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Lucy Kline, Necromancer
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Expected 22 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 04:25:40
25 copies available
U.S. only
For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and highly bingeable thrillers, Lucy Kline, Necromancer, is a Nancy Drew-style murder mystery mixed with the occult.
It’s been two years since Lucy’s twin sister was presumed dead. As the only person who knew about Louisa’s plan to sneak out on the night she was killed, Lucy still feels responsible for her sister’s grim fate—despite the fact that it was Lucy who eventually cracked the case, putting Louisa’s killer in jail.
Or so she thought.
When another girl who looks just like Louisa goes missing under similarly mysterious circumstances, and ghostly dreams begin to plague Lucy, she throws herself back into the investigation. The more clues she uncovers, the more her nightmares bleed into reality. And signs start to point to the necromancy.
With the help of her classmate Howie and a retired medieval history professor, Lucy must find the culprit behind these disappearances and finally come to terms with the grief that’s haunted her for years.
It’s been two years since Lucy’s twin sister was presumed dead. As the only person who knew about Louisa’s plan to sneak out on the night she was killed, Lucy still feels responsible for her sister’s grim fate—despite the fact that it was Lucy who eventually cracked the case, putting Louisa’s killer in jail.
Or so she thought.
When another girl who looks just like Louisa goes missing under similarly mysterious circumstances, and ghostly dreams begin to plague Lucy, she throws herself back into the investigation. The more clues she uncovers, the more her nightmares bleed into reality. And signs start to point to the necromancy.
With the help of her classmate Howie and a retired medieval history professor, Lucy must find the culprit behind these disappearances and finally come to terms with the grief that’s haunted her for years.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Tom O'Donnell
11 books122 followersTom O'Donnell has written for The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and several TV shows. Tom lives with his wife and kids in Brooklyn, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 4, 2026
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
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I was skeptical at the beginning of this book, but I really ended up enjoying it. Lucy Kline is one strong, but reluctant protagonist. When it becomes apparent that nobody else is taking the disappearance and supposed death of her twin sister seriously, Lucy takes it upon herself to solve the case. Two years later, however, another girl goes missing and the cycle repeats, and Lucy must come to terms with the fact that things may not be as neatly wrapped up as they seemed.
Steadily paced and highly bingeable, we are thrown into a whirlwind adventure of necromancy and overcoming grief. It is macabre, at times humorous, and ultimately authentic in voice and emotional appeal.
My one criticism is that for a YA novel, I feel there is a lot of profanity. While it feels true to Lucy’s character, the repeated F-bombs were surprising. Still, this is one heck of a story.
———
I was skeptical at the beginning of this book, but I really ended up enjoying it. Lucy Kline is one strong, but reluctant protagonist. When it becomes apparent that nobody else is taking the disappearance and supposed death of her twin sister seriously, Lucy takes it upon herself to solve the case. Two years later, however, another girl goes missing and the cycle repeats, and Lucy must come to terms with the fact that things may not be as neatly wrapped up as they seemed.
Steadily paced and highly bingeable, we are thrown into a whirlwind adventure of necromancy and overcoming grief. It is macabre, at times humorous, and ultimately authentic in voice and emotional appeal.
My one criticism is that for a YA novel, I feel there is a lot of profanity. While it feels true to Lucy’s character, the repeated F-bombs were surprising. Still, this is one heck of a story.
May 29, 2026
Received advanced reader copy from Goodreads giveaway.
This was such an engrossing, emotionally layered read, more so than your typical YA mystery. Lucy Kline is a strong protagonist: sharp, sarcastic, and deeply wounded beneath her self-imposed isolation. After solving her twin sister Louisa’s disappearance and putting the killer behind bars, Lucy has “opted out of the social contract,” and watching her navigate that grief, guilt, and detachment is both heartbreaking and compelling.
What really sets this story apart is how vividly Lucy’s inner world is portrayed. She’s incredibly self-aware—she recognizes her cynicism and the walls she’s built, yet still chooses them as a form of protection. Even as an older reader, I found her perspective strikingly relatable and mature. Her voice carries the story, balancing cutting humor with raw vulnerability.
The mystery itself is gripping as a new case involving a recent disappearance and eerie dreams of Louisa pull Lucy back into her role as a “kid detective.” The true crime elements are woven in seamlessly, online forums and social media chatter complimenting Lucy’s in-person investigation to ground it in a way that feels current without being overdone. The 2026 setting is subtly reinforced through natural-feeling slang and cultural references, which adds authenticity without distracting from the narrative.
I also loved how the story blends genres. Lucy’s investigation is smart and methodical, driven by both logic and intuition, and her cautious openness to the supernatural and unexpected foray into necromancy adds a genuinely chilling and original edge. The balance between skepticism and curiosity makes these elements feel earned rather than gimmicky, even with the literal graveyard rituals.
This is a story about grief, identity, and the difficulty of moving forward when you’re not sure you deserve to. Lucy’s journey, both emotional and investigative, is gripping from start to finish, and the resolution is satisfying. A standout read for anyone who loves character-driven mysteries with a dark, slightly supernatural twist.
This was such an engrossing, emotionally layered read, more so than your typical YA mystery. Lucy Kline is a strong protagonist: sharp, sarcastic, and deeply wounded beneath her self-imposed isolation. After solving her twin sister Louisa’s disappearance and putting the killer behind bars, Lucy has “opted out of the social contract,” and watching her navigate that grief, guilt, and detachment is both heartbreaking and compelling.
What really sets this story apart is how vividly Lucy’s inner world is portrayed. She’s incredibly self-aware—she recognizes her cynicism and the walls she’s built, yet still chooses them as a form of protection. Even as an older reader, I found her perspective strikingly relatable and mature. Her voice carries the story, balancing cutting humor with raw vulnerability.
The mystery itself is gripping as a new case involving a recent disappearance and eerie dreams of Louisa pull Lucy back into her role as a “kid detective.” The true crime elements are woven in seamlessly, online forums and social media chatter complimenting Lucy’s in-person investigation to ground it in a way that feels current without being overdone. The 2026 setting is subtly reinforced through natural-feeling slang and cultural references, which adds authenticity without distracting from the narrative.
I also loved how the story blends genres. Lucy’s investigation is smart and methodical, driven by both logic and intuition, and her cautious openness to the supernatural and unexpected foray into necromancy adds a genuinely chilling and original edge. The balance between skepticism and curiosity makes these elements feel earned rather than gimmicky, even with the literal graveyard rituals.
This is a story about grief, identity, and the difficulty of moving forward when you’re not sure you deserve to. Lucy’s journey, both emotional and investigative, is gripping from start to finish, and the resolution is satisfying. A standout read for anyone who loves character-driven mysteries with a dark, slightly supernatural twist.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a love/hate situation for me.
I loved the title and bio. I love a good necromancer book, and this book was very promising.
At first, I didn’t really love the book. The pace was slow that it bordered boring. The character development wasn’t really there and I couldn’t stand Lucy. Sure, she lost her twin sister and that can change a person. But after so long, it almost came off as if she isn’t done grieving nor able to move on enough in her life and it doesn’t make her look that great. The constant moodiness, attitude, etc. wasn’t something I was caring for but then again, being that it’s YA may have a part to play in that since YA is very hit or miss for me these days.
HOWEVER.
Despite all that, yes, if you push through it, the book finally becomes what I’ve been waiting for and couldn’t put it down.
Roughly around the halfway mark is when things really picked up and sucked me in.
Lucy and Howie are getting deeper into this case. Believing that what should sound crazy isn't crazy after all. Creating a pentacle for herself, Lucy found it to be helpful that night.
They keep on with everything and start to believe that the real person behind it all was brought back to life and taking these girls and controlling their spirits.
Everything is starting to move faster, the more that happens to move you want speed ahead to see what happens it truly grips you. Lucy and Howie are characters that time some getting used to and I'm glad there was character growth, least for Lucy cause she was difficult at first.
The ending was relieving in a way. The person behind it all is no gone. They are able to properly bury Lucy's sister and her family is starting to come back together. Lucy made some good friends and all seems to be moving forward now.
After pushing though, this book is certainly worth the read. What I will say is don't go in with the hope of heavy necromancer use. It doesn't go into more until closer to the end, but even then it's not as much as I would've liked to see but overall still a good read for YA.
I loved the title and bio. I love a good necromancer book, and this book was very promising.
At first, I didn’t really love the book. The pace was slow that it bordered boring. The character development wasn’t really there and I couldn’t stand Lucy. Sure, she lost her twin sister and that can change a person. But after so long, it almost came off as if she isn’t done grieving nor able to move on enough in her life and it doesn’t make her look that great. The constant moodiness, attitude, etc. wasn’t something I was caring for but then again, being that it’s YA may have a part to play in that since YA is very hit or miss for me these days.
HOWEVER.
Despite all that, yes, if you push through it, the book finally becomes what I’ve been waiting for and couldn’t put it down.
Roughly around the halfway mark is when things really picked up and sucked me in.
Lucy and Howie are getting deeper into this case. Believing that what should sound crazy isn't crazy after all. Creating a pentacle for herself, Lucy found it to be helpful that night.
They keep on with everything and start to believe that the real person behind it all was brought back to life and taking these girls and controlling their spirits.
Everything is starting to move faster, the more that happens to move you want speed ahead to see what happens it truly grips you. Lucy and Howie are characters that time some getting used to and I'm glad there was character growth, least for Lucy cause she was difficult at first.
The ending was relieving in a way. The person behind it all is no gone. They are able to properly bury Lucy's sister and her family is starting to come back together. Lucy made some good friends and all seems to be moving forward now.
After pushing though, this book is certainly worth the read. What I will say is don't go in with the hope of heavy necromancer use. It doesn't go into more until closer to the end, but even then it's not as much as I would've liked to see but overall still a good read for YA.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It's been two years since Lucy's twin sister, Louisa, snuck out of the house one evening and never returned. She is presumed dead and Lucy and her family have been grieving since that night. When another girl goes missing, Lucy begins having horrific and haunting dreams. Lucy takes it upon herself to find out once and for all what happened to her sister and why her nightmares feel so real. She gets help from her friend and classmate, Howie, and they begin to walk down a dark and deadly path to the truth!
This is a YA horror mystery book which focuses on guilt, loss, grief, friendship, family, secrets, necromancy, and survival. I enjoyed this book and found it to be both entertaining, fun, creepy, and atmospheric. There are some horrific scenes, but they are on the mild side (this is YA) and I felt they were appropriate for the readers this book targets.
I enjoyed the mystery, the atmosphere, the tension, the danger, the dread, and the eerie vibe of the book. I also enjoyed the supernatural/paranormal elements of the book. The necromancy angle felt very original and added some darkness and intrigue to the book. Lucy gets a little help along the way from a few others and manages to make friends in the process.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, original, and entertaining!
*I had both the physical book and kindle version of this book. Thank you to the publisher via a goodreads giveaway and NetGalley who provided both.
Thank you to Tom O'Donnell, goodreads, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a YA horror mystery book which focuses on guilt, loss, grief, friendship, family, secrets, necromancy, and survival. I enjoyed this book and found it to be both entertaining, fun, creepy, and atmospheric. There are some horrific scenes, but they are on the mild side (this is YA) and I felt they were appropriate for the readers this book targets.
I enjoyed the mystery, the atmosphere, the tension, the danger, the dread, and the eerie vibe of the book. I also enjoyed the supernatural/paranormal elements of the book. The necromancy angle felt very original and added some darkness and intrigue to the book. Lucy gets a little help along the way from a few others and manages to make friends in the process.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, original, and entertaining!
*I had both the physical book and kindle version of this book. Thank you to the publisher via a goodreads giveaway and NetGalley who provided both.
Thank you to Tom O'Donnell, goodreads, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two years ago, Louisa, Lucy's twin sister, snuck out of the house. Lucy didn't think much of it until Louisa became a missing person. Her body was never found, and eventually, she was presumed dead.
Lucy is unable to come to terms with her sister's death. She digs into every clue she can find. Her tenacity pays off and she figures out who killed Louisa. The man even confesses to the crime. It feels like things are over … but then another girl from Lucy's school goes missing. Is there a copycat out there, or is the real killer still free?
Lucy is plagued by horrible dreams, and the more she digs, the worse those dreams become. Howie, a neighbor and long-time friend, along with a retired professor team up with Lucy. Research leads them to something that seems impossible: necromancy. Determined to find out who killed her sister, and to hopefully rescue the missing girl, Lucy jumps in with both feet—and a very open mind.
I am a big fan of YA. There is something special about this genre, and it's books like this one that keep me coming back. This is the first novel penned by Tom O'Donnell I've read, but it won't be the last. I absolutely loved Lucy, and I was thoroughly entranced by her tale.
Lucy is unable to come to terms with her sister's death. She digs into every clue she can find. Her tenacity pays off and she figures out who killed Louisa. The man even confesses to the crime. It feels like things are over … but then another girl from Lucy's school goes missing. Is there a copycat out there, or is the real killer still free?
Lucy is plagued by horrible dreams, and the more she digs, the worse those dreams become. Howie, a neighbor and long-time friend, along with a retired professor team up with Lucy. Research leads them to something that seems impossible: necromancy. Determined to find out who killed her sister, and to hopefully rescue the missing girl, Lucy jumps in with both feet—and a very open mind.
I am a big fan of YA. There is something special about this genre, and it's books like this one that keep me coming back. This is the first novel penned by Tom O'Donnell I've read, but it won't be the last. I absolutely loved Lucy, and I was thoroughly entranced by her tale.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
Lucy Kline, Necromancer was certainly a thrilling and wild ride that I won’t be forgetting for a long time.
The plot was fast-paced and any place I saw potential of any slowing down did the complete opposite, which I was very appreciative of! Before I got this ARC I was yearning for more books about necromancy in the current publishing space (so when I came across this was overjoyed) and man, did it give me the necromancy I was looking for.
Now, the reason for 1.25 stars off was mostly due to Lucy, the main character. At certain times, I felt that she came across a little bit flat and I was wanting more of her character to shine through all of the plot. Some times when I thought we were going to get deeper into her character, something new happens and now we have to focus on that (which makes sense because she was put in some very urgent situations most of the time). At times, I felt Lucy’s character relied too heavily on the grief she has over her sister’s death, which obviously changes a person but I just wanted a little bit more to her, yknow?
But other than that, this was a great read! If you’re looking for something fast-paced and a little gritty then I’d totally recommend.
Lucy Kline, Necromancer was certainly a thrilling and wild ride that I won’t be forgetting for a long time.
The plot was fast-paced and any place I saw potential of any slowing down did the complete opposite, which I was very appreciative of! Before I got this ARC I was yearning for more books about necromancy in the current publishing space (so when I came across this was overjoyed) and man, did it give me the necromancy I was looking for.
Now, the reason for 1.25 stars off was mostly due to Lucy, the main character. At certain times, I felt that she came across a little bit flat and I was wanting more of her character to shine through all of the plot. Some times when I thought we were going to get deeper into her character, something new happens and now we have to focus on that (which makes sense because she was put in some very urgent situations most of the time). At times, I felt Lucy’s character relied too heavily on the grief she has over her sister’s death, which obviously changes a person but I just wanted a little bit more to her, yknow?
But other than that, this was a great read! If you’re looking for something fast-paced and a little gritty then I’d totally recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What drew me to *Lucy Kline: Necromancer* was the comparison to *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*. As a devoted Buffy fan, give me angsty teens battling supernatural forces, solving mysteries, or trying to save the people they love, and I'm all in.
Happily, this book delivered. The pacing kept me hooked from beginning to end—I was so engrossed that I even found myself reading while walking my dog (not my safest decision!). Beneath the action and paranormal intrigue is a thoughtful exploration of grief and the unexpected ways it can shape our choices. Watching Lucy wrestle with loss and grow into herself was one of the novel's greatest strengths.
By the final page, I wasn't ready to leave this world behind. I'd love to spend more time with characters like Howie, Chuck, and the professor, and I sincerely hope there's a sequel in the works. My only real complaint is that the story ended before I was ready to say goodbye.
What drew me to *Lucy Kline: Necromancer* was the comparison to *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*. As a devoted Buffy fan, give me angsty teens battling supernatural forces, solving mysteries, or trying to save the people they love, and I'm all in.
Happily, this book delivered. The pacing kept me hooked from beginning to end—I was so engrossed that I even found myself reading while walking my dog (not my safest decision!). Beneath the action and paranormal intrigue is a thoughtful exploration of grief and the unexpected ways it can shape our choices. Watching Lucy wrestle with loss and grow into herself was one of the novel's greatest strengths.
By the final page, I wasn't ready to leave this world behind. I'd love to spend more time with characters like Howie, Chuck, and the professor, and I sincerely hope there's a sequel in the works. My only real complaint is that the story ended before I was ready to say goodbye.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
What a wonderfully odd book.
The only way to describe it is “ Nancy Drew meets Supernatural “ But even that does not do it justice.
Lucy Kline’s twin sister was killed two years ago.
She helped solve the murder when the police prove to be useless
She is plagued by nightmares of her lost sister.
She is sleepwalking through life angry at herself.Angry at the world .
Then another girl goes missing. A girl who looks way too much like her her sister. Like herself.
She is drawn into the new investigation when the police proven to still suck.
What she discovers is beyond belief.
An immortal necromancer has possessed a new body
And is continuing his murder spree.
Killing girls who look like Lucy.
To fight against the impossible. Lucy has to do the unthinkable.
Become a necromancer.
The only way to describe it is “ Nancy Drew meets Supernatural “ But even that does not do it justice.
Lucy Kline’s twin sister was killed two years ago.
She helped solve the murder when the police prove to be useless
She is plagued by nightmares of her lost sister.
She is sleepwalking through life angry at herself.Angry at the world .
Then another girl goes missing. A girl who looks way too much like her her sister. Like herself.
She is drawn into the new investigation when the police proven to still suck.
What she discovers is beyond belief.
An immortal necromancer has possessed a new body
And is continuing his murder spree.
Killing girls who look like Lucy.
To fight against the impossible. Lucy has to do the unthinkable.
Become a necromancer.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I thoroughly was entertained by this book. It just kept you wanting to read more. A very good read.
Nancy Drew meets Supernatural is an understatement, it was so much more. Lucy Kline's twin sister goes missing and the local cops are worthless to find who abducted her. Her sister visits her in her sleep begging for help. When another spirit visits her in her dreams and tries to kill her, things just got real. 2 years later another girl is abducted, and she looks just like her sister. The cops again are worthless. Lucy then realizes it's up to her to get to the bottom of this. All the supernatural things happening to her and around her point to Necromancy. So she fights fire with fire and becomes a necromancer herself. This story was amazing. A real must read. I highly suggest it.
I thoroughly was entertained by this book. It just kept you wanting to read more. A very good read.
Nancy Drew meets Supernatural is an understatement, it was so much more. Lucy Kline's twin sister goes missing and the local cops are worthless to find who abducted her. Her sister visits her in her sleep begging for help. When another spirit visits her in her dreams and tries to kill her, things just got real. 2 years later another girl is abducted, and she looks just like her sister. The cops again are worthless. Lucy then realizes it's up to her to get to the bottom of this. All the supernatural things happening to her and around her point to Necromancy. So she fights fire with fire and becomes a necromancer herself. This story was amazing. A real must read. I highly suggest it.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
First off, thank you to Goodreads for the giveaway opportunity, and thank you also to #StMartinsPress.
I was really unsure of this book at the beginning as this isn't the usual type of books I like to read. I honestly didn't know much about it before entering the giveaway, but I'm glad I entered.
This book is about a teenager who tries to solve the murder of her twin sister and many others. Along the way, she becomes the perfect Necromancer (fighting fire with fire with the PRO, or so he thinks)
Black magic books aren't my thing, but I have to say that Lucy's personality in this story kept me laughing and kept it interesting. In fact, I feel she's a lot like me on those grounds.
If you like Necromancers, Black magic, and funny mixed with some true crime, you would probably enjoy this book.
I was really unsure of this book at the beginning as this isn't the usual type of books I like to read. I honestly didn't know much about it before entering the giveaway, but I'm glad I entered.
This book is about a teenager who tries to solve the murder of her twin sister and many others. Along the way, she becomes the perfect Necromancer (fighting fire with fire with the PRO, or so he thinks)
Black magic books aren't my thing, but I have to say that Lucy's personality in this story kept me laughing and kept it interesting. In fact, I feel she's a lot like me on those grounds.
If you like Necromancers, Black magic, and funny mixed with some true crime, you would probably enjoy this book.
April 17, 2026
I brought Lucy Kline the Necromancer along on a long-weekend beach trip & I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely loved it.
Reading about someone being able to communicate & control dead people might not be the beach-worthy to some, but I found myself enjoying all of it.
After Lucy’s twin sister disappears, she finds herself feeling guilty for not doing more. But when another female who looks similar to Lucy goes missing, she starts investigating areas the local police wouldn’t.
Lucy’s quick-witted comebacks are filled with sarcasm daggers made me laugh & her sidekick Howie’s awkwardness fit perfectly with the seriousness of dealing with the mysteries of death & spirits.
**I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, but my thoughts and opinions are my own. **
Reading about someone being able to communicate & control dead people might not be the beach-worthy to some, but I found myself enjoying all of it.
After Lucy’s twin sister disappears, she finds herself feeling guilty for not doing more. But when another female who looks similar to Lucy goes missing, she starts investigating areas the local police wouldn’t.
Lucy’s quick-witted comebacks are filled with sarcasm daggers made me laugh & her sidekick Howie’s awkwardness fit perfectly with the seriousness of dealing with the mysteries of death & spirits.
**I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, but my thoughts and opinions are my own. **
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc
I thought Lucy Kline, Necromancer by Tom O’Donnell was a fun and unique read. The idea of a young necromancer was really interesting, and I liked the mix of dark magic and humor. The story was easy to follow and kept me entertained.
The main character was likable, though sometimes the story felt a bit simple and didn’t go very deep. I also wished some parts had more detail or stronger moments. Still, it was enjoyable and had a good balance of funny and spooky.
Overall, it was a solid and entertaining book, even if it wasn’t super memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc
I thought Lucy Kline, Necromancer by Tom O’Donnell was a fun and unique read. The idea of a young necromancer was really interesting, and I liked the mix of dark magic and humor. The story was easy to follow and kept me entertained.
The main character was likable, though sometimes the story felt a bit simple and didn’t go very deep. I also wished some parts had more detail or stronger moments. Still, it was enjoyable and had a good balance of funny and spooky.
Overall, it was a solid and entertaining book, even if it wasn’t super memorable.
April 29, 2026
3.5 rounded up - this is a fun, campy, kind of Buffy-esque read but I had a couple issues with it.
1 - Lucy learns Latin in like 3 weeks….. girl I took Latin for 3 years, nobody learns Latin within a month
2 - besides Lucy, all the other characters are flat. Howie is like Wybie from Coraline the movie level flat. Lucy’s funny and the story is good but nobody else has a personality.
Thank you to author Tom O’Donnell, Wednesday books, St. martins press group, and Goodreads giveaways for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1 - Lucy learns Latin in like 3 weeks….. girl I took Latin for 3 years, nobody learns Latin within a month
2 - besides Lucy, all the other characters are flat. Howie is like Wybie from Coraline the movie level flat. Lucy’s funny and the story is good but nobody else has a personality.
Thank you to author Tom O’Donnell, Wednesday books, St. martins press group, and Goodreads giveaways for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The novel has an interesting concept, but the execution doesn’t quite live up to it. The simplistic writing style makes it difficult to stay engaged in the story, and many of the characters acted unrealistically. There are several creepy and unsettling moments that hint at what the book could have been with stronger development. I also felt that the ending was too drawn out, with the main villain coming across as corny rather than threatening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. Lucy Kline, Necromancer had such a fun premise and that was honestly what kept me reading. The concept was creative and quirky, but unfortunately I never fully got sucked into the story itself. The pacing dragged a bit for me and I struggled to really connect with the characters or stakes. Overall, I liked the ideas more than the execution, but it was still an entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you so much for a copy of this book ..
I normally don't leave reviews, just ratings ..
I'm not the best reviewer *forehead smack*
But I devoured this book .. I couldn't stop reading ..
Lucy and Howie are probably my most Favorite characters .. Lucy is badass man ..
The necromancer = "He who shall not be named" on steroids ..
I mean its probably too early to ask ? But could there possibly be a second book .. Lol
I normally don't leave reviews, just ratings ..
I'm not the best reviewer *forehead smack*
But I devoured this book .. I couldn't stop reading ..
Lucy and Howie are probably my most Favorite characters .. Lucy is badass man ..
The necromancer = "He who shall not be named" on steroids ..
I mean its probably too early to ask ? But could there possibly be a second book .. Lol
April 21, 2026
I received this ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, but it really picks up speed around the halfway point. Once it gets going, the pacing feels much stronger and more engaging.
One of the standout elements for me was Lucy Kline’s sense of humor—the banter throughout the story kept me laughing and added a really fun layer to the darker themes. It helped balance the tone in a way that made the characters feel more real and enjoyable to follow.
If you don’t mind a slower start and enjoy witty dialogue mixed with darker elements, this is definitely worth checking out.
I found this book to be a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, but it really picks up speed around the halfway point. Once it gets going, the pacing feels much stronger and more engaging.
One of the standout elements for me was Lucy Kline’s sense of humor—the banter throughout the story kept me laughing and added a really fun layer to the darker themes. It helped balance the tone in a way that made the characters feel more real and enjoyable to follow.
If you don’t mind a slower start and enjoy witty dialogue mixed with darker elements, this is definitely worth checking out.
Read
May 30, 2026I received an ARC of this book. (Thank you so much.) It was very good. It kept my attention all the way through. From loss and sadness, the mean girls in high school, the questions and answers that had to be researched in depth, danger, fear, and so much more. I highly recommend. I didn't want to put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
This was definitely an extremely fun read. I really enjoyed all the character development throughout the book and had a hard time putting it down. I loved the Nancy Drew style mystery mixed with the occult.
This was definitely an extremely fun read. I really enjoyed all the character development throughout the book and had a hard time putting it down. I loved the Nancy Drew style mystery mixed with the occult.
May 2, 2026
This book took me a bit to finish, because it’s a bit of a slow burn. But it ended up having me smiling & in tears towards the end. Overall it was a great story & good book, Im sure lots of people will enjoy reading it once it’s published. Thanks for the opportunity to read it early!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
So fun! I haven’t read much true horror and I was so interested in this story. I actually really appreciate that’s it’s YA because it wasn’t such a gory story, more spooky and creepy.
Very unique and interesting concept and loved seeing this story unfold. Would be a PERFECT spooky season read
Very unique and interesting concept and loved seeing this story unfold. Would be a PERFECT spooky season read
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
*well-written, easy to read
*strong character development
*kept my interest from cover to cover
*highly recommend
*strong character development
*kept my interest from cover to cover
*highly recommend
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Lucy Kline reminds me of Wednesday Adams, full of dry wit & sarcasm. I was quickly swept up in this supernatural story & thoroughly enjoyed it. If there's a 2nd book I will want to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads. I liked it for its snarky teenage lead. The horror aspect wasn't bad even if it got my partner to stop reading it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full RTC but I had SO MUCH fun with this book.
I could NOT put it down!
I could NOT put it down!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Excellent entertaining quick read. I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended!!!
I won this book through a giveaway.
I won this book through a giveaway.
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