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Company of Strangers #3
Mortal Rites
THE UNDEAD RISE
After finding two items they need to save Alaric’s people from the wizard who enslaves them, Sienne and her companions feel confident that success is just around the corner. But the quest takes a dark turn when they learn the next step leads them into the forbidden world of necromancy.
Hired to locate a missing man whose studies in the dark art could give them what they need, the companions soon discover how deep his secrets run—and encounter a creature that may be impossible for them to defeat.
A thrilling tale of life, death, and the shadow world between.
After finding two items they need to save Alaric’s people from the wizard who enslaves them, Sienne and her companions feel confident that success is just around the corner. But the quest takes a dark turn when they learn the next step leads them into the forbidden world of necromancy.
Hired to locate a missing man whose studies in the dark art could give them what they need, the companions soon discover how deep his secrets run—and encounter a creature that may be impossible for them to defeat.
A thrilling tale of life, death, and the shadow world between.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2019
79 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books861 followersMelissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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May 23, 2019Finished this afternoon when I should have been working.
This is one of those series that is best began at the beginning. A new reader could start here--the story is fairly linear, and the characters clearly delineated, so one could pick up on backstory. But because the characters are at least as important as the plot, a prospective reader I think would be rewarded by starting with the first.
That said, spoilers would be inappropriate, third book in. To sum up the reading experience in a general way: a fast-paced, dark to very dark (but never grimdark) storyline involving the undead, lichs, and necromancers whose motivations range from academic curiosity (which is exactly as sinister as it sounds, considering what they have to do to get their results) to the thirst for immortality.
Our team of scrappers is searching for what I'll call the McGuffin, necessary item(s) for their overarching goal. Their plans lead them to a woman whose husband is missing, and they agree to search for him in trade for a crack at the man's library. Which leads them into their toughest challenge yet.
Along the way, two relationships contrast with one another, and with the ongoing darkness. There is pain involved, but I loved the way everything was handled. I am also increasingly curious about what the heck the quietest of the group's backstory is!
Perrin's relationship with his holy avatar continues to be a delight, though there isn't as much about that as in the previous. There is also a small mystery solved .
One of the things I really like, besides the evolution of the characters, is how each is more than he or she appears. I trust things are going to be opening out in a satisfying way. Meanwhile, another thoroughly enjoyable entry in this series.
Looking forward to the next.
ARC courtesy of author.
This is one of those series that is best began at the beginning. A new reader could start here--the story is fairly linear, and the characters clearly delineated, so one could pick up on backstory. But because the characters are at least as important as the plot, a prospective reader I think would be rewarded by starting with the first.
That said, spoilers would be inappropriate, third book in. To sum up the reading experience in a general way: a fast-paced, dark to very dark (but never grimdark) storyline involving the undead, lichs, and necromancers whose motivations range from academic curiosity (which is exactly as sinister as it sounds, considering what they have to do to get their results) to the thirst for immortality.
Our team of scrappers is searching for what I'll call the McGuffin, necessary item(s) for their overarching goal. Their plans lead them to a woman whose husband is missing, and they agree to search for him in trade for a crack at the man's library. Which leads them into their toughest challenge yet.
Along the way, two relationships contrast with one another, and with the ongoing darkness. There is pain involved, but I loved the way everything was handled. I am also increasingly curious about what the heck the quietest of the group's backstory is!
Perrin's relationship with his holy avatar continues to be a delight, though there isn't as much about that as in the previous. There is also a small mystery solved .
One of the things I really like, besides the evolution of the characters, is how each is more than he or she appears. I trust things are going to be opening out in a satisfying way. Meanwhile, another thoroughly enjoyable entry in this series.
Looking forward to the next.
ARC courtesy of author.
Read
February 26, 2025It's been a while since I wrote this one, but I remember it being a struggle, and my records say it took a long time to write. Some of that may be the subject matter, as in this outing the team faces undead monsters, and some of what happens is a little disturbing. Some of it was probably just my personal mental cycle. Whatever the reason, I ended up very satisfied with the results, even if it is a bit darker than the first two books in the series. There's plenty of action, plenty of drama, some romance, and the occasional undead creature. Perrin's relationship with the cranky avatar Averran continues to grow, Alaric and Sienne's relationship progresses, and we finally learn the secret Dianthe has been hiding from her team.
In this book, the companions finally come away from an adventure with some real loot, though not in the traditional way. One of the items is a deck of cards for playing the (fictional) game hazard. It's based on an old favorite, the Deck of Many Things, and combines that with my love of tarot cards. I really liked the idea of having my own hazard deck, and I have a couple of in-house artists whomooch off me generously share living space with me and my husband. So I proposed the project to my daughter, who rose to the challenge and illustrated the hazard deck designed by me. Here's one of my favorite cards:
I have three decks I'm hanging onto for giveaways in the future. They're usable as fortune telling decks or as regular playing cards (if you don't mind the tarot-sized larger cards) but mostly they're just beautiful. Here's the one my daughter groused about the whole time she was drawing it:
Apparently drawing water is hard. The things I learn...
In this book, the companions finally come away from an adventure with some real loot, though not in the traditional way. One of the items is a deck of cards for playing the (fictional) game hazard. It's based on an old favorite, the Deck of Many Things, and combines that with my love of tarot cards. I really liked the idea of having my own hazard deck, and I have a couple of in-house artists who
I have three decks I'm hanging onto for giveaways in the future. They're usable as fortune telling decks or as regular playing cards (if you don't mind the tarot-sized larger cards) but mostly they're just beautiful. Here's the one my daughter groused about the whole time she was drawing it:
Apparently drawing water is hard. The things I learn...
May 15, 2019
This is third in a series and they really do build on one another. Sienne and Alaric's relationship in particular is a culmination from prior stories, so it's best to read in order.
My as-yet non-standard disclaimer applies. I strive for honesty in all my reviews regardless of my relationship with the story and/or author. That said, I'd be completely lost without Melissa and while she's the last person who would hold it against me if I didn't like her books, ya'll can't possibly know her that well (unless you do, in which case, lucky you!).
This is the third book, so you should know the companions and basic structure for these stories at this point. This one differs in that Sienne and Alaric are pretty firmly "together" at this point. And the main action thread deals with necromancy and the undead. Which makes for some darker elements and grim events as they deal with death, undeath, and those who would murder for curiosity, knowledge, and, as always, power. I love that Melissa doesn't flinch from where the story takes the scrapper team even as I'm glad I don't have to be there for the smell.
This also features one of the more dramatic storylines as Dianthe's past catches up to her. Her relationship with Denys has been background 'til now but this pulled it right forward and the curveballs thrown at them makes this an arc that just tugged my heart around (for all the great reasons). When
Anyway, this is a great continuation as the companions draw closer to Alaric's quest and I loved the twists and turns it takes. Definitely a fun read.
A note about Chaste: Though Alaric and Sienne are "together" as in they know they're in love. Sienne is a bit intimacy-shy due to the devastation from her first "love". So they're taking things slow and that includes an acknowledged determination to keep it to kissing. For now. And if you're curious, Dianthe and Denys are clearly much further along, intimacy-wise. But they're also not central or view-point, so nothing explicit there, either.
My as-yet non-standard disclaimer applies. I strive for honesty in all my reviews regardless of my relationship with the story and/or author. That said, I'd be completely lost without Melissa and while she's the last person who would hold it against me if I didn't like her books, ya'll can't possibly know her that well (unless you do, in which case, lucky you!).
This is the third book, so you should know the companions and basic structure for these stories at this point. This one differs in that Sienne and Alaric are pretty firmly "together" at this point. And the main action thread deals with necromancy and the undead. Which makes for some darker elements and grim events as they deal with death, undeath, and those who would murder for curiosity, knowledge, and, as always, power. I love that Melissa doesn't flinch from where the story takes the scrapper team even as I'm glad I don't have to be there for the smell.
This also features one of the more dramatic storylines as Dianthe's past catches up to her. Her relationship with Denys has been background 'til now but this pulled it right forward and the curveballs thrown at them makes this an arc that just tugged my heart around (for all the great reasons). When
Anyway, this is a great continuation as the companions draw closer to Alaric's quest and I loved the twists and turns it takes. Definitely a fun read.
A note about Chaste: Though Alaric and Sienne are "together" as in they know they're in love. Sienne is a bit intimacy-shy due to the devastation from her first "love". So they're taking things slow and that includes an acknowledged determination to keep it to kissing. For now. And if you're curious, Dianthe and Denys are clearly much further along, intimacy-wise. But they're also not central or view-point, so nothing explicit there, either.
May 30, 2020
Company of Strangers book 3, with spoilers for the earlier ones.
A tale of necromancy. Starting with their searching a house on behalf of a dead woman's family, finding necromantic remains and a phantasm, and carefully concealing them, taking what will help them in their quest for Alaric's rite.
With what they find, they search for those she worked with, in hopes of discovering more. It involves portraits of people with their eyes closed, libraries, a very ill-advised means of finding one of their group, secrets, being given an amulet by a priest they lied to, searching for a traveler, a man breaking his neck falling from a horse, and more.
A tale of necromancy. Starting with their searching a house on behalf of a dead woman's family, finding necromantic remains and a phantasm, and carefully concealing them, taking what will help them in their quest for Alaric's rite.
With what they find, they search for those she worked with, in hopes of discovering more. It involves portraits of people with their eyes closed, libraries, a very ill-advised means of finding one of their group, secrets, being given an amulet by a priest they lied to, searching for a traveler, a man breaking his neck falling from a horse, and more.
August 5, 2019
Full disclosure. I know the author personally and I like her (and her family). We have been known to do role playing games together and I like those too. Also her sense of humor appears to mirror my own.
OK on with the actual review.
The flavor of this book was different from the previous two. To recap, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the first two books was imagining that this was a story told by a group of friends all playing a role playing game together. It was easy to imagine the comments that are made between party members are all coming from gamers enjoying each others company and having fun making up a story.
While there are still some elements of that in this book the plot was more driven by events than by the character interactions and character growth. In fact the biggest character growth in this story was by someone who is, so far at least, peripheral to the main party, and that largely happened off screen.
I missed the flavor of the first two stories but I have to say I did enjoy the plot and pacing with one exception. The story is tightly woven with the team moving from hook to hook in logical order. There is more action and more combat in this book than in the first two combined, and could be considered scary by very young readers since it dealt with undead and those who seek to create and control them. The final twist I didn't figure out until right before it happened and it was excellently crafted and in hind sight clearly telegraphed. My one quibble with the story is that it felt like things were dragging on after the final conflict was over. I can see why it was necessary to resolve several outstanding story elements because having them start the next book would be a drag, but unfortunately, it felt like a drag on the end of this one.
Like the second book the themes are more adult than previously. Primarily focused this time on a less personal concept of what is evil and what makes an evil person. Party members are forced into situations where they had to make choices that could be criticized by outside observers as doing something evil. The internal struggles of the characters as they deal with this as well as the external comparisons to antagonists resonates well and creates a sense of vulnerability and hence adds to the likeableness of the heroes.
Most of the character arcs that began to really show in the second book were continued here. Sienne and Alaric's relationship deepens and they try to figure out how to be both adventuring partners and in love with each other. Dianthe continues her relationship with the city guard, and some of her backstory was reveled. It seems there may be enough there for a set of stories all about Dianthe nine years before finding her scrapper party. Kalanath hinted some more at his background. I think that learning more about him could be fascinating. He had some brief opportunities to reminisce on his own culture and country and I look forward to learning more about him.
I am going to complain about Perrin's arc again though. In the second book it was revealed that he was struggling with an addiction and took steps to try to recover from it. He suffered real consequences and felt the shame of his failures. By the end of that story he was resolved to do better, but he did not address any of the root causes of the emotional wounds that were driving his addiction. So his resolutions to be sober were through sheer willpower and anyone familiar with addiction will tell you that will never work for long. I expected him to slip, and I believe that the pace of the story with stresses and periods of relief would have given him ample occasion to relapse. That he endured with no slips during this entire adventure rings a bit false to me. I really like him as a character though, and since his past is unresolved, I'm sure we will learn more as the series progresses.
Will I read the next one? Heck yeah, these are a hoot to read. If you haven't started yourself, you should really do yourself a favor and get going on them.
OK on with the actual review.
The flavor of this book was different from the previous two. To recap, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the first two books was imagining that this was a story told by a group of friends all playing a role playing game together. It was easy to imagine the comments that are made between party members are all coming from gamers enjoying each others company and having fun making up a story.
While there are still some elements of that in this book the plot was more driven by events than by the character interactions and character growth. In fact the biggest character growth in this story was by someone who is, so far at least, peripheral to the main party, and that largely happened off screen.
I missed the flavor of the first two stories but I have to say I did enjoy the plot and pacing with one exception. The story is tightly woven with the team moving from hook to hook in logical order. There is more action and more combat in this book than in the first two combined, and could be considered scary by very young readers since it dealt with undead and those who seek to create and control them. The final twist I didn't figure out until right before it happened and it was excellently crafted and in hind sight clearly telegraphed. My one quibble with the story is that it felt like things were dragging on after the final conflict was over. I can see why it was necessary to resolve several outstanding story elements because having them start the next book would be a drag, but unfortunately, it felt like a drag on the end of this one.
Like the second book the themes are more adult than previously. Primarily focused this time on a less personal concept of what is evil and what makes an evil person. Party members are forced into situations where they had to make choices that could be criticized by outside observers as doing something evil. The internal struggles of the characters as they deal with this as well as the external comparisons to antagonists resonates well and creates a sense of vulnerability and hence adds to the likeableness of the heroes.
Most of the character arcs that began to really show in the second book were continued here. Sienne and Alaric's relationship deepens and they try to figure out how to be both adventuring partners and in love with each other. Dianthe continues her relationship with the city guard, and some of her backstory was reveled. It seems there may be enough there for a set of stories all about Dianthe nine years before finding her scrapper party. Kalanath hinted some more at his background. I think that learning more about him could be fascinating. He had some brief opportunities to reminisce on his own culture and country and I look forward to learning more about him.
I am going to complain about Perrin's arc again though. In the second book it was revealed that he was struggling with an addiction and took steps to try to recover from it. He suffered real consequences and felt the shame of his failures. By the end of that story he was resolved to do better, but he did not address any of the root causes of the emotional wounds that were driving his addiction. So his resolutions to be sober were through sheer willpower and anyone familiar with addiction will tell you that will never work for long. I expected him to slip, and I believe that the pace of the story with stresses and periods of relief would have given him ample occasion to relapse. That he endured with no slips during this entire adventure rings a bit false to me. I really like him as a character though, and since his past is unresolved, I'm sure we will learn more as the series progresses.
Will I read the next one? Heck yeah, these are a hoot to read. If you haven't started yourself, you should really do yourself a favor and get going on them.
August 14, 2019
I'm having so much fun reading about this scrapper team's adventures while I fly through this series.
This third book in the Company of Strangers series is the darkest in tone so far. The wizard Sienne and the rest of her artifact-hunting team face the undead as they investigate a group of necromancers. While the subject matter is often grim, this is still a light-hearted adventure story at heart.
We also learn more about Dianthe in this volume. She's the rogue of the group, although she doesn't like being accused of being a thief. There's some heartbreak and drama but ultimately a satisfying resolution to her arc here.
Every book unveils more backstory about a specific character as well as introducing a new creature the scrappers must confront. Personally, I can't wait to learn more about Kalanath, the quiet warrior whose past we know the least about of the team.
**Minor Spoilers Ahead**
**End of Spoilers**
These books brought me out of the worst reading slump I've ever had and they are some of the best fantasy I've read in a long time. Highly recommended for fans of action and adventure. On to book four!
Disclaimer: I do know the author, if only through Goodreads, and while that is the reason I was aware of and decided to read this book, it has not influenced my rating. She did not contact me to ask me to read or review this book.
This third book in the Company of Strangers series is the darkest in tone so far. The wizard Sienne and the rest of her artifact-hunting team face the undead as they investigate a group of necromancers. While the subject matter is often grim, this is still a light-hearted adventure story at heart.
We also learn more about Dianthe in this volume. She's the rogue of the group, although she doesn't like being accused of being a thief. There's some heartbreak and drama but ultimately a satisfying resolution to her arc here.
Every book unveils more backstory about a specific character as well as introducing a new creature the scrappers must confront. Personally, I can't wait to learn more about Kalanath, the quiet warrior whose past we know the least about of the team.
**Minor Spoilers Ahead**
**End of Spoilers**
These books brought me out of the worst reading slump I've ever had and they are some of the best fantasy I've read in a long time. Highly recommended for fans of action and adventure. On to book four!
Disclaimer: I do know the author, if only through Goodreads, and while that is the reason I was aware of and decided to read this book, it has not influenced my rating. She did not contact me to ask me to read or review this book.
May 14, 2019
This series continues to deliver. :)
It's definitely a series though and really should be read in order. I don't feel like this stands alone, though you could have a good time reading it alone there would be too many details that you'd miss.
In this installment of the Company we delve into the culture and rules surrounding necromancy. It's a dark art and that makes for a darker storyline and feel to this excursion. We continue to see developments with all of the company though in particular this time we learn more about Dianthe's dark past and the things she's running from and why, and it's a great reveal. Even more powerful is the way the Company who has really become a family by this point closes ranks around their own.
The plot concerning Alaric's people also moves forward in this installment, though it feels like for every piece they find three more problems open up...which is as it should be at this point.
Lovely and fun! Watch out for ghouls!
It's definitely a series though and really should be read in order. I don't feel like this stands alone, though you could have a good time reading it alone there would be too many details that you'd miss.
In this installment of the Company we delve into the culture and rules surrounding necromancy. It's a dark art and that makes for a darker storyline and feel to this excursion. We continue to see developments with all of the company though in particular this time we learn more about Dianthe's dark past and the things she's running from and why, and it's a great reveal. Even more powerful is the way the Company who has really become a family by this point closes ranks around their own.
The plot concerning Alaric's people also moves forward in this installment, though it feels like for every piece they find three more problems open up...which is as it should be at this point.
Lovely and fun! Watch out for ghouls!
June 6, 2019
Yesssss. You know what every good D&D story needs? Undead.
This chapter has great pacing - urgency to the quest, tantalizing clues to the mystery, nice character beats. It has the great balance of completing the story arc while leaving the greater story open. Without resorting to a cliffhanger to propel readers onward.
Dianthe kind of steals this book, but I’ll allow it. Reading it feels like watching Errol Flynn. Classic derring-do, fun to watch heroism, and romance.
I’m happy to have gotten an advance copy to read. The review is mine.
This chapter has great pacing - urgency to the quest, tantalizing clues to the mystery, nice character beats. It has the great balance of completing the story arc while leaving the greater story open. Without resorting to a cliffhanger to propel readers onward.
Dianthe kind of steals this book, but I’ll allow it. Reading it feels like watching Errol Flynn. Classic derring-do, fun to watch heroism, and romance.
I’m happy to have gotten an advance copy to read. The review is mine.
May 15, 2019
I just love this series. Inhale each book the day it comes out. As with the previous books, old-fashioned quest fantasy with a number of modern tweaks, done really well. Found family, slow-burn romance subplots, and an overarching metaplot that gives structure to the mini arcs in each book. Great stuff, looking forward to the next one.
July 26, 2019
I absolutely love this series.
July 2, 2019
Mortal Rites is book three of the Company of Strangers series by Melissa McShane. As with most of her books, the reader is pitched headlong into an action - packed adventure . Our team is searching for an ancient ritual that they hope will help them undo an evil spell cast on the hero, Alaric’s, people. But an attack by a killer phantasm let's them realize that they have stumbled upon a very modern case of necromancy. They have no desire to be involved with such immoral and illegal doings but find that their search for the spell leads them into ever darker and more dangerous involvement with necromancy, its evil practitioners and its dangerous byproducts, phantasms, ghouls, and the undead.
I received an ARC of this book with no promise of a favorable review or indeed of any review. It is my honest opinion that this is a top-notch book in the fantasy /adventure / romance genre. I highly recommend it as a stand-alone book, but I know you won't be able to resist reading the first two in the series once you have read it, and that will enrich your enjoyment of all three. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received an ARC of this book with no promise of a favorable review or indeed of any review. It is my honest opinion that this is a top-notch book in the fantasy /adventure / romance genre. I highly recommend it as a stand-alone book, but I know you won't be able to resist reading the first two in the series once you have read it, and that will enrich your enjoyment of all three. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
July 31, 2019
One thing that I can always appreciate is when magic systems have rules and that people can’t just be all powerful and this world keeps reminding us of this, that if people want to be ‘powerful’ they need to work hard for it and I like it. In this book we see a lot of that, with Sienne struggling to get more spells into her spellbook but also just the challenges in general that they face in this book specifically. I also like how in each book we see a little more about our characters and learn more about them and why we love them, but this one, who takes the cake are Dianthe and Denys, could I maybe ask for a short story with them? Because I would definitely love that!!!
* I received a copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
* I received a copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 10, 2019
Mortal Rites is the third installment from Melissa McShane's series, Company of Strangers. I do believe this series should be read in order. I loved reading and catching up with Sienne and Alaric to see where they are now. I am not disappointed as their journey continues. It is so good.
I look forward to the fourth to the fourth addition from the Company of Strangers series, Shifting Loyalties. I am giving Mortal Rites four and a half stars.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I look forward to the fourth to the fourth addition from the Company of Strangers series, Shifting Loyalties. I am giving Mortal Rites four and a half stars.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
February 29, 2020
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. Another creepy threat, progress in freeing Alaric's people and some lovely character development for Dianthe. And the love story brings me so much joy, it's so perfectly pitched and I cannot wait to indulge in book 4.
June 8, 2019
Quite a good yarn, and it moves the series along nicely.
September 28, 2019
Fun series.
February 19, 2021
The necromancy descriptions were to gruesome for me. The characters are fun, and I enjoy their adventures, but hopefully the next book won’t be so dark.
September 6, 2019
I'm not a big fan of zombies in a modern setting, but I can enjoy a secondary-world fantasy with a heavy dose of necromancy on occasion, and this was a particularly good one.
I complained of the first in this series that it went a bit easy on the characters, and ended up lacking in tension and conflict as a result. This book does not do that. There's plenty of desperate fighting with high stakes, and lots of creative use of magic, too - though if I have a criticism, it's that Sienne's spellbook is growing rapidly, but the number of spells she actually uses remains fairly limited.
The slow-burn romance is now well ablaze, and the overall series arc is progressing nicely, though, as always, this is a complete adventure with no cliffhanger.
I happily went almost straight on and read the sequel, which is one of the highest compliments I can pay to a book.
I complained of the first in this series that it went a bit easy on the characters, and ended up lacking in tension and conflict as a result. This book does not do that. There's plenty of desperate fighting with high stakes, and lots of creative use of magic, too - though if I have a criticism, it's that Sienne's spellbook is growing rapidly, but the number of spells she actually uses remains fairly limited.
The slow-burn romance is now well ablaze, and the overall series arc is progressing nicely, though, as always, this is a complete adventure with no cliffhanger.
I happily went almost straight on and read the sequel, which is one of the highest compliments I can pay to a book.
January 13, 2022
This is not my favorite series by Melissa McShane, but still interesting enough that I'm sure I'll see it through to the end. The world-building is top-notch, as usual.
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A different book by an author you read in 2021)
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A different book by an author you read in 2021)
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