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Necrology
2024 Foreword INDIES Bronze Medalist for Fantasy
“It’s amazing what the spirit can cope with to preserve the body. My spirit is a mighty oak that just won’t fall.”
In a fantastical aftermath of the Salem witch trials, magical women known as the Dirty have signed a contract swearing off their innate magic in exchange for freedom from violence by non-magical Freemen. Two hundred years later, in a Catskills orphanage, headmistress Whitetail has sprouted antlers—proof of a violated contract. When her wealthy benefactor visits, proposing marriage, her appearance sparks abuse. Rushing to her teacher’s defense, eight-year-old Rabbit curses the Beard dead, and Whitetail’s arrested on trumped-up charges. As Whitetail awaits her trial and execution, Rabbit is groomed as the Freemen’s star witness and learns of the terrifying reality to which they aspire. With her magic at stake and a loose tooth in her mouth, Rabbit has little left to lose. And a revolution to gain.
“It’s amazing what the spirit can cope with to preserve the body. My spirit is a mighty oak that just won’t fall.”
In a fantastical aftermath of the Salem witch trials, magical women known as the Dirty have signed a contract swearing off their innate magic in exchange for freedom from violence by non-magical Freemen. Two hundred years later, in a Catskills orphanage, headmistress Whitetail has sprouted antlers—proof of a violated contract. When her wealthy benefactor visits, proposing marriage, her appearance sparks abuse. Rushing to her teacher’s defense, eight-year-old Rabbit curses the Beard dead, and Whitetail’s arrested on trumped-up charges. As Whitetail awaits her trial and execution, Rabbit is groomed as the Freemen’s star witness and learns of the terrifying reality to which they aspire. With her magic at stake and a loose tooth in her mouth, Rabbit has little left to lose. And a revolution to gain.
386 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
34 people are currently reading
11065 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
November 6, 2024
“As a woman, you’re born Dirty whether you like it or not. And yes, your magic is imperfect. But it’s yours to control…and if you don’t believe there’s good in magic, power in a woman’s own decisions, then you will never see the future that should be…stay Dirty.” -Necrology, Meg Ripley
Full review soon. Eff the patriarchy
Full review soon. Eff the patriarchy
July 6, 2024
A feminist fantasy horror that is brimming with sincerity and such raw emotion that I forgot I was reading fiction, it felt completely and utterly real, Necrology follows an alternate history post Salem witch trials and gives readers a (in my opinion) carthartic experience in which women take back their power, a compelling narrative, nuanced characters and intricate world building had me completely immersed in this world, I loved the premise of this book and Meg executed it well, meshing fantasy, history, horror and realism in a way that created a story that seemed plausible and with timeless relevance, both infuriating and empowering this tackles misogyny and female empowerment head on, extremely atmospheric and peppered with poltics this was honestly so fascinating, Megs writing is - forgive the pun - pure magic!
November 12, 2025
low 3 because it dragged & I was disappointed. however, reading this in Salem & right after getting a tour & info about the witch trials really helped see the metaphors and references more clearly. I just wish the vibes were more like Slewfoot & I wish the world were easier to grasp. the characters all felt flat to me too & I feel like there were a couple questions unanswered.
April 2, 2024
For lovers of women being in their power, women being authentically themselves, women's rights and women's wrongs. This is such a magical book that is absolutely overflowing with love and sincerity. I was completely absorbed into the world (even though it left me with a lot of questions at the start!) and was genuinely rooting to and attached to our "good" characters. This is a great look at balance, sacrifice, love, power and so much more. A powerful way of saying that men have always wanted to (and attempted to) control women because of the power they hold and the fear that causes weak men with little understanding.
May 26, 2025
What an absolute BADASS debut!
After the Salem Witch Trials, women who practiced magic, known as the Dirty, were forced into a deal with non-magical Freemen not to use their magic; if so, they were susceptible to violence. Now, 200 years later, in an orphanage run by Ms. Whitetail, our eight-year-old main character, Rabbit, a young girl practicing the way of the Dirt, witnesses an abuse of her caretaker due to a breach in the contract. From there on, Rabbit is groomed to become the perfect witness to send Ms. Whitetail away for good.
First of all, I am so glad I came across this weird little book; secondly, this SLAPS. It took me a few chapters to fully get into this book, and quite frankly, I wasn't planning on reading it anytime soon after purchasing it in late April 2025. I decided that I would randomly generate one book on my physical TBR weekly, and rather than read it or give it a try, I would unhaul it. Like I said, I struggled in the beginning, but once it finally clicked for me what was happening, I didn't want it to end!
This is for those people who love fever dream books and writings, Mona Awad, Agustina Bazterrica, and "I support women's rights and wrongs" energy. There's a lot of commentary that I also don't feel like I fully grasped. I read The Unworthy by Bazterrica earlier this month, and I mentioned how I felt like, upon a reread, I'll be able to understand the book more and more, and I feel exactly the same with this one.
Syd Bookworrom on YouTube has no idea who I am, but thanks for hauling this book for independent bookstore day, otherwise I would have never seen this stunning cover and kooky spine (there's a spine on the spine!) and I wouldn't have found this hidden gem.
After the Salem Witch Trials, women who practiced magic, known as the Dirty, were forced into a deal with non-magical Freemen not to use their magic; if so, they were susceptible to violence. Now, 200 years later, in an orphanage run by Ms. Whitetail, our eight-year-old main character, Rabbit, a young girl practicing the way of the Dirt, witnesses an abuse of her caretaker due to a breach in the contract. From there on, Rabbit is groomed to become the perfect witness to send Ms. Whitetail away for good.
First of all, I am so glad I came across this weird little book; secondly, this SLAPS. It took me a few chapters to fully get into this book, and quite frankly, I wasn't planning on reading it anytime soon after purchasing it in late April 2025. I decided that I would randomly generate one book on my physical TBR weekly, and rather than read it or give it a try, I would unhaul it. Like I said, I struggled in the beginning, but once it finally clicked for me what was happening, I didn't want it to end!
This is for those people who love fever dream books and writings, Mona Awad, Agustina Bazterrica, and "I support women's rights and wrongs" energy. There's a lot of commentary that I also don't feel like I fully grasped. I read The Unworthy by Bazterrica earlier this month, and I mentioned how I felt like, upon a reread, I'll be able to understand the book more and more, and I feel exactly the same with this one.
Syd Bookworrom on YouTube has no idea who I am, but thanks for hauling this book for independent bookstore day, otherwise I would have never seen this stunning cover and kooky spine (there's a spine on the spine!) and I wouldn't have found this hidden gem.
June 2, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Necrology follows an alternate history of the aftermath of the Salem witch trials where magical woman known as the Dirty sign a contract to stop them from using their magic in exchange for freedom from the violent, non-magic Freemen. The story is set two hundred years later in an orphanage, run by a Dirty woman, Whitetail, who has recently sprouted antlers. When her benefactor arrives to coerce her into marriage, eight-year-old Rabbit defends her mistress and curses the man dead. Whitetail is arrested and the children are dispersed, with Rabbit chosen as the star witness to destroy Dirty women once and for all.
This was such a fantastic book!! I don’t think I’ve ever read an alternate history of post-Salem witch trials and this was soooo interesting. From the first page, this book hooks you in with the fascinating premise. I loved the atmosphere and how tense everything was with the politics lingering in the background. There were so many eerie moments with vivid settings. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the concept that only women have magic and that they’re called Dirty. It was super interesting and the author crafted a really unique alternate history.
I really enjoyed the cast of characters. I liked that we saw from more than one perspective and quite liked Rabbit, even though she was so young, she was really interesting to read about. She’s very clever and protective of Whitetail and the other orphans—it was sweet. I also really liked Mouse, Rook, and Snake—the other orphans we see the most of—they were all really interesting and had such distinct personalities. Whitetail was fascinating to read about and had such a good arc. I was particularly disturbed by the whole Hyena thing and found it made for a horrific and fantastical element that was unexpected.
Overall, this is such a dark, bewitching tale of feminism and strong female characters in the face of men who are scared of a woman’s power and strength.
Necrology follows an alternate history of the aftermath of the Salem witch trials where magical woman known as the Dirty sign a contract to stop them from using their magic in exchange for freedom from the violent, non-magic Freemen. The story is set two hundred years later in an orphanage, run by a Dirty woman, Whitetail, who has recently sprouted antlers. When her benefactor arrives to coerce her into marriage, eight-year-old Rabbit defends her mistress and curses the man dead. Whitetail is arrested and the children are dispersed, with Rabbit chosen as the star witness to destroy Dirty women once and for all.
This was such a fantastic book!! I don’t think I’ve ever read an alternate history of post-Salem witch trials and this was soooo interesting. From the first page, this book hooks you in with the fascinating premise. I loved the atmosphere and how tense everything was with the politics lingering in the background. There were so many eerie moments with vivid settings. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the concept that only women have magic and that they’re called Dirty. It was super interesting and the author crafted a really unique alternate history.
I really enjoyed the cast of characters. I liked that we saw from more than one perspective and quite liked Rabbit, even though she was so young, she was really interesting to read about. She’s very clever and protective of Whitetail and the other orphans—it was sweet. I also really liked Mouse, Rook, and Snake—the other orphans we see the most of—they were all really interesting and had such distinct personalities. Whitetail was fascinating to read about and had such a good arc. I was particularly disturbed by the whole Hyena thing and found it made for a horrific and fantastical element that was unexpected.
Overall, this is such a dark, bewitching tale of feminism and strong female characters in the face of men who are scared of a woman’s power and strength.
May 6, 2024
I wanted to like this so badly, but unfortunately, I cannot like a book based on vibes alone, especially when those vibes are incredibly confusing. I couldn’t tell if the writing was incompatible with my brain or if there really was just scant and chaotic world building. This one gave me smooth brain.
May 27, 2024
Ugh - I feel like the premise of this had SO much promise and fell completely flat. This was like reading a semi coherent fever dream. The first few chapters were so difficult to understand, I feel like I had no idea what was happening which left me feeling super disengaged. Things started clearing up more throughout the book, but I still felt like so many things were left unexplained. Truly like a "word vomit", with so many random details thrown in and zero context for it. Overall, a super bizarre story.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
feminist fantasy? sign me up. In this story we follow a group of children who are part of an ostriziced group due to their believes. we explore themes of assimilation, society roles, intersectionality, rebelling against the status quo and found family. The magic system was different but easy to understand. While we do see the politics play out, the rest of this world is underdeveloped. Rabbit doesn’t read as a child, which can be good if in the next book we see her as an adult. A slow burn on the lighter side with witchy vibes.
January 16, 2025
The *coolest* witch book I've read it a while. I feel like lately, witch books can get confined in a box, and Meg said eff this box and wrote a chilling story about mother nature, witches, and misogyny. The spell/curse mechanic is so cool. I had the urge to go etch in the dirt outside. Can't stop thinking about it, and I'm definitely prepping for crazy things to happen in book 2.
April 21, 2024
Meg Ripley's debut, Necrology, is a fascinating exploration of the Salem Witch Trials that traps the reader in a sense of thought-provoking gloom only a well-crafted fantastical horror can evoke.
Full disclosure: as someone from outside the US (Germany/Egypt), I knew nothing about the Salem Witch Trials except the name. This brings me to my first point of praise for Ripley's Necrology. It strikes a delicate balance between educating the reader with necessary information while keeping the plot moving forward. This is not an easy task and often fails because the narrative leans too heavily on one side, leaving the reader feeling they are either reading a textbook or unable to follow the events. I'm glad to say this wasn't the case with Necrology. The introduction to the world and the history behind it was used expertly to enhance the plot and the characters' journeys, making the story feel like one coherent and highly engaging unit rather than two books mashed into one.
The second thing that left me in awe was its incredibly sharp prose. I'd call it magical, but I think "bewitching" is more fitting (and appropriate given the topic). It's very rare for me to read a book that has lines that drain the air out of my lungs, but the precision of Ripley's prose feels almost surgical at times. It is something to be experienced for sure since words can't really describe the effects of Ripley's prose, but you'll understand what I mean once you read this book (something I wholeheartedly recommend if it's not clear yet).
But at the heart of this story, at the eye of this storm of magic, history, and darkness, are the characters. The women who are fighting for survival in a world that wishes to take away the power they have. This story has many fantastical elements, but any great fantasy, at its core, is trying to talk about something serious and relevant to our real world. For me, Necrology was a tale about the deep-rooted fear weak, insecure men have toward women who display any amount of power or agency, and the lengths they would go to in order to try and control these women and strip them of their power.
Necrology is an incredible debut by Meg Ripley that tells a relevant and important story in a unique and fascinating way by utilizing some of the most exquisite prose I've read in a long time. It is a story I will definitely revisit multiple times in the future and share with as many people as I possibly can, and for that, it deserves 5 stars from me.
Full disclosure: as someone from outside the US (Germany/Egypt), I knew nothing about the Salem Witch Trials except the name. This brings me to my first point of praise for Ripley's Necrology. It strikes a delicate balance between educating the reader with necessary information while keeping the plot moving forward. This is not an easy task and often fails because the narrative leans too heavily on one side, leaving the reader feeling they are either reading a textbook or unable to follow the events. I'm glad to say this wasn't the case with Necrology. The introduction to the world and the history behind it was used expertly to enhance the plot and the characters' journeys, making the story feel like one coherent and highly engaging unit rather than two books mashed into one.
The second thing that left me in awe was its incredibly sharp prose. I'd call it magical, but I think "bewitching" is more fitting (and appropriate given the topic). It's very rare for me to read a book that has lines that drain the air out of my lungs, but the precision of Ripley's prose feels almost surgical at times. It is something to be experienced for sure since words can't really describe the effects of Ripley's prose, but you'll understand what I mean once you read this book (something I wholeheartedly recommend if it's not clear yet).
But at the heart of this story, at the eye of this storm of magic, history, and darkness, are the characters. The women who are fighting for survival in a world that wishes to take away the power they have. This story has many fantastical elements, but any great fantasy, at its core, is trying to talk about something serious and relevant to our real world. For me, Necrology was a tale about the deep-rooted fear weak, insecure men have toward women who display any amount of power or agency, and the lengths they would go to in order to try and control these women and strip them of their power.
Necrology is an incredible debut by Meg Ripley that tells a relevant and important story in a unique and fascinating way by utilizing some of the most exquisite prose I've read in a long time. It is a story I will definitely revisit multiple times in the future and share with as many people as I possibly can, and for that, it deserves 5 stars from me.
October 22, 2024
If you or someone you love is experiencing interpersonal violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
Take care,
M
Take care,
M
Read
January 19, 2025If you are into dark fairytales for adults (no there's no sex, not what I mean), then this is a book for you. Not exactly my cup of tea but it was an interesting way of telling a heart-felt story with feminist themes. This was a mix of history with some Handmaid's Tale type of themes. I had a hard time connecting with the characters; to be fair the MC is an 8 year old girl. The story wasn't baby-ish (thank god) but due to her young age, she kept the story moving along by asking tons of questions. The story itself was pretty solid for a historical dark fantasy but it was very slow moving and I found myself not that into it. For a book that has 350+ pages, I expected to connect to the characters better. Instead, I was being hand-fed little bits of their "world" and the world building continued till the very end. Quick Synopsis: witches and non-witches made a pact to live in peace after the Salem Witch trials in the 1690s, but of course people will be people. Slumlords will be slumlords, and people in power always want more power. I look forward to reading more by Meg Ripley.
And if you're into this book, it's worth checking out: Wicked by Gregory Maguire. This book is the origin story of the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz. And similar to this book, it is a world politically divided due to "peoples" differences. It touches on similar themes.
And if you're into this book, it's worth checking out: Wicked by Gregory Maguire. This book is the origin story of the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz. And similar to this book, it is a world politically divided due to "peoples" differences. It touches on similar themes.
December 22, 2024
Dirty women want to keep their power (I did not understand the magic system at all).
June 2, 2024
Entering a genre that is new to me, I confess that I wasn’t sure what to expect. But from beginning to end, I was bewitched by its magic - puns intended! The author’s enchanting and at times unsettling prose introduces characters who embody both mythical and familiar aspects of female experiences—growth, power, fear, bargaining, secrecy, and sacrifice. These themes are woven into a spellbinding alternate history of the Salem witch trials, juxtaposing the innocence of its younger characters with the complicated experience of its older ones. A fantastical world grounded in a captivating trial narrative, the novel reveals the many faces of feminism, female complicity in misogyny, family bonds, and friendship. May the friendship of Rabbit and her "Dirty sympathizer" Rook live on …
August 4, 2024
I haven't read anything like this in a long time. It reminded me of the Salem witch trials and Edith Wharton stories I read in a gothic lit class in undergrad. Gripping, creepy, and whimsy, this is a standout and memorable debut. In addition to the horror, the scenes are also ripe with tender moments and heart amongst the children and Whitetail. The magic is unique and naturally built into the world with little handholding or exposition. And it made me sad! JUSTICE FOR MILK!
April 16, 2025
This was like a bit of a fever dream, a dream where the Salem witches rose from the grave, rolled their eyes at the patriarchy, and started a dirt-covered riot. Sharp, strange, and feral in the best way.
May 5, 2024
Meg Ripley's book, Necrology, is full of connections between past and present, living and dead, inside and outside, intuition and the physical world. It's a book where you can close your eyes after reading and see and feel the world with the spaces and rooms and people and creatures and objects and textures and dirt. There is the pull of the journey with something coming, the carving of mental paths through fog and bursts of clarity and the reckoning with who one is and who one is not. This is a world where the most magical blends all boundaries of self and at the same time is framed by autonomy and respect for uniqueness of thought and individual volition.
The young main protagonist, Rabbit, wills her way through the complexity, brilliance and horror of understanding herself and the people she knows and thinks she knows. The older protagonist, Whitetail, embodies the knowing, the depth and the horror of complexities and contradictions of self from a life lived and actions already taken, the weight of responsibility for others and things larger than herself, and an irresistible, layered, transcending presence.
In Necrology's New York, anything is possible until it's not and then once again has a pulse. And names and nature - a branch, a strand of hair, a stone, the body - matter and hold the sparks and keys.
I will read it again and I want more.
- Thank you to the author for the exchange of the book for an honest review.
The young main protagonist, Rabbit, wills her way through the complexity, brilliance and horror of understanding herself and the people she knows and thinks she knows. The older protagonist, Whitetail, embodies the knowing, the depth and the horror of complexities and contradictions of self from a life lived and actions already taken, the weight of responsibility for others and things larger than herself, and an irresistible, layered, transcending presence.
In Necrology's New York, anything is possible until it's not and then once again has a pulse. And names and nature - a branch, a strand of hair, a stone, the body - matter and hold the sparks and keys.
I will read it again and I want more.
- Thank you to the author for the exchange of the book for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
Meg Ripleys Necrology is a raw, unapologetic journey. Told from two pov's in a thoughtful and meaningful way. This isn't your ordinary tale of Witches or Cunning folk. This is about power embalance, rage, love and endurance. With clever and imaginative characters that will pull you into their stories. You will be immersed in this gloomy yet thought provoking work of art.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's moody atmospheric horror at its finest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's moody atmospheric horror at its finest.
August 20, 2024
The beginning of this book is a conglomeration of incomprehensible prose. Things were happening but I was simply unable to untangle the mess of random words and phrases to really understand it. There isn't a clear sense of the religion of Dirt, or a strong understanding of why children are allowed to play a game that can result in making mud. While the narrative eventually became clearer, it remained a slog to get through. Overall disappointing considering the interesting premise.
October 2, 2025
boring, pretentious and barely comprehensible
May 28, 2024
edit: Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!!!
sigh
I had super high hopes for this, I really truly did. The cover is gorgeous, the premise is intriguing, and very early on we get nods to the Crucible, which I adore. But... this book was so boring... But let's start with the positives.
Our beginning cast of characters are all named after animals, and you really get a feel for their personality early on based off of this. I genuinely appreciate this as early book characterization takes a while for me to grasp sometimes.
The concept of magic via board game is super unique and explained really well. I'm always a big fan of unique magic systems and this book has it.
Unfortunately that's the end of the positives.
I was quite bored reading this book, which is easily shown through the month long process of me slogging through it. I genuinely had no desire to continue reading as everything in this book was pretty much doom and gloom the entire time. I understand that this is a story of female oppression, but I do not think there are many people who can truly read a book where the women suffer the entire time and still enjoy it.
Many of the interesting things that happened in this book happened without explanation or cause. The ending of this book did leave room for a sequel, so maybe we'll get some explanation there (you'll have to let me know, I won't be picking it up). A lot of very interesting scenes and ideas pop up and then are immediately swept away, leaving you pondering what the hell that was about while you read the very dull characters discuss very dull things.
And finally, please stop using animal abuse to show a character is a bad person. It's lazy shock value.
This book is only getting two stars for the magic system and the imagery of the ending.
sigh
I had super high hopes for this, I really truly did. The cover is gorgeous, the premise is intriguing, and very early on we get nods to the Crucible, which I adore. But... this book was so boring... But let's start with the positives.
Our beginning cast of characters are all named after animals, and you really get a feel for their personality early on based off of this. I genuinely appreciate this as early book characterization takes a while for me to grasp sometimes.
The concept of magic via board game is super unique and explained really well. I'm always a big fan of unique magic systems and this book has it.
Unfortunately that's the end of the positives.
I was quite bored reading this book, which is easily shown through the month long process of me slogging through it. I genuinely had no desire to continue reading as everything in this book was pretty much doom and gloom the entire time. I understand that this is a story of female oppression, but I do not think there are many people who can truly read a book where the women suffer the entire time and still enjoy it.
Many of the interesting things that happened in this book happened without explanation or cause. The ending of this book did leave room for a sequel, so maybe we'll get some explanation there (you'll have to let me know, I won't be picking it up). A lot of very interesting scenes and ideas pop up and then are immediately swept away, leaving you pondering what the hell that was about while you read the very dull characters discuss very dull things.
And finally, please stop using animal abuse to show a character is a bad person. It's lazy shock value.
This book is only getting two stars for the magic system and the imagery of the ending.
November 7, 2024
My rating: ⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
Romance level: 0 / 5
CW: On-page attempted SA, physical torture, animal abuse, among other things I’m probably missing
My my… This one was tough. I’m pretty sad about it because I loved the overall concept of the book. I felt like I was fighting with the prose to be able to read it. It took me a few days to motivate myself to get back to it and finish it. I’m not sure if the author was going for a certain writing style, but it was so wordy and difficult to read - it didn’t flow well and I often had to reread long sentences to make sure I understood what the author was trying to say. It also felt pretty emotionless.
One of our FMCs, Rabbit, is supposed to be a young child (or adolescent maybe)? I’m not sure, because it felt like every time she was speaking or reacting to things she had a different maturity level. Most other characters, including our adult FMC, were super one-dimensional.
I thought I would get women’s empowerment from this book, and instead I just got women being abused and tortured literally the entire way through. There definitely needed to be more added in to break the story up and provide some relief from all the darkness. And I typically love “dark” books.
One positive, though, was I thought the magic system was pretty interesting and unique! It revolved around a “game” played in the Dirt with a bunch of notches, and each notch coincides with a certain type of “curse” (they can be good or bad), with multiple players alternating between rolling a dice for a set amount of turns.
Romance level: 0 / 5
CW: On-page attempted SA, physical torture, animal abuse, among other things I’m probably missing
My my… This one was tough. I’m pretty sad about it because I loved the overall concept of the book. I felt like I was fighting with the prose to be able to read it. It took me a few days to motivate myself to get back to it and finish it. I’m not sure if the author was going for a certain writing style, but it was so wordy and difficult to read - it didn’t flow well and I often had to reread long sentences to make sure I understood what the author was trying to say. It also felt pretty emotionless.
One of our FMCs, Rabbit, is supposed to be a young child (or adolescent maybe)? I’m not sure, because it felt like every time she was speaking or reacting to things she had a different maturity level. Most other characters, including our adult FMC, were super one-dimensional.
I thought I would get women’s empowerment from this book, and instead I just got women being abused and tortured literally the entire way through. There definitely needed to be more added in to break the story up and provide some relief from all the darkness. And I typically love “dark” books.
One positive, though, was I thought the magic system was pretty interesting and unique! It revolved around a “game” played in the Dirt with a bunch of notches, and each notch coincides with a certain type of “curse” (they can be good or bad), with multiple players alternating between rolling a dice for a set amount of turns.
October 22, 2024
My gosh. What a book. From the first page, the reader becomes aware that this read will be memorable. The language, the rhythm of the dialogue, the rich, earthy descriptions, the accessible magic and the heart of the characters is apparent immediately. I was completely drawn into Rabbit, Rook and Whitetail’s world.
Rabbit and Rook are the eldest in the family, a family of orphans taken in by a strong, independent practitioner of the magic known as the Dirt. It is a simple life of gratitude and balance with the earth. But their house is owned by the Andrews family, a corrupt dynasty of Freemen, looking to suppress the powerful magic in all women, the magic tied to the earth, the wilds, the Dirt.
When the Andrews son assaults Whitetail, a foretold series of events occurs and Whitetail is imprisoned, the orphans are separated and Rabbit is taken in by the Andrews. Rabbit begins to doubt her upbringing, to understand the women who give up their magic and succumb to the religious teachings of the Father and the daily gaslighting and bullying of the Freemen.
This powerful novel is hard to fit in a genre. There are elements of horror, fantasy, historical fiction and magical realism. It is a coming of age tale of feminist rage, political corruption and daily overreaching of religious patriarchal cultism. It is GLORIOUS.
Rabbit and Rook are the eldest in the family, a family of orphans taken in by a strong, independent practitioner of the magic known as the Dirt. It is a simple life of gratitude and balance with the earth. But their house is owned by the Andrews family, a corrupt dynasty of Freemen, looking to suppress the powerful magic in all women, the magic tied to the earth, the wilds, the Dirt.
When the Andrews son assaults Whitetail, a foretold series of events occurs and Whitetail is imprisoned, the orphans are separated and Rabbit is taken in by the Andrews. Rabbit begins to doubt her upbringing, to understand the women who give up their magic and succumb to the religious teachings of the Father and the daily gaslighting and bullying of the Freemen.
This powerful novel is hard to fit in a genre. There are elements of horror, fantasy, historical fiction and magical realism. It is a coming of age tale of feminist rage, political corruption and daily overreaching of religious patriarchal cultism. It is GLORIOUS.
April 28, 2025
“The biggest dirty sin there is, is a woman holding another woman down”
What a beautiful story, I kinda wish this author would stop writing smut and write more novels because this is truly a masterpiece. This book is basically an interpretation of current feminism and misogyny in a magical society. Everything is so beautiful and often I was brought to tears by the wills of these women to stay with each other that truly a perfect society in this book was depicted as one where women who love eachother could just be with eachother and dance and eat and tell stories. The depictions of women who leave their own behind in betrayal and grow physically unwell is so sad and heartbreaking: “The truth makes you sick if you don't let it out. It makes a hole and comes out on its own. Put a person in any place which is not their own choosing—a woman in a role which is not hers by choice—it makes you sick”. Overall it’s such a beautiful read and it gives you a new light in your heart about what it means to love and care for the women around you. 10/10 book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
As a devout lover of witchcraft-inspired stories, so much so that my shelves are bursting with tales of witches, with nearly half of my collection paying homage to these powerful, misunderstood figures, Meg Ripley’s
Necrology
felt like a book I was destined to find. The premise immediately pulled me in: an alternate world shaped by the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials, where women, known as the Dirty, are forced into a pact to suppress their magic to avoid persecution by non-magical folk called Freemen. This concept of oppressed power struggling beneath the surface is nothing short of brilliant, a pure golden thread woven through an eerie reimagining of history.
From the very first chapter, I was utterly entranced. Ripley’s vision of a post-Salem world is hauntingly vivid, but more than that, it’s deeply emotional; a tribute to the silenced women who suffered under the weight of injustice. This isn’t just another feminist narrative. It’s a reclamation of a lost history, where the horror of Salem’s trials transforms into the catalyst for a magical uprising. Ripley masterfully channels the tension of a patriarchal society that’s terrified of the very power it seeks to control. The women in this story, while beaten down, are never truly broken. Instead, they find ways to rise, reclaiming their magic and defying the restrictions imposed on them.
Ripley’s ability to juxtapose the fear men hold toward these women with the women’s quiet but determined strength is what makes Necrology so compelling. This fear, rooted in the need to control what they don’t understand, fuels the book’s atmosphere of dread, yet there’s always an underlying hope that lingers beneath the surface. The world Ripley creates is both brutal and beautiful, where courage, resilience, and rebellion slowly kindle the flames of a revolution.
Reading Necrology feels like witnessing justice being served in the face of unspeakable wrongs. It doesn’t just echo the pain of the past, it offers a glimpse of a different future, one where women’s voices aren’t just heard; they roar. For anyone fascinated by witches, alternate histories, or the powerful, unbreakable bonds of womanhood, this is a must-read. Ripley’s work is an unforgettable blend of darkness, magic, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.
From the very first chapter, I was utterly entranced. Ripley’s vision of a post-Salem world is hauntingly vivid, but more than that, it’s deeply emotional; a tribute to the silenced women who suffered under the weight of injustice. This isn’t just another feminist narrative. It’s a reclamation of a lost history, where the horror of Salem’s trials transforms into the catalyst for a magical uprising. Ripley masterfully channels the tension of a patriarchal society that’s terrified of the very power it seeks to control. The women in this story, while beaten down, are never truly broken. Instead, they find ways to rise, reclaiming their magic and defying the restrictions imposed on them.
Ripley’s ability to juxtapose the fear men hold toward these women with the women’s quiet but determined strength is what makes Necrology so compelling. This fear, rooted in the need to control what they don’t understand, fuels the book’s atmosphere of dread, yet there’s always an underlying hope that lingers beneath the surface. The world Ripley creates is both brutal and beautiful, where courage, resilience, and rebellion slowly kindle the flames of a revolution.
Reading Necrology feels like witnessing justice being served in the face of unspeakable wrongs. It doesn’t just echo the pain of the past, it offers a glimpse of a different future, one where women’s voices aren’t just heard; they roar. For anyone fascinated by witches, alternate histories, or the powerful, unbreakable bonds of womanhood, this is a must-read. Ripley’s work is an unforgettable blend of darkness, magic, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.
July 7, 2024
This is a fantastic gem of a witch story that explores repression of women’s natural abilities in a subtle way while immersing the reader in a deeply disturbing and creepy atmosphere.
February 16, 2025
4.5 ⭐
August 6, 2025
DNF @ page 64
A really confusing plot to follow with two many character names and not enough explanation to specific world building aspects.
A really confusing plot to follow with two many character names and not enough explanation to specific world building aspects.
October 29, 2024
Uniquely macabre but not too gory, though I could always do without any animal violence. That’s certainly a side note and a very personal critique. The alternative fantastical history was interesting and left a lot on the reader to infer about the world in which the story took place. The style was akin to Octavia Butler in a way. Thought provoking, cutting, and cathartic (at the end)
Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the ARC!
Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the ARC!
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