A Forbidden Alchemy

De: Stacey McEwan

Narrado por: Billie Fulford-Brown, Joshua Riley

This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.

And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.

©2025 Stacey McEwan (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Hunger Games meets Pinky Blinders

I shouldn't be surprised by how much I loved this novel, judging how much I've loved every Stacey McEWAN book thus far! Perhaps blasphemous, but this one may be the best yet. We start out at the reaping. The poor crafters getting their once in a lifetime lottery ticket to possibly enter the world of the rich artisans. There, two twelve year olds discover that the lottery is rigged and you make your own fate. So they did. One heads off to Hogwarts, elevated...the other back home, to their poor working class roots. We all have our own minds, don't let anyone make it up for you. Back in district 12, Pinky Blinders enters the arena. Full of intrigue, drama, conflict, love, political tension, betrayal, and so much magic! Stacey deserves praise and I deserve an early copy of the next book because of how she left me. The narrators are sooooo soooo good as well. Even the woman's male voice is fire!!!!

Amazing story, overdramatic narration

Incredible book but the woman narrator was excessively dramatic, overacting on almost every line. The man narrator was slow but I listened to his parts speeded up. Worth it for the story and can’t wait for the sequel. What a cliffhanger of an ending!!!

Slow but worth the wait

Excellent performance from the narrators. A refreshingly different magic system. The story is slow paced but keeps you invested with the characters to hang on for a devastating cliffhanger ending.

So fracking good!

This book was soo amazing! It’s 3am and I couldn’t put this book down. The narrators did a fantastic job though I will say it was more enjoyable at an immersive read due to some flask backs and quick notes. The characters were well done and developed. I did guess a lot of the surprises along the way but still enjoyed the ride.
Spicy 🌶️ was probably a 1.5, I normally like a bit more but the story makes up for it.
Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
My only complaint is that the male narrator read at a much slower speed than the female narrator. So I had to keep adjusting the speed which was a bit annoying.

Prepare for emotional damage

This is a great story, it's a dystopian setting with a unique magic system. There's dual POV, found family, tension and slow burn🔥

The story starts of with the main characters meeting when they're 12 and learning that what they've known about their magic system is a lie. With that revelation, they each make their choices and part ways, it isn't until many years later that they meet again as adults caught up in a revolution.

Incredible from start to finish

Love the narrators, LOVE to story, love it all! Can’t wait for the next one

Two POV with nice plot twist

Loved the two POV story telling. The world building was just enough detail to let your imagination fill in the gaps. I wish the mfc had a less damsel in distress mindset however, her battle with trauma makes her more a more real and relatable character. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

love this author!

Stacey does it again! I loved the Ledge series so I was very excited for this to come out. and it did not disappoint! a new magic system mixed with a peaky blinders feel makes it different than anything I've read before.

Great story. Annoying accents.

Loved the story, loved the characters and the world.
Hated the accents, I’m sorry.
I am definitely waiting for the sequel (if there is one) but I might read it instead of listening.

Favorite book of 2025

This was easily my favorite book of 2025 and listening to the audio as a reread put me back into all my feels from the first time around