This was my first Stacey McEwan and I was hooked from the first page. Seriously, I almost dropped my Kindle on my face trying to stay up to keep reading. I did struggle a bit with the forward jumps in time but I appreciate that McEwan used ages/school years to make the distinction.

If you're reading this for romance, I'd say that romance is the subplot here. We've got a bit of a love triangle happening and while that's I trope I absolutely loathe, it didn't bother me too much because of the way it was handled. If you're reading this for fantasy, then buckle up, this is a good one. I had a fun time reading which is one thing I desperately needed last week.

Loved the class commentary/warfare aspect to the story and I'm always a sucker for elemental magic. I don't think I was expecting the cliffhanger though. McEwan is going to have to answer for her crimes, that's for sure. This is supposed to be a duology and if it's not, I might riot. I need answers.

Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC!

WOW !! What a great new romantasy book ! This book left me absolutely speechless. There were so many twists and turns and the ending was wild ! I need the next book asap. The writing was so good and sucked me in right away and kept my attention the whole way through. I felt like this book was such a breath of fresh air amongst so many familiar romantasy themes. The banter between the two main characters is top tier. I could not stop reading. One of my favorite books this year. Highly recommend giving this one a read !

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Stayed up until 1 am to finish this one… 😅.

I will update my thoughts once I’ve had some sleep.

Update:

It’s been two days and I still am not sure I have the adequate words for this book. Also I tried to go in as blind as possible to this book- pretty much only knowing the character names and that some of my friends loved this one.

Now let me be frank, the writing is good but when it started out it felt very much like other fantasy’s. I have read. But as the plot progressed and we learned more about this world I was intrigued and sucked in. Stacey kept me on my toes with new information and I gasped a good amount as things were revealed.

By the 70-80 mark I was reading it as much as possible. I even used the last 3 hours of my Spotify hours to read in the car while I was running errands. I even read during a baseball game cause I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

Things I’m shocked by:
1. Attracted to a man named Patrick
2. The desire to rewatch Avatar: the last airbender (actually not shocking the show is so good)
3. Wanting to watch Peaky Blinders
4. Again wondering why smoking on books is hot but in real life I would not find it attractive

Overall, I really think my fantasy romance people are going to really enjoy this one!

1-2 open door scenes (honestly can’t remember the exact number)

THANK YOU AGAIN TO SAGA PRESS FOR THE PHYSICAL ARC OF THIS BOOK! 🥹 all thoughts are my own!

And thank you NetGalley and Saga for the eArc!



Spoilers?
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I did find myself yelling at some of the characters and wishing I could shake them but we can’t get everything we want right? 🫠

Exhilarating! Had to check my blood pressure after that ending my heart was racing so fast! I haven’t had a book affect me this way since the Empyrean series! Amazing world building, well rounded characters with lots of spunk. Perfect class rebellion warfare fantasy with unique elemental magics. Definitely one of my top reads for 2025. Huge round of applause! Now I need the next one ASAP

I’m feeling a bit bamboozled!!!! I had the audio for this one and I have to say if I had to read it with my eyeballs I don’t know that I would have finished it.

The magic system is cool and has a ton of potential but the execution of this book was low key a bummer. It felt wildly predictable and the twists weren’t…shocking. The way the book ended would have been a great place to be by 50% so…idk maybe the pacing was off?

Will I read the second one? Jury is still out.

Thank you to Saga Press for the advanced copy and to Libro.fm for the ALC!

This book absolutely DID IT for me!
I loved the world, it was very 'peaky blinders' in feeling, and I was hooked from the very beginning.
Eagerly awaiting the next book already, because SHEW, that ending!
For this being a debut, absolutely phenomenal. The twists were twisting, the characters were dynamic, 10/10.

I loved this book! I fell in love with Patrick, his family, and all of Kenton Hill. The character development and plot development kept me hooked throughout, and I did not want to stop reading. I can’t wait for the next installment!!

Another stunning book by author Ava Reid. The magic system weaves through the story in such a way, it doesn't leave the reader confused or left to figure things out on their own. As always, it's a tale of doing what is consider the "right" thing vs doing the "right" thing. I really enjoyed it.

Romantasy lovers need to read this immediately!! This is an absolutely brilliant, slow burn romance! The tension between the working and upper class, political unrest, espionage, and magic system, in addition to the romance, will keep you engrossed and gripped from the first page!

Nina is torn between two worlds - the crafters who have no magic and provide the country with essentials and the artisans who live in comfort with their magic. Nina emerges with a rare artisan ability, meanwhile the crafters and artisans are on the brink of war. Patrick, a crafter boy from her past, believes he can convince her to their side. Nina struggles with what to do all the while falling for Patrick, putting her in a dangerous position with both sides of the conflict.

The dual POV really helped to move the story along and built the yearning romance between Nina and Patrick. Nina can sometimes be frustrating with her naïveté but Patrick is absolute perfection!! He’s the MMC that you dream about. I need more of him!

After that ending, I have no clue what to expect. All I know is I need the next book!!

Thank you to Saga Press for the advanced copy.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

This was such a unique romantasy! Gave me Peaky Blinders vibes but with magic.

There are two casts in this world: Artisans and Crafters. Artisans have magic, but Crafters don’t. At age 12 kids go to the Capital to get tested to see if they are an Artisan or a Crafter.

Our FMC Nina is from a poor town, and is convinced the test will show that she’s an Artisan. Our MMC Patrick doesn’t care much, and wants to go back to his hometown no matter what his results are. Nina and Patrick meet each other at the Capital when they are 12, and together they discover a secret that will change their lives forever.

I loved how different this story was from others that I’ve read! There were also several twists (yes several). I can’t wait for the second one!

Thank you Saga Press Books for this E-ARC

Overall 4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Saga Press, and Stacey McEwan for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book was so much fun to read! It had a peaky blinders feel with elemental magic. It starts with two children, Nina and Patrick, meeting, discovering a government secret, and going down different paths based on that secret. 13 years later they meet again in the height of a class war where they are not on the same side. From there you have multiple twists and turns, morally grey characters, love blooming, betrayals, and secrets coming to light. Overall, I really loved this book and have recommended it to my friends already!

3.75 🌟 I hate when a book has all the potential to be a 5 star read and just… isn’t. The first 50% was everything I look for in a romantasy and I swear I was ready to call it my favorite of the year but I seriously HATE a certain type of plot that shows up later on. Can’t say much without spoiling but the second I realized it was heading in that direction, all my excitement vanished. What saved it for me was Patrick and everyone around him, if it were just about him this book would be easily a 6 star read 😶‍🌫️ I really liked the setting and most of the characters (minus a certain trio..…) and that’s what kept me going. I’ll definitely read the sequel bc there is a lot I enjoyed but this first book ended up letting me down a bit.

WOW. I love her writing and the pacing of the story. The love triangle. The yearning!! The beginning of the story - experiencing them as children. The historical aspect of the story. I liked reading what it was like for miners and their families. The TWISTS!! I truly did not see them coming. I found it to be really unique. I was intrigued the whole time and that ending?!! I need Book 2 ASAP! I think this is a story that so many people will love. The Goodreads Rating is high for a reason! If you’re looking for your next romantasy read look no further.

A peaky blinders coded world exploring the repercussions of what happens when hoarded power and intentional disenfranchisement are proven to be happening. Language became weirdly literary at points and didn’t necessarily feel like it fit the situation sometimes, but there were story related reasons it could have come off this way. I liked the dynamic between MCs but think Nina is probably too much of a realist and Patrick is too much of an idealist. I saw the ending from a mile away, but interestingly, have no idea what track book two will take or how they’ll resolve how things were left. Groundbreaking? No. But if romantasy with acquired magic, class warfare, and pesky blinders vibes sounds like your jam, give it a go.

A heartfelt thank you to @staceymcewanbooks and @sagapressbooks #sagasayscrew for the #gifted book and @simon.audio for the #gifted audiobook.

If I could give this book a thousand stars, I absolutely would. From the very first page, I was completely immersed, unable to put it down, and wishing it would never end.

Listening to the audiobook while reading was a game changer—the narrators were nothing short of phenomenal! Their accents, emotional depth, and dramatic delivery brought the story to life in a way that was truly unforgettable.

Nina and Patrick are intricately crafted characters, full of complexity. Their lives intertwine in a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the escalating conflict between the Artisans and the Crafters. Their fateful meeting at age twelve sets the stage for the choices that will define their lives when they reunite years later. Patrick’s family—his brothers and mother—are expertly developed, injecting humor into otherwise tense moments, while Nina’s classmates, Polly and Theo, add surprising layers to the plot. The love triangle involving Nina, Theo, and Patrick is charged with tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The Artisan School and the community of Kenton Hill are painted with such vivid detail that I could almost envision walking through them myself. The unexpected twists and turns throughout the story kept me guessing, while the ending left me yearning for more of these unforgettable characters. This narrative will echo in my mind for a long time to come.

⚗️ I thoroughly enjoyed participating in a month-long buddy read for this incredible book. Check out the hashtag below to explore all our reviews:
#AForbiddenAlchemyBuddyRead

If you’re drawn to themes of fate, secrets, betrayal, and love triangles, this book is an absolute must-read. Mark your calendars for its release on July 1, 2025—you won’t want to miss it!

A Forbidden Alchemy…where do I even begin to describe the absolute intoxicating book this was. From the very first page Stacey McEwan will have you hooked into her forbidden magic, rich world building, and political intrigue.

The magic system was refreshingly unique, rooted in alchemical tradition yet layered with its own intricate mythology. The FMC and MMC were a chef’s kiss and all of her side characters felt intimate like we knew them…yes I’m talking about you Donny.

The romance was beautifully paced—slow, simmering, and laced with tension. I loved watching the dynamic between the characters evolve.

With a haunting atmosphere, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy morally gray heroines, high stakes, and forbidden love wrapped in fantasy. I’m already eagerly awaiting whatever the author writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. I can’t wait to recommend it widely.

Stacey McEwan really knows how to suck me into her stories! I loved the set up for this story, beginning when the main characters are 12 and learn an alarming secret. Years later, they meet again and the weight of the things they’ve learned is threatening to break.

Revolution is already upon them, but what side will they choose?

The world building was fantastic and I loved how we saw the of Patrick and Nina’s story. The story kept me guessing and I will definitely read book two!

★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: open door (two scenes)

5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I never had a hope in the world of forgetting you, Scurry girl.”

A Forbidden Alchemy is the first instalment in the adult gaslamp fantasy romance series by the same name. Written in dual POV (first person for the FMC and third person for the MMC) the story follows Patty and Nina, two people who, at a young age, discover a secret that thrust their world into a class war that threatens everything they know and love.

See, Nina has always wanted to be an Artisan, an individual with elemental magic, so that she could get away from her life in the mining village. Patrick, on the other hand, is desperate to stay home with his family to protect them as a Craftsmen, a human working the fields, the mines, etc. At the age of twelve they are sent to Belavere City to learn if they have the magic their land desperately needs to run...only to discover the ritual is a fraud. Nina, refusing to return home, takes the magic for herself and finds herself in a world that seeps with corruption and war and when she loses everything she runs. On the run Nina never expects that the boy from thirteen years ago would find her again and this time he needs her help to end this rebellion. As time goes on Nina realizes that things will not be so simple when she must decide - will she risk everything for the man she is falling for or will betray the rebellion to protect the Artisans that made her?

Man, this book puts you through the paces alongside one of the best smoothest slow burns I have read in awhile.

Nina is a woman who isn't looking for a fight but finds herself stuck between a rock and hard place - pun intended. As a gifted and rare earth charmer the Artisans are desperate to use her but as time goes on she chafes under the pressure because they want her to turn on the very community that raised her - the Craftsmen. I truly felt for her struggle on having to decide but I also admired her tenacity to find a way forward. It does lead to some secret keeping and trust issues that pose a problem down the line but she just is trying to do the right thing.

Patty is to die for. He has this charisma and devilish persona that gives way to a truly romantic soul. I loved his way with words because it contrasted so well with the brutality of his character as a leader of a rebellion. He is also a massive secret keeper but with the weight of an entire community on his hands it makes sense. His connection with Nina cannot be denied and I loved seeing him embrace that.

“It isn't your business to know who I love.”
…
“If it’s all the same to you,” he said, low and exact, “I’m inclined to make it my business.”

In turns of spice, I would place this book at 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. This is a slow burn romance with approximately 2 spicy scenes starting around the 77% mark. The spice was built up in a truly amazing way with tension and connection between Nina and Patty. I loved their dynamic and banter because we got to really see their relationship evolve. The spice itself is detailed and passionate. Patty truly cares for Nina and he shows that to her thoroughly. It was the perfect build up!

The story itself takes you through the paces. The first 30% takes the time to show you the progression of Nina and Patrick stumbling over a life changing secret to the growing revolution and rebellion that ensues, which occurs over approximately thirteen years. I really appreciated getting to see this growth as it highlighted and reinforced the motivations of Nina especially. It also gave us the foundation we need to understand this series. After that we get a more clearer storyline as Nina is being forced into helping Patrick in a rebellion mission that, hopefully, will bring down the Artisans. Nina is reluctant at first but mainly because she wants no other people hurt in this quest of revenge. There is another factor of the story that evolves and I LOVED the twist - I'm not going to spoil it but suffice to say it leads to a bit of a ticking time bomb. There is plenty of action here, magic, political intrigue, and so many amazing side characters to shake things up like Donny, Gunner, Theo, and Polly who all play vital roles in motivating and challenging our main cast. The ending is going to be gut wrenching but it felt right in this situation. I knew it was coming and I was satisfied when I learned it but dang do I want book 2 out ASAP.

If you love grittier romantasies set in an industrial age with a slow burn romance that packs a punch, you need to add this to your TBR!

Thank you so much Saga Press for this arc!

“And he found a way- it would only take a war”
Nina and Patrick… I need to know what happens! There a time when you read a book- and you think about it often, and you crave more of it- this is that book.
Immediately five stars! Without giving any spoilers and it’s so hard to do because I just wanna share with you guys how good the story was it made me cry. It made me gasp. It made me just wanna stay up all night and read. I loved this book.!
It has magic, mayhem, it’s got ruffians and adventure. Loyalty and love lost- and love found. Read this book!!! I already want more!

The best fantasy romance I've read all year.

When I first heard this book pitched as Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows, it skyrocketed to the top of my must-read list. And I'm delighted to say it did not disappoint.

The storytelling is compelling, and the world-building is just enough not to be overwhelming. In a rather rare occurrence, I found both Nina and Patrick to be equally compelling narrators. Although I will say it initially threw me off to find that Nina's POVs are told in first person, but Patrick's are in third person.

Nevertheless, I loved this book from start to finish. Everything, from the chemistry to the yearning, the supporting cast, to the romance, was done to perfection. I'm obsessed.

I will be counting down the days until the sequel.