Stacey McEwan - A Forbidden Alchemy | A Dear Fantasy Author Interview
Release Date: 07/17/2025
Ep 1 ACOTAR Book 1 Recap: Everything to Remember Before ACOTAR 6
Dear Fantasy Reader
Join book besties, Kinsey and Karly, as they dive into a quick yet thorough recap of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Book 1 of the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Perfect for listeners preparing for ACOTAR 6 or refreshing their memory before the next book, this episode revisits the essential plot points, characters, relationships, and twists that started it all! This recap kicks off our Maasive Maasverse Mayhem Prep and Recovery season, a long-term series designed to prepare readers for the next A Court of Thorns and Roses installment. Throughout the season, the hosts will recap all five ACOTAR...
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Ep 9 Brimstone Unanswered Questions: What Readers Want to Know Before Book 3
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they tackle the biggest loose ends, lingering mysteries, and reader-submitted questions from Callie Hart’s Fae and Alchemy series. This episode marks the final stop in our Brimstone Recovery journey before we shift into our next season, and it dives deep into the questions keeping readers awake at night. This conversation explores the unresolved threads woven through Brimstone and offers thoughtful, chaotic, and heartfelt speculation about what these reveals may mean for Fae and Alchemy Book 3. From gods and runes to...
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Ep 8 Fae and Alchemy Book 3 Predictions After Brimstone
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they continue the Brimstone Recovery phase with their biggest theories for Fae and Alchemy Book 3. This episode is packed with Brimstone spoilers, wild connections, and plenty of chaotic speculation as the hosts break down everything they noticed on their first read. In this episode, the trio revisits major revelations from Brimstone to build their earliest predictions for what might come next in Callie Hart’s Fae and Alchemy series. From divine bloodlines and godly betrayals to dragon lore, true names, and the...
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Ep 7 Brimstone Initial Thoughts & Reactions
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they officially begin the Brimstone Recovery phase of the Fae & Alchemy season. In this first post-release episode, the hosts share their immediate reactions to Callie Hart’s Brimstone, diving into favorite characters, quotes, and the moments that left them reeling. They reflect on how Brimstone compares to Quicksilver, discuss emotional standouts, and revisit major turning points—from shocking reveals and long-awaited character arcs to the scenes that broke their hearts and the ones that made them laugh out loud....
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Ep 3 The Ascended Interview: Grenwich & Lennox
Dear Fantasy Reader
Join book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they sit down, once again, with Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox, the author duo behind the Sundered Realms Universe, which includes the Esprithean Trilogy (Riftborne and Duskbound) and the newly released The Ascended, book one in the Aesymarean Duet. This episode serves as a part two to our first interview with Bree and Parker, which is linked below. That interview covered their writing style, creative journey, and spoiler discussions for the Esprithean Trilogy. In this new conversation, we expand the discussion into The Ascended and the broader...
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Ep 6 Quicksilver Bonus Chapters: Recap, Theories, and Hidden Clues
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with book besties Kinsey and Karly as they close out the Brimstone Prep phase with a deep dive into the Quicksilver bonus chapters: The Gate: Part 1, The Gate: Part 2, The Maze, and The Fox. The Boots. The Dress. In this episode, the hosts revisit these pivotal Kingfisher POV scenes to uncover their hidden meanings and the lore connections that might shape Brimstone. From godswords, dragons, and true names to the twin goddesses, Zareth, and the lingering mysteries of the Fae and Alchemy world, they explore what these moments reveal about Kingfisher’s past and the...
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Ep 2 The Ascended Theories: Sundered Realms Connections
Dear Fantasy Reader
Join book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they spiral through their biggest theories for The Ascended Book 2 and the wider Sundered Realms Universe created by Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox. This episode is divided into two parts for spoiler safety. The first portion focuses exclusively on The Ascended and includes spoilers for that book only, making it safe for listeners who have not yet read Riftborne or Duskbound. After a clear spoiler warning, the second portion expands to include crossover theories and predictions for the entire universe, with discussion of Riftborne, Duskbound, and...
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Ep 1 The Ascended: Initial Thoughts & Reactions (The Sundered Realms Universe)
Dear Fantasy Reader
Dive into the Sundered Realms Universe with book besties Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly as they share their first impressions of The Ascended, the new romantasy from author duo Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox that has taken BookTok and Bookstagram by storm. The first installment in the Aesymarean Duet, The Ascended expands the interconnected world readers first fell in love with in Riftborne and Duskbound. In this episode, the hosts discuss their initial reactions, favorite characters, quotes, and the moments that made The Ascended impossible to put down. They explore what makes this story stand...
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Ep 5 Callie Hart Insights & Clues for Brimstone & Beyond
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with Kinsey and Karly as they collect and decode Callie Hart’s most revealing interview moments for Brimstone and the wider Fae & Alchemy series. Pulling from recent tour stops and an Instagram Live, this episode gathers concrete details and intriguing teases, then organizes them into clear takeaways for listeners who want every clue before release day! Listeners will hear quick facts about Brimstone and the series scope, writing timelines, planned points of view, expected spice level, and the tentative timing for Book Three. The hosts also highlight Callie’s...
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Ep 4 Quicksilver Worldbuilding, Lore, & Iconography Breakdown
Dear Fantasy Reader
Step into the quicksilver with book besties Kinsey and Karly as they unravel the intricate lore, worldbuilding, and iconography woven throughout Callie Hart’s Quicksilver, book one in the Fae & Alchemy series. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into the mythology that shapes Yvelia; exploring its seven gods, the divine tree of life, and the mysterious quicksilver that binds the realms together. They examine the role of alchemy, the origins of god-forged swords, and the hidden histories of the Fae, vampires, witches, and dragons. From the divine markings of fate to the symbolism of...
info_outline🎤 Recorded the day before the US release date - one of Stacey’s first in-depth interviews about A Forbidden Alchemy!
In this special Dear Fantasy Author episode, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly sit down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stacey McEwan to get the inside scoop on her brand-new romantasy release, A Forbidden Alchemy!
Known for her signature blend of humor and heartbreak, Stacey delivers a world of gangster grit, slow burn tension, a wildly unique magic system, found family, devastating twists, and just enough banter to make the heartbreak hurt harder—and we were honored to be among the first readers to experience it!
This episode was recorded the day before the book’s official US release, making it one of Stacey’s first in-depth interviews about the story. As some of the earliest readers to dive into this world, the hosts came armed with questions, theories, and all the romantasy chaos you’d expect from fangirls!
The interview includes both spoiler-free and spoiler-filled sections (see timestamps below). In the first portion, Stacey walks us through her writing journey & the inspirations behind her story—including Peaky Blinders, her unique approach to worldbuilding, and why writing a unique magic system with real consequences was so important to her.
After a spoiler warning, the conversation dives deep into characters & scenes, world-building & theory clarifications, and an interrogation about the cliffhanger. Stacey also shares a few hints about what readers can expect in the sequel—and answers some chaotic theory questions along the way.
Bonus segments in this episode include a Swiftie Mania deep dive, where Stacey pairs Taylor Swift songs to her characters, a hilarious round of Are You Smarter Than a Fangirl? trivia, and a heartfelt Reader’s Letter from the hosts.
Whether you’ve already devoured the book or you’re just romantasy curious, this episode is full of laughs, lore, and behind-the-scenes chaos you won’t want to miss!
Segment Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:56 Spoiler-Free Segment
35:17 Spoiler-Filled Segment
01:13:22 Swiftie Mania: Applying Taylor Swift Songs to A Forbidden Alchemy
01:24:14 Are You Smarter Than A Fangirl? Trivia
01:31:44 The Reader’s Letter
01:37:06 About Dear Fantasy Reader
**Please note that ads may affect the timestamps by a few minutes**
Ready to add one more book to your TBR? Order A Forbidden Alchemy:
AUS - https://amzn.eu/d/ffna5L1
Follow Stacey McEwan’s Journey:
Website - https://www.staceymcewanbooks.com/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@staceymcewanbooks
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/staceymcewanbooks/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574240476854
Want more from Dear Fantasy Reader?
The DFRP chapters so far:
• Season 1: Fourth Wing Deep Dive Through the Lens of Iron Flame
• Season 2: Onyx Storm Prep
• Season 3: Onyx Storm Deep Dive
• Season 4: Dear Fantasy Author — our ongoing author interview series featuring your favorite romantasy writers!
• Hazel McBride, author of A Fate Forged In Fire, interview - https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/9594e5aa-cf8d-4fdb-9ee4-ddd8eb5e9600/Season_3_E18.mp3
• Bree Grenwich & Parker Lennox, authors of Riftborne, Duskbound & The Ascended, interview - https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/9594e5aa-cf8d-4fdb-9ee4-ddd8eb5e9600/S4_DFA_Ep._2__Grenwich__Lennox_FULL_AUDIO.mp3
• Follow us on Instagram @dearfantasyreaderpod to see who we’re interviewing next!
• Season 5: Book Reactions & Standalone Coverage — our ongoing collection of bonus book chats, reactions, wild theories, and anything that doesn’t fit into a formal season but absolutely deserve their moment.
• & MORE TO COME!
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