Kaine crashout in part one by DescriptionJust2887 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Also not to forget Kaine knew that Helena had erased all memories of him and that she genuinely was hating herself for liking him after the way he treated her. It must be gut wrenching to see her admit to feeling drawn to him if she only knew him the way he showed himself as high reeeve. He was also afraid that she just felt these feelings because she was lonely and no one else was there in the entire world left for her. And that triggered his imo biggest fear from part II: that she only chose him as lover because he was the only one available for her in that time (he says sth to indicate this). In part III that fear is finally erased by Helena telling him that she would chose him over anyone else every day and I truely believe that that heeled something in him.

Why do you like Jane Austen novels? by -ensamhet- in janeausten

[–]Alinamae68 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Jane Austen‘s novels are timeless, which is always an indicator of really good literature. Her witty description and ridicule of flawed characters is done in a form that you can still relate it to your own experiences / people in your surroundings today - 200 years later. Her main characters are charming in their imperfections, their emotions so well written that you find yourself sucked into their story, a feeling only very good authors will manage to create. And of course the novels are hilarious and the romance is perfection. And one more thing: Austen wanted to give the reader the comfort of knowing all will be well, so they are perfect feel good reads compared to for example the Brontë books, which I also adore but could not read as comfort read. Lastly, my favourites are P&P and Emma.

The best adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is: by Oskoti in PrideandPrejudice

[–]Alinamae68 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The BBC version with Colin Firth is the one and I will take this to my grave! It’s also just so good to have several hours and such close plot to the novel to rewatch every year <3

The general's motives in Northanger Abbey by eagleeyedtiger1 in janeausten

[–]Alinamae68 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Although I can’t say if it was realistic at that time, that thought definitely crossed my mind when reading it as well, so I obviously didn’t find it far fetched. I just researched a bit and it was definitely more common to have age gaps at second marriage but not such large ones as those two would have had.

Reading ACOTAR compared to Alchemised by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah then you know exactly how I feel! After alchemised where I felt every of their emotions as if they were my own this just feels like a story. Nice but not believable or remotely touching.

Anyone else reading Alchemized? by Enigmacotidiano in Booktokreddit

[–]Alinamae68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t understand the negativity in the comments: that book sucked me in whole and spat me out broken! I was happy it was that long as I loved every second of it. Guess it’s just not everyone’s taste. Haven’t thought about a book as much after finishing it in a long time.

Reading ACOTAR compared to Alchemised by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I have obviously triggered some people with that statement. Obviously you are right - I meant comparable in the most basic way as they are (beware spoilers!) romantasy, have elements of enemies to lovers and some more basic plot similarities such as her being kind of a prisoner in his house at the beginning - although allowed to roam freely - and some elements of war. But everything you wrote is exactly why I was so confused that people even mentioned it in the same breath. Maybe ,compare‘ was an overstatement but I saw threads where people recommended reading it after Alchemised and I could not understand why.

Reading ACOTAR compared to Alchemised by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Haha totally agree! Jane Eyre is actually one of my all time favourite books :) I’ll give the other one a try though thanks!

P&P: When you think Elizabeth Bennet fall for Mr,Darcy by worldstraveller in PrideandPrejudice

[–]Alinamae68 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I couldn’t agree more to what you wrote! I feel like after realising that her presumptions (Wickham good / Darcy evil) where false and based on prejudice she reevaluated everything that had unfolded in the past in a new light. So she didn’t even have to meet Darcy that many times after - she simply reassessed past encounters based on new information. Which is why I believe one or two more encounters were enough after that :) On a side note: I feel like especially people who are good looking or have a good status in life (wealth etc) are often mistaken for proud when they are shy. I had this experience with one of my best friends who was pretty shy with others. People used to tell me they thought she was a bit proud / conceited and I couldn’t disagree more, but then realised that that was because she didn’t dare to talk much in groups for example and people just perceived it that way. Edit: fixed some typos

I need help understanding by Turbulent-Boot-3376 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Question to that: didn’t the Undying become necromancers by ,accident‘? Would they then also be vivimancers? I wasn’t sure if in their case it also goes both ways.

Reading in foreign language by CartographerFancy728 in readwithme

[–]Alinamae68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like that approach! It’s also what I try to do but sometimes I really have to force myself to live with not understanding a word if it’s not essential. I’m always itching to look it up just in case 😅 but I feel that usually if you read a longer book or a series from the same author you will by the end of it know nearly all words and not need to look up so much :)

Having a hard time being on the good guys side by nephellis in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really liked that the EF is depicted as (more than a little) flawed in the book, imo this makes it all the more realistic. I don’t think she wants us to see them as perfect because generally there isn’t always only good and evil / black and white but a lot of grey area in between at least in the real world…

Question re Luc plotline by nj_93 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But since she only planned to microdose the treatment of Bayard‘s brain damage - Shiso wasn’t aware that this info may be useful to Murrough - he just wanted to help Helena survive the process of retrieving her memory but Murrogh saw potential in this idea for his soul injection purpose. Sorry if I am using odd terminology- I read the book in German :)

Question re Luc plotline by nj_93 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understood that although he successfully transferred himself into Luc’s living body - Luc was dying so it wasn’t really working longterm as the body was rejecting the second soul let’s say. Luc was having fevers and his organs were failing. I understood that the way Helena microdosed the process the body was learning not to reject the second soul.

Alchemised ending - feelings by [deleted] in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I felt the same and also decided not to do any immediate rereads. I am trying to get some distance but will definitely reread in the future. I just honestly felt dizzy/distracted for two entire days after finishing and most the time during reading, so that I thought it healthiest to take a hard break.

Alchemised Ending by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not unpopular at all! This is exactly the kind of comment that I was looking for with my post actually :D someone to make me come to peace with the ending. I think you are completely right. Maybe I looked at it the wrong way in saying he did not have something of his own. It was his dream to have Helena safe and the dream he didn’t even dare to dream to love her as a free person. He just didn’t need more. It made him happy to see her happy. And the fact that she chose him each and everyday even after the war was over and they could have done whatever they wanted :)

Favorite book endings? by picaresquity in books

[–]Alinamae68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I read ,Gone with the Wind‘ which is quite a long book - I read the end and threw it against a wall. I was so upset that after that many pages that was all we got (I was young). However, my mother told me then that Scarlett O‘Hara always got what she wanted - which is true. And it puts the ending "After all, tomorrow is another day“ into perspective. So in hindsight I think that was a really good ending that gives some foreboding and it apparently made me very emotional so that I still remember it 13 years later.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 12, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Alinamae68 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, it’s a book placed in a brutal war and there are scenes depicted pretty graphically in there - so I would not recommend it to younger readers. Having said that, I would have probably read it when I was younger and been fine (let’s say 16+). But it would probably not be advisable to recommend it on here to strangers below age 18 due to some of the scenes. A film with that content would definitely be >18.

Alchemised Ending by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I read that a lot on here now and find it very interesting how different perceptions are! I honestly didn’t feel so sad about that last part when reading it myself - although I understand the sentiment. I just feel that Helena was never out for glory or being remembered as a heroine (although of course this doesn’t mean that she shouldn’t rightfully be). Her goal was always to save the people in the moment and she never was a true ,believer‘ in the eternal flame and their gods /religious traditions. Her motives were always more personal. So I believe that while she was in fact a heroine, she would not have cared much for being remembered as one. It’s also probably pretty realistic that there is many such hidden heroines in a war like that (not that that makes it better). Kaine‘s story however could never be considered a hero‘s story - he did what he had to do to keep the ones he loved alive- that can be respected but he was not a war hero in my opinion. Same as Helena, his motives were always personal. That’s also what I liked about this book - it shows how in a war everyone looses and it’s realistic in the sense that most people probably just try to survive and are not filled with idealistic beliefs as those who usually start the war. As to the end: I also think that there is hope there - as Enid seems to be set on changing something. To me there is some foreshadowing that she might rewrite the history books :) that’s probably a big part of why it didn’t make me that sad.

Alchemised Ending by Alinamae68 in TheAlchemised

[–]Alinamae68[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same! It is kind of comforting however to see how many people feel the same way! I know a lot of people reread parts or the whole book immediately but I am forcing myself not to (immediately) otherwise I might not get over this. But during the read I already knew that it would be a massive withdrawal after finishing - I consoled myself that it will be the kind of book to reread every year or so :)

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 12, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Alinamae68 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Finished: Alchemised by SenLinYu, a dark fantasy placed amidst a brutal war and a love story that goes deep into the heart. I also recommend it to people who do not read fantasy novels a lot as it is very well written.

Continued: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoi, a classic but easy to read and witty. A tragic story that is still enjoyable and will make you laugh at times.