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Cover of A Forbidden Alchemy

A Forbidden Alchemy

by Stacey McEwan

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·The Artisan Trilogy #1
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Why Read This?

You'll get obsessed with morally gray characters and plot twists that leave you feral for the sequel.

Synopsis

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.

At a Glance

4.26 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energymedium

Top Tropes

hidden identitysecret relationship

Mood

emotionalintensedarksuspensefulbrooding

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.26 ★

Page Count

480 pages

Published

2025

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

M/F

POV

Dual POV

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Dual Narration (M+F)

Narrator

Billie Fulford-Brown|Joshua Riley

Narrator Count

Dual

Narration Style

Duet

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

immersiveatmosphericdramaticemotional

Story Pacing

fast

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

Dark historical romantasy with gangster underworld vibes and steamy class-divide tension that feels like walking a knife's edge.

Characters

FMC Archetype

morally graydamaged survivoroutcast / misfit

MMC Archetype

morally graytortured soulhidden royalty

Relationship Dynamics

forbidden loveclass differenceslow burn

Spice Details 🌶️

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Spice Level 3

Spice Style

dark / taboo styleintense / passionatetension / anticipation focus

Getting Steamy

tensionanticipationlonging glancespossessive/protectiveeye contact intensityforehead touching

Bringing the Heat

magic-infused intimacypower exchange
Browse more books by spice level →
abusechildhood traumadeathemotional abuseparental abuseviolencegriefwar
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

World Type

historical

Primary Setting

big city / metropolisunderground / underworldwar front / rebellion

Fantasy Creatures

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

autumn

When & Where to Read

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