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dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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. š¤£
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.
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. š¤£
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I need the sequel immediately! A Forbidden Alchemy pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go, delivering twist after twist that keeps you on edge until the very last moment. This is a book Iāll be revisiting time and time againāpreordering is a must!
āļø Star Rating: 5/5
š¶ļø Spice Level: 3/5
What to expect:
- Magic
- Lol hilarious
- Multi-POV
- Slow burn
- Love triangle
- Flashbacks
- Fated pair
Thank you S&S/Saga Press for granting me an ARC! All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, War, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Forbidden Alchemy is a fantastical story of class war with a simmering romance that started in childhood. It explores the costs of revolution, home & family, and how your loyalty is determined, stretched, and altered.
Nina and Patrick come from mining towns and meet at the magical aptitude test every 12 year old is invited to take. In their society, youāre deemed either an Artisan or a Craftsman. Artisans wield powerful magic and live in grand Belavere City, studying in a fancy private school, whereas Craftsman are physical laborers, mining materials essential for magic.
The two kids accidentally uncover a devastating secret about the Artisan test, and both make very different decisions about their futures. But this spark of truth ignites a Craftsman revolution, and they cross paths once again many years later on opposing sides of the war. Patrick will do anything to protect his people, and Nina must decide where her loyalties lie once and for all.
This is a fascinating world and I was immediately immersed. The grittiness, pain, and community of the mining towns, the sting and cycle of addiction when your world is fear & pain, and the uppity society of Artisans who are terrified of losing their power but also want to remain exclusive ā¦ itās all so good.
These characters are TRULY morally gray, and their ethics and alliances shift and swirl. Both Patrick and Nina make unsavory decisions, and my heart was often pounding as a reader because I had no idea which way Nina was going to sway next.
Patrick & Ninaās romance is compelling and believable, and I was rooting for them while also feeling like it was impossible to give them a happy ending.
This ends on SUCH a cliffhanger and Iām eager to see what happens next!
CW: death, mass death, murder, war, classism, abandonment, addiction, sexual content
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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Abandonment, War, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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).
I received this as an eARC from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
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).
I received this as an eARC from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual content, Abandonment, Classism