Alchemised

Alchemised has been marketed as romantasy at a time when the genre is very popular. Do you think that's the right genre label for it? Why or why not?

Between the visceral descriptions of the dead risen through necromancy, the religious abuse, and the depictions of the trauma and sacrifice of war, Alchemised is a dark and discomforting story. Were you absorbed into the world of the novel or did you find it to be too much to handle?

With an intricate magic system, political and religious aspects, and more, the worldbuilding in the book is dense. How long did it take you to understand the world that the author created? What questions do you still have about the world?

Discuss the timeline and pacing of the novel, which starts in the middle of the story and then jumps to the past before jumping back to the present day. What impact did this structure have on your reading?

Talk about the role of women under the patriarchal society the novel creates. What impact did the fertility program have on the story? How does the novel expose the ignored contributions, silenced voices and lack of agency of women? Did you see any parallels to our modern society?

Discuss the religious element in Alchemised. What role does religion play in society and for the main characters? How are religion and oppression tied together?

Which of the secondary characters most intrigued you? Which did you feel was most fully developed and emotionally impactful?

Did you anticipate the reveal with Luc? What foreshadowing did you notice?

Discuss the central romance between Helena and Kaine. What drew these two together? Do you believe their love was true, or did it rely too much on shared suffering and "trauma bonding"?

Are the atrocities committed by some of the main characters excusable? How much does the context of war or a sincere desire for a righteous "end" justify the means? Does the motivation to protect a loved one provide absolution? Does a history of personal abuse and trauma? In short, did you feel that Kaine was worthy of redemption?

Do you think Alchemised's 1,000 plus page length was warranted? If not, what would you have cut to shorten it?

Did you know that Alchemised started as fanfiction (a Harry Potter Hermione/Draco fanfic called "Manacled")? Does this knowledge impact your opinion of the book in any way? Can you detect any of the fanfic origins in the characters, setting or plot?

How did you feel about the ending? Was it a satisfying resolution for the characters? Would you consider it to be a happy ending?