A review by beginningbookend
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Second of Martha Wells' books set in Ille-rein, this one I think is where she hit her stride. Engaging characters, a lovely little mystery, moments of horror and pathos both. It feels like Wells asked herself, what if Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson had a protégé? And we follow that through a world that feels like a city on the cusp of an industrial revolution, with extra magic. It's a good standalone. The ending is a bit abrupt but it does a better job fleshing out the characters than her first book, and she's tamed the protagonist snark down into a level you can start to see might develop into the murderbot levels. 
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