Admittedly, I am not super familiar with Stacey McEwan. A Forbidden Alchemy is actually the first book I have ever read by them, but the premise sounded incredibly interesting to me. Two characters exposed to an unpleasant truth, choose diverging paths in response to that truth. Only to be reunited years later and forced to reconcile with their choices. Throw in a little bit of romance, and the setup is just titillating enough to pique my interest.
Overall, I thought that the narrative delivered on what was promised—but the release timing of this novel, for me, could have been better. Let me explain.
Unfortunately, I read Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang less than 2 months ago, and A Forbidden Alchemy kind of feels like a watered down version of that. The world building is very similar, the theming around caste disparity is very similar; one of the protagonists, Nina, even talks the same as Blood Over Bright Haven’s Sciona, and is also a female magic user in a largely male dominated academic space. However, A Forbidden Alchemy does focus a lot more on group rebellion rather than colonial theory. So, maybe if the length of time between reading the 2 books had been longer, I would have noticed all of the parallels less.
I also felt that the pacing was a little too action focused. The characters were always talking, and very rarely was there any sort of reflection or pause in the prose to let the reader ruminate. Kind of like being on a guided tour, but your tour guide is spouting off facts far too quickly for you to catch before dragging you off to the next thing.
Personally, I’d be willing to try with Stacey McEwan again, but I can’t say I was very fond of this book in particular.

RUDE CLIFFHANGER! when's book 2 coming out?! because I need this NOW!!!!!! if you have any physical copies left, id love one!

3695 Chemin Du Golf, Rawdon
Quebec, Canada
J0K 1S0

The plot twists kept me awake finishing this book overnight! I highly recommend this for lovers of Heartless Hunter, Peaky Blinders.

It has dystopian elements, magic, corrupt government, oppression, rebellion and of course lots of banter, angst and slow burn!🥵

Nina is not your usual romantasy FMC, I was happy to read about an FMC who I could resonate with. I probably would’ve done something similar to what she chose to do during the war. She’s badass in her own way! As for Patrick, phew phew I would like to meet him in person! 🥵

Thanks to Simon Schuster CA and the author for gifting me an advance reader copy! ♥️

A Forbidden A L C H E M Y . ⛏️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Calling all my Tommy Shelby stans! 👀🫦

This slow burn, Peaky Blinders inspired romantasy felt so original, new, and fresh!

Without giving too much away, this book involves a class war, elemental magic and multiple secrets.

You have the Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby inspired mmc, Patrick. And girl, he is written oh so well!! A leader, smart, strong and very devoted to his family and town. The fmc, Nina, has complex views from having the knowledge of both sides of war. She is smart, quick witted and stuck between a difficult choice of where she stands in this war.

The world building was picture perfect. I think this would make a great movie. The plot and story as a whole was so well thought out with secrets unfolding at the perfect time.

Definitely will continue this duology, especially after that ending. Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this arc .
⛏️
You'll want to add this to your tbr !!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this ARC. I absolutely loved everything about this novel. I loved the different magic system and plot. This did not feel like other fantasies. The slow burn was perfect and I did not see the twists coming. Can’t wait for book 2. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fun, fast paced read for me! I didn't absolutely fall in love with it like I thought I would - some of the dialogue was a bit cringey for my liking, and I had some problems with the pacing. I think if i picked this up at a better time i might have enjoyed it a little more but overall I had a good time reading this! I loved the magic system and looking forward to the sequel!

It took me a minute to get into this book, but it then became clear that this book was going to hurt me in the end. The emotional damage of the ending 😭 (you have been warned). A Forbidden Alchemy is all about magic, romance, betrayals, with all the twists and turns. This book was so different from any of the others I have recently read. It has a unique magic system, well-developed characters, banter and chemistry. Even the side characters had crazy depth and development. Stacey McEwan incorporates beloved tropes but with a delivery that keeps you wanting to devour every page. Just when I thought I figured things out, there would be a twist that made it impossible to put the book down.

If you love fantasy books, with opposing class systems, fascinating magic systems, opposites attract, with secrets and betrayals, then I would highly recommend A Forbidden Alchemy.

I loved this! Not really a sub genre I gravitate towards (is it steampunk? Flintlock? Fantasy with guns and some technology). But I loved the magic system, the relationships, the humour, class struggles, unions.

What kept it from being a 5-star was that the first part was a bit rushed. Since this ended on a cliffhanger, I know there’s going to be another one so I wish the beginnings of the main character’s lives were more fleshed out and that I got more of the magic school setting.

But overall, really enjoyed!!

Thanks netgalley and the author for sending me an ARC for review!

When I tell you this is going to be a bestseller, I stand by every word I say.

A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan has everything I love in a fantasy - a corrupt government, magic, a hunk trying to save the world, a rebellion, betrayal, love, and tension.

This was a unique take on an uprising, and holy cow I couldn’t read this fast enough. I devoured it the same way I read ACOTAR - enough said, right?

I was lucky to read this before it was released thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada. My only complaint? It ended on a cliffhanger, I NEED to know what happens next, but I know that I’ll have to wait a while considering this hasn’t even hit shelves yet.

Ms. McEwan, you have yourself a new fan!! I will be buying a physical copy of this!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this arc copy.

This book is a romantsy duology and is book one that follows Nina and Patrick who are trained as magical Artisans in the city of Belavare at a young age of 12 years old. Both characters' world are shattered when they figured out that you are not born a Artisan but forced to learn. After being thaught the magical systems, they part ways and only find themselves after many years has passed on opposite side of a raging War.

This story also had an historical dystopia fantasy storyline with being more plot driven that character. It had lots of twists and turns with a different kind of magical system that what we are used to see in books. The author has manage to keep me interested in her world building and also with her enemies-to-lovers / love triangle relationships but be warned, this book ends on a major cliffhanger.

Great story and looking forward to the second installment.

This book was amazing. I feel so honoured to have received an ARC to read because I am blown away by this book. (Thank you to the publisher and author.)

Firstly, the plot itself was interesting and some of the twists and turns actually caught me off guard. There was a couple plot twists I did not see coming that had me gasp out loud.

The characters themselves are so complex and well-rounded. There is a lot of morally grey characters in this, and I love that so much. They feel so much more real, and I love the complexity of it all.

Patrick was a really great character, and I really enjoyed his POV and getting to know what he was thinking and learning what he had experienced, and what shaped him.

And Nina blew me away. The inner struggle she deals with as she tries to figure out her loyalties and what she really wants felt so emotional, and I felt the tension and anxiety she was going through.

There were some great side characters, but the main characters have my heart in this one. (And that's rare - usually I prefer the side characters.)

Overall a really great read, and one part of getting an ARC that sucks is having to wait even longer for the second book. I cannot wait to read it when it's out!

I received an advance copy of Stacey McEwan’s book Forbidden Alchemy through Simon and Shuster Canada’s Summer 2025 review program. I both love and hate that they sent it to me honestly. Love it, because I got so completely engorssed in the story, the characters, the world building that I finished the book in two days (leaving my family to fend for themselves while I read). Hate it, because like most books in the sci fi and fantasy genre, this one was the first in a series that I am now seriously invested in discovering the rest of, and even this book is not being released until July…and it ended on cliffhanger of course 😳😳😳

The book did throw me off a little at first, beginning when the two main characters were younger, and had an almost gritty harry potteresque feel to the story. Once I got past that though I really couldn’t put it down. The banter between the main characters was fabulous and more than made up for the slow burn (not my favourite) and somewhat limited spicy scenes. The world building and magic elements were done perfectly. I am seriously looking foward to the next book in the series and definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys the romantasy genre.

This book was fun! Unique and a bit different than other fantasy books I’ve read before. I just can quite put my finger on what didn’t quite click for me though??? Nothing bad just maybe right book wrong time. I do recommend tho!

Ohhhhhh a must read! I devoured this one and am dying for book two to come out.
The unique magic system is unlike any that l've read, when you add that in with the most perfect morally gray characters 👌🏼👌🏼
there were so many twists and turns
and secrets and that cliffhanger oh my gosh!! the worst part about reading an arc is having to wait so long for the second book, but I absolutely recommend devouring this one like I did!!!

Definitely another 5 star read from Stacey 🤭 I just loved our two main characters so much!! The magic system in this is so unique and we have some crazy plot twists and of course she leaves us on the edge of a cliff 😭 Definitely will be waiting on book 2!

A Forbidden Alchemy was such an excellent read although I got stressed out at the end because the miscommunication trope was strong with this one! And the fact I was reacting so viscerally goes to show how well this one was written.

Without spoiling anything I really enjoyed the magic system, how it worked and how certain people were chosen to become Artisans. The love story — or stories — were done really well. There isn’t a love triangle in the sense our MMC has moved past a previous relationship but …. You’ll have to read. I really enjoyed the family aspects in this and the betrayal at the end I didn’t see coming although I should’ve. I think trust is a big part of this book and sometimes I felt it was dealt out way too easily considering the circumstances but then we wouldn’t have gotten that ending!!

Honestly … this was such a good read! I loved Nina and I loved Patrick. I loved how their paths diverged at thirteen and then reconnected when they were twenty-five. How their lives differed in between and even though their encounter was super short at thirteen they never forgot each other. Also, I was so there for the Peaky Blinders vibes!!

Now I’m seriously going to need a book two!! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the arc to read and review. Definitely a book I’d recommend!

This was a great one! I really love the twists and turns. The female main character was so great! I love dual povs so this was no exception excellent!! The BETRAYAL. Don’t talk to me until book 2 is out pls. (Except NetGalley and publishers of course).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!!!

5/5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A Forbidden Alchemy is a brand new series from Stacey McEwan. I couldn’t put this book down and was hooked from the very first chapter. I also can’t wait for book two to come out to continue the story. A Forbidden Alchemy is releasing July 1, 2025. Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada and Stacey McEwan for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is by far one of my favourite books I’ve read in months. The subject matter felt extremely timely, the twists were twisting, and the Peaky Blinders vibes were immaculate. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an unputdownable romantic fantasy that feels truly unique in a sea of sameness. 5 stars, and also makes me more excited to grab Ledge (different series, same author) off my shelf.

Absolutely CRIMINAL that’s how the book ended and it’s not even released yet which means book 2 isn’t even a THOUGHT YET!

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this E-arc.

I can’t even begin to describe how this book made me feel but I can tell you I was HOOKED from page one, I couldn’t put it down! The characters were so well developed and the plot was unique and well written. I want book 2 more than I want anything else right now because how can you just end it like that? Absolutely perfection.