Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book, I may have screamed when I opened the package... This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and it definitely didn't disappoint. I'll start off by saying that this is not your regular romantasy book, it's very dark and I would recommend looking at the trigger warnings before you read. This book is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, brutal, and some of the content is akin to horror. However, it's also beautiful and tender and compassionate. It's a deeply human story of war and resistance, love, and continuing to fight for what you believe in despite phenomenal adversity. At over 1000 pages this is definitely a journey but it is so unbelievably worth it. I was completely broken by the end of this book, I cried throughout. Please pick up this book, you need to be part of this world. It was one of the best reading experiences I've ever had and you really need to read this!

♾️⭐️ “You make me feel like the parts of me that aren’t useful still deserve to exist. Like I’m not just all the things I can do.” Alchemised is unlike anything I’ve ever read – heartbreaking, soul-crushing, and devastating in the most beautiful, gothic, and richly layered way possible. The first 200 pages are heavy on worldbuilding, and I’ll admit I had to google quite a few words (alchemy, transmutation, and more!). But I actually loved that – it made me slow down and really sink into the depth of the world Senlinyu has created. Because the Harry Potter universe is already so ingrained in us, Senlinyu doesn’t need to explain the basics, and instead builds something new, darker, and more intricate on top of it. What struck me most was how Alchemised echoes Manacled in some places but also stands firmly on its own. Kaine is far colder than Draco when we first meet him – not taunting, just indifferent – which shifts the entire tone of their early interactions. I loved seeing certain scenes I adored in Manacled carried through here: Lancaster, Montague’s chilling visit, and the kiss at the party. These moments anchor the story and deliver that same psychological punch that made Manacled unforgettable. Importantly, while the theme of sexual violence is still present, it’s much less graphic and far shorter than in Manacled. It lingers as an undercurrent rather than dominating the narrative, which gave the story a different kind of haunting weight. I also loved the addition of Helena’s background from another continent – it heightened her sense of isolation and otherness. The detail about her hair being woven throughout was beautiful too, symbolising both her difference and her struggle to belong. The emotional impact of this story is undeniable. I cried four times, and considering I’ve reread Manacled five times and still cry, that says a lot. Alchemised is a triumph: a story that will linger in my mind, break my heart, and remind me why Senlinyu is a master of her craft.

Wow… where to even start. The start of the book is horrifically dark. Disturbing. Traumatic. Miserable. Painful. Gut-wrenching to imagine a reality like where our FMC finds herself - completely heartbreaking and it feels endless. Then part two… we go back; we get the context. There are so many moments of repeated dialogue / memory from part one that make you gasp in horror and sadness and devastation as you piece together how her life in part one has come to be. Then part three all seems to resolve much easier than you anticipate but it feels right. Throughout the book - the stakes are in incredibly high. There is always high tension and fear and terror and shock and dread. Sometimes it’s a little repetitive and I felt myself thinking “do I really need to know / see all of these bits like are they necessary?” But then when I think about the epic journey we go on … I think “okay”. The ending was satisfying and yet not. But the journey was… magnificent.

Not knowing anything or ever even heard of Manaculed or the author, I went into Alchemised blind. All I knew was something about a Harry Potter reimagining being mentioned somewhere (and I love Harry Potter). After seeing people's reviews about it being very dark and having a lot of triggers I didn't know what to expect (because I suffer with mental health) but I can honestly say that the story isn't as dark or as triggering as what some people have said (I know that all people's triggers are different) and I really enjoyed the story. The author's writing is so good that sometimes I forgot I was reading and found myself swept away with the characters. I highly recommend the book (if you do have triggers, check them out first) and I look forward to reading what the author writes next.

This stands as an absolute favourite that I would read all 1000 pages again. I had so many conflicting emotions along this journey with Helena and Kaine but they were finally settled by the last chapter. As someone who is still recovering from being asked for too much, never saying ‘No’ because of a sense of duty but never knowing her own worth as she was only taught to see herself through other’s eyes; I resonated with Helena’s struggles and finally felt seen. The characters are complicated and their actions will cause the more empathic reader to be conflicted, as the author can make us understand the humans behind the monster acts. SenLinYu has built and evolved a world so seamlessly, while weaving in a complicated story set in war. The writing is visceral and unapologetic. With a dark outlook from the beginning and little to no hope, SenLinYu manages to weave in beautifully written and stolen moments.