What do you think?
Rate this book
The Necromancer's Key #4
Conversion
A corrupted power stirs from beyond the grave.
The Necromancer Queen will rise again.
In Niyas, the new Seneschal plans to use Anskar to further the Church’s aims and grind the Niyandrians and their culture to dust.
But having thrown off the shackles of both the Church and his mother Queen Talia, Anskar is no longer a hapless pawn. Driven to seek the final component to complete the Armor of Divinity, he falls in with the Niyandrian rebels and forges his own path.
But the grasp of the Necromancer Queen is not so easily evaded, and the dark-tide within Anskar forces him to travel to the demon realms, where he discovers a chilling secret long hidden from him.
A secret which will either destroy Anskar or save Niyas…
The Necromancer Queen will rise again.
In Niyas, the new Seneschal plans to use Anskar to further the Church’s aims and grind the Niyandrians and their culture to dust.
But having thrown off the shackles of both the Church and his mother Queen Talia, Anskar is no longer a hapless pawn. Driven to seek the final component to complete the Armor of Divinity, he falls in with the Niyandrian rebels and forges his own path.
But the grasp of the Necromancer Queen is not so easily evaded, and the dark-tide within Anskar forces him to travel to the demon realms, where he discovers a chilling secret long hidden from him.
A secret which will either destroy Anskar or save Niyas…
- GenresFantasy
584 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2021
37 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Mitchell Hogan
36 books940 followers
*** Signup to Mitchell's New Release mailing list to be the first to hear about new releases, and for bonus chapters of A Crucible of Souls! ***
When he was eleven, Mitchell Hogan was given the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to read, and a love of fantasy novels was born. He spent the next ten years reading, rolling dice, and playing computer games, with some school and university thrown in. Along the way he accumulated numerous bookcases' worth of fantasy and sci-fi novels and doesn’t look to stop anytime soon.
His first attempt at writing fantasy was an abysmal failure and abandoned after only one page. But ideas for characters and scenes continued to come to him and he kept detailed notes of his thoughts, on the off chance that one day he might have time to write a novel. For a decade he put off his dream of writing until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He knew he would regret not having tried to write the novel percolating inside his head for the rest of his life. Mitchell quit his job and lived off dwindling savings, and the support of his fiancé, until he finished the first draft of A Crucible of Souls.
He now writes full time and is eternally grateful to the readers who took a chance on an unknown author.
A Crucible of Souls won the 2013 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
Mitchell lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Angela, and daughters, Isabelle and Charlotte.
When he was eleven, Mitchell Hogan was given the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to read, and a love of fantasy novels was born. He spent the next ten years reading, rolling dice, and playing computer games, with some school and university thrown in. Along the way he accumulated numerous bookcases' worth of fantasy and sci-fi novels and doesn’t look to stop anytime soon.
His first attempt at writing fantasy was an abysmal failure and abandoned after only one page. But ideas for characters and scenes continued to come to him and he kept detailed notes of his thoughts, on the off chance that one day he might have time to write a novel. For a decade he put off his dream of writing until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He knew he would regret not having tried to write the novel percolating inside his head for the rest of his life. Mitchell quit his job and lived off dwindling savings, and the support of his fiancé, until he finished the first draft of A Crucible of Souls.
He now writes full time and is eternally grateful to the readers who took a chance on an unknown author.
A Crucible of Souls won the 2013 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
Mitchell lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Angela, and daughters, Isabelle and Charlotte.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 28, 2024
RTC
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌠
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌠
August 3, 2021
Anskar is summoned back to Branil's Burg, where he learns more of his parentage, although there always seems to be two conflicting sides to every story. Unfortunately for Anskar his life has yet taken another turn, with not only death of people he loves, but the death of friendships he thought would always be there. With a new Seneschal in charge, Anskar questions his faith in Menselas and finds himself on his own.
The story centers on Anskar finding his own path; not that of the church or Queen Talia, but involves completing the Armor of Divinity, leading him in to a dangerous journey, with debts to be paid, a new lineage and powers to be discovered, and breaking the bonds of his past.
In my opinion, the best of the series so far with Anskar perhaps meeting his destiny.
My thanks to the author for the ARC of this exciting series.
The story centers on Anskar finding his own path; not that of the church or Queen Talia, but involves completing the Armor of Divinity, leading him in to a dangerous journey, with debts to be paid, a new lineage and powers to be discovered, and breaking the bonds of his past.
In my opinion, the best of the series so far with Anskar perhaps meeting his destiny.
My thanks to the author for the ARC of this exciting series.
August 14, 2021
Mitchell Hogan is the real Melesh Eloni!
This series just keeps getting exponentially better with each instalment. Although the prologue is extremely thorough, I'd strongly recommend not starting with this one, but book 1, if you've stumbled onto this one first.
With Anskar promptly summoned back to Branil's Burg, to confront his old mentor, Anskar sets about trying to find his own path, rather than the one forced on him by the Order, or the one set up by his mother.
I won't spoil any more, but to say this was a really well written entry that explores more of the rich world of Wiraya, as well as goes in depth into some of the characters, their relationships and their place in the world.
And that ending, was just wow!
If you've read this far, you will love this one!
This series just keeps getting exponentially better with each instalment. Although the prologue is extremely thorough, I'd strongly recommend not starting with this one, but book 1, if you've stumbled onto this one first.
With Anskar promptly summoned back to Branil's Burg, to confront his old mentor, Anskar sets about trying to find his own path, rather than the one forced on him by the Order, or the one set up by his mother.
I won't spoil any more, but to say this was a really well written entry that explores more of the rich world of Wiraya, as well as goes in depth into some of the characters, their relationships and their place in the world.
And that ending, was just wow!
If you've read this far, you will love this one!
August 3, 2021
Dark and amazing!
Another solid book by Mitchell, the story definitely turns up in this book and the stakes are as high as ever. The reveals, while some were obvious, others not so much. There was but one mistake I saw and that was just the name of a character other than that this book was great! Can’t wait for the next one!!
Another solid book by Mitchell, the story definitely turns up in this book and the stakes are as high as ever. The reveals, while some were obvious, others not so much. There was but one mistake I saw and that was just the name of a character other than that this book was great! Can’t wait for the next one!!
August 3, 2021
I’d like to thank Mr Hogan for continuing to allow me to be an ARC reader. I don’t want to give anything specific away, but I thoroughly recommend reading this series. It’s is fantasy at its finest. Can’t wait wait for more stories from this world!
August 7, 2021
Captivating read
Start from the beginning and the story is a fascinating read. It is a good moving of age with less gore than most. I truly enjoyed the story so far and cannot wait til the next book is released.
Start from the beginning and the story is a fascinating read. It is a good moving of age with less gore than most. I truly enjoyed the story so far and cannot wait til the next book is released.
September 4, 2021
Strong ending
Was getting tired of the series midway through this book. Felt like it was falling prey to the universe becoming too big to manage. But the ending was fantastic and I will continue to read this series.
Was getting tired of the series midway through this book. Felt like it was falling prey to the universe becoming too big to manage. But the ending was fantastic and I will continue to read this series.
August 6, 2021
Book 4
A nother very good read looking forward to the next book couldn't stop reading gets you from the start and doesn't stop
A nother very good read looking forward to the next book couldn't stop reading gets you from the start and doesn't stop
August 22, 2021
Utterly incredible. Full review to follow.
October 20, 2021
Excellent Read! When do we get to enjoy book 5????
August 21, 2024
I like some of Mitchell Hogan's earlier books but, trudging through this series has been like wading through a sewer. The first book held out some sign of future promise and resolution but each in the series has simply led deeper down the rat hole. I've made it this far in the series with hope of some change in trajectory, but after getting this far through the 4th of five books I have lost all hope.
June 4, 2024
The MC doesn’t seem to learn. By book 4 I was hoping the character would start looking a little forward instead of still only seeing his own issues right now and what he wants. Annoying is probably the best word I have to describe this book. I quit it for now. I will probably go back to it since I already bought the next book. I am crossing my fingers the MC matures at least a little.
July 2, 2025
The Necromancer's Key series is getting better and better.
This book speaks about the deep state and very powerful rich people who are the rulers behind the rulers of various states in this imaginary world. Sounds Familiar na?
Will not write much as it will act as a Spoiler but this book is truly fast paced,full of sorcery and magic.
Read the 1st three parts before you read this one.
This book speaks about the deep state and very powerful rich people who are the rulers behind the rulers of various states in this imaginary world. Sounds Familiar na?
Will not write much as it will act as a Spoiler but this book is truly fast paced,full of sorcery and magic.
Read the 1st three parts before you read this one.
January 18, 2022
The Series just gets better!
The fourth in the series and the quality just improves. The plot and storyline keep developing alongside some great characters.
The fourth in the series and the quality just improves. The plot and storyline keep developing alongside some great characters.
September 29, 2022
Great characters
Not usually a fan of demons but this worked so well and Our Hero was pleasingly flawed. Excellent read, looking forward to Book 5
Not usually a fan of demons but this worked so well and Our Hero was pleasingly flawed. Excellent read, looking forward to Book 5
July 17, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5....really enjoyable series so far...I got a little bored with different parts of this one but solid series overall...on to book 5
June 20, 2024
It is not up to his other work. Though there were some interesting parts about Ansgar’s origins. He is just too winy and conflicted for me to really like and empathise with him.
October 6, 2025
I think I only read these books as I have nothing else to read right now.
I have several issues with that whole series and book 4th did not resolve any of them.
1. The series is too freaking long. It takes over 4 books to get Talia out of the realm of the dead (I don't know if they are going to succeed at all at this point). Generally, things happen all around the main thread of the book, but the main storyline hardly moves at all. I really want this to end.
There is a lot of elements in these books that do not move the story forward. Especially the Carred in the demon sex dungeon bit - WTF, Mitchell, are you alright?
2. Anskar is annoying. He is so inconsistent. He wants magic, he doesn;t want magic. He learns a lot of new stuff, then he renders all of that useless when he removes his catalyst. He believes the dark tide is bad, but hey, donning a shadow armor and killing tens of his former comrades - why not?!
3. There is very little necromancy involved for a story called "Necromancer's Key". Definitely not what one could expect.
4. This book seems very unbalanced for me. There is no buildup, no excitment for the final battle, it just happens and then the book ends. And there is more - Carred hasn't done anything at all the whole book. Antskar hasn't either if you think about it. He moved from place to place, not actually achieving anything and then he became the leader of the resistance. Just like that.
Please tell me this story really ends in the next book.
I have several issues with that whole series and book 4th did not resolve any of them.
1. The series is too freaking long. It takes over 4 books to get Talia out of the realm of the dead (I don't know if they are going to succeed at all at this point). Generally, things happen all around the main thread of the book, but the main storyline hardly moves at all. I really want this to end.
There is a lot of elements in these books that do not move the story forward. Especially the Carred in the demon sex dungeon bit - WTF, Mitchell, are you alright?
2. Anskar is annoying. He is so inconsistent. He wants magic, he doesn;t want magic. He learns a lot of new stuff, then he renders all of that useless when he removes his catalyst. He believes the dark tide is bad, but hey, donning a shadow armor and killing tens of his former comrades - why not?!
3. There is very little necromancy involved for a story called "Necromancer's Key". Definitely not what one could expect.
4. This book seems very unbalanced for me. There is no buildup, no excitment for the final battle, it just happens and then the book ends. And there is more - Carred hasn't done anything at all the whole book. Antskar hasn't either if you think about it. He moved from place to place, not actually achieving anything and then he became the leader of the resistance. Just like that.
Please tell me this story really ends in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews