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mackenzierm 's review for:
A Forbidden Alchemy
by Stacey McEwan
adventurous
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
When Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson were twelve years old, they travelled from their disenfranchised mining towns to Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass the test will become Artisans, wielders of elemental magic, and those who don’t, return to their mining towns as Crafters. Nina yearns to escape her harsh reality and attend the Artisan School, while Patrick yearns to return to his family. Patrick and Nina soon discover that Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, putting Nina and Patrick on opposing sides of this brewing conflict.
A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is marketed as a romantasy, but I fear that this will mislead readers. While there’s a glimmer of romance between these pages, it’s really not the focus of the story with the result being a fantasy novel with a touch of romance. That aside, I haven’t read a fantasy in awhile and this was a refreshing experience. I enjoyed the premise, the social injustices between the Artisans and Crafters, as well as the plot and characters encountered.
A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is told in dual POV, Patrick’s and Nina’s. Both of their POVs are well-written, descriptive, and share important information about both sides of the political landscape. All of the characters encountered are nuanced, realistic, and multidimensional. While I was dismayed to discover romance within this novel, I was quickly gratified to find that it did not overshadow the rest of the plot.
The premise, world-building, and magic system are very cool and well-described while remaining easy to follow, making this an easy fantasy to read for someone new to the genre. Elemental magic systems are my favorite type of magics, so this was an easy concept to dive into for me! The plot is intricate, layered, and filled with twists, turns, and lots of secrets and lies. There’s a fair amount of action which kept the pacing quick and kept me fully invested in the narrative. And that ending??? Tell me there’s a second book!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Saga Press, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is marketed as a romantasy, but I fear that this will mislead readers. While there’s a glimmer of romance between these pages, it’s really not the focus of the story with the result being a fantasy novel with a touch of romance. That aside, I haven’t read a fantasy in awhile and this was a refreshing experience. I enjoyed the premise, the social injustices between the Artisans and Crafters, as well as the plot and characters encountered.
A FORBIDDEN ALCHEMY is told in dual POV, Patrick’s and Nina’s. Both of their POVs are well-written, descriptive, and share important information about both sides of the political landscape. All of the characters encountered are nuanced, realistic, and multidimensional. While I was dismayed to discover romance within this novel, I was quickly gratified to find that it did not overshadow the rest of the plot.
The premise, world-building, and magic system are very cool and well-described while remaining easy to follow, making this an easy fantasy to read for someone new to the genre. Elemental magic systems are my favorite type of magics, so this was an easy concept to dive into for me! The plot is intricate, layered, and filled with twists, turns, and lots of secrets and lies. There’s a fair amount of action which kept the pacing quick and kept me fully invested in the narrative. And that ending??? Tell me there’s a second book!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Saga Press, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.