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89th out of 233 books
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397 voters
Necromancer: A Novella (Necromancer 0.5)
by
Lish McBride
Death and Waffles: A Short Story by Lish Bride, author of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Matt’s childhood friend, Ashley, has been stopping by a lot lately. That might seem pretty normal, but Ashley died years ago and now she’s Death.
And tonight she wants waffles and fries.
Includes an excerpt of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer ...
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the...more
Matt’s childhood friend, Ashley, has been stopping by a lot lately. That might seem pretty normal, but Ashley died years ago and now she’s Death.
And tonight she wants waffles and fries.
Includes an excerpt of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer ...
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the...more
Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 33 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Henry Holt and Co.
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Did they know, on some level, that my Catholic-schoolgirl-looking companion was a harbinger of death? Nobody screamed and pointed, so I guess not.
This was a fast little pit stop on my "anticipation for Necromancing the Stone" tour. I'm excitedly looking forward to book 2 in the Necromancer series, so I figured I'd squeeze in a short to keep my excitement level going. There isn't much to say about this novella (really, it's more like a chapter) other than it provided a random look at the life...more
3 likes · like · see review
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The title of this is misleading as this is not a novella, this is most assuredly a short story.
Regardless, it was a very fun and very heart-warming short story. In this, the reader gets to meet Ash, ten-year-old Harbringer of Death in her saddle shoes, her Catholic school girl outfit and her occasional parka. The first-person narration revolves around Matt, a seventeen year old boy who is barely living his life -- he's existing through it. Ash and Matt were best friends until she died of cancer...more
Regardless, it was a very fun and very heart-warming short story. In this, the reader gets to meet Ash, ten-year-old Harbringer of Death in her saddle shoes, her Catholic school girl outfit and her occasional parka. The first-person narration revolves around Matt, a seventeen year old boy who is barely living his life -- he's existing through it. Ash and Matt were best friends until she died of cancer...more
EDIT 9/1/2012:
I was finally able to get my hands on a copy.
But let me say this: it's ridiculus that I had to pirate a copy of something that's distributed for free.
And it's ridiculus that we are in 2012 and still something as "geographical restrictions" or "we can't bill this for non-US residents" still exists for digital products.
--------------------
I've tried to get this from B&N:
And then on Amazon:
Well, I love you too.
I was finally able to get my hands on a copy.
But let me say this: it's ridiculus that I had to pirate a copy of something that's distributed for free.
And it's ridiculus that we are in 2012 and still something as "geographical restrictions" or "we can't bill this for non-US residents" still exists for digital products.
--------------------
I've tried to get this from B&N:
And then on Amazon:
Well, I love you too.
9 likes · like · see review
This is a free short story related to Lish McBride's first novel, Hold Me Closer Necromancer.
After reading HMCN, I was so excited to hear that there was a short story telling us a little more about Ashley, the waffle-addicted harbringer of death from the book. I was even more excited when I was halfway done on my Kindle and ready for more...but then it ended and an excerpt of Hold Me Closer filled up the second half. Blerg! I guess it is my fault for not realizing that half of it was an excerpt...more
After reading HMCN, I was so excited to hear that there was a short story telling us a little more about Ashley, the waffle-addicted harbringer of death from the book. I was even more excited when I was halfway done on my Kindle and ready for more...but then it ended and an excerpt of Hold Me Closer filled up the second half. Blerg! I guess it is my fault for not realizing that half of it was an excerpt...more
12 likes · like · see review
The first part of the book starts out about a character named Samhain Corvus LaCroix, he is a young adult, who has dropped out of school and is now a fry cook at a fast food restaurant named Plumpy’s ( :-)). The supporting characters are quite funny and just what the story need for the dinner “fast food talks” that was going on in the book. Here is a funny example of how Ramon was talking about Samhain aka “Sam’s” cooking.
“Sam, the toys ignited and exploded, which melted plastic onto your apron...more
“Sam, the toys ignited and exploded, which melted plastic onto your apron...more
*4.5 stars*
This was such an enjoyable read! “Death and Waffles” is the short story that author Lish McBride wrote for a homework project while in college. Because she enjoyed these characters so much, they were later included in her Necromancer series.
I really like the premise of these stories. Ash and Matt were both very intriguing and their friendship was sweet, albeit slightly sad. Nothing breaks my heart more than an unfortunate home life and absentee parents:
“My dad had stopped taking int...more
This was such an enjoyable read! “Death and Waffles” is the short story that author Lish McBride wrote for a homework project while in college. Because she enjoyed these characters so much, they were later included in her Necromancer series.
I really like the premise of these stories. Ash and Matt were both very intriguing and their friendship was sweet, albeit slightly sad. Nothing breaks my heart more than an unfortunate home life and absentee parents:
“My dad had stopped taking int...more
Feb 25, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in reading Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Okay, Ash wasn't Death-death, but she was as close to it as I had come. Still, I've always wondered if people are surprised when they see her instead of the traditional Death with the scythe. Are they disappointed? Relieved? -from the short story, "Death and Waffles"
As soon as I finished Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, the debut novel from Lish McBride, I knew I had to read the short story about Harbinger Ashley entitled Death and Waffles. Ashley was one of my favorite characters in the novel, so I...more
As soon as I finished Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, the debut novel from Lish McBride, I knew I had to read the short story about Harbinger Ashley entitled Death and Waffles. Ashley was one of my favorite characters in the novel, so I...more
3 likes · like · see review
Ashley was one of my favorite characters in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, so it comes as no surprise that I loved getting more of her in "Death and Waffles." It was really nice to see her in her professional capacity as a Harbinger of Death, but it was even better to get a glimpse of her personal life -- pre-death.
I guess my primary dissatisfaction comes from, yet again, an incredibally passive protagonist. Only, with Matt, I don't get enough time to really love him despite his inaction. Thankfu...more
I guess my primary dissatisfaction comes from, yet again, an incredibally passive protagonist. Only, with Matt, I don't get enough time to really love him despite his inaction. Thankfu...more
A feisty old-soul harbinger who appears as a ten-year-old girl with pigtails and saddle shoes? I'd like to read a series about her instead. Ashley is McBride's best character and I hope we get a lot more of her in the future.
This is set in the same universe as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and focuses on one of the side characters, but this stands alone and won't spoil anything. Read this short story for free here.
I also have reviews for the other short story and the full novel in this series tha...more
This is set in the same universe as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and focuses on one of the side characters, but this stands alone and won't spoil anything. Read this short story for free here.
I also have reviews for the other short story and the full novel in this series tha...more
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Much shorter than I expected, this short story about Harbinger Ashley and her (still living) friend Matt is light but bittersweet. It's nice to get a closer glimpse at Ashley and see a little bit about her life before she died, though since the story is told from Matt's POV, we don't get as close as I'd thought we were going to. I also liked reading the author's brief comments on the origin of the story and how she worked Ashley into her novel.
And this has nothing to do w...more
Much shorter than I expected, this short story about Harbinger Ashley and her (still living) friend Matt is light but bittersweet. It's nice to get a closer glimpse at Ashley and see a little bit about her life before she died, though since the story is told from Matt's POV, we don't get as close as I'd thought we were going to. I also liked reading the author's brief comments on the origin of the story and how she worked Ashley into her novel.
And this has nothing to do w...more
Jun 02, 2011
Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2011-releases,
y-a-paranormal
This is actually two stories in one. The first story is about Sam LaCroix from Hold Me Closer, Necromancer who goes about life as a fry cook working for Plumpy's with Ramon, Brooke and Frank. He was born on Samhain day, and so his mother named him after the pagan holiday. . When a stranger shows up and demands to know why he is not registered with the council, all the fun Sam et all were having comes to an abrupt halt. Unfortunately, being so short, we have no clue what the council is, or want D...more
I read the short story Heads Will Roll, which lead me to this one. While I don't exactly see how they're related, I did like this story as well. This one follows Matt and his intriguing friendship with Ashley...who just happens to be dead. Technically. She died when she was ten, but seven years later, she's still hanging out with Matt on late nights in diners. She works for Death, and at the last board meeting, her and her kind were officially renamed Harbingers. I liked how this story was writt...more
This popped up on my friend Andie's list of stuff she was reading so I decided to check it out. The short story "Death and Waffles" is about a 10 year old girl (well, when she died) who is a Harbinger of Death, a reaper so to speak. (Think A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore or Dead Like Me). She has maintained her youthful exuberance but has no problem carrying out her mission in a more terse manner if need be. I look forward to reading more with her in the future. This free Kindle edition also co...more
Lish McBride's
Necromancer: A Novella
is a cute prequel/sideshot for her novel Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. In that book, Ashley, a harbinger (sort of the Grim Reaper) loves waffles. This novella is a little more about her: who she was before she died, what her life was like with her childhood friend Matt, and depicts some of her visits with him, where they go out to eat like normal friends and he sees some of what she does.
It's a cute little story, but if you read it before Hold Me Closer, Nec...more
It's a cute little story, but if you read it before Hold Me Closer, Nec...more
3.5
Rounded up again because I'm a fan. Much more of a short story than novella, which is my major gripe. (You do have to applaud an author for making a grad school creative writing assignment available to the masses though.)
I actually would not mind reading similar treatises on all the characters in the books. This one follows Ashley. It's clear the author has a rich backstory and tale to tell for each character, regardless of their level of "importance" in the novel featuring the same group.
Fi...more
Rounded up again because I'm a fan. Much more of a short story than novella, which is my major gripe. (You do have to applaud an author for making a grad school creative writing assignment available to the masses though.)
I actually would not mind reading similar treatises on all the characters in the books. This one follows Ashley. It's clear the author has a rich backstory and tale to tell for each character, regardless of their level of "importance" in the novel featuring the same group.
Fi...more
The first part of Necromancer: A Novella is the first two chapters of McBride's novel, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, which definitely intrigued me enough to want to read the rest. The second part, more of a short story than a novella, is called Death and Waffles. It's a cute tale about the friendship between Ashley and Matt, the best friend Ashley left behind when she died at age 10 and became a Harbinger of Death. It's so short that I risk spoilers if I say any more! I wish it were longer, but I...more
If you loved the pigtailed, saddle-shoed Ashley, the harbinger of Death in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, you'll enjoy "Death and Waffles," the short bonus story released as an online exclusive. It's nice to spend a little more time with one of the best characters from the book, and yes, yes, there are plenty of waffles.
This is currently a freebie available to download for Kindle. Lots of fun for fans of the book!
This is currently a freebie available to download for Kindle. Lots of fun for fans of the book!
1 like · like · see review
For a short quick read, it was a great informational piece on one secondary character of the full novel, "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer". This ebook starts off with a preview of the first two chapters of the full novel, then changes to the short story or novella titled, "Death and Waffles" of Ashleys life and afterlife. Ashley, a Harbringer or "Death", assists the newly departed from one plane of existence to another. She died of cancer when she was ten years old and continues to embody her ten ye...more
There are three types of books that I am familiar with: the novel, the novella, and the short story. A short story to me is a few chapters long and a full length novel is usually hundreds of pages. A novella is some where between that. That leaves a novella on average ten to fifteen chapters long with a maybe a few less or more. What I downloaded from Barnes and Noble was two chapters. That is a short story. Now that I have that out of the way we can get to the actual story.
Characters. As a shor...more
Characters. As a shor...more
Considering I haven't read Hold Me Closer, Necromancer this novella was very easy to follow. And despite the subject matter, a very sweet story. I didn't get the impression is spoiled Hold Me Closer, Necromancer too much so I'm hoping it will be just as good, if not better. :)
This is not really a novella and I feel the purpose of this... Sneak peak was to capture the readers attention and get them to want to read the novel, "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer". For me this did the job. I cannot wait until I can buy the book. Lish McBride warns that "Death and Waffles" is a short story to give some back ground information on Ash so I was not expecting much from that. I must say I did love the story and hope some day she makes a longer story about Matt and Ash in the future.
Jun 26, 2012
Nikki
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2012,
fantasy,
ebook,
fiction,
ghosts,
kindle-freebie,
own-kindle,
paranormal,
young-adult,
short-stories
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this short story revolving around Ashley, the harbinger from Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Ashley is a fun character and we got a brief glimpse into her "life" and life in this novella. The character of Matt seems like he would have potential elsewhere in the series so I wouldn't be surprised if he turned up. I would have given the novella more stars but it was just too brief to really produce the depth of story I was hoping for from Ashley. But overall a fun read.
I really enjoyed this short story revolving around Ashley, the harbinger from Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Ashley is a fun character and we got a brief glimpse into her "life" and life in this novella. The character of Matt seems like he would have potential elsewhere in the series so I wouldn't be surprised if he turned up. I would have given the novella more stars but it was just too brief to really produce the depth of story I was hoping for from Ashley. But overall a fun read.
I like Ashley, who's featured here, but for me this story was short to the point of unsatisfying. By the time I was really getting into it, it was over.
Some of that may be down to the fact that the story comes with a preview of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, so my Kindle edition was telling me I was less than halfway through when the story ended.
Some of that may be down to the fact that the story comes with a preview of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, so my Kindle edition was telling me I was less than halfway through when the story ended.
I liked the short story (Death and Waffles) a lot but I do wish it had been a tad bit longer. I get this bad feeling that Ash is a minor character in the series and now that I got to know her a little, I doubt I will get to know her better...ever. The teaser for Hold Me Closer Necromancer certainly left me wanting to read the rest of the book. I will be adding more Lish McBride books to my every growing list. Engaging story and worth the read.
It was really short, and I rather wish it was longer! It was a short bit about death (or reapers, really) and how it's inevitable. It wasn't forced and was actually quite amusing at parts. There were a couple of pop-culture references that made me giggle a few times while reading.
All in all, it's a really cute tale, even though it's full of death and socially inept people. It was relatable though. I recommend it.
All in all, it's a really cute tale, even though it's full of death and socially inept people. It was relatable though. I recommend it.
I really really enjoyed Death and Waffles, and would love to more of the story of Ash and Matt. The author really did a great job with the short story. The two main characters are wonderfully complex, with a backstory, that it's hard to fit into the 20 pages or so that the story is, and yet she did it.
I'm also interested in the story that we got a couple preview chapters to. The main character in that story seemed fairly interesting as well.
I'm also interested in the story that we got a couple preview chapters to. The main character in that story seemed fairly interesting as well.
This book has 2 stories in it and it is pretty much introductory to the next book (the first book in the series). After reading this, it seems to be an interesting read. A friend who hangs out with a reaper (who died while they were children) and got to witness her (the reaper) "job." The second story is about a guy who was targeted after innocent horseplay with his co-workers during his break - and he didn't understand why. This guy will be the main character in the first book. So overall, it s...more
Well hello Georgie Ashley. Have I been looking for a story like yours. I hope to get more of the harbingers later but for the moment you had me at "reminds me of Dead Like Me". Anyone who knows anything about me knows I was a HUGE fan of the show oh and Bryan Fuller is a god. Anyway since this is just a teaser of sorts I'm going to have to wait until Monday to start the audiobook but I'm pumped.
2 likes · like · see review
Short story about Ashley, Harbinger of Death, and her friend Matt. Ashley may have been dead for several years but she's still hanging around with Matt, going out for waffles, and waiting for Matt to move on with his life. I was sorry it was only 19 pages long. I would love to read more about Ashley's personal life or see her "at work" dealing with upper-management and the other schlubs at the office.
This is a short story about Ash and her strange obsession with waffles (yes, waffles). It is a fun quick read for fans of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. They have it as a free download on amazon for the kindle.
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Lish McBride was raised by wolves in the Pacific Northwest. It rains a lot there, but she likes it anyway. She spent three years away while she got her MFA in fiction from the University of New Orleans, and she liked that too, although the hurricane did leave much of her stuff underwater. She enjoys reading, having geek-laden conversations about movies, comics, and zombies with her friends, and of...more
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“I slid back into our booth. My pie was still there. For some reason, that seemed like it shouldn't be. Hadn't I been gone a long time? I felt like a death should resonate, like the whole diner should have felt it. The pie should have crumbled into dust by now. People should be somber. But the Goth kids still laughed over their coffee, the drunks were still drunk, and my pie refused to mourn.”
—
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