Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:
Synopsis for Alchemised (from Goodreads):
“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.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Fav 2026
Author: SenLinYu
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dark, Romance
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: Third Person, Single
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I think I was living under a rock because I had never heard of this book until some coworkers recommended it. I might have clicked on it when it was added browsing my library’s new audiobook but the sheer length of the audiobook (30+ hours) would have scared me off. But everyone I knew praised it and said it was worth the pages/hours so I put myself on a very long holds list. I ended up timing my library loan for a lengthy road trip vacation so it was the perfect time to dive in!
The Concept / The World:
I found that all the layers of the story we built upon a little bit at a time so I never felt overwhelmed by trying to understand the necromancy or politics of the world.
Where the book is challenging is its explorations of various dark, graphic and unsettling themes. I think this will turn off a lot of readers. But the symbolism and meaning behind this book’s careful construction about the impact of war is exceptional if you allow yourself the chance to explore it.
The Plot:
I had been warned that you won’t really know what is going on in Part One as our lead heroine experiences her memory loss. That helped me a lot so I didn’t mind being a little lost myself when I was reading; I just let the story take me where I needed to go. Watching Helena reorient herself in the world does help the reader learn the ins and outs of the world so that when you go into Part Two, you have that foundation to put all the pieces together.
After finishing Part Two, I actually went back and reread Part One so that I could better bridge the timelines of the story — and also remember the details because this book is long! I’m glad I did because it really did help me link everything together.
I think I felt every range of emotions reading this book and it did put me in a bit of a reading hangover after because I enjoyed it so much – even if it tackled some hard topics.
The Characters:
When you have 30+ hours to read, you expect some fantastic character building and that is certainly what we get. These characters are so fleshed out that I feel like I know everything about them. I really enjoyed the ability to reconcile the characters we meet in Part One with the past of Part Two. I was very invested to say the least.
The Romance:
While the romance is super important to the story, it isn’t the main storyline. I don’t want to say too much to give it away but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it unfold!
My Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook production is fabulous! Despite it being a third person narration, I feel like hearing the emotion in the character dialogue allowed me to connect with the characters in a deeper way versus me just reading the pages.
My Rating: 5/5
I get the hype! I think this book is beautifully crafted and the English minor in me loves all the symbolism and metaphors in play.
Read if You Like: unique romantasy, fantasy, metaphors
Avoid if You: want erotica, dislike violence or mature subject matter
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow Series #1)
- Legend by Marie Lu (Legend Series #1)
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes Series #1)
