1.22k reviews for:

A Forbidden Alchemy

Stacey McEwan

4.33 AVERAGE

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was just what I needed to get out of my book slump. I demolished this book. It was fast paced and full of twists I didn’t see coming. I absolutely loved the MMC and FMC equally strong and stubborn and like able. This was a unique story I greatly enjoyed and was happy to not see any of the very popular magic systems or tropes. Cannot wait for the next installment!! 
christinam04's profile picture

christinam04's review

DID NOT FINISH: 24%

Not into this type of fantasy. The female narrator was too dramatic. 
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

This was such a unique story, and I ate it up. The plot twists were plot twisting and it was fun as a reader because you think you know the truth and how the characters would think/feel/react and then you’d partially be correct or something else would happen. The characters were very well fleshed out- I love how we grew with them from childhood. I also love that the last line paid homage to the first, I’m a sucker for that 😂 Don’t know how I’ll survive until the next book, I’m in extreme agony thanks Stacey!! 
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The accents in the dialogue felt forced and distracted fr the storytelling initially but after 200 pages it didn’t phase me and felt like a genuine part of the story and these characters. Loved the complications and twists and turns and morally gray characters across the board who understand nuance. 
adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
toastybooktea's profile picture

toastybooktea's review

3.5
adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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: Yes

Interesting new fantasy world. I’ve seen this compared to Peaky Blinders and I can see it. It also had Hunger Games vibes (district wise not trials). There’s plot twists, rebellion, and elemental magic. I’m for sure invested and can’t wait for book 2!

Tropes:
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Found Family
🖤 He Falls First 
🖤 Enemies to Lovers

Book Deets 📖
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Emotional Damage:💧
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format Read: 🎧
sheenareadsstuff's profile picture

sheenareadsstuff's review

3.5
adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging slow-paced