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The Catseye Chronicles #1
Hopeless Necromantic
SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.
Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.
No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?
RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.
Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.
No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?
RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2024
162 people are currently reading
4543 people want to read
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April 29, 2026
Bone appetit! I appreciated this a skele-ton.
Sikras "Catseye" Nikabod, a disgraced royal necromancer, grieving his dead his wife killed by his best friend’s sudden evilness is coaxed out of isolation by a new recruit (demon), Helspira. They must take down the undead army with the help of Sikras’s brother-in-law (a skeleton kept alive using most of Sikras’s energy).
“I’m thirty-something years old. I’m tired. A sedated animal eases into the morning with more swiftness. Shouldn’t this whole save the kingdom business fall to a plucky teenager with untamed magical prowess and a heart of gold hiding beneath their hormonal aggression?”
Expect a story of healing, bone jokes, and sweet connections between three characters.
I have to admit that the romance was very light and instantaneous, but the trust and friendship between all three were touching.
Despite the darker topics of grief and denial, the tone is light and the stakes always felt relatively low despite the deadly danger.
There is nothing more powerful than words, and not just the ones that initiate spells. Words can start a war, or break someone’s heart, or turn children into monsters. They cut deeper than any metal. Spread faster than any poison. Perhaps most frightening of all, anyone can wield them, and precious few know just how powerful they can be. But words can heal as much as they hurt.
This isn’t a standalone! It finishes in a satisfying position, so you aren’t left gnawing at the bone ;).
Overall, a lighthearted read with fun humour that felt quite surface level.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
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Sikras "Catseye" Nikabod, a disgraced royal necromancer, grieving his dead his wife killed by his best friend’s sudden evilness is coaxed out of isolation by a new recruit (demon), Helspira. They must take down the undead army with the help of Sikras’s brother-in-law (a skeleton kept alive using most of Sikras’s energy).
“I’m thirty-something years old. I’m tired. A sedated animal eases into the morning with more swiftness. Shouldn’t this whole save the kingdom business fall to a plucky teenager with untamed magical prowess and a heart of gold hiding beneath their hormonal aggression?”
Expect a story of healing, bone jokes, and sweet connections between three characters.
I have to admit that the romance was very light and instantaneous, but the trust and friendship between all three were touching.
Despite the darker topics of grief and denial, the tone is light and the stakes always felt relatively low despite the deadly danger.
There is nothing more powerful than words, and not just the ones that initiate spells. Words can start a war, or break someone’s heart, or turn children into monsters. They cut deeper than any metal. Spread faster than any poison. Perhaps most frightening of all, anyone can wield them, and precious few know just how powerful they can be. But words can heal as much as they hurt.
This isn’t a standalone! It finishes in a satisfying position, so you aren’t left gnawing at the bone ;).
Overall, a lighthearted read with fun humour that felt quite surface level.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
January 27, 2026
thank you to orbit books US and NetGalley for the arc!
honest thoughts below:
four years ago sikras "catseye" nikabod had everything a man could want. a wife he adored, loyal friends, a found family, and the privilege of serving as the queen’s all powerful necromancer. now his brother in law is a walking corpse he is wanted for tax evasion his oldest friend vessik has slaughtered thousands with a skeleton army and his wife is dead sort-of.
with the kingdom on the brink, the queen tasks sikras with killing the one person he has already failed to stop twice. a man whose descent into madness may be sikras’s fault.
the dedication alone sets the emotional tone. “to everyone out there who is still waiting to get better. healing is hard. but not healing is hard too and honestly if it’s going to suck either way you might as well get something out of it. i’m rooting for you.” this book takes that idea seriously. healing is not pretty here. it is exhausting, repetitive, and deeply human.
there are no slow parts. the story begins immediately and the journey is in motion within the first 5%.
sikras is our main character and from the very first pages we know exactly what he has lost. his wife. his best friend. his sense of purpose. his voice is sharp, tired, and darkly funny. “saelihn i’m thirty something years old. i’m tired. a sedated animal eases into the morning with more swiftness. shouldn’t this whole save the kingdom business fall to a plucky teenager with untamed magical prowess and a heart of gold hiding beneath their hormonal aggression?” the humor is not there to soften the pain. it is there because sometimes that is the only way to survive it because “if you don’t laugh, you cry.”
benjamin. sikras's brother in-law. ben may quite literally be the reason sikras stayed on this earth and that responsibility hums beneath every interaction. ben is brave and kind and relentlessly himself. shiloh allows us to love a side character as fiercely as the main cast!
when ben meets helspira it is immediately clear why he stands out. most people treat her like an enemy the moment they learn she’s a demon. ben instead offers companionship. “the night is young. there’s still time. but since it seems everyone’s about as keen to talk to demons as they are to sentient sacks of bones how about we form an alliance until the public develops some taste for good company?” in a book about prejudice fear and survival that moment matters. kindness matters.
and helspira. my lovely lovely helspira. she is grace. she is gentleness chosen over and over again in a world that gives her every reason to harden. it would have been easy to make her sharp or cynical or cruel for survival. instead she is kind without being weak. soft without being naive. she believes in people even when they fail her.
the romance between the MCs is a slow slow slow burn. i mean truly glacial. at 75% he offers to take her to bed and means a literal bed for only safety and rest. at 91% they touch hands romantically. and it is worth every second of waiting. “i don’t think i remember what it’s like to be happy. but she makes me forget i’m miserable.” HELLO!
hopeless necromantic is a story about healing, friendship, love, and choosing to keep going even when it hurts. you will likely cry. and somehow, while you do, you will feel rooted for. because we were never meant to heal alone.
honest thoughts below:
four years ago sikras "catseye" nikabod had everything a man could want. a wife he adored, loyal friends, a found family, and the privilege of serving as the queen’s all powerful necromancer. now his brother in law is a walking corpse he is wanted for tax evasion his oldest friend vessik has slaughtered thousands with a skeleton army and his wife is dead sort-of.
with the kingdom on the brink, the queen tasks sikras with killing the one person he has already failed to stop twice. a man whose descent into madness may be sikras’s fault.
the dedication alone sets the emotional tone. “to everyone out there who is still waiting to get better. healing is hard. but not healing is hard too and honestly if it’s going to suck either way you might as well get something out of it. i’m rooting for you.” this book takes that idea seriously. healing is not pretty here. it is exhausting, repetitive, and deeply human.
there are no slow parts. the story begins immediately and the journey is in motion within the first 5%.
sikras is our main character and from the very first pages we know exactly what he has lost. his wife. his best friend. his sense of purpose. his voice is sharp, tired, and darkly funny. “saelihn i’m thirty something years old. i’m tired. a sedated animal eases into the morning with more swiftness. shouldn’t this whole save the kingdom business fall to a plucky teenager with untamed magical prowess and a heart of gold hiding beneath their hormonal aggression?” the humor is not there to soften the pain. it is there because sometimes that is the only way to survive it because “if you don’t laugh, you cry.”
benjamin. sikras's brother in-law. ben may quite literally be the reason sikras stayed on this earth and that responsibility hums beneath every interaction. ben is brave and kind and relentlessly himself. shiloh allows us to love a side character as fiercely as the main cast!
when ben meets helspira it is immediately clear why he stands out. most people treat her like an enemy the moment they learn she’s a demon. ben instead offers companionship. “the night is young. there’s still time. but since it seems everyone’s about as keen to talk to demons as they are to sentient sacks of bones how about we form an alliance until the public develops some taste for good company?” in a book about prejudice fear and survival that moment matters. kindness matters.
and helspira. my lovely lovely helspira. she is grace. she is gentleness chosen over and over again in a world that gives her every reason to harden. it would have been easy to make her sharp or cynical or cruel for survival. instead she is kind without being weak. soft without being naive. she believes in people even when they fail her.
the romance between the MCs is a slow slow slow burn. i mean truly glacial. at 75% he offers to take her to bed and means a literal bed for only safety and rest. at 91% they touch hands romantically. and it is worth every second of waiting. “i don’t think i remember what it’s like to be happy. but she makes me forget i’m miserable.” HELLO!
hopeless necromantic is a story about healing, friendship, love, and choosing to keep going even when it hurts. you will likely cry. and somehow, while you do, you will feel rooted for. because we were never meant to heal alone.
November 1, 2024
My main criticism would be (and it's not a criticism) that the Necromantic was never, as a matter of fact, Hopeless.
Sikras has many, many faults; you could argue that he is mostly faults, but throughout the entire book he holds on to love, light, joy, goodness - and hope - with a white-knuckled, reckless intensity that is both ill-advised and inspiring.
I've always liked stories about goodness (not morality, per se), and took offense at people insinuating that the concept was boring, old-fashioned or simplistic.
The characters in this book (with the glaring exception that'll be obvious once you read it) are good - and still in constant conflict with each other, the world and themselves. Because being good is HARD and it doesn't always come naturally to us, and it doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. But it's the only thing worth doing, especially when the world is so often unkind.
Now, don't get me wrong. This man is sooooo poorly adjusted. These coping skills are wretched. There's so many stupid, inappropriate jokes, there's so much violence (thank the gods, I needed that after reading so much YA this year) and so much swearing. There's honestly far more sex talk than I am generally comfortable with. But like. That's why it's fun, right?
Sikras has many, many faults; you could argue that he is mostly faults, but throughout the entire book he holds on to love, light, joy, goodness - and hope - with a white-knuckled, reckless intensity that is both ill-advised and inspiring.
I've always liked stories about goodness (not morality, per se), and took offense at people insinuating that the concept was boring, old-fashioned or simplistic.
The characters in this book (with the glaring exception that'll be obvious once you read it) are good - and still in constant conflict with each other, the world and themselves. Because being good is HARD and it doesn't always come naturally to us, and it doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. But it's the only thing worth doing, especially when the world is so often unkind.
Now, don't get me wrong. This man is sooooo poorly adjusted. These coping skills are wretched. There's so many stupid, inappropriate jokes, there's so much violence (thank the gods, I needed that after reading so much YA this year) and so much swearing. There's honestly far more sex talk than I am generally comfortable with. But like. That's why it's fun, right?
January 23, 2026
The only thing truly HOPELESS about this book is how I felt after finishing the last few lines.
Hopeless Necromantic will whittle away at even the coldest, deadest hearts and warm you up, make you chuckle, cry and leave you holding your kindle close to your heart saying "I NEED MORE"
Sikras, a sarcastic, neurotic necromancer with the power to raise the dead is commissioned (or volun-told) by his queen to assist in stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom. His assigned companion? Helspira, a demon in the queen's army. Sikras begrudgingly goes, as long his best friend and former brother in law Benjamin can join. Did he mention Benjamin is a walking, talking skeleton?
As the three move from one adventure to another, secrets are spilled and feelings from the past are uncovered.
Truly, every moment of this book is perfect. I was so sad to finish it, but have been promised by the author that more from the gang is to come!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books and the author for a copy!
Hopeless Necromantic will whittle away at even the coldest, deadest hearts and warm you up, make you chuckle, cry and leave you holding your kindle close to your heart saying "I NEED MORE"
Sikras, a sarcastic, neurotic necromancer with the power to raise the dead is commissioned (or volun-told) by his queen to assist in stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom. His assigned companion? Helspira, a demon in the queen's army. Sikras begrudgingly goes, as long his best friend and former brother in law Benjamin can join. Did he mention Benjamin is a walking, talking skeleton?
As the three move from one adventure to another, secrets are spilled and feelings from the past are uncovered.
Truly, every moment of this book is perfect. I was so sad to finish it, but have been promised by the author that more from the gang is to come!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books and the author for a copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!
I'm obsessed with anything that has necromancy in it!!!
This is light but still dark fantasy with deliciously dark humor, the kind where death is basically just a minor inconvenience. A necromancer, a demon girl, and a skeleton? Peak chaotic squad.
I loved that the romance stays simple and super slow-burn. Every character is adorable in their own weird way, and I’m a sucker for that vibe of a charismatic necromancer who'd burn the world down for his people. I seriously need more books about them.
I'm obsessed with anything that has necromancy in it!!!
This is light but still dark fantasy with deliciously dark humor, the kind where death is basically just a minor inconvenience. A necromancer, a demon girl, and a skeleton? Peak chaotic squad.
I loved that the romance stays simple and super slow-burn. Every character is adorable in their own weird way, and I’m a sucker for that vibe of a charismatic necromancer who'd burn the world down for his people. I seriously need more books about them.
December 25, 2025
This is such an underrated book that I am so happy that I got to read. It gave me D&D, Pushing Daisies, and Ella Enchanted vibes. Honestly, this might be my favorite read for the year. This book is about Sikras who is a dark humored, witty, necromaner that is a widow. In his journey to save his kingdom with the help of a friendly, loving, see the good in everyone demon and his skeleton brother in law who wants to be a bard but is a sword wielding solider. Sikras is learning to move on from his grief and accept love and forgiveness. Abomination alliance ❤️❤️ I could gush a while longer, but I would love if there was more to this story or if it became a movie.
October 29, 2024
When the Read Lives Up To The Hype
Admittedly, I found this book through social media. When I learnt the author was an artist, and was using their own drawings I was even more intrigued.
Their memes had me laughing, but I was skeptical. Is the book *actually* going to be good? I’ve been burned so many times by seeing a snippet of a book and it being terrible.
This, delightfully, was not the case. I am a SUCKER for good banter, and not only is this book witty, it deals with several serious and complex issues all the while dropping you into a story that is vibrant, intriguing, and actually keeps you reading.
There is some mild spice, but nothing crazy.
Hands down one of the best books I’ve read in a few years, and I’m sad I’ve got to wait until the next one.
You’ve got a fan for life. Congratulations on your success, Shiloh.
Admittedly, I found this book through social media. When I learnt the author was an artist, and was using their own drawings I was even more intrigued.
Their memes had me laughing, but I was skeptical. Is the book *actually* going to be good? I’ve been burned so many times by seeing a snippet of a book and it being terrible.
This, delightfully, was not the case. I am a SUCKER for good banter, and not only is this book witty, it deals with several serious and complex issues all the while dropping you into a story that is vibrant, intriguing, and actually keeps you reading.
There is some mild spice, but nothing crazy.
Hands down one of the best books I’ve read in a few years, and I’m sad I’ve got to wait until the next one.
You’ve got a fan for life. Congratulations on your success, Shiloh.
January 26, 2026
ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!!
Do you ever make a preemptive judgement on a book? I had my theories on how I thought this book would be aesthetic wise, based off of the cover and blurb; and I was SO pleased to know that this was one of those times that I was correct! I felt that this book gave off Live Action Dungeons & Dragons vibes and it was everything that I enjoyed about that movie and more! Fun, adventurous, humorous, a bit of gore, lots of great action, a plot that was consistent and interesting, characters to fall in love with (or be charmed by), and essentially just the beautiful reality of an author committing to their story!
I love how everything played out. I loved the touch of romance. I loved the visuals that the author painted for me as a reader. I loved how conflicts were resolved-those that were; I do hope the few unanswered questions will be addressed in Book Two. Which, I am also so happy that there will be a second book! I was having too good of a time and was finding myself sad knowing that I was going to eventually be done with the book.
Helspira, Sikras, and Ben made me enjoy every single page and they now feel like a group of friends that forever live in my head. And I have to say, something that really stuck out to me that made this book a top read for me is that 1) Both main characters were over the age of 30, 2) MMC was under 6ft and I loved that representation! Sikras was perfection~ 3) FMC, Hels (Helspira) was a baddie! She is not this delicate, petite, small female. She's strong, with the body of a warrior, and yet born with a gentle heart, muah such a Demon Goddess!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Shiloh Briar, and Orbit Books for the Advanced Reading Copy! I am hoping desperately to be approved for Book Two since it will be among my most anticipated reads!!!! Also, I am so excited when Hopeless Necromantic releases so that I can physically hold the book in my hands. I'm already looking forward to rereading and being able to physically annotate! This is definitely a comforting, pick-me-up world that I would not mind revisiting many, many times.
November 19, 2024
As a debut novel, Hopeless Necromantic is an impressive blend of dark humor, heartfelt moments, and a unique take on the fantasy genre. It has an intriguing, if morbid, premise: the main character, a reluctant necromancer, embarks on a journey that is as much about friendship and grief as it is about dealing with the undead. I was pleasantly surprised by how touching the story turned out to be.
One of my favourite aspects of this, is that it doesn’t rely on romantic love to carry the emotional weight. Instead, friendship is front and center. The bond between the necromancer and his best friend, an ex soldier who really just wants to be a bard and who just happens to be —a reanimated skeleton of his ex-brother-in-law—adds layers of both humor and complexity. The MMC Sikras/catseye is written well, he isn't a stereotypical necromancer, he is witty, sassy, has dark humour and an emotional backstory. Helspira, is a badass FMC and complements both Sikras and Ben but is a strong character in her own right, with a complex background and her own motivations.
The book does a beautiful job of portraying grief, balancing its darker themes with moments of humor that feel natural and well-timed. Briar uses humor to soften the morbid elements, creating a unique tone that works well for the setting and characters.
If there’s one area where the book could improve, it’s the world-building. While the character dynamics are vividly drawn, the world itself felt a bit underdeveloped. A bit more depth here could make future books in the series easily 5 stars.
Overall, I loved this book, I laughed, cried and swooned this is perfect if you're looking for a dark yet witty adventure.
One of my favourite aspects of this, is that it doesn’t rely on romantic love to carry the emotional weight. Instead, friendship is front and center. The bond between the necromancer and his best friend, an ex soldier who really just wants to be a bard and who just happens to be —a reanimated skeleton of his ex-brother-in-law—adds layers of both humor and complexity. The MMC Sikras/catseye is written well, he isn't a stereotypical necromancer, he is witty, sassy, has dark humour and an emotional backstory. Helspira, is a badass FMC and complements both Sikras and Ben but is a strong character in her own right, with a complex background and her own motivations.
The book does a beautiful job of portraying grief, balancing its darker themes with moments of humor that feel natural and well-timed. Briar uses humor to soften the morbid elements, creating a unique tone that works well for the setting and characters.
If there’s one area where the book could improve, it’s the world-building. While the character dynamics are vividly drawn, the world itself felt a bit underdeveloped. A bit more depth here could make future books in the series easily 5 stars.
Overall, I loved this book, I laughed, cried and swooned this is perfect if you're looking for a dark yet witty adventure.
January 18, 2026
Kind of a vanilla, cozy story (despite all the war stuff and killing). I wanted a bit more out of the Cats Eye, but he was a bit of a let down romantic interest. I liked the complex grief aspect of his character, but he still fell a bit flat in general.
Hels and Ben were awesome, I wish I could’ve shipped them instead. They had robust personalities and emotions (even though they were a demon and a skeleton).
The world building was average. I wish there was more info on the underworld and above ground lands in general.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Orbit Books for a copy!
Hels and Ben were awesome, I wish I could’ve shipped them instead. They had robust personalities and emotions (even though they were a demon and a skeleton).
The world building was average. I wish there was more info on the underworld and above ground lands in general.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Orbit Books for a copy!
Want to Read
December 1, 2025It's giving Astarion x Karlach NEED RIGHT NOW and UPDATE: Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for answering my prayers and sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 😭😭😭🧡🧡🧡
March 30, 2025
Hopeless Necromantic is delightful read with a memorable cast of lovable (if trauma stricken) characters. Very much a character driven novel. We follow Sikras ‘Catseye’ Nikabod, a necromancer resurrecting loved ones for gold along with his undead brother-in-law Ben. Sikras is affable, aloof, but very much has a heart of gold when it counts, but isn’t above pulling a fast one on those not ingratiated in his good will. Sikras would be the most powerful magic user in the land if he wasn’t using the lion’s share of his power to keep Ben’s soul tied to his skeletal remains.
They’re joined by Helspire (or Hels) a Red Sentinal warrior torn between duty to her job and the ever growing loyalty she feels to Sikras and Ben as she’s sent to help them deal with Vessik’s army invading their small kingdom. Ben becomes the true heart of the cast, which is ironic because he doesn’t have one anymore. He’s quick with a joke and to light up your smoke and is the emotional anchor for Sikras that keeps the necromancer from falling into abject misery The three form a small fellowship set out to save their little home.
If I’m on about the characters a lot its because the book is mostly about them, their interactions, their web of hang ups and emotional ties to each other. Not to say the plot doesn’t have its share of intrigue or twists. Plenty of those. However, the characters and their relationships with one another form a fun tale of witty banter, healing past trauma, and my personal favorite: the power of friendship and overwhelming violence.
On a technical level, the book is incredibly polished. Not a typo or formatting error that I noticed. The plot is well placed, never moves too fast or too slow, but does take time to stop and smell the proverbial roses. Even during those times, you’re having so much fun watching Sikras, Ben, and Hels interact that time flies by and you wish there was a bit more between them all. Trauma and healing from it becomes a central theme to the book. While I’ve come to see a lot of modern authors use trauma as a cheap narrative device to give a false sense of character depth, Shiloh Briar uses it effectively and makes sure her characters are well and truly likable before delving into the reasoning they are defined by their past traumas.
But always the characters are likable and, most importantly, they like each other and their camaraderie carries them through the book. A romance sub-plot simmers through the book between Sikras and Hels, but doesn’t feel forced and develops at a believable pace. A few action scenes punctuate the narrative, but the tension and investment in what happens to the trio keeps the reader invested throughout. If there was anything to critique (light spoilers) its that a villainous element comes along that could have used a touch more narrative development to fully appreciate, but isn’t enough to ruin anything.
Hopeless Necromantic stands above many indie fantasy novels in providing a lovable cast of somewhat damaged characters you’d love to be friends with. Highly recommend–especially if you want a good change of pace from your usual reads.
They’re joined by Helspire (or Hels) a Red Sentinal warrior torn between duty to her job and the ever growing loyalty she feels to Sikras and Ben as she’s sent to help them deal with Vessik’s army invading their small kingdom. Ben becomes the true heart of the cast, which is ironic because he doesn’t have one anymore. He’s quick with a joke and to light up your smoke and is the emotional anchor for Sikras that keeps the necromancer from falling into abject misery The three form a small fellowship set out to save their little home.
If I’m on about the characters a lot its because the book is mostly about them, their interactions, their web of hang ups and emotional ties to each other. Not to say the plot doesn’t have its share of intrigue or twists. Plenty of those. However, the characters and their relationships with one another form a fun tale of witty banter, healing past trauma, and my personal favorite: the power of friendship and overwhelming violence.
On a technical level, the book is incredibly polished. Not a typo or formatting error that I noticed. The plot is well placed, never moves too fast or too slow, but does take time to stop and smell the proverbial roses. Even during those times, you’re having so much fun watching Sikras, Ben, and Hels interact that time flies by and you wish there was a bit more between them all. Trauma and healing from it becomes a central theme to the book. While I’ve come to see a lot of modern authors use trauma as a cheap narrative device to give a false sense of character depth, Shiloh Briar uses it effectively and makes sure her characters are well and truly likable before delving into the reasoning they are defined by their past traumas.
But always the characters are likable and, most importantly, they like each other and their camaraderie carries them through the book. A romance sub-plot simmers through the book between Sikras and Hels, but doesn’t feel forced and develops at a believable pace. A few action scenes punctuate the narrative, but the tension and investment in what happens to the trio keeps the reader invested throughout. If there was anything to critique (light spoilers) its that a villainous element comes along that could have used a touch more narrative development to fully appreciate, but isn’t enough to ruin anything.
Hopeless Necromantic stands above many indie fantasy novels in providing a lovable cast of somewhat damaged characters you’d love to be friends with. Highly recommend–especially if you want a good change of pace from your usual reads.
November 10, 2024
Missing a good 'ol snarky fantasy book? Good dialogue? Entertaining characters? A book that makes you laugh and cry? Then this book is for you.
I literally sprinted to write this review after finishing this book because DANG I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long, long time. It scratches every itch of the fun, but still meaningful type of story. It's HIGHLY character focused, with a straightforward but still compelling plot, and the dialogue is SPECTACULAR. Some nice twists, and the ending was absolutely brilliant (I really can't say anything about it without spoilers).
The prose and style of the writing is also pretty fantastic- it's been very difficult for me to find books nowadays that aren't overly clunky or very bland in their prose and this book knocked a couple of very well-known bestsellers out of the water with the sheer writing quality. *cough, stormlight archives, cough*
This is a fantastic book, (I believe it's a debut? If so, it's the best debut I've ever read) and I will be on the lookout for more from this author!
I literally sprinted to write this review after finishing this book because DANG I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long, long time. It scratches every itch of the fun, but still meaningful type of story. It's HIGHLY character focused, with a straightforward but still compelling plot, and the dialogue is SPECTACULAR. Some nice twists, and the ending was absolutely brilliant (I really can't say anything about it without spoilers).
The prose and style of the writing is also pretty fantastic- it's been very difficult for me to find books nowadays that aren't overly clunky or very bland in their prose and this book knocked a couple of very well-known bestsellers out of the water with the sheer writing quality. *cough, stormlight archives, cough*
This is a fantastic book, (I believe it's a debut? If so, it's the best debut I've ever read) and I will be on the lookout for more from this author!
April 30, 2025
legitimately the best book I've read this year. fun characters, amazing plot, awesome worldbuilding. I fell in love with the characters, nearly cried and laughed a lot. if you like fantasy, please read this!!!
February 3, 2026
how can a book be so fun and so devastating at the same time?
as soon as I saw a necromancer, a demon and a skeleton forming a squad i was like sign me up, this is a bit of me. i loved this lil chaotic trio with all my heart, especially my man benjamin 😭
i loved how sikras was SO different from most MMC’s nowadays, he’s a sarcastic grey haired man who suffers from bad back pain and achy joints (honestly so relatable tbh) - his self deprecating tone and witty comebacks were a delight to read and had me flicking between wanting to give him a hug and shake the hell out of him. He’s flawed and layered yet one of the most brilliantly written characters I’ve read about in a long time.
despite the humour laced throughout, the book tackles a lot of tough topics such as grief, diversity, healing after trauma. It’s very real and raw and flawed, which was refreshing to read.
the only thing that felt hopeless was my emotions at the end of this, it made me want to cry and sob but also made me feel warm and fuzzy ??? I can’t explain it
this book exceeded any and all of my expectations. it was a change from my normal reads in the best way and i’d highly recommend for any fantasy fans
as soon as I saw a necromancer, a demon and a skeleton forming a squad i was like sign me up, this is a bit of me. i loved this lil chaotic trio with all my heart, especially my man benjamin 😭
i loved how sikras was SO different from most MMC’s nowadays, he’s a sarcastic grey haired man who suffers from bad back pain and achy joints (honestly so relatable tbh) - his self deprecating tone and witty comebacks were a delight to read and had me flicking between wanting to give him a hug and shake the hell out of him. He’s flawed and layered yet one of the most brilliantly written characters I’ve read about in a long time.
despite the humour laced throughout, the book tackles a lot of tough topics such as grief, diversity, healing after trauma. It’s very real and raw and flawed, which was refreshing to read.
the only thing that felt hopeless was my emotions at the end of this, it made me want to cry and sob but also made me feel warm and fuzzy ??? I can’t explain it
this book exceeded any and all of my expectations. it was a change from my normal reads in the best way and i’d highly recommend for any fantasy fans
January 21, 2026
A ne’er do well necromancer with subpar resurrection skills is in a bit of a sticky wicket that’s becoming increasingly stickier. Perhaps it was the death of his wife, the tax evasion, or the day he made an enemy of Death, but one need not be too surprised at Sikras Nikabod’s pallid complexion and general state of dishevelment. Summoned by the Queen to serve the kingdom or face imprisonment, Sikras and his bestie, a talking skeleton, are tasked with the burden of hunting down and killing an evil caster and his army of undead abominations. It's not all macabre and murder though, and if you want a little romance, there’s a painfully slow, but also sweet burn with a demon soldier girl whose feral tendencies remind me much of my own. I love when an Indie gets picked up and it’s clear why Orbit was eager for this. Plenty of gallows humor balanced with relatable poignancy, particularly for those of us who have ever had a hard time letting go. Ever wondered what it’s like to have sex with a skeleton or eat cheese with a spoon? You will now.
December 9, 2025
Necromancer, check. Demons, check. Death, check. Unlikely but satisfying romance, check. Emotionally challenging war, check. This had all the elements of a pleasant read. For most of the book I was enjoying myself, but not so much that I'd tell everyone about it/write home. I was planning to give it four stars. However, that ending was really good and elevates this to a five-star read, imo.
November 13, 2024
We found this for book club after seeing the author's social media posts with lil comics of the characters, and I ended up giving this not nearly enough credit when I picked it up.
I started reading this thinking it'd be a light-hearted fantasy romp with some romance. The nuance shocked me if I'm being honest. It's WAY more fantasy than I thought I was in for, and has actually a pretty cool investigation on grief and what it would mean to people in a fantasy setting who know exactly how the afterlife works and know they won't see their loved ones again. The main character is a necromancer who can't let go of the people he lost, so he just doesn't. And it hurts the people that are kept around cause he's denying them their rest. Like the world building was pretty cool!!
So the humor hits about 80% of the time (that's a good percentage on my scale!) and was not distracting when it didn't land. Honestly, it's actually pretty necessary to prevent this book from getting too heavy subject-wise. I did have some slight issues with it but overall I feel like there's a demographic that's gonna LOVE this book. I do think a cover redesign might be benificial.
Give it a shot if you're into fantasy/comedy with charming characters. It ain't perfect but definitely deserves way more reads than it has.
I started reading this thinking it'd be a light-hearted fantasy romp with some romance. The nuance shocked me if I'm being honest. It's WAY more fantasy than I thought I was in for, and has actually a pretty cool investigation on grief and what it would mean to people in a fantasy setting who know exactly how the afterlife works and know they won't see their loved ones again. The main character is a necromancer who can't let go of the people he lost, so he just doesn't. And it hurts the people that are kept around cause he's denying them their rest. Like the world building was pretty cool!!
So the humor hits about 80% of the time (that's a good percentage on my scale!) and was not distracting when it didn't land. Honestly, it's actually pretty necessary to prevent this book from getting too heavy subject-wise. I did have some slight issues with it but overall I feel like there's a demographic that's gonna LOVE this book. I do think a cover redesign might be benificial.
Give it a shot if you're into fantasy/comedy with charming characters. It ain't perfect but definitely deserves way more reads than it has.
March 1, 2026
I don’t even know where to START with this one!!
The story kicks off immediately and does not loosen its grip. We meet Sikras right at rock bottom, grieving, bone-tired, sharp-tongued, and clinging to dark humor like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. His voice is SO good. Dry, self-aware, a little bitter, a little absurd. I adored him instantly.
And then there’s Benjamin. Oh my heart!!!! The quiet backbone of this story. The dynamic between him and Sikras feels lived-in and raw, layered with grief and loyalty and all the things left unsaid between people who have survived something terrible together.
But HELSPIRA!!! My lovely, gentle (most of the time) demon queen. I was not prepared for how fiercely I would love her. In a world that treats her as something monstrous the moment they see what she is, she chooses kindness again and again. Watching her navigate prejudice and still offer warmth made me want to reach through the pages and protect her.
What absolutely makes this book shine is the way it handles prejudice, grief, survival, and connection without ever feeling preachy. The themes are there, woven deeply into the character choices and relationships. Kindness matters here. Companionship matters. Choosing to reach for someone instead of retreating into bitterness matters.
The banter is brilliant. The emotional beats hurt in that cathartic way. And the found-family energy????? Immaculate. Chefs KISS!!! It’s messy and reluctant and built slowly through shared danger and shared humanity.
This book made me laugh. It made my chest ache. It made me sit quietly for a minute after finishing because I didn’t want to leave these characters.
If you want necromancy with heart, grief with teeth, demons who are softer than the world that judges them, and a story that believes healing is hard but worth attempting anyway - read this!!!!!
Thank you to Shiloh Briar, Little Brown, and NetGalley for this reader copy!!
The story kicks off immediately and does not loosen its grip. We meet Sikras right at rock bottom, grieving, bone-tired, sharp-tongued, and clinging to dark humor like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. His voice is SO good. Dry, self-aware, a little bitter, a little absurd. I adored him instantly.
And then there’s Benjamin. Oh my heart!!!! The quiet backbone of this story. The dynamic between him and Sikras feels lived-in and raw, layered with grief and loyalty and all the things left unsaid between people who have survived something terrible together.
But HELSPIRA!!! My lovely, gentle (most of the time) demon queen. I was not prepared for how fiercely I would love her. In a world that treats her as something monstrous the moment they see what she is, she chooses kindness again and again. Watching her navigate prejudice and still offer warmth made me want to reach through the pages and protect her.
What absolutely makes this book shine is the way it handles prejudice, grief, survival, and connection without ever feeling preachy. The themes are there, woven deeply into the character choices and relationships. Kindness matters here. Companionship matters. Choosing to reach for someone instead of retreating into bitterness matters.
The banter is brilliant. The emotional beats hurt in that cathartic way. And the found-family energy????? Immaculate. Chefs KISS!!! It’s messy and reluctant and built slowly through shared danger and shared humanity.
This book made me laugh. It made my chest ache. It made me sit quietly for a minute after finishing because I didn’t want to leave these characters.
If you want necromancy with heart, grief with teeth, demons who are softer than the world that judges them, and a story that believes healing is hard but worth attempting anyway - read this!!!!!
Thank you to Shiloh Briar, Little Brown, and NetGalley for this reader copy!!
April 24, 2026
Thank you to Orbit for the eARC via NetGalley.
Hopeless Necromantic is an absolutely ridiculous book in the best possible way. It's full of snark, and banter, and laugh out loud moments that had me snorting and cackling as I read about our trio of Sikras, Ben, and Helspira and their little quest to save their kingdom. Helspira just wants to find a place in a kingdom of humans for herself and her demon parents, while Sikras is dealing the loss of some of his closest people and is stuck in grief, and Ben was the much needed comedic relief for much of the book. It was very much giving similar vibes to Assistant to the Villain, or maybe even a much lighter version of the Sandman Slim series. And the ending definitely packed a gut-punch to the feels with how Shiloh chooses to close out this first book in her series.
However, I will say that I very much felt this was more of a fantasy read than a romantasy, which is how this book has been marketed. There is little to no romance for much of the book, and then in the last couple of chapters it feels like you finally start to see some yearning and then suddenly they've fallen for one another... the pacing of the relationship kinda felt off to me, I guess, at least on Sikras' side of things? I don't know, I guess I was expecting more, since a romantasy's plot should not function well without the romance aspect, and yet this book very much would have been just fine if they had remained platonic? So that was a bit of a letdown.
Overall though, it was still a fun fantasy read, and I am very likely going to continue on with the series to see what happens next.
Hopeless Necromantic is an absolutely ridiculous book in the best possible way. It's full of snark, and banter, and laugh out loud moments that had me snorting and cackling as I read about our trio of Sikras, Ben, and Helspira and their little quest to save their kingdom. Helspira just wants to find a place in a kingdom of humans for herself and her demon parents, while Sikras is dealing the loss of some of his closest people and is stuck in grief, and Ben was the much needed comedic relief for much of the book. It was very much giving similar vibes to Assistant to the Villain, or maybe even a much lighter version of the Sandman Slim series. And the ending definitely packed a gut-punch to the feels with how Shiloh chooses to close out this first book in her series.
However, I will say that I very much felt this was more of a fantasy read than a romantasy, which is how this book has been marketed. There is little to no romance for much of the book, and then in the last couple of chapters it feels like you finally start to see some yearning and then suddenly they've fallen for one another... the pacing of the relationship kinda felt off to me, I guess, at least on Sikras' side of things? I don't know, I guess I was expecting more, since a romantasy's plot should not function well without the romance aspect, and yet this book very much would have been just fine if they had remained platonic? So that was a bit of a letdown.
Overall though, it was still a fun fantasy read, and I am very likely going to continue on with the series to see what happens next.
April 25, 2026
I won this Title in a goodreads giveaway. This book was different. I loved every bit of it. Sikras the outlaw necromancer is called upon to help save the kingdom for the elf queen. It seems another necromancer is calling up the dead and manipulating townsfolk for his own puppet of undead army. Destroying everything in its path. The only problem is the necromancer he's supposed to kill is his best friend gone mad. His other best friend that keeps him company has been dead for 4 years. His reanimated corpse is nothing but a pile of bones. Also add into the mix a girl demon that he's trying relentlessly and unsuccessfully to imagine he doesn't have feelings for. All this chaos is maddening. The trio of abominations are trying to save the kingdom, but at what cost? Does the trio succeed? This book is full of action, chaos and great sarcastic humor. A must read.
February 24, 2026
Just finished, so this is gonna make little sense. Will probably come back in a few days and give you the more polished and coherent version.
But for now, this is it. Bear with me, okay?
And I can't believe it's over.
I wasn't ready to say goodbye, and I've been dragging my feet for days, pacing myself to the point of madness, thinking I could delay the inevitable.
What an honor to read something so unique, so wickedly emotional and irreverent.
To laugh, gasp,cry and laugh again, all in the same paragraph, everything, all at once.
And what a talent to possess, Shiloh Briar.
Thank you for the journey. l'll happily see you wherever the godless heathens go.
(also,thank you very much for taking on the meme onslaught with such grace. I had the best time sharing my unfiltered thoughts with you).
My deepest and most sincere appreciation to the author, Orbit Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
But for now, this is it. Bear with me, okay?
And I can't believe it's over.
I wasn't ready to say goodbye, and I've been dragging my feet for days, pacing myself to the point of madness, thinking I could delay the inevitable.
What an honor to read something so unique, so wickedly emotional and irreverent.
To laugh, gasp,cry and laugh again, all in the same paragraph, everything, all at once.
And what a talent to possess, Shiloh Briar.
Thank you for the journey. l'll happily see you wherever the godless heathens go.
(also,thank you very much for taking on the meme onslaught with such grace. I had the best time sharing my unfiltered thoughts with you).
My deepest and most sincere appreciation to the author, Orbit Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
February 14, 2026Oh... I really wanted to love this.
Hopeless Necromantic sounded exactly up my alley: a dark fantasy romcom, with necromancy and D&D vibes? Immediately yes. But even though there are all of these pieces I should love, I couldn't enjoy them at all because unfortunately I found this book excruciatingly unfunny. And it REALLY wanted to be funny. It couldn't go a page without trying to be funny, in a very particular, very millennial sort of way. It actually reminded me a lot of the Dungeons and Dragons movie (or - and this may be one of the meanest things I've ever said - a marvel movie.)
If that type of humor appeals to you, I think you'll really enjoy the silly adventures, found family and sweet romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Hopeless Necromantic sounded exactly up my alley: a dark fantasy romcom, with necromancy and D&D vibes? Immediately yes. But even though there are all of these pieces I should love, I couldn't enjoy them at all because unfortunately I found this book excruciatingly unfunny. And it REALLY wanted to be funny. It couldn't go a page without trying to be funny, in a very particular, very millennial sort of way. It actually reminded me a lot of the Dungeons and Dragons movie (or - and this may be one of the meanest things I've ever said - a marvel movie.)
If that type of humor appeals to you, I think you'll really enjoy the silly adventures, found family and sweet romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 15, 2025
This book started off really good! Very Assistant to the Villain: snarky, sassy, fun, with a little action.
Then… it sunk. After the Sentinels left to go fight the necromancer, the book just flattened. It was really boring for me. Maybe if you like cozy fantasy, you’d like this portion but the pacing was terrible. It was like 150 pages of bleh and then 50 pages of fast-paced ending … except the “real” ending / reveal had no impact because there wasn’t enough build up. I was just like “okay.” 🤷♀️
And that’s what the book was overall. Okay. I’d never recommend it to anyone but it’s also not like I disliked it.
Maybe this will find its audience with the trad pub deal… but sadly that’s not me.
Then… it sunk. After the Sentinels left to go fight the necromancer, the book just flattened. It was really boring for me. Maybe if you like cozy fantasy, you’d like this portion but the pacing was terrible. It was like 150 pages of bleh and then 50 pages of fast-paced ending … except the “real” ending / reveal had no impact because there wasn’t enough build up. I was just like “okay.” 🤷♀️
And that’s what the book was overall. Okay. I’d never recommend it to anyone but it’s also not like I disliked it.
Maybe this will find its audience with the trad pub deal… but sadly that’s not me.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unstoppable force meets immovable object when Helspira, demon refugee and recent Red Sentinel recruit, takes on the task of getting reluctant necromancer Sikras Nikabod to return from his grief-induced seclusion and be the hero his kingdom needs him to be...by killing his best friend turned super necromantic villain.
I accidentally sat down and read this book in basically one sitting and that should tell you everything you need to know about how good this book is.
It felt like this book was written for me. Morally gray, pathetic wet rat of an MMC, a very sweet FMC who is also capable of being violently feral, and a fun third-wheel sidekick who has his own traumas. Add necromancy and demons into the mix and a sentient skeleton and I am LIVING.
Something special about this book was the male/male platonic friendships. We see Sikras and Benjamin, two men who have known each other for years and currently live together. They are very close, joke around with one another, and are the reason for each others' continued existence. They're always working to bring out the best in one another and actively and openly care for one another. We also hear about Skiras and Vessik's friendship, how Sikras credits Vessik with everything good about himself. 'I love you's are actively and explicitly exchanged between all of these men and it's never followed by 'but no homo' or made the butt of a joke. Male platonic love is something that is central to the story and is a driving force behind the choices Sikras makes and it's just unique to see male platonic love written in this way.
I also appreciated Helspira's attitude towards her situation. Helspira is an optimist, through and through, but not in a naive way. She is actively choosing kindness over and over and over again despite what she as suffered, despite her knee-jerk reactions to violence. She sees the hurt and violence in this world and chooses to meet it with kindness and good heartedness. Does she fight people? Yes. Does she rend a creature limb from limb? Yes. But does she also choose to look at someone's kindness and match it with her own? Yes. Does she also decided to try and less violent approach when faced with a difficult situation? Yes. It reminds me of a character meme that goes around sometimes that is like "*gritting my teeth* I CHOOSE to be kind. *clutching fists* I refuse to be violent for violence's sake. *actively taking deep breaths* I will be the good I want to see in the world." Helspira to a T.
I normally review queer books and while this story was not objectively queer, it does appear to be set in a queer norm world (casual queer couples mentioned in backgrounds of scenes) and Sikras isn't the straightest man I've ever read (he does mention that there were many pretty men and women in Vinepool but that he happened to fall for his wife). Nevertheless, if you're used to seeing my reviews for queer stories, know this one is not explicitly queer but I couldn't pass up a necromancer romance book!
Unstoppable force meets immovable object when Helspira, demon refugee and recent Red Sentinel recruit, takes on the task of getting reluctant necromancer Sikras Nikabod to return from his grief-induced seclusion and be the hero his kingdom needs him to be...by killing his best friend turned super necromantic villain.
I accidentally sat down and read this book in basically one sitting and that should tell you everything you need to know about how good this book is.
It felt like this book was written for me. Morally gray, pathetic wet rat of an MMC, a very sweet FMC who is also capable of being violently feral, and a fun third-wheel sidekick who has his own traumas. Add necromancy and demons into the mix and a sentient skeleton and I am LIVING.
Something special about this book was the male/male platonic friendships. We see Sikras and Benjamin, two men who have known each other for years and currently live together. They are very close, joke around with one another, and are the reason for each others' continued existence. They're always working to bring out the best in one another and actively and openly care for one another. We also hear about Skiras and Vessik's friendship, how Sikras credits Vessik with everything good about himself. 'I love you's are actively and explicitly exchanged between all of these men and it's never followed by 'but no homo' or made the butt of a joke. Male platonic love is something that is central to the story and is a driving force behind the choices Sikras makes and it's just unique to see male platonic love written in this way.
I also appreciated Helspira's attitude towards her situation. Helspira is an optimist, through and through, but not in a naive way. She is actively choosing kindness over and over and over again despite what she as suffered, despite her knee-jerk reactions to violence. She sees the hurt and violence in this world and chooses to meet it with kindness and good heartedness. Does she fight people? Yes. Does she rend a creature limb from limb? Yes. But does she also choose to look at someone's kindness and match it with her own? Yes. Does she also decided to try and less violent approach when faced with a difficult situation? Yes. It reminds me of a character meme that goes around sometimes that is like "*gritting my teeth* I CHOOSE to be kind. *clutching fists* I refuse to be violent for violence's sake. *actively taking deep breaths* I will be the good I want to see in the world." Helspira to a T.
I normally review queer books and while this story was not objectively queer, it does appear to be set in a queer norm world (casual queer couples mentioned in backgrounds of scenes) and Sikras isn't the straightest man I've ever read (he does mention that there were many pretty men and women in Vinepool but that he happened to fall for his wife). Nevertheless, if you're used to seeing my reviews for queer stories, know this one is not explicitly queer but I couldn't pass up a necromancer romance book!
January 2, 2026
3.5*
This story opens with Sikras working as an illicit necromancer, resurrecting townspeople for money. His assistant is the skeleton of his undead brother in law, named Benjamin. Helspira works for the kingdom's guard (called the Red Sentinel) and she calls upon Sikras to come out of hiding to fight a tyrant named Vessik. Sikras reluctantly agrees, and he, Benjamin, and Helspira venture out of their city to find Vessik and end his reign of terror.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book, Benjamin has my heart. When Benjamin described how his body wasted away and playing the lute became impossible I had such a visceral reaction, you could really feel his anguish in that moment. I also liked Helspira and Sikras individually, and felt that their actions did tie in well with their personalities.
Where the story lost me was in how rushed all of the character arcs / relationships were. The story begins with Helspira first meeting Sikras and Benjamin, and the story ultimately happens over the course of less than two weeks (this is stated multiple times in the book). I just couldn't understand why Sikras and Helspira seemed to care about each other so much when they admit themselves that they barely know each other (and dropping the L word is crazy!). This seemed to be a pacing issue in the overall book as it started out great and then seemed to plateau in the middle with a final battle that was quickly wrapped up at the end. I understand that this seems to be setting up for a sequel, but I still feel that the resolutions at the end of this book were unsatisfying.
This book seems to lean into a more satirical/comedic side, and I actually liked the humor in this book. However, this satirical lens mixed with the rushed plot seemed to prevent very much world building in this book. For example there are 12(?) gods that mortals can pray to over the course of their life, and these gods are supposed to protect these mortals when their souls cross over into the afterlife. I thought this was a really cool concept, and I would have loved more of an exploration into it. Similarly, we get a very brief description that there are object based wizards and body based wizards (probably not exactly how it's described in the book, but you get the gist). Basically this means that some wizards use ingredients to do spells, while others like Sikras use their own life force. Again, cool concept, I just wish there was a little bit more to this during the story.
At the core of this book, it is about love and loss. I appreciated the way that both of these are described throughout the book, which is why I found it disappointing to feel like it fell flat at the end.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light, rom com style book. If more detailed worlds and magic systems are your thing, this may not be the book for you.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC!
This story opens with Sikras working as an illicit necromancer, resurrecting townspeople for money. His assistant is the skeleton of his undead brother in law, named Benjamin. Helspira works for the kingdom's guard (called the Red Sentinel) and she calls upon Sikras to come out of hiding to fight a tyrant named Vessik. Sikras reluctantly agrees, and he, Benjamin, and Helspira venture out of their city to find Vessik and end his reign of terror.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book, Benjamin has my heart. When Benjamin described how his body wasted away and playing the lute became impossible I had such a visceral reaction, you could really feel his anguish in that moment. I also liked Helspira and Sikras individually, and felt that their actions did tie in well with their personalities.
Where the story lost me was in how rushed all of the character arcs / relationships were. The story begins with Helspira first meeting Sikras and Benjamin, and the story ultimately happens over the course of less than two weeks (this is stated multiple times in the book). I just couldn't understand why Sikras and Helspira seemed to care about each other so much when they admit themselves that they barely know each other (and dropping the L word is crazy!). This seemed to be a pacing issue in the overall book as it started out great and then seemed to plateau in the middle with a final battle that was quickly wrapped up at the end. I understand that this seems to be setting up for a sequel, but I still feel that the resolutions at the end of this book were unsatisfying.
This book seems to lean into a more satirical/comedic side, and I actually liked the humor in this book. However, this satirical lens mixed with the rushed plot seemed to prevent very much world building in this book. For example there are 12(?) gods that mortals can pray to over the course of their life, and these gods are supposed to protect these mortals when their souls cross over into the afterlife. I thought this was a really cool concept, and I would have loved more of an exploration into it. Similarly, we get a very brief description that there are object based wizards and body based wizards (probably not exactly how it's described in the book, but you get the gist). Basically this means that some wizards use ingredients to do spells, while others like Sikras use their own life force. Again, cool concept, I just wish there was a little bit more to this during the story.
At the core of this book, it is about love and loss. I appreciated the way that both of these are described throughout the book, which is why I found it disappointing to feel like it fell flat at the end.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light, rom com style book. If more detailed worlds and magic systems are your thing, this may not be the book for you.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC!
May 3, 2026
SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.
Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.
No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?
RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*
This book has only been on my anticipated (re)releases of 2026 for the past few months, so finally getting to it wasn't a big deal or anything. Ha.
Truly, though, I came across Shiloh Briar's art for Hopeless Necromantic on Instagram, and pretty much instantly fell in love with the premise and character dynamic. A necromancer who can barely wiggle his fingers for some magic without winding himself? A tiefling-coded sentinel with intrusive demon-thoughts? And a tragic backstory that leads to the creation of an animated skeleton who really is the a foundation unto himself?
Yep, instant TBR add.
Now, I've finished it, and I've waited over a week to sit down and review it.
Why?
Because I needed to sit with the aftermath and decide, "how did I feel about it?" Even now, I don't know that I truly have an answer to that question.
Let's start with what I know I enjoyed.
I liked that the characters were crafted with distinct voices. I liked that they were flawed, yet not unaware of those flaws. Helspira is what happens when you give a Lawful Good leaning character demonic intrusive thoughts. Ben gives loyal jock vibes - but the sweetheart of the group, not the mindless henchman kind (despite the actual lack of a brain, hah).
As for Sikras, I really just kinda love him. Having an author give their MC real-time consequences for magic use, rather than say there is and then somehow that character has the reserves of gods, was refreshing. I also liked the way Briar wrote him as morally grey, 'choose you over the world', humor is the coping mechanism without making him an utter douche-mop. Beautiful. Wonderful. All the way down for it.
The humor was good. I laughed aloud a few times. I loved the banter between Sikras and Ben.
The romance part of it is I think where I'm hung up on the most. It was cute, sweet; love that it was built on mutual care. I just...it's marketed as slow-burn, but I thought it felt more like near-instalove. Which is fine. For me, stretching the event timeline out even a smidgen more would have helped to make the romance development seem more realistic. However, it didn't ruin the book experience for me. It simply knocked it down a bit from 5 stars.
There was a couple other things I expected to follow a different timeline, but it has me ever curious for what happens in the next one.
Over all, I enjoyed the book. Consumed it, really, after I stopped passing out every time I sat my butt on the couch. Would definitely recommend.
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 1/5
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this eBook!
When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.
Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.
No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?
RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*
This book has only been on my anticipated (re)releases of 2026 for the past few months, so finally getting to it wasn't a big deal or anything. Ha.
Truly, though, I came across Shiloh Briar's art for Hopeless Necromantic on Instagram, and pretty much instantly fell in love with the premise and character dynamic. A necromancer who can barely wiggle his fingers for some magic without winding himself? A tiefling-coded sentinel with intrusive demon-thoughts? And a tragic backstory that leads to the creation of an animated skeleton who really is the a foundation unto himself?
Yep, instant TBR add.
Now, I've finished it, and I've waited over a week to sit down and review it.
Why?
Because I needed to sit with the aftermath and decide, "how did I feel about it?" Even now, I don't know that I truly have an answer to that question.
Let's start with what I know I enjoyed.
I liked that the characters were crafted with distinct voices. I liked that they were flawed, yet not unaware of those flaws. Helspira is what happens when you give a Lawful Good leaning character demonic intrusive thoughts. Ben gives loyal jock vibes - but the sweetheart of the group, not the mindless henchman kind (despite the actual lack of a brain, hah).
As for Sikras, I really just kinda love him. Having an author give their MC real-time consequences for magic use, rather than say there is and then somehow that character has the reserves of gods, was refreshing. I also liked the way Briar wrote him as morally grey, 'choose you over the world', humor is the coping mechanism without making him an utter douche-mop. Beautiful. Wonderful. All the way down for it.
The humor was good. I laughed aloud a few times. I loved the banter between Sikras and Ben.
The romance part of it is I think where I'm hung up on the most. It was cute, sweet; love that it was built on mutual care. I just...it's marketed as slow-burn, but I thought it felt more like near-instalove. Which is fine. For me, stretching the event timeline out even a smidgen more would have helped to make the romance development seem more realistic. However, it didn't ruin the book experience for me. It simply knocked it down a bit from 5 stars.
There was a couple other things I expected to follow a different timeline, but it has me ever curious for what happens in the next one.
Over all, I enjoyed the book. Consumed it, really, after I stopped passing out every time I sat my butt on the couch. Would definitely recommend.
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 1/5
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this eBook!
April 27, 2026
Okay, I did not expect to love this as much as I did… but wow, this completely won me over.
From the start, Hopeless Necromantic just has this vibe that pulls you in—dark, a little chaotic, but also ridiculously funny. And the humor? It actually lands. I found myself smiling (and laughing out loud more than once), which I honestly wasn’t expecting going in.
The characters are such a highlight. They feel real, messy, and full of personality, and I got attached to them way faster than I thought I would. The dynamic between them is just chef’s kiss—the banter, the tension, the little moments… it all works.
And I have to say—Benjamin absolutely stole the show for me. Every time he was on the page, things just got better. He’s funny, a bit chaotic, and somehow still has those moments that sneak up on you emotionally. He honestly made the book for me.
Plot-wise, I was hooked. It balances the darker necromancy elements with a lighter tone so well, and it never felt heavy or slow. Everything just flows, and before you know it, you’re way too invested and not ready for it to end.
Also—can we talk about how well this is written? It’s sharp, engaging, and easy to sink into. Nothing feels overdone, and the pacing kept me turning pages without even realizing it.
Honestly, this book surprised me in the best way. I went in unsure and came out completely obsessed. If you’re into fantasy with humor, great characters, and a bit of chaotic magic energy, definitely give this one a shot.
From the start, Hopeless Necromantic just has this vibe that pulls you in—dark, a little chaotic, but also ridiculously funny. And the humor? It actually lands. I found myself smiling (and laughing out loud more than once), which I honestly wasn’t expecting going in.
The characters are such a highlight. They feel real, messy, and full of personality, and I got attached to them way faster than I thought I would. The dynamic between them is just chef’s kiss—the banter, the tension, the little moments… it all works.
And I have to say—Benjamin absolutely stole the show for me. Every time he was on the page, things just got better. He’s funny, a bit chaotic, and somehow still has those moments that sneak up on you emotionally. He honestly made the book for me.
Plot-wise, I was hooked. It balances the darker necromancy elements with a lighter tone so well, and it never felt heavy or slow. Everything just flows, and before you know it, you’re way too invested and not ready for it to end.
Also—can we talk about how well this is written? It’s sharp, engaging, and easy to sink into. Nothing feels overdone, and the pacing kept me turning pages without even realizing it.
Honestly, this book surprised me in the best way. I went in unsure and came out completely obsessed. If you’re into fantasy with humor, great characters, and a bit of chaotic magic energy, definitely give this one a shot.
April 5, 2026
I picked this book up because I fell in love with the cover. I ended this book totally in love with the author and the characters.
Sikras and Ben have the ultimate bromance. It's so refreshing to see a really loving and affectionate male friendship in a book.
The banter in this book is top tier and every single character can dish it out. I was hysterically laughing all throughout this novel. But there was also tender and heartfelt moments woven throughout as well. I had tears in my eyes at the end of the novel. It was just a beautiful story with absolutely phenomenal characters.
This book lovingly touched on grief, friendship, and moving on after loss. It also had a lot of necromancy and magic as well. The slow burn closed door romance was tender and loving. This just had a little bit of everything for everyone.
There was not a ton of world building in this novel, unfortunately. I did grasp that there were different dimensions and different areas, but they were not very well described or explored. So I'm looking forward to hopefully getting that in a follow up book.
Apparently, this is going to be a series and I cannot wait for the next book. I'm going to miss these characters very deeply.
Sikras and Ben have the ultimate bromance. It's so refreshing to see a really loving and affectionate male friendship in a book.
The banter in this book is top tier and every single character can dish it out. I was hysterically laughing all throughout this novel. But there was also tender and heartfelt moments woven throughout as well. I had tears in my eyes at the end of the novel. It was just a beautiful story with absolutely phenomenal characters.
This book lovingly touched on grief, friendship, and moving on after loss. It also had a lot of necromancy and magic as well. The slow burn closed door romance was tender and loving. This just had a little bit of everything for everyone.
There was not a ton of world building in this novel, unfortunately. I did grasp that there were different dimensions and different areas, but they were not very well described or explored. So I'm looking forward to hopefully getting that in a follow up book.
Apparently, this is going to be a series and I cannot wait for the next book. I'm going to miss these characters very deeply.
April 30, 2026
Thank you so much Orbit for the earc!
I am unwell in the best way because I genuinely cannot stop thinking about this book.
Hopeless Necromantic hit every single sweet spot for my D&D-loving, chaos-gremlin heart. It feels like the kind of campaign where everything is slightly unhinged, the party probably shouldn’t be trusted with anything important… and yet somehow, against all odds, they make you feel things.
Helspira and Sikras completely owned me. Their dynamic starts off as peak “this mission is doomed and I don’t like you” energy, layered with sharp banter and just enough tension to keep you kicking your feet. But the way that slowly evolves into trust, vulnerability, and something achingly soft? Yeah. That got me. Their relationship feels earned, messy in a real way, and so satisfying to watch unfold.
The story itself is chaotic in the best sense—twisty, unpredictable, and packed with moments that made me laugh out loud right before turning around and punching me in the feelings. There’s such a strong undercurrent of growth and hope woven through all the danger and snark, and it gives the whole book this really warm, heartfelt core.
And I cannot continue without properly screaming about Benjamin. I would die for this skeleton. I would commit crimes for this skeleton. I, too, would like a dramatic undead best friend who refuses to be a third wheel. Please and thank you.
This book is fun, heartfelt, a little chaotic, a little emotional, and completely unforgettable. The kind of story that lingers in your brain long after you finish—and immediately makes you want to start it all over again.
Raise a glass, raise the dead, and maybe… don’t be so hopeless after all.
I am unwell in the best way because I genuinely cannot stop thinking about this book.
Hopeless Necromantic hit every single sweet spot for my D&D-loving, chaos-gremlin heart. It feels like the kind of campaign where everything is slightly unhinged, the party probably shouldn’t be trusted with anything important… and yet somehow, against all odds, they make you feel things.
Helspira and Sikras completely owned me. Their dynamic starts off as peak “this mission is doomed and I don’t like you” energy, layered with sharp banter and just enough tension to keep you kicking your feet. But the way that slowly evolves into trust, vulnerability, and something achingly soft? Yeah. That got me. Their relationship feels earned, messy in a real way, and so satisfying to watch unfold.
The story itself is chaotic in the best sense—twisty, unpredictable, and packed with moments that made me laugh out loud right before turning around and punching me in the feelings. There’s such a strong undercurrent of growth and hope woven through all the danger and snark, and it gives the whole book this really warm, heartfelt core.
And I cannot continue without properly screaming about Benjamin. I would die for this skeleton. I would commit crimes for this skeleton. I, too, would like a dramatic undead best friend who refuses to be a third wheel. Please and thank you.
This book is fun, heartfelt, a little chaotic, a little emotional, and completely unforgettable. The kind of story that lingers in your brain long after you finish—and immediately makes you want to start it all over again.
Raise a glass, raise the dead, and maybe… don’t be so hopeless after all.
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