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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was phenomenal. The last 25% was a rollercoaster I would ride forever but that would be very bad for my physical and mental wellbeing because oh my heart. The amount of times I exclaimed “oh fuck”, had to put the book down and slide to the floor to center myself. I needed to touch grass after that ending. No notes sheer perfection.
adventurous
lighthearted
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
adventurous
funny
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:
Complicated
A Forbidden Alchemy was exactly the dystopian little romantasy I’ve been craving. The worldbuilding pulled me right in, the characters were so easy to root for, and the overall vibes were just chef’s kiss. I’m always here for a story where the oppressed start fighting back against their oppressors, and the added layer of magic in this one made it stand out even more.
The twists and turns were delicious. Sure, I guessed a few of the reveals, but that didn’t stop me from devouring every single page. I was completely hooked from start to finish. And that ending? Absolutely rude. This is exactly what I get for starting another incomplete series, but I already know I’ll be first in line for book two.
The twists and turns were delicious. Sure, I guessed a few of the reveals, but that didn’t stop me from devouring every single page. I was completely hooked from start to finish. And that ending? Absolutely rude. This is exactly what I get for starting another incomplete series, but I already know I’ll be first in line for book two.
dark
mysterious
fast-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
Wow. This book was so good! It completely pulled me in from start to finish. The worldbuilding is vivid and immersive. I could see everything so clearly in my mind. Stacey McEwan does such a phenomenal job creating a complex, magical world filled with rebellion, betrayal, and secrets.
This story is packed with top-notch banter, tension, and a deliciously slow burn romance. I absolutely love the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Nina and Patrick. Both characters are layered in the best way. Nina is smart and clever and actually shows it on the page, and Patrick is swoon worthy, complex, morally gray, and mysterious.
I also adored the side characters. They aren’t just there for filler. Each character has purpose and adds so much to the story.
One unique aspect of this book is the alternating points of view. Nina’s chapters are told in first person, giving you deep insight into her thoughts and feelings, while Patrick’s chapters are told in third person, adding to his mysterious, morally gray aura. At first the switch between POVs was a little jarring, but I quickly got used to it and found it enhanced the reading experience.
The story begins with Nina and Patrick as children from low-class labor towns. Nina is desperate to leave the life in her small town for a better future and dreams of becoming a magical Artisan, and Patrick wants nothing more than to return to his home. They meet at the ceremony that determines if they have magical abilities, and what they discover there changes everything they thought they knew about their world. Years later, their paths cross again, and the tension between them is absolutely electric.
This book has everything I love:
✨ Morally gray characters
✨ Found family
✨ Rebellion against corrupt power
✨ Magic
✨ Betrayals
✨ Plot twist after plot twist (I did not see them coming!)
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the ending left me devastated but also so excited for the next book.
If you love fantasy with tension-filled slow burn romance, morally gray characters, and twists that keep you guessing, A Forbidden Alchemy is a must-read.
I want to say a huge thank you to Stacey McEwan for DMing me a link to download this book through NetGalley. Stacey is an incredibly kind and generous author and is so engaging with her readers. I’m incredibly grateful.
This story is packed with top-notch banter, tension, and a deliciously slow burn romance. I absolutely love the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Nina and Patrick. Both characters are layered in the best way. Nina is smart and clever and actually shows it on the page, and Patrick is swoon worthy, complex, morally gray, and mysterious.
I also adored the side characters. They aren’t just there for filler. Each character has purpose and adds so much to the story.
One unique aspect of this book is the alternating points of view. Nina’s chapters are told in first person, giving you deep insight into her thoughts and feelings, while Patrick’s chapters are told in third person, adding to his mysterious, morally gray aura. At first the switch between POVs was a little jarring, but I quickly got used to it and found it enhanced the reading experience.
The story begins with Nina and Patrick as children from low-class labor towns. Nina is desperate to leave the life in her small town for a better future and dreams of becoming a magical Artisan, and Patrick wants nothing more than to return to his home. They meet at the ceremony that determines if they have magical abilities, and what they discover there changes everything they thought they knew about their world. Years later, their paths cross again, and the tension between them is absolutely electric.
This book has everything I love:
✨ Morally gray characters
✨ Found family
✨ Rebellion against corrupt power
✨ Magic
✨ Betrayals
✨ Plot twist after plot twist (I did not see them coming!)
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the ending left me devastated but also so excited for the next book.
If you love fantasy with tension-filled slow burn romance, morally gray characters, and twists that keep you guessing, A Forbidden Alchemy is a must-read.
I want to say a huge thank you to Stacey McEwan for DMing me a link to download this book through NetGalley. Stacey is an incredibly kind and generous author and is so engaging with her readers. I’m incredibly grateful.
“We all turn back into boys when it comes to girls” he said again, though I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or himself. “Perhaps we can let it just be that.”
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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