Reviews

A delightful novella that starts with plenty of coziness and whimsy and ends as a touching tale about grief and kindness. The writing is a little rough around the edges but it was a genuinely enjoyable read for me.

melissarstone's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had no idea how short this book was when I started reading it. I binged it this evening in a couple of hours. It was a light, easy read with just enough humour to offset the seriousness towards the end.

esmayrosalyne's review

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4.0

Well, who would’ve thought a story about death and necromancy could be this utterly delightful?! We’ve got a fun and entertaining adventure, a lovable cast of oddball characters (including an undead cat!) and some touching conversations about grief and healing… What more could you want? A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is cosy fantasy at its very best.

This novella quite literally hits the ground running. We follow 12-year-old Mina as she is being pursued in the woods by dangerous men who are after her for her mysterious magical powers. Fortunately for her, she just so happens to stumble upon the wonderful Gam Gam, who is a grandmotherly necromancer with a passion for knitting. What follows is a delightfully whimsical yet touching adventure that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way possible!

As a character-driven reader I am always a bit wary of shorter books, because I fear that I won’t get the time to get emotionally invested in the characters. But, I am happy to say that my concerns quickly flew out the window when I realised that Holcombe’s character work was going to be the main highlight of this story. Within just a couple of pages, he established a cast of extremely nuanced and memorable characters that I was instantly able to latch onto.
All of the characters, even the non-human and undead ones, are just so loveable and they jump off the page with their strong and unique personalities. I totally wasn’t expecting to devour this book in one sitting, but I just had to keep turning the pages to spend more time with these charming characters. Also, the found family vibes are off the charts here and the light-hearted banter got some really good chuckles out of me. I was so here for it all!!

Now, as delightful as this book may sound, you should not go in expecting a simple entertaining adventure. This story has some much deeper layers and beautifully explores delicate themes of death, grief, loss and, ultimately, healing. These characters have some serious trauma and emotional baggage, but it’s so touching, inspiring and heartwarming to see them work through their pain together. And the simple yet poignant writing makes this whole journey all the more emotionally impactful!

All in all, I had a wonderful time with this story and now I desperately need more Gam Gam in my life! This novella might be a quick read, but it really proves that a gifted author doesn’t need a lot of pages to tell a beautiful and memorable story that really packs a punch.
If you are looking for more quirky and charming cosy fantasy stories in the vein of T. Kingfisher or T.J. Klune, then A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is the perfect fit for you. It’s honestly the warm hug you didn’t know you needed.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

cyriax's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is probably the most enjoyable story about a necromancer I have ever read. This book explores the themes of family and grief very well and wraps them in an enchanting story.

caseyadamsstark's review

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adventurous emotional funny fast-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

3.5

This is the story of a young neuromancer and an old necromancer who find each other and develop a bond in a time of loss. Happenstance brings the two together, and while Mina's goal is to run from the local law because of her powers, Gam Gam seems to have the mission to confront and challenge authority. This leads to a decent little action packed adventure that is more fun than harrowing (although harrowing it can be).

A great read for fans of Pratchett or Christopher Moore.

angethology's review

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2.5

This is a cute cozy fantasy book with high stakes that don't feel too overwhelming, and ai think it's perfect for people who want something a little bit lighthearted with a tinge of emotions.

It's only over a hundred pages and I feel that's the reason it lacks less depth than I'd usually like, but I also feel that with how short it is, certain things like some descriptions in the beginning could have been more compact, or contribute more to the world building, or characters in a more significant way.

I think that I'm not the target audience for this either. Though this book is not necessarily marketed as a middle-grade/YA one, it does feel like it at times — and there's nothing wrong with that, but it is not my cup of tea. Still not a bad read overall.

fantasyaddict's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

4.0

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