Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and Stacey McEwan for the free arc copy for review.

Run and add this to your TBR list. Stacey McEwan is an exceptional storyteller, and I can’t quite put my finger on what she wove into this book, but I couldn’t put it down. The story begins with our two main characters, Nina and Patrick, when they are twelve years old, embarking on a journey to the Siphoning Ceremony. After the initial setup, the story takes several time skips, propelling the story forward swiftly.

A Forbidden Alchemy is a perfect blend of historical fantasy and slow-burn romance. The witty banter between the love interests had me giggling and blushing. Nina is a complex and well-developed character, while Patrick is morally grey in all the right ways and completely swoon-worthy.

McEwan kept me on the edge of my seat with a multitude of unexpected plot twists. Plus, that ending left me wanting to go all Patrick to get the second book. If you know, you know.

If you’re familiar with Peaky Blinders, this book shares similar vibes, so I suppose I’ll be binge-watching it to fill the void it’s left in my heart.

This book was a masterpiece and that's the very first thing that comes to mind. I absolutely loved the world that Stacey created from the magic to the almost gritty steam punk era vibe. It was a slow burn filled with so much tension and yearning. Patrick and all of his brothers were witty and intriguing and the idea of the war had me locked in and wanting to never stop. I am such a huge fan of this book and cannot wait until book two is out next year!

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and Stacey McEwan for the gifted eARC of A Forbidden Alchemy! All opinions are my own.

Nina and Patrick’s story isn’t an easy one—but it is unforgettable. Honestly, I think you need to know what Stacey has to say to the reader in the book’s acknowledgments: “And to you, the reader, I hope you found solace in Kenton Hill before *redacted due to spoilers*. Sorry about that. I’ll get to fixing it.” You can’t really be emotionally prepared, even after hearing that. Stacey knew what she was doing.

The way Stacey paints a scene is cinematic.I could see every corner of this world. And don’t even get me started on the magic system—figuring out how it works felt like watching The Hunger Games for the first time: shocking, layered, horrifyingly brilliant. I was hooked.

Patty and Nina’s relationship is full of tense passion. Their chemistry simmers with history, heartbreak, and hope. They’ve grown into these beautifully complex, morally tangled adults who never forgot what happened on that train—or about each other.

If you pick this one up, and you're anything like me, you'll be spiraling and desperate for the next book before you even hit the last page.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads and Amazon on 7/31/25.
My Instagram review will be posted on 8/1/25.

💜 A Forbidden Alchemy by @staceymcewanbooks
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⛏️ “I’ll apologize to you now because I’ve fallen in love with you. But I promise you, Nina, I swear I didn’t mean to. So if it’s all the same to you, I’ll be sorry for the rest of my life.”

💙 “I couldn’t tell if his pulse sprinted as violently as mine. Was he a drug for all the women he touched?”

🧪 I want to start out by saying this audiobook is FANTASTIC! 🎧 The accents for the characters help immerse yourself in the story. The accents help tell the different classes a part. I definitely recommend this audiobook if you’re a listener.

💜 Nina and Patrick meet at the young age of 12 and discover a secret that could rattle the entire class system of their world. Young and afraid, they each make their own choice in the matter and are thrown into their prospective journeys.

⛏️ Years later, they are brought back together. Having grown up in two very different societies, can they somehow work together for a common goal? Or is there too much distrust between them?

💙 With high stakes at every turn, multiple characters with their own agendas, and a class system on the verge of breaking, you’ll be hooked from page 1!

🧪 Read this if you love:
- Elemental Magic
- High Stakes
- Dual POV
- Secrets and Betrayals
- Peaky Blinders vibes (especially the accents)
- Slow Burn

💜 A MASSIVE THANK YOU to @sagapressbooks for the *SIGNED* physical ARC and the audiobook to review! I have no idea how I got so lucky.

I see what all the hype is about for this book! With short chapters, an engaging magic system, and class warfare on the rise, A Forbidden Alchemy was hard to put down once I picked it up.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but the overall writing style (while incredibly easy to read) was a bit too simplistic for my tastes. This works well for action scenes, but there weren't too many of those until the very end. A lot of twists and reveals are made to make the ending feel super climactic and has me eager to pick up the next book. But once I sat with the overall book for a bit I can't help but feel this was mostly a big setup for the sequel.

Also Patrick is an incredibly engaging character and I found I much preferred his perspectives when we got them! It's clear the author wants us to self-insert as Nina (hence why her POV is written in first person and Patrick's is in third), but I couldn't help finding her annoying at times.

Still, it was a fun read! And while this is being marketed as romantasy, it falls more comfortably in the fantasy-with-strong-romantic-subplot genre, which is actually what I tend to prefer anyway!

A Forbidden Alchemy completely surprised me—in the best way. It's set in an industrial world divided by class and magic, and delivers a rich blend of rebellion, romance, and emotional tension. Nina Harrow is a standout FMC: fiercely guarded, powerfully gifted, and shaped by trauma in ways that feel real and raw. Patrick Colson—childhood friend turned rebel leader—is the perfect counterpart: brooding, loyal, and morally complex. The magic system is more emotional than technical, which may not be for everyone, but I appreciated the symbolism and how it tied to the characters’ inner struggles. If you like romantasy with revolution, quiet yearning, and morally gray dynamics, this book is absolutely worth your time.

This is one of those books I regret finishing. Only because nothing will compare to it now. This book was a masterpiece. Romantasy is back baby.

A Forbidden Alchemy is a top notch epic romantasy filled with political intrigue, a unique magic system, and a scorchlingy slow burn romance that left me giddy and kicking my feet. Highly recommend this one if your looking for something to fill the void after the Six of Crows duology.

I loved everyrhing about this book. I was so invested in the story. My throat hurts from all the gasps I let out. These plot twists were crazy! And that ending?!! Idk how I am to recover. Don't mind me picking the pieces of my heart back up and trying to rebuild it. I'm going to go insane until I can get my hands on the next book.

"A thousand brilliant bursts of light ruptures in me when he looked at me that way, like I was crafted precisely for him. Like I was the only woman who had ever existed."

Nina is the young daughter of a poor miner, living a bleak existence on the edge of Belavere, dreaming big dreams. She eventually gets her chance at a better life, though it's not all that it seems. There's tension and strife brewing in Belavere and Nina ends up having to make an impossible choice.

Patrick is also the son of a poor miner, but is content with his life and has no wish to leave his family behind. He and Nina make a quick, but impactful connection as children that stays with them both into adulthood. As an adult, he'e the defacto leader of 'the Colson boys" -enter Peaky Blinder vibes! He finds himself falling hard for Nina despite his better judgement.

Oh. My. Gosh. What a ride! I swear this book has it all and utterly wrecked me (in a good way). I am in love with Stacey's writing and world building. It's lyrical without being wordy and the world is well fleshed out without being overwhelming. The banter is quick witted and hilarious, the longing is palpable and the friendships are heartwarming. I cannot put into words how much I want the second book! This has quickly become one of my favorite reads of this year.

What to expect:
-Peaky Blinders x Six of Crows vibes
-magical disparities
-dual POVs
-angst and longing
-banter

I couldn’t put this down! Stacey’s wit and writing style will suck you in to this world and won’t let you go!

The entire time I was reading A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY by Stacey McEwan, the song Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds kept playing in the back of my mind. It wasn't until after I finished it and read some marketing for it that I discovered why I could not get the song out of my head. My mind recognized the story's similarities to Peaky Blinders, a connection that Ms. McEwan deliberately intended. I happen to think Peaky Blinders is one of the best TV shows of all time, so it should come as no surprise that I adored A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY and want the sequel now.

There is a lot to love about A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY, and it isn't just with Patrick's similarities to Tommy Shelby. The story itself is addictive. You find yourself reading "just one more chapter" long past your bedtime. The chemistry between Nina and Patrick is fierce, but they've lived lifetimes in the years between their first meeting and their next. The baggage each brings to their relationship heightens the tension. Plus, Ms. McEwan includes multiple plot pivots to prevent her story from slowing down.

What I enjoyed the most about A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is the lack of royalty. This isn't one kingdom fighting another, or an outsider coming in to take down a corrupt ruler. Instead, it is a story where the have-nots are fighting the haves in an attempt to obtain parity or at least a greater share. Although the country is fictional and occurs in a time that is somewhat akin to the Industrial Revolution, it is a story that is as relevant today as it would have been during the Industrial Revolution itself. If anything, it is even more important as we seem to have forgotten that coming together as one body, whether it is at a protest or via a union, is one of the best ways for those without power to take it back.

On top of that, you have Nina, a main character who is tough but fragile as she fails to recognize the lingering impact of childhood trauma and the misplaced loyalty it engenders. While she is always striving to do the right thing or to be a better person, her flaws prevent her from seeing the correct path. Patrick is a much less complicated character when compared to Nina. His childhood, while still full of suffering, included a family unity and community connection that Nina does not have. Watching Nina attempt to make whole what was torn asunder early in life is a lesson in understanding, self-awareness, honesty, and forgiveness.

The ending of A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is not quite at a cliffhanger level, but it does leave you wanting more. I wasn't expecting how Ms. McEwan chose to end the first part of her series, but I like what she did and how she did it. Her choices leave a myriad of possibilities for the sequel, any of which would be viable and exciting.

A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY, while channeling a Peaky Blinders aesthetic, is a refreshing change from the dragons/phoenixes/other magical creatures, kingdom vs. kingdom, good magic vs. bad magic that make up a large portion of the fantasy genre today. Nina and Patrick are ordinary. blue-collar kids who stumble upon the country's biggest secret. It is what they individually do with that secret that makes up the rest of the story. Moreover, the magic does not limit itself to a select few special individuals or through bloodlines, another refreshing change. Ms. McEwan's story is a breath of fresh air amid all the dragon and phoenix fire. With a strong plot, fascinating characters, and a story that is not about one's right to rule as much as it is about the allocation of a country's resources, A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is an inspiring tale that neatly mirrors today's societal woes and its potential salvation. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

A slow burn story of childhood friends separated by circumstance with elemental magic, plot twists, found family, rebellion, and political intrigue. A Forbidden Alchemy delivers on all counts.

McEwan's romantasy world is a little grittier and unafraid to really lean in to the unromantic setting and turmoil created by the classist system.

There were some sections that moved a little more slowly, and the FMC was a bit naive, but overall, this was a fantastic ride.

This was my first Stacey McEwan book and I was really enchanted by her writing style. Very lyrical and descriptive without being too wordy or bulky. All the characters felt very fleshed out and she had me engaged from the first chapter and fully invested. I enjoyed the alchemy aspect of this story, gives magical realism vibes- Divine Rivals meets Peaky Blinders.

YEARNING! We have it here in spades, folks. There are also discussions of classism, generational trauma/exploitation, and rebellion.

This is the first installment in a trilogy and after that ending I am anxiously anticipating the next book!

1 🌶️ Brief, mildly descriptive open door romance

*Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review*

Magic, a revolution, and a love triangle, Sign me up. Forbidden Alchemy took me on a wild ride full of hope, love and betrayal.

When Nina and Patrick met all those years ago, their twelve-year-old selves didn’t know where life would lead them. Years later they are back together, but not by choice.

I read Forbidden Alchemy without prior knowledge of its content. The story contains various unexpected developments and plot twists. The shifting loyalties among characters made it difficult to predict their true intentions. I was shocked with some truths that were brought to light that I did not see coming.

This story goes beyond a love triangle—it's about a revolution sparked by the mining union and its leader, Patrick. With the weight of the world on his shoulders and navigating it all while plotting a downfall there was no way he couldn’t be morally gray. I was sold on everything he was about and everything he was fighting for.

While reading this book I kept thinking about the wise words of Lucas from the movie Empire Records, “damn the man.”

Exploring the world of Artisans, including Nina, an earth charmer, and Theo, a water charmer, proved to be highly fascinating and fun. Navigating if they will use their powers for a greater cause or to be a puppet to the society they belonged to was an exhilarating ride!

The ending left me gasping in disbelief. I cannot wait for book two and have no doubts it will be everything and more.

Loooved the cliffhanger ending! I guessed some of the surprise twists but I really enjoyed it. Solid 4 stars

⭐️ 3.5/5
🌶️ 1.5 peppers
Tropes: Forced Proximity • Slow Burn • Dual POV • Lamplight Fantasy • Peaky Blinders Vibes

Forbidden Alchemy is a unique blend of romantasy and gritty lamplight fantasy, offering an urban, gloomy atmosphere with strong Peaky Blinders energy. Patrick steals the show, think Thomas Shelby but fiercely loyal and open about his villainy. Loved his brothers (especially sweet, blind Donny) and their fierce, no-filter mother, Tess.

Now… Nina. She’s brilliant in the academic sense but dangerously naive in the real world. Kind-hearted and quiet, yes, but also immature, selfish at times, and painfully slow to face reality. For someone in her mid-20s, her choices often felt like they were made by a much younger character. There were countless chances for her to come clean, yet she somehow always found the worst path forward. It was frustrating, especially when those choices made the plot painfully predictable.

The romance is soft and slow-burn, rooted in a childhood connection. Spice is minimal but fitting. The plot balances tenderness with the darker themes of war and the way it shapes people. While the ending was emotional, it wasn’t quite the soul-crusher I was expecting based on other reviews.

I’m curious enough to continue the series, but I’ll be waiting to see how reviews shape up before diving into book two.

𝑨 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒍𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒚 was simply incredible! I finished it late last night and just had to get my thoughts out to you all this morning! I was hooked from chapter 1 and Nina and Patrick became my everything. Two children meet briefly in a place where they are to uncover their magical potential and future paths in life. They have an undeniable chemistry and uncover a shocking secret that changes everything as they know it and sets them on two different paths in life. But what happens when they meet again? Well, you’ll have to read to find out! Trust me, it’s worth it.

Stacey’s prose is addictive, the twists and turns will blow your mind, and that ending will leave you reeling and craving more immediately!

This was a very unique fantasy! It reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games mixed with Shadow and Bone. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the next one!

So I really liked the FMC, Nina. She navigated hard truths and decisions throughout her young life. There was a bit of a love triangle, which I didn't really care for, but the plot was still good and flowed really well. There were twists and discoveries that made the plot and Nina and Patrick's stories more intriguing, and overall, I really enjoyed it

At least one of those stars is purely for the vibes.

I am obsessed with this setting!! It's gritty and human and oh so different from all the other Romantasy I've read recently. Peaky Blinders vibes for sure.

This takes place in a mining town and deals with class wars and brutal realities, with some truly morally grey characters. Even the magic system is grounded in how it can be exploited for either labor or war. All of the characters get dragged down into the mud (quite literally), and I enjoyed every moment.

Pair that setting with dual POVs and a deliciously slow burn romance and you get a perfect moody combo. Patrick quickly became one of my favorite MMCs – I'm convinced he's actually the main character. I've read too many books where the guy exists only to prop up the FMC. Not Patrick!

That said, Nina made me want to throw the book a few times. She's a bit of an unreliable narrator and I wish she could have made better choices, though I only got so mad because I cared so much.

Heads up, be prepared for an intense ending.

While it took me a while to form coherent thoughts after finishing this, it didn't stop me from immediately screaming into friend’s DMs.

A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
US Release Date: 07.01.2025
Publisher: Saga Press, Simon and Schuster

A Forbidden Alchemy is the first of a new fantasy romance duology. It is dual-POV with open door romance, and a heavily political plot. This book spans timelines, but is told in a linear style. We spend a brief amount of time at the beginning of the book with the two main characters as children, then time skip to their adult reunion under less than ideal circumstances.

The story maintains an excellent balance between romance and fantasy, and I was impressed with the thorough exploration of both aspects. The world building is well outlined, extensive and original, with a unique magic system. The romance is filled with delicious banter, yearning and swoon-worthy moments. I found myself giggling out loud like an absolute weirdo on several occasions. The pacing is on the slower side, which fits the story, and the narrative is equal parts plot and character driven.

The characters were well developed and relatable, each having both strengths and flaws. Together, the two lead’s chemistry was palpable, but they were equally charming on their own. I loved our cynical MMC Patrick, who is a grump with a heart of gold (hidden somewhere under a layer of coal). Nina is filled with ambition, but altruistic to her core. Each of them brings so much life and light out of each other. We are also treated to many complex and interesting side characters.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you so much to Stacey Ecewan, Saga Press, and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

#AForbiddenAlchemy #SagaSaysCrew