A Forbidden Alchemy

Description

Australian BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s stunning new slow-burn romantasy duology traces a fated pair who stumble upon a world-changing secret in youth and are catapulted into a violent class war in adulthood, finding each other amidst love, loss, and devasting betrayals.

 Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson first meet in adolescence, brought in from their disenfranchised mining towns to glittering Belavere City to be tested for magical abilities. Those who pass will train to become Artisans, wielding powerful elemental magic to carry out Belavere's greatest ambitions.

Nina wants nothing more than to escape her circumstances and attend the Artisan School, while Patrick only wants to return home to his family of Craftsmen, who use their extraordinary physical strength in the idium mines that keep Belavere running. The two accidentally discover a devastating secret: that Artisans are not born, but chosen. They part ways without telling another soul.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution begins, and the two find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war. Nina, now an elite Artisan with the extremely rare ability to charm earth, soon abdicates the fight entirely, devastated by the loss of her found family.

She has long become accustomed to life on the run when she is captured by Patrick's rebellion contingent. It turns out he has far from forgotten her, and he asks for her help in a mission that will change the tides against Belavere City. She reluctantly agrees, struggling to ignore the sparks between them.

But when Nina's first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick and spy on his cause for the Artisans, she must decide whether her loyalties lie with the order that raised her or the one person she knows she can trust.

Reviews

'Stacey once again delivers a high stakes fantasy that not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but squeezes your heart until it bleeds.' -- Amber V. Nicole, author of The Book of Azrael
'I'm never going to shut up about this book. An epic breath of fresh air romantasy. A feat of genius magic system and banter so feet kicking good you'll need breaks to scream. McEwan's writing is the kind that leaves you staring at the wall wondering how you'll go on waiting for the next installment. A Forbidden Alchemy is the romantasy book you'll never get over.' -- Hannah Nicole Maehrer, author of Assistant to the Villain
'Stacey McEwan's writing has a way of drawing you in and never letting go. A Forbidden Alchemy was no exception, and I found myself gripped by these pages, following the tale of Nina and Patrick and rooting for them every step of the way. I loved the secrets, the tension and the burning chemistry. Romantasy lovers need to add this one to their TBR.' -- Nisha J. Tuli, author of Trial of the Sun Queen.
'This book is a pressure-corked vial crafted with the perfect romantic tension and pure gangster-style grit. I was ready to be buried beneath the mines that Stacey McEwan created. This story has mettle, raw heart and inescapable magnetism. I loved every single chapter.' -- Raven Kennedy, author of Gild.

Author description

Stacey McEwan is the bestselling author of the Glacian Trilogy. Her debut fantasy romance novel, Ledge, has been published in several languages. Stacey received a bachelor's degree in education in 2012 and was a classroom teacher for eleven years. She is a content creator on multiple platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. Stacey first published after book lovers of the internet encouraged her to share her story ideas. She was born and raised on the Gold Coast, Australia, and still resides in her hometown with her husband, two children and one questionable dog.