Alchemised by SenLin Yu
on February 6, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / General, Fiction / Horror / General
Pages: 1088
Format: Hardcover
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Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner, of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed. In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive. According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit? To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight, to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self, is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.
This is a DARK story that dives deep into the terrible nature and psychological effects of war. The trauma, sacrifice and loss experienced by these characters are unfathomable, and due to the phenomenal writing, you’ll find yourself sucked into this world and experience pain and suffering alongside them. It’s easy to lose yourself in this story. Necromancy adds an additional layer of darkness to this story. The dead are everywhere: used as soldiers, servants, experiments, or vessels for other souls. And everything about them is written in detail, from the stench of the bodies to their stages of decomposition. Decaying bodies are a recurring element, so if you’re squeamish, this might not be an easy read. In the midst of a gruesome war, the world is horrifying and bleak, with almost no space for happiness or reprieve. Yet in the darkness, two lonely, broken people find their way to each other and cultivate an all-consuming, passionate love that stands the test of time. Even though the world has failed them, they refuse to fail each other. And they really only live to keep each other alive. The circumstances surrounding their love are tragic, yet their devotion to one another is beautiful.
Five stars for this novel. I thought it was a truly masterpiece. Though not told in chronological order, I did go back and re-read part I after I finished part II. Overall, Alchemised is extraordinary and unlike anything you’ve ever read. The world-building is brilliant, the characters are complex, the storyline is heartbreaking, and the moral quandaries are thought-provoking. My heart repeatedly broke, but somehow by the end, it was put back together – albeit with cracks. This story makes you feel things you didn’t think possible. It is brutal, horrifying, beautiful, and unforgettable. Absolutely a MUST READ!
English (US) · 