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The Final Formula #2.5
The Necromancer's Betrayal
All Elysia wants is a normal life. A life free of magic and her family’s expectations. The last thing she wants is to be a practicing necromancer.
That changes when Elysia meets a dead man. His presence so close to her home can’t be a coincidence. Throw in his polite demeanor and good looks, and she knows another necromancer is messing with her. So she does what any of her kind would do: she soul binds the dead man and makes him her own.
But the solution isn’t that simple. James, her newly acquired dead man, is no necromancer’s pawn. He’s a grim: a near mythical being of incredible power and a prize in the necromancer world. Yet Elysia sees the man beneath the power. James is as much a slave to his magic as she is to hers.
Determined to free him, Elysia must seek help from her family. Can she convince them that he’s not a prize to be claimed? Or will she have to rejoin the necromancer world, sacrificing her own freedom to save him?
(The Necromancer's Betrayal is a 43,000-word novella.)
That changes when Elysia meets a dead man. His presence so close to her home can’t be a coincidence. Throw in his polite demeanor and good looks, and she knows another necromancer is messing with her. So she does what any of her kind would do: she soul binds the dead man and makes him her own.
But the solution isn’t that simple. James, her newly acquired dead man, is no necromancer’s pawn. He’s a grim: a near mythical being of incredible power and a prize in the necromancer world. Yet Elysia sees the man beneath the power. James is as much a slave to his magic as she is to hers.
Determined to free him, Elysia must seek help from her family. Can she convince them that he’s not a prize to be claimed? Or will she have to rejoin the necromancer world, sacrificing her own freedom to save him?
(The Necromancer's Betrayal is a 43,000-word novella.)
ebook
First published August 1, 2014
49 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Becca Andre
30 books241 followersBecca Andre lives in southern Ohio with her husband, two children, and an elderly Jack Russell Terrier. A love of science and math (yes, she’s weird like that), led to a career as a chemist where she blows things up far more infrequently than you’d expect. Other interests include: chocolate, hard rock, and slaying things on the Xbox. She also finds writing about herself in third person a bit strange.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 8, 2014
Holy crap!
That was all I could think when finishing chapter 1. And it gets better from there.
This story is only partially told from Jame's point of view - mostly it's from the POV of a new character - a necromancer who DOESN'T creep you out. (Though the rest of them are beginning to give me a complex)
This story is about necromancer politics, and manipulation. There are several unfinished threads that I look forward to causing all sorts of trouble for Addie in the future. But mostly... I'm so excited that James may have found a girl! Who doesn't mind that he's dead!
That was all I could think when finishing chapter 1. And it gets better from there.
This story is only partially told from Jame's point of view - mostly it's from the POV of a new character - a necromancer who DOESN'T creep you out. (Though the rest of them are beginning to give me a complex)
This story is about necromancer politics, and manipulation. There are several unfinished threads that I look forward to causing all sorts of trouble for Addie in the future. But mostly... I'm so excited that James may have found a girl! Who doesn't mind that he's dead!
April 6, 2015
I was so excited after reading the first volume of this paranormal series. I liked that it was light and funny. But from the 2nd volume on, it has become formulaic and repetitive. I thought Elysia, 'Ely' for short is a cool new character. but she soon devolved into a Mary Sue. I barely recognized James, one of the main characters; his personality, and physical appearance seems to have changed from cute young guy to rocker stud. With their magical bond, they also have an insta-attraction/lust for each other. As the new couple however, they are bland and boring.
September 19, 2014
Argh, just when it was getting interesting it stopped!
Becca Andre is one of my new favourite authors.
Elysia is a necromancer, James is a Grim. Believing him to be a zombie or a lich she binds him to her - and then it starts to get interesting.
I really liked James from the previous books so it was nice to see him star this time.
I can't say more without ruining the plot but if you enjoyed the other books you'll love this novella.
Becca Andre is one of my new favourite authors.
Elysia is a necromancer, James is a Grim. Believing him to be a zombie or a lich she binds him to her - and then it starts to get interesting.
I really liked James from the previous books so it was nice to see him star this time.
I can't say more without ruining the plot but if you enjoyed the other books you'll love this novella.
December 15, 2014
This was a fun story, sweet sprinkled with little bits of sexy. The world Becca has created and the characters/story line are so good your attention doesn't lag. She does an excellent job with the sensual teasing in this one, I can't help but think if she starts to lean heavier on the romance aspects of her stories she could set the pages aflame! Eagerly anticipating book 3!
February 19, 2018
I wanted to like this book. I was so giddy about the first book in the series, so disappointed with the second, so hoping for this one. Alas, it did not work out for us.
February 16, 2016
4.5, but I’ll give it 5 stars. The Necromancer’s Betrayal was a nice “tide me over” for Final Formula readers waiting for The Alchemist’s Flame.
Plot:
This novella centers on Elysia, a necromancer who avoids her gift for fear of going insane because of a family curse. One night, she comes across a man, FF’s James, who she believes is a lich. She takes control of him only to realize that he’s actually a grim. Together, the two fight their attraction and two other necromancers (FF’s Neil and Doug) while trying to release James from the bond Elysia created against his will.
Characters:
If you’re a FF reader, you already know James. He’s one of those hot, sweet guys who doesn’t realize how attractive he is. Elysia is new to the series, but she’s not necessarily a stranger; in fact, she’s Ian Mallory’s great great great (and so on) granddaughter, and she’s just as powerful as she is. Unlike Ian, Elysia just wants to be normal. She also knows that all of the female necromancers in her family have gone insane by the age of 30. For those reasons, she usually avoids using her gifts, and the fact that she gained control over James was an accident (or fate). Even though necromancers can’t stand the dead, and even though Elysia wants to be disgusted by James, she realizes that he is actually more human than the people she has trusted in the past.
Doug and Neil (especially Neil) are just as creepy as you remember. This time they take things a step farther by involving James’ brother Brian and Gavin, James’ ancestor from the world of the dead.
Writing:
The book was pretty well edited. It also included a nice balance of suspense and sexual tension. There is a little bit of language and a small amount of violence. I’d probably rate it somewhere around a PG or a PG-13.
The Bottom Line:
Again, this is a novella, and novellas generally keep me wanting more, but this was a nice way to introduce Elysia as Ian’s family member and an excellent bridge to the next book in the series. Having started The Alchemist’s Flame and then realizing I’d totally forgotten what had happened before, The Necromancer’s Betrayal provided a great little crash course to get me back on track.
Plot:
This novella centers on Elysia, a necromancer who avoids her gift for fear of going insane because of a family curse. One night, she comes across a man, FF’s James, who she believes is a lich. She takes control of him only to realize that he’s actually a grim. Together, the two fight their attraction and two other necromancers (FF’s Neil and Doug) while trying to release James from the bond Elysia created against his will.
Characters:
If you’re a FF reader, you already know James. He’s one of those hot, sweet guys who doesn’t realize how attractive he is. Elysia is new to the series, but she’s not necessarily a stranger; in fact, she’s Ian Mallory’s great great great (and so on) granddaughter, and she’s just as powerful as she is. Unlike Ian, Elysia just wants to be normal. She also knows that all of the female necromancers in her family have gone insane by the age of 30. For those reasons, she usually avoids using her gifts, and the fact that she gained control over James was an accident (or fate). Even though necromancers can’t stand the dead, and even though Elysia wants to be disgusted by James, she realizes that he is actually more human than the people she has trusted in the past.
Doug and Neil (especially Neil) are just as creepy as you remember. This time they take things a step farther by involving James’ brother Brian and Gavin, James’ ancestor from the world of the dead.
Writing:
The book was pretty well edited. It also included a nice balance of suspense and sexual tension. There is a little bit of language and a small amount of violence. I’d probably rate it somewhere around a PG or a PG-13.
The Bottom Line:
Again, this is a novella, and novellas generally keep me wanting more, but this was a nice way to introduce Elysia as Ian’s family member and an excellent bridge to the next book in the series. Having started The Alchemist’s Flame and then realizing I’d totally forgotten what had happened before, The Necromancer’s Betrayal provided a great little crash course to get me back on track.
August 24, 2014
The Necromancer's Betrayal is a relatively short installment (it is a ~150 page novella) in the Final Formula series that takes place between Books 2 and 3. While short, it is a riveting read (I finished it in one sitting). It focuses on James, one of the main characters from the previous novels who is also a grim (sort of like a cross between a spectral werewolf and grim reaper), and introduces a new character named Elysia.
James has a pretty bad history with necromancers. Because he is dead (or more accurately was never alive), necromancers can take control of him pretty easily, and mostly try and use him for nefarious purposes. Despite his attempts to steer clear, though, he ends up soul bound to Elysia, perhaps the only nice necromancer we've met so far in the series.
The novella serves more as an introduction to Elysia and shows the beginning of a relationship between Elysia and James. I hope to see more of her in later novels. The two characters have pretty great chemistry (or is alchemistry more accurate?), but I really liked that the author didn't feel the need to wrap the story up with a cliched, romance-novel-type happily ever after ending. I get the sense that there is more to come and can't wait to read more about both characters!
James has a pretty bad history with necromancers. Because he is dead (or more accurately was never alive), necromancers can take control of him pretty easily, and mostly try and use him for nefarious purposes. Despite his attempts to steer clear, though, he ends up soul bound to Elysia, perhaps the only nice necromancer we've met so far in the series.
The novella serves more as an introduction to Elysia and shows the beginning of a relationship between Elysia and James. I hope to see more of her in later novels. The two characters have pretty great chemistry (or is alchemistry more accurate?), but I really liked that the author didn't feel the need to wrap the story up with a cliched, romance-novel-type happily ever after ending. I get the sense that there is more to come and can't wait to read more about both characters!
August 11, 2014
I loved this one! But then I love this whole series which just keeps getting better and better. James is back and it finally looks like he may have found his match in Elysia. Watching how these two interact is loads of fun. Elysia is a reluctant necromancer who is very surprised by James, the hellhound/Grim who contradicts her understanding of what it means to be dead.
While this story works as a standalone, it is far better to read all the books in order starting with The Final Formula. There is quite a cast of characters and knowing who's who makes a considerable difference. Hey, all the books are great! Enjoy!
While this story works as a standalone, it is far better to read all the books in order starting with The Final Formula. There is quite a cast of characters and knowing who's who makes a considerable difference. Hey, all the books are great! Enjoy!
August 17, 2014
The Necromancer's Betrayal is a novella set in between the second and third book in the series. We are introduced to a new character, Elysia, while learning more about James. Just like the novels, the story is fast-paced and fun. Normally, I'm not a huge novella fan, but I love how these novellas in the Final Formula series get us into the heads of other characters. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to book 3!
August 6, 2014
New novel in the Addled Alchemist world! Ever since I discovered Becca Andre and her new universe, I've been hooked. In this novella we learn more of James's nature and what he can do to/for a necromancer. Pretty interesting and it opens new possibilities for the next book (esp. with Gavin #nospoiler). Congrats, excellent book, loved it.
July 19, 2017
How James Meets Elysia.
The Necromancer's Betrayal is how James meets Elysia. This is a novella that takes place after the end of book 2 and obviously before book 3. It is fairly fast paced like the other books in this series. It is well written and the characters well defined.
This book is predominantly about James and Elysia, and the mayhem she has creates. It seems to take place mostly from Elysia's POV, with James' POV at all other times. You find out what Neil's been up to after the events of book 2, and further introduced to Doug. Ian Mallory is also mentioned, our favorite Lich King.
Overall, I found this novella well worth reading. It fills in any gaps or questions between books one and two. I'm looking forward to reading book 3. Great exciting read.
The Necromancer's Betrayal is how James meets Elysia. This is a novella that takes place after the end of book 2 and obviously before book 3. It is fairly fast paced like the other books in this series. It is well written and the characters well defined.
This book is predominantly about James and Elysia, and the mayhem she has creates. It seems to take place mostly from Elysia's POV, with James' POV at all other times. You find out what Neil's been up to after the events of book 2, and further introduced to Doug. Ian Mallory is also mentioned, our favorite Lich King.
Overall, I found this novella well worth reading. It fills in any gaps or questions between books one and two. I'm looking forward to reading book 3. Great exciting read.
March 31, 2018
Excellent story about James and Elysia. Meet the new necromancer on the block, Elysia. Her and James have a special bond. In this action packed involved story you will meet Neil again, Doug and Era and Gavin. You will meet others but control will be bouncing all over the place and the story will have twists. I recommend you read this interesting book and I know I enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series.
August 5, 2019
This is a great entrance point --- understandable (with a few hiccups) even if you've completely forgotten the earlier books in the series. Jacob is a crowd pleaser, and I was surprised by how much I liked Elysia. Great setup too with an accidental soul bond creating good banter and ethical dilemmas.
May 26, 2019
Another hot story!
Even though I seriously miss Addie’s POV, these half novels have me in love with James. And could the novel get any hotter? Amazing chemistry between Elysia and James.
Reader Rated for ages 15+ for moderate sensuality and mild language.
Even though I seriously miss Addie’s POV, these half novels have me in love with James. And could the novel get any hotter? Amazing chemistry between Elysia and James.
Reader Rated for ages 15+ for moderate sensuality and mild language.
June 8, 2018
For being "just" a novella, there are some significant developments in the overall story.
I'm very curious about how the next books will pick up after this!
I'm very curious about how the next books will pick up after this!
September 23, 2018
Love this seriez
This is a great series, with extra stories about the characters. Found them hard to put down, hope there are more to come.
This is a great series, with extra stories about the characters. Found them hard to put down, hope there are more to come.
October 31, 2018
interesting story, necromancers, elementals, alcamists, and a grim, oh my. pure fantasy.
September 3, 2019
Excellent
Quite a story.. Up to Becca Andre's usual standards.. Love this series.. Each one is better than the last.. Can't wait for the next book..
Quite a story.. Up to Becca Andre's usual standards.. Love this series.. Each one is better than the last.. Can't wait for the next book..
October 15, 2019
I am gobbling this series up like the candy it is. Just start reading it.
January 23, 2020
Wow!!! What a ride. I loved this book and the characters were interesting and the story line made me laugh and cry... which in my opinion makes for an excellent novel.
May 14, 2020
Interesting story and not what I was expecting. I came so close to not reading it.
May 27, 2020
Book 24 complete.
June 12, 2020
I just finished this book. I will have to go on with this series as I did find it very interesting.
Read
October 25, 2020Read this book in an Anthology called "Wolf Nights". Was a really good story no smut. I will be looking for more of these.
December 14, 2020
Now interested in reading the whole series!
December 30, 2020
Never thought I would like necromancy
This series just keeps getting better and better. The characters keep growing and the plot just keeps getting better. Gotta like the Grim, James.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The characters keep growing and the plot just keeps getting better. Gotta like the Grim, James.
October 6, 2014
Series of bad decisions.
I absolutely love The Final Formula Series. This book is more about James (the hell hound), Ely ( the good necromancer) Neil (the bad necromancer). .....Ely was going to work when she smelled death, what she thought was a zombie was James. In her naivety, she commanded James and blood bound him. She was going to take him to her family home, she thought Grams could help undo the blood bound. They ran into "car problems" getting there. They stopped at a store to get refreshments. As they were leaving robbers came in and shot the cameras out. James switched to hellhound to fight the robbers. Shots were fired. In the end the pregnant cashier was mortally wounded. James so her soul slipping away. Something had to be done to keep the baby alive. With no choice, Ely made her a lich keeping the body alive until help arrived. James and Ely left. Ely was drained of energy for using her magic. James drove and stopped on a country road. He couldn't leave Ely there by herself so he stayed. Upon awakening, Ely realized James wasn't evil. Doug was at Grams house another necromancer. Doug took her to Neil. Neil had an evil plan. He used James , drained his blood and called Gavin (James's brother) Neil promised to make Gavin a hellhound with James blood. It worked and Gavin tried to kill James. Ely started to realize her strengths and help James run Gavin off. James and Ely made it back to his apartment throughout the portal. They fell asleep. Ely awoke at a strange noise. ThAt noise was Era trying to suffocate Ely to find out what she had done to James. With everyone calm because James woke up, he explained the situation. now the three of them would go see Addie so she could fix this mess. James and Ely make a good couple......I hope there is another book after this. I'm recommending this series to everyone. There are strong characters, great storylines, good times and bad times. It really is an AwEsOmE series
I absolutely love The Final Formula Series. This book is more about James (the hell hound), Ely ( the good necromancer) Neil (the bad necromancer). .....Ely was going to work when she smelled death, what she thought was a zombie was James. In her naivety, she commanded James and blood bound him. She was going to take him to her family home, she thought Grams could help undo the blood bound. They ran into "car problems" getting there. They stopped at a store to get refreshments. As they were leaving robbers came in and shot the cameras out. James switched to hellhound to fight the robbers. Shots were fired. In the end the pregnant cashier was mortally wounded. James so her soul slipping away. Something had to be done to keep the baby alive. With no choice, Ely made her a lich keeping the body alive until help arrived. James and Ely left. Ely was drained of energy for using her magic. James drove and stopped on a country road. He couldn't leave Ely there by herself so he stayed. Upon awakening, Ely realized James wasn't evil. Doug was at Grams house another necromancer. Doug took her to Neil. Neil had an evil plan. He used James , drained his blood and called Gavin (James's brother) Neil promised to make Gavin a hellhound with James blood. It worked and Gavin tried to kill James. Ely started to realize her strengths and help James run Gavin off. James and Ely made it back to his apartment throughout the portal. They fell asleep. Ely awoke at a strange noise. ThAt noise was Era trying to suffocate Ely to find out what she had done to James. With everyone calm because James woke up, he explained the situation. now the three of them would go see Addie so she could fix this mess. James and Ely make a good couple......I hope there is another book after this. I'm recommending this series to everyone. There are strong characters, great storylines, good times and bad times. It really is an AwEsOmE series
February 17, 2017
Holy smokes! James and Elysia are so sexy! I loved this novella and was sad when it was over. Hope we get to see some more of this relationship develop in later books from their POV. The necromancers are by far my favorite to read about. Their backstory and the way they see the world is a POV that I would have never considered for them. Great writing!
March 23, 2023
This story moves really fast, especially the ending. It gives you more insight into James and you learn even more about his character. If you didn’t like him very much before, you should love him after reading this story. Elysia is a new addition to the series and it took me some time to warm up to her. But once I did, I liked her. There is also more about Doug and Neil, so you are getting more background into that family of Necromancers. I really liked how it filled in some of the characters. The best part was that you were not sure who was betrayed and who was the betrayer until the end of the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews