The Sandman Presents: Petrefax

This book doesn't have very much to do with the Sandman series, but the location of Necropolis Litharge is explored in here, giving us a better idea of this city of funeral preparation. There's also zombies! (sort of) and a couple of fun twists. Overall, it's an enjoyable installment in the Sandman universe.

Petrefax, as the journeyman undertaker introduced in Gaiman's "World's End", is off on his own adventure. He finds himself stopping at Malegrise (where every child alive is a sorcerer) where he encounters people outside of Necropolis Litharge.

This is written in a letter style to Master Klaproth. Petrefax tells of his falling in love with the undead Calcinia; of her fighting to gain her independence from a fixed marriage with Lord Bulgus, and of the role he suddenly finds thrust upon him.

I truly didn't expect it to end in the way it did. But as usual, this work serves to add to the ever growing richness of the Sandman characters.

Book Details:

Title The Sandman Presents: Petrefax
Author Mike Carey
Reviewed By Purplycookie

Petrafax, a journeyman undertaker trained in the Necropolis becomes involved with a magical battle involving a usurping baron, a lost heir and a woman who kills herself to recover the stolen half of her soul.