A review by wardenred
The Necromancer's Light by Tavia Lark

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Have you kissed anyone before?” he asks, running his thumb over Shae’s lip.
Shae’s eyes dart away. “What kind of idiot would kiss a necromancer?”
“In my defense,” Arthur says, “you’re a very attractive necromancer.”

So far, this series starter isn’t gripping me the way Perilous Court did, but it’s still a solid fantasy romance with some really nice moments. Where Tavia Lark’s series is focused on court intrigue, this one’s more “romance tropes meet D&D,“ which is very much my jam. I liked this new setting with all of its magic a lot. There’s a very interesting take on necromancy, and I appreciated that
while early on it seemed almost like Shae was going to give it up once his purpose was done, instead he learned to live with it in a way that no longer hurt him and that actually brought good to the world
. The Radiance Order itself is a structure I’d love to see poked at more, and I have a hope that’s exactly what’s going to happen in the next book, judging by its blurb. And while I enjoyed the dynamics between the two leads while they were mostly traveling alone and getting to know each other, I really, really liked the introduction of the Riverswords and the dose of community they provided. Also, horses! I really, really liked Duchess and everything she added to the dynamics between the main characters.

Speaking of the romantic relationship, Shae and Arthur were definitely fun to follow. I liked how they kind of grew on each other gradually. The way Arthur’s Paladin magic played into their relationship was very nicely done, and I liked how Shae’s touch starvation was handled. There were moments that beautifully merged the external plot, their personal arcs, and their romance together, like that point where Arthur makes a definite choice between his past and his future, or when Shae gets very far on the brink of darkness. There’s lots of hurt/comfort here, which is my favorite trope, and also kind of a low-key, subdued version of grumpy/sunshine, which I also adore. So while I didn’t fell completely head over heels for their romance, it was very nice and heartwarming to read about.

I also really like their happy ending, not just in terms of the feels, but plot-wise, too. They end up in a place where
they’re settling down from all the stress and excitement but still have specific opportunities for some adventuring
, which I hope will make for a cameo or two in the rest of the series.
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