The Assassin Without a Name series

Some thoughts on Killing the Dead

I like necromancy. Not personally, but as an author. The myriad kinds of undead have always fascinated me, which is probably why I'm such a big fan of H.P. Lovecraft and August Derleth. Killing the Dead, however, is not horror, so even though it deals with necromancy, the story explores it from a fantasy perspective. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say (without spoilers) that the story remains firmly grounded, something which I think made for a much more satisfying story.

Much like Fine Wine, Killing the Dead was a lot of fun to write. It's longer than the first one in the series (each story so far gets a little bit longer) and has a more developed plot. You get a bit of a glimpse into our main character's psyche, as he wonders about redemption, and a broader view of Alchester, the city where the series takes place. Also like the first story in the series, Killing the Dead mostly serves as an introduction to the title character, while telling a fun story along the way.

If you enjoy a fun read about assassins, graveyards, and necromancers that you can easily finish in a sitting, then I think you'll like Killing the Dead.


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