Book Summary: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer’s protagonist is something of a loser, a fry cook college dropout. A chance encounter gets him on the hit list of a powerful necromancer, Douglas, one who seeks to subvert or kill any other necromancers in his domain, usually stealing their powers. After having the still talking head of his friend Brooke dropped on his doorstep delivering an ultimatum from the necromancer Sam learns that at birth his mother had his powers hidden to keep him safe from Douglas.
Kidnapped and caged in the necromancer’s basement, Sam’s only help in trying to escape is Bridin, a lycanthrope teen who is the daughter of the werewolf alpha, and a ghost like Harbinger who looks like a catholic schoolgirl.
Eventually a full battle breaks out, not surprising given Bridin has some rather angry werewolf brothers, and Sam ends up killing Douglas and inheriting his place and power.
Impressions: I really liked this one. While it isn’t entirely unknown for a fantasy series to have a protagonist (or love interest) with ‘bad powers’ (see most paranormal romance ever) this book does it with a little more subtlety, and not to give the protagonist the ‘bad boy’ vibe most paranormal romances are going for.
Professional Review: From Publishers Weekly (2017)Library Uses: There is a lot of modern fantasy that is quite popular, this book would go well with a teen program discussing them, maybe titled “modern fantasy… besides Harry Potter,” or something like that.
A title this good has a lot to live up to, and debut author McBride proves she's largely up to the task in this scary and irreverent romp. College dropout Sam is underwhelmed by his life as a fast food fry cook, when a game of potato hockey behind the restaurant goes awry and throws him into the sights of an evil and powerful necromancer named Douglas Montgomery. Sam turns out to be a necromancer too, making him Douglas's target for either slavery or death. With help from Brid, a teenage werewolf/fey hybrid who is Douglas's prisoner, and a ghost named Ashley, Sam must figure out how to escape Douglas, keep his loved ones alive, and use his power while avoiding its more horrific aspects. McBride pulls no punches and hits where readers will least expect it; the story can be gory and violent, but isn't gratuitously graphic. A solid start that concludes with the promise of Sam's power growing greater and darker, secrets getting deeper, and more fun to follow. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)
Readalikes: There are a lot of other fantasy novels that could appeal to readers of this one, though urban fantasy doesn’t seem to be quite as common/popular in YA as opposed to adult fiction. Still, Artemis Fowl could be a good go to series, as well as the Alcatraz Vs. series which, while written for a bit younger audience, is enjoyable by reader of any age. Dan Wells's John Cleaver series would be another good one, with a protagonist with even darker tones than the necromancy of Sam.
References
McBride, L. (2010). Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Publishers Weekly. (2017). Hold Me Closer Necromancer. [Review of the book Hold Me Closer, Necromancer]. PWxyz, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8050-9098-7
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