This Wretched Alchemy - by Tina Mars (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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"I screamed, I cried, I was left absolutely breathless." - Nisha J. Tuli, USA Today bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

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BETRAYAL.

In a fractured realm ruled by warring noble Houses and the tyrannical Prime, the most coveted power lies in god-shards - divine fragments that grant extraordinary abilities to those who possess them.

Revel's brother was murdered in pursuit of one.

A DEADLY GAME.

For avenging him, Revel's life is on the line. Forced into a treacherous bargain, she must compete in the Call - a bloody contest of heirs vying for the throne - on behalf of her enemies, and assassinate the realm's most formidable alchemist, the Warbringer.

Victory means her family's freedom. Failure means death.

A MONSTROUS POWER.

The Prime sets the heirs on a brutal race to find the god-shard that could shift the balance of the realms. Everyone wants the win, but Revel just wants the kill. Except, the Warbringer isn't the monster she was promised. Bound by secrets of his own, he is as dangerous as he is disarming.

With betrayals mounting and desire warring with duty, Revel must decide who to trust in a game where even the gods have their favorites. This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and loyalty become the very weapons that could destroy everything.

A LOVE THAT CAN CUT DEEPER THAN ANY BLADE.

Review Quotes

"Debut author Mars keeps readers in suspense, wondering whom among Revel's new friends will turn out to be adversaries as betrayals and death amass during the Call challenge and whether Axus will betray Revel as well. An excellent start to the Ruinous Fate Saga." - Library Journal

"This Wretched Alchemy gives romantasy fans an absolute treat to sink their teeth into -- an enthralling world, compelling protagonist, and a love interest who's just the right mix of dangerous and magnetic." - Carissa Broadbent, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crowns of Nyaxia series

"Delivers everything I would ever want in an epic romantasy: intricate worldbuilding, heart-pounding danger, and romantic tension that absolutely sizzles off the page! With twists that will have you turning pages and leave you gasping for more, Mars is an incredible new voice in the fantasy genre." - Keshe Chow, Sunday Times bestselling author of Strange Familiars

"Tina Mars's spellbinding debut overflows with lethal tension and deadly stakes. A vicious competition, a heroine willing to risk everything to protect her family, and an enemies to lovers romance that will leave you swooning--prepare to lose some sleep because you won't be able to put this one down." - Brooke Fast, New York Times bestselling author of To Cage a Wild Bird

"Luscious, layered, and unapologetically heartrending, This Wretched Alchemy had me glued to the pages. Tina Mars establishes herself as a titan of romantasy and pulls no punches in her darkly dazzling debut - it will leave you breathless, awestruck, and begging for the sequel." - Shaylin Gandhi, author of When We Had Forever

"This Wretched Alchemy is about to become your newest romantasy obsession. Non-stop action, gorgeous prose, and toe-curling romance make for an unputdownable read, but Mars' secret weapon is her brave, bold, brilliant heroine whom I would follow down to the Underworld without a second thought." - Kate Golden, USA Today bestselling author of A Dawn of Onyx

"A gorgeous and electrifying tale from a formidable new voice in fantasy romance. Mars writes with a raw poetry that echoes through every line, hauling the reader headlong into a world as intricately crafted and spellbinding as it is dark--and a love story as all-consuming as it is lethal. This book falls upon you like a whirlwind, brimming with beautiful chaos, riveting action, heart-wrenching angst, and the kind of sensuality that brings you to your knees. Absolute masterclass!" - Thea Guanzon, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

"Vividly crafted with fresh, immersive world-building, This Wretched Alchemy is a riveting romantasy debut that will cut you like the deadliest blade while whispering lyrical poetry in your ear. I dare you not to be captivated from the very first page!" - Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author of The Starlight Heir

"A romantasy triumph! This Wretched Alchemy is a keen exploration of female rage, the cost of love, and what it takes to carve out a place for yourself in a world that says you don't belong, wrapped up in a lush, high-stakes world. With reveals that will wrench your heart, and twists that will leave your jaw on the floor, this is an absolute must-read!" - Gretchen Powell Fox, author of Smoke and Scar

"A masterwork of dark fantasy. It takes the familiar concept of alchemy and twists it into a completely unique, exhilarating, and genuinely wonderful system of magic. With unforgettable, morally grey characters and stakes that constantly threaten to shatter the world, I couldn't tear myself away. Absolutely essential reading for fans of high-stakes, ruthless fantasy." - Analeigh Sbrana, internationally bestselling author of Lore of the Wilds

"Warning, this book rewrites brain chemistry. This Wretched Alchemy had me in a chokehold from beginning to end with a beautifully realized world, cutthroat betrayal, and a cast of morally questionable characters you love to hate. The romance shines brightest, though, gripping in its intensity and constantly taking me by surprise in the best way. A breathtakingly sexy, action-packed, and unputdownable debut!" - Meg Smitherman, author of Entity and Thrum

"I screamed, I cried, I was left absolutely breathless by This Wretched Alchemy. With her beautifully crafted lore and worldbuilding, sizzling romance, and ability to shatter your heart, Tina Mars has already established herself as a fresh new voice in romantasy to watch. Lovers of the genre will be clamoring to get their hands on this book, and once they do, they won't be able to turn the pages fast enough." - Nisha J. Tuli, USA Today bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

"This Wretched Alchemy absolutely devoured me. Tina Mars has crafted the kind of dark, intoxicating romantasy I can't get enough of: blood-soaked trials, a fast-paced immersive story, and a villain romance that will undo you in the best way. Revel is a heroine who owns every page: furious, unyielding, unforgettable--and as a biracial girlie myself, I was cheering to see her front and center, blazing through a story this intricate and alive. The world is brutal, the cast of characters are vibrant and diverse, and the romance (the BEST part!) is devastating. This is perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent and The Book of Azrael with all the ruthless spectacle of Gladiator. Cancel your plans because Tina Mars is about to become your new auto-buy romantasy queen." - Emily Varga, New York Times bestselling author of The River She Became

"This debut is nothing short of a masterpiece. The intricate magic system and the weaving of history and culture through every page made This Wretched Alchemy feel alive. Revel's arc of grappling with and learning her worth felt so incredibly raw and real and made me feel so seen as a reader. I wanted to reach into the book and hug her and tell her that she deserves the entire world. And please do not get me started on my man of many names. My Axus. My Warbringer. Do I love him? Yes. Do I want him? More than anything. This Wretched Alchemy will absolutely be taking the book world by storm from the moment it lands on shelves and I cannot wait to see it hitting every single best seller's list. I am blown away, and begging on hands and knees for book two." - H. M. Wolfe, USA Today bestselling author of Daggermouth

This spellbinding debut had me hooked from the very first page. Tina has woven a world with everything I crave in a romantasy: a unique magic system, a high-stakes competition where no one is safe, and enemies to lovers tension that had me aching for more. Lush, addictive, and packed with twists that kept me turning the pages. My best advice? Don't make any plans once you start - this book will completely consume you." - Amanda (@iamamoodreader), bookstagrammer

"This Wretched Alchemy is everything I crave in a romantasy - a fierce heroine, a simmering enemies-to-lovers romance, and a world so rich with magic, history, and lore it completely swept me away. This book is truly one of the best romantasy books I have ever read!" -Jessica, (@jessabibliophile), bookstagrammer

About the Author

TINA MARS is a lifelong devourer of fantasy and has always related a little too much to the villains. She crafts brutal worlds with sharp prose, shattering plot twists, and epic stakes that interrogate power. You can find her at @tinamarsbooks enjoying long walks through the emotional wreckage with a slightly unhinged grin. Tina lives in Southern California with her HEA-worthy husband and three kids, who are, admittedly, way cooler than she is.