Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer Series, 2)

Following up on the Necromantic adventures from the last novel this was one of the few times that digging up an old enemies worked not feeling like deus ex machina or lazy story writing. The pun filled theme was fun and I actually found my self hoping for the ship presented hoping they don't end up as friends which means the characters were well enough written to care about. The main villain's shift in facing up to consequences felt a little off but otherwise I saw no major flaws and enjoyed turning pages well past my bedtime as much with this book as with the last one. Hoping the main character keeps growing into his position on the council even as he privately vents about the things he can't or doesn't know how to solve.

... and Lish McBride didn't disappoint! This sequel is even better than Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, like three times! Funnier, edgier, and sadder, Necromancing the Stone was a fantastic followup to the Necromancer series.This is told in Sam's and Douglas' POVs. Sam`s struggling with maintaining the house (and it's eccentric inhabitants) he inherited from Douglas. He's also dealing with the guilt over his best friend Ramon`s transformation. All this while being the Head of the Council (that he doesn't even know how to run), being Brid`s boy toy, and being the supposedly the most powerful Necromancer.. ever.Sam is still this charming, dry-humored guy who is almost always on the wrong side of the track. He's at odds with his housekeeper James. Brid's pack was not his biggest fan. His powers were as reliable as the war-freak gnomes in his garden.Despite his somewhat "still-a-loser" status, Sam was staying positive, and he sees the goodness in everyone. So cute. If there is a contest on the most compassionate necromancer, Sam will win. I love that he doesn't see death as the end, but something more. He associate his power over death with peace, contentment, even love. So nice.I adored Brid's brothers. Bran and Sean - Sam is no better off than with these sweet, capable werewolves to back him up.Douglas` character was pretty solid, too. Another villain that I am a fan of. His dreams of his past life was very interesting.Necromancing the Stone has this touch of death and grief that can overcome even the most hilarious of Sam's unnatural situations. But, it was amazing that the desolation never lingers in Lish McBride`s story. Death and Life were so closely intertwined in Sam's adventures. Maybe that is what made it so enjoyable. It's as real as it gets.Guaranteed 100% Fun, you guys. I will be watching out for the next installment!

God damn, this was a perfect all too quickly fast read. I love that we get to see Sam fully immersed in his new job & lifestyle, his gang of "scoobies" are mostly intact & all pretty much living fraternity style in Douglas's old villa by the sea, the place even comes equipped with pissy possibly evil manservant James (the magical talking kitty from book one) and all the outside security/troublemakers one could ever need. Lish has created an awesome world to get lost in. Oh and Sam has also taken Douglas's seat on the Council and is still loved by werewolf Bren. Though a romance drama this is not, Sam may have found his soulmate but they both have so much more going on in their lives with family, friends and work that they don't have time to spend swooning over each other, which I love. Mainly this book seems to be all about Sam growing up & learning to find confidence in his new talents & learning to juggle many different more adult roles. I don't want to give much away, but there are so many sweet moments in this book, my favorite characters have to be Frank & James, both seem like only background characters but as this book unfolds, you see that they are kind of the bookends keeping everything together & actually have a lot in common plus are both so full of heart that I couldn't stop highlighting every passage they popped up in. Basically if you loved the first book you will be blown away by this one & like me be stuck in ennui trying to figure out what the hell to read next that could be even remotely as awesome. Thank god the new hobbit comes out on dvd this week, so I can maybe be distracted for awhile.(less)

The first book in this series, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, blew me away. I love books featuring necromancy anyway, so add to that great characters and a plot with plenty of action and I was a very happy reader. It's hard for an author to sustain that level of quality, but Lish McBride has done so with her newest release, and she has once again made me very happy.Sam, the lead character, is dealing with the repercussions of the events in the previous book and trying to both learn how to handle his powers, deal with all of the property he has inherited, and to settle in to his new power position on the supernatural council. For a guy who is a college dropout, and was working at a fast food joint just a few months prior, this is a pretty big change. What I love about Sam is his inherent decency. He's a necromancer that has to use blood to activate his spells, yet he's a peace-loving vegetarian who ends up making friends with all of the animals that he accidentally and on purpose raises from the dead. He's thrust into a world where his enemies see violence as the only solution, yet he's constantly trying to find a different way and to solve his problems with love instead of hate. I just adore him. With Sam, the ends never justify the means. Another thing I love in this series are the strong female characters. Both Brid, Sam's love interest, who is a strong alpha werewolf, and Haley, Sam's younger sister, don't sit around waiting for someone to rescue them, but rather take their own actions to solve their problems. This book is fast-paced, and sometimes violent, but it's also hopeful with sweet and quiet moments. I can't wait for the next book.

Picking up from the events in the first book in this series, Necromancing the Stone developed the characters further, built around a well-plotted story line. There were not too many surprises but that's OK - not every book needs to have tortuous plots or red herrings on every page. Sam's own journey of discovery is what holds the reader's attention; the other characters are great in their supporting roles but this remains Sam's story, I'm pleased to say. This is a good urban fantasy with a male lead who has an engaging "voice" and a great sense of humour. There is something very genuine about his desire to be the good guy that is rather sweet, but I did really enjoy the smack down he put on one of the werewolves. I'm not going to include a spoiler, but you'll know the bit I mean when you reach it!

really enjoyed this