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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
Forbidden Alchemy is pitched as a stunning slow-burn romantasy full of yearning, but for me it never really delivered. We follow Nina, who rises through the ranks of the Artisan School with a rare magical talent, and Patrick, whose loyalty to his Craftsman family ties him to a brewing rebellion. Years later, their paths cross again when Patrick needs Nina’s help on a mission that could alter the fate of Belavere City. Caught between him and her first love, Nina is forced to make an impossible choice.
Sounds epic, right? But honestly, the execution fell flat. It’s marketed as slow burn, yet it felt more like insta-love with a dash of love triangle drama. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters—Theo (who should have been compelling) was boring, and Patrick, who was supposed to have that gritty “Peaky Blinders mafia boss” energy, just wasn’t it. There was no yearning, no tension, and no spark to keep me invested.
Instead, most of the book meanders with little action (a lot of tunnel digging, not much else). The writing leaned heavily YA in tone, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it wasn’t what I was expecting from the way this was marketed. Overall, kind of blah.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It took me a while to get into this book but I’ll admit I was hooked by the end.
I think the world was really cool and I liked the characters. I think it took me a while to adjust to the writing style
I think the world was really cool and I liked the characters. I think it took me a while to adjust to the writing style
adventurous
emotional
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
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:
No
Mmcs were children, not feeling it and wasn't sure how long it would last
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the main characters so much. They were logical, sensible. There wasn’t a rift between them before it made logical sense for there to be. When the MMC truuuly had reason to question her loyalty. To be honest I am questioning it too. Where does she stand??
Some of the writing could have been better, many times I didn’t understand the subtext of what was being said. Then suddenly characters are behaving based on things that happened under the surface that I completely missed. After a few times I stopped thinking it was because I was dumb and started suspecting the writing needed to be more descriptive.
Overall, so well executed.
Some of the writing could have been better, many times I didn’t understand the subtext of what was being said. Then suddenly characters are behaving based on things that happened under the surface that I completely missed. After a few times I stopped thinking it was because I was dumb and started suspecting the writing needed to be more descriptive.
Overall, so well executed.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
for once I want a spy book where when the spy falls in love with their mark & switch sides they tell that person everything BEFORE all the bad betrayal shit happens. and i STILL really enjoyed the ending
otherwise - writing was immaculate. I love all of the characters. i’ve never really watched peaky blinders but now I want to.
otherwise - writing was immaculate. I love all of the characters. i’ve never really watched peaky blinders but now I want to.