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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
I wish I could give this more stars. Absolutely the book of the year.
Alchemised is a beautifully written gothic fantasy about the lengths one will go to, to save those they care about. Interwoven in the story is commentary about the horrors of war, the dangers of blind devotion, ethics of necromancy, and the unseen labour of women. The world is entirely engrossing and immersive, and I was drawn into the mystery of Helena's circumstances from the get-go.
If you think you know what's going to happen because of reading the original work, think again. If you think you can 1:1 every character in comparing the two, think again. SenLinYu has absolutely broken my heart even worse with Alchemised and I'm thanking them for the opportunity. I finished the book and I would realise things days later that absolutely made me scream. There was a one word sentence a character says that made me burst out crying.
With that said, I wanted to answer some questions that have been asked about the book. Slight spoilers ahead:
About that plot element:Alchemised does not have the Handmaid's Tale aspect as a major part of the story. The focus is on Helena's lost/hidden memories.
Regarding potential trigger warnings, here is the TW page at the beginning of the book:
This is a work of fiction which explores many of the darker aspects of war and survival. Reader discretion is advised. For more details, please see the back of the book for content notes.
Then in the back:
Alchemised is a work of dark fantasy containing wartime violence, religious abuse, depictions of complex trauma, suicidal ideation, self-harm, human experimentation, medical torture, eugenics, cannibalism, sexual assault, rape, and allusions to necrophilia. Please remember that depiction is not authorial endorsement. Because Alchemised is told in third-person limited point of view, it necessarily involves some distortions of vision as well as missed or misconstrued events. Reader discretion is advised.
A more detailed review to come. I cannot wait for the world to read this masterpiece.
Alchemised is a beautifully written gothic fantasy about the lengths one will go to, to save those they care about. Interwoven in the story is commentary about the horrors of war, the dangers of blind devotion, ethics of necromancy, and the unseen labour of women. The world is entirely engrossing and immersive, and I was drawn into the mystery of Helena's circumstances from the get-go.
If you think you know what's going to happen because of reading the original work, think again. If you think you can 1:1 every character in comparing the two, think again. SenLinYu has absolutely broken my heart even worse with Alchemised and I'm thanking them for the opportunity. I finished the book and I would realise things days later that absolutely made me scream. There was a one word sentence a character says that made me burst out crying.
With that said, I wanted to answer some questions that have been asked about the book. Slight spoilers ahead:
About that plot element:
Regarding potential trigger warnings, here is the TW page at the beginning of the book:
Then in the back:
A more detailed review to come. I cannot wait for the world to read this masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
man. MAN. senlinyu you’re a genius. thank u for your service. worldbuilding excellent, changes were perfect, I came to love and care for these characters independent of my reading of Manacled. Will add more in Sept.
We don't support Harry Potter here, especially published fanfics.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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