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Death's Handmaiden #3
Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions
Nava’s second year at the Sonkei Alliance School of Sorcery begins with a strange new student who seems to have a real invisible friend and just gets stranger. By the time she’s going off-world to rescue a friend during her summer break, events have conspired to make her question a lot of things, including her very nature. Just how alien is Death’s Handmaiden.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2020
59 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books292 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 14, 2020
The last book felt more like a collection of short stories, this one was even more fragmented. Towards the very end here was a big finish, but I'm not sure about the involvement of Nava's friends. Without giving anything away, there is also a storyline which will run into the next book.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
November 10, 2021
A real eye catching title!!!
I don't give 5 stars for anything less than Hugo/Nebula award winners.
That said this another quality action and sex title in the series.
I don't know how they do it but the current generation of sf/f authors I am reading show high quality story craftsmanship. Enjoy.
I don't give 5 stars for anything less than Hugo/Nebula award winners.
That said this another quality action and sex title in the series.
I don't know how they do it but the current generation of sf/f authors I am reading show high quality story craftsmanship. Enjoy.
July 12, 2020
The next chapter
So we have book 3 of Nava’s journey and it’s good. Less fighting scenes per se and character development which is good. We also get 2 new mysteries thrown in about Nava’s genetics, her magic, a new friend and a possible new enemy.
So we have book 3 of Nava’s journey and it’s good. Less fighting scenes per se and character development which is good. We also get 2 new mysteries thrown in about Nava’s genetics, her magic, a new friend and a possible new enemy.
August 29, 2020
Another excellent read
There are others far better at writing reviews than me. So I’m just going to say you should read this and the other books in the series. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
There are others far better at writing reviews than me. So I’m just going to say you should read this and the other books in the series. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
July 4, 2020
Jumps the shark in the last part. I can understand Nava going on the rescue mission, but the rest of the gang?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2020
This was the best book in the series, it felt like a transitional book though because it set up things for another series of events.
August 1, 2020
Pretty good, bit narrative swerve at the end, but overall entertaining.
Nava is back for her second year, and things go the way they usually do. Strange things happen and Nava and her friends investigate. A solution or a bit of action is had and the situaltions is resolved (for now).
Overall good work from Teasdale. The world is familiar by now, but keeps expanding bit by bit with interesting additions. Having said that, I do feel it necessary to mention that the last section of the novel felt a bit out of character. Without spoiling overmuch, I'd say that Nava is a combat trained specialist, her friends on the other hand are not... So deliberately taking them into likely conflict feels a bit off for those characters.
Other than this minor blip, this was a fun novel, and I'll be returning for the next novel in the series.
Nava is back for her second year, and things go the way they usually do. Strange things happen and Nava and her friends investigate. A solution or a bit of action is had and the situaltions is resolved (for now).
Overall good work from Teasdale. The world is familiar by now, but keeps expanding bit by bit with interesting additions. Having said that, I do feel it necessary to mention that the last section of the novel felt a bit out of character. Without spoiling overmuch, I'd say that Nava is a combat trained specialist, her friends on the other hand are not... So deliberately taking them into likely conflict feels a bit off for those characters.
Other than this minor blip, this was a fun novel, and I'll be returning for the next novel in the series.
November 4, 2025
Another great story in this series. It was definitely worth the wait. I am looking forward to see what adventures The author can think up next.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews