Posted 07/25/2025 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
A Forbidden Alchemy by
Stacey McEwanStar Rating:
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Published by S&S / Saga Press on 07/01/2025
Genres: Fiction,
Fantasy,
Romance,
RomantasyFormat: Kindle (480 Pages) đź“–
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Barnes & NobleNina 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.
Tags: Abduction, Betrayal, Competent Heroine, Dangerous Hero/Heroine, Forced Proximity, Gifted/Super Hero/Heroine, Independent Heroine, Love Triangle, Magic, Possessive Hero, Second Chances, Slow Burn, Sweet/Gentle Hero/Heroine, Tortured Hero/Heroine, War
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Series: Dark Inheritance Trilogy #1 Published by S&S / Saga Press on 11/19/2024
Format: Kindle (351 Pages) đź“–
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Series: The Kindred's Curse #2 Published by Independent Publisher on 07/18/2023
Format: Kindle (637 Pages) đź“–
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All-Time FavoriteSeries: Ruinous Love #3 Published by Zando on 02/11/2025
Format: Kindle (416 Pages) đź“–
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Barnes & NobleRose is a quirky motorcycle-riding, tarot card-reading circus performer who helps abused women escape their dangerous partners by ANY means necessary. Fionn is a sexy doctor with two serial killer brothers, two badass serial killer sisters-in-law, and a hefty dose of childhood trauma he’s desperately trying to escape. Together, Fionn and Rose crochet a sex swing with the Suture Sisters (a hilarious group of crocheting octogenarians), unalive a handful of abusive dudes (who REALLY deserved it), and experience some seriously fucked up stuff (The Phantom and David). They make cotton candy undeniably sexy (IYKYK), redefine sexy clowns (I’m […]
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Series: Glimmer Falls #3 Published by Berkley on 08/13/2024
Format: Kindle (444 Pages) đź“–
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Series: The Veiled Kingdom #2 Published by Independent Publisher on 08/20/2024
Format: DRC (364 Pages) đź“–
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Barnes & NobleThe Hunted Heir dives straight into the action, picking up where the jaw-dropping cliffhanger ending of The Veiled Kingdom left off—damn you, Dacre. The pulse-pounding adventure and sizzling romance will leave you breathless, furiously turning pages, and staying up way past your bedtime. And speaking of romance—buckle up, baby, because you are in for one hell of a ride. Verena is on the run once more. Barely escaping the hidden city and Dacre’s stunning betrayal—which still lingers like an open wound—she must alone navigate Marmoris’ treacherous landscape. Her true identity as the princess is no longer a secret; the […]
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Series: Ruinous Love #2 Published by Zando on 06/04/2024
Format: Kindle (409 Pages) đź“–
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Series: Ruinous Love #1 Published by Zando on 10/23/2023
Format: Kindle (355 Pages) đź“–
Add to GoodreadsBuy on AmazonButcher and Blackbird is a dark romantic comedy about two serial killers who only kill other serial killers. Think: a sweet, protective Dexter meets an artsy, sassy female Dexter—but make it a rom-com. There’s pining and piercings, a little light stalking, some cooking, and, of course, killing, dismemberment, elaborate crime scenes, lobotomized butlers, and mildly inappropriate use of a mummified corpse. Basically, it’s a lot of messed-up serial killer chaos. It’s pretty awesome. Oh—and every year, they play a rousing game of who-can-identify-hunt-and-kill-the-serial-killer-first—you know, for funsies. Sloane and Rowan, our serial killer couple, meet by chance when they unknowingly go […]
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Series: The Veiled Kingdom #1 Published by Independent Publisher on 03/19/2024
Format: Kindle (364 Pages) đź“–
Add to GoodreadsBuy on AmazonThe Kingdom of Mamoris is ruled by an evil king who covets magic and power. His firstborn and only child, Princess Verena, is the sole heir to Mamoris’ throne. But, despite the king’s many, and often abusive, attempts to draw out Verena’s magic, she remains powerless. When Verena turns ten and is still without magic, the king refuses to acknowledge her as his heir and locks her in one of the castle’s towers because a kingdom cannot be ruled without significant power. After many failed attempts at producing a worthy heir, the queen (Verena’s beloved mother) dies in […]
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All-Time FavoriteSeries: Once Upon a Broken Heart #3 Published by Flatiron Books on 10/24/2023
Format: Kindle (390 Pages) đź“–
Add to GoodreadsBuy on AmazonWritten review coming soon…