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Lucy Kline, Necromancer
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Expected 22 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 12:38:30
25 copies available
U.S. only
For fans of Supernatural and true crime, Lucy Kline, Necromancer brings back the dead with a perfect blend of humor and heart.
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
4 people are currently reading
8901 people want to read
About the author
Tom O'Donnell
11 books113 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
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.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
———
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews