This was amazing, I was GRIPPED! Secrets? Betrayal? Gangsters? Unique magic? YES! It is honestly one of my favourite reads of the year! Thank you Simon & Schuster for this eARC! This has total Peaky Blinders vibes but with magic..and mining! It’s so good! It’s also the first book that I’ve said to my husband that he HAS to read when it comes out!

I loved both Nina and Patrick, I think he’s the best male character I’ve read in a long time, I’m a big fan of dual POV and it was perfect. The banter in this…tension in this…I was seriously falling in love along with them! Also, as someone who first met their future husband at 12 years old I’m a total sucker for couples meeting as kids and then again as adults 💕 Seriously I just loved Patrick and his chapters!

Not going to lie I was so stressed towards the end and tried to finish it before bed but I get up at 5 so I had to leave the last 6% for the morning and that’s quite an adrenaline rush before work haaaa! The twists & turns and TENSION!! This book was brilliant and I CANNOT wait for book 2! Like I need it already, that ending!!!!

DNF. I was really hoping to enjoy this but I couldn't get past the fact that Patricks chapters are written in third person and Ninas are written is 1st. Maybe this is all from Ninas perspective?

insta-love. Noooooo.

Also... presuming these are these twelve year olds, I'm really put off with the swearing. Different times, sure. But off-putting for me.

This romantasy was so fresh and different from any others I've read and I ATE IT UP!
The first part of the book is full of character and world building but it's done in such a beautiful way without feeling like an info dumping snore fest. I love getting to know our main characters through their childhood and adolescence, this helps us understand how they think and where they come from, in a way that the other characters don't quite understand. The found family and relationships here were so well developed and will pull on your heart strings. The magic system is unique and beautifully done and I can feel that there is so much more to be uncovered through the series.
Belevere Trench is a continent with magic wielders, known as Artisans and regular folk. known as Craftsmen. Your fate is determined at 12 years old when every child travels to Belevere city to drink a vial of Idium, and determine if they have been blessed with magic or not, but all is not as it seems. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are both from poor mining towns and they meet when they go into the city for the Siphoning Ceremony and stumble upon big secrets that ultimately change not only their future, but the future of the entire continent. They both choose a different path but fate has other plans and brings them back together years in the future amidst a revolutionary war that they might have sparked the beginnings of at the young age of 12.
The way Patrick and Nina's fates are woven together is perfectly done. Nina has so much trauma and fear propelling her forward throughout the book and I love seeing her grow and change through her experiences and relationships. Patrick on the outside appears to be a rough and tumble rebellion leader but underneath we get to see how deep and genuine he really is as he strives to make a huge change in their world and uncover the corruption that's rampant in Belevere City.
The plotting is done so well and I love that I didnt have a clear view of where the story was going.
The slow burn and tension was amazing, AND the emotional damage along the way was incredible and painful in the best way. That ending broke me, I cannot wait for the next book!!

I loved A Forbidden Alchemy! This book is a perfect mix of magic, romance, and rebellion, set in a beautifully crafted world.

The story follows Nina and Patrick, two young people from mining towns who find themselves caught in the dangerous, high-society world of Belavere City. As they uncover secrets about their world, their relationship is tested, creating a slow-burn romance filled with tension and emotion.

Stacey did an amazing job blending fantasy with real-world themes like power and privilege. The Victorian-inspired setting, mixed with magic and intrigue, reminded me of Peaky Blinders meets the Grishaverse.

If you love books with rich world-building, slow-burn romance, and high stakes, A Forbidden Alchemy is a must-read!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*