Brilliant, stand-alone but interconnected novels set in the richly imagined world of Ile-Rien. These newly revised editions bring fresh polish to her early works, making them even more immersive and engaging.

Both novels showcase Well's signature storytelling - richly developed characters, intricate plots, and a setting that feels as alive as its inhabitants. The updated editions smooth out some of the early rough edges. making them more accessible to readers. Fans of historical fantasy, courtly intrigue, and heist-driven adventures will find them to be absolute gems!

A must read for fantasy lovers!

Would you like to read about a low-key feral woman with magic, causing mayhem and facing childhood trauma? And about a rogueish captain of the Queen's Guard who wavers between loyalties? Or what about a heist team with a vendetta against an evil duke? And what if that team finds themselves embroiled in a much larger, necromantic conflict? Well, The Book of Ile-Rien has all of that, with Martha Wells' exceptional characterisation and world building to boot. Thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My sincere apologies for the delay!

The Book of Ile-Rien is made up of two novels, both set within the world of Ile-Rien, specifically within its capital city, Vienne. The first, The Element of Fire focuses on Kade Carrion (fay, bastard, and strong) and Thomas Boniface (stubborn, smart, and strong) amid court intrigue, politicking, and history. It begins with Thomas breaking a sorcerer out of magical imprisonment, but whereas that should be the end of the mess, it is truly only the beginning. Loyal to the Queen Mother, Thomas is at the very heart of the battle for the King's attention amidst growing tensions internally and with other nations. All these matters become more complex when the king's exiled bastard half-sister, Kade Carrion, reappears and no one is entirely sure of what she wants and why. The novel is mostly told through their POVs, although we also get others were relevant, and they are undeniably the heart of the story. I became immensely invested in their characters and their backstories, while also immensely enjoying the political intrigue, backstabbing, and planning which takes place throughout the novel. Queen Ravenna always has a plan and everyone is plotting non-stop. The Element of Fire is a riot of a read!

The book moves into The Death of the Necromancer seamlessly and I had all my fingers and toes crossed we would meet the same characters again. In fact, Necromancer takes place roughly a hundred years or so after Fire. I was, admittedly, a little sad about it, but then Wells did the think again and introduced me to a whole set of new characters I loved. Meet Nicholas Valiarde and accomplices, amongst whom are his left and right hand, Madeline, an actress with a skill for disguises, and Reynard, a scoundrel with a heart of gold. They are currently breaking into a rich lady's house to steal her ill-gotten gold, when a ghoul appears and a whole new set of problems begins. Nicholas just wants vengeance on the Duke who caused his father's death, but now it's all hands on deck as people are disappearing and dying, ghouls roam the sewers, and a spiritualist makes the rounds in Vienne. I don't read a whole lot of heist novels, but Necromancer made me realise I would probably love them because I adored Nicholas' whole group immediately. With delightful disguises, queer representation, hijinks, explosions, bones, and grizzly murder scenes, Necromancer truly has everything I could ask for.

I first discovered Martha Wells, if one can say such a think about such a lauded and well-known author, in 2023, when I read City of Bones (immensely superior to the Clare novel of the same name) and then listened to the first of the Murderbot novellas last year. I loved both books and became immensely impressed by Wells' ability to craft such intensely loveable and real characters, who she places into storyworlds that feel complex and logical, with layers and history and legends and myths. I mean, who doesn't adore the Murderbot?! And in City of Bones she manages to craft a whole word, with its own apocalypse legends, lost knowledge, ancient remains, and interesting gender and sex concepts. It was giving Ursula K. LeGuin and I was both so pleased and so sad that it was a stand alone. So diving into The Book of Ile-Rien I very much hoped for the same and, blessed be, did indeed find it. Clocking in at just over 750 pages, The Book of Ile-Rien is a doorstopper, but I actually found myself wishing for more of each story. There is, as I said, a depth to Wells' storytelling that I, as an avid Fantasy and Sci-Fi fan, find enormously pleasing. I just know, while reading her books, that there is always more that could have been explored. In the case of The Book this works especially well because, together, the two stories show Ile-Rien and Vienne changing over time. While Fire feels a little more renaissance/early modern period, with swords and muskets, but also commedia del'arte and an inquisition, Necromancer has a more industrial feel to it, with gas lamps and guns, as well as trains and a more developed science. Ile-Rien is a country that develops and changes, where the people we meet in Fire become legend in Necromancer. Thankfully there are more books set in Ile-Rien, specifically the series The Fall of Ile-Rien, which I will need to get into straight away, because I miss the world already.

I would have given both The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer a five rating on their own, together I wish I could give them more. Martha Wells creates a stunning world and amazing characters. Whether you're in it for the politics and the magic, or the loveable heist team and their hijinks, Wells has it for you.

I had previously read the first in this series but had completely forgotten about Martha Wells earlier work, decided to request this to read the second after loving the murder bot series. I revisiting the first and reading the second really enjoyable especially court fantasy as usually I'm not a fan of this genre of book. But Wells writes in a way that makes court intrigue interesting with a fantastic character relationships that move the plot along slowly at first but while keeping you engaged it feels very 90s fantasy which I absolutely loved and I hope the rest of the series gets published too!

The Element of Fire : 4 stars

Old school Martha Wells does not disappoint. There’s a lot going on in this world and it took me some time to work through it but I loved these characters. They might be a little trope heavy and very black and white, but this is a good story told well. I could use more Kade in the narrative though.

The Death of the Necromancer : 4 stars

There is such a tenuous connection between this book and the first in the series, it’s hard to understand for most of it how they even are related. Now I loved both of these books in their own way, but even the writing style and genres seem wildly different.

Putting that aside, there is so much to love about this book. The mystery, the characters, the hijinks. It’s somehow both darker and lighter than the first book. The necromancy is intense, as are the revenge plots and the stakes. But the way these characters interact with each other and the way they live their lives feels comfortable and right.

I loved this series. I’m not totally sold on it actually being a series or combining the two books into one, but I’m very glad I read it.

I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of The Book of Ile-Rien and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher. Martha Wells is an amazing storyteller, and I truly enjoyed reading more of her fantasy work.

I was very excited when it was announced that Martha Wells’ early books were being updated and rereleased. She’s my favorite contemporary author but it’s difficult to find her older works, so I’m glad to finally get to read them.

The Book of Ile-Rien is really two books bound in one volume, The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer. I had assumed that the second title was a sequel to the first but this is not the case. The Death of the Necromancer takes place in the same world as The Element of Fire but over one hundred years later. It not only has entirely different characters but is an entirely different sub-genre, gaslight fantasy compared to the first book’s more classic knights and faerie elements. I very much enjoyed them both.

They also have in common that, unlike Wells’ later books, the main characters are all essentially human. It was really enjoyable to see hints of different elements that will become staples of her later writing though.

I preferred The Death of the Necromancer over The Element of Fire. It follows Nicholas, a gentleman thief, and his crew of misfits as they try to avoid notice by a Holmes and Watson inspired detective duo and accidentally lock horns with a dangerous necromancer. It’s fun and fast paced and I liked all the characters very much.

The Element of Fire was fun too, though it took me a little longer to get into. The main character of this one is the Queen’s Favorite, and captain of her guard. Her son, the king, and his Favorite, do not like or trust him, which makes it difficult for him to do his job as an invasion of faeries seems imminent. The king ended up being one of my favorite characters and I’m glad I stuck with it, even if it did take a little to get in the swing of.

I would recommend this book (these books?) as required reading for any serious Wells’ fan. For any fantasy fans who haven’t read her before, I’d recommend them as fun fantasy, though perhaps not the most representative gateway into her writing.

This collection is a must-read for historical fantasy lovers. Martha Wells masterfully blends political intrigue, heists, sorcery, and richly developed characters in The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer, both set in the fascinating world of Ile-Rien.

Wells’ signature style—sharp dialogue, gripping action, and characters who are both cynical and deeply compelling—shines through. Thomas Boniface’s courtly intrigue in The Element of Fire delivers a Renaissance-inspired thrill ride, while Nicholas Valiarde’s gaslamp heist in The Death of the Necromancer is a perfect mix of revenge, mystery, and necromantic horror.

The world-building is immersive, the pacing is tight, and the characters are unforgettable. If you love The Lies of Locke Lamora or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, this is your next obsession. I can’t recommend it enough!

I’ve got conflicting feelings on this book. It’s split into two halves - the first half we have a royal family, fae, battles, love and hate and all round fantasy fabulousness - I read this half so slowly as I was absolutely savouring every second of it. I’ve been reading it for months…then the second part….

It seems to be a completely different book - set after the previous part, we have no fae, just some wizards and sorcerers but they seem to be a bit weak. I really struggled with this part and I really did try to get into it but I just found it boring, drawn out and a lot of it pointless- I did regain interest a couple of times but lost it again soon after.

I am baffled by this book and how it is it seems, completely two different stories. Why not just two books?

My thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

These were both so great to read! That it's 2 books in one, yeah, that was so great, so I could go straight into the next adventure! I've really enjoyed the Murderbot series, and her 2 other fantasy's, so I was really excited to pick these ones up!

This world of Ile-Rien was so interesting, with the magic and the politics and the history! I really enjoyed getting to know it while getting to know these characters navigating these adventures! It was such a fun ride, and I'm so glad that these author-preferred texts are here!

The characters in these books, man, are so fascinating! Thomas, bound to the rule of law and to protect the rulers while dealing with Kade who disrupts the flow of things being the illegitimate daughter of the former king. Nicholas, who didn't care about the law, and was a bit of a artist when it comes to breaking it, very high brow, looking down on those who killed. Loved reading about them!

The plots in these books, with the magical goings on, the mysteries and the plotting, and the romance, all came together to tell really entertaining, engaging stories, I just had to keep reading, and I loved every word, and I hope the series continues to be updated to the author's preferred texts!

I had a great time reading these books and I can't wait to continue the series!

Martha Wells is one of my favorites for her Murderbot series. This is my first time dipping my toes into the rest of her works, and it did not disappoint.

ARC provided by Tor Books.

This took me almost a year to read and it wasn't the books fault.

I loved this book, it is so well written and I think that the way she tells this story is perfection. There is a beauty to the way she writes and I couldn't get enough of it. I like that the two stories were combined and I think they work really well together. This was my first book from Wells and it will not be my last. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series and I hope that they get remastered as well.

Martha Wells is an awesome writer, but man, her books are not easy to get through occasionally. Much like Murderbot, the terminology and plots are so thick, that it can be hard to decipher. I like her stories, though, so I tend to power through. I'm not sure I'll continue this series, but it hasn't changed my opinion of her as a writer.

The Book of Ile-Rien includes the first two books of Ile-Rien by Martha Wells. Originally published in 1993 & 1998, this reformatted and revised edition from Macmillan on their Tor imprint is 752 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author is gifted and prolific. This double book reformat of two early novels is a nice entry point for folks building a classic SF home library as well as old and new fans. A lot of readers are familiar with Wells from Murderbot of course, but she's been consistently -good- over her entire distinguished career.

This is a vaguely medieval high fantasy French flavored Europe, populated by fey, half-fey, humans, magic users, and a boatload of political intrigue. Good stuff.

Four and a half stars. These are classic, solid, timeless books. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library building, gifting, and would also make a great book club choice; meaty -and- entertaining.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The two novels included in the book are 'The Element of Fire' and 'The Death of the Necromancer', which were first published in 1993 and 1998, respectively. They are the first and second installments of the 'Ile-Rien' series of novels, which also contains three more novels written after these. I believe 'The Element of Fire' is her first novel that introduces the realm of Ile-Rien, a fictional country, to her readers. The technology presented in the two novels makes them equivalent to seventeenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, respectively, but with the presence of magic and sorcery.

The Book of Ile-Rien" by Martha Wells is a fantastic read! The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is rich and detailed. I was quickly drawn into the plot and found it hard to put the book down. Wells has a knack for creating immersive settings and intricate plots that keep you hooked from start to finish. If you enjoy fantasy with strong characters and an exciting storyline, this book is definitely worth reading.

It is my first time dabbling into Martha Wells's writing and honestly? I wish I had done it sooner.
I love the descriptions and the intricate world-building.
This book could be called an omnibus, with "The Element of Fire" and "The Death of the Necromancer"
And I can't choose which one I like the best. The story of Kade and Thomas Boniface.
Or Nicholas Valiarde's journey of vengeance.

The reason why I gave it four stars is that it took me a bit to get used to the complexity of the world and the world-building. It doesn't diminish the value of this book in any way. Just that I wasn't maybe ready for so much.
It does hit home with the historical romance. After all, if you know me you know I love a good historical fantasy romance.
Martha Wells is fantastic at pulling the reader's attention to the important bits.
If you love her most famous works you will love this book!

Superb!! I have read other works by Martha Wells and I have yet to be disappointed. I love the tension, the "will they, won't they" in book 1 and the clever, thief/nobleman from book 2. Both are incredibly written, paced well and all characters are fully fleshed. I will definitely be continuing this series.

The Book of Ile-Rien by Martha Wells

I think maybe I just only love Murderbot and not Martha Wells’s fantasy books?

After all, we all love Murderbot, right? Murderbot is one of the absolute best characters to come out of SF in years. I remember when I read the description of Martha Wells’s All Systems Red and thought to myself “I’ve got to put that on hold at the library!” And I was right - it was excellent. I have eagerly awaited each new Murderbot book. So I was very excited when NetGalley and tordotcom gave me an eARC of The Book of Ile-Rien, a republishing of The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer, two of Martha Wells’s earlier novels set in the same world, in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my first foray into Ms. Wells’s fantasy novels - I had previously read The Cloud Roads and The Witch King, both of which were fine, neither of which blew me away. But I was surprised at how bored I felt reading these novels. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I didn’t enjoy the setting, either. I prefer my fantasy worlds to not have guns in them, and that may have been a part of my dislike, but I also felt that the chapters were too long and the characters were not likeable. I didn’t want to spend time with them, or in this world. I’m sure there is an audience out there for these novels, but it isn’t me.

The Ile-Rien series' first two novels are included in this collection. The Death of the Necromancer came out in 1998, whereas The Element of Fire was first released in 1993. They are compiled in this book. Although there is a connection between the two storylines, they are very distinct from one another and follow different characters.

The fact that both books are set in the same city, albeit book two is set roughly a century after book one, ties the two books together. Although we follow entirely different individuals in the second book, which I thought to be fairly abrupt, I must say that I really liked each of the stories on their own. As a result, I'm not sure the two volumes work as a cohesive whole. The first and second novels are related in a few ways, but I wish there was more of a connection between them.

A new and revised edition, The Book of Ile-Rien combines The Element of Fire & The Death of the Necromancer.

There's constant action and betrayals in the former, as Captain of the Queen's Guard Thomas Boniface works with outcast princess Kade against an invasion of the faye.

A century later, The Death of the Necromancer stars actress Madeline and Nicholas, who seeks vengeance against the evil Count Montesq for the death of his beloved foster father.

Action moves quickly, with constant attacks by ghouls and revenants, but a necromancer is defeated - and Nicholas very cleverly achieves his vengeance.