A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan (July 1, 2025) – Many thanks to @simon.audio for the #gifted advanced listening copy of this really fun historical romantasy!
Like all children turning twelve, Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are swept from their rural hometowns to Belavere City to have their magical abilities assessed. Those born with abilities become artisans, while those without become craftsmen. Nina hopes to have magical skills identified so she can remain in the city, escaping the terrible circumstances at home. Patrick, on the other hand, desperately wants to return home to his craftsman family that mines the powerful idium at the core of all power. But Nina and Patrick make a shocking discovery – artisans aren’t born; they are chosen by the elite and powerful. This discovery sets Nina and Patrick on wildly different paths, and as a craftsman revolution begins to take shape, Patrick holds a key role in the rebellion. At the same time, Nina has become a powerful artisan earth charmer. But when Nina is captured by the uprising, their paths cross for the first time in almost 15 years – and as the rebellion tries to convince Alice to use her powers to support them, she begins to care for the families of the rebellion, and Patrick himself. But everyone is keeping secrets.
Told in a dual POV between Nina and Patrick, this was a really fun slow-burn, found family romantasy with several clever twists. I really enjoyed the social commentary aspects of the story. There were a lot of nuances to the world McEwan created that made this feel like a really unique read in the romantasy space, and I always enjoy a story where the main characters are torn between two worlds because they care for the individuals on both sides and the battle has elements of right and wrong on both sides.
It was interesting that elements of this book felt YA while others felt adult, I didn’t mind it, but it did seem to straddle the line. Really looking forward to the conclusion of this story in the next book!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Overall, Billie Fulford-Brown and Joshua Riley do a really nice job with this dual narration. I was a little thrown by the difference in accent when Patrick was portrayed by Fulford-Brown versus Riley, and I wish, therefore, that it had been a duet narration instead. (16h 46m)
- ⭐Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 