Deadly Arrogance

Necromancer Tales #4

by M.J. May

Necromancer Erasmus Boone’s life is on hold—every shadow suspect, every trip outside his warded home a gamble. Afraid of bringing more attention to already wary necromancers, Erasmus has stopped hunting for his own kind. Unwilling to place an even larger target on his back, Erasmus has even delayed his own wedding.

Human homicide detective Franklin O’Hare wants nothing more than to be there for the necromancer he loves. Unfortunately, he’s neck-deep in not one but two separate multiple-body dump scenes. With little more than skeletal remains to go on, Franklin’s days are consumed with work, and his sleepless nights are spent wishing he had more time for his fiancé.

Waiting and wondering when Tenzen Huxley will make his move is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Information regarding shadow borne is slim and little more than hearsay, and what is known is horrifying.

Will Erasmus and Franklin be ready when Tenzen finally makes his move? Is there truly any way to be prepared for the hell a shadow borne can unleash? Despite the support of powerful friends and family, Erasmus and Franklin desperately need to find a shadow borne’s weakness.

Sometimes, weakness comes from within, not without, and often, arrogance is the deadliest flaw of all.

Deadly Arrogance is the fourth book in the Necromancer Tales series and should be read in order. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be read as a stand-alone series. Deadly Arrogance is a m/m romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to keep his necromancer fiancé alive, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a questionably moral all-powerful djinn who may just get her scuttlebutt wish, a welcome Mississippi spring, and an ancient being who desires more power than any creature should wield and has decided a certain necromancer is key to satisfying that greed.

Mentions of violence, murder, souls brought back from the beyond, speciest bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity.

Genres: Magic, Fantasy, Paranormal, Gay, M M Romance, Vampires, Urban Fantasy

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2025

About the author

I've been a veterinarian for almost twenty years and have recently added published author to my resume. I've been writing for over fifteen years, most of those stories languishing on my computer. A couple of years ago my fear of never trying to publish my stories overcame my fear of failure. The result is my first book, "Sow What You Reap". It is the first in the Reaping Covetous series. The next book, "Dead Women Tell Tales" should be out by the end of October 2021.

I love supernatural, urban fantasy, paranormal, and mystery genres. I write both M/F and M/M oriented stories.

Please don't hesitate to ask me a question or two.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my stories. I know I love telling them.

MJ May

Reviews

[Jessica Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. I went through all the emotions, and thankfully was 100% satisfied with the ending. I love this author and this complex and fun world she has created. I hope we never have to leave it. Highly recommend this series and if you're in the mood for more, definitely check out her Perfect Pixie series. Worth all the hype (and absolutely deserves more hype!)

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love it.

Rating: 5🌈

Deadly Arrogance is the series finale that brings the journey of Necromancer Erasmus Boone to an exciting and happy conclusion.

I’ve been absolutely thrilled by this fantasy/paranormal universe of May’s since the first Perfect Pixie novel, a series which introduced necromancer Erasmus Boone.

So it’s fitting that many of those characters play roles here in Boone and Franklin’s battle against a terrifying enemy. It’s emotional and wonderful to see each one, settled into their own lives and relationships, as they come together to fight and support their friends and own communities.

And May, who has created throughly villainous characters in the past, has exceeded herself here in crafting shadow bourne Tenzen Huxley, a seemingly unbeatable and immortal being. Huxley is an ominous figure whose role is one that’s always in the game, even when absent from the current situation. The enormous threat he brings to the couple and those around them is a real concern, no matter what else they are dealing with.

They are mentally, emotionally and spiritually under pressure and attack all the time and the reader, who’s intimately connected with them, feels that same overwhelming stress and suspense.

On top of Huxley’s magical threat to everyone, there’s a multiple murder investigation that requires the attention of both Franklin and Boone. It’s highly unusual, incredibly rare in its sheer scope of detail and complexity.

I won’t elaborate further because there’s many twists here that spin beautifully within the plot. The story is highly suspenseful, compelling emotionally, and has some truly heartbreaking scenes.

And yes, it does end happily with everyone in attendance. I absolutely love it.

And there’s a new connected series on the horizon. Thrilled about that too!

Check out all the books below if you’re new to this universe. Read them in the order they are written. Enjoy them! Highly recommended!

Cover design by cheriefox.

Perfect Pixie Series
Perfectly Imperfect Pixie
Perfectly Perfect Pixie: Peaches’s Story
Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story
Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendall’s Story
Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox’s Story—finale
Perfectly Petite Shorts: Short Stories from the Perfect Pixie Series M/M

Necromancer Tales Series: Spin-Off from the Perfect Pixie Series
Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I
Deadly Deception: Necromancer Tales Book II
Deadly Avarice: Necromancer Tales Book III
Deadly Arrogance: Necromancer Tales Book IV—End

Warlock Nikodemus Holland’s Book—Coming Spring 2026

[Briar Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

As a fan of the Perfectly Imperfect Pixie series, I was very excited to see some of those characters appear again! The ending was sweet and I am excited for the next connected story!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel all warm and fuzzy!!! I love this world so much. I'm glad that even tho Erasmus' story is now concluded there will be at least one more book that takes place in the pixie universe!

[Nicole Laudenslager · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful series!

I love the main and supporting characters. The mystery cases are interesting, too. This series has really deepened and evolved so much from its pixie beginning.

[Deanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boone and Franklin are goals

I adored this series. Each quirky character just added to the fun of this series. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

[Jenette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I wipe an entire star off this for the repeated use of “suspicioned”? Yes, yes I did.

[Lunalover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Ending!

Wow, what a beautiful ending to the Necromancer Tales and an intriguing epilogue. I can't wait to see what the author plans on next. Highly recommended!

[Hani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read two finales by MJ May, and that's two out of two finales that are really awesome.

[Angelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 I Don't Want to Say Goodbye Stars

M.J. May is pure magic and I hope she continues to give us looks into this universe of hers with new stories and overlapping characters

[Tamara Kunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

Great story with just enough of a hook to make me anxious for the next installment. I love this series.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I hope to see more of Erasmus and Franklin ,I thoroughly enjoyed this series and all the different characters within.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

That epilogue and the announcement of her next book!!

[Wortkaefig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series very much even if I am not always content with the writing. But this whole world and the set of characters makes up for it for me.

[De'Siree Fairley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 This was great but was definitely slow in the beginning, the second half had me gripping my seat!!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fab ending 💚