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4.63 AVERAGE
4.63 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
Love love love. I lost count of the number of times I cried but this is incredible and peak literature.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
I don't know how you even form words after reading over 1,000 pages in three days. Sen is a mastermind. Alchemised is God-tier. Perfection. I have no notes. And a giant gaping hole in my chest. again.
But seriously. They crafted an insanely intricate, detailed, complex, insane world that was the perfect setting to execute Manacled in an original form. And frankly I loved it even more.
But seriously. They crafted an insanely intricate, detailed, complex, insane world that was the perfect setting to execute Manacled in an original form. And frankly I loved it even more.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Rating: 5/5
Spice: Yes
*Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book*
I have to preface this review by saying that I have read Harry Potter and Manacled. While I do believe it stands strong as a dark fantasy on its own, I believe readers who know Harry Potter and have read Manacled will feel its deepest impact. That context makes the story resonate on an entirely different level. Still, even without it, this story is unforgettable for its world-building, its emotional depth, and its hauntingly beautiful love. I’ll try to review this from the lens of someone who hasn’t read either.
Spoilers Ahead!!
Characters
At the heart of the story is Helena Marino, a healer turned prisoner, who we first meet when she is powerless and forgotten. Despite unbearable trauma, she holds onto an unbreakable determination to protect those she loves. Her journey is painful, but it’s also inspiring to watch her grow into someone strong and resilient.
Alongside her is Kaine Ferron, one of the most layered characters I’ve ever read. Introduced as the feared enforcer and right hand to the High Necromancer, he seems cruel and untouchable at first. But as the story unfolds, we see the conflict, guilt, and humanity beneath the surface. He is both terrifying and deeply devoted, and that complexity is what makes him so compelling.
The Romance
Helena and Kaine’s relationship is anything but simple. It starts in a place of survival and coercion, which makes it hard to imagine it becoming anything more. And yet, slowly, it does. What begins as something fractured and impossible grows into a love story rooted in pain, trust, and fierce loyalty. Their love language becomes survival itself, expressed in the promises they make to each other again and again.
Themes
This book isn’t just about romance—it’s about memory, identity, sacrifice, and redemption. Helena has to piece herself back together while questioning whether survival is enough if it means losing who she is. Kaine grapples with guilt and devotion, while other characters fight their own battles for penance, hope, or freedom.
The futility of war is another powerful theme. The Resistance puts blind faith in Luc, suffers loss after loss, and clings to hope that keeps slipping away. Reading it can be crushing. And yet, in the middle of all the despair, there are sparks of determination, resilience, and fragile hope that make the story worth holding onto.
Pacing and Reading Experience
This is not an easy read. It’s long, heavy, and emotionally exhausting. At times it feels repetitive—but that repetition mirrors the grind of war and the endless cycles of despair. And because of that, the rare moments of love, connection, and survival shine even brighter. By the end, both the characters and the readers are scarred, but the hard-won happiness feels real and deeply earned.
Final Thoughts
This book devastated me, but it also reminded me why I love stories that balance darkness with humanity.
Quotes that stayed with me:
"You’re like a rose in a graveyard. I wonder what you could have turned into without the war." (pg. 457)
"Don’t worry. I’m always going to come back to you." (pg. 674)
"Be careful, Kaine. Don’t die."
“…a foreign-born alchemist who left the city at the start of the Civil War to study healing. She survived the war but died during imprisonment prior to liberation… She was a non-active member of the Order of the Eternal Flame and did not fight.” (pg. 1024)
Spice: Yes
*Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book*
I have to preface this review by saying that I have read Harry Potter and Manacled. While I do believe it stands strong as a dark fantasy on its own, I believe readers who know Harry Potter and have read Manacled will feel its deepest impact. That context makes the story resonate on an entirely different level. Still, even without it, this story is unforgettable for its world-building, its emotional depth, and its hauntingly beautiful love. I’ll try to review this from the lens of someone who hasn’t read either.
Spoilers Ahead!!
Characters
At the heart of the story is Helena Marino, a healer turned prisoner, who we first meet when she is powerless and forgotten. Despite unbearable trauma, she holds onto an unbreakable determination to protect those she loves. Her journey is painful, but it’s also inspiring to watch her grow into someone strong and resilient.
Alongside her is Kaine Ferron, one of the most layered characters I’ve ever read. Introduced as the feared enforcer and right hand to the High Necromancer, he seems cruel and untouchable at first. But as the story unfolds, we see the conflict, guilt, and humanity beneath the surface. He is both terrifying and deeply devoted, and that complexity is what makes him so compelling.
The Romance
Helena and Kaine’s relationship is anything but simple. It starts in a place of survival and coercion, which makes it hard to imagine it becoming anything more. And yet, slowly, it does. What begins as something fractured and impossible grows into a love story rooted in pain, trust, and fierce loyalty. Their love language becomes survival itself, expressed in the promises they make to each other again and again.
Themes
This book isn’t just about romance—it’s about memory, identity, sacrifice, and redemption. Helena has to piece herself back together while questioning whether survival is enough if it means losing who she is. Kaine grapples with guilt and devotion, while other characters fight their own battles for penance, hope, or freedom.
The futility of war is another powerful theme. The Resistance puts blind faith in Luc, suffers loss after loss, and clings to hope that keeps slipping away. Reading it can be crushing. And yet, in the middle of all the despair, there are sparks of determination, resilience, and fragile hope that make the story worth holding onto.
Pacing and Reading Experience
This is not an easy read. It’s long, heavy, and emotionally exhausting. At times it feels repetitive—but that repetition mirrors the grind of war and the endless cycles of despair. And because of that, the rare moments of love, connection, and survival shine even brighter. By the end, both the characters and the readers are scarred, but the hard-won happiness feels real and deeply earned.
Final Thoughts
This book devastated me, but it also reminded me why I love stories that balance darkness with humanity.
Quotes that stayed with me:
"You’re like a rose in a graveyard. I wonder what you could have turned into without the war." (pg. 457)
"Don’t worry. I’m always going to come back to you." (pg. 674)
"Be careful, Kaine. Don’t die."
“…a foreign-born alchemist who left the city at the start of the Civil War to study healing. She survived the war but died during imprisonment prior to liberation… She was a non-active member of the Order of the Eternal Flame and did not fight.” (pg. 1024)
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes