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The Artisan Trilogy #2

A Forsaken Prophecy

Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26
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In a world of high-class magic and gangster grit, a star-crossed couple must decide where their loyalties lie in the sizzling romantasy follow-up to BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s New York Times bestseller A Forbidden Alchemy.

In Belavere Trench, the Artisans and the Craftsmen are at war. Patrick, the last Alchemist, and Nina, the world’s only known earth Charmer, have been captured by the Artisans, putting Patrick’s rebel union in a precarious position.

Though he hasn’t forgiven Nina her betrayals, Patrick has other things to worry about. He is finally reunited with his father, a prisoner of the Artisans, and the group lands a narrow escape only with the help of Nina’s first love, Theo. Decoding an ancient prophecy, they set off in search of an infinite supply of idium that will determine the course of the war, should it prove more than a myth. Fleeing across Craftsman towns on the brink, they will encounter old friends—and enemies—in search of answers.

Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

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About the author

Stacey McEwan

10 books4,218 followers
Stacey McEwan lives in Queensland, Australia with her husband and two children. She is a teacher by day, writer by night.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Emily-Rose At The Rose House.
120 reviews143 followers
March 18, 2026
“Bury them all” 🪦

Oh, you thought book 1 buried you with plot twists? Book 2 literally tears a seam down the middle of the world and pushes you in so you can’t climb back up.

“How could I tell him that I was every bit as terrible as he feared and still have him love me in the end?”

After the deepest level of betrayal, Nina and Patrick navigate a path (or should I say tunnel?) covered in glass. The pain is real, the cuts are deep. Two shattered hearts trying to figure out if they can piece themselves back together again. The growth, THE TENSION and the longing had me on the edge of my seat. PLUS we have Theo stirring the pot!

“I think you and I . . . we’re meant to carry on as we are. Broken parts and all.”

I will die on the hill that Patrick is Tommy Shelby.
Can we please bring suspenders back? The loyalty this man has for his family, his town, the ones he loves - it’s unmatched!

Book 2 also expands the world, that crazy network of underground tunnels all lead to towns that get to to be explored! As the characters get pulled to different locations we also get to learn more about the history & origin of magic. Be prepared, there are so many insane twists! Theo, Polly, John, Rose.. arrghh I can’t!

I honestly can’t wait for book 3! I’m not ready to leave this world so I’m diving into a re-read of book 1 🙌🏼

—-

“If I was a knife, then I could rip and slash and gouge until the aching ebbed. It wasn’t idium I wanted. It was revenge.”

“Patrick’s eyes had always been a danger to me. One glance, and I was swallowed”
Profile Image for Liana Gold.
388 reviews190 followers
Want to read
November 7, 2025
Patrick & Nina’s story continues!!! Loved part one, can’t wait for part two. Loving the vibrant cover page ❤️
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
386 reviews56 followers
Want to read
November 4, 2025
Literally need this in my hands yesterday. It's been two months and I'm still thinking about book one.

I miss Patty.

*✧: ・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧: ・゚:✧*

Me after seeing the cover reveal and reading that cosmo exclusive chapter sneak today

Profile Image for Kalie.
Author 2 books594 followers
March 15, 2026
oh I just LOVED this!!!!!
Profile Image for Rayne.
101 reviews13 followers
Want to read
October 23, 2025
Book 1 was SO GOOD, I need book 2 in my hands! I am dying to find out what will happen to Nina, Patrick, and Theo
Profile Image for Kate Ivy.
155 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2026
“You seein’ this shithole?” “I’m blind, cockhead.”

Donny strikes again! Possibly my fav side character ever! He gives Carrion a run for his money.

This book picked right up where it left off, and that was in a gut wrenching scene, the emotions were high reading through this story with the hurt, anger, betrayal, the heartbreak, the quests and the friendships!

“War was a gentlemen’s game. Women were just the currency”

The blue balls the slow burn gave me were big! Stacey, you’ve ruined me for all other men. No one will ever compare to Patrick!!!!!

“When you look up at me like that, darlin’,” he said in warning, “it’s like darin’ me to ruin you.

Thankyou to netgalley for this arc.
351 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 21, 2026
I was nervous for this book, not gonna lie. So many books suffer from that sophomore book curse where the heroine goes on her hero journey and finds self discovery or whatever. This book did not feel that way at all.

I'm so distraught now, having been in a book slump for WEEKS. Stacey revived me but also I NEED BOOK 3 ALREADY. Back to Slumpville I go.

This book gave everything that I hoped it would. We got to see more lore, more heart, more Patrick 🫦, just more.

Thank you so much to the author, Saga Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.
Profile Image for jlreadstoperpetuity.
545 reviews20 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 2, 2026
This is book two in The Artisan Trilogy, where Patrick the last alchemist and Nina the only earth-charmer are caught in the middle of a full-on war between magic factions and end up chasing an ancient prophecy that could decide the entire conflict. It’s basically rebels, betrayals, exes showing up, and a road-trip quest for a mythical resource while everyone is fighting for power.

I feel like this is peak romantasy chaos with politics, tension, and messy feelings layered on top of worldbuilding. It reads like dramatic fantasy TV in book form, and I’d be here for the emotional disasters.
Profile Image for Helen.
91 reviews14 followers
March 9, 2026
This starts off so strong — literally picking up right where the last book left us, which I always love in a sequel. It immediately pulled me back into the story and the world.

One of the big changes in this book is that we get quite a few new POVs. The first book was just Patrick and Nina, so it was interesting to see the story open up to other characters. I’m not totally convinced the extra perspectives added a huge amount overall, but they were still a welcome addition and helped flesh out the wider world.

Around the 40–60% mark the pacing dipped a little and things slowed down. Personally I didn’t mind too much because there were some really lovely moments tucked into that section — little bits of absolute gold. Miss Trunk, the old woman who can only communicate through piano in her antiques shop, was such a standout character. And Polly discovering all the letters Otto had sent her after she betrayed everyone? That moment hit so well. There were some real gems in this book — I just wanted even more of them.

Patrick and Nina still completely have my heart. I adore them and I’m desperately hoping we get even more of them in book three. And Donny’s wit was such a welcome reprieve during some of the heavier parts of the story — I loved every time he showed up.

The prophecy about the three daughters was such an interesting concept, but I do think it could have been a bit clearer. I kept expecting some big reveal — like Nina being an ancestor or somehow holding the powers of all three sisters — something that tied it all together in a bigger way. Because of that, parts of the book did feel a little bit like a bridge or filler book in the series.

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and the yearning was absolutely on point.

I will 100% be picking up book three — honestly I cannot wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Em ☽✦ღ.
61 reviews3 followers
March 14, 2026
I literally devoured A Forbidden Alchemy, so I was BEYOND excited when I got the approval for this eARC!!!!

First of all, the world and the prophecy element in this series just keeps getting more fascinating. The way the story peels back layers of the prophecy and what it actually means had me completely hooked. Every time I thought I understood what was going on… something else shifted and suddenly everything felt more dangerous and complicated. I LOVE when a fantasy series keeps expanding the lore in ways that make the story feel bigger and more intense.

I am so attached to Nina and Pat, honestly I love every single character in this book!!!! Minus a couple but I won’t spoil!!!! Everyone feels layered and human, making choices that aren’t always easy or perfect but that make sense for who they are. Watching their loyalties, fears, and relationships evolve under the pressure of everything happening was so compelling.

The plot is nonstop tension throughout. This book does such a good job balancing the political intrigue, the magical elements, and the character-driven moments so that everything feels important. I genuinely didn’t want to stop reading because I needed to know what would happen next.

Also can we talk about how Stacey McEwan writes emotional scenes??? Because WOW!!!!!!!! By the end I was equal parts thrilled and emotionally wrecked, which honestly is exactly what I want from a fantasy like this.

If you love character-driven fantasy with prophecy, high stakes, intense relationships, and a world that keeps getting deeper the more you learn about it, this series is SUCH a ride.

Five stars easily. And now I will be impatiently waiting to see what happens next because I am absolutely not done with this story yet!!!

Thank you so much to Stacey McEwan, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for this eARC!!!

Profile Image for MegGraham_Reads ✨.
82 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 18, 2026
✨B O O K R E V I E W✨

📖: A Forsaken Prophecy
✍🏻: Stacey McEwan
🔥: 🌶️

-•-

⚡️Second chance romance?
⚡️Tension and yearning
⚡️Slow burn
⚡️Forced proximity
⚡️Found family
⚡️Peaky Blinders vibes

5⭐️

-•-

It is not lost on me how lucky I was to have an ARC of this that I could devour as soon as I finished A Forbidden Alchemy. Thank you to NetGalley, to Simon and Schuster UK, and, of course, to Stacey McEwan for this gift 🙏

And what a gift it was.

This book picks up where book one ended and does not let up.
The action is non-stop.
The writing continues to be exceptional, and we get new POVs.

Sometimes, new POVs in a book are redundant, or act as filler - that is not the case here. Each new POV adds something, has a narrative purpose. Help peel back the layers of this story.

The characters remain some of my favourites.
I felt every single emotion about these people.
From sympathy, to revulsion, to annoyance, to understanding.
And then all the way back around again.

Patrick Colson has been elevated to the status favourite MMC - he is so fully formed, so layered, so nuanced. As someone who can’t imagine books in their head, the biggest compliment I am able to pay Stacey is that Patrick is the closest I’ve got to really seeing a character.

That is how good her writing, her story telling, is.

And, yet again, that ending.
The revelations came on coming. The betrayals.
An epilogue that has me questioning where we go from here.

And I can’t wait to find out in book three of The Artisan Trilogy.

📅: A Forsaken Prophecy releases 30 July.

🩷
Profile Image for Abby Rogish Bodin.
139 reviews10 followers
February 18, 2026
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Rating: 4.5/5

I read this as soon as I finished the first, and it was so good. I don't want to give away things, but this book perfectly sets up the third and final installment. It gives enough answers and asks enough questions to keep you hooked. Stacey's writing is so good that it pulls you into the story. I told my husband I'm devastated to have to wait until 2027 for my hands on the third book!
Profile Image for Carly Gerdes.
6 reviews6 followers
March 3, 2026
This is the first ARC I’ve ever received and I simply could not have been more excited. Getting to be back in the world with Patrick and Nina is my favorite place to be. Since it doesn’t come out until July I don’t want to post anything with spoilers, so ill come back in July and tell you all of my thoughts
Profile Image for Rya.
44 reviews
Want to read
November 5, 2025
The cover art is somehow EVEN BETTER than the first book?! Can’t wait for this one to come out!
Profile Image for Jessie.
140 reviews13 followers
March 16, 2026
Did I read this twice already because I’m obsessed? Perhaps.

Forbidden Alchemy fans—brace yourselves! A Forsake Prophecy is a truly astounding sequel that will break your heart in a way that leaves you begging to read more.

I especially love the additions of several other POVs throughout this book that offer further depth and intrigue to the world. (Is Patrick’s POV my favorite? Of course.) For those of you who are curious, I can confirm Patrick is even more unhinged than in book 1, and it’s amazing.

I can’t wait for you all to read it come July!

Thank you so much for this eARC copy I received for a blurb!
Profile Image for Carmela Agatha Enriquez (agathafeelingg.reads).
604 reviews73 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 21, 2026
📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @simonschusterca for an early copy of A Forsaken Prophecy by @staceymcewanbooks. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: July 16th, 2026

After the explosive cliffhanger of A Forbidden Alchemy, A Forsaken Prophecy somehow raises the stakes even higher, delivering relentless twists, escalating danger, and another jaw-dropping ending that left me completely unwell. With messy loyalties, aching romance, moral ambiguity, and characters I both rage at and deeply sympathize with, Stacey McEwan proves this series only gets better, and now I’m desperately counting down to book three (and the audiobook).

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Just when I thought Stacey McEwan couldn’t possibly raise the stakes after A Forbidden Alchemy, the explosive first book in the series (even with that absolutely criminal cliffhanger), A Forsaken Prophecy comes in as the sequel and proves me wrong in every way. Stacey McEwan really said, “Oh, you survived the first twist? Try this one.” And then she ends this book with ANOTHER major plot twist AND another devastating cliffhanger. I am unwell.

A Forsaken Prophecy picks up right where the chaos left off, and Nina, Patrick, Theo, plus John and Polly, are now racing to find Idia’s Seam, the supposedly mythical source of unlimited terranium hidden deep within the Trench. With the newly instated Lord Shop tightening his grip, the stakes feel even sharper, more dangerous, more desperate.

The tension between this group? Immaculate. Patrick is still reeling from Nina, Theo, and Polly’s betrayal, and yet he allies with them anyway. The man keeps insisting he’ll keep his distance, but as John so perfectly puts it, he’s “gone in too deep.” And honestly? He would burn the world down for Nina if she asked. The yearning. The angst. The restraint that isn’t really restraint.

Theo had me side-eyeing him for a good chunk of the book, not going to lie. His allegiance felt shaky at best in the first book. But when it truly mattered, he proved that his love for Nina is real, so real he would take a bullet for her. That moment? I had to put the book down.

Polly remains my most conflicted character. I despised her choices, yet I couldn’t help but pity her. All she’s ever seemed to want is acceptance, and the only place she’s found even a semblance of that is with Kenton Hill. She is messy, flawed, and painfully human.

And then there’s John. Oh, John. Idolized for founding the Miner’s Union and revered for his supposed wisdom and bravery, yet he reeks of mischief and moral ambiguity. He claims he would do anything for his family… but then turns around and sells the most vital information about Patrick to the highest bidder. I cannot figure him out, and I love that I can’t.

Stacey McEwan continues to astound me. This series doesn’t just maintain momentum. It escalates. Every revelation hits harder. Every twist feels earned. She writes these characters with such emotional depth that even when I’m furious at them, I understand them. I sympathize. I ache with them.

This series just keeps getting better and better, and now I am once again left dangling off the edge of another cliff, waiting (impatiently) for book three.

For now… would @simonschusterca @simonschuster @sagapressbooks @simon.audio kindly bless me with the audiobook when it drops? Because if it’s anything like my experience listening to the first book, it will be a whole new level of obsession.

@staceymcewanbooks, respectfully… how dare you.

And also, please give me the next book immediately. 🥹
Profile Image for Amanda BookishRabbits .
65 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 9, 2026
“I think you and I... we’re meant to carry on as we are. Broken parts and all.”

You know that feeling when you tell yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 1am and you’ve mentally cancelled tomorrow’s responsibilities? Yes. That was this book.

My favourite things:
♟️ The constant scheming and characters trying to outplay each other
💥 Nina’s growing female rage against a system and people that keep trying to control her
😂 Donny and the humour he brought to the story
🎭 Multiple POVs and side characters with real depth and layered motivations
🔥 The tension and emotional chaos between Nina and Patrick
📺 The way it reads like a fantasy series you’d happily binge in one sitting

This sequel keeps everything I loved about the first book and just continues the momentum. The pacing is addictive, the emotional tension is still doing the absolute most, and the characters are all making decisions that had me alternating between cheering them on and quietly yelling at the page. The relationships remain at the heart of the story, especially Nina and Patrick, whose dynamic continues to deliver that perfect mix of tension, loyalty, frustration and longing.

"He was— and had always been— a constant battle of scales that wouldn’t balance. The cost of need outweighing the cost of failure. Bad deals and bullets and me, digging out terranium with a guillotine hanging above. Saving his mother at the mercy of an approaching ambush."

What really made this book shine for me though was how cinematic it felt. The whole thing reads like an incredible fantasy TV show where every chapter feels like the next episode and you just want to binge the entire season in one sitting. The twists, turns and reveals keep coming, and it constantly feels like the characters are playing a giant game of chess, always trying to outmanoeuvre each other. Just when you think someone has the upper hand, another character shifts the board again.

I also really loved the thread of female rage running through the story. Nina is constantly being underestimated, controlled, or used by the men and systems around her, and watching her push back against that was incredibly satisfying. It never feels preachy, just very raw and earned, like she’s finally done playing by rules that were never built for her in the first place.

"That was what I really wanted— to be saved by obscurity. I wanted to mean nothing, to have nothing the men of this world could try to possess."

And the side characters were fantastic. Donny in particular was a standout with his hilarious perspective on everything, bringing some much needed humour into the chaos. But what really impressed me was the depth across the whole cast. Even characters who have done questionable things are written with enough nuance that you can understand their reasoning, which makes the conflicts feel layered rather than simply good versus bad.

"Futility descended, spirals of it circling my entire being until my fingers curled in and my rib cage folded."

Sure, Patrick may have said “this book is as useless as a c*ck on a priest,” but he definitely wasn’t talking about THIS book. Every twist, every scheme, every bit of chaos lands perfectly, and I would happily binge it all over again.

Overall this was an easy 4.5 star read for me. It delivers everything that made the first book so addictive while pushing the story forward in really satisfying ways. I flew through it, loved every twisty moment, and now feel like someone who has just finished the season finale of a brilliant show and is staring at the wall wondering what on earth to do until the next season arrives.
Profile Image for Shirley.
289 reviews96 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 6, 2026
Stacy McEwan’s talent for writing never ceases to amaze me. I’m usually a fast reader but I noticed myself reading and re-reading every word and paragraph, not because I had trouble understanding, but because I wanted to savour the words, feel the impact and discern any hidden meaning. Stacy's words are so powerful; it feels like she’s poured her heart out writing this beautiful book. As a reader, the least I could do is truly feel the impact of each and every word.”

A Forsaken Prophecy begins right where the cliffhanger left us in A Forbidden Alchemy. We’re taken around Belvedere, the House, other parishes and towns in a journey to discover terrarium with the core crew. As expected, all characters were complex and it’s near impossible to say whether a character is truly “good” or “bad”. I really warmed up to Theo in this book; I definitely don’t condone his actions but like any complex character he is deeply flawed. It’s hard to turn your back on everything you’ve always believed in, even more hard to defy your parents (for some people) but throughout the entire book Theo is persistently trying to do the right thing and atoning for his wrongs. For some people their loyalty is to a side of war, a country, a cause or religion, for others it’s to a person and there is no better example of this than Theo.

I will love Patrick and Nina to the end of days and I’m so glad to be reunited with them. As expected after the end of the book, there’s some awkwardness, lots of angst, and bottled-up anger that needs forgiveness before a relationship could truly develop between the two. However, there is so much strength and determination individually - they know exactly what they want and what their purpose is, there is no need for drama, only support, partnership, safety and love.

I loved this book so much however, just as Stacy mentioned in her acknowledgments, no book is perfect. For me, whilst I enjoyed the multiple POVs so I had an all round understanding of what was happening to the major characters, at times I felt Nina was a side character (the main character being Patrick only). Most povs involved Nina but she felt distant. I wanted more tenacity, hatred and invigoration but I felt with all the different things happening sometimes I forgot she was the other main character. My only other issue was that because book 1 had twists and turns happening out of the blue, the twists in this book for the most part was expected. I had a feeling who I could and couldn’t trust and they generally turned out to be right .

Part of me is annoyed I decided to read book 2 early because now I have to wait god knows how long for book 3. Nina, Patrick, Theo, Polly and the rest of Kentish Town - I love you guys and can’t wait to be reunited soon!!
Profile Image for amandathebookworm 📚🪱.
250 reviews968 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 16, 2026
I WOULD THANK STACEY MCEWAN FOR THE ARC BUT I’M A LITTLE PISSED AT HER RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY BECAUSE WTF WAS THAT ENDING (complimentary) 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AGAIN UGHHHHHH

If you haven’t read book 1 — A Forbidden Alchemy — please don’t read this review. It’ll contain spoilers for book 1.


PLOT
This takes off right after the events of book 1 with Nina & Patrick on the way to the House, to be weapons used by those in charge. This book has:
- tension & yearning SCREAMING OFF THE PAGE OH MY GOD
- nonstop stress
- Peaky Blinders vibes still
- themes of power maintenance & control
- rebellion
- low (but hot) spice


PROS
- The romance in this fucking rules. The yearning oh my GOD. The way the betrayals were navigated was so well done. So often in series, it can feel like book 2 conflict is reaching for book 1’s romantic tension & it doesn’t quite hit… LEMME TELL YA THIS HIT.
- Patrick Colson is a top 5 book husband for me. I fucking LOVE HIM. He’s even better in this book my god Patty Daddies so hard.
- Nina, I love you. I like how she’s evolving quite a bit & her female rage is satisfying to watch.
- I reallllllly hate the goddamn villain GUHHHHH.
- More POVs & they were all so good.
- The spice hit.
- The cliffhanger? Criminal. Omg I am so ready for book 3.
- The exploration of the magic & its lore was SO fascinating. This is truly how you expand on world building in book 2.
- There were some themes that really resonated with me & OOOOOOOOH I can’t really say them without spoiling but feeling seen y’all.


CONS
- None, truly. I can’t wait for book 3.


OTHER NOTES
- “I HATE YOU [person name] YOU LITTLE DIRT RAT BITCH” was the first thing I wrote on this review so, let’s just say I’m reeling. 😆


GIMME MORE!
Profile Image for Taylor Krasinski.
119 reviews71 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
February 17, 2026
5 ⭐️ ✨ ARC Review ✨

I still cannot believe I was lucky enough to receive one of my most anticipated books of the year. 🥹

Ever since I discovered A Forbidden Alchemy in July 2025, this world has lived rent-free in my head. And this sequel? It somehow expands every detail — the stakes, the history, the heartbreak!

Stacey McEwan has this gift of guiding you so seamlessly through her story that it doesn’t feel like reading… it feels like stepping through the realms and walking beside Patrick and Nina yourself. Every setting feels tangible. Every choice feels heavy and my heart… it can’t take the stress!

This book is layered with:
• emotional turmoil (the soul-crushing kind)
• beautiful character growth
• deeper lore and history with characters we love and some new!
• new corners of the world that make it feel even bigger
• plot twists that genuinely caught me off guard
• yearning that burns slower… and somehow hotter 🥵

The love in this story shifts. It matures. It hurts. It burns. And it heals in ways that left my heart cracked open in the best possible way! Patrick and Nina leveled up as individuals, but more importantly as partners. (On numerous levels)

This sequel didn’t just continue the story — it deepened it. This is how a sequel should be. In every way shape and form. And I am absolutely not okay. 🖤
159 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2026
Picking up where A Forbidden Alchemy left off, Nina & Patrick are taken against their will to the House, after Kenton Hill was exposed as the Union HQ and Patrick as the last alchemist.
Nina’s loyalty is uncertain so measures are taken to ensure her cooperation in sourcing more terranium.
Patrick, thinking Nina exposed and betrayed him (which is only half true), refuses any and all communication and affection from Nina, but still harbours deep feelings for her.
Theo, also captured and returned to the House has to decide whether to aid his father, or his friends.

I really enjoyed this instalment, i read it in 3 days which is fast for me!
I felt the plot was paced better, with a lot more action and gripping content throughout as opposed to saving most of it for the end.

There was an introduction of additional POVs which I welcomed. It helped to better understand some of the characters and their arcs and deepened my connection to them.
I went into this thinking it was a duology but it isn’t nearly wrapped up yet! I can’t wait to read the next!

The relationship between Nina and Patrick is a a show stealer, but really doesn’t take away from the rich plot and all the intricate details.

Side note: how did Stacey McEwan manage such an excruciatingly slow burn in the second instalment?!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!
Profile Image for Itzy Morales.
222 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
January 23, 2026
I was feral waiting for this book to come out and now I’m feral for the next book to come out! Because what the actual hell Stacey! I am genuinely distraught I finished this but only because the next book isn’t out yet.

The way Stacey has such a way with words that she fully transports the reader from the earthly world into Belavere. I found myself not only following along this journey but feeling apart of this journey, if that makes sense. My eyes were genuinely glued to the pages and it was so hard to not feel like you’re there! The power Stacey has is just incredible.

And can I just say, I absolutely love the tension stirring between Theo, Nina, and Patrick. Sue me!! They both love Nina in their own way and they all have history with one another making the tension and jealousy that much better! Ugh, why can’t a girl just have two boyfriends!

We get more lore in this book as more characters are introduced and the brewing rebellion puts even more strain on both sides of this upcoming war. With this newfound restlessness, there’s more at stake and even more betrayal! No one can trust just anyone and everyone is on edge. And that ending?? GIRL. How are we leaving off on yet another cliffhanger!

Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC.
Profile Image for Allison Agnello.
638 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 9, 2026
This might have been one of the best sequels ive ever read. Every chapter has something new to discover and the whole story is so full of action! That ending changed the entire trajectory and gives me no idea where the next book will lead.

Tess Colson might be my new hero. She is such an underrated badass mother. She isnt in a lot of this but whenever she was, I was cheering for her or trying to decode the meaning behind her words.

Donny's POV was a welcome surprise and completely entertaining. Being able to gain more of his personality and how he navigates situations makes me scared for his future but also really intrigued.

Rose and John are two characters I still feel conflicted about. I thibk they both had similar motives and went about things the wrong way but it seems like there is more to both stories that I hope we get to hear, especially Rose.

The MC's are still circling each other and trying to make their puzzle pieces fit. I cant help but root for them even when some of the yearning mixed with fighting and whining annoyed me.

Its so far-fetched at this point but im still hoping for a Theo and Gunner romance 😂 they had such great banter in book 1 and are just opposite enough for it to work. I cant help myself
Profile Image for Ainsley (books.andthe.beach).
131 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 4, 2026
I have been SO ready for this after THAT ending of book 1 and this does not disappoint, it was brilliant 🔥 We’ve got it all in this, heartache, tension, torn loyalties, broken trust, angst, danger, betrayal, it’s action packed and hard to say a lot without giving anything away so this will be a vibes review. And the vibes were impeccable. Patrick Colson, the man that you are 🔥and my girl Nina has a lot of feminine rage 🔥 We get so much in this book, more of Belavere, more characters, more POV’s, history, lore and more epic twists and turns and it honestly hooked me just as much as book 1. Plus the yearning and then tension…oh my🔥🔥🔥

“I don’t want a good man,” she said. “I want the one in front of me.”

——

“Because you don’t trust me?”
“Because I don’t trust myself when I’m with you,”


I loved this and I’m not kidding that I need book 3 already! I just did a reread of A Forbidden Alchemy so I could have the full emotional impact going into A Forsaken Prophecy and Stacey what are you putting in these books?! Consider me addicted! I’ll take 10. Thank you Simon & Schuster for the eARC!
Profile Image for Booksblabbering || Cait❣️.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 9, 2026
Just as good as book one, and I rarely say that!

The pacing was good despite the travelling aspect I tend to dislike.
The characters continued their will-they-won’t-they dynamic and the semi-love triangle (which is basically just Theo having no personality except pining after Nina).

This series gives me major Six of Crows vibes where Patrick is fantasy Peaky Blinder Kaz Brekker and Nina matches with Grishaverse’s Nina.

We get another perspective in Patrick’s brothers which keeps us informed as events spread and threats increase.

I wish we got a bit more depth from all of our characters. The moustache twirling villain, the feisty yet vulnerable heroine, the violent yet soft hero, the pining, redemptive second love interest.

Similar to my asks of book one, whilst we got more historic reveals, I still want more world-building with better defined rules.

Overall, utterly bingeable and pure fun mixed with angst and tension.

Arc gifted by publisher.

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