The Necromancer's Daughter

By: D. Wallace Peach

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award Gold Medalist
2023 RONE Award Gold Medalist
2023 Reader's Favorite Silver Medalist

A healer with the talent to unravel death. A stillborn child brought to life. A father bent on 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, Barus is as gnarled as an ancient oak. 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.

The widowed king spies from a distance, but he heeds the claims of the Red Order's fiery Vicar—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 summons the necromancer’s daughter, an act of boldness that draws an assassin’s blade.

Armed with righteous fury, the Order’s brothers ride into the leas to cleanse the land of evil. To save her father’s life, Aster leads them beyond the wall into 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 who offers 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.

Spellbinding. Great narrative

"The Necromancer's Daughter" by D. Wallace Peach is an enigmatic exploration of necromancy, a realm typically shrouded in darkness, takes an unexpected turn as it intertwines with themes of love. The narrative unfolds with an alluring cadence, gradually unveiling a meticulously crafted world that captivates the reader's imagination. The characters, a fascinating ensemble, breathe life into this mystical realm.

This novel, told from the perspectives of Barus, Aster, and Joreh, delves into a web of intricate relationships. Through these varied viewpoints, the story adopts a multifaceted approach, offering diverse insights into the unfolding events. This narrative technique not only fosters reader connection with each character but also amplifies the narrative tension, as forces of good and evil clash, power becomes alluring, and questions of destiny and the essence of life and death come to the forefront.

Within the pages of this fantastical tale, classic elements like dragons coexist harmoniously with a thought-provoking reimagining of "healing." It is a mesmerizing journey into a realm that brims with uniqueness, guaranteeing an immersive and captivating experience.

This book would appeal to readers who are drawn to mystical and thought-provoking fantasy narratives. Those who appreciate imaginative world-building, complex characters, and themes that explore the nature of good and evil, power, personal autonomy, and the mysteries of life and death will also find themselves immersed in "The Necromancer's Daughter." Additionally, fans of unique twists on familiar fantasy elements such as dragons will discover a refreshing take on these tropes.

The audiovoice was a great choice. I thought the young male tone flitted the storyline and the intonation was beneficial to the storyline. I enjoyed the audiobook very much. Do immerse yourself in this extraordinary world crafted by D. Wallace Peach

Compelling and good world building

Very good world building. The story lacked some more emotion, but that might be because of the virtual voices.
The characters and events could sometimes be more developed, but over all the story was well imagined and captivating.
I thought the virtual voices were pretty good, especially the crippled father’s voice. That said, the story would become much more alive with a real human voice. The virtual voices’ lack of intonation for the emotional sections were somewhat unnerving.
I still very much recommend listening to this audiobook!