Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1)
by Melanie Card
Release Date: 08/02/11
Entangled Teen
306 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.
But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.
However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…
But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.
However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…
Ward Against Darkness (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #2)
by Melanie Card
Release Date: 08/27/13
Entangled Teen
352 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire.
But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.
by Melanie Card
Release Date: 01/19/14
Entangled Teen
276 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Ward de'Ath should be dead by now. Instead, he’s chasing after a soul-eating creature—that he unleashed— and is bent on stopping her before she slaughters more innocents. Fortunately, Celia Carlyle remains by his side, a nobleman's gorgeous and deadly daughter, who is…well, dead.
Celia claims she’ll champion Ward wherever he goes, even when she thinks his quest is hopeless. He can only hope her pledge comes from her heart, and not because she’s bound to him through his magic.
When they enter Dulthyne, they stumble upon a dark power that threatens the entire town. Ward, with his unreliable necromancy, is determined to help but finds himself ensnared in the lure of white-hot magic…blood magic he struggles to resist. But if Celia’s love is a lie, it might just doom his soul to the dark arts forever.
Celia claims she’ll champion Ward wherever he goes, even when she thinks his quest is hopeless. He can only hope her pledge comes from her heart, and not because she’s bound to him through his magic.
When they enter Dulthyne, they stumble upon a dark power that threatens the entire town. Ward, with his unreliable necromancy, is determined to help but finds himself ensnared in the lure of white-hot magic…blood magic he struggles to resist. But if Celia’s love is a lie, it might just doom his soul to the dark arts forever.
Hello everyone! Welcome to my review for the Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer by Melanie Card. Huge thanks to YA Book Bound and Entangled Teen for sending me copies of the trilogy for review! As always be sure to click the tour banner up above for more information regarding tour stops!
As I'm reviewing the entire trilogy in one go, I'm going to try to avoid spoilers as I go. The story follows Ward De'Ath, a powerful physician and necromancer, who has chosen to bring back Celia Carlyle from the dead so that her family may have some final words. He doesn't expect for her to grab him and run claiming that someone killed her and she can trust no one. When I first started reading, I could not put my Kindle down. I was immediately thrust into this world of assassins, spies, murder, and magic.
Admittedly, with all that is going on, I felt a bit lost at times, but after the first book things started to make more sense. The overall plot is really action packed and heart pounding. There is so much treachery and secrets that are woven into the storyline that it's hard to know who to believe in the overall scheme of things.
I loved Celia, but at the beginning I had a hard time liking her. Sure she was super kickbutt with her awesome assassin moves, but she flaunted her looks and constantly degraded Ward in her thoughts. However, over time I grew to love her sassy character. Ward also took some time to get used to. At the beginning I couldn't help but cringe at his character because he was so honorable and awkward with everything that he did. Still, he's really gifted and it was so interesting to explore the magical aspects of necromancy.
The overall series is quite interesting to read. The first book was definitely the hardest for me to get through, but after that it all worked out pretty smoothly. The world is so intriguing and intricate which just grabs you in and holds you tight throughout the entire series.
About the Author
I have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.
I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.
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Ward Against Death: 3/5 stars
Ward Against Darkness: 3.5/5 stars
Ward Against Disaster: 3.5/5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Forevely Obsessed,
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