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Hopeless Necromantic
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26Sticks and stones may break their bones, but he'll just resurrect them.
Four years ago, Sikras 'Catseye' Nikabod had it all: a beautiful wife, friends and family, and the endless luxuries that came with being the all-powerful necromancer to the queen.
Now, his brother-in-law is a walking corpse, he's wanted for tax evasion, his oldest friend, Vessik, has slaughtered thousands of the queen's people with a skeleton army, and his wife is dead. Sort of.
With the kingdom under threat, it's only natural for the queen to task Sikras with the totally normal, not-at-all-cruel chore of brutally murdering his dearest friend. Sure. Great. It's not like he already failed to stop Vessik's reign of terror twice or anything.
Turns out, it's hard to kill a monster when you can't stop remembering the good man he used to be. Harder still when you're pretty sure his descent into madness is kind of, sort of, hypothetically ... all your fault.
Raise a glass. Raise the dead. Just don't raise your hopes.
Four years ago, Sikras 'Catseye' Nikabod had it all: a beautiful wife, friends and family, and the endless luxuries that came with being the all-powerful necromancer to the queen.
Now, his brother-in-law is a walking corpse, he's wanted for tax evasion, his oldest friend, Vessik, has slaughtered thousands of the queen's people with a skeleton army, and his wife is dead. Sort of.
With the kingdom under threat, it's only natural for the queen to task Sikras with the totally normal, not-at-all-cruel chore of brutally murdering his dearest friend. Sure. Great. It's not like he already failed to stop Vessik's reign of terror twice or anything.
Turns out, it's hard to kill a monster when you can't stop remembering the good man he used to be. Harder still when you're pretty sure his descent into madness is kind of, sort of, hypothetically ... all your fault.
Raise a glass. Raise the dead. Just don't raise your hopes.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 9, 2026
102 people are currently reading
1657 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
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?
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.
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!
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.
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 😭😭😭🧡🧡🧡
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.
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!
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 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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
Read
January 2, 2026This was super fun! If you loved the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie, this is going to be exactly up your alley. Humor, friendship, sorcery, and a heartfelt working through grief.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.
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!
January 19, 2026
So, before I even started this book I was pretty convinced I was going to love it. A necromancer, a demon, and a sentient skeleton? Sign me up! I found Shiloh on Instagram through her character art and was obsessed with her characters and their dry, witty sense of humour. I knew if the writing in the book was anything like that, I was going to love it!
And I was 100% right - this book was a knockout 10/10 on all fronts!
First off we have the characters - I am utterly obsessed with Sikras, Benjamin, and Helspira. Sikras is not your typical fantasy MMC, okay? Are you thinking 6'5", dark and brooding wall of muscle with shadow powers and a lethal glare? Well, think again.
Sikeas is a 5 foot something short king in his 30s, with grey hair and aching bones. And you know what? 10/10 would smash. He's so witty and funny, charismatic, insanely loyal and honestly just the right amount of unhinged. Oh, did I mention he's a wickedly skilled necromancer? (Well, sometimes, you'll see what I mean."
And Helspira! Who doesn't love a hot pink demon with a heart of gold but also claws that could and (under the right circumstances) would eviscerate you?
Then we have Benjamin. Oh sweet Bejamin, the sentient, lute-playing, sarcasm welding, ray of sunshine skeleton. Never change.
The book follows the three as they journey to defeat a second necromancer who is turning the still-living souls and fresh corpses of his victims into part of his army. The catch? The necromancer was once Sikras' best friend, and under his control? Oh just Sikras' dead wife...
This book was every bit as fun as I thought it would be. My one caveat is don't go into this expect high fantasy or romantasy - it defintely falls more on the side of fantasy romcom!
If you enjoyed booked like Tusk Love or For Whom The Belle Tolls, then I think you'll really love this book!
And I was 100% right - this book was a knockout 10/10 on all fronts!
First off we have the characters - I am utterly obsessed with Sikras, Benjamin, and Helspira. Sikras is not your typical fantasy MMC, okay? Are you thinking 6'5", dark and brooding wall of muscle with shadow powers and a lethal glare? Well, think again.
Sikeas is a 5 foot something short king in his 30s, with grey hair and aching bones. And you know what? 10/10 would smash. He's so witty and funny, charismatic, insanely loyal and honestly just the right amount of unhinged. Oh, did I mention he's a wickedly skilled necromancer? (Well, sometimes, you'll see what I mean."
And Helspira! Who doesn't love a hot pink demon with a heart of gold but also claws that could and (under the right circumstances) would eviscerate you?
Then we have Benjamin. Oh sweet Bejamin, the sentient, lute-playing, sarcasm welding, ray of sunshine skeleton. Never change.
The book follows the three as they journey to defeat a second necromancer who is turning the still-living souls and fresh corpses of his victims into part of his army. The catch? The necromancer was once Sikras' best friend, and under his control? Oh just Sikras' dead wife...
This book was every bit as fun as I thought it would be. My one caveat is don't go into this expect high fantasy or romantasy - it defintely falls more on the side of fantasy romcom!
If you enjoyed booked like Tusk Love or For Whom The Belle Tolls, then I think you'll really love this book!
January 21, 2026
Necromancy, dark humor, grief, loss and love weaved in a way that tells a story of our characters living again.
Sikras is our infamous ‘Cats Eye’ necromancer, who does not do well with loss or moving on. He copes with his past by making dark jokes and using lots of sarcasm. Honestly, very relatable. He is a fabled war hero, turned recluse with his skeleton brother in law, Benjamin.
Benjamin is a (pre death) member of the Red Sentinels and a great swordsman. He’s an even better musician with his choice of instrument being a lute (in true bard fashion). He’s eager for death but will push through to be there for Sikras. My beloved favorite character he’s so fun and sassy. I adore Benjamin!!
Helspira is a demon who just wants her and her family to finally be safe. She has escaped her previous homeland with her family for hopes of a better life. In Nyllmas, demons are not liked, but Helspira convinces the Queen to let her fight along side the Red Sentinels. Truly a misunderstood character who just wants to help and show people she is not her species.
This book was so much fun! Dark humor, rom com, fantasy that feels like Baldurs Gate meets D&D! This book shows grief very well, and how dark humor really does help us cover our wounds. I cannot wait for more for this universe and from Shiloh Briar. Her storytelling is so captivating. Once you start this book, you will not want to put it down!!
Sikras is our infamous ‘Cats Eye’ necromancer, who does not do well with loss or moving on. He copes with his past by making dark jokes and using lots of sarcasm. Honestly, very relatable. He is a fabled war hero, turned recluse with his skeleton brother in law, Benjamin.
Benjamin is a (pre death) member of the Red Sentinels and a great swordsman. He’s an even better musician with his choice of instrument being a lute (in true bard fashion). He’s eager for death but will push through to be there for Sikras. My beloved favorite character he’s so fun and sassy. I adore Benjamin!!
Helspira is a demon who just wants her and her family to finally be safe. She has escaped her previous homeland with her family for hopes of a better life. In Nyllmas, demons are not liked, but Helspira convinces the Queen to let her fight along side the Red Sentinels. Truly a misunderstood character who just wants to help and show people she is not her species.
This book was so much fun! Dark humor, rom com, fantasy that feels like Baldurs Gate meets D&D! This book shows grief very well, and how dark humor really does help us cover our wounds. I cannot wait for more for this universe and from Shiloh Briar. Her storytelling is so captivating. Once you start this book, you will not want to put it down!!
December 12, 2025
A demon with pink hair, a morally gray necromancer and his dead brother in law walk into a bar....
😂
Hopeless Necromantic is a MUST READ!!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I knew I'd love it based on the cover and blurb alone, but it was so much more!! It was hilarious, fun, and so heartwarming!?! I teared up many times, and actually had to leave the room towards the end so my sobs didn't wake my husband 🤣🤣
I have never felt so invested in characters so quickly. Right from the start I was obsessed. The plot was so engaging. The romance was definitely a side plot, but oh so sweet. It's a quick and funny read with a lot of heart 😭
Everyone should give it a try! But I especially recommend for fans of The Irresistible Urge or the 2023 Dungeons and Dragons Movie 🤷♀️
The trad pub (yay!!) is out 6.9.26 ✨️
Don't you just love when you find a new favorite right at the end of the year???
Thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the eARC!
😂
Hopeless Necromantic is a MUST READ!!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I knew I'd love it based on the cover and blurb alone, but it was so much more!! It was hilarious, fun, and so heartwarming!?! I teared up many times, and actually had to leave the room towards the end so my sobs didn't wake my husband 🤣🤣
I have never felt so invested in characters so quickly. Right from the start I was obsessed. The plot was so engaging. The romance was definitely a side plot, but oh so sweet. It's a quick and funny read with a lot of heart 😭
Everyone should give it a try! But I especially recommend for fans of The Irresistible Urge or the 2023 Dungeons and Dragons Movie 🤷♀️
The trad pub (yay!!) is out 6.9.26 ✨️
Don't you just love when you find a new favorite right at the end of the year???
Thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the eARC!
December 23, 2025
When I saw the title and cover to Hopeless Necromantic, I was hooked. It was punny, it gave me a good laugh, and the flirty cover with the amazing artwork drew me immediately to the characters and is extremely eye-catching.
Then I started reading it and it went straight to my heart, absolutely filled with so much wonderful characters that took me on a ride through overcoming grief and falling in love.
“Abominations for life.”
This book has so much more heart than I could have hoped for an I was attached to our main trio of characters so much. The world was definitely pretty vast and there is only so much to grasp in this book, I definitely it let could feel we only saw the surface of the lore and enough to gain understanding but that there is so much more potential to this as a series.
I want it all, too. A prequel, a sequel, and even side quests for other characters. The pacing for the most part was great, and it felt just the right length. It is a surprisingly slow burn for me as the title seemed to give it a spicier feel but the best thing for me is that I love a good slow burn and to fall for the characters over time. It was such a refreshing surprise and the humor gave me plenty to laugh about through the more serious topics.
Then I started reading it and it went straight to my heart, absolutely filled with so much wonderful characters that took me on a ride through overcoming grief and falling in love.
“Abominations for life.”
This book has so much more heart than I could have hoped for an I was attached to our main trio of characters so much. The world was definitely pretty vast and there is only so much to grasp in this book, I definitely it let could feel we only saw the surface of the lore and enough to gain understanding but that there is so much more potential to this as a series.
I want it all, too. A prequel, a sequel, and even side quests for other characters. The pacing for the most part was great, and it felt just the right length. It is a surprisingly slow burn for me as the title seemed to give it a spicier feel but the best thing for me is that I love a good slow burn and to fall for the characters over time. It was such a refreshing surprise and the humor gave me plenty to laugh about through the more serious topics.
December 1, 2025
First off, thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC copy of the Hopeless Necromantic in return for a honest review.
Oh my gosh! What can I say. This was such a fun fantasy. I haven’t read anything like this book but I am now a huge Shiloh Briar fan after this.
I’m pretty sure I went through every emotion white reading this book. At times I was laughing, kicking my feet. Other times I was angry or crying.
I feel that is obvious that Benjamin is the best character from this story. However, it’s rare that you fall in love with the FMC, MMC and all of the side characters.
I felt this book/story had so much depth, character and emotion. The world was paint with such vivid details, the characters were written where you actually felt like you knew them and the plot was an emotional roller coaster.
I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’ll be ordering this book when it comes out and referring it to all of my friends!
Oh my gosh! What can I say. This was such a fun fantasy. I haven’t read anything like this book but I am now a huge Shiloh Briar fan after this.
I’m pretty sure I went through every emotion white reading this book. At times I was laughing, kicking my feet. Other times I was angry or crying.
I feel that is obvious that Benjamin is the best character from this story. However, it’s rare that you fall in love with the FMC, MMC and all of the side characters.
I felt this book/story had so much depth, character and emotion. The world was paint with such vivid details, the characters were written where you actually felt like you knew them and the plot was an emotional roller coaster.
I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’ll be ordering this book when it comes out and referring it to all of my friends!
January 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how sarcastic Sikras was. And Benjamin was a great side kick. Helspira and Sikras’ romance is a really slow burn and is more about acts of service than declarations of love.
The world that the author created was very interesting, I liked how necromancy was used. The pacing was great and the quest that they needed to accomplish had high stakes. There’s a lot of funny and endearing characters! I would love to read more in this world!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
The world that the author created was very interesting, I liked how necromancy was used. The pacing was great and the quest that they needed to accomplish had high stakes. There’s a lot of funny and endearing characters! I would love to read more in this world!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
January 4, 2026
Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar was more than I thought it would be. In my mind I was getting a silly story about a necromancer and the undead but it turned into much more. This story delves into themes such as grief and friendship to the point where you hurt when the characters hurt. The dialogue is fantastic, the snarky bits are my favorite and the way the characters interact with each other is wildly entertaining. The prose and writing also contributed much to the story! Overall I'd rate is at 3.75. I recieved this ARC from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 14, 2026
This was above a 4 for me! I loved the overall themes of grief, friendship, and sacrifices we make. In the beginning there was a bit repetitiveness that was starting to bother me but we got past it. This book did make me cry which I am always trying to find. Who doesn’t love gallows humor, a necromancer, a demon, and a sentient skeleton. Overall a quick read that will stay with me.
January 5, 2025
So so freaking good. Need the second one immediately!! The feels, the dark humor, love, loss. Sikras and the gang had me laughing throughout the entire book.
November 27, 2025
Shiloh Briar hits it out of the park with debut novel Hopeless Necromantic. The plot is well-executed, but where it really shines is in character development. Sikras, Helspira, and Ben are incredibly fun to read about, and easy to root for. The romance arc is also lovely, Sikras and Helspira have good chemistry and a believable arc. Ben as a character is just a joy.
So much about this book is just so clever and funny. Shiloh Briar manages to strike the perfect balance between high-stakes fantasy, romance, and humor. No spoilers, but the ending provides a very satisfying conclusion to both the plot as well as character arcs.
Small plug for Shiloh Briar as an author and artist - I have been following Shiloh on Instagram for years, and that’s where I first heard about Hopeless Necromantic. It’s really a brilliant stroke of artistry to be able to write your novel and depict your characters.
Thank you so much to Shiloh Briar, Orbit, and NetGalley for the ARC!
So much about this book is just so clever and funny. Shiloh Briar manages to strike the perfect balance between high-stakes fantasy, romance, and humor. No spoilers, but the ending provides a very satisfying conclusion to both the plot as well as character arcs.
Small plug for Shiloh Briar as an author and artist - I have been following Shiloh on Instagram for years, and that’s where I first heard about Hopeless Necromantic. It’s really a brilliant stroke of artistry to be able to write your novel and depict your characters.
Thank you so much to Shiloh Briar, Orbit, and NetGalley for the ARC!
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