A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read: 3/04-3/06 2025

✨ Review ✨

Thank you so much Saga Press Books and NetGalley for this ARC!!

Wow, this book was a rollercoaster. If you know me, you know I love a good rebellion. This kind of gave me Mockingjay vibes, but with magic and a country twist.

Now, because I don’t want to spoil anything, here are some out of context reactions:

- Midpoint plot twist: oooooh, I did not see that coming
- Chapter 59: the plot has thickened
- The betrayal, the gasp that I gasped… I’ll bury you myself
- That ending!! The audacity that *you know who* had is unbelievable. I hate *you know who*. Unbelievable. My poor *other you know who*. Wow. Just wow.

Anyways, you should definitely read this when it releases : )

Thank you Stacey McEwan for those wild emotions, I can’t wait to read more from you! (Please tell me that there will be more, or was that last line a hint to their ending??)

Releases July 1, 2025
Amazon Pre-Order link: https://a.co/d/brP4UZ4

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Well that was hard to put down! The acknowledgements from the author said they took inspiration from Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows and I can absolutely see it.

There were so many twists (big and little!) along the way. The magic system was unique and the world was built well. The tension and slow burn between Nina and Patrick was perfect.

That ending?! I knew that there would likely be some kind of cliffhanger at the end but I did not see that one coming. I am very eagerly awaiting the next one.

✨ARC REVIEW✨wow, this story is an absolute masterpiece! I couldn’t put it down and if I could rate it higher than 5 stars I absolutely would! Stacey McEwan keeps you on the edge of your seat with this intriguing Romantasy with fated mates. When these fated mates as children come across a world changing secret they are thrown down separate paths which collide over a decade later. The twists that are thrown into the mix with heart wrenching betrayals were unpredictable which I always appreciate surprises. The cliffhanger had me gasping, and waiting for the next book is going to be rough, seriously! I highly recommend you all mark your calendar for the release of this book on July 1,2025! I will definitely be buying this book in July! Thank you NetGalley, and Saga Press Books for the opportunity to read this masterpiece for an honest review! Stacey McEwan is now on my favorite authors list! Also thanks to Katherine Heigl for posting about this book and introducing me to this author! I still can’t believe later that day I found it on NetGalley!

You need to read this book!!! I'm not kidding - you need to read it immediately! (well, as close to July 1 as possible).

I started the book a little apprehensively. We start out with our FMC and MMC when they are just kids, and in my mind for reasons unknown, I thought that once we got out of the prologue, we would have our FMC and MMC as adults. I was wrong, and therefore, pleasantly surprised.

This book was written in an interesting way. Nina's POV chapters are first person, while Patrick's are written in third person. I have never come across a narration style like this, and I actually really liked it. I don't typically like third person POV, but the way it was written here made it almost feel like the other main characters were describing Patrick, whereas we were in the mind of Nina. Something about it really brought me joy, and I hope to see more books written with this alternative narrative point of view.

The chapters in this book were super short - which I loved. The length of the chapters kept me invested, as I did not feel like they went on forever, causing me to lose interest. Instead, their length kept making me say "okay, I'll read another." The pacing of the book itself is a little slower, so these short chapters definitely help bring it all together.

The plot of the book itself was really unique and intriguing to me. The characters start as children and grow into adults, which happens really organically while still keeping the plot in tact. Their romance was everything I could ask for in a book full of political intrigue, a war between classes, rebellion, and a lot of other fantasy-heavy topics. This book, to me, feels like a more romance-heavy version of The Cruel Prince, so if you liked that book or thought to yourself that you would've loved it with more romance, here you go.

Thank you so very much to Saga Press, Stacey McEwan, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and in no way were influenced by the manner in which I received it.

From the moment I picked up A Forbidden Alchemy, I was completely hooked. The plot is engaging and pulls you in right away, with a perfect balance of intrigue and action that keeps you turning the pages. The pacing is spot-on, never dragging or rushing, and the short chapters make it feel like you’re always progressing through the story at a satisfying rate.

The dual POV is one of the standout features of the book, giving readers a deeper understanding of both main characters. Each POV brings its own flavor and perspective, and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next for both of them. The characters are so well-developed—they feel real and multi-dimensional, with strengths, flaws, and growth that keeps you invested in their journey.

The romance in this book is both steamy and heartfelt. It’s clear that the chemistry between the main characters is intense, but there’s also a sweetness to their connection that makes it all the more satisfying. The humor throughout the book provides a nice balance to the steamy scenes, and the tension between the characters—whether romantic, emotional, or external—keeps things exciting without ever feeling forced.

Overall, A Forbidden Alchemy is a delightful read. It’s the perfect mix of romance, humor, and tension, with compelling characters that you can’t help but root for. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you hooked from start to finish, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Ummm excuse me, @sagapressbooks. I was told by @staceymcewanbooks that you let her do all these rude things in A Forbidden Alchemy that emotionally devastated me. Geez…

(I still love you, Saga Press 🫶)

My jaw? On the floor
My mind? Thoroughly twisted
My heart? Broken, stomped on, and pieces burning

As a former reader of many a thriller, I like to think I’m pretty skilled at predicting/picking up on upcoming twists. In this book? Nope. Nope. NOPE. I was thoroughly unprepared for my heart to go through what it did.

I’m currently trying to make it through this Monday while not thinking about Nina and Patrick and it’s proving just shy of impossible. I just truly want to wrap each of them in a hug and tell them it will all be okay but I’m not even sure about that. Stacey has messed with my head too much to be sure of anything that is to come.

My second five star read of the year! I finished this book in a couple days! I love the originality of the story. The way the book flowed was great. The flashbacks tied the whole book together, it takes real skill to make a story come together at differing time points as well keep you wanting more. The story starts when Nina is 12 years old and the main story is when she is 25. Secrets are lies are a plenty, with trust being hard to find. It got a little confusing sometimes having 2 POVs but sometimes speaking in the 3rd person. Overall, I can’t wait to read the the rest of the series! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved A Forbidden Alchemy! This book is a perfect mix of magic, romance, and rebellion, set in a beautifully crafted world.

The story follows Nina and Patrick, two young people from mining towns who find themselves caught in the dangerous, high-society world of Belavere City. As they uncover secrets about their world, their relationship is tested, creating a slow-burn romance filled with tension and emotion.

Stacey McEwan does an amazing job blending fantasy with real-world themes like power and privilege. The Victorian-inspired setting, mixed with magic and intrigue, reminded me of Peaky Blinders meets the Grishaverse.

If you love books with rich world-building, slow-burn romance, and high stakes, A Forbidden Alchemy is a must-read!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to Stacey McEwan, Saga Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

If you enjoy magic, romance, suspense, twists and turns, and rooting for the underdog: this book is for you. For me, it was a 13/10. The characters are amazing, the plot is fantastic, and the cliffhanger ending has wrecked me. I cannot wait for the next book to find out what happens next to Nina, Patrick, and crew.

4.5 stars. my blood pressure is going to need at least 6 hours to lower after that ending. HOW HOW HOW am I supposed to wait to find out more?! the most impressive thing was the writing of the dialect from Kenton Hill. Kudos to Stacey because I could hear the words in my head. I loved the magic system and the entire plot. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Unreal. Cannot wait for more!

Stacey, I love you. I might need to curl up in a ball on the floor and rock back-and-forth until I have information about the release for book two, but I love you.

This book is a low-fantasy romance set during wartime. Think Peaky Blinders but with more romance and a little magic. I could have highlighted everything the MMC said to the FMC, he's that good. I loved this book so much that I'm dying to see fan art, but it's not out yet, so I have to wait! Please do yourself a favor and read this one.

THIS. BOOK.

Peaky Blinders meets the Grishaverse? Yes please.

When Nina and Patrick are just 12 years old, they're sent to the capital city to determine their future. Will they be Crafters like their fathers, people without magic who become the laborers of the nation? Or will they be Artisans, those with magic abilities fueled by idium? Well, how about first they accidentally start a revolution? Yeah, okay it's that one.

Years later, Nina is on the run from the capital and the House of Lords, determined to not become a weapon in the war that stemmed from what happened when they were just 12. Patrick finds her and asks for her help - but she doesn't want to be a weapon for his side either. Sprinkle in the fact that she is the one that got away for Patrick, and you've got slow-burn romance with high stakes.

I'm begging everyone to read this. And also for Stacey to give us the next book ASAP. This is easy-to-consume fantasy, with a complete world that's also somewhat familiar and I wasn't fighting for my life trying to picture it. The magic system is unique and is seamlessly written into every aspect of the story. Need to dig a tunnel? No problem, the earth charmer can do it. Need to get rid of some water? The water charmer has you covered. These magic elements coupled with weapons we're familiar with like swords and guns in a battle scene? Loved it.

The slow burn did its thing here. There was alllll the delicious tension. Longing stares, brushes of fingers, hands gently guiding on her waist?? I eat it up every time.

The end of this book left me confused, angry, and wanting more, which are all the marks of a spectacular read for me. 5 stars, need the next one NOW (even though this one does not release until July).

As a huge fan of Stacey McEwan's LEDGE trilogy, I had high hopes for this one and was SO IMPRESSED. She's definitley a new favorite author and I can't wait for the sequels!

Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.