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A Forbidden Alchemy

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A Forbidden Alchemy

By: Stacey McEwan
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Joshua Riley
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About this listen

 Australian BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s stunning new slow-burn romantasy series traces a fated pair who stumble upon a world-changing secret and are catapulted into a violent class war, 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 be tested 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 return to his family of Craftsmen.

Together, they discover a devastating secret: Artisans aren’t born, but chosen. With this information, they take their future into their own hands. Patrick departs for 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 despite the years, he hasn’t forgotten her. In fact, he needs her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City, which she reluctantly accepts, 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.
 Action & Adventure Editors Select Fantasy Historical Magic

Critic Reviews

‘Stacey 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, 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, 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, author of Trial of the Sun Queen.)
‘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, author of Gild.)
'In this world of magic, love, and lust, you simply won't be able to place the bookmark until well into the black of night. McEwan is a powerhouse of Australian genre fiction.'
‘Stacey McEwan creates a rich new world in her newest dystopian series... Expect political intrigue, suspense and romance, plus a few heart-stopping moments.’
All stars
Most relevant
Loved the story, full of tension, I just could not stop listening! Now desperate for part two.

Tension

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This was my first Stacey McEwen book and it just got better and better! Can’t wait for the next one! Couldn’t stop listening

Incredible storyline and writing

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What can I say besides if you haven’t read this book it need to be on your TBR

Absolutely adored this book!

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There are two narrators, male and female, each take their turns reading the male and female MMC/FMC characters chapters, ALTHOUGH, neither narrator reads in each other's chapters. The female narrator reads both the female and male voices in the FMC's dedicated chapter, and same goes with the male narrator and their MMC's dedicated chapter. It annoys me more than I'd like and so I thought to mention it to anyone else who might find it annoying also before they purchase the book.

I'm enjoying the story, so far. It's a refreshing change, but...

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this was an insanely good read which captured me within the first half hour. cant wait for the next one

gripped me immediately

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I can’t fault this really. The writing is impeccable. The voices are perfect. I do wish the MCs didn’t act in the others’ voice though. Makes for less of an experience. Other than that I have zero complaints

Voices. Passion. Emotion.

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I was hooked from the first chapter. Stacey McEwan has such a talent for balancing wit, tension, & emotional depth. The chemistry? Off the charts. The world-building? Fresh, immersive, magical. Very much looking forward for the continuation of this series! 😊
I’m honestly confused by the low reviews on Audible. Over on Goodreads, it’s flooded with 5-star & 4-star ratings, which is far more reflective of the quality of this story. The narrators were fantastic—they brought every scene to life & nailed the character voices. The poor Audible reviews feel suspiciously intentional & don’t line up at all with the actual experience. This one’s a must-listen.

Great Listen!!

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I found this book to be quite different to other kind of fantasies I've listened to. based in what I imagine is an kind of old timey real world but with a type of magic. I found the audio to be enjoyable, though I found the male narrators voice of Patrick to be kinder than that of the female narrator, who even in moments of kindness sounded quite harsh. The overall story was great, not what I was expecting to be honest but very good. the narrators did a wonderful job.

Enjoyable

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It took me a chapter or two to get used to the usual fantasy setting but once I got into it I enjoyed the twists and betrayal.

A different setting.

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The story was great, kept me hooked the whole time. The only thing to let it down was the quality of the narration. In the dual narration, the accents didn’t match, though it got better towards the end. You could tell where it was edited as there was no continuity in tone of voice, like they were standing farther away from the mic or in a different booth.

Great story but…

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