stacey mcewan – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Stacey McEwan
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

Nina 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.

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

OH SNAP. I LOVED THIS.

I never finished this author’s previous series because I just wasn’t attached to book one. But this book one? GIMMMMMMME MORE. This was a hit and I loved it.

I actually liked the age progression for this one. It was quick but gave just the right amount of background information to build the world and characters so well. I loved the connection between Nina and Patrick. It’s was complex and heated and I adored the TRUE slow burn push and pull. The man is down bad, and I LOVE DOWN BAD.

Stacey McEwan does such a great job of creating a world filled with secrets that I love seeing unveiled. Even the ones you know are coming are well crafted and the story telling is just on point. This book had a continual incline on the action and hard hitting moments. This was an amazing combination of romance and magic and politicking and twists and turns and all the things. I must have book two!!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3ish open door
Violence: high

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Stacey McEwan
Publisher: Angry Robot
Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After being randomly selected as a human sacrifice, instead of death, Dawsyn finds herself on a quest to save her people from their icy prison…

In a place known as The Ledge, a civilization is trapped by a vast chasm and sheer mountain face. There is no way for anyone to escape the frozen wasteland without befalling a deathly drop. They know nothing of the outside world except that it is where The Glacians reside – mystical winged creatures who bring them meagre rations to survive, in exchange for a periodic human sacrifice. Dawsyn, axe wielder and only remaining member of her family, has so far avoided the annual culling, but her luck has run out. She is chosen and ripped from her icy home, the only world she knows. No one knows what will happen to her on the other side, least of all Dawsyn. Murdered? Enslaved? Worse?Thankfully, the fates align and Dawsyn manages to escape their clutches with the help of a half-Glacian called Ryon. But trust does not come easily, and she keeps a trained axe to his throat while they journey together down the slopes. But who’s to say that the life below will be any better than the one she has run from?

Thank you Angry Robot and Netgalley for the eARC.

MIXED.

This book may have been too hyped for me, but I just didn’t love this like I hoped for.

The writing style took me a bit to get into, once there though, I was fine. I really liked the initial plot set-up and the winter vibes. It was unique with the chasm concept and the clear secrets being withheld from this group of humans stuck being terrorized by the Glacians. A winged folk group is always a good decision and I liked those aspects too.

What got me is the lack of intimacy between the love interests Ryon and Dawsyn (also love that name). I think the burn was a little too fast and with the writing style I didn’t feel fully invested in them. There was much more emphasis on their physical dynamics rather than any other facet that I also like seeing in a budding relationship.

With the focus turned so much inward the larger plot lost some steam. I liked many of the reveals and even seeing them coming didn’t take away from my enjoyment. There’s some good plot twist tropes I like (won’t mention specifics because of spoilers). BUT a particular scene towards the end felt too easy because there wasn’t enough time dedicated to this rebellion that was occurring.

Ending was totally shocking. I’m still sitting here contemplating how that’s supposed to work itself out. Am I intrigued enough to try book two? I *think* so.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: multiple brief open door; low-med explicitness
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of rape and sexual assault, near death experiences, kidnapping, murder, physical and weapons altercations, battle scenes, loss of loved ones