The Death of the Necromancer (Ile-Rien, #2)

by Martha Wells

[Quirky Cat]

Summary

Nicholas Valliarde is a passionate and determined man. Some would say he is too determined, as he is thoroughly focused on his goal – revenge. The good news is that he has strong allies and good friends. Primary among them are Madeline and Reynard.

Unfortunately, this group is about to find themselves in the deep end. It all started in what should have been a final quest to gain revenge. But it quickly becomes a deadly game, as they find themselves between a necromancer and his quarry.

Review

Wow! I dove into The Death of the Necromancer, expecting a sequel like the first, and boy, was I wrong. Where The Element of Fire is more of a political intrigue novel, The Death of the Necromancer leans heavily into the magical heist category.

Actually, let's take a step back. Calling it a magical heist doesn't fully describe The Death of the Necromancer. There is political and magical intrigue (I promise), but it's also more than that. It continues the first novel's world, but in ways I hadn't expected. Likewise, the magic in this novel felt dangerously full of potential.

I loved the characters in this book. Madeline is my favorite, but I also enjoyed Nicholas, Reynard, and Crack. Likewise, the plot twists were compelling. This novel is where Martha Wells got into the swing of things with her writing and this world. It shines so brightly. I want more. Thankfully, I have another three novels to read in this world. I'll have to savor them.

Highlights:
Two-for-One
High Fantasy
Complex World Building
Politics & Magic
Heist Vibes

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