I read this book without realising that I had picked up the third in the series. Having gone back and read books one and two, I really enjoyed this read, although I think it would be readable as a stand-alone book as well.
(Also worth noting, it isn't needed to have read Northanger Abbey to be able to read this either)

If you are looking for a fun, paranormal / urban fantasy retelling of a classic, this is for you.

Well written, engaging, and whilst based on Northanger Abbey, Adrienne Blake's own style of storytelling and retelling really shines through. The character of Cat is very well developed, and feels authentic, and the tale is well-paced

A big thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I believe that this is the beginning of a new series. I could be wrong. This is the story of Cat-spreading her wings so to speak and learning about herself. She falls in love w her mentor Henry. There is a touch of suspense. This is a cute book, full of paranormal. I must say the Abbey was intriguing. This was a quick love and sort of felt like a week in the shoes of Cat. 3.5 stars

Kinda slow at first then picked up nicely. Cat comes into her powers but needs guidance and help. In comes Henry. But will his family allow the romance budding between them?


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Necromancer Abbey by Adrienne Blake

This is the 3rd book of the series though a stand-alone book it felt like the previous background is missing.

A very slow beginning and I found it difficult to hold my attention but stuck with it although not a particularly great story. I expected more on the whole a mediocre read.2.5/5

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel.

This book was fun. It's been years since I've read Northanger Abbey so I can't speak to how closely it follows the original, but I love a good paranormal novel. The world-building was fun and interesting, and I enjoyed the characters, although Cat did a bit too much pining for my liking.

I found it ended sort of abruptly, but I just may not have been expecting it due to the book preview in the back.

I would be likely to pick up another one in this series eventually.

The novel, set in a world where mages live unrecognized alongside normal people, is pleasant to read and entertaining. A young witch is kept from her abilities by her family - but when a new neighbor moves in, the world opens up to her and despite her family's concern, she moves from the small town to the metropolis to learn more about her magic, life and also love. There are both very likable and unlikable characters, some of whose development surprised me.

I haven't read anything by this author before but I will go back and read the other books in this series.. Cat has inherited dark magic. She needs a mentor and has found one in Henry. Henry's family has a secret. Will her magical powers reveal a truth that no one wants out? I enjoyed this book. I received this book from Net Galley and Owl Press for a honest review.

The story is enjoyable with minimal swearing and a clean romance between the leads. I couldn’t put this book down.. I liked the main character development, that grows quite nicely as the story goes on..

Oh my! I think I just found a new favourite author. I loved the characters in this book, the world Adrienne created and blended with the human world. There was just the right mix of magic and romance to keep you enthralled. I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read her next book.

I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I didn't realize this was third in a series. I found that I missed background that may have been relevant to this book.

The beginning of this book was slow and didn't fully capture my interest. I never quite connected with the plot or the characters.

I’ve not read Northanger Abbey before, which is the classic book that this is based on. The setting is now the US, and Cat is a budding necromancer who has no understanding of her powers until a kindly neighbour takes her under her wing and takes her to New York.

This is a fairly straightforward paranormal romance - you know very early on who the instalove interest is, and you know things will end happily ever after. Cat comes across as very young and naïve, which makes sense given she’s a 21 year old country girl.

There were parts that I would’ve loved to have seen more on. For instance, the Thorpe siblings seem to vanish off the page and I would’ve enjoyed a slightly stronger resolution to their arc.

I did enjoy the book. I liked the writing style and Cat, for all her wide eyed innocence, was an adorable character. If you’re looking for a lighthearted take on a classic, then this is worth a look.

*social media reviews to follow*

Overall this was a decent paranormal series. The problem lies in the pacing of the story telling, it was slow in some areas. I'm not sure if I care enough about the characters to continue this series

Thanks for allowing me to preview this title. I realized after I started that this was the 3rd book in a series of seemingly stand-alone novels. I still felt like I was missing some back story though. Maybe I would have felt more of a kinship to this book if I had previously read "Northanger Abbey"? Not sure. I did not feel any connection to the characters and felt they were a bit shallow. While I did finish the book, I felt like I was waiting for some big reveal or climax which never happened. I thought the premise was good but the delivery was lacking.

Jane Austen retellings are kind of a dime a dozen, but it isn't often you get a retelling of Northanger Abbey. Admittedly, it's been about a decade since I read the original Austen novel, but I enjoyed the way that Necromancer Abbey took the bones of the original and put a fun and magical spin on them while still staying true to the heart of the story.

Overall, this book was fun, sweet, and a little quirky, with immersive world building and intriguing magic. I enjoyed Cat's trip to the "Magical Apple" and her journey towards learning about herself, her magic, and the world. The romance between Cat and Henry was adorable, and I appreciated Cat's narrative forthrightness about how much she wanted him.

For me, where this book stumbled was in the pacing and in some of the writing itself. It took a while for me to get fully sucked into the story - the first half of the book dragged a little as all the characters made themselves known and the drama set itself up. The faithfulness to the original also led to some pacing issues, with the side plot of John and Isabella - and Cat's brother Jimmy - feeling a bit out of step with the rest of the story.

As for the writing, the dialogue read as a bit unnatural and occasionally stilted to me, and sometimes I felt as if I was being given too many details about Cat's step by step process of living. That too slowed down the book a bit, making it a little tough to fully immerse myself in the world.

All in all, a fun ride but not without its issues.

3/5

Cat Moreland’s inherited dark magic is getting stronger every day, and she wishes to truly embrace herself and her magic. However, out of an abundance of caution, her parents have stifled her attempts to understand her magical abilities but you can stifle the whispers of the dead.

A chance meeting with a new neighbor shapes Cat’s future when Sylvia immediately recognizes Cat’s powers - as a necromancies. Sylvia offers her a position at her magic shop in New York where, under the tutelage of a master necromancer, where Cat can safely develop her skills.

Through Sylvia, Cat meets Henry Tilney, who becomes her mentor and friend. She develops a crush on him and is thrilled when he invites her to his family’s mysterious mansion, Northanger Abbey. The abbey exists in the center of New York City but remains hidden from the eyes of mortals.

At the Abbey, Cats growing power accidentally exposes the Henry's family's carefully guarded secrets, threatening her blossoming relationship with Henry.

I thought this was just OK. Cat goes from being annoyed with Henry to all of the sudden being in love and wanting to spend her entire life with him. Very odd development of the relationship.

There are also a couple of side characters who could’ve not been in the book at all. Her roommate, Isabelle, and roommates brother. They start out as if they’ll be a significant part of the story, and then, all of the sudden, they’re no longer there. Their conclusion was neatly explained away however it doesn’t make much sense. I have so many questions about how those two even came about.

I’d have to give this one a miss although I do appreciate City Owl and the author for granting me an ARC.

I think Necromancer Abbey is my favourite book so far in the Souls and Shadows series. Blake hits all the key points from Northanger Abbey but without being too constrained by the retelling, allowing the tale to develop in its own way. Cat came across really well as a character. Henry wasn't quite so developed, but he was fleshed out well enough for us to like and understand him. And overall, the book kept me turning the pages, interested to see how things would develop. Recommended for PNR fans and fans of Jane Austen retellings. This was a 4-star read for me.