Harry Potter fanfiction has officially gone pro and anime fans are loving it. Alchemised, the new book by Manacled author SenLinYu, takes everything readers enjoyed about the original fanfic and turns it into a crazy, alchemy-powered epic that feels straight out of Fullmetal Alchemist.
The result? A brand-new world where necromancy replaces spells, towering vertical cities scrape the skies and combat looks like something straight from a shonen anime. Let’s break it down.
Comparing FMA and Alchemised: What’s Similar, What’s New
SenLinYu didn’t simply borrow ideas from Fullmetal Alchemist they effectively took a masterclass directly from creator Hiromu Arakawa herself. Arakawa has previously declared alchemy research so conflicting that she simply made up her own version, and SenLinYu did the very same thing.
According to Rolling Stone SenLinYu said:
It was actually really funny, because she said that she tried to research it and be really accurate with it, and alchemy research was just so contradictory and didn’t make any sense. So she was able to be like, ‘I’m just going to do what I want to do with it then.’ I was like, okay, I guess that I’ll do that too.
The result? A system that’s deep, flexible, and filled with personality. From Paladia’s gravity-defying cities to Kaine’s metal-based combat techniques, Alchemised feels both ancient and futuristic. It’s the kind of story that scratches that Fullmetal Alchemist vibe while still feeling completely original, a perfect blend of science, magic, and mayhem.
If you’re writing a war story, your battles better slap, and Alchemised absolutely delivers. SenLinYu drew inspiration from anime greats like Avatar: The Last Airbender to make every fight scene feel dynamic and cinematic.
Metal manipulation? Yes. Necromantic duels? Absolutely. Every step in Alchemised carries weight, purpose and spectacle. It’s that sort of magical system that makes wand fights look like child’s play, combining anime-inspired choreography with deeply emotional storytelling.
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at how Fullmetal Alchemist and Alchemised stack up when it comes to worldbuilding, magic and influence.
From Harry Potter Fanfiction to NYT Bestseller: The Alchemised Phenomenon
When Alchemised hit shelves on September 23, 2025, it didn’t just debut, it exploded. The book immediately landed No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, with an initial print run of 750,000 copies flying off shelves. Midnight launches were packed, and the fandom went wild all over again.
Hollywood wasn’t long behind. Legendary Pictures, the firm behind The Dark Knight Rises and Dune acquired the film rights in a deal worth more than $3 million, according to Rolling Stone. Suddenly a one-time niche Harry Potter fanfic had become one of the publishing sensations of the decade.
For SenLinYu adapting Manacled into Alchemised wasn’t just about name changes, it was about letting go. SenLinYu said:
It was really a process for me to accept that [the readers] have Manacled. I have to let them have that and make this story stand on its own.
That mindset paid off. Alchemised doesn’t rely on nostalgia to work, it earns its fans with incisive worldbuilding, emotional resonance and anime-inspired style. It’s a love letter to both fanfiction and creative reinvention, showing that a story born online can take over bookshelves and movie screens.
So what do you think: is Alchemised the ultimate fusion of Harry Potter fanfiction and Fullmetal Alchemist-style storytelling? Tell us your take in the comments section below.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll, and Harry Potter films are currently available to watch on Peacock and HBO Max.
