Powered by Ghosts (Necromancer 2) by Kaje Harper
Genre | Gay / Urban Fantasy / Ghosts/Spirits/Hauntings / Magic / Psychic Powers / Romance |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 11-January-2021 |
Genre | Gay / Urban Fantasy / Ghosts/Spirits/Hauntings / Magic / Psychic Powers / Romance |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 11-January-2021 |
An untrained sorcerer and a reclusive necromancer face a ghost-infested town.
Darien is free of his dead invaders, and his eyes have opened to a new reality. In a world of sorcerers and necromancers, he's full of power and potential, but completely ignorant. Necromancer Silas, and Silas's cat familiar, Grim, are teaching him basic skills, but danger won't hold off, just because he's not ready.
Silas never planned to share his life with anyone, but after a week of shared battles and shared nights, Darien has become a fixture in his home. Silas has never met anyone with more raw magical ability, or less idea what to do with it. When Silas is offered a job hunting ghosts, he's tempted to refill his depleted bank account, but reluctant to bring untrained Darien along. Darien's eager to help, though, and eventually Silas gives in. It's just a few ghosts. Nothing he hasn't handled before. What could go wrong?
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ~ Benjamin Franklin, statesman and inventor
Silas and Grim, of ‘Powered by Ghosts’ by Kaje Harper, begin to teach Darin to discover and control his powers. It’s slow going, but Darien has so much potential that it’s going to take a while to learn how to tap into it. The Guild approaches Silas with a job but he turns it down. He is reluctant to leave Darien alone for any length of time but is even more reticent to take him with him. When Darien finds out, he encourages Silas to accept the position and talks him into letting him tag along. At least he has taught Darien how to put up his protection shields.
Silas, Grim, and Darien drive eight hours to a town that has a sudden influx of ghosts who are causing trouble in town and scaring people, especially at the local mental hospital. Since they can’t or won’t leave on their own, Silas has been tasked with helping them cross. When they arrive at their destination, they are surprised at the run-down condition of their accommodations until they realize that the owner has charmed it to look that way to keep away the riff-raff. Also, since she is a lesbian, she is accepting of their relationship which means they don’t have to hide. Since it is 1963, this is something they need to be concerned about. Grim is happy about the cushy cat bed she produces for him but is a bit dismayed that, since the place is so clean, there aren’t any mice.
Their local Guild is quite small; they haven’t been able to do much about the ghost problem. Their local necromancer is preoccupied with his sick wife and won’t leave her side so work has been piling up. Silas and company begin at the mental hospital. On the way, Darien asks a million questions about the ghosts and how Silas will “dispose” of them. When they arrive, they are escorted to the third floor where most of the commotion is occurring. The first spirit they encounter is a relatively passive one; Silas takes care of him soon and is quickly back for the next encounter. Next, they run into a very angry poltergeist. She has been causing such a commotion that the staff is afraid to work there. It takes a lot of effort, but Silas dispenses of her – not before she tells him about the monster at the river. Her description is very vague. It doesn’t provide them with much to go on, but what they do know, is that there’s a lot more going on in this small town than they first thought.
This, the second book in the series, did not disappoint. It was scarier than the first, more involved, but there was more worldbuilding and character growth for Darien and Silas. Despite his often-caustic talk toward Silas and Darien, I saw how resourceful and loyal he was. It was interesting to meet Jasper and, I assume, I will get to know him better later in the series. The addition of Pip the pup as Darien’s familiar made the story for me. He is adorable, goofy, smart, and, like Darien, “talented” but untrained. They were a perfect pair. Thanks, Kaje. I’m looking forward to the next addition to the series.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.
Format | ebook |
Length | Novella, 173 pages |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 26-November-2020 |
Price | $2.99 ebook |
Buy Link | https://www.amazon.com/Powered-Ghosts-Necromancer-Book-2-ebook/dp/B08NLHSBY3 |