This Fanfic Turned Novel May Be The Most Anticipated Romantasy Book Release Of 2025
The literary world is constantly evolving, and often times it's through faithful readers that new authors and popular works are discovered. The same can be said for the subset of fiction known as fanfic—a type of fictional writing in which fans of an existing fantasy series or IP use the characters, setting, and important plot details from a specific universe as the basis to create their own original story. After becoming a prolific writer in the fanfiction community, author SenLinYu is reimagining her most popular story into a traditionally published novel, Alchemized, releasing on September 30, 2025.
For those who don't already know, SenLinYu is the fan-favorite author of Manacled—a near 900-page fanfiction that reworks the ending of the Harry Potter series, picking up after the events of Order of the Phoenix. Her writing and storytelling quickly catapulted her into fanfic fame, and the dark romantasy retelling became one of the most popular reads on BookTok. After gaining a great amount of traction among fans of the romantasy genre, it's no surprise that Penguin Random House's imprint, Del Rey, has decided to traditionally publish SenLinYu's work into an original novel with Alchemized.
The Harry Potter Fanfic Manacled Is Getting Traditionally Published, Now Titled Alchemized
The Story Will Separate Itself From The Harry Potter IP
While SenLinYu has been a notable writer of fanfiction for several years, Alchemized will mark the author's first traditionally published novel. The new story will share many similar themes and ideas found in her previous work, Manacled, but will bring readers to a new world of SenLinYu's own creation—separating itself from the Harry Potter IP. The traditional publication of Alchemized will also help SenLinYu to reach a vaster audience, inviting those who may not read fanfiction to experience the incredible storytelling found in Manacled in an all-new format and through a totally different magical universe.
The traditional publication of Alchemized will also help SenLinYu to reach a vaster audience, inviting those who may not read fanfiction to experience the incredible storytelling found in Manacled.
SenLinYu's fanfiction work has received thousands, if not millions, of high praise among fans—making Alchemized one of the most highly-anticipated romantasy releases of 2025. Following the life of the once promising alchemist, Helena Marino, Alchemized will transport readers into a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy. Picking up in the aftermath of a long war, the book's heroine finds herself with inexplicable memory loss and as a prisoner at the hands of her enemy—the High Reeve, one of the most powerful necromancers.
SenLinYu’s Alchemized Will Include Fan Favorite Elements From Manacled
The Basic Plot Will Be Very Similar
SenLinYu's Alchemized will be similar to her previous fanfic work, Manacled—but instead of being set in the Harry Potter universe, SenLinYu is creating an entirely new magical world, with new characters, magic systems, and moral dilemmas. However, the basic plot for Alchemized will likely be very similar—as SenLinYu mentioned in an interview with Today that scenes crucial to the plot will remain, but the broader story will go through a rewrite. This gives SenLinYu the opportunity to breathe life into an original world for Manacled's original story to sit within.
“What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There’s no one left for you to save.”
—Alchemized, SenLinYu
While the upcoming enemies-to-lovers romantasy will set itself apart from previous IP's, it will still include fan-favorite elements from Manacled—as seen through the book's cover blurb. In the brief book synopsis, SenLinYu includes a line from Alchemized, which was a quote originally found in Manacled's fanfiction writings—with obvious tweaks to reflect the new world it sits within. Apart from this, Alchemized will still include the High Reeve, the main protagonist's memory loss, and pick up in the aftermath of a war where evil prevailed. Alchemized will also include artwork by acclaimed artist Avendell—who had previously created fan art for Manacled.
Alchemized Will Join The Ranks Of Other Popular Fanfiction Turned Novels
Fanfiction Is A Great Source For New Author Discovery
While news of Alchemized being traditionally published is a huge development in the world of fanfiction, it's not the first to be developed into an original novel from an existing fanfic. There are several popular book series that got their start in a similar manner, and Alchemized will join the ranks of other fanfiction turned novels. One popular example being the Fifty Shades of Grey series, which was originally written as a Twilight fanfiction. These types of novels already have a huge fan base, and it's safe to say that Alchemized will become a worldwide phenomenon upon release.
Alchemized is set up to be the best fantasy romance of the year, and only time will tell how its popularity will change the publishing industry over time.
With so much success on the horizon for Alchemized, it's possible SenLinYu's breakout into traditional publishing will pave the way for other fanfic authors to be recognized. Fanfiction authors have an incredible ability to connect with readers of an existing IP, and invite new readers to enjoy a reimagined world of their own creation—and publishers would do well to watch for budding storytellers and authors who get their start in this manner. Alchemized is set up to be the best fantasy romance of the year, and only time will tell how its popularity will change the publishing industry over time.
Source: Today
