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4.61 AVERAGE
4.61 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was most excited to see how Alchemised would be without all the pre-established context/world building/etc that Manacled had, and wow - this still absolutely delivered. the same story, reimagined in a completely different setting/world, but still as gut-wrenching and intense as ever. even though I knew how everything was going to play out, it still wrecked me. what a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found the 1000 page format intensely irritating. I really wish the publisher had printed it as a duology and just released them at the same time. However, the novel itself was absolutely addictive. It is very dark, much darker than I am usually comfortable with, but I could not stop reading it. Despite the length, I finished it in a week! It was such a compelling read. Really enjoyed it!
I received this novel as a free Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher.
I received this novel as a free Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF at 500 pages.
Categorically, Alchemised does not stand as original fiction. This book is two times the length it ought to be—chapters are simply the author repeating herself without anything driving the plot forward.
Speaking of plot, 500 pages in and I was yet to find it. I’m a vegetarian, and yet I found myself craving some stakes, because wtf?! The ‘magic system’… yeah, over 50% of the way through and it was yet to be explained: idk, maybe that comes in the epilogue? Acknowledgements at a push?
While we’re on the matter, could someone PLEASE tell me what the resistance was resisting… because 500 pages in and it’s clear that the author’s got no intention of telling me.
With characters flatter than the cover of a noughties magazine, you best make note of names, because people will be in no way explained, nor will there be any continuity to their motives or person. (Seriously, they’ll turn back on themselves more times than a MP during question time - whip lash claim pending.)
There are infinite trigger warnings to flag with this book, please read those before swiftly picking up something more worthy of your time—like a 2008 Argos catalogue, perhaps.
Categorically, Alchemised does not stand as original fiction. This book is two times the length it ought to be—chapters are simply the author repeating herself without anything driving the plot forward.
Speaking of plot, 500 pages in and I was yet to find it. I’m a vegetarian, and yet I found myself craving some stakes, because wtf?! The ‘magic system’… yeah, over 50% of the way through and it was yet to be explained: idk, maybe that comes in the epilogue? Acknowledgements at a push?
While we’re on the matter, could someone PLEASE tell me what the resistance was resisting… because 500 pages in and it’s clear that the author’s got no intention of telling me.
With characters flatter than the cover of a noughties magazine, you best make note of names, because people will be in no way explained, nor will there be any continuity to their motives or person. (Seriously, they’ll turn back on themselves more times than a MP during question time - whip lash claim pending.)
There are infinite trigger warnings to flag with this book, please read those before swiftly picking up something more worthy of your time—like a 2008 Argos catalogue, perhaps.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Helena Moreno is awakened from a stasis tank after a devastating civil war with no memories of the past four years. The new ruling order is desperate to find out what she might know to quash the remaining resistance. SenLinYu’s writing is brilliant – readers are given breadcrumbs to follow and learn more about Paladia, the magic system, and Helena's past. The horror elements are equally suspenseful and unnerving, and the inclusion of themes of immigration and religion enrich the world building. I found myself completely immersed in the world - desperate to know more but also savoring paragraphs and pages. This stand-alone epic will emotionally ruin you in the best way.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Skip Part 1 entirely. Just read from Part 2 onward and it's a better book. Also, reading the ARC, there are so many missing/wrong words that I hope are fixed before release.
Seriously, are books even edited anymore??
Seriously, are books even edited anymore??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, War