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Alchemised

The 2025 debut novel phenomenon everyone is talking about and no one can put down

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Alchemised

By: SenLinYu
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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Brought to you by Penguin.

***The record-breaking debut and instant Sunday Times Bestseller***


In a world ruled by necromancers, a woman with missing memories threatens the dark order that keeps her captive - and the man sent to break her. Gothic in tone, epic in scope - this debut is destined to become a modern classic.

Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner – of war and of her own fractured mind. The Resistance is crushed, her allies dead, her abilities suppressed.

The world she knew is gone.

Paladia’s corrupt guild families and their necromancer overlords, aided by vile undead creatures now rule - and hold Helena captive.

Resistance records claim she was a healer of little importance. Yet, Helena’s inexplicable memory loss makes her enemies wonder: Is she truly insignificant, or do her missing memories conceal the Resistance’s final secret?

To uncover the truth, Helena is delivered into the hands of the High Reeve – Paladia’s most feared and merciless necromancer.

Trapped on his crumbling estate, she must fight to protect what remains of herself and unearth the secrets buried in her mind, her prison, and her captor . . . whatever the cost.

‘A work of quite staggering ambition. Detailed world-building, intricate plot, Gothic claustrophobia, wraps the readers in its dark embrace’ Daily Mail

‘A superb dark fantasy novel set in a war torn world of black magic and alchemy’ Sun

© Forest Rain Inc 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Action & Adventure Best of 2025 Dark Fantasy Editors Select Epic Fantasy Women's Voices Magic Emotionally Gripping Scary Necromancy War Magic Users
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Critic reviews

A work of quite staggering ambition. Detailed world-building, intricate plot, Gothic claustrophobia, wraps the readers in its dark embrace
Very readable
A superb dark fantasy novel set in a war torn world of black magic and alchemy
All stars
Most relevant
I knew nothing about this author or the origins of the book but was swayed by all the 5* reviews and the 'instant best seller' tag line. I've tried, but it's impossible to follow this book, I think the only people who are rating this 5 stars must be obsessives of the original fanfic (which I've since read about). It's not well written, the world is confusing and to be honest I can't see the draw. Give it a miss if you are coming to it brand new like I did.

Emperor's new clothes

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Love this book, it is as good as Manacled. Love the magic system, it is quite unique. ❤

As good as Manacled!

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This was truly a dark fantasy. Romance subplot done so well you can feel the push and pull of emotions and the hate of this love through the pages along with the devastation of the war. The world and magical system was like no other in my opinion. I was inside this tragic world and my chest was aching the whole time.

Emotional toll

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Oh my lord best read of 2025 for sure!
I wasn’t bored once I was so entranced! The chapters were a little long but that would be my only gripe!

What an adventure!

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I never knew a book this long would entrance me like this one did. So beautifully written. A masterpiece.

WOW!!

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