Alchemised

De: SenLinYu

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.

“What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There’s no one left for you to save.”

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.

©2025 SenLinYu (P)2025 Random House Audio

Beautiful

The story starts slow, but pulls you in to the tragedy of a dark lost story. Brilliant and poetic writing by the author.

So good!

Such an amazing read. No need to read anything prior. I just wish it was narrated Duet.

Alchemised was more than a book.

This book completely destroyed me… in the best way possible. Every single page had me gasping, like I couldn’t catch a break emotionally, yet I still didn’t want it to end. The writing was beautiful, raw, and heavy in all the right ways. The characters weren’t just names on a page… they lived. Kaine and Helena felt so real that even after a thousand pages, it still wasn’t enough. I just wanted more of them, more of their story.

And let’s talk about the narrator… she was phenomenal. She didn’t just read the book, she brought it to life. You could easily tell each character apart, even when she switched accents or voices. Her portrayal of Kaine was especially impressive… no awkwardness, no cringe, just pure skill. She shifted between emotions and tones so effortlessly that it added another layer of depth to an already powerful story.

Alchemised was more than a book. It was an experience… intense, emotional, unforgettable. A true masterpiece.

A masterpiece!!

No words. I have no words. This is an absolute masterpiece😭 SenLinYu created something that stood on it’s own entirely while also using elements of my favorite fanfiction story to inspire the concept. I enjoyed the necromancy and alchemy as the magic system, the chimaeras, the undead & the way immortality was used by the villain to seduce his followers. This is a DARK fantasy with a love story at it’s core and was actually so much darker that it’s fanfic counterpart and I believe better worldbuilding and depth because of the freedom Sen has in creating something of her own. Some non-spoilery themes: forbidden love during war, a villain who tortures and kills and destroys to no end, a possessive MMC who would burn the world for her, a headstrong and intelligent FMC, friendships and how war rages on despite it all, feeling alone and finding solace in another, and the strength it takes to push on even when you’re so so tired. I am forever in awe of Sen’s dark, powerful, beautiful writing. I already want to reread and highlight the hell out of it!
Absolutely loved the narration as well, so much talent!

Will update when fully finished.

Loving this book so for. A bit sad at the troupes but we’re trekking on.

what a book

This is one of those books that hurts your heart so good. the narrator was wonderful. she did both male and female voices justice.

More romantasy then DR

Story

A truly beautifully tragic story about people thrown into a brutal war environment, and what they have to do to keep going in order to survive and win – no matter how they are perceived.

I did have high hopes for this book, but it did disappoint me a little bit. This was more romantasy with DR elements for me (and DR is one of my favorite genres).

The writing was good, the story was interesting enough, but for 1000+ book it felt like it was dragging a bit... I had to pause the book and read another so I would finish this book.

The world-building in this novel felt a little underdeveloped, and while the magical system had real potential, it was never fully explained. The pace was to slow for me.

I did read and enjoy this brick of a novel and I can see that for many it will be their book of the year or disappointment of the year.

Audiobook

Saskia Maarleveld deliver a great performance. Her delivery and cadence are spot-on, perfectly matched to the flow of the story and keeping you locked in from start to finish. You can feel that they’re fully invested in the storyline, which only draws you in deeper.

My Heart...

My heart. i have so many thoughts and feelings.I'm having a hard time putting it into words....Sen created such an interesting and thought out world. 5/5 stars.

Layers of Meaning

A bit too much crying and hysterics but oversll so imaginative, with layers of messages and depth. The end ties it nicely.

Stands on its own. Amazing

I love the world building and the love that the fmc and mmc have for each other.