Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer, #2)

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Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer #2)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 1,059 ratings · 274 reviews

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life. Okay, so he hadn’t exactly planned on being a powerful necromancer with a seat on the local magical council and a capricious werewolf sort-of-girlfriend, but things are going fine, right?

Well . . . not really. He’s pretty tired of getting beat up by everyone and their mother, for o...more

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 344 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by Henry Holt & Company

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Jul 21, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-publication, henry-holt, young-adult, pn-zombies, macmillan, ala-2012, september, pn-ghosts, pn-shapeshifters, hilarious, male-pov, read-2012, 2012-favorites, too-many-povs

Win an ARC of Necromancing the Stone over at The Midnight Garden! Open internationally through 7/30.

4.5 stars At long last, it's here! This review contains some spoilers from the first book, so proceed at your own risk.

After killing the evil necromancer Douglas Montgomery in last year's hilarious Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, Sam LaCroix has not only inherited Douglas' seat on their town's supernatural Council, but he's inherited his huge house, his shapeshifting cat butler James, and a small arm...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Maggie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, i-ve-just-read-you-and-i-love-you

I don't get to say this nearly enough in my reviews, so I'm going to caps lock it: THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH FUN! As much as I like Hold Me Closer Necromancer, Necromancing the Stone is even better. Not only is it more streamlined with the focus primarily on Sam, but Lish McBride fully embraces the camp.

*Jack Bauer voice* The following takes place 6 weeks after Necromancer. Sam has gone from lowly burger flipper to Head Necromancer In Charge (HNIC). He's inherited all the property of the former HNIC,...more

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May 11, 2013 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers who don't mind the lack of mystery in a paranormal mystery

Shelves: ghosts-dead-people, gods-demons-angels-immortals, high-expectations, male-point-of-view, paranormal-humans, shapeshifters, urban-fantasy-paranormal, young-adult-fiction, zombies-monsters, witches-sorcerers-magic, love-story-romance, e-version, new-adult-fiction, faeries-elves-pixies, greek-norse-roman-mythology, meow, mystery-crime-sleuthing, read-2013, yabc-quarterly-challenge-9

"He stuck his shovel defiantly in the ground, then took off his little red hat and held it in both hands. 'You have a name?' 'Twinkle.' 'Twinkle,' I said slowly. 'The Destroyer,' he added. 'Your name is Twinkle the Destroyer?' He nodded. 'Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? Okay, Twinkle the Destroyer, I take it you guys have been popping my tires?'"
Who doesn't love fierce, little garden gnomes named Pip the Briger of Pain, Gnoman Polanski or Twinkle the Destroyer? And who doesn't think that Li...more "He stuck his shovel defiantly in the ground, then took off his little red hat and held it in both hands. 'You have a name?' 'Twinkle.' 'Twinkle,' I said slowly. 'The Destroyer,' he added. 'Your name is Twinkle the Destroyer?' He nodded. 'Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? Okay, Twinkle the Destroyer, I take it you guys have been popping my tires?'"
Who doesn't love fierce, little garden gnomes named Pip the Briger of Pain, Gnoman Polanski or Twinkle the Destroyer? And who doesn't think that Lish McBride’s dialogues between her mellow necromancing hero Samhain LaCroix and multiple, wackily paranormal or frighteningly normal creatures like Pello the dread-locked, beer-bellied, leery satyr, who enjoys to attend council meetings clad neither in glamour nor in anything else that restricts his manliness, huge, vegetarian, strangely sexy bigfoots bursting with mating pheromones, vampire dandies with parasols, popker playing minotaurs, the human underdog Frank, the weregrizzly Ramon and ... last but not least the most interesting pukis in literature, James Montgomery, are prizeworthily funny, clever and naughty? Well I, for my part, I do. A lot of scenes in this sequel to the exciting and entertaining "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer" provided me with blissful moments of mirth.

In spite of that I believe the novel to be superfluous as a novel. Usually I am one of those readers who make a wide berth around short-story anthologies and anouncements of prequel 0.7 and sequel 1.5.2. But in the light of the material presented in "Necromancing the Stone" I am sure a couple of shorts titled "How to Mailorder a Chupacabra", "Bare-Assed Hiking with Pello", "Social Security for the Sexy Bigfoot", "Puking on a Pukis", "The Day Frank Became an Honorary Gnome" or "High on Goddess Juice" would have done the trick very nicely indeed.

See, the problem is the real plot. It is simply not enough around of it to fill a whole book, and the arc of tension – if you insist of looking for one – resembles rather a limp fishing line than a taut string of a bow ready to snap. The narration is split up more or less betweeen Sam and the evil, evil, evil, evil necromancer Douglas, who is a bit dead, but preparing to resurrect and reclaim everything ... and certainly to take revenge, but who has magically stored a fragment of his soul in a object (see title), which is in unsuspecting Sam’s hands but is needed in Doug's to get the action to full throttle. So there is a warning (*yawn*), some dreams, that reminded me of a young Tom Riddle, a little murder (*yawnyawnsob*), some bonding, some council-this-and-that, some re-woeing of Bridgin, the pigeon – ehhr, no, werealpha-in-spe -, and a flashy 5000 Watt bulb anouncing the final solution of the final kind-of-battle precisely at the 39% mark. That meant: enough potential to drive me nuts with boredom between the giggles.

I am not sure whether I want to read the third volume or not. But I do not want to miss out on any new attempt the author throws on the market in the future. For she is a talented one. I won’t go back on that.
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Sep 23, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

So much fun. This time a year ago, (has it been that long?) I was gushing over how much I loved this and that in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Sam and his buddies' return rekindled some of that love. Sam is not the same screw up he was before, but he still does stick his foot in it at times, only made funnier with him still having some of the best lines and having friends who are each all endearing one way or another.

He’s inherited all that had been Douglas’ power, riches and plenty other little...more So much fun. This time a year ago, (has it been that long?) I was gushing over how much I loved this and that in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Sam and his buddies' return rekindled some of that love. Sam is not the same screw up he was before, but he still does stick his foot in it at times, only made funnier with him still having some of the best lines and having friends who are each all endearing one way or another.

He’s inherited all that had been Douglas’ power, riches and plenty other little oddities. It is Sam’s attempts at fitting things together that reveal more of his go easy kid, go with flow attitude; but it’s also the very same that has him ignore (at his peril) certain things. Him figuring out how he fit in Douglas’ place with Douglas’s people, had him looking on the bright side even when there was none! So, it should be no surprise to find Sam screwing up, getting up and trying to make things right, over and over again.

Sam , the vegetarian necromancer on the supernatural council, makes it seem like the secondary characters have not much going for them. How can a shifter compare to that, or a vampire for that matter? The thing is all of them were equally quirky/ funny. With them as backdrop, he’s lack of know how is emphasized, but it’s also against them that kindness shines bright(er). Because with the pack everything is all about business, It’s here we catch a glimpse into their how to’s and who to go to’s; and it’s a glimpse that’s made me more curious because Bran, Brid and Sean differ so greatly.

Things are made doubly hard: where he stands with them is made less certain with things that unfold. An out of nowhere, heart ache-development moment, mind you. It’s not an unimportant heart ache-y moment either, as it is what propels all of them into action.

But them in action is key here. There’s a lot if Sam trying to catch up with others, with his friends Ramon a were-bear *so much win, right there,*Brooke and her ghostliness, Frank being mini-James, and Brid and her brothers being pack. The thing I loved most? It wasn’t just Sam! It’s him with everyone else; that genuine affection he has for them and even those little guilty moments he feels because of them. Simply there’s a genuine and fun connection here that I liked. Also, the fact that no matter how different he may think he is, there is always someone or something odder to consider. I mean just take the gnomes, Big Foot and a cat obsessed chupacabra!

I cracked up at how he and his friends tip toed around each other, then didn’t. Add a little drama that had my heart clutch all of a sudden… overall this was fun, fast and different. A lot of this reminds me I need to pick up Hexed now.

4/5
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Nov 13, 2012 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Catie by: Flannery

Shelves: for-review, read-in-2012, series, ya, urban-fantasy

~ 3.8972 stars.

This one is going to be super short because I just don’t have much to say. I never do about this series, even though I love it. These books are completely enjoyable and fun and they make me smile. I love that Sam, the “sensitive beta-male” isn’t afraid to let his alpha girlfriend be a powerful leader, even at the expense of their relationship. I love that he’s willing to step aside and respect her decisions and give her time to work out her own life. Sam is like that sweet, crunch...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: shifters, werewolves, fae, paranormal, harbingers, ghosts, hybrids, urban-fantasy, zombies, if-only-i-had-friends-like-these, satyrs, magic, i-should-be-sleeping-really-i-shoul, necromancer, sequel-yes-please, seattle, multiple-povs, older-ya-vibe, sarcasm-is-my-shield, witches, witty, death-is-not-the-end, supernatural

I find myself yet again in love with Lish, she has a way of making my laugh like no other. Honestly What I was expecting and what happened were a little off (not like omg huge, just a little) I see where she is trying to go with this and I like that she is slowly putting the crumbs down. There are MANY other books out there where things just seem to happen...and for no reason at all. Here is a great example of what you can accomplish when you spend some time thinking and making things work for t...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult, humorous, urban-fantasy, shapeshifters, necromancer, strong-heroine, intense

The first book in this series, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, blew me away. I love books featuring necromancy anyway, so add to that great characters and a plot with plenty of action and I was a very happy reader. It's hard for an author to sustain that level of quality, but Lish McBride has done so with her newest release, and she has once again made me very happy.

Sam, the lead character, is dealing with the repercussions of the events in the previous book and trying to both learn how to handle h...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Eric Townsend rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I finished reading Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, which is also by Lish McBride, I was incredibly thankful that I had Necromancing the Stone already so I didn’t have to wait to dive into the next part of this awesome journey. Necromancing the Stone, unlike its predecessor, delves into a more somber and serious part of Sam’s life. There are still plenty of jokes and fantastic lines (and freaking awesome chapter titles!) throughout, but the story itself doesn’t have nearly as light of a feel to...more When I finished reading Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, which is also by Lish McBride, I was incredibly thankful that I had Necromancing the Stone already so I didn’t have to wait to dive into the next part of this awesome journey. Necromancing the Stone, unlike its predecessor, delves into a more somber and serious part of Sam’s life. There are still plenty of jokes and fantastic lines (and freaking awesome chapter titles!) throughout, but the story itself doesn’t have nearly as light of a feel to it. Despite that fact I thoroughly enjoyed Necromancing the Stone. The writing was excellent, the characters excellently hashed out and developed, and the plot moved along at a comfortable pace while allowing for some side stories to emerge. New types of beings were brought into the story and served to enrich the already beautiful world that McBride created.

As of right now I do not know if there will be a third book in this series, but there were enough loose ends where another entry could certainly be warranted (and in my case welcomed with open arms). However, the major conflict was definitely resolved and it was done so masterfully. I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, but I was quite satisfied (and a bit relieved) by how McBride decided to move forward.

The world that is continued in Necromancing the Stone seems to go back and forth between showing how all of the differences these characters (and types of beings) accentuate the world as a whole, and simultaneously making fun of itself. There are mischief makers and beings of great power that hearken back to civilizations that are long gone (and often forgotten). It is a combination that is not easily done but that, in this case to me, seemed to be flawless. I loved the references to various cultures and deities, some of which are not very well known, giving the book a feel of realism and weight that Hold Me Closer, Necromancer didn’t have.

Overall, as this rambling session has clearly expressed, I loved Necromancing the Stone. I hope that McBride does indeed write a third book and that we are lucky enough to see even more depth drawn out of the plethora of characters that I have come to know and love. I encourage any book lover to pick this up as well as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, they are fantastic books and must reads in my (humble) opinion.

Rating: 5/5 Stars(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Note: There are mild spoilers for Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and no spoilers for this second book, Necromancing the Stone.

Although this is a sequel to Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, the author has the protagonist explain right on page one what he has gone through lately, and by this means, we get all caught up without having to re-read.

I was quite surprised at how much I liked the first book in this series, because after all, it features necromancers, satyrs, vampires, werewolves, gnomes, furies...more Note: There are mild spoilers for Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and no spoilers for this second book, Necromancing the Stone.

Although this is a sequel to Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, the author has the protagonist explain right on page one what he has gone through lately, and by this means, we get all caught up without having to re-read.

I was quite surprised at how much I liked the first book in this series, because after all, it features necromancers, satyrs, vampires, werewolves, gnomes, furies, and every other sort of paranormal creature you can imagine (and some you can’t!). But the author's clever puns and hilarious send-ups delighted me, so I quite looked forward to this follow-up book. My expectations might have been too high, however.

Sam LaCroix, a funny and likable college dropout in Seattle, found out in Book One that he is actually a necromancer (which is someone who can communicate with the dead, either by summoning their spirits or raising them bodily). In a fight for his life against another (but evil) necromancer, Douglas Montgomery, Sam’s best friend Ramon was turned into a werebear, his friend Brooke was decapitated, and he fell in love with the half-werewolf, half fey-hound heir-apparent to lead the local werewolf pack, Bridin Blackthorn. It was quite a year for him.

In Book Two, we find Sam living, along with his friends Ramon and Frank, in Douglas Montgomery’s old house. He has the services of James, the resident house spirit (or “pukis”); Brooke, who is now Sam’s “ghostly girl Friday”; and Ashley, a “Harbinger” who serves as a go-between for souls. (She renders occasional help to Sam in exchange for waffles with whipped cream and real maple syrup.) Sam is being trained by Brid’s brothers in self-defense; he is still dating Brid; and he is contemplating his interesting life when everything changes.

Evaluation: Although Lish McBride again adds plenty of wit to her ongoing story of Sam and his paranormal companions, I liked the first book better. I came to this sequel expecting the same sort of zaniness that prevailed in Book One. In this book, the author spends more time developing the characters and exploring moral dilemmas. Yes, McBride evinces skill in her warm portrayal of love and loyalty and friendship, but at the same time she tries to maintain the first book's tone of a very humorous burlesque featuring quirky paranormals of every stripe. I found this odd mix of whimsy and solid stuff a bit disconcerting. That said, who can resist such characters as Stanley, the affectionate (albeit dead) elk with the velvety nose? I’ll definitely be back for book three!

Rating: 3.5/5
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Nov 20, 2012 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excuse me for a moment... Oh, sorry- I just had to go do a bit more squealing... So far I just can't seem to get it out of my system. All the jumping and happy dancing just isn't doing it. So hopefully this over the top raving about this book will help a bit.

I love, no, I ADORE, this book. I loved Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, but it's not nearly as good as this book was. This book had me laughing so hard I nearly peed. But it also had me crying big fat crocodile tears. Oh, don't worry, this is...more Excuse me for a moment... Oh, sorry- I just had to go do a bit more squealing... So far I just can't seem to get it out of my system. All the jumping and happy dancing just isn't doing it. So hopefully this over the top raving about this book will help a bit.

I love, no, I ADORE, this book. I loved Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, but it's not nearly as good as this book was. This book had me laughing so hard I nearly peed. But it also had me crying big fat crocodile tears. Oh, don't worry, this isn't a sad book, not really. It had a moment or two though. And really, I just want you all to know that this book will really bring out the full range of emotions. There were the laugh-so-hard-you-pee moments, the cry-till-you-run-out-of-tears moments, and the grip-the-edge-of-your-seat moments. If you remember my review of the first book you may remember that I was expecting funny but not the serious. I was actually expecting MORE funny though. Well, that funny delivered in this one. It made up for any lack of funny in the first (even though it still had plenty of funny).

This book delivered on all fronts for me, but I'm starting with characters. I love a good male POV and Sam is a fabulous MC. He's funny (HILARIOUS inner voice) and he's kind, and sweet and he's just someone you can't help but love. He's not perfect, but that makes him more real. He makes mistakes, he doesn't see the whole picture sometimes, and he's not real kick ass, yet. But he's getting there. He's growing as a character.

All the side characters, from the pukis James, to the best friend werebear, Ramon, to the were hound/werewolf sort-of-girlfriend. They all delivered. Each and every character has a distinct personality and I couldn't help but love each and every one. Now, there are a ton of new characters in this book, but they are more background then forefront. But they add a lot of humor to the book. And they just stand out with their ridiculous personalities. These new characters are a full range of supernatural creatures. From gnomes, to minotaurs, to big foot and chupacabra. There's not much, if anything, that's been left out. But instead of it being too much, it's just right. I think that's because this book is a bit over the top. Some things are slightly ridiculous, some are more tongue-in-cheek humor. But it all just goes so well, so perfect.

The plot side of things also delivered 100%. We see things from more angles than Sam so we know when things are right in front of him, when he needs to open his eyes and see what's going on. We see when someone might be betraying him (even though we're not sure cause it seems like there's more to it...) and we scream out to warn him. We know that things aren't going to be pretty cause we see them coming before him. This is because we get chapters (short ones) with the bad guy. So we get an idea of what he's planning. At the same time we see some of his memories and it explains some things about why he became what he became, etc. It humanizes him a bit more and we see him as more than just a villain. I love when authors do this. And in this case we don't exactly grow to like him, but we see him a bit differently.

I honestly cannot possibly recommend this book any more highly. It's one that I actually wanted to turn over and just start rereading again. And how often does that happen? I am totally in love with these characters and this world and I will scream to the world "READ THIS BOOK!" for many months (probably even years) to come. And I really hope the author is writing more. I really don't know as the book is pretty well tied up and there's not really any (or many) strings left open. But there's always more that could be done and I have my fingers crossed that it's one that goes on...and on... and on...

One thing I want to point out is that while this is marketed as YA, and fits that fine as far as appropriateness goes, the characters are college age and on their own. It also has a tad bit of a feel of adult urban fantasy. I say it's a perfect mix of YA urban fantasy and adult urban fantasy and that just elevates it even more for me. I probably wouldn't recommend this for younger readers as there's some heavy stuff going on and it gets a bit bloody in the first book. There's also a bit of bad language (but what teen doesn't hear bad language everyday?). I guess I'd say if a person is super sensitive to content you may want to be cautious.

This is going on my favorites of 2012 list, FOR SURE.

You can find this and other reviews like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Nick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fantasy, urban-fantasy

I rarely give a book five stars, but this book is a truly outstanding sequel to an extremely good book. Since this volume isn't burdened with setting the stage or introducing the characters, McBride jumps right in with an outstanding tale. Because necromancy is at the core of the story, even death barely interrupts some of the characters. Thus, it's no surprise that the dead Necromancer from the first volume has a major role here.
Even better, this volume is more seriously about Sam moving forwar...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Erika S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 20, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER spent a year or so on my wishlist. I loved the punny Elton John title and all the reviews said that it was hilarious. Finally, the ebook was discounted to promote the sequel NECROMANCING THE STONE. Lish McBride's debut was as good as everyone said and I eagerly moved on to NECROMANCING THE STONE.

There will be spoilers for HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER in this review. I recommend reading these books in order because NECROMANCING THE STONE deals with almost nothing but co...more HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER spent a year or so on my wishlist. I loved the punny Elton John title and all the reviews said that it was hilarious. Finally, the ebook was discounted to promote the sequel NECROMANCING THE STONE. Lish McBride's debut was as good as everyone said and I eagerly moved on to NECROMANCING THE STONE.

There will be spoilers for HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER in this review. I recommend reading these books in order because NECROMANCING THE STONE deals with almost nothing but consequences from the first novel. That works for me, but it might not be as entertaining if you haven't read the first book.

With Douglas' death, Samhain LaCroix - Sam - gained a lot of power, a creepy house, and a position on the Council. Given that he's new to the paranormal world, he's not entirely sure how to be one of the leaders for his region. As for the house, at least he has the room to move his friends in and house spirit James doesn't seem like such a bad thing. But, alas, Douglas isn't quite dead yet. Fiendish necromancers aren't defeated so easily.

Meanwhile, things with Brid aren't going as smoothly as Sam might hope. You'd think being locked naked in a cage with someone was all you ever needed. As things are, Brid needs her pack to trust her, which is already difficult since she's a hybrid. And dating a necromancer isn't the best way for her to convince them that she'll be a good leader like her father.

The thing I love most about McBride's writing isn't the humor, but the optimism. Sam has a power that causes most of its users to go bad and he lives in a world where terrible things happen to his friends. But this is no dark fantasy. What matters for the characters is friends and family. There doesn't have to be a cycle of murder if you allow love to guide the way. (Fortunately, McBride is far less sappy than I am.)

If you like your urban fantasy chock-full of wit, heart, and pop culture references, look no father than HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER and NECROMANCING THE STONE. I can't wait for the third book. And let's not forget this little bonus: Sam is college aged. Yay for the rise of new adult novels! (less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Jeff Raymond rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-ya-fantasy

A surprise gem for me was Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, about a kid thrown into the world of necromancy and werewolves and what have you. It was fun without being too goofy, campy without being tiresome, and was equal parts humorous and interesting. I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel since I finished Necromancer a couple years ago.

The unfortunate news is that Necromancing the Stone cranks the camp up to eleven, in part because it doesn't feel like the book has a ton of places to go. The book...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Shannon Kitchens rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sigh. Am I the only one that was a little disappointed by this follow up?

Ok, I loved Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Madly, wildly, passionatly. So when Necromancing came in, I dropped everything I was reading. And I devoured the book in about two days.

However, the whole thing left me...wanting.

What wasn't working:

1.) Villians. We start off knowing that our hapless hero Sam is now an uber necromancer. Awesomesauce. Plus, we know that necromancers are notoriously shady. So I was thinking, we'd get s...more

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May 22, 2013 flöckchen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-these

3.5

Well, it was good, and more than anything else it was fun to read. The thing is, nothing much actually happened, there is a commotion at the beginning and at the end of the book BUT most of the book is about Sam learning to deal with his new life, and about Douglas past actually. And I have to say I like the way McBride portrays the evil Douglas, how he got there, that he's not plain evil, but was made so. Anyway, there are parts of the book that I somehow can't take overly seriously, like th...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, to-buy

Once in a while, you find voices that just click, characters that seem so real through what they say and think that you could see them roaming the halls at your high school, serving your meal at the local fast-food joint, or bringing your dead puppy back to life.

Sam LaCroix is one of these characters.

Delightfully campy, NECROMANCING THE STONE does not take itself seriously at all, just like the first in the series (HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER), and does not expect you to. Built on a solid plot o...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Carie rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 – I loved this!! Just as good as the first, with lots of LOL moments--I particularly loved everything with Minion, Taco, and the gnomes (& other yard folk). This series is SO much fun! It does have a little mature language and some implied sex (not at all graphic), so it’s probably better for older teens or adults.

The characters are AWESOME, particularly Sam. I love how nice he is to everyone--such an incredible guy! I also loved his coming more into his powers, kicking some butt occasi...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, seattle

Sam survived being kidnapped, having his best friend beheaded, another friend turned into a were-bear, falling in love with a were-wolf, and killing Douglas, the necromancer who wants to kill Sam to absorb his power. In killing Douglas, Sam inherited Douglas' home and powers and assistant, James. When someone kills the leader of the werewolf pack, everyone first blames Sam, but he sets out to find out the real story.

In this follow-up to Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, Lish McBride seemlessly contin...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Brett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-paranormal

I love nothing more than when a sequel to a book I really loved comes out, I sit down to savor it, & it proves every bit as awesome as its predecessor. This is an example. I might be slightly in love with Samhain "Sam" LaCroix, sometime fast food restaurant employee & extremely reluctant necromancer - or, as he calls it, the "Mayor of Deadville."
He's still working on coming to terms with the mere fact of his powers, but now Sam's also having to deal with the fallout from his recent adve...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Katie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural, did-not-finish

I really enjoyed Hold Me Closer, but this just wasn't the same. The first few chapters clumsily reintroduce characters and rehash what happened in the first book. I didn't find Sam to be as amusing as I did the first time around. Everything just seemed so cliche, including his jokes and observations.

Speaking of cliche, I wasn't impressed by the female characters. They don't really seem like actual people and some were just figures whose sole purpose seemed to be reacting to and being defined by...more I really enjoyed Hold Me Closer, but this just wasn't the same. The first few chapters clumsily reintroduce characters and rehash what happened in the first book. I didn't find Sam to be as amusing as I did the first time around. Everything just seemed so cliche, including his jokes and observations.

Speaking of cliche, I wasn't impressed by the female characters. They don't really seem like actual people and some were just figures whose sole purpose seemed to be reacting to and being defined by the men/boys around them. Sam is crazy about Brid but I'd like the author so SHOW me why instead of have Sam constantly tell me that he thinks she's awesome. What's so interesting about her? Brid is super-tough. She's an alpha surrounded by werewolves who want to hump her. Okay. That could be something. But, instead of exploring her as a character, we spend far more time with her brothers and father all posturing and making comments and vague (albeit usually good-natured) threats about Sam's relationship with their baby girl/sister. I think if she's adult enough to go to college, take on the responsibility of fighting evil and leading a pack, then maybe her sex life could be a little less relevant to them. I don't find male family members trying to protect their female family members from sex to be amusing. It's gross. Mind your own business.

And there's Brooke. Sam points out that she grew up in a house of all brothers so she's used to bullying guys around. What's that even mean? A girl has to have life-long practice in the art of having an opinion and voice in the presence of dudes? Also, I couldn't help but notice her "bullying" involved kissing everyone on the cheek. Yes. She's quite assertive, that one.

And why are there so many characters?! The book should have a chart in it so I can keep track of everyone. Or not, I guess. Really, there was no need because I couldn't finish it. Once I saw that it was going to be another evil Douglas vs. Sam & The Gang, I really couldn't be bothered. I know it's a book about necromancy, but don't bring back the villain from the dead. Make a new villain. Start a new adventure! Further the story!

If it got better, then good for it. However, what I read held no promise. Did not finish.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: 2013-challenge, audios, american-authors, fantasy, ya-fun

While not as fast paced or detailed as the first book, this one is still well worth the listening time.

Sam LaCroix is having an interesting life, that's for sure. It's only been about 6 weeks since he discovered that a] there's a whole supernatural side to the world and b] he himself is a necromancer. He's had nightmares since Douglas' (the evil necromancer from the first book) death and is not too keen on being a necromancer, especially with the idea of having to make sacrifices (i.e. killing o...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Betty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fun sequel to a fun and promising first entry in her series, Lish McBride didn't disappoint in Necromancing the Stone. Sam is still a lovable doofus, not quite comfortable in his new role as a powerful necromancer and inheritor and the powers and properties of the evil necromwncer, Douglas. The same cast of characters returned in this book, all coping with the fallout of the events of the first book, and are joined by some new friends.

As funny as the first book was, this one was even funnier. An...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Monica Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again we have a winner! The sequel to Hold Me Closer Necromancer delivers. No second book syndrome here. Sam and his friends return. After the death of Douglas the Necromancer, Sam and his crew have moved into Douglas' house and have taken over. Sam is trying to find his footing on the Council(other supernaturals work together) and works on his powers. His friend Ramon, comes home after recuperating from an attack that makes him a were-bear. The newer arrival to the group is James, a pukis...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: has-read

A great follow up book.

This book starts off as the last ended. Douglas is dead. Sam & Brid are dating, Ramon is still recouping from his transition from human to Were-bear, and life is generally getting back to semi normal. That is until a very unexpected death happens.

Soon Sam is thrown into some very serious situations, not to mention romantic complications. Sam finds out the dead doesn't stay dead and can even return with the right motivation.

The major things I liked about this book was J...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, fantasy, friends, humor, magic, mystery, supernatural

Sam LaCroix is finding it tough to get used to his new life: he not long ago became aware he is a necromancer (someone who can raise the dead); he has extreme guilt over killing the evil necromancer Douglas; and feels responsible for his friend Ramon becoming a were-bear. To top it all off he is being trained to fight and defend himself by a pack of werewolves, which basically means he is being beat up multiple times a day. But the pack also protects him, so it’s not all bad. When someone ends u...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Clinton Harding rated it 4 of 5 stars

If “Hold Me Closer Necromancer” was about Sam’s discovery of a hidden world underneath Seattle’s urban bustle, constant rain, and street corner army of coffee shops than “Necromancy the Stone” is the next step in Sam’s journey. That’s why the novel works well as a sequel, Lish McBride succeeds in expanding Sam’s universe and giving fans something more. Sequels should give more and “Necromancy the Stone” is one of those successful sequels.

“Necromancy the Stone” is the next step in Sam’s journey....more If “Hold Me Closer Necromancer” was about Sam’s discovery of a hidden world underneath Seattle’s urban bustle, constant rain, and street corner army of coffee shops than “Necromancy the Stone” is the next step in Sam’s journey. That’s why the novel works well as a sequel, Lish McBride succeeds in expanding Sam’s universe and giving fans something more. Sequels should give more and “Necromancy the Stone” is one of those successful sequels.

“Necromancy the Stone” is the next step in Sam’s journey. In the first novel he felt like an outsider on the fringes of what most teenager and young adults think of as “normal”. He skated through life (literally and figuratively), fliping burgers for a living, had no aim, no road to travel. Yet Sam sought purpose and stumbled into a life he never knew existed. He found out he was extraordinary. Sam can call up, command, and communicate with the dead! There’s an entire world of things-that-go-pump-in-the-night right beneath Seattle and he’s part of that world. His indoctrination was painful and terrifying but he came out ahead with great power and a lot of irresponsibility. Sam is the Spider-man of the dead.

That’s where “Necromancy the Stone” begins. Sam has walked onto this new road and he needs to learn to walk that path without tripping or stubbing his toe. But life is not simple, not even for our friendly neighborhood former burger-flipper turned necromancer. “Necromancy the Stone” is about Sam weeding through this new world, discovering more about his powers, all the while creating alliances and discovering who his enemies (new and old) are. It’s about Sam finding his confidence. It’s one thing to know who you are, another matter is having the confidence to be that person, on your own terms. All this is difficult when a necromancer like Sam is feared by many and trusted by few.

Sam is not alone, though. Once more he has a loyal cadre of friends, new and old. From werebears to barbarian gnomes and ghostly secretaries, Sam has many helping hands with unique personalities. Mix all these crazy characters together and the novel retains the humor McBride brought to the first novel. The only flaw in the books is that these characters are more in the background, the author only briefly explores the relationships Sam has with his friends and family. I wanted to learn more about the timid yet resourceful Frank, Sam’s sister Hailey (I think there’s more to her than what McBride has shown us), and more about Ashley the Harbinger’s past before her spectral vocation. Nonetheless, the characters are still lovable and they liven up the story that centers so much on Sam’s growth.

Speaking of gripes, my problem with the first novel is somewhat taken care of with the sequel. The constant shifting of points of view from character to character (away from Sam, from first person to third) is toned down and the narrative flows better. The only exceptions are detours to Brid’s story—she’s going through her own growing pains, which if I spoke about here it would spoil the story, suffice to say the half- were half- fairy is made even more badass—and glimpses at the antagonist. Sam’s main antagonist in “Necromancy the Stone” is better fleshed out. I didn’t feel more sympathy towards this person but by the end of the novel I understood him/her better than I did Douglas (who was a simple power hungry egomaniac).

Overall, a fun adventure. Sam’s new world is explored. McBride expands the cast of characters, introducing new creatures and species, and digs deep into werewolf politics. All these things really beef up the series and take it up a notch… again, this is essential for sequels. I really like how Sam finds non-aggressive ways to solve his problems. Solutions do not come down to blows but matters of the heart. Our intrepid former fry cook turned necromancer is a gentle soul who doesn’t comprise who he is for what he is. Ultimately, McBride made the story about a young man coming to terms with his life but on his own terms, that strengthens character and Sam has plenty in spade. Pre-order me the third-installment with all its glorious skater necromancers, were-whatevers, fighting gnomes, bigfoots, witches, and surly-homeless satyrs.(less)

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Nov 06, 2012 LaQuita (Just Us Girls) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am one of those people that Cannot read a series out of order…Necromancing The Stone is book two in a series. The first book Hold Me Closer Necromancer. I haven't read it all yet. I started book two, but I just felt like I should already know these characters and got the feeling that I was missing something.

What I read was good. I understood everything that was going on. I think if you don't mind reading a series out of order it would be fine and you probably wouldn't really notice that you m...more

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Oct 26, 2012 kc (4saintjude) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the second installment in the series, and sincerely hope the publisher picks up a third. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and their quirks, without having to sift through a lot of 'world' set-up. I have a preference for female, first person narrators. I was surprised to find that Sam being male didn't register differently with me (some might argue that he is a little more enlightened than other teenage males) hardened the switches in narrators complimented, rather th...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Shamekia rated it 4 of 5 stars

So far i really like this series. I think McBride strikes the balance between horror and humor pretty well. This book actually had more lol moments than the first book. It also wasn't as dark and violent as the first title. I'm hoping that this is a trend and that the next book (due out next year) will move into more funny territory (with just a teaspoon of gore).

My only criticism would be the amount of superfluous characters and magical creatures. It got a bit hard for me to keep up with every...more

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About Lish McBride

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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Books by Lish McBride

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (Necromancer, #1)

Necromancer: A Novella (Necromancer, #0.5)

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Quotes from Necromancing the Stone

“Twinkle the Destroyer wasn't alone, it seemed. There were more gnomes than I thought. Pip the Bringer of Pain, Chauncey the Devourer of Souls, Cuddly the Inexplicable, Gnoman Polanski, Pith the Bitey, Gnome ChompSky, Gnomie Malone, Chuck the Norriser- the list went on.
'It's like a mishmash of violent imagery, TV, an political references'
'I told you they like TV. I'm not sure the understand everything they see, though, so they don't fully grasp what they're stealing their names from. Like, I think Gnome ChompSky just thought it sounded tough and Chuck the Norriser came from watching too many episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. They believe Chuck Norris is a demigod'
'Who doesn't?” — 14 people liked it

“Ramon looked closely at the little guy as he ate. "Maybe he's Jewish. I mean, if Sammy Davis Jr. could convert to Judaism, why not a chupacabra? We should name him Harry Mendelbaum."

I held up my arms in protest. "You're all racist. Now shut up. We'll call him Taco von Precious of Svenenstein. There, everybody happy?"

"Isn't von the same thing as of?" Frank asked. "Wouldn't that be kind of redundant?"

"You're redundant," I said.” — 12 people liked it

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Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer #2)

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