The Last Necromancer (The Ministry Of Curiosities Book 1)

Excellent new series. I love the way the story started and made the main characters into real people right before your eyes. Interesting take on necromancy, great world-building, beautiful writing. I can definitely see this series going places!

A likeable protagonist, well developed secondary characters, and the plot never really slowed down enough to get boring. There were a few lines of thought that got tiresome through repetition, and there was one very blatant plot hole during the climactic scene, but none of that ruined the story for me. I look forward to reading more of the series.

In this book, Charlie has a strange gift that seems to horrify her - she can raise the dead. The first half of this book flies by with great writing, thought, and something just a little bit different in the paranormal scene. Charlie is resourceful girl who is living a double life as a boy in the street gangs of London. She also finds her "gift" repulsive and denies it when she has to.

I enjoyed watching her not giving up hope about leaving her kidnappers. She tried to escape every chance she got and she made opportunites for herself in that regard. She was strong, and resourceful, and sure of herself.

Then she had to put on a corset and it seemed everything went downhill from there. As soon as it was discovered that she was a woman instead of a young boy, Charlie became some kind of weak willed, helpless female. She cried, she fell in love with a man who wants nothing to do with her, and fooled herself about a "father" and went soft for that feeling that she was denied.

The villain for the story was ... a let down. Yeah, I can see how awesome someone may think bring that notorious person into the story with a necromancer would be, but ... I was left feeling disappointed. It felt like an easy way out, plus I'm still irritated that Charlie became someone who couldn't do anything for herself anymore as soon as she put on a dress.

In the beginning, I was thoroughly enjoying myself and was thrilled to read this book. But as soon as the lady clothes came out, all the tropes followed and I was left disappointed by a helpless damsel that merely distracted the villain long enough for the hero, whom comes off as a machine and a villain, to save the day.

The contrivance of lost child and the ensuing emotional conflict felt forced and rushed. Of course, jamming Victorian street rat, necromancer, false identity, and Frankenstein into one book wouldn't leave much time for rich plot development.

Hey, I accidentally finished a romance novel! Boy was this book a big disappointment. Mainly because it kept teasing me into thinking it was going to be something better and more unique than it ended up being. The first half was really good and I thought I had finally found a great series that I could continue reading. Then, it started weaving back and forth. It would start heading down the romance lane and I would get fed up and then it would take an unexpected turn and I thought it would go in some interesting new direction, only to weave back into the same old helpless woman tied to railroad tracks and needs rescuing by hunk man.
The female lead seemed capable and smart but really when it came down to getting out of trouble she had to be saved every time.
The male lead had absolutely no personality at all. Zero. Nothing. He was a walking bag of muscles. I kept thinking that maybe there would be a twist where he was a troll that had been some how brought over from a different dimension or maybe a robot? But, no, the female lead somehow falls for this walking muscle and ignores any of the other men who have any personality. He is strong and silent. Utterly demanding and controlling. The perfect counterpoint to the helpless lead.
I'm glad I finished because I have on occasion accidentally started a romance novel but never finished one. I learned by finishing this book that women objectify men in this romance form similar to how men objectify women in porn. She certainly didn't like him for his personality or brain!

An interesting but sometimes frustrating novel set during the late 1800s England. A hero who seems to become wimpier as the book progresses with flashes of bravery and actuions. The romance portion is unsettling and often cruel. However, I am planning on reading the next book just to see if Charlie comes into her own.

I liked the characters and the writing...and the world building was well done. These characters had a familiarity to them that made them feel like old friends...that even though the romance part of the story was very slow to build...but true to the characters and I am willing to wait rather than experience the insta-love so many other books suffer from. All and all a good read.

I need more stars!! This was a fantastic story! Charlie is just the type of heroine I like - she's unconventional and does things her own way. She don't need no man to pertect her! However, she slowly begins to discover that she does want one man. Does he want her, though?

I an totally hooked by this author. This book is written in first person and moves very quickly. The action is captivating, the dialog well written, and the characters interesting. I highly recommend this series.

The Last Necromancer (The Ministry Of Curiosities Book 1) This became an interesting read in much of what you think you know, may not be what really is. The period of the late 1800's in London make for an interesting historical perspective. I do recommend it as being somewhat light-hearted.

I download many books from the store that are for free or at a low cost but, before doing so, I always read the synopsis to see if it is something I would be interested in. Like everyone, I have certainly likes and dislikes. I really had no idea what to expect with this novel but I must say I was immediately captured with the main character Charlie (Charlotte) who begins as a boy living in the slums of London in the late 1800s. Charlie pretends to be a boy at the age of 13 but is really a girl (age 18). If Charlotte revealed her true sex she would've been bought and sold as a sex slave many times over. She learns a lot by trying to survive on the streets not knowing how valuable it would be to her future by ending up living much much differently!

Charlie/Charlotte is forced to live in the streets after becoming disowned by his father after his father finds out that his daughter was born with the gift (or as his father saw it... something evil) of being a "Necromancer" who has the ability to raise the spirit of a dying person. Before the story begins, Charlotte's mother was dying and Charlotte couldn't bear it so she tried to raise the spirit of her mother to come back and keep living so she wouldn't lose her wonderful mother. Unfortunately, her mother did not want to be brought back into her body and continue living and therefore it wasn't meant to be that her mother lived on. Charlotte's father witnessed what Charlotte was able to do, was appalled by what he saw, and thought Charlotte was nothing more than evil incarnate. Charlotte was surprised at her ability as well. Nonetheless, Charlotte's father would not allow such a person (despite his only daughter) and see her as nothing more than evil and made the decision whereby his daughter could no longer live with him. He abandoned her by throwing her out of the house caring less as to what would become of her. The people who had known her and her family only knew that she was gone and bus became "missing."

After Charlie/Charlotte was cast into the streets there were many people and groups of people who want her for her gift for financial gain or other reasons. Many also knew that she was more than just a missing girl. They were those who knew that the supernatural existed in many forms in the world and Charlotte possessed something that they wanted to see or use.

There were also many people aware of what a Necromancer was and were intrigued by it. As a result, Charlotte had to hide herself to avoid being hurt but also to avoid many people who might know what she might be capable of. Charlie is able to hide from them by dressing and looking like a boy (short and hair hanging over his face and being so thin she was able to hide very small breasts easily enough with clothes). She ends up being captured by a wealthy man named Lincoln Fitzroy who lives in a mansion with his servants "Gus" & "Seth" and a cook. "Fitzroy" has no idea that Charlie is female either but he wants to protect her. Fitzroy's two servants call their boss "Death" behind his back and refer to him as such when speaking to their captured individual. Fitzroy eventually tells Charlie that he is interested in finding the only living Necromancer that exists because he is a member of "The Ministry of Curiosities" and they meet regularly at his mansion.

The reader finds out that Fitzroy wants to keep her and treats her very well. Yet Charlie/Charlotte wants to escape since she has no idea what they want her for and to live in a place she is not used to. Charlie/Charlotte tries to escape many times from the these unknown people for fear of what they had in store for her but she was always caught. Therefore the reader has hope for this Charlie/Charlotte but knows not WHAT to hope for. Hoping that she escapes like she wants to and remains living in the streets like what and where she had learned to survive and used to or living rather lavishly in a mansion where she is treated with meals, a warm bed, a tub with warm running water and soap and much more?

The relationship that develops between Fitzroy, Charlotte, Seth and Gus (as well as the cook) becomes one like I have never encountered before. Fitzroy accidentally finds out that Charlie is a female and that her real name is Charlotte. I thought a romantic relationship would end up beginning in this novel but I was surprised at every turn. In fact, every time I thought something was going to happen...something ELSE did which kept me interested in the story! In addition, every time I thought a character was who I thought he or she was (including Charlie/Charlotte) I found out differently.

Charlotte finds out that Fitzroy is looking for a certain individual with the initials V. F. and that becomes their mission. For me, this novel was a real page turner wondering what is going to happen next. Twists and turns go on in the mansion as well as back out on the streets looking for the individual with the initials V. F. Both Charlotte and Fitzroy are in danger many a time and hurt badly.

Entertaining, good writing and a very good story but now I feel like I want to read more about the intriguing relationship that exists between Charlotte and Fitzroy and future endeavors of which is the author's plan since this is the first book in a series.

I was really impressed with this book, good coherent steam punk, with enough back story so that you enjoyed the story instead of trying to figure out the world that it was in. Characters are fleshed out & interesting. One of those you did not want to put down.

I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them to a degree. This seems improbable, however, authors are allowed imaginative leeway. Free was a good price. I will not pursue the following books because she is charging just a bit too much for them.

Now I loved this original story and oddly lovable characters. But I cannot read anymore series. If I could fit another one in it would be this one. I love the time period she wrote this in and who the father of this girl is.

A very entertaining read. The story was enjoyable and somewhat believable. Charlie was a bit whiney though she's independent while Lincoln is the bloody gentleman. The author balances their interacts well, making the reader yearn for more from them. It didn't get sappy which was nice.

Loved the storyline ... the twist on this story that followed the storyline of Frankenstein is intense...spell binding with a touch of romance between Charlie and Lincoln... eagerly awaiting the next book to see where it takes us in this invigorating adventure!!'

Excellent story! A new twist on an old story. Interesting, engaging characters and a heroine that pulls you in and makes you yearn right along with her. Cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

I found this story fascinating for several reasons. The use of and twist on the classic Frankenstein tale made for an interesting plot. While there are several errors that editing missed, they don't affect the over-all readability. I'm a bit disappointed that it took so long for Charlie to realize she lacked certain skills, but I'm glad it came to fruition in this first book. Too bad it was also used as a lure for the next in the series. That being said, I can't wait to read the next book. My imagination is completely caught!!

DISCLAIMER: The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
DISCLAIMER #2: I put Whispersync to good use and actually listened to the entire story.

This book's introduction is in dire need of an extra tag line "Frankenstein retelling" because the book is filled to the brim with it and there's even a scientist named Victor Frankenstein. I didn't think so at first with our heroine Charlotte being a necromancer and all that - and the story did really had a good start. I was intrigued and interested in the story as to how Charlie's necromancing abilities would or would not be put to use. Unfortunately for me it didn't go along the lines I would have liked it to go and somewhere around 50% I found myself rolling my eyes at the stupid YA things Charlie thought or said.

But really, the beginning was a decent one. Charlie pretends to be a 13-year-old boy in 1880s London after her father threw her out five years ago for accidentally putting her necromancing abilities to use with her recently deceased mother. Now, Charlie has been arrested for theft and she's in a prison cell with four other inmates - to get out, she actually puts her necromancing abilities to use (after an unfortunate accident with someone else) and I found myself thinking that I might actually quite like this story.

But then let's add Lincoln Fitzroy. A man who kind of kidnaps her, who wants to find other necromancers ... and Charlie's love interest. Bleh. It was so predictable that it made bile rise up in my throat (just like Charlie told us over and over again) and want to kick Charlie's ass. I didn't particularly care that his 30 seems kind of old compared to her 18, but I cared even less about this supposed attraction between the two. Fitzroy made her blush all the bloody time and I think it's a miracle that she managed to keep her secret of actually being a female from him that long. And it wasn't actually all that long of a time period - the entire story takes place in less than a couple of weeks.

In addition, I wasn't a big fan of the narrator's voice. I could listen to it but for some reason it kind of irritated me at first.

I will not continue with the series.

Although this gothic adventure plays on the tropes of feisty heroine and rigid hero. It does so with originality and flair. Gus and Seth are great characters too and the riff on Frankenstein is horrific. It doesn't have the depth of Anne Perry's William Monk series, but it's a good read.

Really enjoyed this first book in the series. Fun characters and entertaining lighter reading. I'm usually reading heavy stuff, so this was a nice change of pace. I really connected with the characters.

I found this story fascinating for several reasons. The use of and twist on the classic Frankenstein tale made for an interesting plot. While there are several errors that editing missed, they don't affect the over-all readability. I'm a bit disappointed that it took so long for Charlie to realize she lacked certain skills, but I'm glad it came to fruition in this first book. Too bad it was also used as a lure for the next in the series. That being said, I can't wait to read the next book. My imagination is completely caught!!

DISCLAIMER: The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
DISCLAIMER #2: I put Whispersync to good use and actually listened to the entire story.

This book's introduction is in dire need of an extra tag line "Frankenstein retelling" because the book is filled to the brim with it and there's even a scientist named Victor Frankenstein. I didn't think so at first with our heroine Charlotte being a necromancer and all that - and the story did really had a good start. I was intrigued and interested in the story as to how Charlie's necromancing abilities would or would not be put to use. Unfortunately for me it didn't go along the lines I would have liked it to go and somewhere around 50% I found myself rolling my eyes at the stupid YA things Charlie thought or said.

But really, the beginning was a decent one. Charlie pretends to be a 13-year-old boy in 1880s London after her father threw her out five years ago for accidentally putting her necromancing abilities to use with her recently deceased mother. Now, Charlie has been arrested for theft and she's in a prison cell with four other inmates - to get out, she actually puts her necromancing abilities to use (after an unfortunate accident with someone else) and I found myself thinking that I might actually quite like this story.

But then let's add Lincoln Fitzroy. A man who kind of kidnaps her, who wants to find other necromancers ... and Charlie's love interest. Bleh. It was so predictable that it made bile rise up in my throat (just like Charlie told us over and over again) and want to kick Charlie's ass. I didn't particularly care that his 30 seems kind of old compared to her 18, but I cared even less about this supposed attraction between the two. Fitzroy made her blush all the bloody time and I think it's a miracle that she managed to keep her secret of actually being a female from him that long. And it wasn't actually all that long of a time period - the entire story takes place in less than a couple of weeks.

In addition, I wasn't a big fan of the narrator's voice. I could listen to it but for some reason it kind of irritated me at first.

I will not continue with the series.

Although this gothic adventure plays on the tropes of feisty heroine and rigid hero. It does so with originality and flair. Gus and Seth are great characters too and the riff on Frankenstein is horrific. It doesn't have the depth of Anne Perry's William Monk series, but it's a good read.

Really enjoyed this first book in the series. Fun characters and entertaining lighter reading. I'm usually reading heavy stuff, so this was a nice change of pace. I really connected with the characters.

Quick paced storyline. You get a good feel for the characters. I like that the story includes other more known infamous characters from real life and fictional. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I just adored this interesting twist on an old story. No spoilers in this review! But the story hooked me immediately and I couldn't put it down. Charlie is so fierce but still very tender, true to the era. Moving right into book two now!

As a voracious reader I was ecstatic to discover a new author and series of books to devour. Excellent character development, Archer was able to incorporate Charlie's experiences and maturity gained from them with the adolescent tendencies of her age. Archer's breadth of vocabulary should also be mentioned; I appreciate the use of a thesaurus.

Loved all the characters...Easy to fall right into reading with the mindset of Victorian England and a bit if paranormal set in. Excellent writer and super storyteller...makes this a series I can't wait to continue reading.

This was a great spin on a necromancer book!! Without giving away spoilers, it kept me guessing and I loved it! I even recommended it to my husband and we rarely read the same types of stories! I would gladly read the rest of this series!

If you pay attention to history, you'll wonder what is going on. It's called fiction. I thought the author did a great job in the process of keeping the main character's secret as the plot unfolded. A quick read with good characters.

Wonderful story! Great characters and a great adventure! I appreciated the clean language, decency, along with the lack of graphic violence. Than you, Ms Archer for writing an all-around fascinating story!

CJ Archer's first book in The Ministry of Curiosities series was great. The characters are interesting and realistic, unlike many in independent supernatural fiction. I am looking forward to more from the series.

The author does a fantastic job of world building and character development. You get to know the characters as though they were actual people, over time and through a random series of events. I can't say enough good things about this book and I will be reading more from this author!