A Forbidden Alchemy
an exhilarating slow burn romantasy of first loves and betrayals
Published on 7. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
480 pages
978-1-3985-3732-3 (ISBN)
Description
'This book is a pressure-cooked vial crafted with perfect romantic tension and pure gangster-style grit ... I loved every chapter' RAVEN KENNEDY, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Plated Prisoner series.
Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows in 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 are only twelve years old when they are whisked from their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to test for magical abilities. Nina's lifelong dream is to become an Artisan, a powerful elemental mage who fulfills the city's grand ambitions, while Patrick wants only to reunite with his family of Craftsmen in the mines.
But together, they discover a devastating secret: Artisans aren't born, they're chosen.
With this information, they part ways. Patrick returns home, while Nina finds her place as one of the rarest, most coveted types of Artisan.
When a Craftsman revolution ignites years later, Nina is captured by Patrick's rebel group - and he hasn't forgotten her. In fact, he needs her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. She reluctantly agrees to aid him, battling the sparks between them. But when Nina's first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the Artisans, she faces an impossible choice that will determine the fate of their world.
A concoction of all the best romantasy tropes:
Elemental magic
Found family
Tension & Slow burn
Political Intrigue / Class War
What readers and authors have been saying about A Forbidden Alchemy:
'If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would ... This story has the morally gray characters of my dreams!! ... I will be telling everyone that I know to read this book. I NEED MORE!!' READER REVIEW, 5 stars
'I'm never going to shut up about this book ... the romantasy book you'll never get over' HANNAH NICOLE MAEHRER, internationally bestselling author of Assistant to the Villain
'It catapults readers into an immersive romance, a rustic setting, dynamic characters, a world of secrets, ghastly betrayals ... I am obsessed with this book ... this is the best romantasy I've read' READER REVIEW, 5 stars
Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows in 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 are only twelve years old when they are whisked from their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to test for magical abilities. Nina's lifelong dream is to become an Artisan, a powerful elemental mage who fulfills the city's grand ambitions, while Patrick wants only to reunite with his family of Craftsmen in the mines.
But together, they discover a devastating secret: Artisans aren't born, they're chosen.
With this information, they part ways. Patrick returns home, while Nina finds her place as one of the rarest, most coveted types of Artisan.
When a Craftsman revolution ignites years later, Nina is captured by Patrick's rebel group - and he hasn't forgotten her. In fact, he needs her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. She reluctantly agrees to aid him, battling the sparks between them. But when Nina's first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the Artisans, she faces an impossible choice that will determine the fate of their world.
A concoction of all the best romantasy tropes:
Elemental magic
Found family
Tension & Slow burn
Political Intrigue / Class War
What readers and authors have been saying about A Forbidden Alchemy:
'If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would ... This story has the morally gray characters of my dreams!! ... I will be telling everyone that I know to read this book. I NEED MORE!!' READER REVIEW, 5 stars
'I'm never going to shut up about this book ... the romantasy book you'll never get over' HANNAH NICOLE MAEHRER, internationally bestselling author of Assistant to the Villain
'It catapults readers into an immersive romance, a rustic setting, dynamic characters, a world of secrets, ghastly betrayals ... I am obsessed with this book ... this is the best romantasy I've read' READER REVIEW, 5 stars
Reviews / Votes
'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, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Plated Prisoner series'Stacey McEwan 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, internationally bestselling 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, internationally bestselling 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, internationally bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen
'This book will haunt me ... storytelling on this level is just remarkable' KATHERINE HEIGL, actress
'[A] unique romantasy that seamlessly blends genres ... [and] will resonate with readers who have enjoyed McEwan's previous series and books such as Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games and Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals' Library Journal (starred review)
'Stacey McEwan has served up an early 20th-century-inspired fantasy of which even Tommy Shelby might (begrudgingly) approve... This is romantasy with a punch.'
ELLE
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
342 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3985-3732-3 (9781398537323)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2025
Simon & Schuster Ltd
€24.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
E-Book
07/2025
Simon + Schuster LLC
€6.44
Available for download
Person
Stacey McEwan is the New York Times and USA TODAY 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.