Through the Lichgate

The Drama Club Presents #1

by Kyle Adams

Thana Ayers may seem like any other girl her age, struggling to balance schoolwork, drama club activities, and her religious parents. But at night, she battles unholy monstrosities with her own astonishing abilities to control the dead. Thana’s never lost a battle. That is, until a mysterious creature appears unlike any she has faced before.

This strange presence threatens to unravel Thana’s carefully balanced life and reveal her powers to the world. It also promises to show her the secrets of the lichgate and unlock her true power, but all power comes with a cost.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2018

About the author

I was born on a stormy night in March, while cyclones raged across the southeast. Now I live in the shadow of a giant missile, waging war against the foe all creators face—The Day Job.

I'm the author of the quirky urban fantasy Drama Club series, and the standalone Devil Game, which twists Christian mythos into a battle manga (but without the pictures).

To complete my bardic résumé, I took on audiobook narration. I am the unofficial narrator of the Pact Audiobook Project, a web serial written by Wildbow, and have lent my voice to a smattering of other works on Audible.

I also climb rock walls in between ankle sprains, seduce half-orcs in Dungeons and Dragons, and dabble in music and programming.

Reviews

[Ann Girdharry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about Thana's complicated life as a necromancer. She has responsibilities other teens would never dream of, because she keeps the streets clean of liches -- who are the undead souls who return to this realm to do (mostly) evil.
In this story, she's faced with the return of the soul of her dead brother, who has been enslaved by an evil master.
I liked the pace of the plot and I enjoyed reading about Thana's challenges. She's got humour, style and principles, though she doesn't have that many friends. Her one normal activity is taking part in plays but when the play written by her one friend casts Thana as a necromancer, things start getting too spooky and close to home. Thana must battle a cunning enemy who wants to test her to the limit.
Great stuff.

[Lennie Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg. Omg. Omg.

This was so much fun, and I loved it. :) I really liked the main character's sarcasm, and I loved how she's already aware of, and confident in, her magical abilities. You don't see that a lot in the first book in an urban fantasy series. It's a nice plus.

Also, let's just take a second to admire that cover. I love it!

This was well written, creative, and fun. A very good choice for a fan of young adult urban fantasy. I really look forward to reading book two! (I say that about a lot of books, don't iI? but it's always true!)

Guess what I'm buying myself for the holidays? :) Book 2!

[Ian Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A YA book that follows schoolgirl Thana Ayers who, after school, tends to a graveyard. She also is a "natural" necromancer (i.e. untrained, but extremely skilled) and she has the goal of protecting her town against liches (undead bodies, but with an implanted soul and hence the ability for independent action). She can raise an army from the graves to deal with them until she finds one she cannot deal with, and it has the soul of her brother in it. It has been raised by a master necromancer, Dunstan, and . . .
I suppose there is the inevitable question, is this really a suitable topic for the young, but I shall put that aside. I simply don't know what the young can deal with these days. The writing is descriptive, the scenes written quite vividly, and while there are skeletons and the like, it is not gory. The story is imaginative and better still, it is coherent. It develops well, and it contains its own self-consistent logic. The character of Thana is well written, and the minor characters are plausible. Given the subject matter is acceptable, I think this book shows good entertainment.

[Jeff Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thana Ayers, high school student and part-time graveyard caretaker, is trapped by her own talents. She is a necromancer, not by choice, but because she can animate and control dead bodies, both human and animal. She could do much more. She could enslave the souls of the dead to create liches, who would do her bidding. Instead, Thana users her talents to destroy the liches that attack her. Thana draws the line at enslaving souls.

When her older brother, who died in a tragic accident, turns up as a lich, Thana's world and her morals are turned upside down. Another necromancer forces her to make choices and compromises to save herself and her friends. The question is, how far will Thana cross her lines in the sand?

Through the Lichgate is an exciting and compelling YA paranormal and there's no romance. With the problems Thana is facing, she has no time to even think about a boyfriend. Adams has created a situation in which Thana must make hard choices between her principles, her family, and her friends. This story will leave you thinking about Thana's choices long after you've finished the book. My only problem with the story is the antagonist's motivation. It's a bit fuzzy as to why he's doing what he's doing. Another avenue into the antagonist's thoughts might have helped. Overall, Through the Lichgate is a fast-paced, compelling read with gut-wrenching choices for a likable protagonist.

[Samantha Henthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a little old for a YA paranormal adventure with Thana the necromancer but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting was the cemetery and teenage school amdram club, the plot was the unfolding of family ties and big decisions. I think this was full of all the ingredients of a fantasy novel, admittedly I'm not an expert however I did enjoy the reminder of just how deeply emotions were felt during teenage years. Girl power an added bonus, and the teenager wearing a Van Halen T-shirt without realising they're a band really, really made me smile!

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant YA paranormal storytelling.

Far more interesting than an attack of mindless zombies, far more complicated than teen angst of not fitting in, and highly unique in its storyline and character development, ‘Through the Lichgate’ is an absolutely ripping read.

Adams has developed a really interesting premise and storyline in this first ‘Drama Club’ book. The reader is quickly drawn in by Thana’s singular perspective on life, and is absolutely hooked by the complication with which she is presented. She is complex and conflicted, which makes her highly relatable for teen readers, and older readers too, since we rarely actually lose our complexities or resolve all our conflicts as we age - we just get better at either disguising or dealing with them.

Thana is a strong female lead who will fight her own battles and stand up for what she believes is right in a world which doesn’t always agree with her standards or her choices. When she is faced with not just one almost impossible dilemma, but a whole series of them, the reader cannot help but hold their breath and cheer her on as the action unfolds.

I’m definitely keen to read more books in this series.

[Brian Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thana Ayers had it easy. Or at least that’s what she thought. All she had to do was keep was her graveyard tidy, rake up any stray leaves, and make sure that the bodies buried there weren’t turned into soulless liches.

But then things got complicated. A new, far more powerful lich appeared on the scene, which meant, in turn, a new master, tugging away at its strings. Someone who would test Thana’s necromancer skills to the limit. Who would draw her into a world of moral ambiguity where her mission, her very purpose in life, is suddenly called into question.

Through the Lichgate is a study in power, how it can strengthen us, corrupt us, all at the same time. And while its metaphysical machinations were sometimes hard to follow, the author’s convictions, and his emotional investment in the characters he’s created, is never in doubt. I also enjoyed the almost Shakespearian conceit of staging a play within a play, and the fact that all the characters are members of The Drama Club, a loose-knit band of outcasts who possess their own hidden gifts. All of which means there’s plenty of potential for more adventures in the future.

Is Through the Lichgate a masterpiece? That would be going too far. But if you enjoy a compelling story, a flawed and feisty heroine, and a reanimated corpse or two, then by all means, take a trip through that portal. Who knows? You might even make it back.

[R.A. Grando · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good read for juniors. The protagonist, Thana, is not only gifted but faces struggles that resonate with tweens. Ultimately, she overcomes the obstacles put before and learns to lean on her friends as well as herself. Subtle undertones in the plot might be too much for the younger population but Adams does a good job drawing out explanations and significance in an easily understandable way for the younger readers. There’s a few surprises as well in terms of her friends’ reactions.

[Diane Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I enjoyed every second of this book. The author , Kyle Adams, has a sense of humor, a great imagination and quite a way with words. I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy, humor or just someone who is looking to be entertained. I can't wait for the sequel. This is a promising young writer and I look forward to reading all he publishes. Give this book a try. You can't go wrong.

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

audible:The Drama club presents....a good story,A friend dreams a dream that she turns into a play that is too close to truth.I must admit,I did not finish the book.The teenage angst of the main character was just TOO much for me.YA would appreciate it.Lillie Ricciardi was a good narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on the audiobook. This is a good YA paranormal story that kept my interest throughout. There was action, suspense & likable characters. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life

[Belter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead good

Brilliant use of characters unusual the premise of a teenage girl fighting an evil magician or something hope their is more to come