24th September 2009, Orbit
384 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Fantasy
Cushions: 4/5
Daggers: 4/5
Paperclips: 2/5 (adult situations)
Smiles: 2/5
Tissues: 2/5
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Regular readers know how excited I was at receiving books from Orbit. That excitement is totally justified with this the first in the necromancer series by the debut novelist Amanda Downum.
Who wouldn't want to follow the dangerous, exciting life of a female necromancer called Isyllt, who not only communicates with the dead, but is well trained in the weapons she wields? I got the shivers when she exorcised spirits from innocent victims, but it was written in such a way that I wasn't so frightened that the book was in danger of being unread. My favourite part about Isyllt happens near the end, when a part of her is damaged forever. I'm intrigued as to how Amanda will incorporate this damage into the future books. It could be a hindrance to Isyllt's life, but perhaps something good will become of it.
At first I thought Isyllt would be my favourite character, but Amanda writes in two other strong female leads. Xinai is Isyllt's bodyguard, and her background means that she's more than happy to accompany Isyllt on her mission to wreck havoc in the Assari Empire. The idea of being a bodyguard to a spy and necromancer hooked my interest. Isyllt can take care of herself, but the problem of bineg so powerful is that a person can gain a lot of enemies.
The third main protagonist in the story, Zhirin, has a whole barrel full of problems. She loves someone she shouldn't, and despite her care for her mother looks set to go against her family's principles in following her own beliefs. I got wrapped up in her personal struggle just as much as Isyllt's struggle against the empire.
What I liked most about this book was how everything had consequences. Sometimes an action seemed to have reached a conclusions, then several chapters later it would become an issue in a different manner. I liked the idea how spirits could fight alongside, not just in opposition to necromancers.
For those of you still not sure about the book, Xinai's colleague Adam says:
At first I thought Isyllt would be my favourite character, but Amanda writes in two other strong female leads. Xinai is Isyllt's bodyguard, and her background means that she's more than happy to accompany Isyllt on her mission to wreck havoc in the Assari Empire. The idea of being a bodyguard to a spy and necromancer hooked my interest. Isyllt can take care of herself, but the problem of bineg so powerful is that a person can gain a lot of enemies.
The third main protagonist in the story, Zhirin, has a whole barrel full of problems. She loves someone she shouldn't, and despite her care for her mother looks set to go against her family's principles in following her own beliefs. I got wrapped up in her personal struggle just as much as Isyllt's struggle against the empire.
What I liked most about this book was how everything had consequences. Sometimes an action seemed to have reached a conclusions, then several chapters later it would become an issue in a different manner. I liked the idea how spirits could fight alongside, not just in opposition to necromancers.
For those of you still not sure about the book, Xinai's colleague Adam says:
page 18 (I have cut parts out) "It's only a job...When it's over we'll go somewhere else.... Anywhere you like...You want to be a pirate?"
I know the pirate factor will please a few readers. The Drowned City is full of action, adventure, danger, and the supernatural (written in a Yunaleska friendly style). Initially it did take a little while to grasp the various alliances and what each character was up to. I'm looking forward to re-reading this before the sequel's release: The Bone Palace, sometime in 2010.
Amanda's website can be found here.
Liked this? Try Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder
Amanda's website can be found here.
Liked this? Try Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder
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