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The Necromancer's Song #1
Twice Dead
Naya, the daughter of a sea merchant captain, nervously undertakes her first solo trading mission in the necromancer-friendly country bordering her homeland of Talmir. Unfortunately, she never even makes it to the meeting. She's struck down in the streets of Ceramor. Murdered.
But death is not the end for Naya. She awakens to realize she's become an abomination--a wraith, a ghostly creature bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse. She's been resurrected in order to become a spy for her country. Reluctantly, she assumes the face and persona of a servant girl named Blue.
She never intended to become embroiled in political plots, kidnapping, and murder. Or to fall in love with the young man and former necromancer she is destined to betray.
But death is not the end for Naya. She awakens to realize she's become an abomination--a wraith, a ghostly creature bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse. She's been resurrected in order to become a spy for her country. Reluctantly, she assumes the face and persona of a servant girl named Blue.
She never intended to become embroiled in political plots, kidnapping, and murder. Or to fall in love with the young man and former necromancer she is destined to betray.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
August 11, 2018
This book is only just over 300 pages, which I thought was a good length. I am glad that it wasn't longer because then it definitely would have dragged!
I loved the romance in this book, it was really well done and Corten is my absolute FAVE! It was not super rushed, though I wouldn't call it slow burn either. It found a good middle ground which I thought was really good!
Naya was a character I grew to love more as the book progressed. At the start of the book I was dubious, but having finished I really like her now!
None of the plot really blew my mind. It did feel like a typical YA fantasy. But I was still entertained, so that's something!
The world idea was very clever, but not introduced super well. I had trouble following at the beginning. But it was such a good concept!! If only it'd been executed better!
But I still really enjoyed the writing and the story.
Plus, Corten made the book well worth reading!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
I loved the romance in this book, it was really well done and Corten is my absolute FAVE! It was not super rushed, though I wouldn't call it slow burn either. It found a good middle ground which I thought was really good!
Naya was a character I grew to love more as the book progressed. At the start of the book I was dubious, but having finished I really like her now!
None of the plot really blew my mind. It did feel like a typical YA fantasy. But I was still entertained, so that's something!
The world idea was very clever, but not introduced super well. I had trouble following at the beginning. But it was such a good concept!! If only it'd been executed better!
But I still really enjoyed the writing and the story.
Plus, Corten made the book well worth reading!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2018
I had a very hard time relating to these characters. I usually really enjoy all forms of YA books, this one just wasn’t for me. The world building seemed slow and I never felt any urgency in the storyline.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2018
This book had so much potential...unfortunately...the author concentrated too much on things I didn't care about and this just made for one boring, BORING read...RTC
Received an ARC via Netgalley for an honest review
Received an ARC via Netgalley for an honest review
August 23, 2018
3/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐
ARC provided by NetGalley and Charlesbridge Teen in exchange for an honest review.
"Only a fool shuts her eyes to something because she is afraid."
Twice Dead is the story of Naya, a sea merchant captains daughter who, unwillingly, finds herself becoming a member of the undead. Bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse, Naya is thrust into a world full of kidnapping, political plots, and murder.
Pros:
❇️I thought the concept of this was very unique. It wasn't like anything I've ever read, personally. The night I picked this up I stayed up until 2 in the morning researching necromancy, and wraiths, so that was also a huge plus for me, because I love a book that makes me want to put the extra effort in to learn more about something!
Cons:
❇️I tried so hard to like the characters, and the overall plot of the story, but I just didn't connect with this, and I feel as though parts of this could have been executed better, but they just weren't.
Final Thoughts/Comments:
❇️This title is expected to release in September, 2018. While this wasn't my favorite, I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series, and I would also like to see what else Caitlin Seal can come up with in the future! ☺️
ARC provided by NetGalley and Charlesbridge Teen in exchange for an honest review.
"Only a fool shuts her eyes to something because she is afraid."
Twice Dead is the story of Naya, a sea merchant captains daughter who, unwillingly, finds herself becoming a member of the undead. Bound by runes to the bones of her former corpse, Naya is thrust into a world full of kidnapping, political plots, and murder.
Pros:
❇️I thought the concept of this was very unique. It wasn't like anything I've ever read, personally. The night I picked this up I stayed up until 2 in the morning researching necromancy, and wraiths, so that was also a huge plus for me, because I love a book that makes me want to put the extra effort in to learn more about something!
Cons:
❇️I tried so hard to like the characters, and the overall plot of the story, but I just didn't connect with this, and I feel as though parts of this could have been executed better, but they just weren't.
Final Thoughts/Comments:
❇️This title is expected to release in September, 2018. While this wasn't my favorite, I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series, and I would also like to see what else Caitlin Seal can come up with in the future! ☺️
August 29, 2018
What makes a person a person? Is it their soul? In a world where necromancers can “sing” a person back to life, Caitlin Seal takes us into the world she has created with TWICE DEAD, a tale of intrigue, betrayal and political machinations as one girl must struggle to discover who she can trust, as well as who can trust her.
Naya thought she was on a merchant’s mission for her father when she is murdered. The land of Ceramor practices necromancy, something abhorred in her land, but Naya awakens to discover she has been brought back to life. Is she now the very monsters her land has feared? Is she a soulless creature of darkness or has she become a pawn in an evil game of deceit and political machinations?
Caitlin Seal has created something different in the young adult fantasy genre with main characters that are likable, relatable, but not as fleshed out as they could have been. I absolutely loved the concept, the twists and how unique this tale is and I see this series becoming something to be sure to follow, even though there were times when I wanted more information, then again, I’m not the target audience.
There is a lot of story between these pages and a lot of movement going on, for sure, enough that I know I’ll be back for more political intrigue, moral dilemmas and a budding romance that may or may not get off the ground as we watch these characters develop more depth and the plot thicken!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Charlesbridge Teen!
Series: The Necromancer's Song - Book 1
Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen (September 18, 2018)
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: YA fantasy
Hardcover: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Naya thought she was on a merchant’s mission for her father when she is murdered. The land of Ceramor practices necromancy, something abhorred in her land, but Naya awakens to discover she has been brought back to life. Is she now the very monsters her land has feared? Is she a soulless creature of darkness or has she become a pawn in an evil game of deceit and political machinations?
Caitlin Seal has created something different in the young adult fantasy genre with main characters that are likable, relatable, but not as fleshed out as they could have been. I absolutely loved the concept, the twists and how unique this tale is and I see this series becoming something to be sure to follow, even though there were times when I wanted more information, then again, I’m not the target audience.
There is a lot of story between these pages and a lot of movement going on, for sure, enough that I know I’ll be back for more political intrigue, moral dilemmas and a budding romance that may or may not get off the ground as we watch these characters develop more depth and the plot thicken!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Charlesbridge Teen!
Series: The Necromancer's Song - Book 1
Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen (September 18, 2018)
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: YA fantasy
Hardcover: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 20, 2018
The necromancers were really interesting, with the idea that one would be able to carve runes into bones to make undead. Because of this, and the description that was given for the book, I had high hopes. And for the most part, the story was fairly good. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Was I hoping for more? Definitely.
I wanted more world building, which I felt like we barely got. There could have been so much more when Naya is first exploring the land of Ceramor, or even relating it back to Talmir, her own homeland. I felt like there wasn't enough and, especially since she came from such a different background, she didn't nearly have as much disgust for the undead as the rest of her people seemed to have.
Naya felt like a very weak character in my opinion. I was really waiting for some sort of fiery nature to come from her, but she kept referring to her people's land, what her father wanted, etc. She never thought about what she wanted and was more worried about what others would think of her. Granted, this seemed to fit her character, but I would have liked some more fight in her. Even towards the end, when she did start to grow more, I didn't feel like she had the characteristics of a heroine that we were supposed to root for. I honestly couldn't connect to her.
This novel, although it did have an interesting premise, didn't really reveal any plot, it felt like it was really setting things up for the next books to come. I do wish there was more stakes and danger for the character. It felt like this novel was more to help the reader understand the ideas of wraiths and the undead and then be the base for the rest of the books in the series.
Would I read the second book? Yes, but I wouldn't actively seek it out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Charlesbridge for allowing me to read this novel!
I wanted more world building, which I felt like we barely got. There could have been so much more when Naya is first exploring the land of Ceramor, or even relating it back to Talmir, her own homeland. I felt like there wasn't enough and, especially since she came from such a different background, she didn't nearly have as much disgust for the undead as the rest of her people seemed to have.
Naya felt like a very weak character in my opinion. I was really waiting for some sort of fiery nature to come from her, but she kept referring to her people's land, what her father wanted, etc. She never thought about what she wanted and was more worried about what others would think of her. Granted, this seemed to fit her character, but I would have liked some more fight in her. Even towards the end, when she did start to grow more, I didn't feel like she had the characteristics of a heroine that we were supposed to root for. I honestly couldn't connect to her.
This novel, although it did have an interesting premise, didn't really reveal any plot, it felt like it was really setting things up for the next books to come. I do wish there was more stakes and danger for the character. It felt like this novel was more to help the reader understand the ideas of wraiths and the undead and then be the base for the rest of the books in the series.
Would I read the second book? Yes, but I wouldn't actively seek it out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Charlesbridge for allowing me to read this novel!
June 25, 2018
2.5 rounded up
G to PG rated book- language, deaths and fighting
The book starts out with Naya a young girl trying to win the acceptance of her father sets off on a errand for him that leads to her death and resurrection. She is attacked at the door of her destination and falls to the ground When she wakes she finds herself in a strange place with strange people and her clothes are gone. She is told she's undead, a wraith and it to used to help save them all. Ah but things aren't that easy she must learn how to be a wraith and pass a couple tests. So the book goes into what she must learn. On top of her new death her father left before she woke, she is treated like a vermin and she has no good options if she can't make it There is a possible romance building, possible.
I loved the undead/wraith storyline, it was interesting and had many new ideas added to an old myth. I wish there would have been more story and less character development. It felt like I was just following Naya around as she went back and forth collecting her wraith lessons and never really went anywhere else. There were hints of something and then it went back to the same old story. I didn't like the way this book was written I was bored, tired of Naya and her small world. There was too much inner dialog, not enough action, too many useless detailed information dumps. I didn't find enough interest to continue this series
I received this book for an honest review
G to PG rated book- language, deaths and fighting
The book starts out with Naya a young girl trying to win the acceptance of her father sets off on a errand for him that leads to her death and resurrection. She is attacked at the door of her destination and falls to the ground When she wakes she finds herself in a strange place with strange people and her clothes are gone. She is told she's undead, a wraith and it to used to help save them all. Ah but things aren't that easy she must learn how to be a wraith and pass a couple tests. So the book goes into what she must learn. On top of her new death her father left before she woke, she is treated like a vermin and she has no good options if she can't make it There is a possible romance building, possible.
I loved the undead/wraith storyline, it was interesting and had many new ideas added to an old myth. I wish there would have been more story and less character development. It felt like I was just following Naya around as she went back and forth collecting her wraith lessons and never really went anywhere else. There were hints of something and then it went back to the same old story. I didn't like the way this book was written I was bored, tired of Naya and her small world. There was too much inner dialog, not enough action, too many useless detailed information dumps. I didn't find enough interest to continue this series
I received this book for an honest review
Did not finish
March 23, 2018DNF at 40%
My first DNF of the year. Eh, it was only a matter of time before a book bored me to the point of non-completion.
It's not that this was bad, really, it was just so boring for me. You know you have to stop reading a book when every page feels like a chore. The reason I got back into reading was to find original and intriguing YA books that pushed the boundaries, but this one just wasn't doing anything new or interesting. The world-building and mythos didn't interest me, I had absolutely no feelings toward any of the characters, and I just flat-out didn't care. There's no point in continuing a book when you couldn't care less about what happens.
I dunno, maybe it just isn't for me and I'm tired of these formulaic YA fantasy novels. I'm sure they have their audience, and I can see some people enjoying this one in particular, I just don't have the patience for them anymore personally. I want books that excite me, not more of the same.
My first DNF of the year. Eh, it was only a matter of time before a book bored me to the point of non-completion.
It's not that this was bad, really, it was just so boring for me. You know you have to stop reading a book when every page feels like a chore. The reason I got back into reading was to find original and intriguing YA books that pushed the boundaries, but this one just wasn't doing anything new or interesting. The world-building and mythos didn't interest me, I had absolutely no feelings toward any of the characters, and I just flat-out didn't care. There's no point in continuing a book when you couldn't care less about what happens.
I dunno, maybe it just isn't for me and I'm tired of these formulaic YA fantasy novels. I'm sure they have their audience, and I can see some people enjoying this one in particular, I just don't have the patience for them anymore personally. I want books that excite me, not more of the same.
October 2, 2018
I received this eARC from Charlesbridge Teen on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
Obligatory Summary
Naya Garth is a Talmiran, and like all good Talmirans, she despises the undead—walking corpses and wraiths—who live freely in neighboring Ceramor. Years ago the Mad King tried to use an army of undead to win a deadly war, and ever since he was taken down, the Powers have controlled Ceramor with the Treaty of Lith Lor.
When Naya goes to Ceramor with her merchant father and mysteriously dies, the last thing she expected was to become a wraith and a spy for Talmir. Posing as a necromancer's servant, Naya must learn to navigate the world of politics and aether while her loyalties are tested by the helpful and kind wraith Corten who represents everything she's been trained to hate but makes her feel alive after death.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
This book suffered from an excellent idea that had a mediocre execution. The writing was fairly standard and lacked a strong narrative voice, the characters and world felt like they only existed when they were on the page, and the plot lacked steady tension and direction.
A huge pacing issue was the characters. Most of the characters who played pivotal roles didn't exist until they were important, even if that was 80% through the book. It made everything feel so jumbled and confusing sometimes and made it hard for me to care about anyone.
Ceramor was constantly said to be struggling under the tyranny imposed by the Treaty of Lith Lor (an obvious Treaty of Versailles parallel if i ever saw one) but the book didn't actually ever show that. No one was poor. The streets were clean and the economy and technological progress were doing okay. If anything, society seemed stagnant, but in no way oppressed. Nothing was wrong in Ceramor.
Besides that, the author missed obvious opportunities to explore Naya's emotions and the complexities of life after death. Instead of explaining through actions what was different and how she felt after being murdered and resurrected and told her whole life was a lie and being forced to live as the thing she was raised to hate, we skipped all that and went straight to her grimly accepting it after a few weeks, with little tidbits like the fact that she doesn't sleep anymore just thrown in later on. It seriously distanced me from her character and made me extremely bored very quickly. It's things like that that make me wonder if and how well this book was beta read.
The Characters
Naya Garth: She was alright, but I couldn't really get a clear grasp of who she was even was because of how passively she waa written (third person perhaps wasn't the best method for this story). Besides that, so much of her past was glossed over or half explained that certain events at the end felt unearned and lazily done, particularly about her father.
Corten: He was sweet and all, but honestly I got bored of him pretty quick. He was just another one of those ~I'm the younger son and I want to live my own life, mom! I'm gonna find my own path! I don't need you (but thanks for all the money and the excellent upbringing and education)~ which just made some of his characteristics feel incongruous and conflicting to the point of unbelievability.
Lucia Laroke: I liked her enough but it was super unclear how old she was, because I kept picturing her as a frail old woman, but then Alejandra couldn't have been much older than 40, which makes their relationship kinda creepy tbh.
Valn: Honestly, he was extremely tropey and I got bored pretty quick.
Conclusion
I should have DNF'd this. It took me over a month to read this ARC and I'm not a slow reader. I read 600 page tomes in one sitting on a regular basis. This is half that size but it was just so b o r i n g! I honestly don't give a crap about this book so there's no doubt that I won't be reading the sequel.
Twice Dead more like twice dead to me! *drum riff*
Obligatory Summary
Naya Garth is a Talmiran, and like all good Talmirans, she despises the undead—walking corpses and wraiths—who live freely in neighboring Ceramor. Years ago the Mad King tried to use an army of undead to win a deadly war, and ever since he was taken down, the Powers have controlled Ceramor with the Treaty of Lith Lor.
When Naya goes to Ceramor with her merchant father and mysteriously dies, the last thing she expected was to become a wraith and a spy for Talmir. Posing as a necromancer's servant, Naya must learn to navigate the world of politics and aether while her loyalties are tested by the helpful and kind wraith Corten who represents everything she's been trained to hate but makes her feel alive after death.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
This book suffered from an excellent idea that had a mediocre execution. The writing was fairly standard and lacked a strong narrative voice, the characters and world felt like they only existed when they were on the page, and the plot lacked steady tension and direction.
A huge pacing issue was the characters. Most of the characters who played pivotal roles didn't exist until they were important, even if that was 80% through the book. It made everything feel so jumbled and confusing sometimes and made it hard for me to care about anyone.
Ceramor was constantly said to be struggling under the tyranny imposed by the Treaty of Lith Lor (an obvious Treaty of Versailles parallel if i ever saw one) but the book didn't actually ever show that. No one was poor. The streets were clean and the economy and technological progress were doing okay. If anything, society seemed stagnant, but in no way oppressed. Nothing was wrong in Ceramor.
Besides that, the author missed obvious opportunities to explore Naya's emotions and the complexities of life after death. Instead of explaining through actions what was different and how she felt after being murdered and resurrected and told her whole life was a lie and being forced to live as the thing she was raised to hate, we skipped all that and went straight to her grimly accepting it after a few weeks, with little tidbits like the fact that she doesn't sleep anymore just thrown in later on. It seriously distanced me from her character and made me extremely bored very quickly. It's things like that that make me wonder if and how well this book was beta read.
The Characters
Naya Garth: She was alright, but I couldn't really get a clear grasp of who she was even was because of how passively she waa written (third person perhaps wasn't the best method for this story). Besides that, so much of her past was glossed over or half explained that certain events at the end felt unearned and lazily done, particularly about her father.
Corten: He was sweet and all, but honestly I got bored of him pretty quick. He was just another one of those ~I'm the younger son and I want to live my own life, mom! I'm gonna find my own path! I don't need you (but thanks for all the money and the excellent upbringing and education)~ which just made some of his characteristics feel incongruous and conflicting to the point of unbelievability.
Lucia Laroke: I liked her enough but it was super unclear how old she was, because I kept picturing her as a frail old woman, but then Alejandra couldn't have been much older than 40, which makes their relationship kinda creepy tbh.
Valn: Honestly, he was extremely tropey and I got bored pretty quick.
Conclusion
I should have DNF'd this. It took me over a month to read this ARC and I'm not a slow reader. I read 600 page tomes in one sitting on a regular basis. This is half that size but it was just so b o r i n g! I honestly don't give a crap about this book so there's no doubt that I won't be reading the sequel.
Twice Dead more like twice dead to me! *drum riff*
February 9, 2018
I enjoyed this more than I expected! The world building is really cool. I like the idea of resurrecting through a particular bone, and the ethics of what makes a person a person and what is a soul. I also liked that there were some nice twists at the end and also, what makes a family. Sometimes Naya, the MC, was hard to like and identify with, as I'm not very fond of characters that just plunge headfirst into danger without thinking, but that didn't stop me from reading. I will definitely be interested in the follow up book!
Did not finish
June 25, 2018DNF
It is so boring, the writing was flat for me and characters also didn't work.
It is so boring, the writing was flat for me and characters also didn't work.
September 18, 2018
Advance reading copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Twice Dead sounded so interesting: necromancers, wraiths and espionage!? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by the end. To the point that all I wanted to do was finish it and felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when I did. It took me almost two weeks to finish reading this book - which is absolutely unheard of for me.
There were aspects that I did like. I enjoyed the secondary characters Lucia and Corten. I found the idea of resurrecting the dead very intriguing as well as the types of undead and how they fit into society. Seeing the ways that Corten and other undead made lives for themselves, despite the negative aura constantly following them was one of the best parts of this story.
That said, the main character was absolutely uninteresting. I just couldn't believe she was truly driven by her love of country, certainly not to the point that she would become a spy. It just wasn't set up properly. Additionally, the government was incredibly confusing. There is a king that is supposed to be in charge but it kept feeling as though the Necromancer's Council (are they a government entity or just a group of citizens?) and the Talmir ambassador were running the show? I kept trying to figure out who held the power and who was apart of the government and just couldn't wrap my head around it. It felt as though I was expected to know these things but I just don't remember them being explained very well.
To top it off, it felt as though NOTHING happened until well past the halfway point. My attention was never truly grabbed. While I appreciate the uniqueness of the story and really feel the author has something promising here, I felt as though her editor really dropped the ball. There was much to be desired when it came to thoroughly explaining things but also keeping other aspects concise. It shouldn't take a hundred pages to pass time that could have been managed in five pages. Naya's training to become a spy was muddled and drawn out. Her getting a handle on her powers as a wraith was drawn out and hard to follow at times.
Overall, there were a few high points as previously mentioned. I found the romance sweet and did enjoy how Naya began to see the truth in what was happening to those around her, plus her willingness to take action. However, much was brushed over and the pacing was all over the place. I hate writing reviews like this, but I really feel as though this story could have been more thoroughly polished with better editing and direction.
Twice Dead sounded so interesting: necromancers, wraiths and espionage!? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by the end. To the point that all I wanted to do was finish it and felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when I did. It took me almost two weeks to finish reading this book - which is absolutely unheard of for me.
There were aspects that I did like. I enjoyed the secondary characters Lucia and Corten. I found the idea of resurrecting the dead very intriguing as well as the types of undead and how they fit into society. Seeing the ways that Corten and other undead made lives for themselves, despite the negative aura constantly following them was one of the best parts of this story.
That said, the main character was absolutely uninteresting. I just couldn't believe she was truly driven by her love of country, certainly not to the point that she would become a spy. It just wasn't set up properly. Additionally, the government was incredibly confusing. There is a king that is supposed to be in charge but it kept feeling as though the Necromancer's Council (are they a government entity or just a group of citizens?) and the Talmir ambassador were running the show? I kept trying to figure out who held the power and who was apart of the government and just couldn't wrap my head around it. It felt as though I was expected to know these things but I just don't remember them being explained very well.
To top it off, it felt as though NOTHING happened until well past the halfway point. My attention was never truly grabbed. While I appreciate the uniqueness of the story and really feel the author has something promising here, I felt as though her editor really dropped the ball. There was much to be desired when it came to thoroughly explaining things but also keeping other aspects concise. It shouldn't take a hundred pages to pass time that could have been managed in five pages. Naya's training to become a spy was muddled and drawn out. Her getting a handle on her powers as a wraith was drawn out and hard to follow at times.
Overall, there were a few high points as previously mentioned. I found the romance sweet and did enjoy how Naya began to see the truth in what was happening to those around her, plus her willingness to take action. However, much was brushed over and the pacing was all over the place. I hate writing reviews like this, but I really feel as though this story could have been more thoroughly polished with better editing and direction.
January 28, 2019
free copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
28/01/2019
This was the second time that I attempted to read this book. Last time I was in a reading slump, and I forced myself through 20% before I stopped reading. This time, I powered through.
I enjoyed the premise of this book, and despite what a lot of people have been saying, I did enjoy the political aspect in this book. However, I saw the twist coming from a mile away. From the moment Naya woke up as an undead, I knew what happened and what was going to happen political wise.
I don't really see the need for this being a series, BUT I kinda do want to know what happens in the next one.
One thing I strongly disliked was how stupid Naya could be. She kept telling herself lies to make herself feel better. The fact that a whole group wanted to follow her baffled me.
3.5 stars in the end.
17/07/2018
DNF at 20%
The book didn't grip me in any way, I found it a chore to read. Since I wasn't enjoying it, I decided to put it down. When I went to look at the other reviews, a lot of people were saying the same thing. I feel a bit bad about it, but seeing as I have just come out of a reading slump, I am avoiding books that could get me back into one.
28/01/2019
This was the second time that I attempted to read this book. Last time I was in a reading slump, and I forced myself through 20% before I stopped reading. This time, I powered through.
I enjoyed the premise of this book, and despite what a lot of people have been saying, I did enjoy the political aspect in this book. However, I saw the twist coming from a mile away. From the moment Naya woke up as an undead, I knew what happened and what was going to happen political wise.
I don't really see the need for this being a series, BUT I kinda do want to know what happens in the next one.
One thing I strongly disliked was how stupid Naya could be. She kept telling herself lies to make herself feel better. The fact that a whole group wanted to follow her baffled me.
3.5 stars in the end.
17/07/2018
DNF at 20%
The book didn't grip me in any way, I found it a chore to read. Since I wasn't enjoying it, I decided to put it down. When I went to look at the other reviews, a lot of people were saying the same thing. I feel a bit bad about it, but seeing as I have just come out of a reading slump, I am avoiding books that could get me back into one.
March 7, 2018
I received an ARC on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Twice Dead is the first installment in Caitlin Seal’s new series titled The Necromancer’s Song. Because this is a review for a book that has not yet been released, it will be spoiler and plot free. I was first drawn to the cover of this book, and although I usually tend to avoid paranormal fantasy, the description proved too tempting to pass up.
Let’s start with Naya – the main protagonist whom the story follows through her transition from living to her new “life” as one of the undead in a new and unfamiliar land. Naya is a young girl dedicated to her father and country to a fault. The battle that Naya wages against herself is fleshed out well throughout the course of the novel, but it took about halfway through the book for her to make a clear decision. While it seems a bit too long for this part of the main character’s internal storyline to be up in the air, the external events and conflicts really drive the story to keep the plot from sagging. Once Naya resolves her inner-conflict, the story soars.
Corten is the potential romantic figure in this book, and while I wasn’t really feeling their connection as strongly as I would’ve liked (at first), it was cute. Corten takes on an important role in Naya’s new undead life and it developed into a unique relationship that I loved. Maybe it’s because I don’t usually read paranormal stories, but Corten and Naya’s friendship was different from others that I’ve read because of the circumstances that their bond is built upon.
Corten and Naya are both those types of flawed, relatable characters that ground the reader in something that they can connect to. For me, it was Naya’s uncertainty and Corten’s sense of persistence despite his own perception of his artistry as inferior.
Really, a lot of the characters are relatable in some way or another. Seal writes characters that can stand apart from others within the text, though I’m not sure how I feel about them standing on their own outside of the text. If I take my favorite character from any book, I can predict how she’d react to any new situation with some surety; if I take any character from Twice Dead and place them in any scenario outside of the book’s parameters, I only have a slight sense of them and their decisions. That could possibly be because it’s only the first novel in the series so they haven’t been given the proper amount of story to fully-develop as people rather than just fictional characters, though. Hopefully as the series continues, the characters will come into themselves and break free from the pages.
Because this is a review being posted before release, I feel that if I discuss any other characters and their arcs in the depth that they deserve, I’ll be giving away too many details that the reader needs to experience for themselves going in without that foreknowledge. What I will say, though, is that the “bad guys” were a bit predictable from the beginning, which led to me predicting the twist before it came. There were too many hints dropped that led me to guess where the story was going. Although that sounds like it would ruin the book, I assure you that it doesn’t! This is one of those books that a reader can predict the ending of without spoiling the way that it leads to that point and the events that happen after. Really, there are completely unpredictable parts in the book that hold the reader’s interest.
There are a couple parts in the novel that really drew me out of the reading experience and had me questioning how likely those events/actions were. They were few and far between, but these instances were noticeable enough for me to bring it up in this review. If you, as a reader, can suspend your disbelief a bit further than I can, I think these points in the text shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you, like me, tend to question motives and the practicality of actions, maybe just try to glaze over these parts of the book and accept what happens for the sake of the plot, because I promise that to me, it was worth it to finish the novel and brush over the slight irregularities that popped up.
I really enjoy the world. The political tension and moral disagreements between countries create an interesting layer to the plot. While some history is given, it felt a bit too surface-based for me. The world was developed enough to give a sense of ties and tensions and betrayals to serve the purpose of the plot, but I’m really hoping that the world is more thoroughly developed (which the ending of Twice Dead suggests that it will be).
There is one part of the book that I do want to specifically discuss, but it will be as spoiler-free as I can manage. I want to talk about the inclusion of a homosexual couple in Twice Dead and the immediate acceptance the character receives from the person who asks about their relationship. It’s common in stories with similar worlds that feel older, more historical than modern, to treat homosexuality as it was treated in our own history. Although this scene is such a minor part in terms of the plot and its development, this was one of the parts that I most enjoyed because it gave insight into the different countries, their values, and their policies. Marriage, sexuality, and motherhood are discussed in this part of the book, and while it was short, I really loved it! It really developed the world in a way that I didn’t get in other parts, even those that directly described policies and values. The reason I loved this so much may have been because it was one of the major instances of “showing, not telling.” While I felt that there was a bit too much “telling” in the book, that’s a personal preference for everyone and not everyone will see it that way. Regardless, it wasn’t so overt as to interrupt the flow of the story.
While I like the characters and the world enough for me to comfortably recommend the novel to readers who gravitate toward the genre anyway, the plot (especially what takes place in the last 10% of the book) is the true praise-worthy factor that leads me to recommend this novel. From the beginning, the plot and its direction kept me hooked. I finished this novel within a couple days (while attending university full-time as a literature student with tons of other books to read for my classes), so that should give you an idea of how excited I was about the plot and seeing what the ending brought. Again, I mentioned briefly that it wasn’t until about halfway through that Naya settled into herself, so the second half of the book did pick up a bit – not to say that the first half was slow, because it definitely wasn’t. What I mean is that the second half of this novel flew by! The last 10% came and I didn’t even pause my reading to answer questions from people who came in to talk to me; this is how much the plot drew me in.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys paranormal fantasy, “historical” fantasy, or these themes: political intrigue, the question of mortality, the individual’s meaning of life, and self-discovery.
Twice Dead is the first installment in Caitlin Seal’s new series titled The Necromancer’s Song. Because this is a review for a book that has not yet been released, it will be spoiler and plot free. I was first drawn to the cover of this book, and although I usually tend to avoid paranormal fantasy, the description proved too tempting to pass up.
Let’s start with Naya – the main protagonist whom the story follows through her transition from living to her new “life” as one of the undead in a new and unfamiliar land. Naya is a young girl dedicated to her father and country to a fault. The battle that Naya wages against herself is fleshed out well throughout the course of the novel, but it took about halfway through the book for her to make a clear decision. While it seems a bit too long for this part of the main character’s internal storyline to be up in the air, the external events and conflicts really drive the story to keep the plot from sagging. Once Naya resolves her inner-conflict, the story soars.
Corten is the potential romantic figure in this book, and while I wasn’t really feeling their connection as strongly as I would’ve liked (at first), it was cute. Corten takes on an important role in Naya’s new undead life and it developed into a unique relationship that I loved. Maybe it’s because I don’t usually read paranormal stories, but Corten and Naya’s friendship was different from others that I’ve read because of the circumstances that their bond is built upon.
Corten and Naya are both those types of flawed, relatable characters that ground the reader in something that they can connect to. For me, it was Naya’s uncertainty and Corten’s sense of persistence despite his own perception of his artistry as inferior.
Really, a lot of the characters are relatable in some way or another. Seal writes characters that can stand apart from others within the text, though I’m not sure how I feel about them standing on their own outside of the text. If I take my favorite character from any book, I can predict how she’d react to any new situation with some surety; if I take any character from Twice Dead and place them in any scenario outside of the book’s parameters, I only have a slight sense of them and their decisions. That could possibly be because it’s only the first novel in the series so they haven’t been given the proper amount of story to fully-develop as people rather than just fictional characters, though. Hopefully as the series continues, the characters will come into themselves and break free from the pages.
Because this is a review being posted before release, I feel that if I discuss any other characters and their arcs in the depth that they deserve, I’ll be giving away too many details that the reader needs to experience for themselves going in without that foreknowledge. What I will say, though, is that the “bad guys” were a bit predictable from the beginning, which led to me predicting the twist before it came. There were too many hints dropped that led me to guess where the story was going. Although that sounds like it would ruin the book, I assure you that it doesn’t! This is one of those books that a reader can predict the ending of without spoiling the way that it leads to that point and the events that happen after. Really, there are completely unpredictable parts in the book that hold the reader’s interest.
There are a couple parts in the novel that really drew me out of the reading experience and had me questioning how likely those events/actions were. They were few and far between, but these instances were noticeable enough for me to bring it up in this review. If you, as a reader, can suspend your disbelief a bit further than I can, I think these points in the text shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you, like me, tend to question motives and the practicality of actions, maybe just try to glaze over these parts of the book and accept what happens for the sake of the plot, because I promise that to me, it was worth it to finish the novel and brush over the slight irregularities that popped up.
I really enjoy the world. The political tension and moral disagreements between countries create an interesting layer to the plot. While some history is given, it felt a bit too surface-based for me. The world was developed enough to give a sense of ties and tensions and betrayals to serve the purpose of the plot, but I’m really hoping that the world is more thoroughly developed (which the ending of Twice Dead suggests that it will be).
There is one part of the book that I do want to specifically discuss, but it will be as spoiler-free as I can manage. I want to talk about the inclusion of a homosexual couple in Twice Dead and the immediate acceptance the character receives from the person who asks about their relationship. It’s common in stories with similar worlds that feel older, more historical than modern, to treat homosexuality as it was treated in our own history. Although this scene is such a minor part in terms of the plot and its development, this was one of the parts that I most enjoyed because it gave insight into the different countries, their values, and their policies. Marriage, sexuality, and motherhood are discussed in this part of the book, and while it was short, I really loved it! It really developed the world in a way that I didn’t get in other parts, even those that directly described policies and values. The reason I loved this so much may have been because it was one of the major instances of “showing, not telling.” While I felt that there was a bit too much “telling” in the book, that’s a personal preference for everyone and not everyone will see it that way. Regardless, it wasn’t so overt as to interrupt the flow of the story.
While I like the characters and the world enough for me to comfortably recommend the novel to readers who gravitate toward the genre anyway, the plot (especially what takes place in the last 10% of the book) is the true praise-worthy factor that leads me to recommend this novel. From the beginning, the plot and its direction kept me hooked. I finished this novel within a couple days (while attending university full-time as a literature student with tons of other books to read for my classes), so that should give you an idea of how excited I was about the plot and seeing what the ending brought. Again, I mentioned briefly that it wasn’t until about halfway through that Naya settled into herself, so the second half of the book did pick up a bit – not to say that the first half was slow, because it definitely wasn’t. What I mean is that the second half of this novel flew by! The last 10% came and I didn’t even pause my reading to answer questions from people who came in to talk to me; this is how much the plot drew me in.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys paranormal fantasy, “historical” fantasy, or these themes: political intrigue, the question of mortality, the individual’s meaning of life, and self-discovery.
June 26, 2018
2.5/5.0
dark sea coast town full of wraiths and necromancers? this book honestly sounded so interesting to me and for the first half I did enjoy it more or less.
The one thing I really liked was the description of the powers that Naya had and how the energy that she had to draw worked, I felt like that was fully explained. And if this book was more focused on this aspect, perhaps it would’ve been better? But instead it is so heavily focused on politics in the kingdom. honestly I thought the politics were incredibly confusing that half the time I couldn’t really be bothered to read them. It just took so much away from the magic and the second half of the book was just messy. (Also I fully guessed the whole entire ending so that was just... disappointing)
Maybe it’s just the authors writing that didn’t work well with me because I did also notice that the descriptions of the world that were supposed to be magical and beautiful I kept skimming over which almost never happens.
Also if someone could explain why in the world the whole country and government completely trusted the credibility of this random girl to be a spy and then make official congress decisions?? Where did her political experience come from and why is she immediately so skilled and special Im so confused
i received an e-arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
dark sea coast town full of wraiths and necromancers? this book honestly sounded so interesting to me and for the first half I did enjoy it more or less.
The one thing I really liked was the description of the powers that Naya had and how the energy that she had to draw worked, I felt like that was fully explained. And if this book was more focused on this aspect, perhaps it would’ve been better? But instead it is so heavily focused on politics in the kingdom. honestly I thought the politics were incredibly confusing that half the time I couldn’t really be bothered to read them. It just took so much away from the magic and the second half of the book was just messy. (Also I fully guessed the whole entire ending so that was just... disappointing)
Maybe it’s just the authors writing that didn’t work well with me because I did also notice that the descriptions of the world that were supposed to be magical and beautiful I kept skimming over which almost never happens.
Also if someone could explain why in the world the whole country and government completely trusted the credibility of this random girl to be a spy and then make official congress decisions?? Where did her political experience come from and why is she immediately so skilled and special Im so confused
i received an e-arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 31, 2018
*a copy was provided by NetGalley*
I enjoyed this more than I expected! I was just drawn in right away~ The plot is just so unique and intriguing that I didn’t want to put it down!
The world building is really cool.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys paranormal fantasy! I cant wait to read the rest of this series when it comes out! I'm excited!
I enjoyed this more than I expected! I was just drawn in right away~ The plot is just so unique and intriguing that I didn’t want to put it down!
The world building is really cool.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys paranormal fantasy! I cant wait to read the rest of this series when it comes out! I'm excited!
July 18, 2018
Twice Dead is a great debut YA fantasy novel set in a world where necromancy is commonplace and political intrigue abounds! This was a very enjoyable read that is appropriate for younger teens and gives some thought to death and the morality of bringing people back. Naya has grown up in a country that vehemently opposes the use of necromancy, viewing the undead as evil monstrosities. When she embarks on her first mission in Ceramor (where the undead are an integral part of society) she is unexpectedly killed and brought back as a wraith. She is asked to become a spy, but the world of intrigue may be more than she bargained for.
I really enjoyed the development of the magic system in this world. We learn quite a bit about the different kinds of undead and the ways they can use aether. The twists of the plot were pretty easy to figure out, but I'm also not sure they were supposed to be surprising in the first place. It seems more about Naya's arc of growth as a character, and her discovery of these twists. There is also a very sweet friendship turned romance in the story. Overall I thought this was a solid 4-star read in the YA fantasy genre and a strong debut. I would be interested in continuing on with the series! Thank you to the publisher for sending me an unsolicited early copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the development of the magic system in this world. We learn quite a bit about the different kinds of undead and the ways they can use aether. The twists of the plot were pretty easy to figure out, but I'm also not sure they were supposed to be surprising in the first place. It seems more about Naya's arc of growth as a character, and her discovery of these twists. There is also a very sweet friendship turned romance in the story. Overall I thought this was a solid 4-star read in the YA fantasy genre and a strong debut. I would be interested in continuing on with the series! Thank you to the publisher for sending me an unsolicited early copy of this book.
September 15, 2018
Naya Garth was just a simple merchant’s daughter until she found herself awaken from the dead. Murdered while having her first trade mission in a Necromancer-friendly country, Ceramor, her father’s friend, Ambassador Valn, took it to himself to save Naya by letting a Necromancer to perform a resurrection. When Naya woke up, she was horrified at the idea of what the Necromancer did. As a Talmiran, she was raised to detest Necromancer’s power. The dead should be left dead. Worse, Naya isn’t just one of the UNDEAD, she’s a WRAITH. While Undead are animated corpses with their souls attached to their dead bodies, Wraiths are merely ghosts, spirits that sucked energy from the living. And then she found she’s even more than a Wraith… And she has to work as a spy to help Talmir, her country to prevent a war against Necromancers that was once ended by a treaty.
That all being said, this book sounds so interesting. Right? I mean, Undead? necromancers, Wraith? Sucking the energy, AETHER, from the living? I mean, I’m all for it. The idea or concept of this book seemed so unique and it is. But that’s where the uniqueness ended.
I was expecting an eerie, atmospheric read, they’re resurrecting dead for God’s sake, it supposed to be spooky and interesting but what I got is another story that involves romance, politics and intrigues. I know most books such as this one can have them, they’re not necessarily cliche BUT the writing made it like reading this is a chore and that I’m better picking up another book with the same issues.
Don’t get me wrong I still like the idea of the Necromancer but my love for it is buried under frustrations. See there is no silver lining in this book. Nothing to be excited about. The only thing to guess is who would betray who, like who’s the real bad people. And we’ve read that so many times before. If there would be twist in the future, I didn’t read any foreshadowing about it.
And if the pacing in the second book would still be like this, TOO SLOW, I’m gonna stop reading by the second chapter because really you can see if the pace would be good. This story went on like a freaking diary. A DIARY: No make it an hour-to-hour account of Naya’s supposedly interesting life. An example is here: I spent reading Chapter 2 until chapter 4 with Naya still in the same place listening to stories of who’s and whys and hows.
That’s maybe too spoilery and I warned you, didn’t I? But I have to make a point. The pacing is soooooo slow and it goes on like that till the end. Like I said nothing to be excited about while reading, sure interesting things happen sometimes but they’re not enough. I needed more of the Necromancy thing, like I wanna see it in full power or maybe REAL, SCARY THING ABOUT IT, I don’t want to wait for Book 2 to see interesting things. I think it’s a mistake for making book 1 as sorta just a setup for the whole series. The Romance didn’t even make up for it.
The characters? Do I love any of them? NO? Do I wanna see them again? maybe.. I’m not a snob, even if I didn’t find a person interesting in first meeting, I’d still want to meet them, but I wouldn’t make an effort to do so. Know what I mean? Naya, our heroine, is really uninteresting, it seems to me that she does things all based on what others said. i’m not even sure what she’s fighting for? I’m not sure of her principles aside from what her father’s led her to believe. Where’s her backbone anyway? Maybe she lost it when she became a wraith. Wraiths have no bodies anyway.
LILI, that’s RUDE!!!!
And she whines a lot. Even her inner monologues are filled with questions and whining.
I did like their expressions such as: ‘Creator guide you’ or ‘What in creations…’ I think that’s very unique in its own way.
Overall, this book has a HUGE potential, that’s why I gave it 3 stars despite my complains. The main problem is the pacing. I wish, really wish, it can be edited and omit those scenes I don’t need to read. And maybe add something more from book 2. That’s just my opinion and maybe I shouldn’t be giving opinions like this but I really wanna love this one. The main concept was very unique. I liked it. Thank God somebody had thought of a concept about the Undead that are not vampires. See how amazing is that?
I’m sorry this review is longer than my other reviews and filled with rants. But I needed to be honest.
I was granted a copy by the Publishers thru Netgalley…
That all being said, this book sounds so interesting. Right? I mean, Undead? necromancers, Wraith? Sucking the energy, AETHER, from the living? I mean, I’m all for it. The idea or concept of this book seemed so unique and it is. But that’s where the uniqueness ended.
I was expecting an eerie, atmospheric read, they’re resurrecting dead for God’s sake, it supposed to be spooky and interesting but what I got is another story that involves romance, politics and intrigues. I know most books such as this one can have them, they’re not necessarily cliche BUT the writing made it like reading this is a chore and that I’m better picking up another book with the same issues.
Don’t get me wrong I still like the idea of the Necromancer but my love for it is buried under frustrations. See there is no silver lining in this book. Nothing to be excited about. The only thing to guess is who would betray who, like who’s the real bad people. And we’ve read that so many times before. If there would be twist in the future, I didn’t read any foreshadowing about it.
And if the pacing in the second book would still be like this, TOO SLOW, I’m gonna stop reading by the second chapter because really you can see if the pace would be good. This story went on like a freaking diary. A DIARY: No make it an hour-to-hour account of Naya’s supposedly interesting life. An example is here: I spent reading Chapter 2 until chapter 4 with Naya still in the same place listening to stories of who’s and whys and hows.
That’s maybe too spoilery and I warned you, didn’t I? But I have to make a point. The pacing is soooooo slow and it goes on like that till the end. Like I said nothing to be excited about while reading, sure interesting things happen sometimes but they’re not enough. I needed more of the Necromancy thing, like I wanna see it in full power or maybe REAL, SCARY THING ABOUT IT, I don’t want to wait for Book 2 to see interesting things. I think it’s a mistake for making book 1 as sorta just a setup for the whole series. The Romance didn’t even make up for it.
The characters? Do I love any of them? NO? Do I wanna see them again? maybe.. I’m not a snob, even if I didn’t find a person interesting in first meeting, I’d still want to meet them, but I wouldn’t make an effort to do so. Know what I mean? Naya, our heroine, is really uninteresting, it seems to me that she does things all based on what others said. i’m not even sure what she’s fighting for? I’m not sure of her principles aside from what her father’s led her to believe. Where’s her backbone anyway? Maybe she lost it when she became a wraith. Wraiths have no bodies anyway.
LILI, that’s RUDE!!!!
And she whines a lot. Even her inner monologues are filled with questions and whining.
I did like their expressions such as: ‘Creator guide you’ or ‘What in creations…’ I think that’s very unique in its own way.
Overall, this book has a HUGE potential, that’s why I gave it 3 stars despite my complains. The main problem is the pacing. I wish, really wish, it can be edited and omit those scenes I don’t need to read. And maybe add something more from book 2. That’s just my opinion and maybe I shouldn’t be giving opinions like this but I really wanna love this one. The main concept was very unique. I liked it. Thank God somebody had thought of a concept about the Undead that are not vampires. See how amazing is that?
I’m sorry this review is longer than my other reviews and filled with rants. But I needed to be honest.
I was granted a copy by the Publishers thru Netgalley…
May 9, 2018
In this book, the world building and the concept behind the wraiths and necromancers was something I don't see often in books. I was interested in this book from the cover and I was not let down. I was excited about the idea of this book and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with in the next book. Naya is our heroine was not a bad character for me but I feel I would like to know more about her. The story overall was a good read for me. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
April 17, 2018
**2.5 but rounding up**
This is probably one of the more unique books I’ve read recently in terms of world building and the concept of necromancers using this particular ideology, but other than that this book is pretty predictable making it somewhat fall flat as it works it’s way through the plot.
“Twice Dead” tells the story of Naya a young girl who is sent on a mission by her father in a city where the dead walk among the living and if that wasn’t bad enough her simple task goes awry when she is murdered in the street by an unknown assailant and resurrected as a wraith and forced to play the part of a spy in order to help her people but things aren’t always what they seem and soon she must make a decision that could cost her her life and this time for good.
The entire necromancer and resurrection idea was pretty interesting but once they get down the mechanics of how the process works things start to get a little fuzzy and once I thought I understood the process something would happen and I would have to start all over in order to keep up with the action.
Sadly there wasn’t any real connection to any of the characters and I honestly couldn’t tell you why other than the plot having the bare bone structure of something we’ve all read a dozen times with more likable or at least memorable characters moving things forward and in this case not one of them in this book even came close to holding their own amongst them.
This book is just kind of alright in that it’s neither good or bad and could work as a filler if you’re between novels and want to give it a try.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
This is probably one of the more unique books I’ve read recently in terms of world building and the concept of necromancers using this particular ideology, but other than that this book is pretty predictable making it somewhat fall flat as it works it’s way through the plot.
“Twice Dead” tells the story of Naya a young girl who is sent on a mission by her father in a city where the dead walk among the living and if that wasn’t bad enough her simple task goes awry when she is murdered in the street by an unknown assailant and resurrected as a wraith and forced to play the part of a spy in order to help her people but things aren’t always what they seem and soon she must make a decision that could cost her her life and this time for good.
The entire necromancer and resurrection idea was pretty interesting but once they get down the mechanics of how the process works things start to get a little fuzzy and once I thought I understood the process something would happen and I would have to start all over in order to keep up with the action.
Sadly there wasn’t any real connection to any of the characters and I honestly couldn’t tell you why other than the plot having the bare bone structure of something we’ve all read a dozen times with more likable or at least memorable characters moving things forward and in this case not one of them in this book even came close to holding their own amongst them.
This book is just kind of alright in that it’s neither good or bad and could work as a filler if you’re between novels and want to give it a try.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
August 20, 2018
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Naya is the daughter of a sea captain who suddenly finds herself not only dead but resurrected and a spy who must thread through politics, secrets and ever discover romance. There is quite the background story here and while I did expect the characters to be more realistic, the plot was engaging and quite interesting.
Naya is the daughter of a sea captain who suddenly finds herself not only dead but resurrected and a spy who must thread through politics, secrets and ever discover romance. There is quite the background story here and while I did expect the characters to be more realistic, the plot was engaging and quite interesting.
lost-interest
October 25, 2021Read the first chapter. Didn't seem that bad but it's a trilogy and the description of book 2 doesn't interest me at all and book 3 doesn't exist? I'll pass.
January 15, 2020
After reading the synopsis for this book, I had pretty high hopes. I found Twice Dead to be an interesting read for the most part. Not to mention, I rather enjoyed learning about the influence of necromancy, the undead, and wraiths. The scribing on the bones and singing were neat touches! I really felt that this book had a lot of potential! Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me.
Naya, the main character, was not very strong lead character. A lot of her actions, as well as the reactions to them, were sort of eh. She did not have that "fiery" spirit that I was hoping for. Plus, I wish that there would have been more backstory for her in regards to her father and her loyalty to her homeland. Most of the time it was what her father wanted or what her homeland believed. You did not get a strong sense of what she wanted or believed.
The supporting characters did add quite a bit to the story. They made up for a little of what Naya lacked which I was thankful for. The plot moved at a good pace and did hold my interest. The world building could have been greatly improved upon, but was alright. I felt that there was a lot left to the imagination.
All in all, I do not regret reading Twice Dead. In fact, I would more than likely read the next book in the series. Fingers crossed though that the second book is a little better!
* I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Naya, the main character, was not very strong lead character. A lot of her actions, as well as the reactions to them, were sort of eh. She did not have that "fiery" spirit that I was hoping for. Plus, I wish that there would have been more backstory for her in regards to her father and her loyalty to her homeland. Most of the time it was what her father wanted or what her homeland believed. You did not get a strong sense of what she wanted or believed.
The supporting characters did add quite a bit to the story. They made up for a little of what Naya lacked which I was thankful for. The plot moved at a good pace and did hold my interest. The world building could have been greatly improved upon, but was alright. I felt that there was a lot left to the imagination.
All in all, I do not regret reading Twice Dead. In fact, I would more than likely read the next book in the series. Fingers crossed though that the second book is a little better!
* I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2018
2.5 Stars
When I first heard about this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I mean, the cover is just beautiful and it intrigued me. I had to know more. So when I read the synopsis, that sealed it for me. I had to pick up this book and see what adventure would lie ahead for me.
Twice Dead is a unique and refreshing story. I haven't read very many YA books that deal with Necromancy. So, I was really intrigued by this one and couldn't wait to see what direction this story was going to go. I think this story started off well and had some great potential, however somewhere along the line, it just fell flat. This story focused a lot and I mean a lot on character development, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just found myself struggling to connect with them. And since there was so much focus on the character development, I feel like the plot ended up suffering because of it. I needed more. I need more background. I needed more actual plot. I needed to see the story move in some direction.
I had kind of a like/hate relationship with this story. The plot was really interesting and I loved how unique it was. But, it just wasn't enough for me. As I said before, I do think this story has potential, but in the end, I just needed more. Even though this story didn't work for me, I'm still glad to have given it a try.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
When I first heard about this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I mean, the cover is just beautiful and it intrigued me. I had to know more. So when I read the synopsis, that sealed it for me. I had to pick up this book and see what adventure would lie ahead for me.
Twice Dead is a unique and refreshing story. I haven't read very many YA books that deal with Necromancy. So, I was really intrigued by this one and couldn't wait to see what direction this story was going to go. I think this story started off well and had some great potential, however somewhere along the line, it just fell flat. This story focused a lot and I mean a lot on character development, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just found myself struggling to connect with them. And since there was so much focus on the character development, I feel like the plot ended up suffering because of it. I needed more. I need more background. I needed more actual plot. I needed to see the story move in some direction.
I had kind of a like/hate relationship with this story. The plot was really interesting and I loved how unique it was. But, it just wasn't enough for me. As I said before, I do think this story has potential, but in the end, I just needed more. Even though this story didn't work for me, I'm still glad to have given it a try.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
February 25, 2019
Twice Dead seemed to have so much potential to be dark, exciting, and unique, but it fell a little short for me. I enjoyed some of the world building involving necromancy, wraiths, the undead, and reapers, but it seemed like the excitement kind of stopped there. The pacing was slow to moderate. The world building fell a little flat, and the character development just wasn’t there.
I really wanted to love this book. I mean, it wasn’t boring enough to make me stop reading it, but it wasn’t intriguing enough to make me want book 2. I never felt like I quite grasped how the setting looked, and I never felt like I connected with the characters. There was only scene that really struck me as unpredictable, while the rest of the plot just kind of fell in to place quite typically.
I just wish I wasn’t so disappointed with this one. The writing wasn’t terrible. The concept of the book really grabbed me, and the idea behind the necromancy was intriguing, but that was about it for me, unfortunately. I wouldn’t say to avoid the book, but it wouldn’t be at the top of my recommendation pile.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to love this book. I mean, it wasn’t boring enough to make me stop reading it, but it wasn’t intriguing enough to make me want book 2. I never felt like I quite grasped how the setting looked, and I never felt like I connected with the characters. There was only scene that really struck me as unpredictable, while the rest of the plot just kind of fell in to place quite typically.
I just wish I wasn’t so disappointed with this one. The writing wasn’t terrible. The concept of the book really grabbed me, and the idea behind the necromancy was intriguing, but that was about it for me, unfortunately. I wouldn’t say to avoid the book, but it wouldn’t be at the top of my recommendation pile.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2018
First off, thanks to #NetGalley and Charlesbridge Teen for the opportunity to read this one. That said, this book just was not my thing. I enjoy YA and paranormal, whether YA or adult, but this one did not do it for me. I'm not sure what I expected with this book, but whatever it was, this wasn't it. The wraiths, betrayals, etc....didn't hold my interest for more than a few minutes at a time. I skimmed parts because it just wasn't interesting. Wish I had liked it better, and judging from most of the NetGalley reviews, I am definitely in the minority here.
August 16, 2019
Yet another mediocre debut for 2019. While Twice Dead was fabulously original, I just felt the world, characters, and plot weren't properly fleshed out. I really wish it had been a better writer behind the idea, or maybe if Seal had a bit more experience under her belt before putting this together, as I have no doubt that it could have been amazing. But with what we had, it just wasn't.
Age: 12+
Warnings: Murder, death, and questions about what life really is. I think there was also like one kiss scene?
Age: 12+
Warnings: Murder, death, and questions about what life really is. I think there was also like one kiss scene?
July 1, 2018
From the description, this book seemed like the kind of jam I'd hunker down and demolish in one YA-gobbling frenzy. Strong female heroine? Check. Paranormal world/themes? Check. Action and political intrigue? Check. Romance? Check.
In reality... this book was one resounding "meh". At the outset, I was hooked. Our main character Naya "waking up" dead after spending her life being taught to despise and fear the resurrected was such a neat concept. But I found that things only went downhill after that. Naya proved to be a pretty frustrating and half-baked lead. I feel as though so much time was spent trying to set up the complicated politics and explain the magic behind the necromancy, that I found myself knowing very little (and thus caring very little) about the characters I was supposed to root for.
The same goes for the love interest in the book. Without giving too much away, there's a significant event involving Naya's beau that was surely intended to pack an emotional wallop, but left me feeling indifferent- because we knew so little about him, and his relationship with Naya was so underdeveloped.
Overall, despite my problems with the book, the story was inventive, and the details that were gleaned about the characters were well-written. Am I eager to read Book #2? Not really. Would I be willing to give the next chapter in the series a chance? Sure!
(Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.)
In reality... this book was one resounding "meh". At the outset, I was hooked. Our main character Naya "waking up" dead after spending her life being taught to despise and fear the resurrected was such a neat concept. But I found that things only went downhill after that. Naya proved to be a pretty frustrating and half-baked lead. I feel as though so much time was spent trying to set up the complicated politics and explain the magic behind the necromancy, that I found myself knowing very little (and thus caring very little) about the characters I was supposed to root for.
The same goes for the love interest in the book. Without giving too much away, there's a significant event involving Naya's beau that was surely intended to pack an emotional wallop, but left me feeling indifferent- because we knew so little about him, and his relationship with Naya was so underdeveloped.
Overall, despite my problems with the book, the story was inventive, and the details that were gleaned about the characters were well-written. Am I eager to read Book #2? Not really. Would I be willing to give the next chapter in the series a chance? Sure!
(Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.)
May 29, 2018
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Twice Dead caught my attention as I was looking at upcoming books due to a super interesting concept. Naya is murdered and resurrected by a necromancer. She isn't just someone brought back to life, but a wraith. One that has very strong powers. She gets tangled up and becomes a spy to assist her country of birth. Sounds great, I'm in!
My excitement was quickly tempered due to Naya herself pretty quickly after she was brought back to life. After everything that is happening to her, she just kind of accepts a lot of it too easily. She is obviously uncertain with everything surrounding her circumstances, but not as much as one would expect. I expected so much more emotional struggle with everything, but it never really surfaces. This tends to happen through out that book. She kind of has moments where you expect more from her, but she kind of goes with the flow too easily.
If any have read past reviews from me, I am one who thinks the term insta-love is overused. Sadly this kind of happens in this book and it was deflating considering the relationship between Naya and Corten. The potential felt wasted with some decent build up, then a sudden confession. Why can't people in books sometimes just like someone, instead of immediately declaring they're falling in love. I know it happens a lot, but this one felt a bit rushed.
A couple bright spots of this book are the world building and Naya's powers. I loved hearing about the past turmoil and wars between the countries and why the truce was present. Also learning more about the necromancers and how they are viewed differently by various countries was cool. I also really enjoyed learning more about Naya's powers as a wraith. The author does a good job coming up with unique interesting ways the powers are put to use.
Overall Twice Dead doesn't do enough with an intriguing premise. It's not a bad read by any means, but it definitely won't wow you. You can feel the potential with Naya, as well as the world and politics surrounding her, but it's never reached. Honestly even with the shortcomings of the book I might one day sit down and give its inevitable sequel a chance, but it won't be a must read.
Twice Dead caught my attention as I was looking at upcoming books due to a super interesting concept. Naya is murdered and resurrected by a necromancer. She isn't just someone brought back to life, but a wraith. One that has very strong powers. She gets tangled up and becomes a spy to assist her country of birth. Sounds great, I'm in!
My excitement was quickly tempered due to Naya herself pretty quickly after she was brought back to life. After everything that is happening to her, she just kind of accepts a lot of it too easily. She is obviously uncertain with everything surrounding her circumstances, but not as much as one would expect. I expected so much more emotional struggle with everything, but it never really surfaces. This tends to happen through out that book. She kind of has moments where you expect more from her, but she kind of goes with the flow too easily.
If any have read past reviews from me, I am one who thinks the term insta-love is overused. Sadly this kind of happens in this book and it was deflating considering the relationship between Naya and Corten. The potential felt wasted with some decent build up, then a sudden confession. Why can't people in books sometimes just like someone, instead of immediately declaring they're falling in love. I know it happens a lot, but this one felt a bit rushed.
A couple bright spots of this book are the world building and Naya's powers. I loved hearing about the past turmoil and wars between the countries and why the truce was present. Also learning more about the necromancers and how they are viewed differently by various countries was cool. I also really enjoyed learning more about Naya's powers as a wraith. The author does a good job coming up with unique interesting ways the powers are put to use.
Overall Twice Dead doesn't do enough with an intriguing premise. It's not a bad read by any means, but it definitely won't wow you. You can feel the potential with Naya, as well as the world and politics surrounding her, but it's never reached. Honestly even with the shortcomings of the book I might one day sit down and give its inevitable sequel a chance, but it won't be a must read.
March 10, 2018
3.5 star rating, mainly because of the worldbuilding; it was very comprehensive and I liked all the unique aspects of necromancy.
What I liked:
Politics -- loved how there was a backstory between the nations and that this was impacting present time. Although I did think this could have been shown, rather than told in the first few chapters
Necromancy -- cool and creepy magic!
No princes -- refreshing to see that the characters weren't princesses and princes
What I didn't like:
Where this story fell down for me, however, was the characters.
I didn't get where Naya came from, in the sense of her relationships with people from her past world and her father and the crew aboard the Gallant. She had zero friends to speak of that didn't really convince me of her life before the story started.
I thought the inciting incident happened way too fast. We weren't shown enough of her world and the world of Belavine, so that a lot ended up being told to us.
I thought the plot drove Naya rather than the other way round; everything happened to her, rather than her making any huge decisions. Yes, she learned more about Necromancy to overcome her own prejudices, but that was mainly driven by the romance.
I also think the romance was very predictable, and that Corten was in it to tell us everything about Necromancy (rather than Naya learning on her own) and that other than him being a wraith, he didn't really have a role in this book.
Overall, a good, fun read with interesting magic system.
However, I wanted the main character to be more engaging.
What I liked:
Politics -- loved how there was a backstory between the nations and that this was impacting present time. Although I did think this could have been shown, rather than told in the first few chapters
Necromancy -- cool and creepy magic!
No princes -- refreshing to see that the characters weren't princesses and princes
What I didn't like:
Where this story fell down for me, however, was the characters.
I didn't get where Naya came from, in the sense of her relationships with people from her past world and her father and the crew aboard the Gallant. She had zero friends to speak of that didn't really convince me of her life before the story started.
I thought the inciting incident happened way too fast. We weren't shown enough of her world and the world of Belavine, so that a lot ended up being told to us.
I thought the plot drove Naya rather than the other way round; everything happened to her, rather than her making any huge decisions. Yes, she learned more about Necromancy to overcome her own prejudices, but that was mainly driven by the romance.
I also think the romance was very predictable, and that Corten was in it to tell us everything about Necromancy (rather than Naya learning on her own) and that other than him being a wraith, he didn't really have a role in this book.
Overall, a good, fun read with interesting magic system.
However, I wanted the main character to be more engaging.
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