“…a beacon even in the shade. Some people, I knew, were simply born with that kind of light. It seeped out and lured in those closest.”
From the very first chapters, Stacey McEwan creates a world that feels both magical and painfully grounded. The elemental magic system is fascinating, but it’s the class divide at the heart of the story that gives the novel so much emotional weight. Beneath the romance is a story about power, privilege, sacrifice, and the people forced to survive within an unfair system. It made the world feel incredibly relatable despite the fantasy setting.
Every interaction feels earned, every moment is packed with tension, and the chemistry between the characters had me completely invested. Rather than relying on instant attraction, the relationship develops through shared history, impossible choices, and genuine emotional depth. It’s the kind of romance that has you smiling one chapter and emotionally devastated the next.
The characters themselves are wonderfully complex. No one feels entirely good or entirely bad, and I loved that each and every character had their own motivations. Even when characters made decisions that frustrated me, I could see why they made them. That moral complexity made every conflict feel so much more impact.
“and he took my hand in his, just like that, and as though he’d magicked it, some of his light trickling onto me.“
And then there’s the ending.
I’m not going to spoil anything, but I can honestly say that the twists and turns throughout had be screaming late into the night and my jaw on the floor more times than I can count.
“I’d traveled to every village and parish on the continent, but that any other man might have captured my attention seemed unfathomable to me now. None came close. There was only Patrick and his secrets and these walls.”
If you enjoy:
- A delectable slow-burn
- elemental magic
- slight political intrigue
- morally grey characters
- found family
- emotional twists that will have you in a chokehold
then I can’t recommend A Forbidden Alchemy enough.
This was an easy five-star read for me, and one I’ll be recommending to absolutely everyone who loves fantasy romance. It reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place—the feeling of becoming so immersed in a story that the real world disappears for a while.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Just be prepared for the inevitable book hangover afterwards…