The Last Necromancer by C.J. Archer Published by Createspace on August 11, 2015
Pages: 268
Format: eARC
Source: the Author
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Victorian London: For five years, Charlotte (Charlie) Holloway has lived as a boy in the slums. But when one theft too many gets her arrested, her only means of escape lies with a dead man. Charlie hasn't raised a spirit since she first discovered she could do so five years ago. That time, her father banished her. This time, she brings even more trouble upon herself.
People are now hunting Charlie all over London, but only one man succeeds in capturing her.
Lincoln Fitzroy is the mysterious head of a secret organization on the trail of a madman who needs a necromancer to control his newly "made" creatures. There was only one known necromancer in the world - Charlotte - but now there appears to be two. Lincoln captures the willful Charlie in the hopes the boy will lead him to Charlotte. But what happens when he discovers the boy is in fact the young woman he's been searching for all along? And will she agree to work for the man who held her against her will, and for an organization she doesn't trust?
Because Lincoln and his ministry might be just as dangerous as the madman they're hunting.
You can find my reviews of C.J. Archer’s Freak House series HERE and her stand alone novel, Surrender, HERE. Don’t forget to ENTER to WIN at the bottom!
Victorian Era London, England
ATTENTION POLDARK FANS: You will LOVE the dynamic between the Female and Male protagonists in this novel.
I wish I could buy stock in C.J. Archer.
Once again, she’s blown me away with the start of another great series, The Ministry of Curiosities. When I read C.J.’s books, I imagine her conducting her research in wonderfully dusty libraries and some mystical, greenish light shooting up from the pages, illuminating her face and filling her with magical writing powers. I have always enjoyed how C.J. filters her love for history and all of her historical research through such addicting and entertaining novels.
The Last Necromancer has a scandalous start and immediately threw me into the reality of slum life in 1889 London. C.J.’s world building falls out of the pages and properly transports the reader to whatever setting our protagonist, Charlotte Holloway, is occupying.
Charlotte is like a mix of Eponine, from Les Mis, and Demelza, from Poldark. Her fighting spirit, sense of self-preservation and boldness was a nice departure from the quiet and helpless Victorian women so often portrayed in novels of this era. Charlotte has an edge to her, sharpened by experience, and she is a protagonist that I enjoyed from the first page. 
Alexandra Dowling– My Charlotte Holloway
Without a word, he padded back to the casket and placed the weapon inside, then returned to the bedroom. He re-emerged after ten minutes wearing nothing but a towel around his hips and carrying another that he used to dry his hair.
His lack of attention to me allowed me to take in the sight of his chest and shoulders, the left one with a bandage covering it where I had shot him. The youths in the gangs I’d been in had never had bodies like that. Fitzroy’s shoulders were broad, with bulges of muscle rippling down his arms and across his chest. The sprinkle of dark chest hair tapered off before reaching his rigid stomach.
If Charlotte reminded me of Demelza, then Lincoln Fitzroy, the dashing and disturbing male protagonist, one-hundred percent reminded me of Ross Poldark. Lincoln is described as looking darkly handsome, like he could fit in with Gypsies. The below image is what instantly came to mind when his character was described in the book. By God, he is a likable character and I just *die* with anticipation every time I read a C.J. Archer book while waiting to be introduced to the male MC. She just gets them SO RIGHT every time. There are undercurrents of Heathcliffe from Wuthering Heights and Rochester from Jane Eyre in Lincoln Fitzroy and, of course, we all know that is an intoxicating combination.
Aidan Turner– My Lincoln Fitzroy
The Last Necromancer is creative and has a unique twist with the pleasant familiarity of classic romance novels. This book was as spellbinding as C.J.’s other novels and thank goodness she writes faster than I can read because the second novel in the series, Her Majesty’s Necromancer is already out! So, basically, if you love reading, history, romance, and the paranormal and superhuman, then YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. And can I just say, aren’t the covers AMAZING?!
Aaaand just for fun:
There were some things about The Last Necromancer that reminded me about the Tooth and Claw Doctor Who episode. If that ep. was one of your favorites (as it was mine), then I think you will enjoy The Ministry of Curiosities series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wavZNqZwg40
I have been really into Steampunk books this past month. And this book sounds like something that I would love to add to that list of new favorite steampunk series.
Wonderful review, Regina! This sounds like such a well written book and I love how character driven it seems overall. The romance also seems realistic and just plain awesome! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Thanks for your wonderful review, Regina (As always!). You hit it right on with Ross Poldark – just saying’ 🙂
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the book so much. All the best.
no, don’t think so
Yes I would be able to fall in love with a necromancer!