“A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight. ”
Hello again dear reader or listener, I hope life is treating you kindly these days. And speaking of kindly vibes, I had the pleasure of reading a novella that hits just the spot when it comes to them. This review then, will be short and sweet just like the source!
Firstly, thank you to Adam for sending me an eArc of his delightful little story, my thoughts remain honest.
I admit I didn’t even read the plot blurb on this one when my Twitter friends said hey, I think you’d like this one, I just stopped at necromancing grandma and went Hell Yeah. The delights kept coming as I read too, I mean come on, a skeletal cat named Nugget, the undead wearing knitwear and so much more!
Plot wise this novella was nice and simple, it did after all need to fit its short format, however what shone the most was Holcombe’s writing style and his ability to amuse, endear, and move so effectively in such a short time. Especially in setting the scene, I found his prose to be both beautiful and evocative in ways that were neither overly flowery nor dragging, allowing for a smoothly flowing narrative.
“But what can we do against him? Are you… are you going to kill him?” “Oh, heavens, no!” Gam Gam blinked, startled at the thought. “Killing is horrific. I think a stern talking to will set him straight.”
I was expecting some lighthearted and sassy shenanigans instead I got the fuzzies, giggles, but mostly just a feels overload with ways to understand grief and reminders of very real and heavy feelings we’ve all likely gone or will go through at one point or other. I came here to have a good time and honestly, I’m feeling so attacked rn.
The reason I don’t often do novellas is because, when written well and with engaging characters, I only wish I could’ve spent way more time with the characters and roaming this new world and its magic system. This case was no different and I am only so pleased to know this is to be the first of I hope several more to come. I barely just got to know these characters I most definitely want more! And if you give this one a go, dear reader/listener, you’ll feel the same way, have no doubts about it!
Unfortunately, I can’t really say more because I would love for you to go into this novella with as little info as I had, and I already spoiled Nugget tsk tsk. It absolutely is the kind of short read you can and should enjoy over an afternoon or evening snack to unwind. Oh, and if you’re the teary type you might need a tissue. Just putting that out there.
In short: This was cute as heck. Go read.
Until next time,
Eleni A. E.
