Book Review: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Saga Press (July 1, 2025)

Length: 480 pages

Author Information: Website

Romantasy is everywhere right now, so much so that it feels like only a handful of titles are getting all the attention while many more just quietly slip through the cracks. One such book that almost flew under my radar is A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan, and what a shame that would have been. It’s got everything from romance to grit, and with its rebellion plot with real bite, I was hooked good and fast into the world of its characters.

The story opens with Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson, two kids who grew up poor in struggling Craftsmen mining towns. But at twelve years old, all children are brought to the dazzling city of Belavere to test for magical potential, a moment that could change both their lives. Passing means becoming an Artisan, one of the privileged elite with the power to wield elemental magic. For Patrick, the possibility is exciting but not all-consuming, but for Nina, it’s everything she’s ever wanted: her one chance to escape poverty. But when they stumble upon a dangerous truth—that Artisans aren’t actually born with magic but are handpicked by a rigged system—their futures are set on very different paths.

Years later, the city finds itself on the brink of war. Nina, now an accomplished Artisan earth shaper, is reluctant to get involved, given the truth of her past that she has kept hidden for so long. Yet, she is inevitably drawn into the conflict, encountering the growing strength of the Craftsmen uprising, led by none other than Patrick. Even after all this time, their memories of one another—and the terrible secret they uncovered together— lingers between them. However, Nina has also built relationships during her time in magical training, and there are people she loves and must protect—loyalties that clash with a part of her heart still rooted in her humble beginnings. Before long, she may be forced to choose a side in a war where there are no clear answers.

A Forbidden Alchemy is one of those books where the romance and political plot are equally strong, avoiding stepping on each other’s toes. Obviously, the whole setup with the class divisions and the corruption at the heart of an unfair society are in no way new to the genre, but the attention to the details makes the background politics feel more than just window dressing. The fact that we meet both Nina and Patrick as children definitely helps, refining the idea that these are circumstances that have shaped them since the very beginning. The world feels lived in, having influenced and guided our characters’ choices and giving them motivation for the choices they make.

In some ways, this gives the romance an extra edge, considering Patrick and Nina aren’t just dealing with their complicated feelings for each other, but they’re doing it while being on opposites sides of a war. Admittedly, even the time jumps in the early chapters, while a little jarring, can work well in this context, showing how the years have made them the adults they’ve become, deepening the moments of connection and quiet yearning. That said, the presence of Theo, Nina’s first love, throws a slightly frustrating wrench into the mix. Personally, I felt the chemistry between Patrick and Nina were complex enough without adding even more tension through a sort-of love triangle, but that’s just me. I have never been a fan of that kind of drama, but of course, your mileage may vary.

And if I’m being picky, I would have also liked a bit more about the magic itself. We get plenty of history and politics, but a little more extra on Belavere’s backstory wouldn’t have hurt. Plus, more about idium! It’s only the mysterious mined substance that keeps the city running and makes all magic possible, after all. Still, that’s a small gripe. Everything else that matters about the world-building gets plenty of attention, making this an entirely compulsive and readable mix of fantasy and romance.

All in all, A Forbidden Alchemy is an engaging, character-driven start to a series that really deserves more attention. Definitely worth picking up for romantasy readers who enjoy elemental magic and enemies-to-lovers tension, and with a cliffhanger like that, you just know the wait for the next book is going to feel even longer.