Title: A Forsaken ProphecyAuthor: Stacey McEwan
Series: The Artisan Trilogy #2
Pages: 480
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Publisher: Saga Press
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
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.
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“Sometimes stories are made where logic fails us.”
I absolutely loved A Forsaken Prophecy. I didn’t think Stacey McEwan could make me love this series more than I already did after A Forbidden Alchemy, but this sequel somehow exceeded every expectation I had. It’s so immersive and vivid, and it pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the last. The world is expanding, the stakes are as high as ever, and all of the characters go through some major trials.
The story picks up right where it left off, and that intensity is relentless. I’m really enjoying the unique world and the immersive world-building in this series as Nina, Patrick, and others go to different areas. We learn more about the world’s history and magic, and the growing conflict between the Artisans and the Craftsmen. It was all so intriguing, and every new place and revelation added another layer to an already fascinating and layered world. The story still focuses on Nina’s and Patrick’s perspectives, but there are other points of view in this one, and they were fantastic additions. They added so much depth to the story and gave even more perspective on what’s happening and how it affects everyone. There are a lot of different types of relationships and dynamics explored, from friendships to family strife to reluctant allies, and they were all done so well.
For me, though, the real heart of this book is Patrick and Nina both as individuals and as a pair. Patrick has major Tommy Shelby vibes from Peaky Blinders, and I loved every second of it, even when he frustrated me. lol He’s ruthless when he needs to be, fiercely protective of the people he loves, intelligent, and cunning, and there’s so much beneath his tough surface. There’s a hardness to him that’s been shaped by everything he’s endured, but it’s balanced by an incredible amount of heart, duty, and devotion. Watching him struggle with his feelings for Nina while still doing everything he could to protect her made me love him even more. And Nina is every bit as compelling as Patrick. She’s determined, compassionate, and constantly forced to make impossible decisions. I loved seeing her continue to grow while wrestling with the consequences of her past choices and facing new, seemingly insurmountable ones.
There was something strange that happened to Patrick when Nina cried. Like God had grown tired of giving him chances and was demanding his toll. How else to describe the rupture of his heart?
And the romance? SWOON!! After everything they did to each other in the first book, neither Nina nor Patrick knows if they should trust the other, yet neither of them can stay away. The angst and push and pull between them and the way they kept trying to resist their feelings was absolutely addictive. Every conversation is filled with banter and longing, and the tension was similar to what I imagine being stuck at the very precipice of a super scary roller coaster would feel like. lol Their chemistry is off the charts, and even with their lies, betrayals, and hurt, I so hoped they’d find a way back to each other. Be sure to get a fan because their steamy times are hot!
The plot is packed with action, political intrigue, unexpected twists, and surprising discoveries. The search surrounding the prophecy, the danger where Patrick lives and some of his family still resides, and so much more is explored, and it makes for an exciting and suspenseful read. There were a few twists that genuinely shocked me, and the final chapters had me flying through the pages. That ending!! It was phenomenal and left me desperately needing the next book immediately.
Overall, A Forsaken Prophecy is an outstanding sequel and one of my favorite romantasies of the year. Special thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“War was a gentlemen’s game. Women were just the currency..”
“I think you and I… we’re meant to carry on as we are…Broken parts and all.”
“You’ll have taken all the choice out of it. And the worst thing you could do to a woman like Nina Harrow is take away her choices.”
