A Whisper of Death

Necromancer Saga #1

by Paul Barrett

The dead won’t stay buried, and they’re raising dark secrets with them… Erick Darvaul just wanted to be left alone to grieve the loss of his parents, but when the citizens of the town showed up on his doorstep at night, he knew nothing would ever be the same. Long hated and feared by the townsfolk for their practice of Necromancy, the Darvaul family had always kept themselves apart from the people of Draymed. Until now. Now, there are vampires attacking the village, and only Erick can stop them. But will he? A Whisper of Death is the first book of The Necromancer Saga, a new hero’s journey saga from Paul Barrett, co-author of Knight Errant. Follow young Erick as he builds a band of companions around himself to fight against a rising tide of darkness that threatens to engulf the land. But he must take care, for all too often the darkness comes from within himself, or those he trusts the most.

Genres: Fantasy

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

I started writing at the age of 8. My first story was a 3 page short about Ziggy (the comic character) and the Spiders from Mars (of David Bowie fame). Yes, my first story was a mashup.

Since then, I've written a bunch, but have only recently started publishing. I look forward to this publishing trend continuing.

I've also produced a couple of low budget films, and I'd like to do more of that, too.

Reviews

[Josh Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refers to a pre-publication draft: Well written with several nods to classic fantasy while embracing modern sensibilities mixed with a new and unique world to explore, this book (hopefully first in a series) delivers in a way that much of modern fantasy doesn't. Engaging, well-paced and with a world that is consistent, well thought out, and interesting while simultaneously being populated by believable characters with noticeable development (even in secondary characters). This is the first fantasy book in While that has actually made me hope for a sequel (as opposed to the majority that telegraph their intent for a sequel rather than telling a story...).

Merged review:

(Refers to a pre-publication draft) Well written with several nods to classic fantasy while embracing modern sensibilities mixed with a new and unique world to explore, this book (hopefully first in a series) delivers in a way that much of modern fantasy doesn't. Engaging, well-paced and with a world that is consistent, well thought out and interesting while simultaneously being populated by believable characters with noticeable development (even in secondary characters). This is the first fantasy book in a while that has actually made me hope for a sequel (as opposed to the majority that telegraph their intent for a sequel rather than telling a story...).

[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best fantasy stories I have read in a long time! Has the same feel as LOTR. It has a slower build of the story so if you prefer a faster moving story this one is not for you.

[Jeanette Andromeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that came to mind as I was reading this book was how similar in tone it felt to Lord of The Rings. This book has a lot of the same structure and flair that makes up Lord of the Rings.
1) Huge epic journey thrust upon the young, but determined, leading boy
2) A fun cast of characters that grows as the journey does
3) Detailed world building through cultures, scenery, magic, and the world’s unique history
4) A lot of walking
I think that people who enjoy Lord of the Rings or (another fantasy favorite of mine) the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce will find themselves swept up in the world of this book.

That being said, if you perfer a fast paced book that cuts to the chase, this is not the right book for you. This book takes it’s time to explore the world, and fill in it’s history as you explore.

Part of what slows down the pacing is that every chapter begins with an excerpt from a book that exists after the story we’re reading takes place. So you get a sense that the journey you’re taking is not only difficult, but made a huge impact on the world.

I both liked and disliked these little chapter openings.

I liked them, because they gave really interesting insights into the world, it religions and it’s people.

I disliked it because it took away a bit of the tension knowing, for certain, certain characters are guaranteed to make it all the way through the story.

All of the being said, when the story does get to the fighting, adventuring, and action, you will be totally swept up in the momentum of the moment.

What keeps this book feeling fresh and vibrant in between the action sequences are it’s characters.

This is why Circle of Magic came to my mind while reading it.

The task seems too massive and the characters seem so young and unprepared, but their friendship and determination carries them through.

There are some beautiful moments of love, honest ones dealing with sexuality, and heart-breaking ones where loss and despair are given room to breath.

I love the depth of humanity given to the main characters through the course of this story.

Although this book lives happily in the Fantasy genre fans of horror will still feel right at home. The necromancy in this book brings in some really gory gross awesomeness, that would put any traditional zombie novel to shame.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting lost in the world it built, and found myself with a serious book hang-over when I finished it. Book hang-over meaning, I was throughly addicted and wanted to keep reading the story, even though it was done. I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for book 2 and I hope it comes out soon!

[Fee Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whisper of Death by Paul Barrett is the first book in The Necromancer Saga. It is about Erick Darvaul, a Necromancer, who is on a quest to find the original sorcerers to help destroy the dark ones. I liked this story a lot. It was engaging, exciting, and has me wanting more of Erick's story. I won this book in a giveaway from a blog I follow. All opinions are my own.

[Erin Penn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant coming-of-age fantasy about necromancer boy reaching his majority with his familiar (in the character slot usually held by a dog), his sage-chronicler (best guy friend forever), and a cute girl from the village who is also deadly (love interest) against the backdrop of evil returning to the world by the actions of adults, so now the "chosen one" has to fix it. Nothing groundbreaking here, but fun.

The unfun parts took a while for me to nail down. These are more societal expectation changes that this book has failed to meet. If the following things trigger you, then you may want to read the spoiler stuff, otherwise have a good read: overweight equals corruption, sex workers vs. purity culture, and LGBTQ closets.


1. Overweight equals corruption - everyone that is overweight has a evil aspect. With the main characters so young, the adults are all bigger and they are the ones being faced off against, so larger people - as is common in coming-of-age stories - fall into the adversary group. But more than average for this genre, all fat people are evil. The aunt is big busted and abuses her thinner husband as well as verbally abuses nearly everyone around her. The cute girl had nearly been raped by someone old and overweight. And the big bad thief leader is grossly obese. The more weight you have, the more evil you are. That said, not all the evil is overweight - many of the evil characters are highly "active" (fighters). There is one character, a successful bard, described as pudgy and round - but this character is a "spear-holder" - more there for scenery than agency and is in the last quarter of the book.
2. LGBTQ closets - The BBF sidekick is clearly a confused gay man coming into his own. He is attracted to his best friend but understands his best friend is straight. The cute girl is his cousin and teases him about his leanings. He does get involved with a sailor (because sailors (face-palm)) who is very protective of the baby queer. Eventually someone hits the MC over the head about the queerness of his friend ... and it's predictable to OUR REAL WORLD (not the fantasy worldbuilding) and the MC has to grow to understand his BBF. But words like "unnatural" get tossed around. (I hope for better queer representation as the series continues, and expect as much considering the author.)
3. PC vs. SW - Wow, look at how evolved the book is with sex workers being part of the religion. Also the "urban" characters looking down on the "rural" characters for being virgins, blushers, and cautious about sex. EXCEPT 1. sex workers are shown at the docks in a titillating way - women more than men (but the main character is a straight male, so he would notice the women more - so "okay" ... maybe ... nope, still not okay). 2. the cute girl was nearly forced into becoming a sex worker, sold into it by her father, and when she explained to the priest that she didn't want to be there he did the proper "that is wrong and inappropriate, and insult to our patron deity" and then continued to try to initiate her against her will. I get it, most priests are corrupt and the whole system is corrupt - but basically this destroys "all the sex workers have the right to their own bodies and to sell their bodies to their employers - like every other worker in this capitalist society - under their own terms" vibe of having a deity church for "comfort". 3. another character is involved in a sex work that has all the people performing underage and unwilling. 4. cute girl really wants to save her purity for True Love, but every now and again thinks about "selling out" for benefit but that is WRONG (not just wrong for her, but BAD). 5. the urbanities thinking the purity culture is "past-times" yet at the same time avoiding the sex trade as a disgrace as well - just the waffle back and forth belittling both purity culture and sex culture kept setting my teeth further and further on edge - especially with NO RELIGIOUS OR SOCIETAL base for the purity culture. It just doesn't make sense within the worldbuilding.

Between the overweight is corrupt and the purity vs sex not matching worldbuilding, this book is barely tolerable. As a story, it is a good coming-of-age fantasy, so two stars.

[Bookishnerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review pending a second book. As things stand the first book was initially published in 2015.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was charming. A bit slow paced, but charming. If you like necromancy, that is -- but I mean, you had me hooked at "necromancy."

[a · Rating 3 out of 5]

I missed emotions, it felt like the characters never felt anything. It also sometimes felt kinda childish, like it was written for 12yo's.
Story was good tho, nice concept.

[H. Duby · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has seemed to be, in recent years, a major upswing in novels, graphic novels, television programs, et cetera, regarding zombies and the dark magic that creates them. In many cases, that dark magic comes in the form of mankind meddling in natural forces that mankind ought not meddle with and that triggers the oft-mentioned "zombie apocalypse". In the realm of fantasy writing, that dark magic is usually more literally magic, as is the case with this outing by Paul Barrett. After I finished reading the book, I went to look it up to see if it was part of a series because, for much of the book, it felt as though I had been dropped into a story already in progress. That does not, however, appear to be the case.

I both enjoyed and did not enjoy this book. I know that doesn't really make sense, but it's true. I thought the world was remarkably well-developed; it is patently obvious that the author spent a great deal of time on the world, on the way magic works in the world, how the various types of undead differ from one another, et cetera. In the fantasy genre, it is vitally important that the world be internally consistent, and this book definitely has that going in spades. The biggest reason that I did not like the book is that there was just too darn much of it. I felt like the writing was padded out and that there are probably 75+ pages of extraneous material. As a writer, myself, (unpublished, so take that with a grain of salt) it hurts when someone tells you that your "baby" is too wordy. But this book is. It is a remarkable anchor for what could be a remarkable series, and I think that some of the side plots would have been better served by glossing over them in this book, but picking them back up in greater detail in future novels.

Recommended for fans of well-written fantasy who are willing to make a significant time investment. Despite my negative-sounding review, I really did enjoy the book and look forward to seeing where the author goes from here.

Reviewed by HR Duby for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock

[Telma Rocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free review copy from the publisher.

After witnessing his parents fateful suicide, 17 year old Erick is left to deal with the aftermath. Erick lost his parents, but he is not alone. He has Blink, his ‘familiar’. Blink is a creature that created from Erick’s own flesh and blood. Erick also has Corby and Elissia, his two only friends who live in the nearby town. Erick is unique, He can call upon his ‘undead’ army to help him fight against evils, and he can speak telepathically to Blink. One day hidden in his manor, Erick comes across a secret passageway that leads to a private room. Here he discovers a book, but its no ordinary book, it’s the darkest book that contains the most dangerous words ever written. The truth and story behind this book is terrifying. This discovery forces Erick to set out on a dangerous mission to reunite with other Necromancer sorcerers to hopefully, destroy the evil that threatens the world.

I loved it! It truly was an amazing read!

There is no lack of adventure in this story line. I loved the way the story was told, and the way it was written. The writing is so smooth. It is not very often I come across this type of book with this unique writing style that I call smooth. There is so much going on in this book, with all the different names for the different types of tribes/ creatures /magic, and it was well organized.

All the characters were developed well as the book progressed. The deeper I got into the story, the more I enjoyed reading about each of them. I like the relationships especially between Blink and Erick!

I cannot wait for book 2 to be finished!

[Damon Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! The story kept me engaged from the start to the finish. Really looking forward to book 2!