Australian 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.
Another month, another stack of ARCs — and a huge thank you to Katy for thinking of me with this one!
Described by the author as perfect for fans of Peaky Blinders and Six of Crows, this book absolutely delivered on that promise. It also reminded me of The Hunger Games‘ districts and Divergent‘s factions, which made the worldbuilding feel both familiar and fresh. If you love morally grey characters, found family tropes, and high-stakes schemes, this one’s for you.
The plot had enough twists to keep me guessing all the way through. There’s a touch of romance (just enough to satisfy without overpowering the main plot), and while the author breezed through the characters’ backstories early on, well-placed flashbacks filled in the gaps well!
An engaging, well-paced read with intrigue, danger, and heart.
Thank you to Keighley_Reads for another fabulous guest review!
About the Book
Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson first meet in adolescence, brought in from their disenfranchised mining towns to glittering Belavere City to be tested for magical abilities. Those who pass will train to become Artisans, wielding powerful elemental magic to carry out Belavere’s greatest ambitions. Nina wants nothing more than to escape her circumstances and attend the Artisan School, while Patrick only wants to return home to his family of Craftsmen, who use their extraordinary physical strength in the idium mines that keep Belavere running.
The two accidentally discover a devastating secret: that Artisans are not born, but chosen. They part ways without telling another soul.
In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution begins, and the two find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war. Nina, now an elite Artisan with the extremely rare ability to charm earth, soon abdicates the fight entirely, devastated by the loss of her found family. She has long become accustomed to life on the run when she is captured by Patrick’s rebellion contingent. It turns out he has far from forgotten her, and he asks for her help in a mission that will change the tides against Belavere City. She reluctantly agrees, struggling to ignore the sparks between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick and spy on his cause for the Artisans, she must decide whether her loyalties lie with the order that raised her or the one person she knows she can trust.
About The Author
Stacey McEwan is the 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.
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This book can be purchased in our store either on its own or in a cosy Book Box.
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