scijessreads

As a followup to Saint Death’s Daughter, Saint Death’s Herald was a welcome return to the world of Miscellaneous (Lanie) Stones, our necromancer with an “allergy” of sorts to violence. In this book, Lanie has to track down Grandpa Rad before he manages to amass enough power to cause even more problems than he already is. Irradiant Stones is nothing if not a persistent pain in the Stones legacy. Or at least, in Lanie’s life.

It is hard to describe this world, and this book, without either giving too much away or completely not doing it justice. There is wit and heart, along with intense emotion and a strong thread of duty and family. We go on a journey with Lanie as she learns more and more about what her powers can do, and how she has to adapt to meet Grandpa Rad at every turn. He may be annoying, but even as a ghost inhabiting other bodies, he is a wily bastard.

Stripes and Duantri are along for the ride with Lanie, along with other characters from the first book (both beloved, not beloved, and mysterious). We also meet new ones with their own terrifying abilities. As a whole, I adore this book and Lanie’s journey. The writing gives hints of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel (in humor and footnotes/annotations). It also at one point reminded me very much of the magic battle between Mad Madam Mim and Merlin from the Sword in the Stone animated movie. Even in the slower moments, we are propelled along to see just how much Lanie and the others can work together to see if they can best Irradiant Stones and at least set a few past grievances aright.

I did get to read this one as an ARC prior to publication, but managed to not post about it before it came out. Definitely check this one out! You do need to read Saint Death’s Daughter first, however. This one is not a standalone. But this world is unique and absurd and an absolute delight.