ALCHEMISED by SenLinYu | Oct Book Club

Summary

I'll Read What She's Reading: ALCHEMISED by SenLinYu | October Book Club

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy

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Episode Overview

This episode of I'll Read What She's Reading centers on the hosts’ in-depth discussion of ALCHEMISED by SenLinYu, the October book club pick. The conversation explores their ratings, emotional responses, worldbuilding, fanfiction origins, favorite and least favorite moments, and emerging hopes (and fears) for its movie adaptation. The hosts offer a frank, passionate, and at times chaotic breakdown—perfect for both new and returning listeners wanting a spoiler-heavy deep dive.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reactions and Star Ratings (02:22–14:00)

• Reggie: 6 stars

  • Devastated and overwhelmed emotionally:

    "I finished the book and I sat and stared at my wall for, like, legit, like, half an hour... I felt empty inside, but I was also so full... There's just no book that's ever made me feel this specific way before." (03:16)

  • Praises how the book handles heavy, war-centric themes and the lack of clear “good” side.

• Kennedy: 4 stars

  • Struggled due to personal timing, mostly used audiobook; found parts repetitive/long but ultimately “obsessed.”

    "This book felt like running a marathon. And that is truly how I felt reading this book because at times it felt like a chore. And then at times I got this, like, weird reader's high..." (09:04)

  • Critiques flashback structure and length but acknowledges the necessity and realism of the narrative.

• Mikayla: 5 stars

  • Finds it loses “shock value” on reread (having read the original fanfic), but still deeply appreciates the new version.

    "If you're reading the story for the first time, I, like, wish I could be you so badly... what I wouldn't give to be able to go read this again." (14:14)

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2. Is Alchemised ‘Romantasy?’: Genre Expectations (01:11, 11:00, 11:41)

• All hosts stress this is "not a romantasy book” but a war story. The complexity and murkiness of character motivations and morality are central.
• "There are no good guys and bad guys. It's every—everything is muddied." (Kennedy, 11:41)

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3. Fanfiction Origins and Comparison (12:08–21:55)

• Both Mikayla and Reggie have read the original fanfic; Kennedy wishes she hadn’t, feeling it colored her experience.

  • Reggie is surprised she enjoyed the novel even more, noting her increased appreciation for both works.
  • Mikayla views her emotional reaction as muted on this pass but envied new readers’ fresh perspective.

• The “manacolds”/manacles fanfic Easter egg is spotted by fans (22:02–22:26).

• They debate which version is better—Kennedy votes for the novel, Mikayla leans original for deeper connection.

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4. Writing Style & Reader Expectations (25:09–27:44)

• Kennedy notes TikTok discourse criticizing SenLinYu’s writing as “passive” not “active” voice; explains this difference and how it contrasts with typical fantasy styles (e.g., Red Rising).

  "A lot of people may be having a hard time [with the writing]." (26:56)

• All agree it’s intentionally different, and that “different isn’t bad.”
• Part One’s repetitiveness and layout is discussed as intentional, mirroring Helena’s confusion.

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5. Worldbuilding & Magic System (05:22–06:46, 22:43–25:01)

• The moon-phase calendar, new time system, highly detailed world gets praise for richness and unique touches.

• Magic is “allomancy-like” (cf. Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn), with houses controlling iron or gold, and forms like vivimancy, animancy, necromancy, all drawing a toll.

  "Honestly, not to compare, but I feel like this magic system was easier for me because of Mistborn." (Mikayla, 23:36)

• Some struggle with the system’s arrays; all generally accept and roll with what they don’t fully grasp for immersion’s sake.

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6. Favorite and Least Favorite Moments (28:46–45:23)

Least Favorites

• Universal complaint about the book’s length: it could be shorter (Kennedy, 28:57).
• The pacing of Helena and Kane’s relationship is too quick compared to the fanfic’s protracted development (Mikayla, 27:50).
• Gore and brutality felt heavier/gorier here than in the fanfic, though it works to illustrate the horrors of war (Mikayla & Reggie, 36:03–38:17).
• Some dissatisfaction with Kane as a love interest, especially compared to the fanfic version (Reggie, 34:24).

Favorite Moments

• Full-circle callbacks, especially Helena’s journey from being forgotten in war’s annals to quietly never being celebrated:

  "At the end of the book, the world will never know what she did for the war." (Kennedy, 31:58)

• Luke’s death and the reveal (“favorite plot twist”)—he was possessed by Morrow (Kennedy, 38:52).
• Fan art shoutout: Avondale’s work lauded for emotional resonance (39:31–40:32).
• The transformation of Kane’s hair (brown to silver) and subtle callbacks to muscle memory and relationship dynamics (Mikayla, 42:35–44:44).
• The “wolf dog,” Amaris, and the intense emotion around her arc (44:55–45:23).

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7. Endings and Reader Response (30:32–34:15)

• The ending divided readers—some call it anticlimactic.
  • The hosts argue its “bittersweetness” and cyclical/poignant tragedy are the point.

    “There’s so much depth and layer to the fact that she is said to have never fought… the world will never know what she did for the war. That is soul crushing.” (Kennedy, 31:52)

• They speculate whether the ending sets up a possible sequel about Enid (“Eden… Paul… Apollo?”) (33:17–34:13), but agree not to revisit Helena & Kane directly.

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8. Character Dynamics & Secondary Characters (47:20–49:52)

• Lila’s role as frenemy/friend, her hypocrisy and the tension with Kane (“he took such good care of you… there was almost literally no appreciation” – Reggie, 47:49).
• Kane’s dark humor and detachment amuse even as his brutality is foregrounded.
• Lila’s badassery celebrated, but her choices (abandoning her child to fight) draw questions.

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9. Adaptation: Movie Hopes, Casting Fantasies (52:13–65:15)

• SenLinYu is directly involved with the film (53:30), produced by Legacy (creators of Dune). Quality adaptation expected.
• Discuss whether it should be multiple films or a long one (agree it’s tricky to split).
• Fan Casts:
  • Kane: Discussed models like Otto Sepulin and Danny Griffin (“could see it”), but dislike Tom Blyth as a pick (too obvious/circular from fandom). Bill Skarsgård, Finn Bennett, and others floated.
  • Helena: Many models and actresses mentioned, but Aubrey Ebrag (from The Buccaneers) and Whitney Peak get praise for their look and acting potential (63:27–65:26).
• Consensus: more excited than nervous based on current team; hope for nuanced casting, especially showing Kane’s transition “from boyishness to a hardened man.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On the book’s emotional impact:

  "I finished the book and I sat and stared at my wall for, like, legit, like, half an hour... I felt empty inside, but I was also so full..."
  — Reggie (03:16)

• On genre expectations:

  "This is not a romantasy book. This is not supposed to be… a healthy relationship, because it’s not. It is a story. It is a war story of what actually happens and what could happen."
  — Kennedy (11:07)

• On the writing style:

  "It was like, no, we're gonna tell this how it is. And you better sit down, buckle up..."
  — Reggie (12:08)

• On reading for the first time:

  "If you're reading the story for the first time, I, like, wish I could be you so badly... what I wouldn't give to be able to go read this again."
  — Mikayla (14:14)

• On the book’s ending:

  "At the end of the book, the world will never know what she did for the war. That is soul crushing."
  — Kennedy (31:58)

• On adaptation casting:

  "I'm just really sick of seeing people casting Tom Blythe... I just feel like I can't see Tom Blythe doing [Kane]."
  — Reggie (61:46)

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Timestamps: Major Segments

• 00:00–01:43 — Introduction, book premise, and format outline
• 02:22–14:00 — Ratings and emotional responses
• 14:00–21:55 — Fanfic comparisons
• 22:43–25:01 — Worldbuilding, magic system, and writing style discussion
• 27:44–34:24 — Narrative structure, endings, and what makes the book work
• 34:24–38:08 — Character analysis, gore, lowlights
• 38:08–45:39 — Favorite scenes, callbacks, fan art
• 47:20–49:52 — Side characters (esp. Lila), humor, and complexity
• 52:13–65:15 — Movie adaptation details and casting speculation

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Conclusion & Next Month’s Pick

• Next Book Club Selection:
  Soul Searching by Lila Sage — “a little bit of a pace change” after Alchemised’s intensity; hosts tease it’s fun and slightly paranormal (66:27–66:53).

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In Short:

ALCHEMISED floored all three hosts with its unflinching emotional storytelling, dense worldbuilding, and deep exploration of trauma, survival, and moral ambiguity in war. While there’s debate on pacing and how the book compares to its fanfic roots, consensus is clear: SenLinYu has delivered a unique, gutting, and memorable read—one that even on a podcast packed with hot takes inspires awe.

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For further discussion, follow the hosts at @whatshe'sreadingpod on TikTok and Instagram.

Transcript

[Mikayla]

Foreign.

[Kennedy]

Hey guys. Welcome back to alright what she's reading. I'm Kennedy.

[Reggie]

I'm Reggie.

[Mikayla]

And I'm Mikayla.

[Kennedy]

And we are here to discuss our long awaited October book club book Alchemized by Sen. Lin Yu.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Let's get into it.

[Kennedy]

We are so incredibly excited to talk about this. I also just feel like we have so much to talk about. This book is over a thousand pages.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

If you read along with us and you're listening to this right as it's coming, this episode's coming out. Way to be.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Seriously.

[Reggie]

Because that was a lot. Like not even the fact of the page count but everything to digest from this. I've been seeing people on TikTok saying like I had to like read a book in between like the different parts and stuff and that is valid. So this book is a lot. It's a lot.

[Mikayla]

It's very heavy. Yeah. It really can take a toll on you, especially with how long it is. Yeah.

[Reggie]

And I hope that we, I feel like bad if we didn't like preface that enough when we announced this as the buffet book. Um, because it is. It's a war story. Like I've seen a lot of people saying like, this is not a romantasy book. This is not a fantasy book. Like, this is a war. Like a war. Like they should be. That should be the genre.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And I can see why people say that because I think if you went into it thinking, oh, romantasy book, you know you're gonna be like, yeah, there's so much to discuss.

[Kennedy]

So if you're new, if you're new here and you haven't been listening to our book club episodes, here's kind of how we do it. We first start off with all of our star ratings, kind of give a brief overview as to what our thoughts were on the book. And then we dive into favorite moments, least favorite moments, and then a fan cast. And then at the end of the episode, we announce our book club book for the following month, which will be November. So if you haven't read Alchemized, this is your sign to come back once you've read it. But if you want to know what our book club book episode is, just go ahead and skip to the end of the episode. So without further ado, do you want to share our thoughts?

[Mikayla]

I am like actually so nervous to talk to you guys about this. I don't know why. Like my heart is. My heart is pounding.

[Reggie]

Ooh, I don't know. Who wants to start with her? Do you Always want me to start with Amayah?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, you can go first.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's gonna be a surprise to no one. Maybe it will be.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I'm gonna give it six stars. I've just feel like. I mean, I knew kind of what to expect going into this. You know, if you've read the fanfic, you know what I'm talking about. And you guys know how much I loved that. That I just felt like I couldn't. I was a little worried I was going to rate it lower than. Than that. But, like, when I tell you guys, I finished the book and I sat and stared at my wall for, like, legit, like, half an hour, and I was just, like, I felt empty inside, but I was also so full of, like, I don't know. There's just no book that's ever made me feel this specific way before. And I felt as if, like, Sen Lin Yu did such a fantastic job and, like, wrote this so carefully that I just. Mad props to them because I just. They handled it with so much care.

[Kennedy]

Mm.

[Reggie]

Because there's a lot of triggering things in this book. Like I was saying, like, it's. It's a war story. It's. It's heavy. It was just very well done. And I truly don't know if there will ever be a book that will ever make me feel the way that this one did. And so for that, I just am, like, it's just. God, a tear to me. I don't have, like, really any notes necessarily. Like, I just think that there was a lot more with this too, that I felt like you could see the both sides of things. That, like, there really was no good side, you know, and the amount of emotions I felt in this book, like, laughed, cried, screamed, wanted to throw up. Like, I think got enough reaction out of me that. Yeah, I don't think anything will. I'm waiting for something to come along that will make me feel the same. And I don't know if there will be, but. Yeah, I just think that it was very well done. Yeah. Sorry. I didn't really think about what I was going to say about it without talking.

[Kennedy]

That's great. No, it doesn't surprise me that you rated six stars.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I was worried that I might have rated it lower, but there's something really exciting and really also really hard to. About reading this when I knew kind of what I was going in for.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And I do feel like this book seriously, truly stands on its own.

[Kennedy]

Oh, 100%.

[Reggie]

Well, like, yeah, just Mad props to Sen Lin Yu.

[Kennedy]

So, I mean, you have to give mad props to Sen Lin Yu because the world building felt fully fleshed out. I don't want to say that they overcompensated with the world building because I don't feel that way. But I almost feel like in order for this book to be able to stand on its own, it had to be just because of the way that it's come about.

[Mikayla]

Right.

[Kennedy]

And the detail. And you can tell they thought out every. Literally everything almost to the point where someone. Some things I felt like didn't need to be included, but absolutely incredible world building.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Sorry, this was a random. Did you guys notice that, like, at the beginning of each chapter that it was like telling the time through, like the phases of the moon, like in the images? Yeah. Like the beginning of each chapter has, like. I don't know. I just noticed I saw someone post a TikTok of that and I was like, oh my gosh.

[Kennedy]

I didn't like the little moon above the chapter.

[Reggie]

It's like showing like the.

[Kennedy]

I mean, very cool.

[Reggie]

That passes. I just thought that was really cool.

[Kennedy]

Very cool. Did there need to be a brand new calendar year?

[Mikayla]

No.

[Kennedy]

But I do love that they added that because it's a nice touch.

[Reggie]

They talked about that at the event that we went to. Yes. And wanted to, like, include that. Like, why not?

[Kennedy]

Mm. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

That's cool. Are you gonna say your rating or are we going to meet?

[Kennedy]

I don't care.

[Mikayla]

I'm curious to know your ratings.

[Kennedy]

You want me to go?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay. You know, this book is really hard for me to rate because on one hand, my reading experience was not great and it's not the book's fault. I'm going to start by saying that because had we not picked this as a book club book, I would have never picked this book up in October because the time of my life, like, I wasn't home, I was traveling. It was the busiest month for work. I listened to probably about 80% of this book and I think that truly ruined my experience, which is really sad. And it's nobody's fault but myself to blame. My Goodreads review before I actually put a real review was this book felt like running a marathon. And that is truly how I felt reading this book because at times it felt like a chore. And then at times I got this, like, weird reader's high where it was peak reading experience. And I was so obsessed. I said this in our vlog, but I feel like my thoughts for this book are Literally an oxymoron. Because on one hand I didn't love it, but then on the other hand, I absolutely am obsessed. And when I finished the book, I thought to myself, this is a three star read. But after finishing the book and sitting with it, I'm going to give it four stars. And part of the reason why I'm not going to give it five stars is because I strongly think that this book could have been 200 pages shorter. And these two might disagree with me, but there were portions of the flashbacks where I just don't necessarily think it was needed. I found myself getting a little bit bored. It felt a little repetitive. And I'll get to later why it's important that it's repetitive, but also at the same time, it's such an important story to tell because I think it reflects real life in a lot of ways. I think it reflects real war and the things that people go through in a lot of ways. And this impossible decision of what's right and what's wrong and how it's not always black and white. There is some gray area, especially in war. And I think Helena's story is heartbreaking and inspiring and important for people to read. I also think that I don't know how to really approach this topic, and I'm not going to say, like, certain words, but this is my hot take. And I think most people would disagree with me on this and I would be curious. I understand why it's written in part one, flashbacks, part part two. Like, I understand why, because I think part one, the whole purpose is we're learning along with Helena because she has no idea what's going on. She's confused. She doesn't remember anything. I think it's repetitive because that's the intention and it's supposed to be. But I almost wish that the flashbacks were first because as we know, there's something that happens in part one that makes me really. It makes me really hard to root for their relationship. And it makes it really hard for me to like Cain. And I understand why he did what he did. I get that it had to happen. He didn't have another choice. It's a. It's the. It was the lesser evil. Right. But that happens. And then in the flashbacks, it takes me a really long time to warm up to him and see that he's not a bad guy. Does that make sense? Like, in my head, I hate him.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And so if the flashbacks were first and I had that emotional connection with him prior to him doing what he does To Helena. I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more. Does that make sense?

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I also think this book is tricky because he's not a good guy.

[Kennedy]

No. And he's not supposed to be.

[Mikayla]

No. And he doesn't have any character development. No. It's like. And that's how it's supposed to be. I don't know. I. Yeah, I could see why you. Yeah. Like, that. Would want that more, I think. Sorry, Were you finished?

[Kennedy]

Yes. But I also think if it was written in that way, it would completely ruin the purpose of the story.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because to me, I find it that, like, it was intentional. The reason. Like, you're supposed to feel that way.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Yes. Yeah. You 100% are. You're supposed to feel confused, and it's supposed to. Yes. You're supposed to feel all those things. But in going back to kind of what you had said, Reggie, I think. And this is part of the reason why I decided to bring my rating up higher after finishing, because I came to this realization that this is not a romantasy book. This is not supposed to be an. An example of a healthy relationship, because it's not. It is not healthy relationship. It is a story. It is a war story of what actually happens and what could happen.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And there are no good guys and bad guys. It's every. Everything is muddied.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And so after having that realization, I was like, okay. And I think, once again, it's such an important story to be told, and you have to appreciate what signaling you did. It's. It's an incredible story. I don't know if you guys have seen this, but I feel like a lot of people have. I've seen some tick tocks that say that the writing is bad, and I think that is abs. That's crazy.

[Reggie]

I think it's because there's send. Lenu just has a very different writing style. I think people kind of expect this, like, big, flowery writing because they are going into it thinking, maybe thinking of it more as, like, a fantasy romantasy book. Like, they're there for, like, the. The vibes and, like, I don't think that was the intention of this book. It was like, no, we're gonna tell this how it is. And you better sit down, buckle up. Like, not sparing any. I don't. This story did not need to be flowery by any means. I mean, I still. I thought the writing was great. It's different from a lot of, like, writing styles.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But I Appreciated that because it felt. I don't know. I didn't have an issue. I've seen people saying that, but I didn't have an issue with it.

[Kennedy]

I didn't either.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I didn't have an issue with it. I think it's just different. And sometimes people really hate different.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Cause it's not what they're used to. I am giving it five stars, and five is strictly what it's at. Reason being is I feel like I hate to compare, but when I've already, like, pretty much read the story, it kind of loses its shock value, I guess. And don't get me wrong, I. I loved it, but I just. Like, the first time reading the storyline, I had, like, a vastly different reaction because I genuinely had no idea what was coming next. But reading this, I. I almost, like, dreaded picking it up. Yeah, Like, I. I was, like, excited until I actually started reading it. I'm like, I'm. I'm dreading this. I'm dreading reading this. I'm. Because I know exactly what's gonna happen. Don't be wrong. There are a few things that are different from, like, the original story Sen wrote as a fanfic, but I. I literally dreaded it. And it was really hard for me to get through because I'm like, I know exactly what's happening. There's no sunshine and rainbows, except for, like, a few things, but at the very end. And so it was like, I. I kind of like what you said is a little bit more of a chore. Because I think, honestly, I would love to have read this, like, erasing all my memories of previous knowledge.

[Kennedy]

Me too.

[Mikayla]

Of this. Because I read it before I realized that, like, the original story I read before I realized it was going to be picked up and she was making publishing it. And so maybe I probably would have not read it, but I feel like maybe at that point I would have just been like, no, I'm reading it, like. And so I, Yeah, I. I really. If you're reading the story for the first time, I, like, wish I could be used so badly. Like, if you didn't read original fanfic, I am, like, so jealous and envious of your experience because what I wouldn't give to be able to go read this again. And that's why, like, I can't. Like, it was so good. Sen did such a good job, and I loved how she made, like, things her own. But, like, I. It's hard to not compare my reading experience from the first time to now, because My reactions were just like, yeah, so much more. So much more. And, like, not that I didn't still feel emotional, but I, like, it's almost like I just, like, shut it off, you know? Like, almost went numb to it. And that sounds so bad, but, like, I almost went numb because I, like, knew what to expect or, like, I don't know. Yeah, but it was. It was so good. But, like, the first time reading it, like, I had no idea about the flashbacks.

[Kennedy]

Yep.

[Mikayla]

No idea. No. Like, I didn't know about, like, the relationship beforehand. Like, no idea. And so, like, going into this, like, it was still so good. But I just can't replace my reading experience from the first time.

[Reggie]

I totally. I'm just trying. I'm. Okay. Sorry. I totally see why, what you're saying. Because, like, that makes a lot of sense. Like, there were a few things I read where I was like. Like, I knew a chapter was kind of coming next, and I kind of had to, like, prepare myself. It's funny, because I thought I would feel the same way you felt. Like you're explaining how you felt for me. I don't know if I just had. I gave myself, like, this huge pep talk of, like, because I know. Kennedy, you mentioned you're like, I'm having a hard time reading this because I'm trying to remember, like, okay, well, who is this character supposed to be from the fanfic? And, like, whatever. For some reason, I just, like. And it's so funny because I'm never like this. When I read, I was able to just, like, really shut all that down. And while, like, I could still anticipate certain things happening, for me it was almost. I hate saying exciting, because there's a lot of elements of the story that are not exciting. But, like, I don't know how to really explain that, but I had to. Like, I really tried my hardest to separate it. Not saying that. Like, you didn't.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But for me, it was like, I was surprised at how, like. Yeah. Cause I didn't have as big of a reaction to certain things. But I almost feel like while I was reading everything I read, I almost appreciated it more, which I didn't think I would like. My appreciation for both versions of the story.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, And I wasn't expecting to feel that way. So I think that's probably why I'm like. Because you guys are probably like, six stars. Like, literally, it's like, two. I don't know. But I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I think.

[Mikayla]

Sorry.

[Kennedy]

No, go ahead.

[Mikayla]

It's really valid for you to have six stars. And don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I like, forgot. I almost read this two years ago.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And so, like, there wasn't everything. I. It's more. So the reactions.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. That's part of your reading experience.

[Mikayla]

Based off of my. And it's still a five star book, but, like, I know my reactions. Reading it for the first time was vastly different, but there were a lot of things that were different. I was so excited to see how Sen was going to, like, make things her own. That's like, what kept me reading was like, I wonder how she's going to make this her own. And it's. It's a fantastic book. If I was reading this for the first time.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikayla]

It would be like, oh, yeah. Five infinity stars. It's just. It's hard.

[Kennedy]

I. I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I. I'm envious of the people.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. Well, not to bring. I don't want to, like, talk too much about, like, the fanfic of it all, but. Are you saying that you wish you almost didn't read it and you would have just read this?

[Kennedy]

Me, I wish. I wish I would not have read the fanfic. I will say, ironically, I said the flashbacks should have been shorter, but I almost feel like that was the strongest point of the book. And I think that had the most differences.

[Reggie]

Interesting.

[Mikayla]

You did.

[Kennedy]

Some of the battle scenes and the political intrigue and the plot twists were so good. But at the same time, I almost feel like I didn't completely appreciate them because I had read the story before. That doesn't really make sense. But I think this book is better than the fanfiction. I think the world building is incredible. I think the characters are more fleshed out. There's more characters and they do more. Does that make sense?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's so hard because I can't. It's hard not to compare. But I think this is better. Yes. 100.

[Reggie]

Do you think so too?

[Mikayla]

No, I don't. But I think it's because I had.

[Kennedy]

You have an emotional connection to the characters prior. 100.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

That is. That is why.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And you just have. Once again, you guys, it's hard not to. It's hard not to talk about it. You have seven books.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

All of this content.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

From the fanfiction.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Going into it.

[Mikayla]

But this is still an amazing 100%. Yeah. Yeah. And I probably. I don't know. You can't change your reading experience. You can't. Like, if the fanfic never exists because it doesn't technically exist anymore. I wonder. I wonder if I would have had the same reactions I had reading the fanfic, because these are completely different characters, if that makes sense, and I didn't have, like, an emotional attachment prior to it. I don't know. It's. You can't. You can't tell each other, like, what it would be like. But I also. It's also been such a long time since I read the fanfic, so maybe if I had read it closer, I was just trying to kind of be similar to Reggie in the fact where I was trying to completely, completely separate them.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Which is hard. Like, I didn't completely do that the entire time, but there were times that, like, I just had to, like, I don't know. Yeah. But, yeah, it's hard not to compare. And we apologize for, like, if we say anything that sounds like we're comparing because we're aware that, like, Senlin Yu wants this to be its own thing and not, like, the fanfic does not exist in anything of that when they're talking about it. Like, it's never really mentioned, and we want to, like, respect that, and we appreciate that.

[Kennedy]

I mean, it plays a big part.

[Reggie]

Though, in your reading experience.

[Mikayla]

The cameo for the fin fic in here.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I missed that.

[Mikayla]

You missed it. He says, like, you have me in manacolds.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I missed that completely.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Oh, oh, oh. When he talks about. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mikayla]

But he doesn't say that in. I guess. But they called them cuffs.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And then he says them. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Instead of manacles, like they do in the fanfic. And he's like, you have me in manicure manacles.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I didn't. Yeah, I didn't catch that.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I. I heard it. I was like.

[Kennedy]

Michaela'S grabbing them all.

[Mikayla]

I was like, yeah, no, it's. It's. Yeah, it's. It's hard. It's so hard. But they did an incredible job.

[Kennedy]

Sen Lanyu's mind is insane.

[Mikayla]

The alchemy. Oh. Which.

[Reggie]

The magic system was a doozy for me.

[Kennedy]

Okay, kkk, but listen, I watched this TikTok, and.

[Mikayla]

I was like, where was.

[Kennedy]

This when I was reading it? Because it felt so confusing, but it truly was so simple.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I felt like it got a lot more simplified as I was reading, and it wasn't even because I was understanding it more, but I was like, oh, wait.

[Kennedy]

Literally. It's just that every person has. What's the control of the metals, what's it called allomancy. Allomancy. Everybody has that. But certain people can control, like, certain metals. Yes. So farin, they can control iron, which gets turned into steel. The holdfasts control gold or something. Gets turned into gold. And that is why they are. Someone decided the whole fast decided that people who control gold are, like, better than people who control iron.

[Mikayla]

Honestly, not to compare, but I feel like this magic system was easier for me because of Mistborn.

[Kennedy]

Oh, my gosh.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So you're telling me I'll understand Mistborn a little more?

[Mikayla]

Yeah, you might.

[Kennedy]

I mean, no. Mistborn's a little bit more complex.

[Mikayla]

It's a little bit more complicated, but.

[Kennedy]

It'S, like, controlling my eyes.

[Mikayla]

I honestly didn't think about it too much. I kind of just, like, read it, and I was like, I'm just taking it how it is, and I just didn't think about it too much. Cause I was like, eventually this is going to make sense. And. And I didn't want that to deteriorate from my reading experience and be, like, thinking about it too much. Cause sometimes I feel like I overthink things, and I'm like, this is ruining my reading experience. So I kind of just took things for how it was. And I maybe don't completely understand the entire world building or, like, the magic system in general, but I was like, it all makes sense. Yeah. In my brain, the only thing that.

[Kennedy]

I'm still a little bit iffy on is, like, the arrays.

[Reggie]

Oh.

[Kennedy]

You know, but, like, I get that there's vivimancy, animancy, necromancy. That's it, right?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And animancy and necromancy are the same. It's just that one is healing and one is controlling is one is for the dead.

[Reggie]

Yeah, sure.

[Kennedy]

And when you have animancy. When you have animancy, it takes a toll from your soul. So every time you heal someone, it takes a little bit of you.

[Mikayla]

The toll.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

Same with Necromancer.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Don't get me started on how annoyed I was about that certain element in the book with freaking what's her bucket? Lila. Lila.

[Kennedy]

Okay, before we head into our likes and dislikes, I kind of want to bring up a TikTok that I saw, and it could be a reason why people don't like Senlin Yu's writing or think that the writing is bad. So this creator on TikTok, you guys, you really should go to her profile. She has so many good, alchemized tiktoks, she deep dives into literary analysis.

[Reggie]

On it.

[Kennedy]

And it's absolutely incredible. It's part of the reason why I did decide to increase my rating, because you have to appreciate what Sendlyn. You did. But basically, this creator. Did I say her name? Emily reads. She goes on to talk about how there are two types of writing. There's active voice and there's passive voice. And the reason why a lot of people don't are maybe not jiving with Alchemized is because it uses passive voice. And most fantasy books that we typically read use active voice. And the differences is. The differences are. Is active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. So it's like the author wrote the book, and it's like, really clear and concise passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. So instead of the author wrote the book, it switched and it says the book was written by the author.

[Reggie]

Oh, okay.

[Kennedy]

So it's a little bit more vague, can be a little bit more wordier, and you have to think a little bit harder to, like, understand what's going on. So a lot of people just aren't used to that voice in writing style. She used Red Rising as a comparison where Red Rising is extremely active voice and alchemizes passive voice. So I found that really interesting because I loved the writing. I had no problem with it, but I think that's part of the reason why a lot of people may be having a hard time.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I can see that.

[Mikayla]

I think I did see that. Not specifically from that character, but I did see a creator saying, a lot of you guys don't know the difference between active voice.

[Reggie]

Kit don't need to be written one way. Like, how would reading and writing be if it was just all done?

[Mikayla]

I just think it's different. I kind of said it's just different.

[Reggie]

Well, and also the story is just so different from a lot of things that you sometimes read. And so.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Just interesting.

[Mikayla]

It was. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And also the layout of the book is so different. Kind of like one of the reasons why. I wish it was flashbacks first, but. And I think a lot of people had a hard time with the repetitiveness of part one, which I didn't. I did in the fanfic, but not in this one, because I think I knew exactly. Like, I knew the purpose. I knew why it was being written this way.

[Mikayla]

Really.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Took a lot out, like, a ton of the repetitiveness from the fanfic, which.

[Kennedy]

I appreciated, because the repetitiveness of the fanfic was.

[Reggie]

It was hard.

[Mikayla]

I feel like it's hard. But I also feel like, in my opinion, the buildup for the relationship was too fast.

[Kennedy]

Oh. Like. Yeah, I see what you mean. Not enough time passed.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Whereas in the fanfic, a lot more time passes.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

It's like months.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I do agree with you that, like, it did seem to go a lot quicker.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Well.

[Reggie]

And it's not even, like, the fact that certain things happen more frequently in the fanfic. I think there was even just a little more depth to the aspect of time. Like, there was more of that time for, like, had it been a little bit similar to the fanfic, there would have been more time for Helena to kind of grow that said attachment that she talks about in the book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Oh, should we go into.

[Kennedy]

Let's do. Yeah, let's go faves.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Why not?

[Reggie]

Let's do.

[Kennedy]

Well, least faves. Least faves. Okay. Least faves on a high nose.

[Mikayla]

Okay. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Really, the only thing I can pinpoint is just the length, honestly. Maybe just cut it down a little bit, and it would have been great. Because I think, once again, part of the reason why I didn't give it five stars, one, the length of. To my reading experience really, really sucked.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But that's on me, not the book.

[Mikayla]

No, that's totally fair.

[Kennedy]

And the weird thing is, is I'm not one to want to reread books. I. I have a really toxic trait in the sense of I don't like to rewatch movies, TV shows. I don't like to reread books. Alchemized would be a book that I would reread in, like, five years after. It's kind of bent from my brain because I think that there are things that I would pick up on a second time around that I did not this first time, specifically with Alchemize, because I know I missed some world building.

[Reggie]

I think that's why it was kind of fun for me to read the book, because I remember finishing the fanfic and then I'd see all these tiktoks of, like, did you catch this? And I was like, what? So I was, like, dying to reread that. And then when this got announced, I was like, oh, I kind of feel like I can have the opportunity to do that, but, like, with a different. So I felt like I caught on to certain things that I didn't think I would have not probably normally caught onto.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Which made it, like, kind of exciting when I would, like, find those things. There's certain moments where I was like.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Now I am going to say something that I don't think this is going to be on any of our least favorite things, but I think we need to discuss it on the podcast because I think a lot of people feel this way.

[Mikayla]

Really?

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

What is it?

[Kennedy]

A lot of people are really dissatisfied with the ending that have no. No prior knowledge to the book.

[Reggie]

Because it was happy.

[Kennedy]

Yes. And they felt like it was really anticlimactic.

[Reggie]

Oh, okay.

[Kennedy]

And here's my. I'll let you guys share your opinions, but here's my opinion on that. I think people who are dissatisfied with the ending are taking the ending at, like, a surface value because it is a little anticlimactic if you just take it at, like, they're happy. Here's this newspaper clipping, and that is what it is. But if you really sit and think with the ending, there is so much depth and layer to the fact that she is said to have never fought. And also if you sit and think about the full circle moments from part one to the ending, it's insane. I'm sure you guys caught on this. But the fact when she is first taken out of the tub and it's mentioned probably three or four times that she did not fight. The first time it was mentioned, I was wrecked. It's literally mentioned in like the first few chapters. And just the fact that this person, these two people who. The war would not have ended without them and one is painted as a monster and the other one is completely forgotten, that is soul crushing. I am so sorry.

[Reggie]

It's like, yeah, it's a happy ending because they got.

[Kennedy]

It's bittersweet.

[Mikayla]

It's not, though.

[Reggie]

It's not.

[Kennedy]

Also just the fact that at the beginning of the book, she couldn't remember what she had done for the war. And then at the end of the book, the world. We'll never know what she did for the war. Yeah. Yeah.

[Reggie]

And it's interesting to show. I think it's like a good example of showing that, like, there's like, no really heroes in war unless you're Lila.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But, like, I think it just. Not that I know a lot about war. Like, I'm grateful that I don't know a lot about it, but I just feel like it shows how war really just breaks down humanity and that the story of war is going to change on whoever. Depending on whoever's narrating what happens. And I think that the ending of this book shows that very well and in a very heartbreaking way.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I. I also think. I wonder if she ended it the way she did because it is different from the fanfic. And I wonder if she kind of left that door open. So if she did want to tell Eden and. Paul. Paul. Paul.

[Reggie]

Paul.

[Mikayla]

Apollo.

[Kennedy]

What's his full name? Apollo.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah. Enid. Enid.

[Reggie]

I think.

[Kennedy]

I think it's Enid.

[Mikayla]

Enid. I wonder if she left that door open. So she did want to tell the story of that.

[Kennedy]

I would read the heck out of another book in this world.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I would too.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So.

[Mikayla]

Because it. The fanfic ends differently than this does.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I think that'd be interesting to read.

[Mikayla]

One.

[Reggie]

But also, like, I really like just leaving Helena and Kane where they are, and I don't want, like.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I don't want them in the book.

[Reggie]

Yeah, exactly. But, like, I think if we were to follow along with her, like, how do you not, like, try to, like, change? Like, you'd have to, like. I wouldn't want anything changed from this story to, like, continue it. In a sense. I'd love a continuation of the Daughter, but, like, with. Does that make sense without continuing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And changing anything about.

[Mikayla]

I feel like they probably would just be mentioned, but I think the daughter would respect their wishes.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Mikayla]

You know? Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Do you guys have any least faves?

[Reggie]

I mean, the only thing, and this is. Once again, I was trying to think of anything that I could say that wouldn't be, like, me comparing. I don't know if I loved Cain as much as I loved our male main character in the fanfic, but I don't know why that is. But see, it's been a while since I read that. Like, I'm trying to remember the differences between the two and not that it really matters, but I wasn't as, like, obsessed with him as I thought I would be, if that makes sense. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know if she was a little bit more hard and cold in this book.

[Mikayla]

Brutal.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I felt a lot more brutality from him.

[Reggie]

But then also, I could pick up on all the things, like acts of love that he was showing even when he was supposed to be brutal. Yeah, like, so that's why it's hard. I don't have, like, a lot of dislikes. And it's funny because you think I would have, like, been more obsessed because I was picking up on those things. But there was, like, something about his character. Maybe I was just, like, expecting to, like, love him a little more. I don't know how to explain my thoughts there. But I do like that there was some. I don't know what it was about him, but he did feel very different than the fanfic, which I could appreciate.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I can go into things I love of, like, the things I call onto in a minute. But yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I think my least favs. And this is kind of me being picky is. I feel like trying not again, not to be comparing. I feel like this was way more, like, gory.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikayla]

Oh, it was so gory.

[Reggie]

I will say, though, there was, like, a part in the fanfic, though, that was really disturbing to me. That wasn't. I almost felt like they went into more detail in a certain element at the very end of part or the flashbacks. I felt like in the fanfic, it was a lot. There was a lot more detail of things that went on. But not saying that there wasn't detail in Alchemized, but I felt like there was a little bit more of that in that specific part. But, yeah, there were some things that I was like. I do not remember feeling this. Yeah, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Imagine this TV show.

[Mikayla]

I know that the movie. That's what I was thinking the entire time. I was like, how rated R. But I was. I just, like, picturing it as, like, a movie. I'm like, this. And I understand why she had to make It's War. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

It's.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Gruesome. It's gory. It's terrible. But the entire time, I was like, how is this gonna be turned into a movie? Like, this is gonna be. It's gonna be. I. I just straight up gonna be a hard watch. It's gonna be a hard watch also. I'm just, like, with the Necrothals, like, you're spooky. Like, it's gonna be crazy.

[Kennedy]

It's actually.

[Mikayla]

I'm, like, so stoked.

[Kennedy]

And we can talk about this later.

[Mikayla]

When we do, like, our fan cast. But I. Yeah, and I think I. I think it was just, like, some parts I was listening to, and I was literally, like. I was, like, having, like, a vivid reaction. I was like, oh, my gosh, this is awful. And I. Yeah, that's just me being, like, picky. And don't get me wrong, guys. Like, I feel like I have become very immune to, like, gore in books. But, like, this kind of, like, made me a little, like, squeamish, and I was like, oh, that was rough. Yeah, so.

[Kennedy]

But kind of, like, what you had said and what Reggie said, it's. I don't want to say appreciated. But like, it just goes to show and illustrate how horrible this war was.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Faves.

[Kennedy]

Do you guys.

[Reggie]

I don't really know where to begin.

[Mikayla]

I'll go.

[Kennedy]

I'll go first because I feel like my list won't be as long, so then they can go, obviously. I really loved like the full circle moment from part one to part two, like the ending, even though I knew it was coming. And maybe I'm a heartless biatch, but I didn't cry in the entire book until the very end.

[Mikayla]

Same. Okay.

[Kennedy]

That makes me feel a little better.

[Mikayla]

Same.

[Kennedy]

Because I knew I was coming.

[Mikayla]

Whatever.

[Kennedy]

But just the end, where it's like all their. All their sacrifice and everything just isn't recognized, just breaks my heart.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

My other favorite part, and this is gonna make me sound like a crazy person, was Luke's death. That was mind blowing for me.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

The realization. And maybe you guys can clear this up. Maybe I didn't completely comprehend exactly what was happening. He's brothers with Moro. Yeah, he's his brother.

[Mikayla]

I guess I was a little confused with that too.

[Kennedy]

He's his brother. Like he was possessed by him. Surprise, right?

[Mikayla]

Yeah, he was possessed by him.

[Kennedy]

I was jaw was on the.

[Mikayla]

On the floor.

[Kennedy]

That was crazy to me. And my favorite plot twist because I didn't know about it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it was good.

[Kennedy]

That was that whole scene. And then my other favorite thing, which doesn't directly tie into the book, but kinda the fan art from. What's her name? Avon. Avon. Yeah, Avondale. Avondale, whatever. Have you guys seen them all?

[Reggie]

I haven't seen all of them.

[Kennedy]

Oh my gosh. If you're listening right now, while you're listening to the podcast, pull up her account. Avondale, the fan art is by her specifically is so good. There is a fan art that she has created. She worked directly alongside Senlin Yu for this. There's a fan art of that scene where he dies.

[Mikayla]

Oh, so sorry.

[Kennedy]

It's.

[Mikayla]

Did she repost it?

[Kennedy]

Go to.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, guys, it's. It's so good.

[Mikayla]

She's so good.

[Kennedy]

She's so talented. I. Yeah, so, yeah, those are my favorite parts. It so well done. World building was great. You know, the. I enjoyed the riding. Just.

[Reggie]

I'm like gonna cry if I keep looking at these pictures.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, guys. Yeah, yeah. She's so good. So, yeah, I'll let these two go now.

[Reggie]

You know, I don't really know where to begin, but I will say the thing that I think I love most of all about this is that the whole Story just feels very, like, achingly human. Like, there. The whole story and relationship of Helena and Kane is just unlike anything I've read. And I loved how I was, like, rooting so hard for them because you just see, like, all that they are going through and all that they're, like, doing to fight for each other and fight for also everybody else. It's just crazy. And I just think that that evoked so much emotion out of me as a reader that I just, like, I'll never get over it. And also, just every little callback that is made in this book is insane. Like, the one I, like, cannot get over is when, like, she's like, why don't you just kill me? And he's like, prior commitments. I'm afraid. Like, I was like. Like, I just. I can't. Every single little callback. I can't. I just. I'm obsessed. Like, I literally could, like, go on and on. It's. I, I. Yeah, I could just go on and on about all of them, but I just think that it's so thought out and so well done. Sen Lin Yu thought of everything, and so it just, like, blows my mind. Like, everything he's saying to try to get her to remember just, like, gives me, like, chills down into my entire body. So, yeah, I don't know. I could give a bunch of examples.

[Mikayla]

But I really actually liked the part where he has this transformation with his hair. I somehow, like, became very obsessed with it. I don't know, like, him starting out with, like, dark brown hair and then, like, it slowly going, like, silver.

[Kennedy]

His life is being sucked from him.

[Mikayla]

No, it's from the. Whatever it's called in the rock that is in his body that she gave him from the necklace.

[Reggie]

Oh, and then that's why he, like, has to dye his hair.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

At the end of the book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I don't know. I just became, like, really attached to that. I became obsessed with it. Don't know why. Yeah, I just love the callbacks. Specifically. The one that keeps, like, replaying in my mind is when that sneaky guy. I can't remember that sneaky guy. That sneaky guy that, like, tries to, like, get up to her rooms. He's, like, using.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yes.

[Mikayla]

Maura. Is that her name?

[Kennedy]

His wife.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

To, like, get to.

[Reggie]

Starts with an L. Oh, Lancaster.

[Mikayla]

Lancaster. And she has this moment where she, like, kind of goes limp and pretends to, like, be this. Whatever it's called, like, a damsel in distress. And, like, can't do anything about it. And Then she, like. I think she elbows him and something. And then, like, in the flashbacks, it's literally him teaching her that exact thing. And I was like, like, pretend like you. You know, never want to be. You want to be underestimated. And then he's like, if you're ever in this situation. Exactly that situation. And she does it out of muscle memory, not knowing why she knows how to do it. Dying.

[Kennedy]

The dying. The crazy thing is the amount of callbacks that we probably didn't even catch. I know, because once again, this would be such a great book to reread in the future just to be able to catch all of those little things. My brain could never write something like this.

[Mikayla]

I know. I kind of could never. I also really loved Amaris. No, what's her name?

[Kennedy]

The dog. The wolf Dog.

[Mikayla]

The wolf.

[Kennedy]

Flying dog.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Guys, I was a wreck, actually, when he was like, she has to go on same. And I was like.

[Reggie]

And Helena's like, I'm gonna kill her.

[Kennedy]

I was like, not the dog, please.

[Mikayla]

Y.

[Kennedy]

Wrecked.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that killed me.

[Mikayla]

I was like, the drawings of her.

[Kennedy]

I'm just, like, insane.

[Mikayla]

And when she came to the manor, I forget what it's called. Spirefell. Spire Fell. And, like, he's like, I couldn't. She had to be kept away because she was, like, freaking out because you came. And I was like, yeah, I was dying. There's just. It's.

[Reggie]

There's. There's. It was really good. Really good.

[Kennedy]

I just can't. It's too good.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I just. I was, like, trying to tell my husband. He's like. I was like, I just finished my book. He's like, are you. Are you, like, sad? I was like, I'm just numb. And he was like, what is it about? I was like, I can't even begin.

[Kennedy]

To tell you what it's about.

[Mikayla]

Like, how do you explain that?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And, like, less than 10 minutes. Because you can.

[Reggie]

I told my husband. I'm like, literally, if I make you read any book I want, I feel like I need him to read this because one of how much I love it, but also because, like, I just need him to understand. Like, I wasn't sitting right where Kennedy was sitting when I was finishing the book. My husband's outside hitting golf balls in our yard, and I don't have, like, curtains right here. And he. At one point, I'm like, sitting here.

[Kennedy]

Like, oh, my gosh.

[Reggie]

And I just look over, and he's just, like, looking at me through the window. He's like, are you Good. And I was just like, don't look at me.

[Kennedy]

Why is it so embarrassing?

[Reggie]

Do not look at your books in.

[Kennedy]

Front of your spouse.

[Mikayla]

Like, why?

[Kennedy]

Because they just have to stay out.

[Reggie]

I. Gosh, I could. I feel like I could say, like, a million things I loved, but, yeah, it was just executed very well. I will say that the. I'm curious, like, your guys's thoughts on everything with, like, Lila.

[Kennedy]

The end. The freaking eternal flame. They are hypocrites to the max.

[Mikayla]

Well, I also feel like they just didn't know, like, especially with, like, Lila.

[Kennedy]

Luke, everybody was freaking hiding animancy.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And they were.

[Reggie]

Well. And then Lila's like, take care of me. I'm like, girl, you're like, me. You know what I mean that really, I. I said at the end of. In my vlog, I was kind of like, Lila's kind of a crappy friend.

[Kennedy]

Like, oh, they all. To Helena.

[Reggie]

I can see why she has such hard feelings towards Kane. Like, I get it. Like, he's done so many terrible things, but also, I'm like, he took such good care of you and has literally given you and your child life. And, like, he thought of everything to protect you. Yes, he was doing it for Helena, but, like, he and I. A part of me wants to be like, well, I guess he didn't have a choice because she told him, like, you have to do this. But I'm like, there was, like, almost literally no appreciation.

[Kennedy]

Well, he literally risked his entire life to save her.

[Reggie]

Exactly. And she kind of was just being a brat. I was just like, okay, girl, I love that he hit her leg from her buried outside. She's probably like, I hate you. Like, I get it. I get it. Also, sorry. Another thing not to, like, take away from this conversation. I kind of hated myself for how much I was laughing in parts of the book because Kane was funny. He was really, like, forced to be a killer, but born to be a comedian. Like, I couldn't.

[Mikayla]

Was so dry humor.

[Reggie]

Yeah, the dry humor.

[Mikayla]

It's bad how much I was like. I know.

[Reggie]

I was literally like. But had I, like, had no preconceived notions of anything about this book, I would have been like, what? But I was, like, actually dying. But, yeah, everything with, like, Lila and Kane, I just. I mean, I love her for going and defeating Morrow. No.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, that was so great. I couldn't believe she left her kid for 18 months, though. I'm like, girl, you're strong. But, yeah, those two. And just, like, the headbutt, like, she always like, was trying to kill him when he would come back to, like, see her. But I'm like, he's trying to take care of hell. Like, he's literally. Yeah. I don't know. I had a hard time with her a little bit.

[Mikayla]

Her fan is sick, though.

[Kennedy]

I don't think I've seen her fan art.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Mikayla]

My gosh. Her armor, it's like the equivalent. Sorry. Of like, a mustang. Like. Oh, it's freaking dope. I think SEND has, like, reposted it because she's reposted all of fan art.

[Kennedy]

Is so good for this book. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, one of the three of them.

[Mikayla]

Oh, wait, let me see that. Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Oh, that's cool.

[Kennedy]

Oh, it's by Avondale.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it's really cool.

[Mikayla]

Oh, it's so.

[Kennedy]

I love it. I love it, I love it. Anything else you want to try? Anything else?

[Reggie]

I will say I did like Luke's death also. I mean, I didn't like it, but, like, the way that was.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

It was also the fact that she just, like, could never tell Lila the actual.

[Kennedy]

Oh, Scar.

[Reggie]

Oh, I almost said I'm gonna cry, though. I actually want to.

[Mikayla]

That is.

[Kennedy]

I would put that on my wall.

[Mikayla]

I know.

[Kennedy]

Isn't that so sick, guys, we'll repost some fan art when this episode comes out.

[Mikayla]

No, yeah, I just. Honestly, I. As my dislike was me just being, like, picky about something, and it just genuinely was so good. So good. I can't wait to see what Sen does next. They mentioned about still continuing to write fanfic.

[Kennedy]

Interesting.

[Mikayla]

Under a different surname. So, like, so no one will know it's Sen.

[Kennedy]

Interesting.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. So if anyone figures it out, let us know.

[Reggie]

I'll read it, Send it our way. The thing is, I've seen a lot of people on TikTok posting like. Like, there's so many other things that they've written that they're. Like when someone says they want to read more from Sen Linu and, like, there's more that's out there.

[Mikayla]

There's, like, werewolf ones.

[Kennedy]

So interesting. I wonder if it's just the. It takes the pressure off writing fan fiction instead of being traditionally published. Or maybe she'll still continue to write books and be traditionally published whilst writing fan fiction.

[Reggie]

Well, to kind of segue into our next point, I'm like, Sen is involved in the movie a lot, from what I have seen.

[Kennedy]

Who picked it up?

[Reggie]

Legacy.

[Kennedy]

Oh, Legacy.

[Reggie]

Isn't that what it's called?

[Mikayla]

I actually don't know.

[Reggie]

It's like, the creators of Dune.

[Kennedy]

Oh, that's right.

[Reggie]

And like, yeah, sorry. We talked about. Someone asked them at a like a event and asked Sen, like, what are you involved with? And essentially they said, oh, like I'll be. It's still like I'm still very new to this but like basically said like as far as casting and directing is concerned, like they are involved.

[Mikayla]

Good. Hand in hand.

[Reggie]

Like, yeah. I was like, you're joking.

[Kennedy]

And you know, so this is, it's going to be insane. The thing is, is with some books that get picked up, for example, let's use one of the biggest ones, Acotar. I have a really hard time picturing it coming to screen and not being very cheesy, this book. Nope, it's gonna be, it's gonna be high quality, well done. It's going to translate to screen so well.

[Reggie]

Okay, my thoughts on this because a lot of people are saying cable, this book is so long. There's so much world building. Do you guys see it being more than one movie or.

[Mikayla]

No, I think they could, but I'm.

[Reggie]

Like, where do you split it up?

[Mikayla]

It would suck when she starts to.

[Kennedy]

Get her memories back. No, no, but see then. Yeah, when that's like Luke dies, that's.

[Mikayla]

Like this much of the book.

[Kennedy]

I know, I know.

[Mikayla]

When Luke dies, I don't know.

[Reggie]

But see then it's almost like I feel like the movie, if you do it in two parts, the movie almost has to end with like some big like cliffhanger, her getting her memory, like the flashbacks like she's waking up from. I don't, I don't know.

[Mikayla]

It would be a really hard book to split into two.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But I almost wish that they would do that so that we get everything out of the book.

[Mikayla]

Is it a confirmed movie or is it a show? It's a movie.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I think they just do movies.

[Kennedy]

Give me a four hour movie.

[Mikayla]

I probably could do a lot more with showing than writing in words.

[Reggie]

Yeah, that's true.

[Mikayla]

And it would probably help eliminate how long it is for the world building because explaining things in a lot of. You have to explain things in detail for world building when in movies you can just kind of show it.

[Kennedy]

Especially setting like the battle scenes, they're so written out.

[Reggie]

And yeah, I did see a tick tock where they asked Send Linux about. Well, I can't really even remember what the question was, but Sen was saying how that there were a lot of battle scenes that they had to cut out in the movie for the book and they were like really Upset about it.

[Mikayla]

Well, it makes sense because. Yeah, Helena is not involved.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because. Oh, the question was, what character would you like to sit down with? Like, if you could sit down and meet any of your characters, who would it be? They said Lila, because there were, like, so many battle scenes written for Lila, but they had to take him out.

[Kennedy]

Interesting.

[Reggie]

And they're really upset about that. And so Sen was just saying, like, how skills like Lila is, and they'd love to just, like, sit down with Lila and, like, learn more about, like, see her fight and stuff.

[Kennedy]

That would be pretty cool.

[Reggie]

But, yeah, I. Yeah, it's.

[Mikayla]

Oh, it will be a doozy movie. If anything. I probably envision it being like two and a half hours.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Three hours.

[Kennedy]

Like as long as Dune.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah.

[Reggie]

And there's gonna be people that are. Never mind. I was gonna say there's gonna be people that are gonna want to walk out of the theater and be like, I can't watch this. But anyways, I'm gonna just say now, I don't really have much of a fan cast because I've just seen so many great ones that other people have done that. Like, I don't feel very passionately about anyone in particular. But I will say I'm not saying this is who it actually picked. I couldn't help but picture Joseph Zeta and what's her bucket for Sunrise on the Reaping. Casting the entire time. That's not who I would actually cast.

[Mikayla]

That's surprising because I feel like a lot of people were fan casting. What's his bucket?

[Reggie]

Oh, Tom Blythe.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I don't know if I see Tom Blythe at all.

[Kennedy]

I do not see him at all.

[Reggie]

I'm like, okay, just because he dyed his hair blonde, like, bleached hair blonde for songbirds and snakes. I just. I can't. I can't see him in that kind of a role.

[Kennedy]

Let's.

[Mikayla]

Let's chat about old.

[Kennedy]

Good old Kane. So if not Tom Blythe, then who?

[Mikayla]

Sen follows someone. Oh, oh, oh. Who? She follows someone. And I don't know if Sen followed him a long time because a lot of people were casting him as the fanfic person. He technically is a model, but his name's Otto Sepulin. But Sen follows him. Just look. Just look at Sen's account and then look at Sepulnin.

[Kennedy]

Him.

[Mikayla]

Yes. But if you scroll down. Oh, wait, let me see.

[Reggie]

Oh, he's kind of giving, like, Lucky Blue Smith.

[Kennedy]

Similar, kinda.

[Mikayla]

I. I could kind of see it. I feel like he's Getting older. And I don't know if Sen just follows him, because that was a thing with, like, the fanfic or whatever, but I could see it. He's not very active on social media, but someone that I could kind of see for Kane is Danny Griffin.

[Kennedy]

Danny Griffin.

[Mikayla]

He is in, like. I know he's an actor. I've seen him in things. He's in Fate.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Wink saga.

[Kennedy]

Yes, he is.

[Mikayla]

And he's also in a new movie that I think is coming out about.

[Kennedy]

Like, Gilded Newport Mysteries.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Something. I think I really liked him in Fate of the Wings because I think he could play the role really good. And I think he's very handsome. Maybe not as, like, sharp, angular of a person that, like, people envision for Kane, but it was honestly really hard because a lot of people were casting people that I were, like, the guy from Red, White and Royal Blue. The. Oh, yeah. And I just, like. I think he's cute, but I do not find him, like, as this, like, striking, because you're supposed to be kind of.

[Kennedy]

What about this guy? His name is Finn Bennett.

[Mikayla]

I think I could kind of see it.

[Kennedy]

I don't. I don't know. He's in. I've never seen him act.

[Mikayla]

I've never seen him.

[Reggie]

But I've seen people say the Scarzard guy.

[Kennedy]

Bill Scarzard.

[Reggie]

And I've seen people say, you know, I.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Reggie]

Bell Scarlet. Too old.

[Mikayla]

I think so, too.

[Kennedy]

Don't they have a younger brother? There's like, five scars are brothers.

[Mikayla]

But what I have to say about him is in person or, like, in interviews, I'm like, he's not that cute. Every time he acts in a movie, like, I don't know if you guys have seen the movie where he has, like, this black, like, mascara and stuff.

[Kennedy]

He's always, like, in the most. He is abstract.

[Mikayla]

He is. But he looked freaking hot in that.

[Kennedy]

Like.

[Reggie]

Oh, I think he's grow.

[Mikayla]

Yes. But when he's, like, in interviews, I'm like. I don't know. He. To me, he comes across. It's the stare that's, like, like, really good on screen. Yeah. So, like, he has a really good. Like, I don't know what it is.

[Kennedy]

He could play it physically. I don't know if I picture him.

[Reggie]

I've seen some people say Callum Turner.

[Kennedy]

No.

[Reggie]

It's a no for me.

[Kennedy]

Oh, he could be a good Luke.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But what I was gonna say is, like, keep it in mind that, like, when Helena first meets Kane, like, in the flashbacks, he looks like a boy. Like, he's boyish.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because of, like, all that he's going through and stuff. And then she progressively watches him turn into this, like, man. Okay. So, like, you. I feel like you kind of have to keep that in mind. Like, obviously they could try to do some Chris Evans thing to him. I don't know. But I feel like it's got to be someone who could, like, play someone that looks fairly young, but then, like, Timothy Chalamet.

[Mikayla]

Timothy. I went on this TikTok Rabbit hole Timothy and Chalamet. Kylie Jenner yesterday. Don't ask me why. He's also a person where I feel, like, in just regular pictures, regular movies, I'm like, oh, like, he's cute. But then in movies. Something about him in movies.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, he can act.

[Reggie]

He can act really good.

[Mikayla]

He's just one of those people that, like, on a movie screen, just, like.

[Kennedy]

Guys watch them cast different. Watch them cast Timothy.

[Reggie]

No, he would. Well, he would not be. He would not be Kane. I mean, I think of, like, legacy movie. I think of Dune. They could probably cast Zendaya as Helena.

[Mikayla]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

I don't know if I see that.

[Kennedy]

At all, but kind of.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I'm just really sick of seeing people casting Tom Blythe.

[Mikayla]

I know it's hard. People have seen the white hair.

[Reggie]

Yes. I'm like, okay, I get it. But, like. And he's a great actor. Don't get me wrong. He is. He is a great actor. But, like, think about it. We gotta see. There's a lot of elements to Kane's character that I just feel like I can't see Tom Blyth doing.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Even though Tom Blythe is fantastic.

[Mikayla]

Are we ready to move on to Helena?

[Reggie]

Helena.

[Kennedy]

Helena.

[Mikayla]

I, I. Okay. I'm gonna be honest, guys. There are so many people that have been casting her, and I love them all. Like, I think there's a lot that I think could do so well. This kind of has to go with the book. It was one of my loves. I love how much Kane loves her hair. And so she's required to have, like, this mane of a hair that's like my curly hair stipulation as far as, like, I just want her to have thick, curly hair because I have to have that moment. I have to have it. I don't care. But there's been a lot of people that, I mean, I chose someone, but there's been, like, a lot of people are like, these are my fan cast. I'm like, wait, that's good. Next one. That's good too.

[Reggie]

Yeah. The problem is I feel like I haven't seen a lot of the people that people like. Looks wise. I'm like, yes. But I feel like I haven't actually seen a lot of these actresses in stuff. Stuff. Which is hard.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But, yeah. I want to know who you got.

[Mikayla]

Her name is Aubrey Ebrag and she is in the Buccaneers.

[Reggie]

Let me see.

[Kennedy]

Oh, she's stunning.

[Mikayla]

She's stunning. There's one picture in particular that I thought was so cute like, that I could picture.

[Kennedy]

So she's stunning.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And I. I watched like, the first season of the Buccaneers. Loved her. Just thought she was so pretty. That's just like, who I saw of people that were selecting fan cast that I had personally seen.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

In something.

[Mikayla]

And so that's why I chose her. I was like, she's so pretty. I've seen her in something. And so that's just why I chose her. So. But I've seen, like, a lot of people cast some, like, influencers and. Or like, just like really pretty, you know, models and stuff. And I've been trying really hard because you guys know me at the beginning of this podcast, model, some obscure model. I would cast models. And so I've been really trying hard to, like, cast people that I've, like, seen act in things.

[Kennedy]

So I don't have a fan cast for Helena.

[Mikayla]

That's.

[Reggie]

I don't either because, like, everyone I've seen, it's like, hard for me to be like, yeah, this person. Because I'm like, I just. I haven't seen them in anything.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I think it's also going to be tricky with, like, the time differences to not cast someone too old.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Because I feel like you can. That might sound mean, but I feel like you can make a younger person look older, and it's harder to make.

[Kennedy]

An older person look younger.

[Reggie]

Who is the sunrise on the Reaping Girl that they cast?

[Kennedy]

We call Hunger Games on the Brain Imperative.

[Reggie]

But, like, I was picturing her. What's her name? I mean, she's got the hair, she's like, got the age. You know who I'm talking about?

[Mikayla]

Her.

[Kennedy]

Oh, she. You know.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

That's what I was picturing. This was my fan cast the whole time I read, because I was just like, literally beautiful. What is for.

[Mikayla]

Ah.

[Reggie]

What was her name? Whitney Peak.

[Mikayla]

Stunning.

[Reggie]

I don't know if I've seen her in anything stunning. But, I mean, I'm sure after I see the movie, I'll be like, yeah. Oh, she's in Hocus Pocus. Oh my gosh. She's one of the girls in Hocus Pocus. Shut up. And she was in Gossip Girl, the new Revit. Well, I don't know. She could be good actually.

[Kennedy]

She's stunning. Her hair, the look.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I think she fits the look. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

There's a lot of people. It's going to be so good.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I can't wait. When do you think your realistically it would come out?

[Reggie]

2029.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

They got a cast.

[Mikayla]

They gotta have a script. They got a cast. I know.

[Reggie]

Hopefully the podcast still go in. We did a bit.

[Kennedy]

Why would you say that? It's gonna be. It's gonna be going in 2029. What year is it?

[Mikayla]

We'll have a watch party.

[Kennedy]

We sure are.

[Reggie]

We're all gonna cry together. Oh, wow.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Well, I am 29, so we are.

[Mikayla]

That's it.

[Reggie]

Right. Gonna end. Anything else? Our book club book for November.

[Mikayla]

Soul.

[Kennedy]

Searching by Lila Sage. We wanted a little bit of a pace change. You guys read an over thousand page book for our book club book in October. So we wanted to give you guys a little bit of a slow pitch in Soul searching.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And to be Honest, I am 30% of the way through and I think everyone's going to really enjoy it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I'm excited.

[Kennedy]

It's fun, it's different. It's got a little bit of a paranormal aspect. So that's perfect for, you know, cozy co. Well, I don't know if it's a cozy per se. Okay. But you know the time of the year right after Halloween, before Thanksgiving. I think you guys are really gonna enjoy it. So join our group on Fable. We will be sharing all of our thoughts and opinions on Soul Searching by Lila Sage. And if you guys haven't followed us on Instagram and TikTok, our username is what she's reading pod. And if you guys like what we're wearing today, this is our merch. So you can shop all of our merch on. I'll read what she's reading dot com. Thanks so much for listening you guys and we will see you next Wednesday. Bye.