Fan fiction features characters from mainstream works of fiction in new narrative contexts. Alchemised is a work of fan fiction that began as a reimagining of Harry Potter (1997). SenLinYu originally published their manuscript as a “more than 370,000-word story” on Archive of Our Own, “an open source fan fiction hub” under the title Manacled (Ellis, Maddie. “What Is ‘Manacled’? Everything to Know About the Viral Fan Fiction ‘Alchemised’ Author SenLinYu.” Today, 23 Sept. 2025). Sites like Archive of Our Own have become popular platforms for fan fiction authors and readers alike. SenLinYu’s original Manacled manuscript gained tens of thousands of followers through this forum and on social media platforms beyond.

Fan fiction has become a cultural signpost for acceptance, inclusivity, and sexual exploration in literature. As Milena Popova writes in her article for Lit Hub, “How Fan fiction Can Inspire a Meaningful Cultural Activism and Challenge Social Stigmas,” “this kind of creation and enacting of knowledges through culture and creative writing does open up new possibilities for community members: it changes how they understand themselves, their sexuality, and their own sexual practices” (Popova, Milena. “How Fanfiction Can Inspire a Meaningful Cultural Activism and Challenge Social Stigmas.