struggle is happening and she is still an incredibly strong willed (but still soft hearted) stabby badass that is quite literally fighting for her life.
Her sense of self worth directly ties into the way she utilizes and learns to use her magic throughout the book, and seeing the pattern of her growth is such a beautiful and heartbreaking experience. Revel is 100% bringing Asian representation which is incredibly needed and refreshing to see, but Tina wrote her in a way that all women of color can feel seen and find something of themselves in her, and I truly admire that in a way that is soul deep.
Warbringer? Honestly don’t even get me started. I am DOWN BAD first of all; but I cannot say a lot about him without feeling like I’ll give away too much. Just know that his character is as equally layered as Revel, if not more. You will love to hate him, and hate that you love him. The ride is WILD.
And the SIDE CHARACTERS? SO. MANY. SIDE CHARACTERS. I love them ALL. I am in utopia. I will not name names yet to keep the mystique, but the pansexual panic is real and I have a deep obsession (How many times can I say obsessed in one review? Idk what to tell you, my feelings are very deep chile LMAO). When Tina says morally grey everyone, she meant that with her whole chesttttt I’m telling you. Every single character is so complex with layers, motives, and struggles of their own, and they’re all incredibly well written. I guarantee you’ll find someone to love… or to hate. Love hate? Hate love? You get it. It’s giving dysfunctional found family.
The world is so beautiful! it’s rich with culture and creatures that will have you both terrified and utterly thrilled; maybe both at the same time and on various occasions? Who knows. The politics, the lore, the tension that is felt in your bones, the YEARNING? The betrayal, the HEARTACHEEEE? THE PLOT TWISTS? I don’t think I took a breath for the last 5 chapters. Just yeah. This was an experience and my heart has been ripped out, my edges snatched. I am pleased, I am sat, and I need the next book yesterday.
When I tell you I think this was a masterpiece? I can’t even imagine how much better this will get when the final copy is out. This Wretched Alchemy will be available to be requested on NetGalley by the general public in roughly two months, and an official release date of November 10th! PLEASE get this on your immediate want to read list, it’s so incredibly worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This Wretched Alchemy has taken me on a wild ride. Revel wants to save her family. She will do anything to protect them, even if that means dying. When forced into the Call by the Prime, Revel may be in for more than she can handle. Faced with difficult decisions and other scions that want her dead, she will have to face the villain within to make it out alive.
Tina Mars writes poetry on the page. Her visuals are descriptive and lyrical. The reader becomes entranced in Revel's mind and experiences all the emotional trauma she lives with. The story opens with politics and deadly trials that twist and turn from page one. Each character has layers of hidden agendas and lies they hide behind. Tina crafted a main female character who struggles with basic principles of love and what it means to be loved. The main male character is guided by someone else's beliefs and wrestles with what it means to just be.
Beyond the world building and main characters, Tina devoted time to creating side characters that leap off the page. She entwines her culture and heritage within the creatures and lore throughout the entire book. Plus an animal side kick you are bound to love. I feel so incredibly lucky to get this book so early from Tina and her team. I can't wait for more readers to be ruined.
Tina Mars writes poetry on the page. Her visuals are descriptive and lyrical. The reader becomes entranced in Revel's mind and experiences all the emotional trauma she lives with. The story opens with politics and deadly trials that twist and turn from page one. Each character has layers of hidden agendas and lies they hide behind. Tina crafted a main female character who struggles with basic principles of love and what it means to be loved. The main male character is guided by someone else's beliefs and wrestles with what it means to just be.
Beyond the world building and main characters, Tina devoted time to creating side characters that leap off the page. She entwines her culture and heritage within the creatures and lore throughout the entire book. Plus an animal side kick you are bound to love. I feel so incredibly lucky to get this book so early from Tina and her team. I can't wait for more readers to be ruined.
March 23, 2026
How did I get so lucky to receive this arc months in advance??
Consider me completely RUINED. This was my most anticipated ARC of the year, and it didn't just meet the hype—it leveled it.
Tina Mars takes our favorite tropes—"Who did this to you?", "Touch her and die," and even the classic one-horse trope—and makes them feel incredibly fresh. Nothing feels like a checkbox here; it’s a "she is sent to kill him" plot that feels organic, dangerous, and earned.
The world-building is lush (the gods! the alchemy!), but that last 30% is where things go absolutely EPIC. The twists are relentless, and the "true enemies to lovers" arc is lethal. The writing is pure poetry, and the morally grey cast is everything I wanted.
My only issue? Having to wait so much longer for the sequel now that I’ve finished this early! 😭 If you want a Romantasy with actual teeth, put this on your radar for November 10th.
Consider me completely RUINED. This was my most anticipated ARC of the year, and it didn't just meet the hype—it leveled it.
Tina Mars takes our favorite tropes—"Who did this to you?", "Touch her and die," and even the classic one-horse trope—and makes them feel incredibly fresh. Nothing feels like a checkbox here; it’s a "she is sent to kill him" plot that feels organic, dangerous, and earned.
The world-building is lush (the gods! the alchemy!), but that last 30% is where things go absolutely EPIC. The twists are relentless, and the "true enemies to lovers" arc is lethal. The writing is pure poetry, and the morally grey cast is everything I wanted.
My only issue? Having to wait so much longer for the sequel now that I’ve finished this early! 😭 If you want a Romantasy with actual teeth, put this on your radar for November 10th.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I finished This Wretched Alchemy and since then, I have needed time to recover. This book destroyed me in the best way. The writing is beautiful and immediately hooked me. I held onto the pages , my eyes were unable to stray away from the words, I anxiously flipped the pages, I could not put the book down! The banter was superb, the way I screamed, "Stop denying yourself!" , soo good!! The chemistry and tension were sizzling off the pages. This romance was top tier! I still do not have all my words to describe my reading experience and my thoughts on this book. But trust me, when November comes and you're holding this beauty in your hands, take the next 2 days off to not be disturbed because you will not want to stop!
April 12, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and Goodreads for the giveaway to win this ARC!
I will admit I struggled at first reading this but only because I felt like there was so much information being thrown at me that I felt so lost for a while!
However once the story got going I was really enjoying it! This is what I would consider a higher fantasy and I haven’t read many of those before I was t terribly familiar with a lot of the inspiration for the story.
All that to say that by the end of the book I was totally invested in these characters and all the dynamics at play! I am so excited for others to be able to read this when it comes out and I hate that now I have to wait a long time to read the sequel!!
I will admit I struggled at first reading this but only because I felt like there was so much information being thrown at me that I felt so lost for a while!
However once the story got going I was really enjoying it! This is what I would consider a higher fantasy and I haven’t read many of those before I was t terribly familiar with a lot of the inspiration for the story.
All that to say that by the end of the book I was totally invested in these characters and all the dynamics at play! I am so excited for others to be able to read this when it comes out and I hate that now I have to wait a long time to read the sequel!!
February 27, 2026
***REVIEW OF EARLY ACCESS NETGALLEY eARC***
So, I have been dying to read this book since Tina had announced it on her IG (before she changed her handle!) and was extremeley to be chosen as an early ARC reader! I enjoyed this book immensely. The characters were well-rounded and progressed throughout the story's journey. Revel was pretty bad ass, and I liked that she knew she was badass, but also had a vulnerability to her, Her weakness and strengths were portrayed througout the story, making her relatable and also not one of those overpowered FMC's.
The Enemies to lovers trope was done with enough tension that I could not stop reading. I'm a sucker for tension, and this was full of it. The world building was creative, and I loved the take on alchemy.
I would love to go on but no spoilers LOL but I will just end with saying I am excited for book 2, because that ending? That last 100 pages? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
So, I have been dying to read this book since Tina had announced it on her IG (before she changed her handle!) and was extremeley to be chosen as an early ARC reader! I enjoyed this book immensely. The characters were well-rounded and progressed throughout the story's journey. Revel was pretty bad ass, and I liked that she knew she was badass, but also had a vulnerability to her, Her weakness and strengths were portrayed througout the story, making her relatable and also not one of those overpowered FMC's.
The Enemies to lovers trope was done with enough tension that I could not stop reading. I'm a sucker for tension, and this was full of it. The world building was creative, and I loved the take on alchemy.
I would love to go on but no spoilers LOL but I will just end with saying I am excited for book 2, because that ending? That last 100 pages? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
April 29, 2026
Thank you so much Tina & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy!:)
This one is for the eldest daughters!
I have been following Tina WAY before I even created my booksta account, so when she started looking for arc readers for her debut novel I RAN SO FAST.
This wretched alchemy is everything and more. 💜💜
Revel is avenging her brother’s death, but is imprisoned by her enemies and forced to compete in a deadly contest of heirs vying for power. To save her family she is sent to assassinate the realms most feared warrior “the warbringer”.
This is a TRUE enemies to lovers with the most tension.
Revel & Axus aka the warbringer have my entire heart. The banter between these two is top tier.
This is an epic dark romantasy, morally grey everyone, with so many twists. You won’t be able to put this book down.
I honestly don’t know how I am going to wait until book 2’s release because THAT ending! Tina, seriously? Why would you do that to us??
Release date: November 10th 2026.
This one is for the eldest daughters!
I have been following Tina WAY before I even created my booksta account, so when she started looking for arc readers for her debut novel I RAN SO FAST.
This wretched alchemy is everything and more. 💜💜
Revel is avenging her brother’s death, but is imprisoned by her enemies and forced to compete in a deadly contest of heirs vying for power. To save her family she is sent to assassinate the realms most feared warrior “the warbringer”.
This is a TRUE enemies to lovers with the most tension.
Revel & Axus aka the warbringer have my entire heart. The banter between these two is top tier.
This is an epic dark romantasy, morally grey everyone, with so many twists. You won’t be able to put this book down.
I honestly don’t know how I am going to wait until book 2’s release because THAT ending! Tina, seriously? Why would you do that to us??
Release date: November 10th 2026.
March 1, 2026
This is a six star read for me!
The slow burn. The tension.
The cinematic world build.
And THAT ENDING.. TINA!
I need book 2 NOW!!
The slow burn. The tension.
The cinematic world build.
And THAT ENDING.. TINA!
I need book 2 NOW!!
March 16, 2026
I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway, and decided to read it while on vacation. I think it will be popular on booktok when it’s released. It’s an intriguing story with many interesting characters. The FMC was well written, and I can’t wait to read about the rest of her story in the next book. The magic elements are different than other books, so that was refreshing. The MMC has some serious baggage, and I enjoyed the minor characters. I definitely recommend this book!
March 27, 2026
This is a tough one.. I liked the overall premise of the book. The magic was intriguing, the contest to find the shards filled with twists and monsters was great. I just found myself struggling to finish it. Tina has set up for an intriguing second book, and I do feel it might be worth the read for some.
March 14, 2026
This Wretched Alchemy
By Tina Mars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC
Thank you to tina and ___ for the ARC of This Wretched Alchemy! I've been following Tina basically since I started my bookstagram account and it's been so cool getting to see her growth and transition into becoming a published author! As soon as I saw her post about needing ARC readers for her new book, I said SAY 👏🏻 LESSSS! 👏🏻
For all of my romantasy girlies, THIS is a book that has to go on your tbr immediately!! It's non-stop adventure and action that starts from the very first chapter, spicyyy, and I enjoy the mixture of mythology that gets brought in to the story.. It really adds to the uniqueness of the story and also the world-building!
🔪 true enemies to lovers
🖤 she's sent to unalive him
🔪 they're both really stabby
🖤 twisted trials
🔪 it's giving gladiator
🖤 literally everyone is morally grey
🔪 dark romantasy
This Wretched Alchemy comes out on November 10th, so there is still a little ways to wait BUT... a little birdy told me that there may be more ARCs available on NetGalley soon...
By Tina Mars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC
Thank you to tina and ___ for the ARC of This Wretched Alchemy! I've been following Tina basically since I started my bookstagram account and it's been so cool getting to see her growth and transition into becoming a published author! As soon as I saw her post about needing ARC readers for her new book, I said SAY 👏🏻 LESSSS! 👏🏻
For all of my romantasy girlies, THIS is a book that has to go on your tbr immediately!! It's non-stop adventure and action that starts from the very first chapter, spicyyy, and I enjoy the mixture of mythology that gets brought in to the story.. It really adds to the uniqueness of the story and also the world-building!
🔪 true enemies to lovers
🖤 she's sent to unalive him
🔪 they're both really stabby
🖤 twisted trials
🔪 it's giving gladiator
🖤 literally everyone is morally grey
🔪 dark romantasy
This Wretched Alchemy comes out on November 10th, so there is still a little ways to wait BUT... a little birdy told me that there may be more ARCs available on NetGalley soon...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews