Paladin and Necromancer II

by Adrienne Miller

The gods are disappearing. After he renounced his oath as Paladin, Kass thought he might finally get to go on a vacation. Tough luck. As usual, the world cares little about what he wants.

For the sake of his former squires, trapped in a web of conspiracies, Kass walks back into the world of the divine. Lost in the remnants of a life he left behind, he knows how to quell the guilt and anxiety that threaten to pull him under. But will he have the strength to do it?

Kass’s journey continues in this epic fantasy romance-mystery that explores the limits of love and loyalty.

__________________________________________________________


Adventures never end when they’re supposed to. Silver escaped the clutches of her husband’s god, but one day, she’ll have to return. Her world is filled with everything she ever wanted, but none of it feels permanent.

As she grapples with her new responsibilities as head of the mage guild, Silver once again finds herself torn between the needs of the few and the needs of the many. She knows what she must sacrifice to save everyone she loves. But will she have the strength to do it?

Silver’s journey continues in this epic fantasy romance-mystery that explores the consequences of hubris and freedom.

Genres: Fantasy

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2024

About the author

Adrienne Miller writes in the genre of Dark Fantasy; combining beautiful aesthetics with existential dread. Her stories feature complex romances, found family dynamics, and storylines centred on world mysteries.

She has grown up with both classic and new Fantasy, from Michael Moorcok's Eternal Hero series, Michael's Scott's "Thraxas" magical detective romps, to quiet and heart-felt Science-Fantasy by Becky Chambers.

The Travelling City is inspired by her love for the imaginative worlds of old-school role-playing games like Planescape Torment and the intricate character work of urban fantasy authors like Holly Black.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a little necromancy in your holidays?

Silver and Kass and co. are still dealing with the fallout of the first book when Silver disappears and Kass is sent on a mission. But what happens when the couple finds themselves at odds in their goals?

Silver has a lot to work through. Is she just as bad as those she worked to destroy? How can she keep putting Kass through hell? If she finally comes to grips with what she’s done, can she survive it?

Kass is still stalwart but also terribly lost. Apparently blind faith (in rulers, in gods, and in his wife) isn’t working out that well for him. But when the world seems to be ending he doesn’t want to confront it all, he just wants to spend his last moments with his wife.

This comes out tomorrow! If you haven’t read the first one, definitely go pick it up.

Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rose Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC, many thanks.

This is a deep exploration into love, loyalty and faith. I enjoyed the world/multiverse, magic system and religion, all of which evolved over the course of the book. My heart felt heavy for the characters at times and I struggled along with them through their journey.

I love this author's writing style, very short and snappy, while still getting everything across beautifully. Makes for a fast paced, exciting read. I hope there will be another instalment of the journey in Old Noll I think there could be some interesting further developments.

[Peaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC (thank you <3)

Fantastic, as amazing as the first. To see fully fleshed out characters explored, with faults and quirks not being brushed over or ignored, it feels visceral and authentic.

I enjoyed following the story further, and the relationships between faith and friends/loved ones be further explored and considered. Without giving away the plot, it's just well thought out and a genuine dive into humans but in this fantasy plot, we have spells, mages, magic, universes and more but it feels connected.

5/5. Thank you for allowing me to read this as part of an ARC, it has been an honor.

[Sapphyre Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to this book since finishing the first one, and it didn't disappoint!
It sucked me straight back into Kass and Silver's world and I loved it. The emotions in this book were just as pronounced as in the first one.
I love that even though it's been about a year since I last read Paladin and Necromancer, reading the sequel felt like such a natural continuation that it doesn't feel like much time has passed between the two at all.

[Dawn Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO happy to hear that there was another book diving into the lives of Silver and Kass and I am so happy to say this was such a wonderful meaningful addition to their world. The complex themes that are tackled in this book run DEEP and it was really satisfying to see how the characters reacted and lived with certain events and choices. There’s a part in this book that totally shook me and I felt like I was witnessing something so heavy and devastating and it was actually wonderful as a reader to feel so immersed in the book that I FELT like I was there. Adrienne makes me care so much about these characters and I’m so glad that this second instalment exists!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t even breathe after finishing the book. It will crush you. Watching Kass and Silver and their companions face the consequences of each and every seemingly impossible decision thrust upon them, slowly was breaking and fracturing my soul because it all felt so real. This journey to reconstruct something broken but unable to comprehend what that means and even be capable of if. The false sense of assurance, the false confidence they are carrying and battling with themselves, it made these characters the closest you’ll find to like you and me. And, yet again, Kass and Silver’s marriage shows every broken battered aspect of this journey. It is a REAL love story. Not the pomp and circumstance we are always being fed, but something far more primal because it’s born from watching your friend, your lover become someone else and committing to watching them continue to evolve and still choosing them through every metamorphosis. I want everyone to drop what they’re reading and become disillusioned by these crazy love stories we read, and READ THIS and be humbled by the incredible conclusive journey you’ll go on once more. I never wanted it to end, but end it had to. These characters needed to rest. So good!

[D.M. West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paladin and Necromancer 2 continues on with the same intense themes we were introduced to in the first book. Anxiety and ptsd, faith and finding your purpose. How far would you follow the person you loved?
This book is full of emotion and it was hard at times following these characters I like as they struggled along.
I found this book a little slower to read than the first. It didn’t quite drag me along for the ride like book 1 did but I cant put my finger on why. I have no obvious negative so assuming it’s just my reading mood.
I for sure recommend this series for fantasy fans looking for an emotional read with characters that aren’t perfect.

[Enrichment Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brutal second installment to this duology.

At no point did I manage to truly work out where the plot was going, everything was so much better than my brain tried to puzzle out!
The twists and revelations were done so well.

I really liked the way this book was set up. Including the ambiguous ending.

Once again, the star of the show is Silver and Kass's relationship and how they view themselves and each other. We have such outstanding, realistic and well described mental health rep in this book. Such devotion and love and resentment!

This book really hurt to read. The emotions in it are so strong and so well described. I'm glad I picked up the sequel

[Austeja Proofreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gods are disappearing, Kass is stuck in a divine mess again, and Silver has to make some serious sacrifices to save the people she loves⚔️💔

This sequel really pulled me into the characters’ emotional ups and downs, and my heart felt so heavy at times as I went through their struggles with them😢 I loved how this book went even deeper into the relationships between faith, friends, and loved ones. It made me think, made me feel, and honestly, it just made me love this series even more.

[Matthew Futter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason that most sequels are weaker than the original is because the sense of discovery and surprise is missing.

This sequel opens right into another mystery, but I thought the first one was presented better. Still, we get to see many of the characters from the first volume again, and we meet some new faces who are most welcome in this next story.

With the same storytelling style and present-tense, close-third-person viewpoint from the first book, we pick up once more without a particular introduction, but straight into the unusual events in our characters’ lives. Plus, we get to dive more deeply into some of their lives and backstories, which is always welcome.

I don’t think the blurb from this volume does it justice, but every reader can make their own decision. While the first book felt rather groundbreaking to me, this one adds depth to the characters we enjoyed meeting as they rise to new challenges. Though I don’t foresee a third installment in this short series with where we left things, I’m glad to have read this sequel.

[A. Iles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I have read before. The relationship between Kass and Silver is new and fresh, the fight with oneself and with the Gods is without compare. The questions raised by the story echo the unanswered questions in our world.

There is magic, danger, travel between universes, gods, and mages. Even in a world so full of fantasy elements, the story is grounded by a group of humans who are ambitious, flawed, and loving. Their pursuit of good for one another might spell disaster for society as a whole, just like our pursuit for individual success often comes at the sacrifice of others. Maybe society is better off- like any philosophical question, the answer depends on how you look at it.

Warning: don't try to read this on your lunchbreak, it will be very hard to tear yourself away.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I was as entertained by this book as much as the first one. At first, I was a little confused until I realized what was happening to Silver, and then I became absorbed into the story. I felt for Cass who had no idea what was going on until he was pulled into the situation. I was saddened by Silver's realization, and although this was the last book in this series, I hope that there will be another one featuring these characters. Ryan Pierson's narration was stellar as his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Charlotte Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. So I read this immediately after the first one and was not disappointed. The book follows on from the drama and damage caused at the end of the first book. Kass and Silver's relationship has improved, but there are secrets between them which threatens the relationship. Silver is determined to punish the god Five, whilst Kass and his friends are there to protect him. I really enjoyed the action and the drama in this book, and really would like to see another book in the series.

[Naybee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first Paladin and Necromancer book but this was a slog to get through. I think too much time was spent describing what had happened post-book 1 that is really slowed the book down. I kept struggling to pick it up or start the next chapter. I was disappointed that I didn’t love it as much as the last but I did love the ending. I will definitely still read book 3 when it’s released.

[Lunavera Casen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sequel. Kass is such a messy, real hero trying to escape his past but dragged back into it. The mix of mystery, romance, and divine politics kept me hooked. The stakes feel higher, and the tension between duty and love is intense. I kept turning pages just to see how he’d survive everything thrown at him. This one is a winner.

[Liora Penhaligon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me harder than I expected. Kass’s guilt and anxiety feel so real, like he’s fighting himself more than the world. The way love and loyalty are tested here is raw and powerful. The mystery keeps building, and I kept feeling nervous for him. I genuinely felt for the characters, and the world is so rich. I’m already ready for the next one.

[Logan Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like epic fantasy with romance and a strong mystery, this is it. Kass’s journey is intense, he’s running from his past but can’t escape it. The disappearing gods plot adds real danger, and the world-building is impressive. The balance between action, romance, and suspense is perfect. I loved the pacing and the emotional depth. This sequel definitely delivered.

[Joshua Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

(received as an arc thank you so much for giving me the chance to read this <3)

absolutely love this book series one of my favourites so far and will continue to read over n over again

I definitely would recommend this book to people

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got these during a stuff your kindle event, and I've never been more happy to decide to give an unfamiliar author a chance. The worldbuilding? Amaze. The characters? Brill.
I'd devour a hundred of them!