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

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This story takes place a hundred years after it's prequel, and for those who absolutely must try this series, I would recommend starting with this book rather than the prequel; it's much easier to follow. The pace is initially slow, hindered by the overly deep explanations of scene and costume that don't add enough to justify their inclusion, but picks up markedly once the action starts. Despite some dead ends in the flow of the story, it does build towards its climax, which is satisfying if a little unbelievable. Unfortunately, not all plot threads are wrapped up by the climax, leaving some dangling threads that are awkwardly wrapped up in the denouement instead of being neatly wrapped up in the climax.

The main characters don't really have a character arc throughout the story, but they are competent and proactive, and it's fun to watch them unravel the mystery. I enjoyed that the story brought together two of the most effective characters, though as mirrors of each other, I'm not sure it was needed. In summary, this story is fun despite its flaws, easy to read if not gripping, and it's payoff is satisfying enough to justify the investment, though would have been more worthwhile at the tail end of a tighter story.