# Alchemy of Souls (2022)

> A cursed female assassin swaps souls with a woman in a fantasy Daeho kingdom and becomes entangled with a prince who wants to learn her magic.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/111633

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 30
- Episode runtime: 75 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: fantasy, action, romance
- Created by: Hong Jeong-eun, Hong Mi-ran, Park Joon-hwa
- Network: tvN
- Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Go Youn-jung, Minhyun, Moon Seong-hyun, Jung So-min, Shin Seung-ho, Yu Jun-sang, Oh Na-ra
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20859920/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: mesmerizing, romantic, action packed, playful, suspenseful

## What critics say

Viewers broadly praise the blend of martial arts action, fantasy visuals and romance, with audience ratings rising in the second season.

## Synopsis

Alchemy of Souls (2022-2023) is a South Korean tvN fantasy romance series created by Hong Jeong-eun, Hong Mi-ran and Park Joon-hwa, produced by Studio Dragon. Naksu, a female assassin whose trail of severed heads has earned her a fearsome name, performs the forbidden alchemy of souls to escape pursuers and ends up inside the body of a stranger named Mudeok. Played by Go Youn-jung, Naksu must hide her identity while staying close to Jang Wook, played by Lee Jae-wook, the son of the king of Daeho, who wants to learn her martial arts and become a sorcerer. Their partnership is complicated by court rivalries, a secret organization and the dangers of a kingdom that outlaws magic. The series unfolds across two seasons and thirty episodes of long, cinematic fantasy episodes, mixing action set pieces with slow-building romantic tension and a steady current of intrigue. Its atmosphere is surreal and mesmerizing, with ornate costumes, sweeping sword fights and visual effects that give the magic weight. Set in a fictional Joseon-inspired realm, the show blends historical texture with supernatural spectacle. Fans of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Mr. Sunshine and The Tale of the Nine Tailed will find resonance in its mix of romance, sorcery and palace politics.

## Shows like Alchemy of Souls

- [Abyss (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/74986)
- [The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/79375)
- [Gu Family Book (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/42661)
- [Lovers of the Red Sky (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/98096)
- [To My Beloved Thief (2026)](https://ember.film/tv/1105086)
- [The Murky Stream (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/148741)
- [My Royal Nemesis (2026)](https://ember.film/tv/1105161)
- [100 Days My Prince (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/69962)
- [Destined with You (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/135667)
- [Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/58577)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt