Alchemised

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss your overall impressions of Alchemised. Which were your favorite and/or least favorite aspects of the novel, and why?

2. Compare and contrast Alchemised to other dark fantasy novels. For example, what thematic and narrative overlaps do you notice between SenLinYu’s title and titles like Holly Black’s Book of Night (2022) or Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights (2020)?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on the evolution of Helena Marino’s and Kaine Ferron’s relationship. Which aspects of their enemies-to-lovers dynamic resonate most with your own romantic experiences? Which aspects of their affair were most and/or least believable?

2. The novel explores the relationship between memory and survival. Discuss how your memories relate to your own sense of self. If you were Helena and lost access to your past, how would it affect your self-image? Which memories are most important to your identity?

3. Helena is desperate to remain loyal to Luc Holdfast throughout the novel, even at the expense of her desires and safety. Have you ever had a friendship that required similar sacrifices of you? Which aspects of Helena and Luc’s relationship most resemble your own close friendships?

4. Helena often feels like an outsider at the Institute and a pariah in the Resistance. How do her social circumstances compare with your own? Have you ever felt alienated the way Helena does? How did you handle this experience?

5. Helena feels caught between ethical extremes throughout the novel. How does her evolving sense of right and wrong align with or diverge from your own moral standards? Have moments of upheaval or loss changed your worldview?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Alchemised depicts a country at war. Analyze the political, social, and allegorical resonances of this overarching narrative context. What might the conflict between the Undying and the Resistance represent in the context of contemporary or historical global politics?

2. Alchemised began as a work of Harry Potter fanfiction. Analyze the thematic and narrative overlaps between these works of fantasy. How does the Harry Potter universe inform the Alchemised universe on a mythical, allegorical, and/or thematic level?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is written from the third-person limited point of view closely tied to Helena’s perspective. Analyze the formal, narrative, and thematic effects of this choice. How would the novel resonate differently if written from Helena’s first-person point of view?

2. Identify three symbols not listed in the guide and discuss their significance. For example, what do images and/or concepts like resonance, Paladia, animancy, or the color red represent, and how do they further the novel’s themes?

3. Analyze Helena’s character arc over the course of the novel. What makes her a dynamic character? Consider the events, challenges, and relationships that contribute to her evolution.

4. Compare and contrast Helena’s and Kaine’s personal histories. How do their differences and similarities draw them together? What role does personal hardship play in their identities and their relationship?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a playlist that captures the evolution of Helena and Kaine’s enemies-to-lovers romance. Choose songs that reflect the simultaneous tension and affection that defines their dynamic. Share your playlists and discuss your reasoning behind each chosen song.

2. Imagine you are adapting Alchemised for the screen. Would you make a feature film or a series? Who would you cast in the leading roles? Which plot points would you alter, add, or omit to make the adaptation your own?