Book: Dead Vengeance
Reviewed by ErikaWasReading
Rating: 5/5
I didn’t expect a book about a necromancer and a “spirit extraction specialist” to be pure sunshine.
Liam Locke is the newest ExorSquad employee, who is assigned to Haunting #389 before the ink is dry on his employment contract, equipped with his handbook, minimal training, and an oversized pair of overalls. Archer Gravely is a necromancer who unfortunately needs a more-expert expert to deal with the entity that has taken over his farmhouse.
It’s heart eyes from the moment Liam & Archer meet, and these two continue to be adorable as they discover that this is more than a simple haunting.
Necromancy and death magic are two of my favorite things in books. And I loved that Archer felt different from any necromancer I had read before. The sexy little apron and the excessive amount of baked goods were just one way he felt unique. While he always acted with reverence, his relationship to the dead and his gift felt different, especially as the story progressed.
Liam was a sweet baby angel, and I loved his plucky, Pollyanna nature. So when he and Archer were both immediately willing to do anything to protect each other, it was pure sweetness. I seriously loved these two.
The novel took a few twists I definitely didn’t expect, and it was fantastic to have moments that hinted at the larger storyline. That feels very vague, but you know, spoilers :) Fabian, Helena, Simon, and Edgar Allen Crow (the raven) were all fantastic side characters.
The additional glimpses at ExorSquad operations were fantastic (but seriously, what’s up with Ted!!). Having the comparison of how Liam and Archer viewed Gerald was hilarious.
Dead Vengeance was another dose of pure book magic from W.H. Lockwood!