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Alchemised

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Alchemised

By: SenLinYu
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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About this listen

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 Magic Heartfelt Tear-jerking Necromancy War Magic Users

Editorial Review

I’d give anything to experience this story for the first time again
I went into Alchemised expecting something dark and immersive, but what I got was a story that completely consumed me in the greatest possible way. This is not a light listen. It’s brutal, emotionally relentless, and beautifully written (check trigger warnings, and please be kind to yourself as you listen). Helena Marino is a former Resistance healer now imprisoned in a world ruled by corrupt necromancers and fractured by war. Her memories are missing, and the truth she’s forgotten may be more dangerous than anyone realizes. I had to stop, breathe, and sit with my feelings during some emotionally intense moments before continuing. Saskia Maarleveld’s performance was the icing on top of this already all-consuming debut. And that ending? I clapped while I cried because I couldn’t believe the journey we had just taken.—Patty R., Audible Editor

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 absolutely loved this fic, fell in love with the characters and got swept up in the world. At around chapter 15 I became completely hooked and finished it within three days. The writing is beautiful and the parallels throughout give you pause, both when reading and after when you just randomly realise them. This book will stay with me long after I’ve now finished it.

Heartbreakingly beautiful

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I have been finished by this story, once again. Breathtaking, Heartbreaking and Beautiful in every chapter. Performed perfectly by this narrator

Infinity Star Read

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Genuinely enthralled with this book. The writing was excellent and the reader was equally as brilliant

The intricately woven story

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I came in to reading this without the burden of reading manacled and was glad I didn't have any knowledge of it, as it seemed alot of people where comparing the two works (something you should never do in my opinion).
it felt like it was missing in parts and I wanted more then just a standalone book but it was a great read

Don't compare

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haven't been able to stop listening. fourth time now. still finding things I missed from previous times.

awesome listen

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