The Necromancer's House

Built from powerful and believable characters, frightening magic, and day-to-day struggles such as love and addiction, this is one of those books that surprises readers at regular turns and still packs a surprising amount of emotion...far more than you'd expect from suspense or horror.

At the center of this book is Andrew Blankenship--a recovering alcoholic, a man just past(?) mourning, and a recluse...who also happens to be a powerful necromancer. Making the book what it is, there are other witches (one of whom Andrew is falling slightly in lust with, even if she doesn't care for men), villains to haunt readers as well as witches, and scenes that will make you cringe with nearly every word. There are also moments of heartbreak and show more regret drawn from the obstacles we all face in moving forward with our lives, and monsters who you'll be torn between hating and adoring.

And somehow, Buehlman pulls all of this into a solid and coherent novel, all of it unique and masterful. You can call this horror or suspense, or simply take it for what it is--a unique and creepy adventure of a novel, perfectly envisioned and wonderfully original.

This will be too strong and violent for some readers, and give others nightmares...but for many, it will be a horribly perfect story.

Absolutely recommended. show less

The style of writing smacks of an author trying really hard to turn a phrase clever. While there are echoes of Clive Barkeresque imagery, and a really intriguing story lurking underneath its over-stylized word play... It felt like I had to work hard to get through this short book, so couldn't enjoy the story and characters. I especially disliked the first half, where making a cohesive and concise sentence was clearly not a priority.

An extra star for the story and the fact that a main character was gay, and that fact wasn't essential to the story. It just was... Which is nice.

Buehlman can be so lyrical. This book in particular flows like poetry. Even the horrors sound beautiful. I loved the Russian and American folklore clashing together against a wall of magic.

I had a good and happy sob for Sal/Dali. It was the best dog death I've ever read. The happily ever after family was a bonus. It was OBHWF for grownups.

This book is totally INSANE!!

I thought Between Two Fires was crazy, but The Necromancer's House has that one beat. By a mile!

Magic is inherent but also can be taught. There are all kinds of spells that may be weaved. There are all kinds of creatures of myth and folklore. There's a meteor! There's a crazy-ass dog... creation. There is the dead founder of AA having conversations through the television. There's a house, filled with many booby traps and spells, and what dark fiction reader doesn't love that? There's also much, much more.

I can't even begin to explain this book, nor would I want to try. But what I can say is that I love and respect an imagination that can come up with something this maniacal and satisfying! It was show more entertaining, but also had parts where the pain was visceral. The characters were well drawn even if many of them were just downright nasty. I have to admit that a few of the characters that I disliked at first became my favorites by the end. I love when that happens.

I started with Those Across the River , then read Between Two Fires, and now this one. I'm not sure which of Christopher Buehlman's books I'll read next, but I am definitely going to be reading all of them!

I highly recommend this one to lovers of dark fiction, with some magic and myths woven into the narrative fabric. I guarantee you haven't read anything like it! show less

Billed as a horror novel, but really a fairy tale, The Necromancer's House/i> is a lovely long fever dream of bespelled vacuum cleaner protectors, hands of glory, and one very nasty Russian witch come down from the steppes on her house with chicken feet to exact revenge.

Andrew Blankenship is a recovering alcoholic and warlock with connections across the magical divides - a stoneworker, a hacker, and a rusalka - all butting heads against the day to day world they all must live in. Magic is costly and carefully considered (so are relationships). When a neighbor dies at the hands of Andrew's rusalka things get complicated and Baba Yaga comes to town or maybe she dies and sends someone else or maybe it's all one long dry drunk show more hallucination. Unexpected and highly entertaining, The Necromancer's House is joy throughout with its complex world building and interwoven threads of deeply realized characters. A great read - like all good fairy tales. Recommended. show less

Inventive, learned, imaginative, evocative, sublime and ridiculous. In other words, another great book by Buehlman.

Everything that I have read by Buehlman has been amazing.

This particular novel, as you can tell from the title, is a supernatural thriller full of magic and wizards and I loved it. And I don’t like stories about magic and wizards. Unless they are by this guy. And they have really bad-assed witches. Why are witches scarier than wizards? I don’t know, ask Freud I guess. Characters seemed instantly real and compelling. Pacing was perfect. Full of humor and wit. Did I mention it was scary as hell?

I have also read Those Across the River and The Lesser Dead. Each of these books is completely different than the others and every single one of them is incredible. I have a couple more to read (Suicide Motor Club is next….) and I have no show more idea what to expect except that they will be great.
This guy is fantastic. If you are making a list of great authors that explore supernatural themes (because Buehlman is at his core a great author) he is up there with anyone you’d care to name (King, McCammon, etc.). He is a great writer who just happens to write stories that are scary as hell.

And I am having so much fun reading them.

Check this guy out if you haven’t already. Start anywhere; everything he writes is great. Buehlman is the guy all my horror friends are falling over themselves spreading the word about. show less