Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: The Necromancer’s Dilemma
SERIES: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2
AUTHOR: SJ Himes
NARRATOR: Joel Leslie
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2017
LENGTH: 7 hours, 48 minutes
BLURB:
Even love can die without trust.
Angel’s brother, Isaac, has returned home, and the pair begins to make slow and awkward attempts back to each other. Learning how to be a brother to a grown man instead of a parental figure has Angel adjusting his behaviors and habits, and Isaac still remains a mystery. Was it merely entering adulthood that turned Isaac away from an overprotective Angel, or does Isaac carry a secret that will keep them from finally being a real family?
Daniel Macavoy, Angel’s new apprentice, is torn between his bond with Angel and the grasping machinations of his father. Dealing with a traumatized apprentice with dangerous holes in his magical education, saving Daniel may be harder than Angel first thought – especially since the biggest problem is not revenge, but guilt.
The one shining beacon in his life is Simeon, Elder vampire of Boston’s only Bloodclan. Four hundred years old and sexy as sin, Simeon is warrior and sage, patient and cunning. The strength Angel draws from Simeon’s devotion and the newborn mate-bond between them is steadfast and true – and the fount of death magic that animates the undead lord places Angel in the midst of a power struggle for control over himself, his lover, and his family.
Through it all, Angel is beleaguered by the unwanted attention of a troll-hybrid, the adventures of a dragon in the city, and a serial killer has decided to hunt the back alleys and midnight streets of Boston.
REVIEW:
I’m really enjoying this world of practitioners, vampires and the likes. More than I thought I would, if I’m being honest with you. One of my absolute favourite things about these books is how detailed they are. And I mean that in the intricacy of the plot. The many twists and turns. And also – can you go wrong with a cute dragon familiar? I’m a huge fan of Eroch he makes me smile so hard.
Anyway, as I was listening to this book I was wondering if it was part of something larger. If all the twists and turns, the scraps of information were building towards something much bigger later on in the series. It kind of felt like strings and alternative plotlines were slowly exposed and hinted at the further along into the book we got. But for the long game, most of it had no major impact on the here and now. Then again, it could also be a great way to add depth and keep the listener on their proverbial toes.
Something that surprised me was the noticeable difference in sound quality between some of the chapters. It wasn’t difference in volume, just the sound itself, it didn’t sound the same. Sadly I’m not able to explain much in which way, just tell you what I noticed. Also, it wasn’t a huge or intrusive difference, but it was something you’d notice if you focused on it at the right moments. Needless to say, that once you were sucked into the story, nothing else mattered or caught any notice. And sucked in you were (no pun intended), Joel Leslie delivered a great narration of these characters and the events taking place.
This book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and one that I can’t wait to explore more of, luckily the next book isn’t too far off – only a few days away now. Sometimes it really pays off to be late for certain parties. 🙂
RATING: 
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