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Finn Fancy Necromancy #1
Finn Fancy Necromancy
Writers of the Future grand prize winner Randy Henderson presents a dark and quirky debut in Finn Fancy Necromancy . Finn Gramaraye was framed for the crime of dark necromancy at the age of 15, and exiled to the Other Realm for twenty five years. But now that he's free, someone-probably the same someone-is trying to get him sent back. Finn has only a few days to discover who is so desperate to keep him out of the mortal world, and find evidence to prove it to the Arcane Enforcers. They are going to be very hard to convince, since he's already been convicted of trying to kill someone with dark magic. But Finn has his His brother Mort who is running the family necrotorium business now, his brother Pete who believes he's a werewolf, though he is not, and his sister Samantha who is, unfortunately, allergic to magic. And he's got Zeke, a fellow exile and former enforcer, who doesn't really believe in Finn's innocence but is willing to follow along in hopes of getting his old job back.
366 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2015
61 people are currently reading
3237 people want to read
About the author
Randy Henderson
16 books165 followersRandy Henderson's "dark and quirky" contemporary fantasy series from TOR (US) and Titan (UK) includes Finn Fancy Necromancy, Bigfootloose & Finn Fancy Free, and Smells Like Finn Spirit.
Randy's short fiction has been spotted frolicking in places like Penumbra, Escape Pod, Realms of Fantasy, Every Day Fiction, and anthologies.
He is a grand prize winner of Writers of the Future, a Clarion West graduate, a relapsed sarcasm addict, and a milkshake connoisseur who transmits suspiciously delicious words into the ether from his secret lair in the Pacific Northwest.
Randy's short fiction has been spotted frolicking in places like Penumbra, Escape Pod, Realms of Fantasy, Every Day Fiction, and anthologies.
He is a grand prize winner of Writers of the Future, a Clarion West graduate, a relapsed sarcasm addict, and a milkshake connoisseur who transmits suspiciously delicious words into the ether from his secret lair in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
November 13, 2015
Finn is about to breathe free air after twenty-five years imprisonment for a crime he didn’t commit, but instead of eating carb-heavy meals while trapped in a 6×8 cell, he has been living a non-corporeal existence in the land of Fae. His punishment has been reliving memories from his first fifteen years of life for their entertainment while his body has been on loan, used by a Fae in the mundane world.
“Just seeing those shapes and colors without having to manifest them from my own memory was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Actually, it caused butterflies to leak from the jewel-like lights that floated in the blob that served as my head, but the point is, it was damn good to see Earth again.”
In the midst of transfer to his now forty-year old body, something attacks the party, killing his warden and possibly a fellow parolee. Shortly after, Finn discovers a dead body in the trailer his body’s been living in.
“Perhaps I should have been more shocked by the body, but I wasn’t. Maybe because I still felt numb from the events of the transfer… Or maybe I really was just stunned by the gaudy awfulness of the changling’s tastes. It was like Rainbow Brite had been given a BeDazzler, a flock of shedding peacocks, and a credit card and told to go crazy.”
When he discovers the identity of the body, he realizes he’s being framed. He heads home to the family residence and business, certain that he’ll find help–as well as the person responsible for his imprisonment. Magical law enforcement finds him at home and gives him three days before they’ll take him in and scour his memories.
Urban fantasy can be hit or miss for me, but Henderson has something good going. Given the three day frame, the plot moves quickly. Although the focus is discovering who framed Finn, it’s more a journey of self-discovery/growth than supernatural mystery. Finn is distracted by catching up with friends and family, but perseverance pays off. Regarding plot, I might have seen a double-cross coming from Mt. Rainier, but it was only a small piece of the overall plot. Essentially a modern setting with magic that the “mundies” know nothing about, world-building is nicely integrated with the story line.
Characterization is engaging, if somewhat preoccupied with the self-discovery arc. Finn admits he is immature in many ways. But he’s also gained some insight, so he’s an interesting mix of fifteen and forty. Adjusting to his aged father and siblings, as well as his new niece, gives a chance to observe others as an outsider, comparing memories to the new reality. It feels nicely real, with the exception of his somewhat simple brother Petey, who is convinced he’s a waerwolf. Still, their relationship is sweet.
“After all the things about my life and the world that I’d found changed in the last few hours, all the things I’d realized were lost to me during my exile, Pete’s trust in me as his big brother was comforting, and I found myself wiping tears from my cheeks.”
As should be evident from the quotes, there’s also a lot of humor, as well as more than a few 1980s references. As a confused, shocked, sort-of teenager who is magically and physically underpowered, I thought it was a lot more appropriate than many other lead characters, say, for instance, a forty year-old urban wizard. Worth noting for those who are detail-oriented--I tend to not be overly hung up on logistics--but as I was re-reading, it occurred to me that a few of Finn’s comments are inappropriately current. A character who takes after Mr. T and overuses the word “fool” grows a little tiresome, but otherwise it should entertain those who feel a little 80s nostalgia.
“Zeke conked Mort on the head with the baton, not hard enough to cause any bleeding or sleepy time, but damn, that must have hurt anyway. ‘OW!’ Mort shouted, confirming the hurtiness.”
There’s something about it that just misses me. Could be a plot issue, could be a mood issue. I'm fonder of the police procedural than the self-discovery arc. There’s definitely re-read potential, but I’ll likely be focused on the next book. Tone reminds me of Huff’s Enchantment Emporium. I’d highly recommend this for fans of urban fantasy.
Plus, that title! So lyrical–I can’t tell you how often I started chanting, “Finn Fancy Necromancy.”
“Just seeing those shapes and colors without having to manifest them from my own memory was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Actually, it caused butterflies to leak from the jewel-like lights that floated in the blob that served as my head, but the point is, it was damn good to see Earth again.”
In the midst of transfer to his now forty-year old body, something attacks the party, killing his warden and possibly a fellow parolee. Shortly after, Finn discovers a dead body in the trailer his body’s been living in.
“Perhaps I should have been more shocked by the body, but I wasn’t. Maybe because I still felt numb from the events of the transfer… Or maybe I really was just stunned by the gaudy awfulness of the changling’s tastes. It was like Rainbow Brite had been given a BeDazzler, a flock of shedding peacocks, and a credit card and told to go crazy.”
When he discovers the identity of the body, he realizes he’s being framed. He heads home to the family residence and business, certain that he’ll find help–as well as the person responsible for his imprisonment. Magical law enforcement finds him at home and gives him three days before they’ll take him in and scour his memories.
Urban fantasy can be hit or miss for me, but Henderson has something good going. Given the three day frame, the plot moves quickly. Although the focus is discovering who framed Finn, it’s more a journey of self-discovery/growth than supernatural mystery. Finn is distracted by catching up with friends and family, but perseverance pays off. Regarding plot, I might have seen a double-cross coming from Mt. Rainier, but it was only a small piece of the overall plot. Essentially a modern setting with magic that the “mundies” know nothing about, world-building is nicely integrated with the story line.
Characterization is engaging, if somewhat preoccupied with the self-discovery arc. Finn admits he is immature in many ways. But he’s also gained some insight, so he’s an interesting mix of fifteen and forty. Adjusting to his aged father and siblings, as well as his new niece, gives a chance to observe others as an outsider, comparing memories to the new reality. It feels nicely real, with the exception of his somewhat simple brother Petey, who is convinced he’s a waerwolf. Still, their relationship is sweet.
“After all the things about my life and the world that I’d found changed in the last few hours, all the things I’d realized were lost to me during my exile, Pete’s trust in me as his big brother was comforting, and I found myself wiping tears from my cheeks.”
As should be evident from the quotes, there’s also a lot of humor, as well as more than a few 1980s references. As a confused, shocked, sort-of teenager who is magically and physically underpowered, I thought it was a lot more appropriate than many other lead characters, say, for instance, a forty year-old urban wizard. Worth noting for those who are detail-oriented--I tend to not be overly hung up on logistics--but as I was re-reading, it occurred to me that a few of Finn’s comments are inappropriately current. A character who takes after Mr. T and overuses the word “fool” grows a little tiresome, but otherwise it should entertain those who feel a little 80s nostalgia.
“Zeke conked Mort on the head with the baton, not hard enough to cause any bleeding or sleepy time, but damn, that must have hurt anyway. ‘OW!’ Mort shouted, confirming the hurtiness.”
There’s something about it that just misses me. Could be a plot issue, could be a mood issue. I'm fonder of the police procedural than the self-discovery arc. There’s definitely re-read potential, but I’ll likely be focused on the next book. Tone reminds me of Huff’s Enchantment Emporium. I’d highly recommend this for fans of urban fantasy.
Plus, that title! So lyrical–I can’t tell you how often I started chanting, “Finn Fancy Necromancy.”
April 16, 2015
Finn Fancy Necromancy is exactly as fun as its title suggests. From the second sentence, "We were like a couple of floating melted gummy bears made of unicorn snot and dreams..." I knew I was in good hands. In fact, even before that, in the acknowledgments when Henderson talks about his "butt-slapping doctor" I knew Henderson's humor was going to click with me, and it did.
Finn Gramaraye is a necromancer who's just come back from exile to the "Other Realm," aka the fairy world. He was sent there in 1986 and spent 25 years as punishment for a crime he didn't commit. Coming back, the problems already begin to add up and he's already to blame for just about everything under the sun.
Told from the first person, we have no reason to disbelieve him, though his memories have been a source of many of the problems he encounters, whether it's the fairies sifting his memories (good and bad) and making him relive them, or the changeling's lack of memories with a botched spirit transfer.
Other than a small overuse of Star Trek references at the beginning, this book hit my funny bone quite nicely. Because Finn has been away since the 80s and this is first person, there are loads of 80s references, including, and I can't say I recognized every single one, all the chapter titles are 80s song titles.
It's definitely urban fantasy, but not your tween, new-age kind what with all its 80s focus. And it's urban fantasy that really worked for me (I'm an on-off fan). The magic was interesting and the different sources make for a well-thought-out world.
The only thing, and I realize I might be the only one on this since I've seen it so much, is the incorporation of famous people (like Elvis, etc.) who were actually magic-users/magic creatures whose mysterious factual stories play well into a story like this. Like I said, I'm probably the only one and it wasn't enough to really throw me out of the story, it was only a couple instances.
One thing I'm torn on is that the "twist" at the end was almost blatantly obvious about midway through the book. I don't know if it was just the audio narration, or maybe on page would have been more obvious. I enjoyed the book regardless, because it wasn't really all that big a deal and the major mysteries still needed solving.
Finn Fancy Necromancy is tons of fun and highly readable. I listened to the audio version and Todd Haberkorn did an excellent job. Just vulnerable enough to pull off Finn and nailing all the jokes and off-hand remarks in between voicing Sasquatches and gnomes.
Which reminds me, I highly enjoyed the magical creatures in this one. Not your typical ones, but they played into the story nicely. Read Finn Fancy Necromancy when you're in the mood for some light-hearted fun with a fast-paced story that will keep you turning pages. Not your typical urban fantasy in the best possible way.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Finn Gramaraye is a necromancer who's just come back from exile to the "Other Realm," aka the fairy world. He was sent there in 1986 and spent 25 years as punishment for a crime he didn't commit. Coming back, the problems already begin to add up and he's already to blame for just about everything under the sun.
Told from the first person, we have no reason to disbelieve him, though his memories have been a source of many of the problems he encounters, whether it's the fairies sifting his memories (good and bad) and making him relive them, or the changeling's lack of memories with a botched spirit transfer.
Other than a small overuse of Star Trek references at the beginning, this book hit my funny bone quite nicely. Because Finn has been away since the 80s and this is first person, there are loads of 80s references, including, and I can't say I recognized every single one, all the chapter titles are 80s song titles.
It's definitely urban fantasy, but not your tween, new-age kind what with all its 80s focus. And it's urban fantasy that really worked for me (I'm an on-off fan). The magic was interesting and the different sources make for a well-thought-out world.
The only thing, and I realize I might be the only one on this since I've seen it so much, is the incorporation of famous people (like Elvis, etc.) who were actually magic-users/magic creatures whose mysterious factual stories play well into a story like this. Like I said, I'm probably the only one and it wasn't enough to really throw me out of the story, it was only a couple instances.
One thing I'm torn on is that the "twist" at the end was almost blatantly obvious about midway through the book. I don't know if it was just the audio narration, or maybe on page would have been more obvious. I enjoyed the book regardless, because it wasn't really all that big a deal and the major mysteries still needed solving.
Finn Fancy Necromancy is tons of fun and highly readable. I listened to the audio version and Todd Haberkorn did an excellent job. Just vulnerable enough to pull off Finn and nailing all the jokes and off-hand remarks in between voicing Sasquatches and gnomes.
Which reminds me, I highly enjoyed the magical creatures in this one. Not your typical ones, but they played into the story nicely. Read Finn Fancy Necromancy when you're in the mood for some light-hearted fun with a fast-paced story that will keep you turning pages. Not your typical urban fantasy in the best possible way.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
April 4, 2017
A fun mystery set in a fantasy world. The dialogue and language could be a little rough but overall this book was a great little gem.
Tons of fun, an interesting premise, clever world building.
The 3 stars isn't because there was anything majorly flawed about it. It just wasn't the sort of book that inspires intense feelings. It is occasionally funny, sometimes sweet but ultimately forgettable.
A good palate- cleanser between meatier reads. :)
Tons of fun, an interesting premise, clever world building.
The 3 stars isn't because there was anything majorly flawed about it. It just wasn't the sort of book that inspires intense feelings. It is occasionally funny, sometimes sweet but ultimately forgettable.
A good palate- cleanser between meatier reads. :)
April 1, 2020
[3.5 Stas]
This is a fun romp that follows a guy who finally gets back to the real world after a 25-year-exile. He's missed a lot, and whoever framed him when he was 15 is trying to get him back into exile.
I won't say it's the most unpredictable story. The foreshadowing is pretty heavy-handed, but I enjoyed seeing the characters flounder around. Like, Finn is pretty oblivious, but that is a part of his characterization, so I guess I can't expect him to pick up on the doom and gloom vibes some of the characters carry around with them. I particularly enjoyed his brother Peter (who may be on the spectrum) and his sister Sammy (who is a lesbian). I was kind of hoping Finn would get with the broody ex-cop guy because there was some tension there, but alas, our Phinneas wasn't into it.
I think if you have more knowledge of 70s and 80s references, you'll probably enjoy this more than I did because I didn't know a lot of what the author references besides Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, and a few others. It was fun to see him so far behind the times when it came to technology and current events though.
I have the next two books in the trilogy, so I'll probably pick those up when I'm looking for goofy, fast-paced reads.
This is a fun romp that follows a guy who finally gets back to the real world after a 25-year-exile. He's missed a lot, and whoever framed him when he was 15 is trying to get him back into exile.
I won't say it's the most unpredictable story. The foreshadowing is pretty heavy-handed, but I enjoyed seeing the characters flounder around. Like, Finn is pretty oblivious, but that is a part of his characterization, so I guess I can't expect him to pick up on the doom and gloom vibes some of the characters carry around with them. I particularly enjoyed his brother Peter (who may be on the spectrum) and his sister Sammy (who is a lesbian). I was kind of hoping Finn would get with the broody ex-cop guy because there was some tension there, but alas, our Phinneas wasn't into it.
I think if you have more knowledge of 70s and 80s references, you'll probably enjoy this more than I did because I didn't know a lot of what the author references besides Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, and a few others. It was fun to see him so far behind the times when it came to technology and current events though.
I have the next two books in the trilogy, so I'll probably pick those up when I'm looking for goofy, fast-paced reads.
November 7, 2017
This book didn't thrill me so I didn't finish it. I just couldn't get into it.
July 6, 2016
The cover, with the classic gaming-like characters on it, suggests something… I don’t know, playful and referential. A fantasy equivalent to Ready Player One, perhaps. And a lot of people seem to have found that in it, calling it “dark and quirky”, noting the humour and the originality of it. I didn’t find it to be so; I could predict each turn of the story, and the characters didn’t endear themselves to me. The set-up is okay: guy has been imprisoned in an alternate realm for years for a crime he didn’t commit, while a changeling lived his body’s life for him. He gets out, he immediately gets set up again, what’s going on?
The story deals with the past framing at the same time as it goes into the current one, and this seems in many ways to be background for a bigger story to do with Finn’s changeling. That aspect of the plot was actually interesting; but the minutiae of Finn’s love life with women he hadn’t seen for years didn’t work for me, particularly not when he’d spent most of his life lying to one of them, and in the meantime they grew up and he didn’t really, and…
I don’t know, ultimately I just felt like it was completely typical, and I wasn’t drawn to keep reading it. I did, because I bought the paperback and darned if I’m going to waste my money, but if it was from the library I might’ve considered just returning it. There was some references to pop culture stuff — Doctor Who, Star Trek, etc — but it felt… incidental, not really integral to the story. A cute nod more than a necessity. Despite my interest in the changeling story, I doubt I’ll be picking up the second book. It just felt too… mediocre.
In fact, I feel obliged to quote: frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Originally posted here.
The story deals with the past framing at the same time as it goes into the current one, and this seems in many ways to be background for a bigger story to do with Finn’s changeling. That aspect of the plot was actually interesting; but the minutiae of Finn’s love life with women he hadn’t seen for years didn’t work for me, particularly not when he’d spent most of his life lying to one of them, and in the meantime they grew up and he didn’t really, and…
I don’t know, ultimately I just felt like it was completely typical, and I wasn’t drawn to keep reading it. I did, because I bought the paperback and darned if I’m going to waste my money, but if it was from the library I might’ve considered just returning it. There was some references to pop culture stuff — Doctor Who, Star Trek, etc — but it felt… incidental, not really integral to the story. A cute nod more than a necessity. Despite my interest in the changeling story, I doubt I’ll be picking up the second book. It just felt too… mediocre.
In fact, I feel obliged to quote: frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Originally posted here.
July 15, 2018
My novel is an uncorrected advance reading copy, so be aware some of the novel may have changed by the time it was published.
Finn Fancy Necromancy was a great fantasy read that kept me interested for most of the book! I did seem to think it was 100 pages to long, since I got bored by page 300, but it was still a good read!
Finn Gramaraye is a necromancer who was framed for dark necromancy when he was fifteen. Now he is out of the Other Realm jail and is free, but it's twenty-five years later. Despite all this time passing, someone is still trying to frame him, and even send him back!
His family is quite strange, since his brother Mort runs the family business, his brother Pete thinks he's a werewolf, his sister is allergic to magic, and now he's met some new friends like a fellow exiled man, and two women he might have had crushes on in the past. Finn still has his fifteen year old memories, but nothing of what has changed since. This adds to a lot of the drama!
The group have to try to figure out who is framing Finn and the family, and trying to hurt everyone.
The novel starts out very slowly, and it took about 100 pages for me to get into the story. Once I got through the boring retelling of everything that happened to Finn's family when he was gone, and the boring stories about the past, I got attached to the story. After about two hundred pages of good action, drama and a pinch of romance, the story becomes repetitive and boring. Rehearing Finn having a crush on someone, and the retelling of the past yet again, I felt like some of the novel could have been deleted to make it a very addicting and fast read.
The plot itself is well planned, and the character development was great! I liked how Finn matured over the novel from a fifteen year old to an adult. I also enjoyed the plot twists and whacky characters!
Overall, I felt like the novel retold aspects of the story to much. I could have lived without the retelling of the past over and over.
Four out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Finn Fancy Necromancy was a great fantasy read that kept me interested for most of the book! I did seem to think it was 100 pages to long, since I got bored by page 300, but it was still a good read!
Finn Gramaraye is a necromancer who was framed for dark necromancy when he was fifteen. Now he is out of the Other Realm jail and is free, but it's twenty-five years later. Despite all this time passing, someone is still trying to frame him, and even send him back!
His family is quite strange, since his brother Mort runs the family business, his brother Pete thinks he's a werewolf, his sister is allergic to magic, and now he's met some new friends like a fellow exiled man, and two women he might have had crushes on in the past. Finn still has his fifteen year old memories, but nothing of what has changed since. This adds to a lot of the drama!
The group have to try to figure out who is framing Finn and the family, and trying to hurt everyone.
The novel starts out very slowly, and it took about 100 pages for me to get into the story. Once I got through the boring retelling of everything that happened to Finn's family when he was gone, and the boring stories about the past, I got attached to the story. After about two hundred pages of good action, drama and a pinch of romance, the story becomes repetitive and boring. Rehearing Finn having a crush on someone, and the retelling of the past yet again, I felt like some of the novel could have been deleted to make it a very addicting and fast read.
The plot itself is well planned, and the character development was great! I liked how Finn matured over the novel from a fifteen year old to an adult. I also enjoyed the plot twists and whacky characters!
Overall, I felt like the novel retold aspects of the story to much. I could have lived without the retelling of the past over and over.
Four out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 6, 2017
This book is deliciously hilarious.
Finn, the protagonist, has been out of the world, stuck in exile in fairyland, for 25 years. He's a great fish out of water character when he returns, because the world has changed so much without him, and he's kind of a giant nerd.
It's a great big mystery story, wrapped up in an urban fantasy, set in the Pacific Northwest. The cast of characters is really diverse, both in temperament and the traditional meaning of the word, and there are plenty of shades of gray in character motivations.
There are *so* many pop culture references in this, as well as a lot of genre tropes, that it feels similar to both Ready Player One and the Genrenauts books by Michael R. Underwood.
The narrator for the book is absolutely perfect. He nails Finn's voice really well, and also does some great impressions as they occur in the text.
Recommended for folks looking for urban fantasy, humorous fantasy, and knowledge of genre.
Finn, the protagonist, has been out of the world, stuck in exile in fairyland, for 25 years. He's a great fish out of water character when he returns, because the world has changed so much without him, and he's kind of a giant nerd.
It's a great big mystery story, wrapped up in an urban fantasy, set in the Pacific Northwest. The cast of characters is really diverse, both in temperament and the traditional meaning of the word, and there are plenty of shades of gray in character motivations.
There are *so* many pop culture references in this, as well as a lot of genre tropes, that it feels similar to both Ready Player One and the Genrenauts books by Michael R. Underwood.
The narrator for the book is absolutely perfect. He nails Finn's voice really well, and also does some great impressions as they occur in the text.
Recommended for folks looking for urban fantasy, humorous fantasy, and knowledge of genre.
April 24, 2015
Four stars: An original, quirky and funny Urban Fantasy full of 1980's humor.
Finn is eagerly looking forward to returning to the living realm. In 1986 when Finn was fifteen years old, he was accused and framed for a murder he supposedly committed with dark necromancy. Finn's spirit was exiled to the Other Realm, the land of the fey. Meanwhile, a fey changeling inhabited his human body. Upon his return, the changeling will transfer his memories of the last twenty five years to Finn. Unfortunately, the transfer goes terribly wrong, and Finn doesn't receive the memories. Worse he quickly finds someone is once again trying to frame him for crimes he didn't commit to get him exiled once again. Finn has only days to discover who is truly behind the crimes, otherwise he will lose everything. Can Finn clear his name?
What I Liked:
*In all honesty at first glance, Finn Fancy Necromancy is likely a book I would have passed over. The cover is a bit plain, and it doesn't exactly scream read me. I am certainly glad this book showed up in my mailbox, and that I took a chance on it. This was a creative and imaginative read with a complex plot, lots of paranormal entities, a suspenseful mystery sprinkled with a generous dose of humor. All in all, I had a terrific time with this book, and I recommend it to those who are looking for an Urban Fantasy that is different, especially if you are a fan of all things 1980s.
*Speaking of the 1980s, one of my favorite aspects of this novel was the heavy references to all things from this era. Finn has no memories beyond 1986 so in a sense, he is still stuck in the 1980s, so his outlook on the world, his ideas of popular culture and his vernacular reflects this era. I couldn't help but to snicker at Finn helplessly trying to navigate the twenty second century with a twenty first century knowledge. One of the funniest scenes in the book is when he is trying to give his younger brother, Petey, dating advice. Considering he went into exile at fifteen, Finn's ideas of romance and dating are drawn from popular romantic comedies from this era... here is a snippet of that conversation:
"Well, if you get an anonymous letter and think it's from the girl of your dreams, it's really from
the girl next door. Don't let your computer fall in love with the girl you like. If you have the
the choice between suicide or dating a cute French girl, date the girl. Don't give a geek your
underwear. And, uh, if your girlfriend like to take long salt baths, she's probably a mermaid?"
How fun is that? Can you guess all the movies? I was able to guess them all but the first, and I had to look that one up. There is so much more 80's goodness in here, if you grew up in this era, or you have a love for all things 1980's, you should read this book.
*This book is brimming with a cast of eclectic and eccentric characters. Finn himself is a necromancer with the ability to talk to deceased spirits. Finn's family is one of strangeness and disfunction. His deceased grandfather was a powerful necromancer and Finn's teacher. Finn's father has gone mad and only speaks in riddles. His mother is a ghost. Mort, Finn's older brother is an overbearing, power hungry necromancer. Finn's sister, Sammi, is allergic to magic, and the youngest brother, Petey, thinks his a werewolf because of a prank Mort and Finn played on him when they were kids. Then you have to add in Finn's friend, Zeke,a former, exiled Enforcer, think a magic cop, who has a bit of a resemblance to Mr. T with his mustache and constant use of the word "fool". Zeke's sister speaks to an imaginary friend and she is a true waer creature. Add in a purple mohawked neighbor who is completely human and you have an unforgettable cast. Oh and there are also witches, gnomes, fey, sasquatches, alchemists and necromancers. Truly, an interesting and unforgettable cast of characters.
*The main story of the book centers around Finn trying to uncover who framed him all those years ago and why. I thought the mystery was suspenseful and well done. There were many suspects and lots of leads, but when the chips were all in place, I was shocked as to who the perpetrator was. I didn't see that one coming. Well played.
*Along with Finn trying to solve who framed him, you also have the interesting side story of Finn trying to plug back into his old life twenty five years later. I loved watching him flounder about in the new world while trying to reforge relationships with friends and family. So much fun.
*The ending was action packed and full of suspense and big reveals. Most of the main story threads were wrapped up, but there were a few niggling threads left open leaving me to think that this was not the end of the story. I was most curious after finishing this to see if there is a sequel, because as it ended, I think there will be another book which makes me happy.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a minor criticism, but it is important to me. I hate to think that I would have passed this book over because of the cover. It isn't exactly appealing and it is rather dull. I am not even sure what the creatures on the cover are supposed to be. This book does not reflect the fun and quirkiness of this book. I wish the cover screamed read me and was more eye catching.
*There is a lot to wrap your head around in this one. I admit there were times when I was a bit lost trying to keep everything straight as far as the fey, the arcana and everything else. It was hard to discern who was on who's side.
The ending gave me pause. What was the deal with the changeling? What happened to the bad guy? I think that a sequel must be in the works because it felt a bit like a cliffhanger.
*I personally loved all multiple pop culture references from the 1980s, but if you aren't clued into this era, a lot of the jokes will go over your head, and a bit of something will be lost. This book might not work as well for a someone not familiar with American pop culture of the 1908s as they won't get a lot of the humor.
Finn Fancy Necromancy was a delightful and surprising find. This is a unique and funny Urban Fantasy stuffed with all the goodness of the 1980s. Not to mention it is smart and suspenseful. For all of you who love a good Urban Fantasy with humor, eccentric and fun characters and a good story line, I urge you to give this gem a go. I am hoping that there are more Finn Fancy Necromancy books in the works as I am now a fan.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Finn is eagerly looking forward to returning to the living realm. In 1986 when Finn was fifteen years old, he was accused and framed for a murder he supposedly committed with dark necromancy. Finn's spirit was exiled to the Other Realm, the land of the fey. Meanwhile, a fey changeling inhabited his human body. Upon his return, the changeling will transfer his memories of the last twenty five years to Finn. Unfortunately, the transfer goes terribly wrong, and Finn doesn't receive the memories. Worse he quickly finds someone is once again trying to frame him for crimes he didn't commit to get him exiled once again. Finn has only days to discover who is truly behind the crimes, otherwise he will lose everything. Can Finn clear his name?
What I Liked:
*In all honesty at first glance, Finn Fancy Necromancy is likely a book I would have passed over. The cover is a bit plain, and it doesn't exactly scream read me. I am certainly glad this book showed up in my mailbox, and that I took a chance on it. This was a creative and imaginative read with a complex plot, lots of paranormal entities, a suspenseful mystery sprinkled with a generous dose of humor. All in all, I had a terrific time with this book, and I recommend it to those who are looking for an Urban Fantasy that is different, especially if you are a fan of all things 1980s.
*Speaking of the 1980s, one of my favorite aspects of this novel was the heavy references to all things from this era. Finn has no memories beyond 1986 so in a sense, he is still stuck in the 1980s, so his outlook on the world, his ideas of popular culture and his vernacular reflects this era. I couldn't help but to snicker at Finn helplessly trying to navigate the twenty second century with a twenty first century knowledge. One of the funniest scenes in the book is when he is trying to give his younger brother, Petey, dating advice. Considering he went into exile at fifteen, Finn's ideas of romance and dating are drawn from popular romantic comedies from this era... here is a snippet of that conversation:
"Well, if you get an anonymous letter and think it's from the girl of your dreams, it's really from
the girl next door. Don't let your computer fall in love with the girl you like. If you have the
the choice between suicide or dating a cute French girl, date the girl. Don't give a geek your
underwear. And, uh, if your girlfriend like to take long salt baths, she's probably a mermaid?"
How fun is that? Can you guess all the movies? I was able to guess them all but the first, and I had to look that one up. There is so much more 80's goodness in here, if you grew up in this era, or you have a love for all things 1980's, you should read this book.
*This book is brimming with a cast of eclectic and eccentric characters. Finn himself is a necromancer with the ability to talk to deceased spirits. Finn's family is one of strangeness and disfunction. His deceased grandfather was a powerful necromancer and Finn's teacher. Finn's father has gone mad and only speaks in riddles. His mother is a ghost. Mort, Finn's older brother is an overbearing, power hungry necromancer. Finn's sister, Sammi, is allergic to magic, and the youngest brother, Petey, thinks his a werewolf because of a prank Mort and Finn played on him when they were kids. Then you have to add in Finn's friend, Zeke,a former, exiled Enforcer, think a magic cop, who has a bit of a resemblance to Mr. T with his mustache and constant use of the word "fool". Zeke's sister speaks to an imaginary friend and she is a true waer creature. Add in a purple mohawked neighbor who is completely human and you have an unforgettable cast. Oh and there are also witches, gnomes, fey, sasquatches, alchemists and necromancers. Truly, an interesting and unforgettable cast of characters.
*The main story of the book centers around Finn trying to uncover who framed him all those years ago and why. I thought the mystery was suspenseful and well done. There were many suspects and lots of leads, but when the chips were all in place, I was shocked as to who the perpetrator was. I didn't see that one coming. Well played.
*Along with Finn trying to solve who framed him, you also have the interesting side story of Finn trying to plug back into his old life twenty five years later. I loved watching him flounder about in the new world while trying to reforge relationships with friends and family. So much fun.
*The ending was action packed and full of suspense and big reveals. Most of the main story threads were wrapped up, but there were a few niggling threads left open leaving me to think that this was not the end of the story. I was most curious after finishing this to see if there is a sequel, because as it ended, I think there will be another book which makes me happy.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a minor criticism, but it is important to me. I hate to think that I would have passed this book over because of the cover. It isn't exactly appealing and it is rather dull. I am not even sure what the creatures on the cover are supposed to be. This book does not reflect the fun and quirkiness of this book. I wish the cover screamed read me and was more eye catching.
*There is a lot to wrap your head around in this one. I admit there were times when I was a bit lost trying to keep everything straight as far as the fey, the arcana and everything else. It was hard to discern who was on who's side.
The ending gave me pause. What was the deal with the changeling? What happened to the bad guy? I think that a sequel must be in the works because it felt a bit like a cliffhanger.
*I personally loved all multiple pop culture references from the 1980s, but if you aren't clued into this era, a lot of the jokes will go over your head, and a bit of something will be lost. This book might not work as well for a someone not familiar with American pop culture of the 1908s as they won't get a lot of the humor.
Finn Fancy Necromancy was a delightful and surprising find. This is a unique and funny Urban Fantasy stuffed with all the goodness of the 1980s. Not to mention it is smart and suspenseful. For all of you who love a good Urban Fantasy with humor, eccentric and fun characters and a good story line, I urge you to give this gem a go. I am hoping that there are more Finn Fancy Necromancy books in the works as I am now a fan.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
February 10, 2017
There was a tasty tidbit of this novel offered on NetGalley so I did the download to my Kindle and was just going to take a little peek to see what it was all about. Well......as book lovers everywhere can confirm, that was just me playing tricks on myself. No way could I stop reading once I had begun. There are eight chapters in this excerpt which is a healthy amount. Definitely enough to let me know I want to read the remainder of the book.
Our hero, Finn, was sent away to the Other Realm without his physical body for twenty-five years for a crime he didn't commit. All he wants to do is reach the portal between the Other Realm and Earth and re-claim his body and his life - definitely without any magic in it ever again. Well, as the saying goes, the best laid plans.......
Even reading the author's Acknowledgements had me laughing out loud so don't skip over those. The novel starts out with a lot of humor and then settles down to Finn trying to figure out who set him up with the fake charges of practicing dark necromancy and who is obviously trying to get him sent away again. The story was just really getting going with the investigating portion when the excerpt came to an end. I'm giving this four stars because I can't give more because I haven't read the entire book. I have a feeling I'm going to like it very much once I can start reading again at Chapter 9.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for making the excerpt available.
Our hero, Finn, was sent away to the Other Realm without his physical body for twenty-five years for a crime he didn't commit. All he wants to do is reach the portal between the Other Realm and Earth and re-claim his body and his life - definitely without any magic in it ever again. Well, as the saying goes, the best laid plans.......
Even reading the author's Acknowledgements had me laughing out loud so don't skip over those. The novel starts out with a lot of humor and then settles down to Finn trying to figure out who set him up with the fake charges of practicing dark necromancy and who is obviously trying to get him sent away again. The story was just really getting going with the investigating portion when the excerpt came to an end. I'm giving this four stars because I can't give more because I haven't read the entire book. I have a feeling I'm going to like it very much once I can start reading again at Chapter 9.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for making the excerpt available.
March 21, 2016
4 Stars
Finn Fancy Necromancy by Randy Henderson is a fun urban fantasy and coming of age story. The plot and the characters are fun and make this an easy read. This is a story that is appropriate for the young adult crowd while not feeling like it was written for them.
This book is filled with 80's references, heck every chapter title is an 80's song title. These references fit with our main character and add to the flavor and fun of the book without being an homage that is shoved down our throats.
My only disappointment was that I wanted Necromancy to be more apparent. Even though it is the subject and story line, there is virtually no necromancy practiced, viewed, or even discussed. I simply wanted it to be the star.
I enjoyed the writing style and story development of Henderson. This book will make me look for more from the author.
An easy urban fantasy with some 80's flair.
Recommended.
Finn Fancy Necromancy by Randy Henderson is a fun urban fantasy and coming of age story. The plot and the characters are fun and make this an easy read. This is a story that is appropriate for the young adult crowd while not feeling like it was written for them.
This book is filled with 80's references, heck every chapter title is an 80's song title. These references fit with our main character and add to the flavor and fun of the book without being an homage that is shoved down our throats.
My only disappointment was that I wanted Necromancy to be more apparent. Even though it is the subject and story line, there is virtually no necromancy practiced, viewed, or even discussed. I simply wanted it to be the star.
I enjoyed the writing style and story development of Henderson. This book will make me look for more from the author.
An easy urban fantasy with some 80's flair.
Recommended.
May 9, 2015
Poor Finn, at 15 he was exiled for 25 years. 25 years of being nothing and getting sucked dry of memories by the Fey. 25 years for a murder he did not commit.
But now he is back. Something went wrong and he has no idea how the world has changed. He still wonders who framed him and now someone is after him.
This was a urban fantasy that felt..dunno, just different. Finn comes home to his strange necromancy family. His sister without powers, his brother who thinks he is a were (though there are weres). His other brother who has taken over and does not seem happy to see Finn back. Yay, that family had issues.
Poor Finn, the world certainly did change in 25 years and he is so clueless. But I liked him, sure he is clueless but he does well adjusting. He really does not have a choice since things go boom at once he is back.
I liked his family too, strange as they were. The whole mystery of who framed him was well done, I sure did not figure it out, but then I never do.
The world was interesting. Normal people do not know that there is magic (we never do ;). And I'd like to explore the world more.
But now he is back. Something went wrong and he has no idea how the world has changed. He still wonders who framed him and now someone is after him.
This was a urban fantasy that felt..dunno, just different. Finn comes home to his strange necromancy family. His sister without powers, his brother who thinks he is a were (though there are weres). His other brother who has taken over and does not seem happy to see Finn back. Yay, that family had issues.
Poor Finn, the world certainly did change in 25 years and he is so clueless. But I liked him, sure he is clueless but he does well adjusting. He really does not have a choice since things go boom at once he is back.
I liked his family too, strange as they were. The whole mystery of who framed him was well done, I sure did not figure it out, but then I never do.
The world was interesting. Normal people do not know that there is magic (we never do ;). And I'd like to explore the world more.
Read
April 2, 2018Not going to rate this. I just found it very mediocre as compared to other UF novels. I also found the humour too repetitive. Kinda became annoying. Got to page 101 but couldnt go further on. Better books to read.
February 16, 2023
Funny, fun quirky fantasy full of 80s in-jokes, Pacific Northwest locations, (including the fey equivalent of World War II fought at Port Townsend's Fort Worden) and great character moments. This is one for a nice afternoon off when you want to smile and laugh and love a fantasy book. However, the ending does have a good barb in it that takes the characters seriously, making this a true character story and not just a satire.
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May 13, 2015
Finn Fancy Necromancy will make you laugh, with:
* oddball humor and a wise-cracking sarcastic narrator
* a world of deadly gnomes and assassin sasquatches
* 80s pop culture nostalgia in a quirky urban fantasy
4.5 stars. Not absolutely perfect, but wow did I enjoy it. I'm not sure if it will be a standalone or a series, but if there are more, I'm in.
Read the full review at Come Hither Books
* oddball humor and a wise-cracking sarcastic narrator
* a world of deadly gnomes and assassin sasquatches
* 80s pop culture nostalgia in a quirky urban fantasy
4.5 stars. Not absolutely perfect, but wow did I enjoy it. I'm not sure if it will be a standalone or a series, but if there are more, I'm in.
Read the full review at Come Hither Books
February 23, 2015
(I received a preview of this from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Okay, I'm going to be honest with you: when I saw the title of this book and read the blurb, I wasn't really expecting much. I was bored, so I decided to read it anyway. Hell, I thought, it might even be good.
Turns out, it was great. Tor, I shouldn't have doubted you. You would never publish a dud book.
The main character is a guy named Finn, a wise-cracking, sarcastic necromancer who has a hell of a lot of problems piling up and up. This guys luck, or lack of it, had me wincing in sympathy. I mean, come on! The day you get released from 25 years of exile with mind-fucking Fey, some dude decides to fuck you over and frame you for murder! Tough, man. There's a good sense of mystery in this as well; you kind of suspect everyone from Mort to Jimmy to Pete of being the bad guy. We haven't really seen much of the other characters so far, aside from Mort. The mystery offered to us is pretty shrouded in obscurity, as well as being shady as heck. Who could've framed Finn? And why? What happened with Felicity all those years ago? Will there be all-out war with the Fey?
The world building in this is pretty good as well. Fey and Arcana, magi and ARC, enforcers and mundanes. We even get a glimpse of social justice activism from Finn's sister, Sammy. The waerwolf support group bit got me chuckling. There seems to be a pretty solid world in the story that is built upon by the author. I liked the little insight into the politics of the ARC and the magi, a series of checks and balances. The Miami Vice references were entertaining as well.
So far, what we've been offered is the story of a man trying to get back on his feet and recover from the trauma of being exiled for a quarter of a century, plus clear his name and try not to get killed. Also, a murder mystery and assassin sasquatches! Yeahhhh.
The preview offered merely a tantalising glimpse into the story, a tease, a lure to get us to read the rest of the book when it comes out. And it works.
Okay, I'm going to be honest with you: when I saw the title of this book and read the blurb, I wasn't really expecting much. I was bored, so I decided to read it anyway. Hell, I thought, it might even be good.
Turns out, it was great. Tor, I shouldn't have doubted you. You would never publish a dud book.
The main character is a guy named Finn, a wise-cracking, sarcastic necromancer who has a hell of a lot of problems piling up and up. This guys luck, or lack of it, had me wincing in sympathy. I mean, come on! The day you get released from 25 years of exile with mind-fucking Fey, some dude decides to fuck you over and frame you for murder! Tough, man. There's a good sense of mystery in this as well; you kind of suspect everyone from Mort to Jimmy to Pete of being the bad guy. We haven't really seen much of the other characters so far, aside from Mort. The mystery offered to us is pretty shrouded in obscurity, as well as being shady as heck. Who could've framed Finn? And why? What happened with Felicity all those years ago? Will there be all-out war with the Fey?
The world building in this is pretty good as well. Fey and Arcana, magi and ARC, enforcers and mundanes. We even get a glimpse of social justice activism from Finn's sister, Sammy. The waerwolf support group bit got me chuckling. There seems to be a pretty solid world in the story that is built upon by the author. I liked the little insight into the politics of the ARC and the magi, a series of checks and balances. The Miami Vice references were entertaining as well.
So far, what we've been offered is the story of a man trying to get back on his feet and recover from the trauma of being exiled for a quarter of a century, plus clear his name and try not to get killed. Also, a murder mystery and assassin sasquatches! Yeahhhh.
The preview offered merely a tantalising glimpse into the story, a tease, a lure to get us to read the rest of the book when it comes out. And it works.
January 31, 2019
ETA, 30 April 2015:
Well, I've read the whole book! I feel pretty similarly towards the whole as I did towards the first 1/3 of it. It's very funny, with great pop cultural references and jokes. I still wish the magical system was a bit more consistent and a bit better explained (preferably earlier on). I have to admit that I enjoyed the humor and the family dynamics a lot more than the ostensible "mystery" plot, the romance(s) made Finn seem a little Marty Stuish, and some of the characters' voices were a little eh. Zeke, in particular. But overall this was a fun book and an impressive debut, and the ending wraps a few things up in a satisfying way, while still leaving plenty of room for a sequel.
My original comments on the 8-chapter sample are below.
***
17 Jan 2015, Review of 8-chapter preview sample via NetGalley:
I'm not too sure about the title of this book, which seems like too much of an in-joke for people who have already read the book rather than something which will attract new readers, but the story itself is a lot of fun. Henderson is a good writer, packing both humor and pathos into an urban fantasy-cum-family drama.
I appreciated that although Finn lacks any cultural knowledge past the mid-1980s, when he was exiled from the human plane at age 15, his emotional development was not equally stunted -- I suspect it would be have been tedious to read if the POV here had been entirely that of a 15 year old boy in a 40 year old's body. Henderson made some very good choices there.
I could have done with a bit more world-building re the magical system, but I suspect it will come in due time. The 8 chapter preview excerpt on NetGalley was such a wonderful tease! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this when it comes out.
Well, I've read the whole book! I feel pretty similarly towards the whole as I did towards the first 1/3 of it. It's very funny, with great pop cultural references and jokes. I still wish the magical system was a bit more consistent and a bit better explained (preferably earlier on). I have to admit that I enjoyed the humor and the family dynamics a lot more than the ostensible "mystery" plot, the romance(s) made Finn seem a little Marty Stuish, and some of the characters' voices were a little eh. Zeke, in particular. But overall this was a fun book and an impressive debut, and the ending wraps a few things up in a satisfying way, while still leaving plenty of room for a sequel.
My original comments on the 8-chapter sample are below.
***
17 Jan 2015, Review of 8-chapter preview sample via NetGalley:
I'm not too sure about the title of this book, which seems like too much of an in-joke for people who have already read the book rather than something which will attract new readers, but the story itself is a lot of fun. Henderson is a good writer, packing both humor and pathos into an urban fantasy-cum-family drama.
I appreciated that although Finn lacks any cultural knowledge past the mid-1980s, when he was exiled from the human plane at age 15, his emotional development was not equally stunted -- I suspect it would be have been tedious to read if the POV here had been entirely that of a 15 year old boy in a 40 year old's body. Henderson made some very good choices there.
I could have done with a bit more world-building re the magical system, but I suspect it will come in due time. The 8 chapter preview excerpt on NetGalley was such a wonderful tease! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this when it comes out.
March 12, 2015
Randy Henderson has hit the proverbial toboggan out of the wallrus park with this one, and that takes some doing as you might imagine.
I bought this book because I know Randy. I finished it because it's good. Really good. He's written a sassy main character who's a little bit retro, a little bit lost puppy, and a little bit superhero sunflower waiting to bloom. Finn's a teenager who's just about to confess his first love when who gets framed for dark magic and sent into spirit exile. On the day of release, he's attacked and dumped back in his body with no memory of the last 25 years. The girl friend has grown up. So has the family and the girl next door. Disco is dead, and so will he be if he can't find out who framed him and why, and stop them before they kill off his family, send him back into exile, and maybe start a war.
Randy's prose is fresh and jaunty, his world building nuanced but lean. The world he creates is funny, what with the inter-garden gnome transport system and Sasquatch buffoonery, but it's also convincingly real and menacing. He lays out his characters masterfully, then elevates the stakes and momentum in a smooth ride to crescendo. Oh, and you'll never guess who dunnit.
Read this book. You'll love it. It will make you laugh. It will make you smile. It will make you a tiny bit wistful about the 80's and the Washington coast, even if you've never seen either of them. And it may or may not make you cry. I'm not telling.
I bought this book because I know Randy. I finished it because it's good. Really good. He's written a sassy main character who's a little bit retro, a little bit lost puppy, and a little bit superhero sunflower waiting to bloom. Finn's a teenager who's just about to confess his first love when who gets framed for dark magic and sent into spirit exile. On the day of release, he's attacked and dumped back in his body with no memory of the last 25 years. The girl friend has grown up. So has the family and the girl next door. Disco is dead, and so will he be if he can't find out who framed him and why, and stop them before they kill off his family, send him back into exile, and maybe start a war.
Randy's prose is fresh and jaunty, his world building nuanced but lean. The world he creates is funny, what with the inter-garden gnome transport system and Sasquatch buffoonery, but it's also convincingly real and menacing. He lays out his characters masterfully, then elevates the stakes and momentum in a smooth ride to crescendo. Oh, and you'll never guess who dunnit.
Read this book. You'll love it. It will make you laugh. It will make you smile. It will make you a tiny bit wistful about the 80's and the Washington coast, even if you've never seen either of them. And it may or may not make you cry. I'm not telling.
April 4, 2017
I wasn't terribly impressed by the first 1/3 of this book. It did perk my interest after that, but it still wasn't super "gripping". The title is what drew me in, and I really wanted to love it, but it fell a bit short of my expectations. I did enjoy the inclusion of various magical creatures/beings, and the unique spin on Necromancy magic.
February 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this! The story moves fast & has the whole time travel/ amnesia twist going. The only problem is the cliff-hanger ending. I'm really looking forward to the next story! I almost didn't read this because of the book's title - I'm so glad i did!
February 11, 2016
Hmm, this sounds a bit like a more Bizarro version of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Sign me up!
March 11, 2018
A fun amalgamation of pretty much whatever you can think of in terms of fantasy and sci fi. Fast paced and often times hilarious it provides a much appreciated change of pace for fantasy material.
March 13, 2018
I wanted to like this book more than I did. But ... man. It wasn't bad, I just didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
Part of my problem was a 15 year old in a 40 year old's body. 15 year olds are - as you may recall from your own experience - not anything like 40 year olds. And expecting him to be able to interact with his peers who had actually lived the missing 25 year seems like it would be worse. (I have this problem when a 100+ year old vampire is hitting on a teenager. Whyyyyyyyyy?)
Anyway. There were fun bits - Sasquatches! Witches! Gnomes! Taking a ferry to Seattle! But ultimately I felt like it was trying too hard with the 80's references, and I didn't care enough about the main character to want to read another book.
Part of my problem was a 15 year old in a 40 year old's body. 15 year olds are - as you may recall from your own experience - not anything like 40 year olds. And expecting him to be able to interact with his peers who had actually lived the missing 25 year seems like it would be worse. (I have this problem when a 100+ year old vampire is hitting on a teenager. Whyyyyyyyyy?)
Anyway. There were fun bits - Sasquatches! Witches! Gnomes! Taking a ferry to Seattle! But ultimately I felt like it was trying too hard with the 80's references, and I didn't care enough about the main character to want to read another book.
June 11, 2017
What is Finn's Fancy?
Finn has been denied existence, exiled to the Other Realm for 25 years when a teen thereby losing contact with his friends, family and potential significant other or mate during this whole time.
Finn has a lot of catching up to do when he returns to existence as changeling
and tries to resurrect all he cares for as an older adult with a twenty five year gap in what's been happening while gone.
His family has the appearance in the human world of being Morticians, but it the world of magic and necromancy they have separate gifts of magic and arcana and Finn is a Talker. His talent is an ability to talk to those who have passed on but at a cost to himself. Time of his own life diminishes when in contact with them that's been and ain't no more.
Through metaphoric analogy of Finn and the story itself, it touches a very great deal of we have enjoyed and been entertained with in Sci Fi, Fantasy
and our own journey and fandom with pop culture. The author packed this book and Finn with Iconic images and points out some of our silliness too with some wise observation like such as, "Why didn't someone think of just tipping over a Dalek in the first place?" oO(They probably have magno-grapels or something but that is another story).Oo
This story is a gas. Magically delicious, but doesn't have the depth or satisfaction of his short story in Writer's of The Future, The Memory Bleeds Behind The Mask, but parts of this seem more personal in some ways at this time. curious
Or, is this Finn of 2015 traveling a contemporary river in a much more complex world than an older Finn past times? That's a question only the reader can answer. life in the data stream....
Finn has been denied existence, exiled to the Other Realm for 25 years when a teen thereby losing contact with his friends, family and potential significant other or mate during this whole time.
Finn has a lot of catching up to do when he returns to existence as changeling
and tries to resurrect all he cares for as an older adult with a twenty five year gap in what's been happening while gone.
His family has the appearance in the human world of being Morticians, but it the world of magic and necromancy they have separate gifts of magic and arcana and Finn is a Talker. His talent is an ability to talk to those who have passed on but at a cost to himself. Time of his own life diminishes when in contact with them that's been and ain't no more.
Through metaphoric analogy of Finn and the story itself, it touches a very great deal of we have enjoyed and been entertained with in Sci Fi, Fantasy
and our own journey and fandom with pop culture. The author packed this book and Finn with Iconic images and points out some of our silliness too with some wise observation like such as, "Why didn't someone think of just tipping over a Dalek in the first place?" oO(They probably have magno-grapels or something but that is another story).Oo
This story is a gas. Magically delicious, but doesn't have the depth or satisfaction of his short story in Writer's of The Future, The Memory Bleeds Behind The Mask, but parts of this seem more personal in some ways at this time. curious
Or, is this Finn of 2015 traveling a contemporary river in a much more complex world than an older Finn past times? That's a question only the reader can answer. life in the data stream....
March 4, 2015
I loved this! A fun, witty urban fantasy debut set in Washington State. Finn is exiled in the Fey's Other Realm for 25 years at the age of 15 when he is accused of a murder. He returns to his family after he is released from exile to the family necrotorium in Port Townsend. Finn makes constant references to the 80s, as he missed 25 years of updates, and each chapter is named after another classic 80s song. Since I am a total sucker for anything 80s, the Goonies references and more were music to my ears. I will be suggesting this to many, many urban fantasy fans (and anyone looking for a clever, humorous read).
February 9, 2015
Review: FINN FANCY NECROMANCY [preview] by Randy Henderson
Imprisoned in Fae for a quarter-century for Necromancy he did NOT commit, poor Finn's set-up continues: at the moment of his release to Earth, an enforcer appears in an assassination attempt on Finn's changeling, who has taken his place for the past twenty-five years. As the portal is closing, Finn must barrel through without recovering the changeling's memories of Finn's life; or remain in Fae, perhaps forever. Someone really means to keep Finn barred from his Earth life.
I reviewed the publisher preview edition via NetGalkey.
Imprisoned in Fae for a quarter-century for Necromancy he did NOT commit, poor Finn's set-up continues: at the moment of his release to Earth, an enforcer appears in an assassination attempt on Finn's changeling, who has taken his place for the past twenty-five years. As the portal is closing, Finn must barrel through without recovering the changeling's memories of Finn's life; or remain in Fae, perhaps forever. Someone really means to keep Finn barred from his Earth life.
I reviewed the publisher preview edition via NetGalkey.
March 1, 2018
I loved this book, it's silly and fun, pretty much like the title suggests! The story is interesting and you have a whole bunch of characters to like or dislike. A lovely story that I've now suggested to a few people to read. It's just a fun book with a whole bunch of ridiculousness to brighten up your day!
April 30, 2016
This was a fun read, I enjoyed the humor and abundance of 80's references! Although there were some continuity issues and some other slight complaints I thought it was an awesome first book for the series and I'm interested to see where it goes from here.
October 21, 2023
This is fine, as far as books go. There's nothing really "wrong" with it, but I think that I am just not the right audience for the story or--more, particularly--the style.
I found the first two-thirds of the book to be incredibly boring; so much so that I forgot about whole characters when they re-entered a scene. I will say the final act was a page-turner, but that hardly makes up for the slow death my brain experienced early on. With that said, I could not stomach the style of writing. It made my teeth hurt. Here's one small example: "Consciousness slammed into me like a punk rock tyrannosaurus. [Later on the same page] It [his head] felt abused and not quite right, as though my brain had been featured as the bad girl in a David Lynch movie" (p. 363).
The whole book was like this, and I'm sorry, I just hate it. But I can't fault the book for a personal preference; hence, 3 stars for a decent story.
I found the first two-thirds of the book to be incredibly boring; so much so that I forgot about whole characters when they re-entered a scene. I will say the final act was a page-turner, but that hardly makes up for the slow death my brain experienced early on. With that said, I could not stomach the style of writing. It made my teeth hurt. Here's one small example: "Consciousness slammed into me like a punk rock tyrannosaurus. [Later on the same page] It [his head] felt abused and not quite right, as though my brain had been featured as the bad girl in a David Lynch movie" (p. 363).
The whole book was like this, and I'm sorry, I just hate it. But I can't fault the book for a personal preference; hence, 3 stars for a decent story.
January 22, 2020
2.5
So, overall, I was a bit meh about this book because it wasn't as funny as I was hoping for based on the title. I know a lot of reviews have called it "quirky", but, really, it just seems to be based on that "nostalgia + pop culture references = humor" equation which I don't really get.
Like, I'm sorry (not sorry), but referencing 80s pop culture all the time, including have a character who loves Mr. T calling people "fool" all the time, does not count for actual wit or humor in my curmudgeonly book.
So, aside from that, it was kind of a fairly standard UF novel. Definitely not the worst that I've read, but far from the best, either.
I did think the magical systems were interesting, and it was nice to see necromancy as a magical practice that isn't automatically "evil", so there's that. The representation of the Fey was interesting, too, and not quite typical.
I was rather annoyed, though, that all of the female characters were either vipers or victims. *yawn*
I rounded up to 3-stars because I might be willing to continue the series - especially since it's just a trilogy. (If it was an ongoing, unending series - *cough*Dresden*cough* - then I definitely would not continue, though.)
So... I might change my mind and round down to 2-stars in the future but, for now, it's 3-stars with the potential of continuing the series.
So, overall, I was a bit meh about this book because it wasn't as funny as I was hoping for based on the title. I know a lot of reviews have called it "quirky", but, really, it just seems to be based on that "nostalgia + pop culture references = humor" equation which I don't really get.
Like, I'm sorry (not sorry), but referencing 80s pop culture all the time, including have a character who loves Mr. T calling people "fool" all the time, does not count for actual wit or humor in my curmudgeonly book.
So, aside from that, it was kind of a fairly standard UF novel. Definitely not the worst that I've read, but far from the best, either.
I did think the magical systems were interesting, and it was nice to see necromancy as a magical practice that isn't automatically "evil", so there's that. The representation of the Fey was interesting, too, and not quite typical.
I was rather annoyed, though, that all of the female characters were either vipers or victims. *yawn*
I rounded up to 3-stars because I might be willing to continue the series - especially since it's just a trilogy. (If it was an ongoing, unending series - *cough*Dresden*cough* - then I definitely would not continue, though.)
So... I might change my mind and round down to 2-stars in the future but, for now, it's 3-stars with the potential of continuing the series.
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