Tuesday Reviews: Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar

 

 

Necromantasy is the new romantasy in Hopeless Necromantic, a debut romantic fantasy for fans of Gideon the Ninth,The Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy, Long Live Evil or Assistant to the Villain.

SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life—and death—start to get a little complicated. Helspira must play escort to Sikras—a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead—as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.

No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer—and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel—will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?

RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.

Hopeless Necromantic had an interesting premise and some genuinely entertaining moments, but it didn't completely work for me. The blend of necromancy, humor, and romance was unique, and I appreciated the author's creativity in building the world and developing the central relationship.

That said, I found the pacing uneven at times. Some sections moved quickly and kept me engaged, while others felt drawn out and made it harder to stay invested in the story. The characters were likable overall, but I struggled to connect with them on a deeper emotional level, which lessened the impact of some key moments.

The writing style was easy to read, and there were several scenes that made me smile, especially the banter between characters. However, I wanted more depth in certain plot points and character arcs.

Overall, Hopeless Necromantic was a decent read with a fun concept and some memorable moments, but it didn't fully live up to its potential for me. Fans of lighthearted paranormal romance may enjoy it more than I did.