Sarah Mac’s review of Alchemised > Likes and Comments
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Yes! This was very Mary Shelley and Poe-esque! The dark gothic atmosphere along with all the tiny tragedies aligning to make a dark and heavy, depressing mosaic.
I agree that this could have used some editing in terms of cutting down the length and clearing up the magic system. I get what Shen was trying to do and they did their research however it was 100% comprehensive in terms of the alchemical based magic system.
*it wasn’t 100% comprehensive in terms of the alchemical based magic system. I got confused at times is what I meant.
So glad this book was an immersive experience for you, Sarah Mac! I’m glad the time investment paid off in a major way!
@Izzah - Yeah, the metallurgy & alchemy I was ok with, but the soul stuff was a bit confusing & hard to picture. That kind of thing can bother me a lot if I’m not already attached to the characters & story, but in this case I was able to overlook it. This is one of the areas where the dyed HP roots showed, methinks—all the Horcrux & soul-splitting in HP was part of that reality, but this one could’ve stuck to the necromancy, alchemy, & metallurgy.
@Clarice - Agreed re: the magic. (See my above comment to Izzah.) It really didn’t need that many layers & varieties; sometimes less is more when it comes to paranormal abilities. I know most AO3 writers are accustomed to meandering stories, but Sen’s editor should’ve been a bit more aggressive—it would’ve showcased their story’s strengths more without the fat.
But…I did like the overall ambiance & writing style, & appreciated that Sen was trying to make it something more than cookie-cutter surface romantasy. They def felt a purpose in writing it, & that shines through. The talent is there! I’d like to see them write something from scratch next time, & not have to worry about converting it.
@Gloria - Yes, it was what I needed right now—something dark & weighty & immersive. I’ll always be fond of it for that reason alone. 👽
@Caro - There’s def some 80s bodice-ripping ‘traitorous body’ elements to the romantic storyline. I appreciate that the author didn’t try to water it down. 😈
Yeah the magic system was a little bit confusing at times, I had to re-read certain portions to make sure I was understanding what each of the terms meant. But, I liked how the magic system was unique and different to what I’ve read before.
For sure. I don’t remember running into alchemy or metallurgy very often. 👽 Overall it had more positives than negatives, which is a big deal in such a lengthy novel.
Wonderful review! I think of fanfiction as being serial literature, and there's nothing wrong with that. After all, 'The Three Musketeers' was written like that. But it means it's usually longer than it needed to be. Yet it also means that to keep your audience invested, you have to have something interesting and compelling in each chapter. If the author makes any mistakes or slip-ups, they will hear about it if the story is popular. The readers are a huge influence. I think it's so much fun. Some of the best stories I've ever read are fanfiction.
I’m still too scared to commit to a 1000 pages of bleakness? 😅 but I know it will be worth it…? Stunning review 💜
@Kristina - I checked my own vitals periodically, just to make sure I hadn’t fallen ill. 🫣 (But seriously, it was dark & sad & demanded my full attention, which is what I needed atm. So it was perversely fun, lol.)
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I agree that this could have used some editing in terms of cutting down the length and clearing up the magic system. I get what Shen was trying to do and they did their research however it was 100% comprehensive in terms of the alchemical based magic system.




But…I did like the overall ambiance & writing style, & appreciated that Sen was trying to make it something more than cookie-cutter surface romantasy. They def felt a purpose in writing it, & that shines through. The talent is there! I’d like to see them write something from scratch next time, & not have to worry about converting it.







So glad this was a positive experience for you~~