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Chronicles of Gam Gam #1
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam
A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight.
A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses.
When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they're dressed for the occasion.
A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses.
When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they're dressed for the occasion.
167 pages, ebook
First published May 30, 2023
31 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Adam Holcombe
5 books53 followersAdam Holcombe daylights as a programmer and moonlights as an author. After spending years toying with the idea of writing, he decided to fully commit and work toward releasing his first novel.
Then Gam Gam got in the way, and his first novel became his first novella. The novel will come later.
When he’s not locking himself in a cold basement to type away, he can be found squishing his dog (but not too hard), squawking at his tortoise (but not too loudly), goofing off with his wife (in perfectly ordinary, non-weird ways), DMing for his friends (I even got to play as a character a couple times!), or the usual chilling at home. He is a lover of books, board games, video games, and swords.
Adam is currently working on more Gam Gam stories, as well as the launch of a Sci-Fi series with the novel Bounty Inc.
TESTIMONIALS ABOUT ADAM AS A PERSON:
"THE BEST ADAM" - Krystle Matar.
"ALSO GAH" - Virginia McClain.
Then Gam Gam got in the way, and his first novel became his first novella. The novel will come later.
When he’s not locking himself in a cold basement to type away, he can be found squishing his dog (but not too hard), squawking at his tortoise (but not too loudly), goofing off with his wife (in perfectly ordinary, non-weird ways), DMing for his friends (I even got to play as a character a couple times!), or the usual chilling at home. He is a lover of books, board games, video games, and swords.
Adam is currently working on more Gam Gam stories, as well as the launch of a Sci-Fi series with the novel Bounty Inc.
TESTIMONIALS ABOUT ADAM AS A PERSON:
"THE BEST ADAM" - Krystle Matar.
"ALSO GAH" - Virginia McClain.
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September 26, 2023A beautifully written story exploring mortality, familial love, and the power of kindness, with a skeleton cat, a knitting necromancer, and a young girl still figuring out how to embrace all the different parts of herself.
My only reservation was the coding of scarring and unusual size as villainous (Mister Scar and Bicep Woman being the main villain's lackeys). I think perhaps because of the history of ableism using visual difference as a shorthand for evil, this just rubbed me the wrong way. However, the same did not hold true for the main villain, and the rest of the story was marvelous.
*Edited to add that the author saw this review and responded with a note about not realizing or intending that their coding might have been problematic, and promising to do better in future, and can I just say three cheers for lovely authors doing their best to learn and move forward with grace? I know there are many things I've had to learn/un-learn, and being able to navigate that (and being afforded space to do so) has been so integral to my own development as an author. Let's all be kind and keep helping each other forward. 💙
My only reservation was the coding of scarring and unusual size as villainous (Mister Scar and Bicep Woman being the main villain's lackeys). I think perhaps because of the history of ableism using visual difference as a shorthand for evil, this just rubbed me the wrong way. However, the same did not hold true for the main villain, and the rest of the story was marvelous.
*Edited to add that the author saw this review and responded with a note about not realizing or intending that their coding might have been problematic, and promising to do better in future, and can I just say three cheers for lovely authors doing their best to learn and move forward with grace? I know there are many things I've had to learn/un-learn, and being able to navigate that (and being afforded space to do so) has been so integral to my own development as an author. Let's all be kind and keep helping each other forward. 💙
May 13, 2023
Well, who would’ve thought a story about death and necromancy could be this utterly delightful?! We’ve got a fun and entertaining adventure, a lovable cast of oddball characters (including an undead cat!) and some touching conversations about grief and healing… What more could you want? A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is cosy fantasy at its very best.
This novella quite literally hits the ground running. We follow 12-year-old Mina as she is being pursued in the woods by dangerous men who are after her for her mysterious magical powers. Fortunately for her, she just so happens to stumble upon the wonderful Gam Gam, who is a grandmotherly necromancer with a passion for knitting. What follows is a delightfully whimsical yet touching adventure that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way possible!
As a character-driven reader I am always a bit wary of shorter books, because I fear that I won’t get the time to get emotionally invested in the characters. But, I am happy to say that my concerns quickly flew out the window when I realised that Holcombe’s character work was going to be the main highlight of this story. Within just a couple of pages, he established a cast of extremely nuanced and memorable characters that I was instantly able to latch onto.
All of the characters, even the non-human and undead ones, are just so loveable and they jump off the page with their strong and unique personalities. I totally wasn’t expecting to devour this book in one sitting, but I just had to keep turning the pages to spend more time with these charming characters. Also, the found family vibes are off the charts here and the light-hearted banter got some really good chuckles out of me. I was so here for it all!!
Now, as delightful as this book may sound, you should not go in expecting a simple entertaining adventure. This story has some much deeper layers and beautifully explores delicate themes of death, grief, loss and, ultimately, healing. These characters have some serious trauma and emotional baggage, but it’s so touching, inspiring and heartwarming to see them work through their pain together. And the simple yet poignant writing makes this whole journey all the more emotionally impactful!
All in all, I had a wonderful time with this story and now I desperately need more Gam Gam in my life! This novella might be a quick read, but it really proves that a gifted author doesn’t need a lot of pages to tell a beautiful and memorable story that really packs a punch.
If you are looking for more quirky and charming cosy fantasy stories in the vein of T. Kingfisher or T.J. Klune, then A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is the perfect fit for you. It’s honestly the warm hug you didn’t know you needed.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This novella quite literally hits the ground running. We follow 12-year-old Mina as she is being pursued in the woods by dangerous men who are after her for her mysterious magical powers. Fortunately for her, she just so happens to stumble upon the wonderful Gam Gam, who is a grandmotherly necromancer with a passion for knitting. What follows is a delightfully whimsical yet touching adventure that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way possible!
As a character-driven reader I am always a bit wary of shorter books, because I fear that I won’t get the time to get emotionally invested in the characters. But, I am happy to say that my concerns quickly flew out the window when I realised that Holcombe’s character work was going to be the main highlight of this story. Within just a couple of pages, he established a cast of extremely nuanced and memorable characters that I was instantly able to latch onto.
All of the characters, even the non-human and undead ones, are just so loveable and they jump off the page with their strong and unique personalities. I totally wasn’t expecting to devour this book in one sitting, but I just had to keep turning the pages to spend more time with these charming characters. Also, the found family vibes are off the charts here and the light-hearted banter got some really good chuckles out of me. I was so here for it all!!
Now, as delightful as this book may sound, you should not go in expecting a simple entertaining adventure. This story has some much deeper layers and beautifully explores delicate themes of death, grief, loss and, ultimately, healing. These characters have some serious trauma and emotional baggage, but it’s so touching, inspiring and heartwarming to see them work through their pain together. And the simple yet poignant writing makes this whole journey all the more emotionally impactful!
All in all, I had a wonderful time with this story and now I desperately need more Gam Gam in my life! This novella might be a quick read, but it really proves that a gifted author doesn’t need a lot of pages to tell a beautiful and memorable story that really packs a punch.
If you are looking for more quirky and charming cosy fantasy stories in the vein of T. Kingfisher or T.J. Klune, then A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is the perfect fit for you. It’s honestly the warm hug you didn’t know you needed.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2024
A gorgeous novella that is way overdue for a review. A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is lighthearted but profound, short but punch packin’, and while there is necromancy and lots of skeletons, it is a touching commentary on life, loved ones, and moving on. The prose is easy to follow, and even though it juggles contrasting dark & light themes, it never leans too much in one direction. For me, this balance worked beautifully and was never distracting.
Also, there is a skeleton cat and lots of knitting.
If the above appeals to you, check it out! It’s a novella, but despite its length, it will stay with you for a long time.
Also, there is a skeleton cat and lots of knitting.
If the above appeals to you, check it out! It’s a novella, but despite its length, it will stay with you for a long time.
April 19, 2024
This is a powerhouse Novella! It was cozy but still full of stakes and emotion! Two FANTASTIC protag :) all while showcasing 3 cool magic systems. This is an author to keep an eye on.
September 30, 2023
“I have learned in my time that if two men are chasing a young girl,it is never the girl’s fault.”
Oh what a delight. Five stars, ten stars, ah hell, all the stars!
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe immediately jumped onto my very favourites shelf. Not only is the hardcover insanely pretty, the author super nice (he sent me an ebook copy when I said somewhere I had trouble reading the small print) and the story a great one, it also features two of my favourite things:
Necromancy, and an old female mentor figure as a main character.
Grief and exhaustion overwhelmed her. She cried into the dress of the kind stranger until her tears dried up. Her voice fled from her in great, heaving sobs until it cracked and turned to coughing. And the woman held her for as long as Mina needed to be held. A few minutes or a few hours, she did not know. All she knew was the black pit of despair that hollowed out a place within her. It hurt worse than her bruised and cut feet. Worse than her scraped knees. So much worse than any pain she had felt before.
If you love books like Kingfishers, which are cosy and comfy, but still feature dark and disturbing bits as well, this is a perfect choice for you. It has painful emotions, but it's also like a warm blanket on a cold night. I adored the sheer amount of love radiating from Gam Gam, and her determination to help others.
“Oh, nonsense, dear. If you have nowhere to go then there is nowhere you will go.“
Mina and Gam Gam both felt solid and real to me, which is quite rare in fantasy featuring teen girls or older women.
The blend of humour, banter and cute things like a skeleton cat with dark bits like the loss of family or being shunned for your abilities worked incredibly well, and I devoured this novella more or less in one go.
If you haven't yet gotten this from my review - you wanna go and get yourself a copy of this book right now!
August 18, 2025
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam was the runner up in BBNYA 2024 and I can totally see why.
Its a pretty short read but still hits hard emotionally and that is all down to the characters, Gam Gam and Mina and their relationship. Gam Gam is a grandmotherly necromancer who knits scarves for her undead minions and takes in Mina, a twelve-year-old girl on the run from the Eternal Empire’s soldiers because of her mysterious powers.
Holcombe’s writing is simple yet vivid, painting clear pictures of glowing ghosts and clattering bones. I noticed a few reviews finding issues with the pacing but I don't really agree, I thought it was fast paced but not rushed. Its a quick read that packs a surprisingly hard punch
Its a pretty short read but still hits hard emotionally and that is all down to the characters, Gam Gam and Mina and their relationship. Gam Gam is a grandmotherly necromancer who knits scarves for her undead minions and takes in Mina, a twelve-year-old girl on the run from the Eternal Empire’s soldiers because of her mysterious powers.
Holcombe’s writing is simple yet vivid, painting clear pictures of glowing ghosts and clattering bones. I noticed a few reviews finding issues with the pacing but I don't really agree, I thought it was fast paced but not rushed. Its a quick read that packs a surprisingly hard punch
September 13, 2024
Now that I am feeling better because the weather is warm again, I can now finish this review I promised to write.
I was quite surprised how short this novella is. I expected it to be around 180 pages long and it pretty much has 2 chapters for the entire middle section and then the remaining 80% of the book is the beginning and endings arcs, along with a sort of uncategorized epilogue for the ending. There really isn't much of a middle section of this book at all, other than Mina discovers Gam Gam has... a lot of yarn and an oven that somehow doesn't burn the rest of the wooden carriage in flames.
Hey, how come Gam Gam's carriage is not classified as a meandering fire hazard anyways? I guess she can get away with some stuff because of her magic permit. To be honest, if permits give people so much leeway to scam others and bend the law, I would have expected everyone and their cousin to be lining up the magic school joint. Kind of like the reason why Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter gets his own Hunter permit to skirt the law.
With quite a bundle of reviews and a pretty straightforward plot, there isn't much need for me to resume the jist like in other reviews I write. One thing I do like is that Gam Gam is an older woman who learned magic late in life out of her own personal volution. It would be nice if more fantasy books has senior aged female protagonists. Since there isn't a lot of mages presented in this first book of the series, we don't have much of a comparison of Gam Gam's magic skill level with other much younger and experienced mages. It wouldn't surprise me if later books mention the longer you use magic even if you learned at an old age, the less life energy you use. Maybe she will visit her school sometime and pass to the next magic permit level and I guess this will entitle her to bribe more cops to ignore her fire hazard carriage and the stolen corpse that is rotting away.
Oh yeah, necromancy? Yup, this book is one of the few instances I have seen where necromancers are for the most part a good guy, just misunderstood by others. Well, I guess wandering around stealing bodies of their loved ones and then let their desecrated corpse rot away in the street might annoy people. For readers that enjoyed this aspect of the book, I encourage them to read Magic Comes to Whiteport by S.J. Madil. The necromancer in that book is a tad bit more morally grey, but I have read that book several years ago and continue to have fond memories.
Regarding Gam Gam and her skeleton cat Nugget, characterization and worldbuilding are certainly the highlights of this book. I do agree this book deserves all of the popularity and word of mouth it has gotten. While I felt some of the moments of strongest emotional tension to be just not 100% there (I think this is a skill the author will develop as the years go by), the book sprinkles tidbits of the Eternal Empire with quite fanciful mastery. Instead of being bored out of my wits about infodump history lore paragraph #2000, we just know there is an Emperor clinging to life and the reason mages have so much power to bribe lowly cops is to siphon the best ones to serve.
In a way, it would make sense for Gam Gam to try everything in her power to stick around with a low level mage permit. She doesn't seem to care about abusing her permit (I don't even quite know how she makes a living. I guess she sells sweaters?). Since I have not read any sequels, I cannot say at this point if she will be forced to visit magic school for a permit renewal, discover her skills have evolved high enough to attract the Emperor's attention and be sent to serve him.
Now, let's advance to the negatives. I initially wanted to give this book 3 stars. Yes, Gam Gam is adorable, the worldbuilding is awesome and I enjoyed the overall story. BUT! There is a problem and it was something that was buggering me especially during the first 15% of the novel. Since I am Latin American and mostly use Spanish in my everyday life, Spanish language fiction from the Americas purposely breaks a lot of the rules of every 'Guide to writing fiction'. Info dumps? Passive language? Too much exposition? Yup, Spanish language fiction offers more leeway with these rules. I am uncertain if it is just something cultural or the language renders itself to allowing more passive speech that makes perfect sense, but feels stilted and unnatural in English.
What I am getting with this meddling rant is that sometimes I feel English language fiction tries so hard to follow the writing recipe books with so much esmero (umm.. I think this word is effort in English), that a fear of breaking even the smallest writing no no ends up harming the book instead of enhancing it. This book has a really surprisingly low amount of adverbs for starters. It wouldn't surprise me if there's less than 50 in the entire book.
By itself, most readers will give the thumbs up. As long as adverbs are not stacked in a pile and used in every sentence, I am usually okay with seeing them. Nope, what was really hampering my enjoyment of this book was the chronically adverse fear of using the malinged passive speech. Been a while since I have last read a book in English where over 90% of every sentence starts with a pronoun. 'She kicked the soldier's foot.' 'She then hurried away.' 'Mina feared for her life.'
No, these aren't exact sentences of the book. But sentences that are constructed this way becomes such a persistent pattern in particular in the beginning few chapters that it started to distract me a lot. Curious, I checked how many times the word She is used in the book. Kindle says the word is used 862 times (I can't make it ignore words like published, which skewed the number higher). The chapters with greater dialogue and more exploration of Gam Gam's magic ability were most enjoyable to read because the pronoun tic isn't too overly prevalent. Whereas other chapters have so many pronoun starts that I could have performed a tequila shot game and end up emptying a bottle every time a sentence begins with one of those words in less than 2 pages!
Since I believe this is the author's first book, chances are newer books have gained greater writing experience and we will be rewarded with more sentences starting in prepositions and verbs in present continuous tense for greater variability. I dare say the (few) sentences in this book that use passive speech felt quite refreshing to me and I am probably a member of the minority of readers that wanted more of them for variety.
In a nutshell, my verdict is 3 stars for the excessive active speech and 5 stars for the characters/worldbuilding/story, giving this book a solid 4 stars!
I was quite surprised how short this novella is. I expected it to be around 180 pages long and it pretty much has 2 chapters for the entire middle section and then the remaining 80% of the book is the beginning and endings arcs, along with a sort of uncategorized epilogue for the ending. There really isn't much of a middle section of this book at all, other than Mina discovers Gam Gam has... a lot of yarn and an oven that somehow doesn't burn the rest of the wooden carriage in flames.
Hey, how come Gam Gam's carriage is not classified as a meandering fire hazard anyways? I guess she can get away with some stuff because of her magic permit. To be honest, if permits give people so much leeway to scam others and bend the law, I would have expected everyone and their cousin to be lining up the magic school joint. Kind of like the reason why Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter gets his own Hunter permit to skirt the law.
With quite a bundle of reviews and a pretty straightforward plot, there isn't much need for me to resume the jist like in other reviews I write. One thing I do like is that Gam Gam is an older woman who learned magic late in life out of her own personal volution. It would be nice if more fantasy books has senior aged female protagonists. Since there isn't a lot of mages presented in this first book of the series, we don't have much of a comparison of Gam Gam's magic skill level with other much younger and experienced mages. It wouldn't surprise me if later books mention the longer you use magic even if you learned at an old age, the less life energy you use. Maybe she will visit her school sometime and pass to the next magic permit level and I guess this will entitle her to bribe more cops to ignore her fire hazard carriage and the stolen corpse that is rotting away.
Oh yeah, necromancy? Yup, this book is one of the few instances I have seen where necromancers are for the most part a good guy, just misunderstood by others. Well, I guess wandering around stealing bodies of their loved ones and then let their desecrated corpse rot away in the street might annoy people. For readers that enjoyed this aspect of the book, I encourage them to read Magic Comes to Whiteport by S.J. Madil. The necromancer in that book is a tad bit more morally grey, but I have read that book several years ago and continue to have fond memories.
Regarding Gam Gam and her skeleton cat Nugget, characterization and worldbuilding are certainly the highlights of this book. I do agree this book deserves all of the popularity and word of mouth it has gotten. While I felt some of the moments of strongest emotional tension to be just not 100% there (I think this is a skill the author will develop as the years go by), the book sprinkles tidbits of the Eternal Empire with quite fanciful mastery. Instead of being bored out of my wits about infodump history lore paragraph #2000, we just know there is an Emperor clinging to life and the reason mages have so much power to bribe lowly cops is to siphon the best ones to serve.
In a way, it would make sense for Gam Gam to try everything in her power to stick around with a low level mage permit. She doesn't seem to care about abusing her permit (I don't even quite know how she makes a living. I guess she sells sweaters?). Since I have not read any sequels, I cannot say at this point if she will be forced to visit magic school for a permit renewal, discover her skills have evolved high enough to attract the Emperor's attention and be sent to serve him.
Now, let's advance to the negatives. I initially wanted to give this book 3 stars. Yes, Gam Gam is adorable, the worldbuilding is awesome and I enjoyed the overall story. BUT! There is a problem and it was something that was buggering me especially during the first 15% of the novel. Since I am Latin American and mostly use Spanish in my everyday life, Spanish language fiction from the Americas purposely breaks a lot of the rules of every 'Guide to writing fiction'. Info dumps? Passive language? Too much exposition? Yup, Spanish language fiction offers more leeway with these rules. I am uncertain if it is just something cultural or the language renders itself to allowing more passive speech that makes perfect sense, but feels stilted and unnatural in English.
What I am getting with this meddling rant is that sometimes I feel English language fiction tries so hard to follow the writing recipe books with so much esmero (umm.. I think this word is effort in English), that a fear of breaking even the smallest writing no no ends up harming the book instead of enhancing it. This book has a really surprisingly low amount of adverbs for starters. It wouldn't surprise me if there's less than 50 in the entire book.
By itself, most readers will give the thumbs up. As long as adverbs are not stacked in a pile and used in every sentence, I am usually okay with seeing them. Nope, what was really hampering my enjoyment of this book was the chronically adverse fear of using the malinged passive speech. Been a while since I have last read a book in English where over 90% of every sentence starts with a pronoun. 'She kicked the soldier's foot.' 'She then hurried away.' 'Mina feared for her life.'
No, these aren't exact sentences of the book. But sentences that are constructed this way becomes such a persistent pattern in particular in the beginning few chapters that it started to distract me a lot. Curious, I checked how many times the word She is used in the book. Kindle says the word is used 862 times (I can't make it ignore words like published, which skewed the number higher). The chapters with greater dialogue and more exploration of Gam Gam's magic ability were most enjoyable to read because the pronoun tic isn't too overly prevalent. Whereas other chapters have so many pronoun starts that I could have performed a tequila shot game and end up emptying a bottle every time a sentence begins with one of those words in less than 2 pages!
Since I believe this is the author's first book, chances are newer books have gained greater writing experience and we will be rewarded with more sentences starting in prepositions and verbs in present continuous tense for greater variability. I dare say the (few) sentences in this book that use passive speech felt quite refreshing to me and I am probably a member of the minority of readers that wanted more of them for variety.
In a nutshell, my verdict is 3 stars for the excessive active speech and 5 stars for the characters/worldbuilding/story, giving this book a solid 4 stars!
May 25, 2023
Review originally published on JamReads
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a delightful and heartwarming humorous novella, written by Adam Holcombe. When Mel, while trying to flee from her persecutors, finds by chance Gam Gam's car, she cannot imagine how this lovely elder will help to solve her problems.
Gam Gam adopts Mel as her protegee, adopting the role we could expect from a supportive grandma. But Gam Gam has another surprise, because apart from loving doing crochet, she's a necromancer, so using her powers she will try to help Mel as much as possible; sorting her dispute with the prosecutor.
In this novella, we will have a cast of lovely characters, starting with the own Gam Gam, fitting perfectly the mental image I had of an adorable grandmother, who has become a necromancer to see if she can bring back some of her family members; other honorable mentions could be Nugget, the skeleton cat and the protective spirit.
Sadly, I felt the structure has space to improve, as most of the plot lands in one of the halves of the novella. Said that, reading this novella has been a pleasant experience, with a sense of humour that works well.
A novella full of emotion, centered around the found family trope, and how we need to work on overcoming our trauma to grow.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a delightful and heartwarming humorous novella, written by Adam Holcombe. When Mel, while trying to flee from her persecutors, finds by chance Gam Gam's car, she cannot imagine how this lovely elder will help to solve her problems.
Gam Gam adopts Mel as her protegee, adopting the role we could expect from a supportive grandma. But Gam Gam has another surprise, because apart from loving doing crochet, she's a necromancer, so using her powers she will try to help Mel as much as possible; sorting her dispute with the prosecutor.
In this novella, we will have a cast of lovely characters, starting with the own Gam Gam, fitting perfectly the mental image I had of an adorable grandmother, who has become a necromancer to see if she can bring back some of her family members; other honorable mentions could be Nugget, the skeleton cat and the protective spirit.
Sadly, I felt the structure has space to improve, as most of the plot lands in one of the halves of the novella. Said that, reading this novella has been a pleasant experience, with a sense of humour that works well.
A novella full of emotion, centered around the found family trope, and how we need to work on overcoming our trauma to grow.
January 11, 2024
4.5/5 Stars Rounded to 5
I read this novella as part of SFINCS
With everything A Necromancer Called Gam Gam features, it’s no wonder this is a hit! With a knitting necromancer, skeleton cat, humour and emotional punches, Gam Gam left me in tears.
We see the story through Mina’s eyes, a young 12-year-old girl being chased through the woods by soldiers. In her escape she happens upon a camp with a lone old woman knitting by the fire. The story that unfolds is a beautiful depiction of grief, and how the simplest acts can have the biggest impact.
Something I loved about this was the choice of perspective. While it’s through Mina’s POV and follows her own plot, the story is just as much about Gam Gam as it is about Mina. From how these characters come together to their interactions, watching them go through this journey together felt like something special.
Adam Holcombe excelled at capturing the characters humanity without sacrificing action and high stakes. The characters developments were also thoughtfully done and felt earned.
The magic system is also intriguing and develops naturally throughout the story. While the author shows readers just enough detail to become immersed within the world, it left me wondering how rich and big this world truly is.
At only 110 pages this novella delivers a character driven, emotionally impactful story that will leave readers with a full heart.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a great example of why the cozy genre is on the rise!
I read this novella as part of SFINCS
With everything A Necromancer Called Gam Gam features, it’s no wonder this is a hit! With a knitting necromancer, skeleton cat, humour and emotional punches, Gam Gam left me in tears.
We see the story through Mina’s eyes, a young 12-year-old girl being chased through the woods by soldiers. In her escape she happens upon a camp with a lone old woman knitting by the fire. The story that unfolds is a beautiful depiction of grief, and how the simplest acts can have the biggest impact.
Something I loved about this was the choice of perspective. While it’s through Mina’s POV and follows her own plot, the story is just as much about Gam Gam as it is about Mina. From how these characters come together to their interactions, watching them go through this journey together felt like something special.
Adam Holcombe excelled at capturing the characters humanity without sacrificing action and high stakes. The characters developments were also thoughtfully done and felt earned.
The magic system is also intriguing and develops naturally throughout the story. While the author shows readers just enough detail to become immersed within the world, it left me wondering how rich and big this world truly is.
At only 110 pages this novella delivers a character driven, emotionally impactful story that will leave readers with a full heart.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a great example of why the cozy genre is on the rise!
May 20, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review - thank you Adam!
Cozy fantasy seems to be the ‘in’ thing right now but I’m not sure I would call this story a cozy fantasy as many other reviewers have done. Yes, there is a cozy warm-hearted relationship at the center of the story, but there is also the gut-wrenching grief felt by a twelve year old girl who has just lost her beloved father, not once but twice, having just got her hopes up that he might be returned to her only to have them dashed. There is fear of her own powers which she believes are the reason for his murder. At the time that she meets the wonderful grandmotherly character, Gam Gam she is terrified - running for her life through the woods from soldiers intent on capturing her in order to use her powers as a weapon. There is also empathetic sadness when she learns of Gam Gam’s grandchildren’s untimely deaths.
I really enjoyed the relationship between the child, Mina and Gam Gam and the easy way Gam Gam recognized another soul in torment who needed an adult to lean on and immediately took her on without question. I also loved the undead animal companion, Nugget!
Gam Gam giving her risen dead warriors rewards in the form of knitted hats, scarves or socks that they didn’t need, but really wanted, was a highlight for me.
I definitely didn’t expect there to be as much story as there was in such a short book and applaud the author for packing an exciting and enjoyable story with unique and engaging characters (both main and side) into a small number of pages. I really hope we will see more of Gam Gam and Mina in the future!
Cozy fantasy seems to be the ‘in’ thing right now but I’m not sure I would call this story a cozy fantasy as many other reviewers have done. Yes, there is a cozy warm-hearted relationship at the center of the story, but there is also the gut-wrenching grief felt by a twelve year old girl who has just lost her beloved father, not once but twice, having just got her hopes up that he might be returned to her only to have them dashed. There is fear of her own powers which she believes are the reason for his murder. At the time that she meets the wonderful grandmotherly character, Gam Gam she is terrified - running for her life through the woods from soldiers intent on capturing her in order to use her powers as a weapon. There is also empathetic sadness when she learns of Gam Gam’s grandchildren’s untimely deaths.
I really enjoyed the relationship between the child, Mina and Gam Gam and the easy way Gam Gam recognized another soul in torment who needed an adult to lean on and immediately took her on without question. I also loved the undead animal companion, Nugget!
Gam Gam giving her risen dead warriors rewards in the form of knitted hats, scarves or socks that they didn’t need, but really wanted, was a highlight for me.
I definitely didn’t expect there to be as much story as there was in such a short book and applaud the author for packing an exciting and enjoyable story with unique and engaging characters (both main and side) into a small number of pages. I really hope we will see more of Gam Gam and Mina in the future!
May 25, 2025
This was a delightful little story.
Found family, cosy fantasy with a little edge to it.
The writing was fluid and moved at a very easy reading pace
I loved the premise of the story too
Found family, cosy fantasy with a little edge to it.
The writing was fluid and moved at a very easy reading pace
I loved the premise of the story too
June 9, 2023
Heartwarming Fantasy
I’m afraid Gam Gam and I got off on the wrong foot. I expected a contemporary world horror comedy, but this is a secondary world fantasy. Once I adjusted my expectations, I found this novella imaginative, endearing, magical and a touching examination of grief.
I’m afraid Gam Gam and I got off on the wrong foot. I expected a contemporary world horror comedy, but this is a secondary world fantasy. Once I adjusted my expectations, I found this novella imaginative, endearing, magical and a touching examination of grief.
December 30, 2023
Let’s get the initial disclaimer out of the way: yes, the author is a dear and beloved friend of mine, but my inability to read books I’m not enjoying ensures me of my ability to be objective about whether any particular story is working for me or not. So, though I’ve declared Mr. Holcombe the Best Adam, I trust the emotional resonance that I felt with Gam Gam.
Because it’s amazing.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam pulls a brilliantly executed bait-and-switch: the vibes of the entire project lures you in with the promise of something cozy and light, and while you’re giggling about skeletal cats and zombies wearing knitted outwear, it slips a gentle, loving dagger between your ribs, tearing your heart wide open with a deeply relatable story about grief. Mina and Gam Gam face similar arcs of learning to grow around their respective losses, saving each other in a very literal narrative sense, and also in its thematic layers.
As I triage my way through All The Feels™ Gam Gam inspired, I think what impressed me the most was how humanely the narrative treats the zombies. Gam Gam of course respects them, offering thing knitwear to keep them comfy after she raises them from the dead, but the narrative respects them, too, treating them with compassion as they shuffle through the story. The ways in which Holcombe manages to wring so much emotion out of the undead becoming re-dead during the chaotic and violent effort to save Mina are truly impressive.
The storytelling itself is effortless and paced wonderfully. The novella is a hard medium; the most common complaint about them is that they’re too short and the reader is left wishing there was more. And while Gam Gam was short and tightly paced, it was built skillfully to live fully in its pages. The ending is satisfying (if heartbreaking) and while I want more Gam Gam and Mina, the story is definitely complete. I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters!
If I was forced to come up with some quibbles, the only thing to come to mind would be Mina’s age. It wasn’t immediately obvious how young she was. It wasn’t until she said she was 12 years old somewhere past the halfway point that her actions clicked into focus. She’s a very well written as a child, her actions believable for someone so young, but not knowing she was so young for the first half of the book sometimes made me question her choices. Once that element was clearly stated, I liked her so much more, and her struggles through the story became ever more heartbreaking. But that itself is only a minor complaint in the effort to give a balanced opinion about this delightful little novella.
Readers who love cozy but don’t mind Mr. Holcombe ripping out their hearts and squeezing them into a pulp (don’t worry, it’s a happy ending, but deeply and relatably bittersweet) should absolutely pick up A Necromancer Called Gam Gam. It’s a perfect little bite of a story, and the debut to what promises to be a stunning career.
Because it’s amazing.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam pulls a brilliantly executed bait-and-switch: the vibes of the entire project lures you in with the promise of something cozy and light, and while you’re giggling about skeletal cats and zombies wearing knitted outwear, it slips a gentle, loving dagger between your ribs, tearing your heart wide open with a deeply relatable story about grief. Mina and Gam Gam face similar arcs of learning to grow around their respective losses, saving each other in a very literal narrative sense, and also in its thematic layers.
As I triage my way through All The Feels™ Gam Gam inspired, I think what impressed me the most was how humanely the narrative treats the zombies. Gam Gam of course respects them, offering thing knitwear to keep them comfy after she raises them from the dead, but the narrative respects them, too, treating them with compassion as they shuffle through the story. The ways in which Holcombe manages to wring so much emotion out of the undead becoming re-dead during the chaotic and violent effort to save Mina are truly impressive.
The storytelling itself is effortless and paced wonderfully. The novella is a hard medium; the most common complaint about them is that they’re too short and the reader is left wishing there was more. And while Gam Gam was short and tightly paced, it was built skillfully to live fully in its pages. The ending is satisfying (if heartbreaking) and while I want more Gam Gam and Mina, the story is definitely complete. I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters!
If I was forced to come up with some quibbles, the only thing to come to mind would be Mina’s age. It wasn’t immediately obvious how young she was. It wasn’t until she said she was 12 years old somewhere past the halfway point that her actions clicked into focus. She’s a very well written as a child, her actions believable for someone so young, but not knowing she was so young for the first half of the book sometimes made me question her choices. Once that element was clearly stated, I liked her so much more, and her struggles through the story became ever more heartbreaking. But that itself is only a minor complaint in the effort to give a balanced opinion about this delightful little novella.
Readers who love cozy but don’t mind Mr. Holcombe ripping out their hearts and squeezing them into a pulp (don’t worry, it’s a happy ending, but deeply and relatably bittersweet) should absolutely pick up A Necromancer Called Gam Gam. It’s a perfect little bite of a story, and the debut to what promises to be a stunning career.
May 8, 2023
Disclaimer: Adam Holcombe provided me with an eARC, but this does not affect my opinion of this book.
Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up to 5 Stars)
A Necromancer Called Gam is everything you are looking for if you want a cozy fantasy book with some tragic themes wrapped in a heartwarming and funny cover.
This book was a pretty fast read and I finished it in just 2 evenings. If you read a little faster than I did, you might be able to finish it in an afternoon. BUT that's what I needed after a lot of dark fantasy in the last few weeks. Nevertheless, Holcombe manages to create a dense story with lovable characters and a story that is gripping, funny and sad at the same time.
We follow Mina, a young girl hunted by soldiers on the run from the Eternal Empire because she possesses powers the Empire considers dangerous, and Gam Gam, an elderly woman who loves to knit and uses the power of necromancy. Sounds strange? Yes, it is, but that's where the fun begins. When Mina meets Gam Gam, her journey of grief, justice and most of all love begins.
Throughout the story we get to meet some characters and let me tell you, they're all interesting, funny and lovable as long as they're the good guys. The bad guys are actually evil and unlikable, but I guess that's what bad guys are like. I would say Gam Gam is my favorite character in this book, I just loved how Gam Gam provided the summoned dead with knitwear and that is just one funny thing you might stumble upon. Sir Gibblet and Nugget the skeleton cat are pretty close to be fair.
But fun aside, there are some heavy themes in this novella about murder, loss and grief, but Holcombe strikes a good balance to keep this story cozy and heartwarming, and who doesn't want some "drama" even in some cozy books?
I guess cozy fantasy has been scratching an itch for me lately and A Necromancer Called Gam Gam fits that mood perfectly for me. It was fun, it was engaging, and it was fast (pls bring book two fast Adam ;) ) and with that said, I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs some coziness, a book to cleanse their palate with, or just anyone looking for a good time.
Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up to 5 Stars)
A Necromancer Called Gam is everything you are looking for if you want a cozy fantasy book with some tragic themes wrapped in a heartwarming and funny cover.
This book was a pretty fast read and I finished it in just 2 evenings. If you read a little faster than I did, you might be able to finish it in an afternoon. BUT that's what I needed after a lot of dark fantasy in the last few weeks. Nevertheless, Holcombe manages to create a dense story with lovable characters and a story that is gripping, funny and sad at the same time.
We follow Mina, a young girl hunted by soldiers on the run from the Eternal Empire because she possesses powers the Empire considers dangerous, and Gam Gam, an elderly woman who loves to knit and uses the power of necromancy. Sounds strange? Yes, it is, but that's where the fun begins. When Mina meets Gam Gam, her journey of grief, justice and most of all love begins.
Throughout the story we get to meet some characters and let me tell you, they're all interesting, funny and lovable as long as they're the good guys. The bad guys are actually evil and unlikable, but I guess that's what bad guys are like. I would say Gam Gam is my favorite character in this book, I just loved how Gam Gam provided the summoned dead with knitwear and that is just one funny thing you might stumble upon. Sir Gibblet and Nugget the skeleton cat are pretty close to be fair.
But fun aside, there are some heavy themes in this novella about murder, loss and grief, but Holcombe strikes a good balance to keep this story cozy and heartwarming, and who doesn't want some "drama" even in some cozy books?
I guess cozy fantasy has been scratching an itch for me lately and A Necromancer Called Gam Gam fits that mood perfectly for me. It was fun, it was engaging, and it was fast (pls bring book two fast Adam ;) ) and with that said, I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs some coziness, a book to cleanse their palate with, or just anyone looking for a good time.
April 14, 2024
Reviewed first on burtslibrary.com
Necromancers, baked goods, knitted hats and socks, what more could you want from a novella? After finishing The Blade Itself, I found myself in need of something a little different. Something, well, cozy. And this one did the trick!
We follow Mina, a young girl reeling after the death of her father, on the run from an evil sergeant intent on finding her. She comes upon Gam Gam, an elderly necromancer, who is the sweetest old lady to ever exist. Seriously. I want to hug her. And eat her baked goods. Maybe she’d make me a hat?
I was so invested in the world, and through Holcombe’s descriptions, it felt as though I was right there with the characters, and for a cozy read, there was so much emotion packed into the scenes, particularly one near the end between Mina and…someone who shall not be named because spoilers.
The magic system is cool, with necromancers, neuromancers, and all the other kinds of mancers making appearances, and I loved Holcombe’s descriptions whenever Mina enters into the minds of others.
Mina and Gam Gam are both complex characters with emotional depth, and I love them wholeheartedly. I’m the type of reader who wants to connect with the characters, root for them, and cheer them on, and Mina and Gam Gam are the kind of characters you can’t help by love and support.
A special shoutout goes to Sir Gibblet, who I would read an entire novel series about. I kinda want to be him when I grow up. But not a ghost.
This may not be the book for every fantasy fan, particularly those who only read sprawling epics full of political machinations and week long battles, but it was a glorious palate cleanser of a book, and I recommend it to everyone.
Can’t wait for more Gam Gam!
Necromancers, baked goods, knitted hats and socks, what more could you want from a novella? After finishing The Blade Itself, I found myself in need of something a little different. Something, well, cozy. And this one did the trick!
We follow Mina, a young girl reeling after the death of her father, on the run from an evil sergeant intent on finding her. She comes upon Gam Gam, an elderly necromancer, who is the sweetest old lady to ever exist. Seriously. I want to hug her. And eat her baked goods. Maybe she’d make me a hat?
I was so invested in the world, and through Holcombe’s descriptions, it felt as though I was right there with the characters, and for a cozy read, there was so much emotion packed into the scenes, particularly one near the end between Mina and…someone who shall not be named because spoilers.
The magic system is cool, with necromancers, neuromancers, and all the other kinds of mancers making appearances, and I loved Holcombe’s descriptions whenever Mina enters into the minds of others.
Mina and Gam Gam are both complex characters with emotional depth, and I love them wholeheartedly. I’m the type of reader who wants to connect with the characters, root for them, and cheer them on, and Mina and Gam Gam are the kind of characters you can’t help by love and support.
A special shoutout goes to Sir Gibblet, who I would read an entire novel series about. I kinda want to be him when I grow up. But not a ghost.
This may not be the book for every fantasy fan, particularly those who only read sprawling epics full of political machinations and week long battles, but it was a glorious palate cleanser of a book, and I recommend it to everyone.
Can’t wait for more Gam Gam!
April 22, 2024
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a wonderful novella that explores loss through the adventure of a young girl on the run. When I first saw this book getting praise on social media I thought from the black cover and the skeleton and the title that it would be a horror story or something and so I ignored it for a long time. Eventually, I actually began paying attention to what people were saying about it and realized that my first impression may not have been accurate. I'm so glad I eventually checked out this cozy story set in a dark world. It's excellent.
Like many others, I've found myself searching out and enjoying cozier reads lately, but I sometimes find them lacking in depth or sometimes I'm annoyed by how they ignore certain important themes just to keep the vibe cozy. It really doesn't sit well with me when a book is set in a war zone or something and the characters have no sense of introspection on their surroundings and just ignore them - and unthinkingly participate in the things around them - while focusing on their own little 'cozy' bubble. So my favourite thing about this book is that it tackles the tough themes head on and faces them as a major part of the story, proving that you can have cozy moments and found family while telling a deep, meaningful story!
The main characters being a 12 year old girl and an old grandmother who is also a necromancer is also refreshing. And of course, many other characters make an appearance from living to dead to various types of undead characters.
The author also does some really interesting things with the magic in the story, which I enjoyed reading. Again, not shying away from the implications of necromancy and the other branches of magic that the characters can do, but facing those implications head-on and weaving them into the story effortlessly.
Overall, an excellent read that I would highly recommend.
Like many others, I've found myself searching out and enjoying cozier reads lately, but I sometimes find them lacking in depth or sometimes I'm annoyed by how they ignore certain important themes just to keep the vibe cozy. It really doesn't sit well with me when a book is set in a war zone or something and the characters have no sense of introspection on their surroundings and just ignore them - and unthinkingly participate in the things around them - while focusing on their own little 'cozy' bubble. So my favourite thing about this book is that it tackles the tough themes head on and faces them as a major part of the story, proving that you can have cozy moments and found family while telling a deep, meaningful story!
The main characters being a 12 year old girl and an old grandmother who is also a necromancer is also refreshing. And of course, many other characters make an appearance from living to dead to various types of undead characters.
The author also does some really interesting things with the magic in the story, which I enjoyed reading. Again, not shying away from the implications of necromancy and the other branches of magic that the characters can do, but facing those implications head-on and weaving them into the story effortlessly.
Overall, an excellent read that I would highly recommend.
June 22, 2023
This IS a novella, so bear in mind - there isn't a ton of plot, and only two characters get really fleshed out, but there's no way around that because it's just too short for more.
This book is a delightful classic fantasy (magic, roughly medieval society). There's a grandma necromancer, lots of yarn, a skeleton cat, and a charming ghost. There's more than a little humor in it as well, but it's not really a comedy. This is the kind of story that's a little more likely to make you cry than laugh out loud (but could very well accomplish both).
The prose is really wonderful, buttery smooth, and the characters are beautifully realized. It's a story about a girl who needs help, and the woman who helps her, and them both finding out that they're really helping each other.
There isn't a ton of worldbuilding (there really can't be, because of length) but the world feels well realized and solid, the magic system perfectly sensible (relatively hard, for what that's worth to you). Holcombe puts in a couple of twists, a few plot threads that return in neat ways to tidy up the story, giving us a very satisfying ending.
Overall, well worth your time. Holcombe is an author to watch out for!
This book is a delightful classic fantasy (magic, roughly medieval society). There's a grandma necromancer, lots of yarn, a skeleton cat, and a charming ghost. There's more than a little humor in it as well, but it's not really a comedy. This is the kind of story that's a little more likely to make you cry than laugh out loud (but could very well accomplish both).
The prose is really wonderful, buttery smooth, and the characters are beautifully realized. It's a story about a girl who needs help, and the woman who helps her, and them both finding out that they're really helping each other.
There isn't a ton of worldbuilding (there really can't be, because of length) but the world feels well realized and solid, the magic system perfectly sensible (relatively hard, for what that's worth to you). Holcombe puts in a couple of twists, a few plot threads that return in neat ways to tidy up the story, giving us a very satisfying ending.
Overall, well worth your time. Holcombe is an author to watch out for!
May 14, 2023
This was such a cute and heartfelt book. Love Gam Gam and her sweaters for the dead. I also now want chocolate chip scones. 4.5 rounded up
October 23, 2023
What a delightful, fun little book this is. This novella was a breath of fresh air and such a satisfying read. It’s a perfect example of “cozy fantasy” at its best. I sincerely hope that I’ll get to read more of Mina and Gam Gam’s adventures in a sequel.
July 21, 2024
Oh i loved it. Such a wonderful cozy-fantasy that made me cry in the end.
June 25, 2023
Premium cut novella. Great for fans of cozy fantasy and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Read my full review published on epicindie.net
Review copy supplied by the author in exchange for a honest review.
Read my full review published on epicindie.net
Review copy supplied by the author in exchange for a honest review.
June 9, 2024
The last offering from the 5 books my fiancé wanted me to read this year ends on a high note (we have a tradition where we hand each other 5 books we found special).
I didn’t know that what was missing from my TBR was a grandmotherly necromancer, an undead cat, ghostly knight and a skilled girl on the run; but apparently it was. Oh, and lots of knitting of cozy garments, for both the living and the dead.
Ultimately well written and delightful story about loss, self sacrifice & the families we make; this isn’t a read I’d want to be without and you won’t either.
Verdict: cozier than the softest blanket and warmest tea in my home; this gets all of the stars. Damn thing made me want to join a knitting course
I didn’t know that what was missing from my TBR was a grandmotherly necromancer, an undead cat, ghostly knight and a skilled girl on the run; but apparently it was. Oh, and lots of knitting of cozy garments, for both the living and the dead.
Ultimately well written and delightful story about loss, self sacrifice & the families we make; this isn’t a read I’d want to be without and you won’t either.
Verdict: cozier than the softest blanket and warmest tea in my home; this gets all of the stars. Damn thing made me want to join a knitting course
August 25, 2023
3.5 stars
This story is as delightful as it sounds: a Necromancer grandma who loves to knit and repay her undeads with knitted goodies. How cool is that???
But it was also quite a disappointment. Mind me, I enjoyed the story and the characters, I had a good time with this book but, to me, this was a middle-grade reading. Sure, there are some themes that may be a bit strong for children (but I think that the main problem for children is that we are confronted with the death of family, and honestly, I think that death should be in children's books too), but all in all, this novella reads like a middle-grade book, it had those distinct vibes to me, and I am not the biggest fan. Especially if I went in expecting an adult story. So yeah, I enjoyed the book but I was also a bit disappointed by it.
This story is as delightful as it sounds: a Necromancer grandma who loves to knit and repay her undeads with knitted goodies. How cool is that???
But it was also quite a disappointment. Mind me, I enjoyed the story and the characters, I had a good time with this book but, to me, this was a middle-grade reading. Sure, there are some themes that may be a bit strong for children (but I think that the main problem for children is that we are confronted with the death of family, and honestly, I think that death should be in children's books too), but all in all, this novella reads like a middle-grade book, it had those distinct vibes to me, and I am not the biggest fan. Especially if I went in expecting an adult story. So yeah, I enjoyed the book but I was also a bit disappointed by it.
July 16, 2024
With such a strong character as Gam Gam, it might be expected that she eclipses her companion, but Mina is just as awesome.
I felt the resolution a little abrupt, but it's about the journey and not the destination. A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a moving exploration of grief and found family wrapped in beautiful prose.
Read my full review: Tiny Elf Arcanist's Review of A Necromancer Called Gam Gam
I felt the resolution a little abrupt, but it's about the journey and not the destination. A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a moving exploration of grief and found family wrapped in beautiful prose.
Read my full review: Tiny Elf Arcanist's Review of A Necromancer Called Gam Gam
August 2, 2024
☠☠💀Free ebook on Amazon until Dec 25, 2023💀☠☠
June 7, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S NECROMANCER CALLED GAM GAM ABOUT?
Twelve-year-old Mina is being pursued by armed men—armed men who had just killed her father. She has a special kind of magic, and those in power want to use her because of it.
She runs across a kindly grandmotherly type who introduces herself as Gam Gam. Gam Gam, it turns out, is a necromancer with a soft spot for endangered little girls. (probably endangered women, and males of all ages, too). She takes her Mina in and promises her safety. Gam Gam is a necromancer and can back up that promise (not definitively, but more than most people can).
They tell each other their stories—Mina tells her why she's on the run, and Gam Gam tells her that she became a necromancer after the death of her grandchildren so she could resurrect them.
But first, Gam Gam decides that she needs to do something to keep Mina safe.
THE TYPES OF MAGIC
Great question. But that's not what I want to talk about here.
We see two types of magic portrayed with our two protagonists—with others floating out there in this world for us to encounter in future installments, I assume.
Necromancy is rarely something I'm interested in reading about unless the necromancer is about to be thwarted. I know there are exceptions (including here), but it's hard to think about magic involving reanimating the dead as a good thing. But Holcombe not only makes that specialty seem interesting but gives the reader a necromancer you can root for.
I really liked the way one of the characters describes Gam Gam's magic to Mina. It grounded the practice, for starters—you could understand it. It's also idiosyncratic enough to fit Gam Gam to a T. From that point on, I could see that explanation at work—even when the text doesn't refer to it.
Now Mina's magic is a kind I've never encountered before—maybe a few things like it (particularly in SF rather than fantasy)—but it took almost no time at all for Holcombe to convey the potential—both for a character in fiction, as well as for an evil empire to exploit. In the hands of someone with little experience—for example, a 12-year-old—it could be dangerous. Okay, it could be dangerous in the hands of anyone, but people with experience would control and target the damage they inflict, a child would just inflict damage.
Having a novel (or novella, in this case) with a great magic system is a good start—but it's how you convey the use of magic to the reader that's the make/break point for me. And Holcombe nails this part. Mina's as well as Gam Gam's. This is a big selling point for me.
THE UNEXPECTED CONTENT
Okay, you've got this friendly and caring Grandmother-type character. You've got a lost little girl who needs comfort. There's a cute (in a certain way) cat. And using knitted goods as a bribe/reward/gift for the undead. Really, this sounds like it's full of warm fuzzies and maybe a little bit of fun along with the adventure that a Fantasy should bring. Rightly or wrongly, I expected something with a similar tone to A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.
And it's there. However...
You're dealing with a twelve-year-old girl whose devoted father was murdered in his own home trying to protect her. She's on the run from armed men who are out to use her for their own purposes. You're also dealing with an elderly woman who mastered an entire type of magic at her advanced age fueled by grief in a gambit to cheat death. There's nothing warm and fuzzy there.
These two characters are suffering—they need each other to get through what they're dealing with. There's healing (and the promise of more to come). But healing, comfort, and all that comes at the end. The cliché "the only way out is through" comes to mind here—most of this book (and likely future books) is in the "through."
This is a bigger selling point for me.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A NECROMANCER CALLED GAM GAM?
I was charmed instantly by this book, and that only grew throughout. Particularly once I cottened on to the fact that it wasn't going to be a cozy kind of read—despite the scarves and sweaters. Once I saw what Holcombe was up to, I really got into things.
I don't want to spoil anything but don't get attached to any character. Just sayin.' (okay, it's called Book One of Chronicles of Gam Gam, so it's probably safe to get attached to one. Although, given the loose correlation between death and characters doing things in this book...)
Holcombe has created a great little world for his characters to dwell in, and pairing Mina and Gam Gam together is a big one. He knows how to show the emotions of the moment—and to get the readers to buy into it. Even better, his depictions of the way magic works here are really well executed.
Even his choice of novella-length was smart. This isn't a story that would work well with another 2-300 pages to tell it. Nor should it be the first part of a novel—this tight story is one that needs to be by itself.
I see that there's a short story in this world that takes place sometime before this novel. I'll be jumping on that soon while I begin the wait for Book Two.
This is a short read that packs the punch of a longer one, and I encourage you to give it a shot.
---
A cat, free from the restraints of flesh, muscle, and organ, stretched on the edge of the wagon, as if that would do anything for its skeletal body. Then it jumped down next to Mina and plodded over to the woman, who had returned to her chair by the fire. A partially- knitted scarf coiled in her lap as she continued to work on it. The skeletal cat found a comfortable piece of the woman’s dress, curled up at her feet, and licked its non- existent crotch with a non- existent tongue.
WHAT'S NECROMANCER CALLED GAM GAM ABOUT?
Twelve-year-old Mina is being pursued by armed men—armed men who had just killed her father. She has a special kind of magic, and those in power want to use her because of it.
She runs across a kindly grandmotherly type who introduces herself as Gam Gam. Gam Gam, it turns out, is a necromancer with a soft spot for endangered little girls. (probably endangered women, and males of all ages, too). She takes her Mina in and promises her safety. Gam Gam is a necromancer and can back up that promise (not definitively, but more than most people can).
They tell each other their stories—Mina tells her why she's on the run, and Gam Gam tells her that she became a necromancer after the death of her grandchildren so she could resurrect them.
But first, Gam Gam decides that she needs to do something to keep Mina safe.
THE TYPES OF MAGIC
The bundle of bones at the top of the stove raised its feline skull and looked at Mina, then disregarded her and returned to a nap. Why did skeletal cats need so many naps?
Great question. But that's not what I want to talk about here.
We see two types of magic portrayed with our two protagonists—with others floating out there in this world for us to encounter in future installments, I assume.
Necromancy is rarely something I'm interested in reading about unless the necromancer is about to be thwarted. I know there are exceptions (including here), but it's hard to think about magic involving reanimating the dead as a good thing. But Holcombe not only makes that specialty seem interesting but gives the reader a necromancer you can root for.
I really liked the way one of the characters describes Gam Gam's magic to Mina. It grounded the practice, for starters—you could understand it. It's also idiosyncratic enough to fit Gam Gam to a T. From that point on, I could see that explanation at work—even when the text doesn't refer to it.
Now Mina's magic is a kind I've never encountered before—maybe a few things like it (particularly in SF rather than fantasy)—but it took almost no time at all for Holcombe to convey the potential—both for a character in fiction, as well as for an evil empire to exploit. In the hands of someone with little experience—for example, a 12-year-old—it could be dangerous. Okay, it could be dangerous in the hands of anyone, but people with experience would control and target the damage they inflict, a child would just inflict damage.
Having a novel (or novella, in this case) with a great magic system is a good start—but it's how you convey the use of magic to the reader that's the make/break point for me. And Holcombe nails this part. Mina's as well as Gam Gam's. This is a big selling point for me.
THE UNEXPECTED CONTENT
Tears escaped her and raced down her cheeks. Was it possible to ever run out of tears? She couldn’t possibly have many more before she would start shriveling up.
Okay, you've got this friendly and caring Grandmother-type character. You've got a lost little girl who needs comfort. There's a cute (in a certain way) cat. And using knitted goods as a bribe/reward/gift for the undead. Really, this sounds like it's full of warm fuzzies and maybe a little bit of fun along with the adventure that a Fantasy should bring. Rightly or wrongly, I expected something with a similar tone to A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.
And it's there. However...
You're dealing with a twelve-year-old girl whose devoted father was murdered in his own home trying to protect her. She's on the run from armed men who are out to use her for their own purposes. You're also dealing with an elderly woman who mastered an entire type of magic at her advanced age fueled by grief in a gambit to cheat death. There's nothing warm and fuzzy there.
These two characters are suffering—they need each other to get through what they're dealing with. There's healing (and the promise of more to come). But healing, comfort, and all that comes at the end. The cliché "the only way out is through" comes to mind here—most of this book (and likely future books) is in the "through."
This is a bigger selling point for me.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A NECROMANCER CALLED GAM GAM?
When [the zombie] chose socks, Gam Gam instructed it to lift a foot, then tugged the sock into place.
"Is this necessary, Gam Gam? Can they even feel the cold?" Mina asked.
“Of course it’s necessary, sweetie,” Gam Gam said as she pulled the second sock onto the zombie’s other foot. “Just because they’re undead doesn’t mean they have to be neglected.”
I was charmed instantly by this book, and that only grew throughout. Particularly once I cottened on to the fact that it wasn't going to be a cozy kind of read—despite the scarves and sweaters. Once I saw what Holcombe was up to, I really got into things.
I don't want to spoil anything but don't get attached to any character. Just sayin.' (okay, it's called Book One of Chronicles of Gam Gam, so it's probably safe to get attached to one. Although, given the loose correlation between death and characters doing things in this book...)
Holcombe has created a great little world for his characters to dwell in, and pairing Mina and Gam Gam together is a big one. He knows how to show the emotions of the moment—and to get the readers to buy into it. Even better, his depictions of the way magic works here are really well executed.
Even his choice of novella-length was smart. This isn't a story that would work well with another 2-300 pages to tell it. Nor should it be the first part of a novel—this tight story is one that needs to be by itself.
I see that there's a short story in this world that takes place sometime before this novel. I'll be jumping on that soon while I begin the wait for Book Two.
This is a short read that packs the punch of a longer one, and I encourage you to give it a shot.
February 2, 2024
I loved the cosy vibes in this book, and the way that they came from such an unexpected subject-matter. The story was so heartwarming and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The plot was engaging with the grandmotherly Gam Gam helping Mina escape the ire of the soldiers hunting her for her powers, and how they grow and work through their grief together. I have to say, the story wasn’t entirely what I was expecting, but damn it all if it wasn’t cathartic.
The character work in this is great, and that’s not just for the living, but the undead who assist Gam Gam and Mina in their quest. The skeletons wearing knitwear in particular are weirdly cute, and there’s a skelly cat too! Gam Gam is wonderful as an kindly granny figure, and Mina’s grief, fear and anger are so raw and real. Learning to control her powers came perhaps more quickly than I would have expected, but this isn’t a long book.
Pacing was a tad uneven. The opening and introductions were fantastic, but I felt like we got into the action after that a bit quick. The prose for the more contemplative parts of the book was absolutely beautiful with vivid and imaginative descriptions—I especially loved how everyone’s powers were depicted, from Gam Gam’s necromancy, to Mina sifting through memories and projecting them outside of herself. I did feel like the writing in the action scenes was a little stilted, though. The way the concept of grief was dealt with in the story was excellent—sensitive and sympathetic—and it hit my emotions like a truck.
Really enjoyed this one. If you’re looking for more cosy fantasy, this definitely give this one a go.
The character work in this is great, and that’s not just for the living, but the undead who assist Gam Gam and Mina in their quest. The skeletons wearing knitwear in particular are weirdly cute, and there’s a skelly cat too! Gam Gam is wonderful as an kindly granny figure, and Mina’s grief, fear and anger are so raw and real. Learning to control her powers came perhaps more quickly than I would have expected, but this isn’t a long book.
Pacing was a tad uneven. The opening and introductions were fantastic, but I felt like we got into the action after that a bit quick. The prose for the more contemplative parts of the book was absolutely beautiful with vivid and imaginative descriptions—I especially loved how everyone’s powers were depicted, from Gam Gam’s necromancy, to Mina sifting through memories and projecting them outside of herself. I did feel like the writing in the action scenes was a little stilted, though. The way the concept of grief was dealt with in the story was excellent—sensitive and sympathetic—and it hit my emotions like a truck.
Really enjoyed this one. If you’re looking for more cosy fantasy, this definitely give this one a go.
May 5, 2023
What a great debut! A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a fun story with a lot of heart. I was hooked from the first page in Mina’s journey and throughout met such a lovely crew of characters between Gam Gam, Nugget the cat and the spectral knight Sir Gibblet.
Definitely consider picking this up. There’s lots of laughs to be had in a journey to shake off a young girl’s pursuer through the adorable uses of necromancy. Didn’t think I’d ever say that but when the zombies are wearing knitted hats and scarves, it’s hard to deny.
(I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review)
Definitely consider picking this up. There’s lots of laughs to be had in a journey to shake off a young girl’s pursuer through the adorable uses of necromancy. Didn’t think I’d ever say that but when the zombies are wearing knitted hats and scarves, it’s hard to deny.
(I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review)
January 9, 2024
Dark, cosy, and uncompromisingly human
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is an emotionally charged novella that holds more weight than its 110 pages should.
Gaiman-esque in its dark quirkiness, Gam Gam is a skillful balance of the cosy and the grotesque, packed with deeply human experiences and delivered by engaging, lyrical prose.
A wonderfully original character study.
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is an emotionally charged novella that holds more weight than its 110 pages should.
Gaiman-esque in its dark quirkiness, Gam Gam is a skillful balance of the cosy and the grotesque, packed with deeply human experiences and delivered by engaging, lyrical prose.
A wonderfully original character study.
June 23, 2023
This story made me cry multiple times. Gam Gam and Mina are such fully realised characters in a vivid world that fears and hates what they are. It is a story about love, compassion, acceptance and mercy. I highly recommend this book.
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