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Book Summary:
Sam is a Necromancer, but he does not know that.
Unfortunately the big bad Necromancer in town knows and is determined to either
take him over to the dark side or kill and take Sam’s power. Douglas the big
bad necromancer decides to kill one of his best friends and brings her head
back to life to show how serious he is. Sam finds out that necromancy runs in his family and that he inherited it from his father's side. To add to all the chaos around Sam he also finds out that his mother is a witch and she to keep him safe bound his powers not once, but twice. This leaves him completely vulnerable around Douglas unable to tap into his powers. In the process of trying to understand what he is, Sam is
abducted by Douglas and put in a cage with a young women Brid who is actual a
fey hound or werewolf. Another necromancer who Sam had made contact with before he was abducted sends him a
messenger of the dead. This messenger named Ashley will for the small fee of
waffles for an entire year will let someone know where he is hidden. Ashley let's Sam's Mom know that she must unbind his powers so that he can have a chance at survival and possibly escape. All the while Douglas is trying to train Sam unsuccessfully. The story comes to
a head when simultaneously Sam’s full powers are restored, the were hounds come
to save Brid and Douglas is in the process ceremonially killing Sam to take his power. Sam prevails accidentally killing Douglas in the process. At the end of the story Sam has taken Douglas's place inheriting his house, his place on the supernatural council, and as the new big (but nicer) necromancer in town.
APA Citation:
McBride, L. (2010). Hold me closer, necromancer. New York: Henry
Holt.
Impressions:
The mix of humor and horror in this novel make it quite enjoyable. I
enjoyed it so much that I have picked up the next book in the series. The
darker parts of the story were bearable because of the humor in the authors
writing. The author did a great job of interweaving the real world with the
fantastical. I was rooting for Sam all the way, he's the underdog. Unaware of
what he is, this world is new frightening, but this character takes it in
stride thinking on his feet. What the reader knows at the conclusion of this
tale is that things are looking up for Sam, but will they stay that way for
long? This books nicely sets up the next book, its part horror, part romance,
and mystery. I would highly recommend this novel to young adult readers who
like a little scary with their fantasy.
Professional Review:
After a lighthearted opening packed with Buffy-esque
wackiness, Samhain Corvus Lacroix is dragged from his dead-end food-service job
into a terrifying magical power struggle. When a visitor to the Plumpy's
fast-food restaurant identifies unexceptional college-dropout Sam as a
necromancer, narrator Sam writes the whole day off as an encounter with an
unpleasant eccentric. But he can't ignore the rapid downward spiral of events:
the attack by a super-strong thug in the parking lot, the murder of a friend,
the appearance of his dead friend's reanimated head. Occasional chapters
narrated in the third person introduce readers to the intrigues of Seattle's
mystical underworld, with its Council led by an evil necromancer and its packs
of fey hound-werewolf crossbreeds. When Douglas, the evil necromancer, kidnaps
Sam outright, the adventure takes a turn to the downright gruesome, with
semi-graphic descriptions of torture (interspersed with occasionally steamy
romantic interludes). Despite uneven pacing and abandoned plot threads, this
quirky urban fantasy will compel fans of horror and supernatural romance--and
heroic skateboarding slackers. (Urban fantasy. YA)
Citation: HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride (2010). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved October 23, 2015, from
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lish-mcbride/hold-me-closer-necromancer/
Library Uses:
I would put this on a display of books with a fantastical and horror
element, possibly around the time of Halloween.
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