The Death of the NecromancerThe Death of the Necromancer
Score Modern
What it's about
In a city like nineteenth-century Paris, where gaslight and magic coexist, Nicholas Valiarde, a gentleman thief, is planning revenge against the nobleman who had his foster father executed. But his schemes are interrupted by a series of horrifying murders, apparently by a dead necromancer.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula finalist. It's an atmospheric fantasy mystery by Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries.
You'll love it if you liked
Witch King
The Goblin Emperor
Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellGood to know
It stands alone, though set in the world of an earlier book.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller7 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #321 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1148 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2125 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Martha Wells
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Quick answers
Is The Death of the Necromancer worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula finalist. It ranks #2,125 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Death of the Necromancer about?
In a city like nineteenth-century Paris, where gaslight and magic coexist, Nicholas Valiarde, a gentleman thief, is planning revenge against the nobleman who had his foster father executed. But his schemes are interrupted by a series of horrifying murders, apparently by a dead necromancer.
How long does it take to read The Death of the Necromancer?
About 13 hours (526 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Death of the Necromancer?
If you liked it, try Witch King by Martha Wells, The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.