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A review by kodyreadseverything
Amy of the Necromancers by Jimena I. Novaro
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CW: child death, homophobia, terminal illness/death, police interaction, drug use, stillbirth, domestic violence, suicide attempt, child abuse
Characters: I loved the characters in this book. Amy was a relatable main character -- well-meaning but messy with questionable decisions made at times. Her family was also a lot of fun to learn about. Having an entire family of magical women made for a lot of hilariously nonchalant interactions about strange, morbid things. Her friends and love interest were also fun characters, but I feel like I didn't get as complete of a picture into who they were. I did, however, appreciate the diverse representation. I believe there was Black, Latinx, Asian, and non-binary representation within her friend group and love interest. I also appreciated the mental health representation. While I don't have personal experience with Amy's struggles, her experiences were well-written and vividly described. Other reviewers suggest that her depression and dissociative episodes were portrayed accurately, which gives even more weight to the descriptions.
Writing/Plot: I thought the plot was really interesting. I've never read a book with a necromancer MC before, so this was new and fun for me. Based on the summary, I was expecting more of a dark, dramatic conclusion. I was initially disappointed by the answer to the mystery, but it was a gut punch nonetheless. After sitting with it for a while, I'm actually glad the answer wasn't what I was expecting because I thought I had it figured out halfway through. However, if I had to critique one thing, I would say the ending felt a bit rushed. Once all of the answers were revealed, I felt as if the book ended rather quickly, and I think it could've benefited from perhaps one more chapter to wrap things up a little more satisfyingly.
Romance: While the MCs budding romance was definitely discussed, it was not a major plot point, which I was glad for. I have nothing against romantic storylines, But I think it would've felt forced if it had been more prevalent, given that the whole story takes place in I think under a week. As it ultimately unfolded, it felt gradual and natural.
*I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens and the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Characters: I loved the characters in this book. Amy was a relatable main character -- well-meaning but messy with questionable decisions made at times. Her family was also a lot of fun to learn about. Having an entire family of magical women made for a lot of hilariously nonchalant interactions about strange, morbid things. Her friends and love interest were also fun characters, but I feel like I didn't get as complete of a picture into who they were. I did, however, appreciate the diverse representation. I believe there was Black, Latinx, Asian, and non-binary representation within her friend group and love interest. I also appreciated the mental health representation. While I don't have personal experience with Amy's struggles, her experiences were well-written and vividly described. Other reviewers suggest that her depression and dissociative episodes were portrayed accurately, which gives even more weight to the descriptions.
Writing/Plot: I thought the plot was really interesting. I've never read a book with a necromancer MC before, so this was new and fun for me. Based on the summary, I was expecting more of a dark, dramatic conclusion. I was initially disappointed by the answer to the mystery, but it was a gut punch nonetheless. After sitting with it for a while, I'm actually glad the answer wasn't what I was expecting because I thought I had it figured out halfway through. However, if I had to critique one thing, I would say the ending felt a bit rushed. Once all of the answers were revealed, I felt as if the book ended rather quickly, and I think it could've benefited from perhaps one more chapter to wrap things up a little more satisfyingly.
Romance: While the MCs budding romance was definitely discussed, it was not a major plot point, which I was glad for. I have nothing against romantic storylines, But I think it would've felt forced if it had been more prevalent, given that the whole story takes place in I think under a week. As it ultimately unfolded, it felt gradual and natural.
*I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens and the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*