Challenge Corner discussion

In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.

“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.

I'm a fly on the wall

Also very intrigued to see thoughts on this one. I can't decide if it's worth the read or not. I'm finishing up Manacled now.

Brittni wrote: "Also very intrigued to see thoughts on this one. I can't decide if it's worth the read or not. I'm finishing up Manacled now."

wait, isn't it pretty much the same book? just a few changes to get more distance from Harry Potter?

I've caved to the hype and got the audio. I hope to join!

I've heard that she's basically removed anything that could be related to HP but I'm not sure how true that is.

I honestly will be going into this one completely blind lol

Jamie wrote: "I honestly will be going into this one completely blind lol"

me too!! lol

So I just finished Manacled and it was one of the easier 5 star reads for me. I loved it. I also loved Harry Potter so that could have also played a role in it.

I can't really comment on the similarities between the two. I've heard that it's essentially the same plot but with anything HP related removed. I think I may have to read it to see the differences.

I think a part of why Manacled worked so well is because of the attachment most readers already had to the characters in the story. Manacled picks up around partway through book 6 of HP, so we have almost 6 books of world building and character development leading up to it. I have heard that the first half of Alchemised is focused on world building and the magic system, which makes sense as she'd have to build a whole new world and characters.

Anyways, I think I've now been convinced to read Alchemised and see what the difference is.

Brittni wrote: "So I just finished Manacled and it was one of the easier 5 star reads for me. I loved it. I also loved Harry Potter so that could have also played a role in it.

I can't really comment on the simi..."

Im going in completely blind so Im interested to see if you find many differences.

I should be able to start soon. Have to finish up Fairydale hopefully today. Then my backlog of reads will be clear. I want to give this my full attention since its such a chunkster.

I'm behind on my books and BRs but I'm going to try and start this one on Oct 15th if I can.

I'm very behind as well. Has anyone else started? I'd be open to pushing it back like a week if anyone else wants to. The book I started today is a long one, but I'm going read Alchemised after I finish this one.

But if you guys want to start sooner, don't wait on me - I can just jump in when I finish the book I'm reading now 😊

Actuallyyy, if you guys are ready to start on the 15th I can pause the book i'm reading now because I've only read the prologue so far and can pick it back up after

I'm so behind I want to cry...lol

I want to say that I hope to start on Wed, but I'm not sure I'll make it. I'm going to have to drop a couple of BR's I think, but this is not one of them lol

I'm okay to start on the 15th or to start next week!

I have a Netgalley audio I need to get to and then i can start this one so either date works for me!

I am nowhere near ready and wasn't planning on coming here before the end of the month anyway
fly on the wall

Does anyone else feel strongly one way or another? I am also flexible and fine with whatever everyone else wants. The earliest I can prob start is this weekend though so if we decide on tomorrow i'll join with you guys a bit later lol

Ive read about 100 pages so far. Im with whatever we decide. Have two netgalley ARCs to finish by the 23rd this month that I haven't even touched.

I'll be jumping in when I can. I'm currently in Outlander world and those books are LONG so I foresee those taking up most of my future haha. But I'll keep an eye on the thread and try to jump in when others start reading!

So I just finished this. Damn! Long but so good.

-I've read Manacled so I know the basics of the plot already but the ending of Part I has me simultaneously kicking my feet and collecting my jaw off the floor.
-Hate Stroud with every fibre of my being and hope she is dealt with promptly, she is written so well that you can't help by violently hate her in every scene she's in
-Loved the development between Kaine and Helena and the poor babies go through so much together and as individuals.
-The last line of the book will never not be iconic, sole destroying and yet also entirely frustrating at the same time.

I think Im letting the length intimidate me. Since I initially started I've read five other books. I got up to chapter 13 today. It is still very heavy on the world and magic building which I was told prior to reading. If I have time tomorrow, I will try to push through to part two.

(view spoiler)[I am starting to see little hints here and there that are exposing Kaine isn't so terrible. The fact we overhear that there is zero intimacy between him and Aurelia. Fueling the fire so to speak. Aurelia is a little provocateur so lets see what she comes up with to continue sabotaging her relationship. (hide spoiler)]

I'm hoping to start this one shortly!

Same lol

and @Elizabeth I've heard that it has a very slow start! I think that's why I've been putting it off lol bc I know it's going to be a commitment but I'm hoping to start by the end of the month or first week of November, latest!

ugh, I started and just. . .stopped. I agree, I think the length is psyching me out! I feel like I "don't have the time" for this one! lol

and Yes! I only made it 4 chapters and the world, lingo, history is intense. . .

I made it to part two tonight! 🎉

Trisha wrote: "ugh, I started and just. . .stopped. I agree, I think the length is psyching me out! I feel like I "don't have the time" for this one! lol

and Yes! I only made it 4 chapters and the world, lingo, ..."

Exactly it's definitely a lot all up front. Im praying part two relaxes a little bit with the world building.

Through 5- wow-(view spoiler)[ this one is a lot! I feel like I need to reread and take notes. Am I missing a prequel or another book connected? I am really liking the writing style! Going to be a very LOooong 1000 pages at the rate I am reading and still feel I need to slow down to understand! (hide spoiler)]

Through 17-(view spoiler)[I really liked when Ferron put Aurelia in her place. Telling her he would kill her if she ever came in the wing where Helena was let alone mess with her again. It will be slow and painful death. It was not a threat it was a promise.

It’s hard to not like him a little bit but still not sure about how I really feel still. There is still so much more time and book! (hide spoiler)]

Starting this one now :)

I'll start with week with you too then Jamie 😊

I might take a while but I still plan on reading this

Starting this!

Chapters 1-10 => (view spoiler)[Ok, this has been a trip getting to this point. I've had to stop multiple times to watch some TikTok videos or look up definitions for unfamiliar things.

I'm definitely not as well-versed on all things necromancy, but I'm super intrigued.

This is also pretty dark, and I'm loving that. I've been itching for something dark for a couple of weeks now and this is filling that. (hide spoiler)]

lmaoo i have a bunch of videos saved on tiktok for when I start reading it that explains everything bc I hateee being confused when I'm reading something 😂

Amanda wrote: "lmaoo i have a bunch of videos saved on tiktok for when I start reading it that explains everything bc I hateee being confused when I'm reading something 😂"

OMG you have to shaaaare!!! 🤣😂🤣😂
I stopped reading because I didn't have the headspace to try to figure it all out!

off topic but why are all of my saved tiktoks from the past like 4 weeks about Outlander 💀😂 i'm looking at them now like wtf lol

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgYVYNw/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgYxKGc/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgYwo4v/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgY3U3V/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgYpQpe/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgYG2MA/

the fact that there's so many comprehensive guides for this book is hilarious lmao

Amanda wrote: "off topic but why are all of my saved tiktoks from the past like 4 weeks about Outlander 💀😂 i'm looking at them now like wtf lol"

um because that's an amazing series!!!! lol

Jamie, yes hahah it just makes me look like a crazy obsessed person (which I am 😅)

Also I keep seeing this comment on TikTok too:

Best way to read Alchemised :
prologue
part I
part II
prologue
part I
part III

I'll read the prologue twice, but likely not part I twice lol i'm assuming it's long?

I saw that as well. I'm going to just read this all the way once through. and then if it's good enough for a reread at some point, I'll read it this way.

But I really want to get to Outlander book 3 sometime over the next couple of weeks, so I'm not trying to reread 200 pages just because lol

Plus I have a ton of BR's I want to get to, and this one is already taking me a good bit of time because I'm really having to focus to grasp everything! 😂😂

Chapters 11-21 (end of Part 1) => (view spoiler)[ I'm not convinced that Ferron and her had a relationship before. There is something about him that makes me believe that he's not bad. Well he might be bad, but I feel like he's her love interest and she doesn't remember him.

I've had thoughts about it and something just niggles me but after the way Part 1 ended, I'm convinced I'm right. I think the author wants us to believe it's Luc, but I'm not buying it lol.

I feel like he killed everyone in the resistance because he thought she was dead because she was taken at kept in that thing for over a year. And because he couldn't find her, he killed everyone. Then she's found and he gets her to his house. He's been protecting her, and it's way more than just because she's his prisoner.

I have so many questions and thoughts now!??!?!?!? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 22-31 => (view spoiler)[I KNEW IT! Ferron is the love interest or whatever we are calling him in this one. I feel like this is why he didn't do anything with Aurelia. He wasn't going to betray Helena's memory (because in part 1 everyone thought she was dead until she showed back up). I'm really curious to see where this all goes with them.

It kind of feels like Helena is a scapegoat for many things for so many 'higher-ups.' (hide spoiler)]

starting today :)

I’m so grateful for these guides lol

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPzJvx1ge...

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPF3tTeDO...

End of Part 1
(view spoiler)[I'm loving this. The beginning was a little rough. I found there was so much information, world building and magic system, being dropped that it was a little overwhelming. It certainly took a minute to wrap my head around it all. However, it's starting to come together now. (hide spoiler)]

For people who have read manacled - Part 1 thoughts.
(view spoiler)[I'm finding it near impossible not to compare and think about who is who from Manacled/HP in Alchemised.

The new intro of her being in a tank felt a little weird to me and I didn't like the flow of the story as much. They introduced Helena taking part in the breeding program later on, after she went to his house. In my brain, I feel like it made more sense for us to have that as one of the initial reasons she had to go there in the first place.

It is mostly following the same plot so far, I would say, and I am enjoying it! It certainly feels like I'm reading almost the exact same book, but I LOVED Manacled so I'm not too sad about it.

With Manacled I already had so much attachment and background knowledge for the characters and world. I worried that she would have some difficulty provoking the same feelings and emotions I felt in Manacled but I think she's done pretty well so far. However, that said, I think I am still kind of picturing Hermione and Draco haha. (hide spoiler)]

wait Brittni I didn't read manacled but I know about it so I was literally trying to figure out the same last night.


Luc is definitely Harry & I found a list for the others :

(view spoiler)[

Helena- Hermione
Kaine Ferron- Draco
Morrough - Voldemort
Enid Ferron-narcissa
Atreus Ferron- Lucius
Luc Holdfast- Harry
Lila Bayard- Ginny
Soren Bayard-Ron
Rhea Bayard- Mrs Weasley
Titus Bayard- Mr Weasley
Crowther- moody / Magonagal
Shiseo-snape
Ilya Holdfast- Moody/Magonagal/ Kingsley
Penny-Angelina
Aurelia-Astoria
Lacastar - Montague
Principate Apollo - Dumbledore (hide spoiler)]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. I had a good idea of who some of them were but others I couldn't quite pinpoint.