About Alchemised & Harry Potter Controversy
'Alchemised is a surprisingly popular novel as something that is based on the original 'Harry Potter' and Dramione ship. I wanted to discover if 'Alchemised' deserves its popularity, both as a Potterhead and a fan of everything dark and fantasy. SenLinYu is said to have created one of the best dark academia fantasy novels recently.
I admit, 'Alchemised' - even as a Dramione fanfic - would be a great guilty pleasure and I could ignore some inperfections of 'Alchemised'. If only this book wasn't so problematic and disturbing that I had hard time reading it.
This first part of me discussing the 'Alchemised' controversy is about the similarities between 'Alchemised' and 'Harry Potter'.
'Alchemised' by SenLinYu, originally the Dramione fanfiction, is a viral gothic romantasy book. The novel won: British Book Award for Sci-Fi/Fantasy (2026), Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Nominee for International Book (2026), Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel and Nominee for Romantasy and for Audiobook (2025), She Reads Best of Award Nominee for Book of the Year and Fantasy & Magical Realism (2025), Libby Award Nominee for Best Debut and Best Fantasy (2026).
Trigger warning
'Alchemised' is a book describing sexual and psychological violence, romanticising these actions.
If you are somehow sensitive on these topics, please consider twice if you want to read 'Alchemised' by SenLinYu.
What is 'Alchemised' about?
Helena Marino suddenly wakes up in the world she barely remember, taken by the malicious necromancers. Paladia, once a city ruled by Helena's friend, is now a place of evil and depravation. As a member of the Resistance, Helena is captived as a prisoner of the necromancers. Her memory loss may hide some secrets that could help the necromancers ultimately destroy the Resistance. Thus, she is sent to High Reeve, a estate of Kane Ferron - one of the most powerful necromancers, and definitely - one of the cruelest. Helena will fight not only for her life, but most importantly - the fate of the Resistance, endangered by the mistery her mind hides.
Harry Potter & Alchemised: All the Controversies
Reading 'Alchemised', I felt like I was reading a mockery of the original 'Harry Potter'.
1. Draco Malfoy & Kaine Ferron
1.1 'I can fix him' as the 'Alchemised' Controversy
Kaine Ferron is one of the main characters of 'Alchemised' and so-called love interest of Helena (I will discuss this problematic aspect of 'Alchemised' later, here). And he is nothing else than the Draco Malfoy taken straight from the Wattpad imagination.
As I explained in my review of 'The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy', some parts of the Harry Potter fandom are overly in love with Draco Malfoy. He is a rival of Harry, a son of the dedicated Deatheater and a boy that has been created to be a villain. The fandom, however, transformmed Malfoy into the sad, lonely person who isn't evil, but broken. Many believe that 'they can fix him'.
1.2 The Romanticising of sins in 'Alchemised' & Harry Potter Fandom
Romanticising Malfoy is partly a consequence of the films starring Tom Felton as Draco. (Tom was - and still is, I believe - a crush for many viewers, including me). Kaine Ferron, Malfoy's equivalent in 'Alchemised', is - again - identical to his archetype. It is embarassing: all the fraits, all the dynamics with other characters, all the conflict. All these aspects of Ferron are literally the same as in the Wattpad version of Draco Malfoy. As I said, Malfoy was a bad person, and I'm not going to deny it.
He was a racist, descriminating Hermione Granger for her family of brith and telling her disgusting words. He supported the regime of Voldemort, he wished people death only because of their origins. As a dedicated Potterhead for almost ten years, I know that the original Draco isn't good, but his actions has a reason. His childhood and envrionment Draco was brought up in made him addicted to Voldemort and his Deatheaters. It all consequences in Draco's deep fear of Voldemort and - thus - his obedience towards him. However, the fact I understand the background of Draco doesn't make me any less aware of his sins, and that's the some in the fandom forget. The understanding doesn't equal the absolution.
Equally, Kaine is romanticised for his cruel and disgusting actions (I will discuss his abuse towards Helena later). Kaine traumatises Helena, his wife, he is an evil murdurer. How can one romanticise him? Not alone some of the readers, but worse - SenLinYu themselves. Furthermore, the dynamics between Kaine and Helena, his parents and High Necromancer are the same as in the fandom vision of Malfoy. Helena is the one that can fix Kaine and melt his cold heart, and see the good he is so-called to have at the bottom of his heart.
1.3 The Relationships of Ferron and Malfoy
Moreover, Ferron and his parents have literally the same relationship and background as Draco and Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Narcissa was the only person that truely and heathely loved Draco. She iconically lied to Voldemort in 'The Death Hollows' about Harry's death only to examine if her son is alive. In 'Alchemised', Mrs Ferron is created identically, being the only to love Kaine before Helena. Also, both Draco Malfoy and Kaine Ferron have abusive father who traumatised them. It is painfully visible that SenLinYu is a fan of the fandom Draco. I also like this version of Malfoy, it's much better than just admit that he was evil. But that's so shameful of you, SenLinYu - if you wanted to write a fanfiction, stick to Wattpad. But if you want to publish analog books - maybe write something original and creative.
1.4 The Order of Fenix & the Order of the Eternal Flame
As mentioned, Draco Malfoy being in fact on the side of good is the greatest fantasy of Wattpad. In 'Alchemised' this desire encarnate in Ferron's alliance with the Order of the Eternal Flame. It is obviosly the reference to the Order of Fenix in 'Harry Potter', the society of Dumbledore and Harry's acolytes. It was obvious for me that SenLinYu, persuing the Wattpad fantasy about Draco Malfoy, would make him in fact an aliant of the good. I was surprised that SenLinYu would be so straight-forward with their mission to transform Malfoy into the prince charming...
I.2 Hermione Granger & Helena Marino
2.1 Helena Marino as a controversial character
Hermione is my favourtie character in the 'Harry Potter' universe. Thus, I can't bear what SenLinYu did to her in 'Alchemised'! Hermione in 'Alchemised', also known as Helena Marino, is so bland character it is unbelievable. Hermione is widely known for her intellect, but she is much more than only her brilliant mind!
Her lidership skills, her bravery, her valour... It all make Hermione not only a great mind, but also a warrior. That's why eventually Hermione becomes the Minister of Magic! However, Helena is like a mockery of Hermione. Helena is so dull, so boring character... I don't understand, all the other characters are taken straight from 'Harry Potter', but only Helena is changed for worse? Where's any logic... I would support wholeheartedly SenLinYu if they would add Helena as one of the creative aspects of 'Alchemised', but she is anything but interesting. Helena is passive, lets herself to be controlled. And I will not even comment the fact that she has nothing againts being used by the Order of the Eternal Flame without a good reason.
2.2 Is She Stupid?
Although Helena promises to spend the rest of her life with a man she know is evil and dangerous, although she risks her life during that mission, Helena doesn't even believe in the religious motives of the Order! She is said to do all of these only for her friend, Luke. I was convinced for the first half of the book that they were more than just friends but no, they are only plationic. How am I suppose to believe that 'the most intelligent alchemist of her generation' does such things for her friend only to impress him and he isn't even bothered once?
Speaking of Helena's 'intelligence'... I still can't bear SenLinYu creating tension during the first part of 'Alchemised', when Helena is determined to kill herself, only to not do it when she has an opportunity. And I would understand that her hessitation would be a consequence of her trauma, but she does that without any reason! It isn't said that she suddenly felt panic or any other negative emotion because of her experiences in High Reeve. No, it is just her tragically-built character.
2.3 Helena Marino - the Wattpad Everyman
Having said that, Helena is the perfect everyman of Wattpad. Everyman is a medieval character archetype that doesn't have any specific traits like appearance, nationality, individual thinking... It is basically a blank page. Everyman was used in the medieval arts to represent every man, every person, every viewer. The medieval literature and arts, mostly dramas, were created to teach about the christianity. And by everyman being so bland, it was believed that it was easier for the viewers to identify with the problematics.
Thus, Helena Marino perfectly fits the standards of the Wattpad everyman - the female main character of every fanfiction that every teenage reader could identify with. She is just featureless! Pathetic.
3. Voldemort & Morrough
3.1 Similarities
Firstly, all the characters are just grotesque version of the original. Wielki Nekromanta is cruelly identical to Lord Voldemort, the main villain of 'Harry Potter'. They are both pure evil, physically deformmed, half-human creatures. The deformations are the characteristic trait of Voldemort, previously known as Tom Riddle. When Voldemort decided to hide parts of his soul in the horcruxes, his body started to dehumanise itself. A horcrux is the magical object making you less likely to be killed. To create a horcrux, a life has to be taken. A murder make you less of a human - that's what led to the deformation of Voldemort, who slowly became more similar to snakes - his favourite pets - than men.
Similarly, Morrough is also deformmed because of all the evil he did and became. How original.Furthermore, the relationship between Voldemort or Morrough and their supporters identical. They are both the object of cult and panic, both worshipped and at the same time being scared of. People admire their power and are afraid of it. Actually, the first scene that Morrough was a part of, was the first I laughed histerically in 'Alchemised'. The dynamics between Morrough and his necromanters are absolutely the same as Voldemort and his Deatheaters.
3.2 The Uncreative villain in 'Alchemised'
However, there is a slight difference between Lord Voldemort and Morrough. Voldemort is a complex character, with his own background and motives. Morrough is, on the other hand, a villian so shallow and bland it is unbearable. Without a proper explaination for his actions, Morrough is a villain created childishly. SenLinYu didn't add anything to the original character of Voldemort, just rewriting him to 'Alchemised' and changing his name. Scandalous and utterly uncreative.
4. The magic systems of
Alchemised & Harry Potter
After this long rant of the terrible character-building of 'Alchemised' by SenLinYu (it is really unbearable), I must praise one thing in 'Alchemised'. The world-building is propable the only aspect of 'Alchemised' that is completely different from 'Harry Potter' and I can't deny that SenLinYu spent a lot of time creating the magic system. It is so unique and interesting! I really liked it, the secrets of alchemy were motivating me not to DNF this book.
Especially compared to 'Harry Potter', 'Alchemised' has the magic system unbelievablly unusual. In 'Harry Potter', there are widely known wands, wizards, magic spells. The magic system of 'Harry Potter' uses the traditional Anglo-Saxon believes and folklore. SenLinYu, on the other hand, creates something different from other fantasy worlds. The magic in 'Alchemised' is something fresh and brand-new. This is a nice shift after basically retelling 'Harry Potter' characters in 'Alchemised'.
Harry Potter & Alchemised: Summary
To sum up, in my opinion, 'Alchmised' by SenLinYu can't be treated as a separate work. The similarities between SenLinYu's book and the original 'Harry Potter' by J.K. Rowling are too visible. The characters are basically a rewriting of the original ones. It is the most significant in the case of Kaine Ferron, who is just the fandom version of Draco Malfoy with a changed name. On the other hand, the mentioned magic system of alchemy is really interesting. I would be more than happy if SenLinYu added more of the fantasy content to 'Alchemised' and broadened the magic system. But they decided to focus on the 'romance'.
The disturbing content of 'Alchemised'
Speaking of the 'romantic' side of 'Alchemised', I have to adress the reason of my propable tartness. I wouldn't be so uncharitable towards 'Alchemised' only because of its connection to 'Harry Potter'.'Alchemised' contains really disturbing content, like romanticising sexual or/and psychological violence, trauma or toxic behaviour. The admiration for the evil has to have boundaries. I will never accept 'Alchemised' after romanticising a rape and a rapist, I will never accept portraying those actions as normal or romantic. The sex scenes in 'Alchemised' and relationship between Helena and Ferron are absolutely disgusting and I can't understand why it was published.
If only the erotic and romantic aspect of 'Alchemised' weren't so disturbing, 'Alchemised' would be just another retelling of 'Harry Potter'. If it was the case, I would believe 'Alchemised' should be kept in Wattpad, but nothing more extreme. I would be even satisfied with 'Alchemised': it even would be engaging. The references to 'Harry Potter' would be even riddiculous and innocent, and 'Alchemised' would be just another guilty pleasure romantasy, like 'The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy' or 'Fourth Wing'.
But because of the absolutely unacceptable content in 'Alchemised', I will not support this book enough to recommand it to anyone. It is a mockery of trauma and the real problem of abuse.
