Actual rating 3.75, rounded up to 4 stars. It is amazing how in any given situation, Aelis can find the exact wrong thing to say! It's difficult to watch her be so damn cocky and headsure all of the time, but also, shes 22, so how could I NOT forgive her for that? I am once again left admiring her ability to turn a Situation into More Situations. Looking forward to her future attempts at problem solving in book three!
PS- Tun is everything to me and he got so much more page time in this book, which pleased me greatly <3

I didn't like this book quite as much as I did the first one in the series. The youthfulness of the Aelis seemed to really stand out. It was mentioned several times how she ran headlong into a situation without really taking time to figure things out first, and unfortunately it did affect her friends this time. The book ended on a mini cliffhanger, and I am definitely going to read the next book in the series.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this second book in a very good fantasy series, dealing with magic, small towns, relationships, bureaucracy and of course evil.

A second book in a series is sometimes a difficult beast to master. One has their entire lifetime to work on the first book, the second one a whole lot less. In that time editors will add their ideas, reviews might effect the brain, and affect the story. Second guessing the second part might be a factor. I come to second books with a bit of trepidation. Can't lighting in a bottle captured again? Yes, yes it can. Necrobane is the second book in the Warden series, written by Daniel M. Ford and does everything a good second book should. Expands the world, raises the stakes, keeps what one enjoys in the characters present, and has a really great story.

Aelis de Lenti is the daughter of a rich and powerful family, a user of magic and the Warden of the town of Lone Pine. Aelis is still feeling her way in the town, but is still flush from her victory with another magic user, and the friends she has made. However Aelis also likes to rush into things and on an mission makes a mistake that puts a lot of people into danger. Aelis has caused the dead to rise, and soon they might be coming to Lone Pine, or even worse into Orc territory. Which could cause a war. Aelis gathers her friends and sets out into the woods to try and fix her mistake, but soon finds that there are many odd things happening, far more than just the undead. A cabin in the middle of the valley offers clues, but the cost might be too high. Answers might be found in a keep that is rapidly going underwater. Which is patrolled by an undead creature that none has seen before. And behind it all, might be something that Aelis with all her skills might not be able to beat.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one continues that tradition. Fantasy has gotten a little staid for me, but Ford has given me a lot of hope for the genre. Ford has created mythology and a history for the land this takes place in with lots to draw on. This fills out his characters and events, which Ford doles out carefully never dumping anything on the reader. The characters are also very good. Aelis is headstrong brash, scared, smart, sure, and vulnerable almost at the same time. The way that Ford makes her look at situations and figure things out really helps readers understand Aelis and her motivations. And her love. Even minor characters are given things to do, the barkeeps, and the farmers especially, and all of them are distinct, with enough backstory for further books. Plus the book has a good hook to get one excited for the next book, which I am excited to read, and can not wait.

Recommended for people who enjoy good fantasy stories, strong characters who actually feel things, great action and a plot that is clear and narratively easy to follow. Role players will get a lot out of this also, as the world is quite well set up, the magic is fascinating, and Ford's writing is a good template for adventures. Honestly can't wait for the next book.

I feel like this series is seriously underrated and I don't understand why. We follow Aelis who is spoiled and full of pride, but takes her job of protecting a small, backwater village seriously. She shouldn't be likeable, but she absolutely is. And I love how she is reluctantly turning into a mentor/teacher. It's great. More people please read this!

Picking up directly where The Warden left off, Necrobane hurls us back into a wry, rollicking necromantic adventure. Packed with genuinely threatening magical foes and skeletal creations alike, Necrobane is kind of like The Witcher if Geralt were an impulsive, ornery, brilliant magic school grad with more friends and a mild alcoholic streak. The worldbuilding and magic system is rich and fascinating, the characters are three-dimensional and lived in - and, as with The Warden, it has a satisfying ending while still teasing the next book with a juciy cliffhanger. A very strong follow-up and thoroughly enjoyable book.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

I enjoyed the previous book in this fantasy series, and this one was a definite improvement. Better writing and better editing FTW (although there were still quite a few spelling errors and word choices that I hope were taken care of before final publication).

In this book we have mostly the same cast of characters as appeared in the first book. The relationships progress nicely, the main character slowly finds the means to interact and integrate better with the citizens she is responsible for, and the obligatory quest was interesting and had consequences that will continue into future books. And, of course, this book ends in a similar cliffhanger as the previous book did, giving us the great news that this fun series will continue.