Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – The Necromancer’s Daughter by Diana Peach #Fantasy

Published on by dgkaye

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Diana Peach’s newest release – The Necromancer’s Daughter. For those of you who regularly read my Sunday reviews, you will know fantasy is not one of my most go-to genres. But besides the beautiful cover, and the fact that I devoured Diana’s last book too, The Ferryman and the Sea Witch, the concept of this story had piqued my curiosity. Read my review below to see why. And let me add. I was addicted to the story and found it difficult to put the book down. Judging by the wide great reception this book is getting, I urge you to grab yourself a copy and prepare for a great adventure escape – especially while it’s on sale now for 99 cents!

Blurb:

A healer with the talent to unravel death. A stillborn child brought to life. A father lusting for vengeance. And a son torn between justice, faith, and love. Caught in a chase spanning kingdoms, each must decide the nature of good and evil, the lengths they will go to survive, and what they are willing to lose.

A healer and dabbler in the dark arts of life and death, Barus is as gnarled as an ancient tree. Forgotten in the chaos of the dying queen’s chamber, he spirits away her stillborn infant and in a hovel at the meadow’s edge, breathes life into the wisp of a child. He names her Aster for the lea’s white flowers. Raised as his daughter, she, too, learns to heal death.

Denied a living heir, the widowed king spies from a distance. But he heeds the claims of the fiery Vicar of the Red Order—in the eyes of the Blessed One, Aster is an abomination, and to embrace the evil of resurrection will doom his rule.

As the king’s life nears its end, he defies the vicar’s warning and summons the necromancer’s daughter. For his boldness, he falls to an assassin’s blade. Armed with righteousness and iron-clad conviction, the Order’s brothers ride into the leas to cleanse the land of evil.

To save her father’s life, Aster leads them beyond Verdane’s wall into the Forest of Silvern Cats, a wilderness of dragons and barbarian tribes. Unprepared for a world rife with danger and unchecked power, a world divided by those who practice magic and those who hunt them, she must choose whether to trust the one man offering her aid, the one man most likely to betray her—her enemy’s son.

From best-selling fantasy author D. Wallace Peach comes a retelling of the legend of Kwan-yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Set in a winter world of dragons, intrigue, and magic, The Necromancer’s Daughter is a story about duty, defiance, cruelty, and sacrifice— an epic tale of compassion and deep abiding love where good and evil aren’t what they seem.

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My 5 Star Review:

I’m going to start this review by saying that fantasy is not my go-to genre, but being a big fan of Diana Peach’s writing, and the storyline of this book, I couldn’t wait to get my copy. I was engaged from the first page and felt it difficult every time I had to put down the book.

This is a story about good vs. evil. We are first introduced to Barus, as he works with his adoptive mother Olma in their rustic shack-like home making up magical concoctions to heal the sick in the wilderness in the village of White Leas, Verdane. Olma also has the gift of being a necromancer – bringing the dead back to life. Barus has yet to master this gift but is put to the test when the vicar of the Red Order bangs on their door demanding they save his dead son. But it’s too late to bring him back and the vicar beats up the already semi-crippled Barus and his mother and destroys their meager contents, vowing to come back to avenge them.

Later, Barus is summoned by the King of Verdane to save his almost still-born child and his wife, the queen. Their marriage was a blend of two kingdoms – Verdane, and the Princess of Blackrock. But the Red Order intervenes and vows the people won’t accept anyone brought back to life. The child is born dead, and left as forgotten, but Barus hides the stillborn under his cloak on his departure, and performs his first necromancer ritual to bring his now adopted daughter, Aster, back to life. In the meantime, the king becomes aware of Aster’s existence and keeps an eye on her from afar, until one day when he is aging and realizes he has no heirs, he goes to summon her to come back to his castle, but the ‘Red Order’ weren’t going to have any of that. This sets Aster fleeing her home with her father Barus whom she first finds a safe place for him to stay while she continues to flee through the icy cold forest of the Silvern Cats, east, to find the king of Blackrock Kingdom where her birth mother had come from.

Along her journey she meets some interesting people who help her on her journey – mainly, Joreh, ironically, the vicar’s son, who saved Aster from his own father’s evil edict, and Teko, a barbarian cutter from the forest, and they run into many perils along the journey of escorting Aster to Blackrock through the forest in dead of winter. The action and suspense is nonstop.

Aster has the gift of a gentler, as her birth mother did. She is able to tame dragons that typically attack others, and there is one in particular that shows up at the right times in her hours of need. She also learned the craft of necromancy from her adopted father, which quite often puts her in peril as she is called a witch who preforms evil, instead of being praised for giving back life.

The plot kept me glued as Aster travels through forests and cutters and dragons and evil-doers with her new-found friends and allies in her efforts to reach her uncle, the King of Blackrock, for safe harbor, and to acknowledge she is the lost daughter of the Princess of Blackrock. She must prove herself many times over to spare her life, which is threatened repeatedly in this riveting telling.

Her quest continues and has her journeying back to Verdane to gain her rightful place as queen and to find her beloved father Barus, and in so doing, she hopes to make peace between Verdane and Blackrock, and with the Catticuts in the forest in between the two lands, instead of the constant warring between them all. With her new friends Joreh, son of the evil Vicar of Verdane and the Red Order, and Teko from the Catticut forest tribe, it was an addictive read, hoping they make the journey back to the west, safely, and hoping Aster will be accepted as the rightful new queen.

This story will grab you from the beginning and will tug at your heart strings as you root for Aster and continue to hope that goodness will overtake the evil of greedy men and their ignorant beliefs. The emotion that Peach masters in this book jumps off the pages and had me tearing up through the last chapter, but I cannot tell you why. You will have to read for yourself.

Peach is a master fantasy story teller and world builder. In this book she brings in the two opposing elements of good and evil – Aster, the daughter of royalty with a healing gift, but considered witchery and not accepted, as necromancy is a black mark deemed evil by the actual evil people in her world. Peach can write about flawed characters and deplorables, yet bring out the human side in them. This book is a fast-paced plot that will keep you turning the pages and rooting for all the good people as the story unfolds and leaves us remembering the characters long after reading.

©DGKaye2022

147 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – The Necromancer’s Daughter by Diana Peach #Fantasy”

  2. I’ve read some wonderful reviews of this book, and have already purchased it. Fantasy isn’t a big genre for me either, but I’ve read some I really enjoy, and I am a fan of fairy tales as well, and your review has made me push this book up my list. Thanks, Debby and congratulations to the author on another great success!

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    1. Wow, happy to hear my review inspired you to dip in Olga. You know my reading habits well and that this isn’t my genre either, but addicting nonetheless. I hope you enjoy. I know you will. ❤

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  3. Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Debby. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the story and the characters. And I’m always honored to hear that I stirred some emotions in my readers. That’s such a huge compliment. I really liked this bunch of characters, even as I put them through the wringer. Lol. You turned the WP-glitchy start of my morning into one of pure pleasure. Huge hugs, my friend. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. Lol, yay Diana. Happy to brighten your day Diana. I so enjoyed this book and didn’t want it to end. Yes, that’s quite a compliment and the kind us writers love to hear. Huge hugs back my friend. ❤ xxx

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    2. Thanks for checking out Debby’s review, Stevie. I’m so honored that she gave the book a try even though it’s not her usual genre. This community really shines when it comes to supporting each other. Have a great day. 🙂

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    2. Thanks for swinging by Debby’s and leaving such a wonderful comment, Sally. She’s actually hosting me next month so this is like a big bonus gift! I’m so grateful to her… and to you… for your heartwarming kindness. ❤ ❤

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    1. Hi Robbie. I’m sure Diana will be thrilled to hear she’s captured another reader who doesn’t typically gravitate to fantasy. Yay! Looking forward to reading your review ❤

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    2. Thanks so much for stopping by Debby’s to check out her review. You both give such lovely insight into the story. I’m looking forward to spending the day with you tomorrow. Should be lots of fun. ❤

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  11. What a fabulous review, Debby! I completely agree with you. I loved the book and became 100% invested in Aster, Joreh and Barus. They just had to win somehow! Thank you for sharing your thoughts here and congratulations to Diana!

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      1. You are the creator my friend. My review goes to show that this book can be read among many different gendre readers. This book can fit in more genres than just fantasy. There are many messages in this story. For me, any story that grabs at the heartstrings, I want to read. ❤

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    2. Thanks for stopping by to read Debby’s review, Carol. I’m so pleased with the lovely attention the book is getting and for the beautiful reviews, including yours! Have a wonderful week. ❤

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  15. Amazing review, Debby! I’m reading The Necromancer’s Daughter slowly and loving both the story and Diana’s incredible writing ability. Thank you for sharing and a big congratulations to Diana. 🎉❤️🎉

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    1. Thanks for sharing that with us Gwen. That’s exactly how I read it. I looked extra forward to going to the gym because I got half hour reading time on the treadmill, lol. Diana is a pleasure to read. Enjoy! ❤ xx

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  16. It’s a testimony to Diana’s writing that many of us start our reviews by saying that we don’t usually read fantasy, yet we still enjoyed this one. Good writing trumps all.

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    2. I noticed that too, Pete. It also speaks to the kindness of our community when readers are willing to give a book a try even when it may not be their usual preference. For that, I’m greatly honored. Thanks for stopping by Debby’s to check out her beautiful review. ❤

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    2. Thanks, Christy! Debby’s reviews are responsible for my chunky kindle too. I was delighted with her review and now I’m thrilled that you’re going to give the book a try. The two of you have made my day. I hope the story brings you hours of entertainment. 😀

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    2. Thanks so much for another wonderful visit, Lauren, and for checking out Debby’s review. I love it when non-fantasy readers enjoy the book. I put a lot of effort into characters, which I think helps with some of the imaginary stuff. Huge hugs, my friend.

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    2. Thanks for the lovely comment, Norah. I’m beginning to think that there aren’t any fantasy readers at all. Lol. So I’m extra appreciative for every reader who gives the book a try. I love this community. Have beautiful day.

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      2. There must be some fantasy readers out there. I’m sure there are more now that you’re converting so many of us with your wonderful tales and beautiful writing.

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  28. This will be my 2nd Diana book (when I read it/I have my copy)
    I’m like you, fantasy is not my go to genre, but I gotta say the one book I’ve read is excellent.
    She is a solid classic writer (grammar speaking) so her book was easy to read. Story telling is A+.
    Excellent review, Debby!

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    2. Thanks for the wonderful comment, Resa. Lots of non-fantasy readers seem to be enjoying the book, which warms my heart. You started my day with a huge grin. I hope you enjoy the book whenever it crosses your path. Have a beautiful, creative day. Hugs.

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  30. DEBBY, I saw the post when you originally published it on Sunday, but now it’s Tuesday, and I’m just getting around to commenting. (I guess I must be writing another book–sigh!)

    I chime with your review of Diana’s writing, and I also salute her for supporting other authors, just as you do. 😀

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  32. I just finished reading this book myself, and your review is spot on. Like you, fantasy is not a genre I read, but based on what others have said about this book, I decided to give it a shot. And I am glad I did. I can’t offer a better review than you just did, so let me just say I agree with everything you wrote!

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      1. Your post is the gift that keeps on giving, Debby. Lol. I’m surprised too at the number of non-fantasy readers who’ve said they enjoyed the book. What a huge honor. ❤ ❤ ❤

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    2. Thank you so much for giving the book a try, Jim. I’m especially honored when non-fantasy readers take a chance and then end up enjoying the read. I put a lot of effort into the human story, which I always hope makes a story relatable. Have a wonderful weekend. 😀

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