Best Necromancy
Sabriel details the journey of Sabriel Corvere, a young woman tasked with confronting death itself as an Abhorsen. This fantasy novel explores themes of duty and remembrance within the Old Kingdom’s unique system of necromancy. It is notable for its intricate world-building and compelling protagonis...
Why this score?
Modern YA fantasy classic, acclaimed for originality, atmosphere, and strong reader ratings across editions.
Scoring methodology
Gideon the Ninth is a 2019 science-fantasy novel by New Zealand author Tamsyn Muir and the first volume of The Locked Tomb series. It follows swordswoman Gideon Nav and necromancer Harrowhark Nonagesimus as they enter a deadly trial involving representatives of several noble houses. The novel combin...
Why this score?
Hugo-nominated genre phenomenon with passionate acclaim for voice and worldbuilding, though horror elements share space with sci-fi fantasy.
Scoring methodology
NecroMerger is a mobile idle and merge game developed by the British studio Grumpy Rhino Games and released in 2022. Players take on the role of a necromancer managing a lair, where they summon various creatures and merge them to feed an evolving monster known as the Devourer. The gameplay combines...
Why this score?
Highly regarded for strategic depth, humor, generous progression, and active development; later-game repetition and grind prevent top-tier consensus.
Scoring methodology
Vigor Mortis is a 2020 dark fantasy web serial by Thundamoo, noted for its intricate magic system and unique approach to necromancy-based progression.
Why this score?
Acclaimed for unusual necromancy, morally complex characters, and imaginative biology; bleakness, pacing irregularities, and divisive choices narrow its audience.
Scoring methodology
Harrow the Ninth is a 2020 science fantasy novel by New Zealand author Tamsyn Muir, and the second book in 'The Locked Tomb' series following 'Gideon the Ninth.' The novel continues the story in a universe where necromancers serve immortal emperor-gods, following the character Harrowhark Nonagesimus...
Why this score?
Critically acclaimed for structural audacity, voice, and reread depth, with strong series fandom; deliberate confusion and second-person narration make reception notably polarized.
Scoring methodology
"The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" is a horror novella written by American author H.P. Lovecraft around 1927 and published posthumously in 1941. The narrative follows a young man from Providence, Rhode Island, who becomes dangerously obsessed with tracking down the exact location of his ancestor's re...
Nona the Ninth is a 2022 science fantasy novel by New Zealand author Tamsyn Muir, published by Tor Books. It is the third installment in The Locked Tomb series, following Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth. The narrative shifts focus to a new protagonist named Nona, a young woman with a mysteriou...
Why this score?
Generally strong reviews praise character voice, tenderness, and thematic depth; slower pacing, reduced action, and prolonged withholding frustrated parts of the established readership.
Scoring methodology
Throne of Seal: The Crownless God is an anime adaptation of a complex fantasy narrative. It centers on Electrolux, a powerful necromancer god, and his quest for dominion over a world threatened by undead forces. Notably, the story explores themes of divine power, strategic warfare, and dark magic. T...
Goldenhand is a high fantasy novel written by Garth Nix and published in 2016 as the fifth installment in the Old Kingdom series. The narrative continues the story of Lirael, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, as she confronts an old magical threat from the northern lands. It resolves lingering plotlines invo...
Why this score?
Generally liked Old Kingdom continuation, but considered below Sabriel and Lirael in freshness and impact.
Scoring methodology
The Heart Forger is a 2018 young adult fantasy novel by Rin Chupeco and the second volume in The Bone Witch series. It follows Tea, a bone witch whose necromantic abilities and personal history place her in conflict with powerful political and magical forces. The story continues the series' use of d...
Seoul Station's Necromancer is a Korean modern-fantasy web novel by Jin Seol-woo. It was serialized on Munpia and follows a necromancer who returns to Earth after spending years in another world, where dungeon and monster-related events have become part of modern life. The work is intended for reade...
Why this score?
Influential returnee power fantasy with brisk early action; overpowered protagonist, tonal inconsistency, repetitive conflicts, and a weak conclusion draw criticism.
Scoring methodology
The Bone Witch is a 2017 young adult fantasy novel by Filipino author Rin Chupeco and the first book in The Bone Witch trilogy. It follows Tea, a girl who discovers that she is a dark asha, a magic-user able to raise the dead, after resurrecting her brother. The novel alternates between Tea's earlie...
