A Forbidden Alchemy was so good and I was immediately drawn into the story! It’s been a while since I literally wanted to yell at a character and throw my book against a wall in a book the way I did here haha, which for me always tells me I’m really invested in the story. I’m waiting very impatiently for book two as that ending did not satisfy me haha.

I enjoyed getting to know the MCs as kids, and then growing with Nina seeing how she transforms into the woman she is for most of the story. While it feels like Nina is the primary main character, Patrick’s POV really enhanced the story, and in particular adding a lot of depth to the romance!

Overall it was a fun story and easy to lose myself in and I will definitely read the sequel! Thanks for arc NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada!

Stacey just charmed the earth from under me! This was such a fantastic, gripping read centered around classism and the consequences of choices.

12 year old Nina Harrow wants a life outside of the Brink, and the mining town of Scurry, home to working class Craftsman. She dreams of leaving and the glamour of Belavere city, where rich, magical Artisans thrive. When Nina's summoned to have her magical potential tested she meets Patrick. Before the tests even start, both of them discover the carrot in front of them is not an achievable dream. She discovers something shady about the test administration and the liquid formed from idium. Nina makes a choice she can't take back and forces her way into Belavere acamdemy, but she quickly realizes how above her class she's stumbled.

Now I haven't had the urge to pick up a romantasy all year. But this has everything I love. The writing is addicting and well done, you will want to stay up to read this. I'm going to be binging Stacey's previous series.

✅ There's sharp banter/pining between Nina and Patrick
✅ Slow burn chemistry
✅ Intriguing magic system, and fantasy elements
✅ Peaky Blinders Vibe. Love this more than the typical medieval setting of romantasy.
✅ Found Family, and a funny cast of characters. I loved the Colson's.
✅ Forced tunnel proximity lol
✅ Twisty plotlines! Drama! Backstabbing!

What I hope we get from the next installments:
The background on how the magical roles were created. How many different specific casters are there and why are alchemists so rare? Tanner's background, why is he the big bad villain? Can't wait for the follow up.

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Shuster, Saga Press for the ARC!

Rating 5⭐!!!

I LOVED THIS ROMANTASY!

Nina and Patrick meet at the age of 12 and discover a secret that could change the whole world they live in. Both make a choice that day, Nina to get what she always wanted from life, and Patrick to continue with his life.

Years later a revolution starts they meet again and have to make choices they never imagined.

This book was so good. The writing was great. The way the characters interacted with each other felt very real. It had me gasping more than a few times. I cannot wait for the next in the series. This is definitely a romantasy you'll want to read this summer!

Thank-you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the eARC!

This was super fun! I had seen the blurbs about this book and it sounded so interesting so was super excited to read this! This is the first book I've read from this author and it did not disappoint.

This book starts with our two main characters when they are 12. All kids in this world, once they reach 12 years of age they head to the capital to be tested to see if they will have powers. Our FMC comes from a town on the edges where more of the people work in the dangerous mine. She has always hoped to be an Artisan and finally leave the town. When she makes it to the capital, she meets the MMC. Our MMC comes from a bigger family and expects to not have powers and get sent back home where he'll grow up and eventually become a miner. When they meet, they have this connection and as kids do, challenge one another and they eventually see something they aren't suppose to that will change the course of the world.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! Loved seeing these characters throughout the years until we hit present day. Getting to see how they got where they did was super great! The tension as well between them was so good. Loved all the side characters too! This was so good! The world was so interesting and I loved it. And the ending! I am super excited for the next one!

3.75 stars.
This was my first book by Stacey. I enjoyed her writing, and will definitely be reading more of her books!

I want to preface this review by saying that I found Peaky Blinders to be a touch dull. That might be why I found the first 75% of this story slow.

At first, it felt like I was reading Divergent or Matched: a coming-of-magic ceremony at the age of 12. It had all the same trademarks and I was unimpressed and unmoved. It started to shift around 40%, when things started to move and the characters interacted more.

At 75%, I started to become more invested. It was fun and had twists that kept me engaged, though they felt predictable at times.

Overall, I did enjoy the read and will be reading book two, but I wasn’t in love.

If you liked The Prison Healer, Divergent, and the show Peaky Blinders, give this one a try!

This novel comes out on July 1st! Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Stacey for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC via NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

I had high hopes going into this one, trying a new to me author, but unfortunately I had to DNF at 44%. It was a slow start for me. Just wanting to get to when they were adults. And while I felt there were moments that would intrigue me, I just found myself becoming less and less interested. I think I personally needed to feel something. A spark of chemistry, a connection, some romance or suspense. Anything. Perhaps I stopped at a pivotal moment and it was just around the corner, but I just couldn't hold on any longer. I seem to be in the minority here, so do check it our for yourself!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

In part one of a new romantasy duology, we meet Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson at the age of 12. Both from working-class mining towns, they meet in Belavere City for a yearly ritual to determine their fates: will they become magic-wielding Artisans, or are they destined to stay in the mines? Nina dreams of becoming an Artisan and escaping her life, while Patrick has no desire to leave his Craftsman family, whose physical labour in the mines keeps Belavere City humming.

While they wait to learn their fates, they happen upon a shocking truth: people aren’t born to be Artisans, they’re chosen. Now, Patrick and Nina have decisions to make about their futures and what to do with the secret they carry.

Years later, while Nina attends school as an Artisan with a special ability to charm earth, a Craftsman rebellion gathers momentum outside the city. Nina is determined not to become a weapon in this war, but that choice is ripped from her when she’s captured by Patrick’s rebel group and brought to his hometown of Kenton Hill.

Patrick hasn’t forgotten the day they met in Belavere City, and he wants her to use her abilities to shift the war in favour of the Miners Union. Nina can’t ignore her past or the connection she and Patrick share, so she reluctantly agrees. But when someone from Nina’s school days resurfaces, asking her to betray Patrick and Kenton Hill for the Artisans, Nina feels the walls closing in, and she has limited time to make a devastating choice.

I loved spending time in the world Stacey McEwan created! It is so vivid, and so are the characters! I love Patrick and Nina, and it was hard to watch them carry the weight of so many impossible choices and their ripple effects on a war that both have become reluctant participants in. The side characters are also great, and I love how Kenton Hill became a character itself—I feel like I’ve been there! There were a few surprises which only made me more invested in the story and the characters. The author skillfully illustrates just how much grey area there is when it comes to revolution and war, and the difficult moral choices involved. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading, and that’s the sign of a great book! I can’t wait for the sequel!

Read this if you enjoy a unique slow burn romantasy novel with things like: Irish gangster vibes, class wars, love triangles, elemental magic, and a touch of spice.

This book has a good storyline, characters that grow on you and multiple unpredictable plot twists! I loved the found family but not that ending.

I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy!

“Bury us all.”

this was an EASY 5 star read for me. i have not read any of stacey mcewan’s books before so didn’t know what to expect, and she knocked this one out of the park. as soon as i learned that the setting of this book was giving peaky blinders vibes, i knew it was going to become my new obsession (yes, i did picture patrick as cillian murphy the entire book, i could not resist). i loved the concept of a society long lied to to enforce submission and structure by the superpowered ruling class and the mounting pressure as class warfare begins. the stakes, the tension—everything is coming to a boiling point and i loved following along the main players as major decisions and games are played. this book hosted an incredibly unique magic system in that you have to take a controlled substance and continue to take this substance for your powers to manifest/remain, which is something i have never seen in a fantasy book before. anything with elemental magic especially when given a unique twist is always going woo me, but in the case of this book specifically i loved how the magic was so fundamentally intertwined with their daily lives and duties (mostly in relation to mining and metalwork it seems outside of the crafters).

i would say this was a pretty equal split between being a plot and character driven book, and found both aspects equally as gripping. i wanted to get to know the characters, their motivations, their backstory and how they got to where they are. but i also craved resolution and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. i really enjoyed jumping timelines to give additional context to the story, and especially thought it was super crucial to get regular POVs from patrick to feel a greater connection to his character and his cause. both nina and patrick were very loveable and strong willed (in a good way), and the cast of side characters had such an impactful dynamic. i really felt for nina this whole book—ultimately she stands on the side of the innocent and not of one particular party, so her ending up with a morally gray revolutionary caused quite the stir in her mind as expected. patrick has also very quickly became one of my all time favourite mmcs—he is hard and gruff but suuuuuch a sweet talker, and (from what i can imagine) that accent is swoonworthy. he knows all the right things to make me melt for him, i fear i would fold in two seconds if he was a real person. if you love a “he falls first and falls hard”/second chance storyline, this is absolutely the book for you.

this book was packed full of twists. some i saw coming, and others i was absolutely shocked by. the last 10% of the book i was verbally saying “oh no, oh no” to myself as everything was coming to fruition, and the way she left the ending was absolutely criminal. counting down the seconds til book two, though i don’t even think there is a projected release date at this point 😭 time to buckle up and wait

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

A Forbidden Alchemy is a stunning blend of elemental magic, class rebellion, and aching emotional tension that had me absolutely hooked from page one.

We follow Nina Harrow, an elite Artisan who manipulates earth with her magic, and Patrick Colson, her childhood friend-turned-rebel leader. Once inseparable, they’re now on opposite sides of a brewing war between the ruling Artisans and the oppressed Craftsmen. When Nina is captured by the rebellion and forced to work with Patrick, old loyalties are tested, and the lines between love and duty begin to blur.

Stacey McEwan absolutely nails the emotional stakes here. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the slow-burn romance? Full of unresolved tension, heartbreak, and longing. Patrick is morally driven, Nina is torn between comfort and conscience, and their dynamic is as explosive as the rebellion they’re caught in.

🧪 If you love:
• childhood friends to enemies to lovers
• class divide and rebellion
• elemental magic with a unique twist
• emotional, character-driven fantasy

…you’ll devour this one.

The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is that I wanted just a bit more time spent on certain world-building aspects—but that’s a minor note in what was otherwise a beautifully written, heart-wrenching story.

I’m already desperate for book two. That ending? IYKYK 😭

What a book!!!! Once I picked this up I couldn't put it down. After all the recent romantasy feeling a bit same-y, A Forbidden Alchemy is a breath of fresh air. The twists were really surprising, there was minimal things that I was able to predict, and the dual POV is everything I wanted. Patrick may deserve better, but also he's giving crime boss a la Peaky Blinders so anyone he is into would have to be good with that.

The book starts with our MC's at the age of 12, when they unlock the secret of the capital/government. As it always goes, the rich are keeping the rich in power (in this book they get magic and are called Artisans) while the poor (or Crafters) are kept poor. They do this by only administering the magic testing potion to those they deem worthy. When our main characters discover this they make a choice.

Nina refuses to return home to her poor mining town, she stays and becomes an Artisan. Patrick returns home, knowing that he doesn't belong in the hoity-toity capital. He joins and ends up heading a revolting part of miners. And Nina grows up in a fancy school before having the whole world pulled out from under her. There is a bit of first love for her (possibly the only time I've hated someone named Theo) and choices are made.

I certainly wont be shutting up about this one, and I hope everyone reads it. Also, THAT ENDING?!? I need book two asap!

Finally. Finally! A romantasy that is worth the hype!!

Never have I delighted on how predictable a book was (and no, I did not read the synopsis beforehand... I requested this ARC based purely on the cover and the author's BookTok/Bookstagram videos) - I anticipated every twist and plot reveal and, for once, loved every moment of it. I was speeding through pages hoping that my predictions would come true (and they did!) so that I can watch the excitement unfold and see how the characters would react to every new piece of information or event that's thrown at them.

I adored the setting (mining town with a hint of steampunk - and according to the author, inspired by Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows), the magic system (kind of similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender), and the gritty characters (especially the Colson family! Although I do have a soft spot for Theo as well). There is exciting political drama and worldbuilding with a magic system that is easy to understand (which seems to be a rare treat these days). The pacing, the suspense, the drama, the character development, the relationships, the side characters... it was all fantastic.

Synopsis:
This book is set in a world where society is divided into Artisans and Crafters.
Artisans are those who are born with magic, in which their magic can only be activated by consuming a substance called idium. Those deemed to be Artisans live privileged and sheltered lives. Meanwhile, Crafters are those without magic and who work as labourers to support the Artisans' lavish lifestyles.

The story is told in alternating POVs between Nina (in first person) and Patrick (in third person). They are both children from poor mining towns in the Brink, who head to the extravagant City of Belavere. Every child, at the age of 12, is required to go to the City and be tested for magic powers. Although it's extremely rare for a child from one of the Brink towns to have powers, Nina has always dreamed of becoming an Artisan and vows to stay in Belavere no matter what. Her hope of becoming an Artisan is dashed when she and Patrick accidently discovers the devastating truth that fake idium is given to children from the Brink towns to prevent them from becoming Artisans. Meanwhile, Patrick is proud to be a Crafter and can't wait to head back home as he has no intention of ever becoming a snobby Artisan.

But the information that they discover together ends up serving as a catalyst that completely changes Nina and Patrick's lives, sparking an inevitable class war. Revolution is imminent, loyalties are tested, betrayal is unavoidable, tensions are high, and there's no way everyone would come out of this unscathed...

I am FLOORED. I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it was everything I love in a romantasy. Suspense, banter, yearning, an intriguing plot and that ending!!! Criminally good. I need the next book ASAP.

I was on the edge of my seat for 80% of the book. I finished this in two days and I'm reeling from all the twists.

This was so, so well done. A fresh and unique premise, very Peaky Blinders-esque. I loved the dual POV and our morally grey MMC. The world building was top tier.

Nina and Patrick cross paths at age 12, at a ceremony that will determine whether they are able to wield magic or not. They discover a life altering secret and must make a choice that will alter their fates forever. They find themselves thrust in the middle of a war. The story spans over 13 years and I loved every second of it.

- Dual POV
- Slow burn
- Class conflict/rebellion
- PLOT TWISTS
- Morally grey MMC
- Alchemy/elemental magic
- Edge of your seat suspense

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

If this isn’t the newest big fantasy book I will be shook. This had everything you want when it comes to fantasy. I devoured it and didn’t want to stop reading. The plot, the twists, the world and characters were perfect and I can’t wait for the next one.

I received an eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada and am leaving this review voluntarily.

A strong start to a new fantasy-romance trilogy.

Some tropes included:
- Slow burn
- Class Rebellion
- Love triangle
- Opposites attract
- 0.5/5 spice

McEwan paints a unique fantasy world where all children at the age of 12 are "tested" to see if they have powers deriving from the four elements (this part kind of reminded me of Divergent). Most children do not, especially children from the poorer areas in this world. However, Nina Harrow is able to cheat the system with the help of another child, Patrick, and finds herself whisked away to a magical school to hone her craft. About 20% of this novel follows Nina from age 12 to 18 while she is in school. The rest of the book takes place 7 years later, when Nina is 26 and on the run, where she eventually reunites with Patrick, who is now in charge of the largest magic resistance group.

I found this novel to be quite accelerated in the first 20%, and then relatively slow-paced from there on out. Much of the novel focuses on the relationship between Nina and Patrick and their attempts to trust each other in this war, where they stand on opposite sides.

There are several twists and reveals throughout the novel that will keep you on your toes, as things are never as straightforward as they seem.

Overall, I found the relationship to be well done and not rushed, and I found the magic system to be relatively unique. With where the book left off, I think there is lots of room for the story to continue and expand on the relationship and plot established in this book. A solid start to the series and worth picking up!

4/5⭐️
A gripping political fantasy with a country in the midst of a class-based civil war, elemental powers, deception on all sides, and a doomed romance. You will be holding your breath until the end, and when you finally let go it will be to shriek. The plot twists hit like punches, you’ll see. Both Nina and Patrick are children from the systemically oppressed ‘Craftsman’ working class, who by a stroke of fate are given the option to cheat the system and enter the ranks of the more comfortable ‘Artisan’ class. Only Nina goes through with it. Patrick can only see the Artisans as the oppressors who have denied the Craftsmen any chance of a secure, humane, life. To Nina who has grown up amongst the Artisans, she has empathy for them as human beings, while acknowledging that the current social hierarchy must be brought down. The narrative does a great job at deliberately making the reader uncomfortable. Throughout the book these characters tussle with moral and ethical dilemmas as the Craftsmen rise up against the Artisans and war breaks out. Despite the feelings that develop between them when they meet in adulthood, their differing ideologies make it difficult for their relationship to find stable ground. Fair warning for those going into this mainly for the romance. While there is very much a significant romance plot, the story heavily deals with themes like war and the horrors that come with it, systemic oppression, poverty, ptsd, trauma, and substance abuse. It’s not a lighthearted book. There are about 2.5 open door scenes in almost 500 pages, for those that would like to know. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the eARC.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - April 29, 2025
Publication Date - July 1, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @staceymcewanbooks, @simonschusterca, @sagapressbooks and @netgalley!

A Forbidden Alchemy starts as a slow burn with lots of world building and information, but don’t let that fool you. The pace picks up, there's action, there’s hope, and there’s pain stacked on top of pain! I didn't guess the plot twists, which made the book more exciting and kept me on my toes. There are so many people holding so many secrets, I was just waiting for it all to come crumbling down. That ending?? I need to know what happens next, book 2 can't come fast enough! If you like magic, a bit of romance and twisty turny books, you should try Forbidden Alchemy!

Get excited to read A Forbidden Alchemy, available July 1! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

In the acknowledgements she thanks Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows for inspiration.. which I whole heartedly agree with (as a mega fan of both).

This book blew me away, I could not put it down.

FINALLY someone writes a romantasy that has *longing* and a proper slow burn. I also appreciated the sprinkle of spice, the perfect amount. It didn't take away from the story, or it's tension, only added to it.

I also really appreciated that we didn't get the usual "starving girl is offered food while captive and refuses it" shit. This girl's goal is to eat so much they go poor, which is way more realistic. 🤣

Absolutely perfection, every second of it. How do I know? Because I felt like screaming at the book. Please, make bold decisions, build lots of tension, make me angry at the characters. Go big, or go home. Stacey went big with this one, and I'm so mad she did (in the best way).

10/10, no notes other than the tattered shards of my heart.

Such an interesting premise.
Kind of hunger games/divergent esq but also not?
I really liked how the kids at 12 go to the big city for this ceremony to see if they will be chosen but then we learn the truth and it’s wild!

The relationship between Pat and Nina as kids and then when they come back together again was a really fun way to intertwine the story and the characters. I loved that.

The magic is so interesting - the government aspect was also an interesting concept.

It gave me so many questions and kept me thinking while reading. Who should be in power? Does power simply corrupt? Is the “power” really needed or is it a crutch?

Wow! Loved the ending! The cliffhanger was rude lol but expected. Can’t wait to see what comes next!

“Look somewhere else, Nina. I’m only so strong.”

I actually felt like I was immersed in this book! So many books lately are really getting the vibes right *clap* I’m not sure exactly what the background/world was built on but I felt like I was in Ireland for some reason and I loved it

“Your God turned his head from this place a long time ago, Ma. We’re the only gods here.”

4.5 stars

A CLIFFHANGER. RUDE. The last part?? CRYING

"The House of Lords should have accounted for an angry boy who might one day stumble onto a crate of fake idium, might board a train back to the brink and divulge. Might one day lead an army of revolutionaries."

This was such a strong intro into this new fantasy series. There were twists and reveals that I did not see coming (but are we surprised?? Most of the time I really should see them coming lmao), and I love when a book can take me by surprise. I love when you just can’t put it down.

“No one will touch you, Nina. They wouldn’t dare. You have my word.”
“And what does your word count for, exactly?”

Found family. Morally grey characters. A perfect MMC (uh, in my mind). A desperate, strong FMC. Great side characters. Tension. Unique magic. So good. I loved the time jump in the beginning, I thought it added so much to the story! The politics, the class separation, corruption, scheming, death, the world-building. Yesss

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Canada and the author for this ARC!

"Was I crying, or was blood running down my face?"