Synopsis:
Lanie Stones is the necromancer that Death has been praying for.
Heartbroken, exiled from her homeland as a traitor, Lanie Stones would rather take refuge in good books and delicate pastries than hunt a deathless abomination, but that is the duty she has chosen.
The abomination in question happens to be her own great-grandfather, the powerful necromancer Irradiant Stones. Grandpa Rad has escaped from his prison and stolen a body, and is heading to the icy country of Skakhmat where he died, to finish the genocide he started. Fortunately for her, Lanie has her powerful death magic, including the power to sing the restless dead to their eternal slumber; and she has her new family by her side.
Grandpa Rad may have finally met his match.
Review:
was sent a copy of Saint Death’s Herald in exchange for an honest review.
Let’s start by saying I ADORED Saint Death’s Daughter. My review states:
I loved Saint Death’s Daughter for its complexities and characters and chaos and I think this will remain one of my top reads of 2022.
I still loved Saint Death’s Herald, but where Daughter was sprawling and wild and chaotic Herald is linear and focussed. Lanie is still our main focus as she hunts down Grandpa Rad, Herald hits the ground running and never stops. It’s been 3 years since I read Daughter but Cooney does a great job at making sure you’re never lost, or never more lost than you’d expect to be. Characters are re-introduced with ease and Lanie’s love for them shines through even when they’re far apart.
I think the standout moment of the book for me is when Lanie encounters the Gods. Her love and adoration is written with such love that I found myself also paralysed with love for these Gods Cooney has invented. It’s part of what makes this series so special, Cooney has this ability to write with love that almost feels rare right now. Lanie is unashamedly herself & unashamedly adores all of the Gods, not just Saint Death.
Why isn’t this a 5-start read? Honestly, it kind of is, but when sat next to Daughter I think this one shines a little less bright, it’s more focussed on one story (chasing down Grandpa Rad) which left less room for Lanie to meander through the world, the chaos is a little less… chaotic. It’s still an incredible book, Herald just follows more of a formula that Daughter had thrown out of the window with joy.
We meet shape-shifters, new religions, new ideas and Cooney adds more to this endlessly sprawling world. Lanie is the perfect MC because she has no fear, and she embraces everyone and everything around her.
Saint Death’s Herald is a triumph once again, just a slightly dimmer once compared to it’s predecessor. I can’t wait to see what Lanie gets up to next, and I hope it’s as chaotic and full of love as these two books have been.
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