Scan barcode
knittinandchillin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lo_the_stan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
I feel like I should've reviewed this series ages ago, even though I finish the third book just last week. Maybe it's because I started the series halfway through September. I read the first two books back-to-back—the first one ended on a cliffhanger, so I had to continue. And I started the third book, but paused a quarter of the way in, for no reason, and read the entire Trouble Brewing series. Then finished The Titan's Curse (for the third time), and only then got back to this one. Though it was very easy to get back into, so it wasn't a problem.
The series, as the name suggests, follows a knight and a necromancer. Only, the knight is also a prince named Roland. His father has just passed away, and he's come back from the border, where there's a war going on, to attend the funeral and to see his sister crowned the queen. He meets Sairis at a tavern. Neither is aware of the other's identity at the time. And there's a connection between them.
But... Sairis and the kingdom have issues. Some years back, the kingdom had a fight with a necromancer. The necromancer was defeated, and he locked himself up in a tower. Knights still go to the tower hoping to kill him. Sairis is the necromancer's apprentice, and he was invited by the queen-to-be to discuss an alliance. Because the enemies at the border are a much more dangerous foe. With unkillable monsters and zombie-like creatures, led by a sorcerer. That said, no one in the kingdom trusts necromancers, so it's a bit of shock when Sair and Roland learn who the other is. Though it doesn't turn into a prolonged conflict like one might expect.
This is a fast-paced series. The slowest book, I'd say, is the second one, and that's only because most of it is spent on the road. But really, all three books are great. And the first book introduces all the important parts of the story, which I'll do as well.
The first is the romance. Sair and Roland need to learn to trust one another. So even though their connection is undeniable from the beginning, the relationship is built slowly throughout the series. Of equal importance is the war at the border. It's an immediate threat that could destroy the kingdom. Then we have the magic system, the world-building, and some familial skirmishes as well.
All of this is build upon as the series goes on. And I think the author did a fantastic job of what and how much information was given at what point. She always gave us enough to paint a picture but never let the book get info-dumpy. She tried to keep the world simple. Yet it was interesting, and she kept the world-building relevant to the plot. Basically, it was all good. Same with the romance, which I loved. Sair and Roland are perfect together, and I was rooting for them so hard.
If I have any issues with the book, it's with a character who was introduced toward the end of the first book and played a very significant part in the second one. He's the kind of character that you're supposed to hate at first and then warm up to. Expect I never did. And I wanted there to be more... repentance to his arc.
But even with him in the equation, this was a surprisingly good series. Honestly, I picked it up just for the title (necromancy is so interesting), and I'm glad that I did. Even the "slow" book of the series wasn't actually slow, because it gave us a chance to get to know the characters and world better. And the last book wrapped up all the plotlines very well.
I kinda wish we could get another book or series with these characters, even if they're not the main characters. But that doesn't seem likely. I mean, there's already a spin-off. If only it wasn't set like a 1000 years in the future and practically a different genre... I'm gonna pass on that. But I highly recommend this series. It's a great read, and you should check it out.
I feel like I should've reviewed this series ages ago, even though I finish the third book just last week. Maybe it's because I started the series halfway through September. I read the first two books back-to-back—the first one ended on a cliffhanger, so I had to continue. And I started the third book, but paused a quarter of the way in, for no reason, and read the entire Trouble Brewing series. Then finished The Titan's Curse (for the third time), and only then got back to this one. Though it was very easy to get back into, so it wasn't a problem.
The series, as the name suggests, follows a knight and a necromancer. Only, the knight is also a prince named Roland. His father has just passed away, and he's come back from the border, where there's a war going on, to attend the funeral and to see his sister crowned the queen. He meets Sairis at a tavern. Neither is aware of the other's identity at the time. And there's a connection between them.
But... Sairis and the kingdom have issues. Some years back, the kingdom had a fight with a necromancer. The necromancer was defeated, and he locked himself up in a tower. Knights still go to the tower hoping to kill him. Sairis is the necromancer's apprentice, and he was invited by the queen-to-be to discuss an alliance. Because the enemies at the border are a much more dangerous foe. With unkillable monsters and zombie-like creatures, led by a sorcerer. That said, no one in the kingdom trusts necromancers, so it's a bit of shock when Sair and Roland learn who the other is. Though it doesn't turn into a prolonged conflict like one might expect.
This is a fast-paced series. The slowest book, I'd say, is the second one, and that's only because most of it is spent on the road. But really, all three books are great. And the first book introduces all the important parts of the story, which I'll do as well.
The first is the romance. Sair and Roland need to learn to trust one another. So even though their connection is undeniable from the beginning, the relationship is built slowly throughout the series. Of equal importance is the war at the border. It's an immediate threat that could destroy the kingdom. Then we have the magic system, the world-building, and some familial skirmishes as well.
All of this is build upon as the series goes on. And I think the author did a fantastic job of what and how much information was given at what point. She always gave us enough to paint a picture but never let the book get info-dumpy. She tried to keep the world simple. Yet it was interesting, and she kept the world-building relevant to the plot. Basically, it was all good. Same with the romance, which I loved. Sair and Roland are perfect together, and I was rooting for them so hard.
If I have any issues with the book, it's with a character who was introduced toward the end of the first book and played a very significant part in the second one. He's the kind of character that you're supposed to hate at first and then warm up to. Expect I never did. And I wanted there to be more... repentance to his arc.
But even with him in the equation, this was a surprisingly good series. Honestly, I picked it up just for the title (necromancy is so interesting), and I'm glad that I did. Even the "slow" book of the series wasn't actually slow, because it gave us a chance to get to know the characters and world better. And the last book wrapped up all the plotlines very well.
I kinda wish we could get another book or series with these characters, even if they're not the main characters. But that doesn't seem likely. I mean, there's already a spin-off. If only it wasn't set like a 1000 years in the future and practically a different genre... I'm gonna pass on that. But I highly recommend this series. It's a great read, and you should check it out.
consumed_by_mold's review against another edition
4.0
Got my favorite dynamic: Strong but too trusting Golden retriever, and the mistrusting and reclusive black cat.
Gotta be honest, there's bit too much smut and not enough story sometimes, especially in book 3. It made the romance somewhat repetitive and stale around 70%. It's like they can't have a deep conversation without getting horny.
Once the story picked up a second time I enjoy myself again. The dual POV was great at creating tension and I started preferring the chapters of the MCs separated, probably because their relationship was getting too cheesy for my tastes. By the end I didn't feel a ton for them anymore, but in the first 2 books they were really, really cute.
The story made it worth it though, it all came together quite nicely.
Also love the inclusion of trans and gender nonconforming side characters. Not enough fantasies have those. Speaking of which, I really like the world building and magic system. I think some of the remaining mysteries are explored in other parts of this series? Might read those in the future, but not right now.
Content Warnings: death, violence, homophobia
Gotta be honest, there's bit too much smut and not enough story sometimes, especially in book 3. It made the romance somewhat repetitive and stale around 70%. It's like they can't have a deep conversation without getting horny.
Once the story picked up a second time I enjoy myself again. The dual POV was great at creating tension and I started preferring the chapters of the MCs separated, probably because their relationship was getting too cheesy for my tastes. By the end I didn't feel a ton for them anymore, but in the first 2 books they were really, really cute.
The story made it worth it though, it all came together quite nicely.
Also love the inclusion of trans and gender nonconforming side characters. Not enough fantasies have those. Speaking of which, I really like the world building and magic system. I think some of the remaining mysteries are explored in other parts of this series? Might read those in the future, but not right now.
Content Warnings: death, violence, homophobia
foxconfessor's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this one. And as others have said, it's definitely just one longer book split into three parts as opposed to a series, but I got over that once I got into the story. I started the first part as a Kindle Unlimited read, and I ALMOST deleted it to download something else without even reading it, because the title was a little hokey and I'd let it sit in my library for a while. I'm SO glad I gave it a chance instead. It goes on my Favorites shelf, now. The plot was interesting and engaging, there's a wonderful amount of world-building, and the characters are lovely. I thought it was an especially good balance between the romance and the larger story. My biggest complaint was I wanted more of it when it was over... luckily there's a novella for me to track down!
charlottebowden's review against another edition
5.0
i’m embarrassed abt reading this and even more embarrassed by how much i enjoyed it
enbyfinley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
suflet's review against another edition
5.0
Yikes, I started this series in the middle of an extra-busy workweek thinking I'd have something fun and lowkey to read during my breaks but instead I got one of the best books I've read recently and I couldn't fucking put it down! RIP to my work productivity because I just finished the whole trilogy.
I looooove the romance dynamic here, the main characters Sairis and Rolland represent my FAVORITE romantic dynamic which is, like, big-and-cheerful wears their heart on their sleeve and small-and-untrusting has a tortured past and a hard time trusting. It's about the hurt/comfort.
The political intrigue was very engaging, which really picked up in the second and third books. I loved that magical and necromancy system in this world.
I looooove the romance dynamic here, the main characters Sairis and Rolland represent my FAVORITE romantic dynamic which is, like, big-and-cheerful wears their heart on their sleeve and small-and-untrusting has a tortured past and a hard time trusting. It's about the hurt/comfort.
The political intrigue was very engaging, which really picked up in the second and third books. I loved that magical and necromancy system in this world.
amie7's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0