This book was cute but the world building lost me a bit and the romance didn't seem believable to me. Also, the plot kind of bored me.

Thank you so much to Stacey McEwan for allowing me to read your book early! I loved it! Everyone, add this to your TBR immediately!

This book felt like a breath of fresh air. It had everything that I love in a romantasy (slow burn, he falls first, touch her and die) but was so unique and like nothing I’ve read before. The MMC is amazing, and let’s just say, I’d be his “Scurry girl” any day.

This book takes place in a dystopian “real-world” setting in the 1800s where there are two classes of people: artisans, who have magic, and crafters, who don’t. When two children discover a national secret, it essentially incites a war between the two groups.

This book has a unique magic system, a corrupt government, plot twists, betrayals, and dual POV. I absolutely loved the side characters in this book (I’m looking at you Donny). I also found the setting refreshing, as a large part of the book takes place in a mining village.

This book ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next one!

I really really enjoyed this!! Absolutely LOVE the industrial peaky blinders-esque vibes and overall atmosphere of this world. The tension and banter was stellar, and the depth of the romance really shined within this story. The plot had many parts that were highly predictable, but I still found myself invested and hooked for the entire thing, even when it was pretty clear where things were heading. I feel like this author did a great job of taking some highly used tropes and delivering them in a way that was fresh and different. I also really enjoyed the magic system, even though I typically don’t love when the magic takes such a backseat to the plot/romance. In this case, the magic served mostly as a symbol of power that all the characters grapple with, and I loved the additional dimensionality this brought to the story. I will definitely be sticking around for the rest of this series, and would recommend this as a fun, easy romantasy to others!

Huge thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

At 12 years old, Nina Harrow knows one thing for certain: she will not be returning to the small mining town she was born to. Determined to become an Artisan, an individual who harnesses specific skills with the assistance of a special drug called idium, Nina enters Belavere City with her head held high. That is, until she discovers the ceremony to uncover Artisans is rigged, and she never stood a chance. Years later, Nina is stuck between two guns as the Belavere Council and the rebellion, headed by a companion from her past, fight for control over idium.

Holy shit, I am blown away yet again. I devoured this book! If you're a fan of the Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross, I guarantee you will enjoy this. The magic system is similar, the slow burn and war-time vibes are the same. It's just *chef's kiss* gorgeous.
I absolutely adore a badass woman with powers so unique the world hasn't seen in centuries. I love the idea of everyone having the potential for magic, and I absolutely love a love triangle where you only truly have one person to root for.
Nina just itches that sweet spot of my brain; she is the perfect amounts of hardened and loving, the banter she has with everyone (but mainly Patrick) makes me giggle, and I wish every woman in a fantasy novel had her wit. I genuinely cannot explain just how much I want to be her in the eventual movie/tv show.

BIG thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC! Projected publishing date: July 1st, 2025

At the age of twelve, children are called to Belavere City to have their future chosen. When given a magic substance, they either display magical gifts and become Artisans or nothing happens and they become Crafters. Nina Harrow wants to become an Artisan, has dreamed for years. Patrick Colson knows his life is set for him before he even walks through the doors. He's set to join the men of his families in the mines. What follows is a tragic tale of love, loss, and rebellion. Nina and Pat will have to find their place in the world. When the world begins to crumble, what will they save?

Forbidden Alchemy spans a little over a decade. Some of that is just told quickly but there are parts that will break your heart. This is a slow burn, there's a lot to build and create within the society and magic system. The first 50 pages drew me in, but then I wrestled with slow until about 100 pages left. The characters are appealing and well written, they kept me reading. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

4.5⭐

Thank you Stacey McEwan and Saga Press for the ARC!

I have not read a book in so long that has gripped me from start to finish. That left me gasping at the end. I am truly obsessed. This romantasy was so fresh and different from any others I've read and I ATE IT UP!

The world building is really well done, and the stage is set from the beginning when the two main characters meet at the age of 12. There are a couple of time jumps but they are done perfectly and at no point did I feel like anything was missing.

The slow burn and tension was amazing, AND the emotional damage along the way was incredible and painful in the best way. That ending broke me, I cannot wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Hot DANG. This book was everything! The magic system was unique, creative, and utterly intriguing. The politics carried the book in the best way. The main characters were so interesting, they left me wanting to know so much more which I feel like is exactly how it should be for the first book of a series.

A Forbidden Alchemy is perfect for lovers of Peaky Blinders, Divergent, and Mistborn. Between the schooling, war, & the plot twists left and right, I was hooked from the jump. This book was the perfect set up for an incredible series to come.

Overall, I will absolutely be recommending this book. It was a very well deserved 5 star book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press, and Stacey McEwan for this advance reader copy. It was well loved and well received & I am looking forward to the continuation of this story in the *hopefully near* future.

Currently in shambles and unsure how to move on from this book, it literally altered my brain chemistry (overused in the book world) and I’m saying that for the first time. Stacey McEwan, this book is a stunning masterpiece. Beautiful, heartbreaking, suspenseful… it has everything. Love, family, trust, comedy, banter, yearning, politics, magic, betrayal—it’ll leave you wanting more. I was on the edge of my seat multiple times DMing Stacey freaking out I GASPED in disbelief with multiple plot twists and revelations. Each POV kept me hooked, pulling me deeper. Truly, it’s one of those rare, unforgettable reads.

(I'm obsessed with Donny I also have 75 highlights on my kindle, a record for me)

Peaky Blinders vibes, morally grey characters, and a slow-burn romance? Yes please! I ATE up the tension and banter between Nina and Patrick! I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!

OH am I agonizing about what to rate this... but rate it I must.

Patrick and Nina are on opposing sides of a revolution. The magic wielding Artisans versus the working class Crafters. Along the way, they somehow manage to fall in love - but will all the secrets they keep end up tearing them apart?

Stacey McEwan is such a talented writer and I really enjoyed the unique story and magic system she brought to life in this book. It took a long, long time for me to get invested in the story though - it starts out very slow and remains that way for what felt like at least half of the book. I knew the story was essentially based around a brewing war but I did not expect it to feel quite so political and that was a bit of a turnoff for me. I read as an escape and some of it just hit too close to home in our current political climate. It was also a very dark, atmospheric and often depressing tale. I have heard that it is a duology and I did become invested enough to want to see how it ends, but overall I can only say that I liked it. It was too heavy and the beginning too slow to say that I loved it. 3.5 Stars.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read an early copy.

This book deserves ALL the stars.
Put simply - I LOVED this book.
It was absolutely amazing and I couldn’t put it down. Truly cant recommend it enough.

I ate up every single twist and turn.
I’ve fallen in love with the characters, and I really enjoyed the banter between them.

I mean this in the best way possible - the ending made me want to throw my Kindle out the window but instead I sat there in silence for five minutes (after yelling out NO!!!)

Stacey did an amazing job with the world building and magic system, and the time jumps were easy to follow and really well done.

This has been my top read of 2025 (and 2024).

Thank you to Stacey for me allowing me to read this ARC. Now excuse me while I sit and stare into space while I wait for book 2.

I have no words for this book and the way that it took over my life. The characters, the world building, the tension- all of it was amazing. And that ending!!!! Wow, I was not expecting this when I went into reading an author I was unacquainted with. I am blown away. Truly can’t wait to see what happens next!

Halfway through this book I already knew it would be receiving 5 stars.

The story follows Nina, a “scurry girl” who came from a poor mining town and ended up thrust into the life of a student in the Artisan school for “gifted”. Most students at the school are born into the title and very rarely does the child of a worker/crafter end up attending. How Nina ended up there must be kept a secret, as does her true identity.

Only 2 people know her true identity, and one is the son of a miner named Patrick, will he keep her secret?

Time jumps forward 7 years, and then 7 more. Nina is no longer a naive 12 year old girl, and there is a war raging. Everything has changed and life is nothing like she imagined it would be.

Patrick didn’t attend the Artisan school, but he left with more than secrets and memories. As the years went by and war continued to build he never could forget the face of a “scurry girl” he met that day.

When two worlds collide is perhaps the best way to describe what happens when Nina and Patrick’s paths cross again.

This book is filled to the brim with secrets, pain, longing, betrayal, trust, and magic. I felt the panic of “what if” 2/3 of the way through and I felt like I was holding my breath until the end.

I cannot wait until the follow up book.

Thank you Stacey McEwan and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

ARC REVIEW:
I did struggle to get into this book, I think the whole rebellion and mining aspect was a bit repetitive. There was a unique magic system with tension and high stakes that picked up. The book ended with a fast BANG, definitely a major cliffhanger. Can't wait for book two!


Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

I had such an enjoyable time reading this. Just when I thought I knew what was happening another amazing twist would come & destroy all my theory’s.

This is a need to read book of 2025. I will be recommending this book to everyone who will hear me yap. The love, lore, magic, people, and world is just remarkable. I truly couldn’t put this book down.

While this story does have romance, it’s not the biggest draw for me. I adored the way the author crafted the plot points. The way they executed a wonderfully complex fantasy tale. It was all so beautifully done. I’m deeply invested in what happens next & will be keeping this author close.

Thank you for much to Saga Press & the author for an early earc of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. A Forbidden Alchemy is the first book in this author’s new romantasy series and it’s got all the elements you would want to sweep you away into this fantastic book— a budding class war, magic and alchemy, deep hidden secrets, questions of morality, betrayals, a bit of a slow burn romance, etc. I won’t attempt to give a brief blurb about what happens in the book because it is quite a lot but, I got drawn right into it and read the whole thing nearly in one sitting.

This book was so amazing and I was captivated from the start. We open with a defining event in our young main characters, Nina and Patrick’s, story; from there, we move quickly through a series of events to land them in their young adulthood where we’ll experience most of the story. It took me a moment to get oriented to these quick time jumps but, it didn’t feel too jarring and I was able to keep up with the key points in the story. When we land in what will be our present day and main part of the story, I was well invested into the characters and kept waiting for the building tension and main events of the book to just implode; secrets and a beautiful romance abound in this story and were well worth all of the set up.

There were a fair amount of secondary characters in this book to keep track of but, each had distinct personalities and I enjoyed getting to know them more throughout the book. I thought that the fantasy plot line in this story was unique, as well— at first, I was worried it would be too similar to other books I’ve read but, the plot takes some sharp turns and it felt very fresh. There are some particularly notable twists toward the end of the book that had me on the edge of my seat and that made me all the more invested. The last 100 pages of this book or so of this book made it a full five stars for me and I will absolutely be reading the sequel to this book once it comes out.

I hope this book gets the attention and readership it deserves once it’s published— I absolutely loved it and will be reading again. I can’t wait for the sequel and in the meantime, am looking forward to reading the author’s backlist titles. A fantastic new romantasy series, not one to miss!!

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. I have no notes, only praise.
The beginning of the story was full of dreams, opportunity, and world building. I loved seeing two children from very similar backgrounds but at the same time,complete opposites of each other. With Nina as the dreamer, wanting so much more vs Pat who is more realistic and just wants his normal life. I liked the timeline of this book, how we meet two children, then get to know one from childhood to adolescence and to adulthood.
The magic system, politics and manipulations seen in this world were also, I think very unique. Considering how Idium is connected to their magic and how suppressed the crafters are compared to the artisans.
The romance in this book was also quite something. It was satisfying to see all that build up from the beginning, and see it blossom when both are full grown adults. They both became who they were separately but they both remembered the other since their first encounter. Another thing to point out, this found family that is formed is also quite sentimental since war is what brings them together.
I will be anxiously waiting for the next book and I totally think this book is Stacey Mcewan’s glow up.

This was a great balance of Political Intrigue and Romance! There was good Chemistry between Nina and Patrick, and a unique magic system that I really enjoyed! While it was a bit predictable, the steampunk setting kept things fresh and I enjoyed this read!

Peaky blinders meets magic? Say less. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and preorder this one. You will find yourself both rooting for and screaming at Nina, the main female protagonist. Magic, romance, politics, and war come together to create a beautiful story of impossible choices with plenty of twists along the way. But beware, the cliffhanger at the end will have your heart feeling ripped out and wanting more.

Thank you to Saga Press, Stacey McEwan, and Netgalley for this 6/5 ⭐️ ARC read. Currently dying inside already waiting for book 2.

This romantasy was so fresh and different from any others I've read and I ATE IT UP!
The first part of the book is full of character and world building but it's done in such a beautiful way without feeling like an info dumping snore fest. I love getting to know our main characters through their childhood and adolescence, this helps us understand how they think and where they come from, in a way that the other characters don't quite understand. The found family and relationships here were so well developed and will pull on your heart strings. The magic system is unique and beautifully done and I can feel that there is so much more to be uncovered through the series.
Belevere Trench is a continent with magic wielders, known as Artisans and regular folk. known as Craftsmen. Your fate is determined at 12 years old when every child travels to Belevere city to drink a vial of Idium, and determine if they have been blessed with magic or not, but all is not as it seems. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are both from poor mining towns and they meet when they go into the city for the Siphoning Ceremony and stumble upon big secrets that ultimately change not only their future, but the future of the entire continent. They both choose a different path but fate has other plans and brings them back together years in the future amidst a revolutionary war that they might have sparked the beginnings of at the young age of 12.
The way Patrick and Nina's fates are woven together is perfectly done. Nina has so much trauma and fear propelling her forward throughout the book and I love seeing her grow and change through her experiences and relationships. Patrick on the outside appears to be a rough and tumble rebellion leader but underneath we get to see how deep and genuine he really is as he strives to make a huge change in their world and uncover the corruption that's rampant in Belevere City.
The plotting is done so well and I love that I didnt have a clear view of where the story was going.
The slow burn and tension was amazing, AND the emotional damage along the way was incredible and painful in the best way. That ending broke me, I cannot wait for the next book!!