4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the advanced digital copy!

I am not typically a fan of fantasy, overly feminist, or complicated world building novels, but this was an exception. Having grown up in a religious family that attended church services three times a week for much of my juvenile life, this book really struck me with a sense of familiarity (not in a morally good way, but with great storytelling craft) while also going against all of what my time in a suffocating religious setting tried to teach me.

This fantasy with just enough touches of darkness to consider it horror was rife with female magic and overbearing misogyny. Set on a timeline parallel to the Salem witch trials, I feel it told the story so many of us imagine if the accusations of witchcraft were true and not simply lies being tossed about in an attempt to landgrab. With the old laws, traditions, and general culture in regard to a woman’s place in society, Ripley did an astounding job at creating a world where real magic still couldn’t keep prejudices at bay. She altered biblical tales just enough for them to feel recognizable while also creating something new, giving this novel a sense of familiarity as I read it.

I will admit that the prologue had me scratching my head a bit in confusion but feel as if Ripley was trying to set up the story just enough for us to gain an understanding of where the main story begins without giving away too much. The game, Sixty-Three, that is played throughout the novel I also felt a bit confused about, but I didn’t feel my understanding of it was important to the story. I grasped enough of it to picture it in my mind, but never quite understood exactly how it was meant to be played successfully. Only that there were times when it wasn’t conducted properly, and other times when it was. Perhaps a diagram of the game on the end papers, or as a PDF file on digital copies, is something the publisher could entertain in the future. I also felt that the one trans character felt forcefully inserted and almost like an afterthought. I understand this is a hot topic lately and many authors and publishers are trying to have more of this type of representation, but it felt very ill-fitting here and not necessary to the story as a whole.

While the elements above fell short of ideal, I still felt that the world Ripley crafted and the characters she created were done so with expertise. I appreciate that the story was set in a time when women were more severely mistreated, making the aspect of vengeance feel necessary. If this story took place during present day, I’m not sure I would have been as on board and drawn in as I was while reading this. I found myself wishing I could ignore all adult responsibilities to plant myself down in a comfy chair to immerse myself in this novel from start to finish, only coming up for air when necessary. I will be eagerly awaiting the continuation of the journey toward righteousness for the Dirty.

I haven't read anything like this in a long time. It reminded me of the Salem witch trials and Edith Wharton stories I read in a gothic lit class in undergrad. Gripping, creepy, and whimsy, this is a standout and memorable debut. In addition to the horror, the scenes are also ripe with tender moments and heart amongst the children and Whitetail. The magic is unique and naturally built into the world with little handholding or exposition. And it made me sad! JUSTICE FOR MILK!

necrology by meg ripley

We begin with a history lesson that is one of the sharpest prologues i’ve read in recent memory. Back in the late 1600’s the ‘Dirty’ and the ‘Freeman’ made a deal to help stop magic from getting overrun.

200 years later we meet our family. Whitetail has been taking care of these 10 orphans since a fire took their homes and parents away. They are living on what we later find out to be Freeman property and the sudden appearance of Whitetail’s antlers have caused her status to be called into question, from here our story truly launches.

The way this author brings together the world-building and themes of this story are so immaculate I can’t help but think she consulted the wilds herself to put this story to paper so well.

The magic system is revolved around a ‘game’ of sorts but you get the most explanation you need in the first chapter with Rabbit and Rook. I cannot begin to explain how much you need to trust this author to reveal things herself, she respects you enough as a reader to put things together and confirms with such grace and style it makes my teeth hurt.

I feel like this book was pulled out of me in the best possible way, it truly feels like a labor of such love in a time in publishing that feels heartless. Each sentence is a perfect kick in the teeth while emanating love and tenderness.

also this is the first in a series but enough gets wrapped up to not feel like such a gaping hole in my chest (though how I am supposed to wait until fall 2026 for book 2 is beyond me)

thank you as always to netgalley, creature publishing and the author for a copy for my honest review.

Gripping, weird and dark this was an unusual delight. The alternate historical path and a derp dive into women's rights with a pitch perfect inadequate narrator. Highly recommend.

This is a feminist fantasy, horror and it does not read like a debut! It's the perfect amount of weirdness for my liking. The names themselves (Whitetail, Rabbit, etc) give an idea of what to expect in the book. We spent most of the book in the mind of Rabbitt, so we the readers understand more than she does as an 8 year old. I think this adds to the horror of the book. The exploration of sexism and women's rights after the Salam Witch trials gripped me. This is mainly a vibes book, so if you like the vibes (like I did), it'll work for you but if you want a fast paced, plot focused story this isn't for you.
I saw on net galley this is book 1? I can't wait!

3.75/5

This story starts off really slow. And frankly confusing. I had a hard time understanding the magic system, and I still don't understand it. That being said the halfway point it really picks up. I became really interested in the mysterious aspects to the story. I like the feminist messaging behind it all.

This book gives us a brilliant and fascinating new twist on the Salem Witch Trials. As a fan of folk horror, I feel that the lore Ripley has created is both empowering and hauntingly beautiful. I am looking forward to the continuation of this story.

This title leaves a lot for the reader to interpret and it is well-worth the effort. I'd classify this more as feminist fantasy/horror-lite when recommending it. I loved the historical elements, writing style, and the world building around the magic system!

I really couldn't get into this book due to the writing. I had to re-read several sentences and even then it made no sense to me. I'm sure it was an artistic choice, but for me it didn't work.

First of all, I am obsessed with that cover. It is what initially drew me to this book and then I read the summary and saw witchy feminist horror and I was sold.

On paper, I should have absolutely loved this book, however it was just ok for me. I’m not sure why I didn’t love it like I thought I would but there was just something lacking and I can’t put my finger on it.

This book is witchy. It’s whimsical. It’s maddening. I wanted to like it so much more than I did.

I picked up THE NECROLOGY because it’s a Creature Publishing title, and I’ve long admired from afar Creature’s mission as a feminist horror imprint. That said, it’s the first Creature title I’ve read, and it was disappointing.

The story, set in a parallel universe in which the Salem Witch trials ended in a treaty between witches and “Freemen”—a treaty stipulating that magickal women (known as The Dirty) will immediately and forever give up magick—features an eight-year-old girl protagonist. She’s spunky and sympathetic, but unbelievably rendered. At times she talks like a 30-year-old, and at other times she doesn’t understand the most basic concepts. It takes her the whole book to figure out what the reader has surmised from almost the beginning.

There were moments I did get “lost” in the story… meaning, it was so whimsical it carried me away… and moments I plain did not understand what the author was trying to describe. The storytelling was great. The writing was bad. I wish the author had told the story to a ghostwriter with a better command of language who could have done the whole book more justice.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

You’ve gotta love a book that is about women empowerment and women authentically being themselves. There’s loads of deep themes and they’re addressed brilliantly.

I love love love the cover.
The story is pretty good. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't feel the need to buy it instantly to put it on my shelf. But id deff suggest it to others,

Intriguing but perhaps not significant - I like the most horror-y horror elements to be sure, and this is a writer I’ll watch with much interest.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Necrology follows an alternate history of the aftermath of the Salem witch trials where magical woman known as the Dirty sign a contract to stop them from using their magic in exchange for freedom from the violent, non-magic Freemen. The story is set two hundred years later in an orphanage, run by a Dirty woman, Whitetail, who has recently sprouted antlers. When her benefactor arrives to coerce her into marriage, eight-year-old Rabbit defends her mistress and curses the man dead. Whitetail is arrested and the children are dispersed, with Rabbit chosen as the star witness to destroy Dirty women once and for all.

This was such a fantastic book!! I don’t think I’ve ever read an alternate history of post-Salem witch trials and this was soooo interesting. From the first page, this book hooks you in with the fascinating premise. I loved the atmosphere and how tense everything was with the politics lingering in the background. There were so many eerie moments with vivid settings. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the concept that only women have magic and that they’re called Dirty. It was super interesting and the author crafted a really unique alternate history.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters. I liked that we saw from more than one perspective and quite liked Rabbit, even though she was so young, she was really interesting to read about. She’s very clever and protective of Whitetail and the other orphans—it was sweet. I also really liked Mouse, Rook, and Snake—the other orphans we see the most of—they were all really interesting and had such distinct personalities. Whitetail was fascinating to read about and had such a good arc. I was particularly disturbed by the whole Hyena thing and found it made for a horrific and fantastical element that was unexpected.

Overall, this is such a dark, bewitching tale of feminism and strong female characters in the face of men who are scared of a woman’s power and strength.

Necrology by Meg Ripley is a cracker of a novel. Although it has been characterized as a horror novel, I found it more to be a diabolical fantasy.

In the solemn world crafted by Ripley, women have signed off the use of their innate magical ability. Magic is something they are born with, but to wield it, they must follow the will of the wilds and not some whim.

“But remember, you can ask a man to accompany you to the Grimm’s doorstep, but he’ll invite you both in for tea. Are you ready for death to offer you tea?”

And men. Well, men can only “assist” women in accessing their magic. However, they themselves don’t possess any.

A perfect reason for men to label the women as satanical and snatch away their power. This triggers centuries of oppression against the women, resulting in a divided society where the majority of the women obey the rules set by the “Freemen.” A few who don’t, stay away from the civilization amidst the Nature and are known as the Dirty.

Amidst this somber backdrop, Whitetail, the headmistress of an orphanage and an ardent believer in Dirt, raises ten orphans with love and discipline, trying to shield them from an oncoming war. But is she really capable of doing so?

Although Whitetail is arrested on flimsy grounds, her trial doesn’t take place until the end of the novel. A sense of foreboding, thus, permeates the entire novel. Whitetail’s arrest means trouble for the orphans, especially for Rabbit, the protagonist.

“Take away a dandelion’s head, all the seeds come loose, untethered on the wind.”

Necrology has a gripping start. Ripley fuses elements of magic with horror to create a plausible world. An oppressive world. It was so infuriating to read certain parts, such as when Rabbit is groomed by the Freemen at the Andrews house to be the star witness at the trial against Whitetail, or when the condition of the women in that house is described. It was a stark contrast to how Whitetail treated her children and other women in general.

While the orphanage was in shambles and the children lacked luxury, they had each other and the fierce love of Whitetail. The Andrew’s house, on the other hand, was a luxurious establishment, but it lacked warmth. The servants were submissive women who considered Dirt evil while the men guarding the house always treated the women with suspicion, forever watching their every move granting them no freedom. I was in tears sometimes while other times burning in rage while reading this book.

Further, Ripley’s visually descriptive writing transported me into her world effortlessly. The characters are so well-crafted that they jump off the pages.

I was reading Necrology while traveling in the metro, and Ripley’s compelling narrative had me so immersed that I almost missed disembarking on my destination station.

What would happen to Whitetail? What will happen to Rabbit and the other orphans? Will the Freemen succeed in their plans once more? Ripley maintains the tension throughout the novel building to a crescendo, resulting in an explosive climax, literally. I am now eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Necrology by Meg Ripley is an excellent debut and a must-read for fantasy and horror fans alike.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary digital copy. This does not affect my opinion on the book.

sigh

I had super high hopes for this, I really truly did. The cover is gorgeous, the premise is intriguing, and very early on we get nods to the Crucible, which I adore. But... this book was so boring... But let's start with the positives.

Our beginning cast of characters are all named after animals, and you really get a feel for their personality early on based off of this. I genuinely appreciate this as early book characterization takes a while for me to grasp sometimes.

The concept of magic via board game is super unique and explained really well. I'm always a big fan of unique magic systems and this book has it.

Unfortunately that's the end of the positives.

I was quite bored reading this book, which is easily shown through the month long process of me slogging through it. I genuinely had no desire to continue reading as everything in this book was pretty much doom and gloom the entire time. I understand that this is a story of female oppression, but I do not think there are many people who can truly read a book where the women suffer the entire time and still enjoy it.

Many of the interesting things that happened in this book happened without explanation or cause. The ending of this book did leave room for a sequel, so maybe we'll get some explanation there (you'll have to let me know, I won't be picking it up). A lot of very interesting scenes and ideas pop up and then are immediately swept away, leaving you pondering what the hell that was about while you read the very dull characters discuss very dull things.

And finally, please stop using animal abuse to show a character is a bad person. It's lazy shock value.

This book is only getting two stars for the magic system and the imagery of the ending.

Ugh - I feel like the premise of this had SO much promise and fell completely flat. This was like reading a semi coherent fever dream. The first few chapters were so difficult to understand, I feel like I had no idea what was happening which left me feeling super disengaged. Things started clearing up more throughout the book, but I still felt like so many things were left unexplained. Truly like a "word vomit", with so many random details thrown in and zero context for it. Overall, a super bizarre story.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very original and thought provoking. It did an interesting job of using historical events as it's inspiration but inventing from there. At times I found it confusing to read but the overall story was strong and compelling

I liked to read this book. I liked the storyline, the characters were lovely. The story was amazing. I gave it 4 stars. Super recommend.