Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand

The Kingdoms Of Dust The Kingdoms Of Dust
Necromancer Book 3
by Amanda Downum
Orbit

Supplied for review by Hachette New Zealand

Reviewed By: Cassie Craig

The Kingdoms of Dust by Amanda Downum is the third of the Necromancer Chronicles. I undertook to read this novel without reading book one or two. I was able to immerse myself in the story and characters, although I did find that nAmanda introduces characters quite fast and I had to back read to figure out who was who.

The heroine Isyllt Iskaldur, necromancer and sometime spy starts off the adventure by rescuing her one time spy, lover and friend Adam. Isyllt seems a bit dysfunctional and beset by her own personal demons. She is not a character I warmed to as the reader does not know a lot of personal information about her.

We are introduced as we go to the characters who share in the adventure to find out where the Ghost Wind comes from. Isyllt has an apprentice called Moth, who seems an innocent and one wonders what her role is. Melantha an assassin with a past who changes identities but she cannot change her heart is sent to recruit Isyllt.

The story was slow moving until about halfway along and then it picked up speed. Some characters are not what they seem. Seemingly normal humans with hidden identities, mages with ghost like abilities, powerful creatures tethered by magic make this an interesting novel. We are taken across sea into deserts, before queens and evil mages with plots of their own.

Even though I didn’t enjoy starting reading this novel I was engrossed by the end.

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