This week on Genre’d, we dive into Alchemised by SenLinYu — a sprawling, thousand-page dark fantasy that’s equal parts war chronicle, moral study, and emotional endurance test.

We unpack the dense alchemical magic system (vitality, resonance, necromancy—oh my), trauma-bonded romance, and why this book might’ve worked better as a trilogy.

Also: Elyse’s Top Chef obsession, Katy’s Dancing with the Stars lore, and a quick detour through Manacled fanfic land.

💥 Spoiler note: first ~30 minutes are spoiler-free; full-on spoilers after that (clearly flagged).
🚨 Content warnings: war violence, sexual violence, torture, memory loss, body horror.

In this episode we chat about:
Tropes & vibes: dark academia, morally black love interest, trauma bond, power imbalance
Characters to watch: Helena (the healer who breaks herself to save others), Kane (obsession personified), Lila (warrior & reformer)
Themes: memory, identity, power, and how women are erased from the stories they shape
Pop-culture detours: Mistborn, Top Chef, and Dancing with the Stars

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