Rating: 
Summary: Great Fantasy
Review: In Ile-Rien, nobleman Nicholas Valiarde has only one passion in life: to kill Count Montesq. It was the count who deceitfully set up and then accused Nicholas' godfather of being a necromancer, a crime punishable by death. To fund his quest, Nicholas has become a thief, but he is not just an ordinary criminal. Nicholas is the master thief Donatien, who seems to be just one step ahead of the great Inspector Ronsarde. The police have a bigger problem than a master thief. People are disappearing at an alarming rate. Some corpses have turned up with parts of the body missing and even bones have been found to flow through the sewage system. Overwhelming evidence indicates that necromancy is being practiced. Meanwhile Nicholas is robbing an estate when he meets ghouls and a sorcerer in the cellar of his intended victim. He soon becomes partners with his "enemy" Ronsarde in an attempt to uncover the identity of and stop a necromancer who has no moral boundaries. In her third fantasy novel, THE DEATH OF THE NECROMANCE, Martha Wells continues to demonstrate tremendous writing talent. Like her first two books (CITY OF BONES and THE ELEMENT OF FIRE), her third work of fiction is filled with wondrous characters and a fully developed setting. The necromancy rings true as a form of science on this world. However, what makes this novel a cut above most others is Ms. Wells' ability to make her environment extremely complex and genuine without taking away from a well written fantasy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Goblins by Gaslight
Review: In recent years a new style of fantasy has emerged - one that combines a somewhat more technologically advanced setting with the magic of high fantasy. Paul J. McAuley's Pasquale's Angel and J. Gregory Keyes' Newton's Cannon both spring to mind as contemporary examples of this fusion of technology and fantasy. Martha Wells has proven herself to be one of the queens of this genre by managing to subtly and ably combine the genres of the Victorian/Sherlockian mystery with that realm of fantasy, by combining steam and sorcery. Wells has managed to craft a delightful world that has a Victorian feel while retaining it's own flavour. The overall seeming of a fantastic version of turn-of-the-century Paris (Vienne, in this novel) is augmented by the sorcerous powers that the chosen few have access to. Her main character has a wonderfully Moriarty-esque flavour complete with a Sherlockian adversary), an essentially noble bearing, and a marvellous supporting cast to bring him through the worst of his adventures. Evil stalks the gaslit streets of Vienne in the kingdom of Ile-Rien, and it falls to her greatest criminal mastermind to expunge it - or die trying. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Rating: 
Summary: Wrongful Revenge
Review: Martha Wells' 1998 book, The Death of the Necromancer, is a story of revenge in Gothic style. The book's title isn't misleading, as you are sent on treks through sewers infested with ghouls, fight off hungry once-dead Fay, and discover rooms filled with vivisected bodies. Necromancy, or using death to assist in divination, is at its nature gothic, ghoulish, and grisly. These are the very adjectives to describe a story set in a make-believe Vienne (not Vienna), lit by gaslights and filled with horse-drawn carriages, thieves, prostitutes, and evil Dukes and Counts. Magic orbs, a painting that acts like a hidden video camera, and a sorcerer named (get this) Constant Macob give the reader much to enjoy. But, like a symphony with amateur players, some of the chords are out of tune. The chief players in the story are Nicholas and Madeline; both are well accomplished in using disguises. Nicholas Valiarde's father figure Edouard Viller was executed some years ago on a trumped up charge of necromancy, but the charge was later found to be false. In great stories, the wronged person must be God's instrument for revenge, as no one else can or will redress the wrong. As in the Count of Monte Cristo, it may take a lifetime to seek out all those who wronged him. But in this story, the father figure's reputation has already been publicly restored. The act of bringing down the wicked perpetrator, Count Rive Montesq, is not justice or restitution, but pure revenge beyond the laws of justice and humanity. We learn that others are preparing a strong legal case against Montesq. The central revenge story is thus flawed. If fantasy is to have a moral component, this story falls short. Gothic tales of Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jykell, or the Wolfman, show us psychological aspects of our own humanity that must be quelled or controlled. We see none of that in this story. Horror stories attempt to bring the lurking fears within us into our conscious lives. There is no true horror in The Death of the Necromancer, as we know that all the bad guys will be stopped. We can close the book, and walk away from ghouls and flawed storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding World-building
Review: Martha Wells' novels have been uniformly excellent--imaginative, detailed, exciting, strange. This book might be described as a Sherlock Holmes novel, if Holmes were a ruthless criminal, used magic, was a member of the royal family, and had a sex life. Wells' skill in narrative, pacing, and snappy dialog make this an outstanding novel that most scifi and fantasy readers will want to read.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding World-building
Review: Martha Wells' novels have been uniformly excellent--imaginative, detailed, exciting, strange. This book might be described as a Sherlock Holmes novel, if Holmes were a ruthless criminal, used magic, was a member of the royal family, and had a sex life. Wells' skill in narrative, pacing, and snappy dialog make this an outstanding novel that most scifi and fantasy readers will want to read.
Rating:
Summary: Share the feeling of solving an age -old mysery of magic
Review: Martha, You sneaky brilliant wonderful woman you! Just finished Necromancer -- and loved it! Loved the references in Necromancer to the settings -- and even characters -- of Element of Fire. Nic being the descendent of you know who was a real surprise and very nice touch, especially his renouncing all claim to his inheritance. Loved the scene with the Queen and the reason she believes him. The whole interplay between Nic and Madeleine is constantly enthralling, delectable. They are both such very strong characters, neither in any way attempts to dominate the other. >Oh, that entire final confrontation scene was a real nail-biter! Right from the start I wondered if Nic was likely to wind up as a sacrificial centerpiece for the madman's necromancy. I am beginning to have a small idea about how much sweating blood went into writing this book! Lord, all the plot twists and then making the sorcery stuff come right so that the villain could be defeated without it being too easy for good guys....and then to get Montesq too, and resolve Nic's personal problems. The exchanges between Cusard and Nic and Reynard are a riot. And in the sewers there were so many creepy scenes I loved..very nicely done. The whole thing with the workings of the spheres, most intriguing. But the real deft touch to the ending was the scene with Montesq...I never expected that and you really had my heart pounding! Madeleine later chides Nic for his cruelty to Ronsarde there...hey, and all of we readers too! You gave us all a bad moment! Never saw that one coming! Which made it positively perfect! > >I want to go back now and reread scenes and catch all the implications I missed first time round...always a sure fire sign the book will be one of my favorites for all time to come. > >Necromancer provided me with a whole bunch of characters I could love just as much as favs from other books, I would love to read more adventures with Nic and Madeleine and Reynard and Crack and all.... And you, I know, will entertain me whatever world you open for my imagination. You proved that with City of Bones and Element Of Fire. > Martha, you obviously worked extremely hard on this book. Now, sit back, put your feet up, and take a well-earned moment to savor an intricate creation and the success it is sure to bring you. I have no doubt there will be many more very happy readers wanting to let you know how much they enjoy this book and how much they want more. Congratulations and keep 'em coming! Carolyn >
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Characterization
Review: Ms. Wells has a real gift for creating a large number of terribly likable, flawed, intelligent, witty characters. Even the minor "henchmen" have motivations and history, as well as singular personalities. Great attention to detail is also apparent, but not at the expense of the story, (a la "The Alienest").
Rating:
Summary: What an incredible read!!!!!!!
Review: Ms. Wells has a thorough command of her universe. She skillfully threads the reader through the streets, alleys and catacombs of her world. The "people" in her story are diverse, very interesting and very fallible. The only regret I have is that I finished the book too damn fast! I wanted it to last longer but I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy out of the Middle Ages and into the Gaslight
Review: Ms. Wells has managed to drag the world of wizards and sorcerers out of its usual dungeons and dragons Middle Ages settings into a psuedo late 19th Gaslight era. On the whole it works quite well and Wells has given us a mix of interesting characters that not only holds our attention but in whom we are really interested in. If there is a weakness in the story it is that we are given less on the characters but overly abundent details on physical settings. At times I feel like Ms. Wells is more interested in describing a room in detail than telling us what is going on in it. The escape from a prison goes on a bit too long mainly because the author feels she has to describe every rock and corridor on the place. A little judicious trimming would have made an interesting tale even more compelling. More character and less architecture is the watchword for any hoped for sequel.
Rating:
Summary: A great romp.
Review: Nicely drawn world -- love the 19th century + magic setting. Valiarde is a bit cardboardy, standard Stiff Upper Lip Gentleman Thief Male Lead type, but the supporting cast is excellently drawn -- the characterization just didn't spread to the protagonist for some reason. An improvement over City of Bones (which was also fun, but with weaker technique) -- I'll be keeping an eye out for future Wells books.
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