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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 Emotionally Gripping Scary Tear-jerking Heartfelt 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
this was so beautifully read, the story heart breaking. I haven't read anything with this much power in a long time. I read and listened to this and either way it was consumed was so well done.

heart breaking

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Did not know what to expect but truly blown away. I will admit it took me a little to get into it and at first didn't think I could as there was a lot to take in in the beginning. so glad I did though as I rate this as one of the best of all time. wow was how I felt when it finished. not sure what I can listen to next after this though.

wow....up there with one of the best I've read

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Unique gothic world and unique characters; I enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sad when it was over. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Her writing is incredible.

Amazing beyond words

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Great story line, but jumped around a little, I needed read twice. Like see more books like this

The great story line.

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It’s so different to paranormal books. This was brilliant to read. If this was a movie it would be amazing.

Story

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