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Christopher Buehlman

The Necromancer's House Hardcover – October 1, 2013

by Christopher Buehlman (Author)

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Those Across the River, a “beautifully written…exceedingly clever” (Boston Herald) masterpiece of “genuine terror” (New York Times bestselling author F. Paul Wilson), was hailed by #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris as “one of the best first novels I’ve ever read.” Now comes Christopher Buehlman’s new novel—one of uncommon horrors hiding behind the walls of the house next door…

“You think you got away with something, don’t you? But your time has run out. We know where you are. And we are coming.”
The man on the screen says this in Russian.
“Who are you?”
The man smiles, but it’s not a pleasant smile.
The image freezes.
The celluloid burns exactly where his mouth is, burns in the nearly flat U of his smile. His eyes burn, too.
The man fades, leaving the burning smiley face smoldering on the screen.
“Oh Christ,” Andrew says.
The television catches fire.

Andrew Ranulf Blankenship is a handsome, stylish nonconformist with wry wit, a classic Mustang, and a massive library. He is also a recovering alcoholic and a practicing warlock, able to speak with the dead through film. His house is a maze of sorcerous booby traps and escape tunnels, as yours might be if you were sitting on a treasury of Russian magic stolen from the Soviet Union thirty years ago. Andrew has long known that magic was a brutal game requiring blood sacrifice and a willingness to confront death, but his many years of peace and comfort have left him soft, more concerned with maintaining false youth than with seeing to his own defense. Now a monster straight from the pages of Russian folklore is coming for him, and frost and death are coming with her.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ace
Publication date

October 1, 2013
Dimensions

6.5 x 1.25 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0425256650
ISBN-13

978-0425256657
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. A Russian man&'s drowning launches this rambunctious magical melee. Buehlman (Those Across the River) pits Andrew Blankenship and Anneke Zautke, companions in witchcraft and Alcoholics Anonymous, against Russian ogress Baba Yaga, whose son, Misha, falls prey to mischievous water sprite Nadia, a friend (of sorts) of Andrew&'s. Contrasting with exotic magical escapades, real-world losses haunt both Anneke and Andrew. As the threat from Baba Yaga mounts and bad things happen to Andrew&'s sidekicks, the eponymous house no longer provides a certain refuge. The logic of the plot is eclipsed by the eruption of characters who evoke Dickensian whimsy and range from the merely unusual to the bizarrely imaginative. Within this magical universe, rivalries, revenge, and self-seeking contend with the willingness to sacrifice. The final confrontation, evolving in part from Andrew&'s prior service to Baba Yaga and her daughter Marina&'s defiance, wreaks an ambiguous ending in an explosion of enthralling fantasy. The vibrant, bracing atmosphere easily overpowers any niggling concerns about a few incongruous incidents. (Oct.)

Review

Praise for Those Across the River
One of Publishers Weekly’s Top-Ten SF, Fantasy & Horror Novels
A 2012 World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel

“What a treat. As much F. Scott Fitzgerald as Dean Koontz. A graceful, horrific read.”—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“So real you can almost see the sweat roll down the page.”—Boston Herald

“Wonderfully eerie from start to finish—a novel sure to enthrall readers of all stripes.”—Grant Blackwood, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“An unsettling brew of growing menace…Do not miss this chilling debut.”—F. Paul Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Cold City

“Sublimely crafted.”—New York Journal of Books

“Lures you into a different era, seduces you with eloquent prose and sensual period details, then clamps down on your jugular…An outstanding debut.”—Hank Schwaeble, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Diabolical

“A delightfully genre-bending juxtaposition of supernatural horror and gothic drama.”—California Literary Review

“Gripping, compelling gothic horror in the most classical sense, an American Dracula that absorbs the reader into its seductive embrace through lush rhythms and a veneer of homespun innocence.”—The Trades

And for Between Two Fires

“By combining modern horror dynamics with a convincing medieval setting, Christopher Buehlman secures his status among today’s leading dark-fantasy authors.”—Shelf Awareness

“Fans of historical fantasy and horror will find this epic darkly rewarding.”—Publishers Weekly

“Buehlman is now two for two in delivering eerie, offbeat novels with admirable literary skill.”—Kirkus Reviews

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ace; First Edition (October 1, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425256650
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425256657
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,027,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7,535 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
- #38,563 in Horror Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
273 ratings

About the author

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Christopher Buehlman

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Christopher Buehlman is a native Floridian and author of the literary horror novels 'Those Across the River' and 'Between Two Fires.' He is the winner of the 2007 Bridport Prize in poetry, and the author of several provocative plays, including Hot Nights for the War Wives of Ithaka. Many know him as comedian Christophe the Insultor, something of a cult figure on the renaissance festival circuit. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. His first novel, 'Those Across the River,' was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for best novel in 2012.

Customer reviews

5 star		49%
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3 star		12%
2 star		5%
1 star		1%

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Chris Condon

Buehlman magic

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2021

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Absolute Buehlman magic. Another opportunity to question why he is the most underrated author in modern horror fiction.” Those Across The River” has rented space in my head since halfway through my first of three reads, when I became enamored with the main character Eudora. Now Mr. Buehlman takes us the different levels. He proves two things.. from the 1930’s rural South, to 14th century France, to New York in the 70’s… Buehlman is a horror visionary that can transport both your heart and soul to the place of his prose. And… as a poet who writes horror fiction.. he inks majestic and artful works that can compared with literary greats.
Of note however… this copy of Necromancer’s House, while evidently new, has yellow edged paper and stained ends.. shipped in soft wrap that clearly blunted the binding corners. D- in the vendor’s assessment of the book’s condition and ability to deliver it in fair condition.

4 people found this helpful

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Lupe Sanchez

Should've stuck to magic

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022

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I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1 just for the magic which was actually quite good. If it had just been about magic, it could've been a 4-5 star read.
But no. We also get a ridiculous, straight man's fantasy about romance with a lesbian. Terrible characterizations of women-misogynist, sexist, puerile. And a cast of mostly awful, un-charming characters. And plotlines that just...end. After the sex-offender lesbian sleeps with her friend (a man), I almost quit. But I kept reading, hoping I would get the story about why the protagonist is being hunted. I got glimpses but as for details or how he ended up in Syracuse, nothing. So I sped-read through the last 30%, hoping for at least a good resolution. A damn disappointment but predictable given the rest of the book. The first and last book I'll read by this author.

2 people found this helpful

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Jill Hayes

... a "modern" warlock to create a downbeat story of love, loss

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2015

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Christopher Buehlman weaves together some truly fascinating mythology with the gritty reality of a "modern" warlock to create a downbeat story of love, loss, addiction and magic.

I love the concept of a modern-day set of wizards who use materials at hand -- like Skype and videotapes -- to talk to the dead, and who have to wrestle with modern problems to be a fascinating new approach to wizardry and magic. I also love the way Buehlman plays with stereotypes and refuses to let standard "romantic" situations constrain his story. He also has a knack for just the right amount of withholding.

The book is also very well written, and I learned a lot watching Buehlman's expert hand at work. The story is about Baba Yaga, but he approaches her "reality" from such a fresh perspective he makes her truly horrifying. Bravo!

However, I didn't find the story as compelling as I'd like, because the characters were all very broken in not very appealing ways. And the character's motivations are less clear than I'd like -- they just stumble from one thing to another without a clear direction, it seemed to me.

I did find the characters very well-written and quite believable, but an AA-attending wizard whose dark past activities aren't well illuminated (and not in a suspenseful way) is not a character I want to live with for a long time. I do like that he is self-deceiving and this is his fatal flaw. That part is perfectly done.

A fantasy / horror writer to watch. Great ideas... modern insight, a real grasp of mythology and terror.

6 people found this helpful

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Justin W. Quick

Magic, folklore, and a Mustang.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014

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This is the third book by Christopher Buehlman that I have read and I was not disappointed.

Andrew Blankenship is a recovering alcoholic and warlock immersed in a world melding magic and technology. Most of his closest friends have a specialty in some magic field or another. He is very protective of his home and keeps himself hidden as much as possible. He is hiding for a reason. That is about as much of the plot as I want to give away. I believe the description above posted by Amazon doesn't spoil everything, but still gives away too much.

The writing style of this novel comes off a bit chaotic. That's a compliment though, not a complaint. Reading through the majority of the book style wise, reminding me a lot of the book Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk. The way magic works and combines with technology in the world created by Buehlman is fantastic. Some reviews have complained about not being able to understand the characters in the story. I would argue that they aren't paying attention. You are able to really get into the head of Andrew Blankenship and see from his crazy, messed up, perspective.
This book is more of a suspense story than horror compared to his first two novels. But, if you buy into the world he created there is still quite a bit of stuff that you will find downright terrifying in The Necromancer's House.
I highly recommend it to anyone looking into the horror/supernatural/scifi genres. I would also recommend picking up his first two books, Those Across the River and Between Two Fires.

10 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Another fantastic work by Mr. Buehlman!

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020

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As he did with Between Two Fires, Mr. Buehlmam has crafted an amazing story with his lean but descriptive prose. His characters seem to leap off the page into our hearts and minds. One scene at the end had me in tears, just like he did with the end of Between Two Fires. It's no easy feat to set two stories in two completely different geographical settings and time periods, making them both come alive, but Christopher Buehlman does. Looking forward to reading more of his works!

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Kindle Customer

An Unexpected Surprise

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022

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Reading Kindle Unlimited, you wade through a sea of mediocre (or worse) novels hoping to find a gem. The Necromancer's House is a gem. It's Urban Fantasy with a Russian slant that was a very refreshing from the usual perspective. I was hooked early on and enjoyed it immensely.

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D. Jones

Deserving a UK audience

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2015

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The Necromancer's House is a modern mix of mythology and horror and an imaginative tour de force. Little is given to us of the protagonist's past, other than to tell us that he has arcane gifts and that such gifts are rare. As with all things supernatural, these gifts have to be hidden from a skeptical and reactive modern world. But the modern world is embraced in a completely natural way by Buehlman whose setting for this novel completely immerses us in current day America. The pacing is excellent and the mystery unfolds with compelling force to engross the reader. Hints at how the luminous have played their part in world history are subtle and nicely done but never overwhelm the mythology. The interaction between the supernatural and the natural is always at the heart of this novel and the author carries this off with style.

Not sure how this book has slipped through the net in the UK.

Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

Erinome

Der Vergangenheit entkommt niemand...

Reviewed in Germany on October 5, 2015

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Der Magier Andrew Ranulf Blankenship genießt sein Leben in vollen Zügen. Seine Fähigkeiten setzt er hauptsächlich dazu ein, sich sein jugendliches Aussehen zu erhalten, und sich das Leben so angenehm wie möglich zu machen. Durch eine Verkettung unglücklicher Zufälle wird Andrew jedoch mit seiner Vergangenheit konfrontiert. In den Achtzigern hat er einige Zeit hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang verbracht und hat dort den Weg Baba Yagas gekreuzt - mit schrecklichen Folgen für ihn und er konnte nur mit knapper Not entkommen. Nun ist ihm Baba Yaga wieder auf die Spur gekommen und sie hat nur eines im Sinn: Andrews Vernichtung.

Andrew ist eine sehr vielschichtige und sympathische Hauptfigur. Obwohl er ein mächtiger Magier und Nekromant ist, plagen ihn auch "normale" Probleme. So ist er beispielsweise ein trockener Alkoholiker und muss sich im Verlauf des Romans auch immer wieder mit seiner Sucht auseinandersetzen. Er hat also eine bewegte Vergangenheit, über die wir in Ansätzen etwas erfahren, und die Einblicke in seinen Charakter haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Seine Handlungen sind unterm Strich vielleicht nicht immer richtig, aber stets nachvollziehbar. Andrew stehen außerdem einige gut ausgearbeitete und interessante Nebenfiguren zur Seite. Besonders relevant für die Handlung ist Anneke, Andrews beste Freundin, die ebenfalls über magisches Talent verfügt, und die mir auch gut gefallen hat.
Die magischen Elemente in THE NECROMANCER'S HOUSE haben mich vollkommen überzeugt. Es gibt einige sehr interessante und unheimliche Ausprägungen und vor allem Baba Yagas Zaubersprüche haben es in sich. Mir haben die Einblicke in die russische Folklore insgesamt sehr gut gefallen und auch die übernatürlichen Wesen, denen wir begegnen, sind stimmig in den Roman eingefügt.
Die Handlung von THE NECROMANCER'S HOUSE ist spannend und schlüssig aufgebaut und mündet in einem befriedigenden Finale. Es sind immer wieder Rückblenden in Andrews Vergangenheit eingebaut und es werden auch immer wieder Nebenhandlungsstränge aufgegriffen. Mir hat diese Erzählweise sehr gut gefallen, ich hätte mir hier nur gewünscht, dass einige der noch offen gebliebenen Fragen geklärt werden.
Alles in allem hat mir THE NECROMANCER'S HOUSE sehr gut gefallen. Die Figuren sind sympathisch, die magischen Elemente interessant und die Handlung konnte mich völlig überzeugen. Christopher Buehlman hat wieder einen Volltreffer gelandet. Sehr empfehlenswert!

One person found this helpful

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LBM

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2014

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One of my new fave authors.

Aaron Armstrong

Very good book!

Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2016

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It had me from the beginning and did not let go. Page after page brought more vivid pictures of what the setting look like.

Peter Buckmaster

A page-turner about a warlock. What more do you need to know?!

Reviewed in Japan on April 18, 2020

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Without wanting to be pedantic, I think the title might mislead some into thinking this book is about zombies and death, and the protagonists become trapped in some scary old guy's cavernous home. That isn't this book and I didn't mind a bit. The protagonist is the necromancer/warlock, and is very endearing, a character to root for. As are his magically gifted pals. The antagonist is suitably terrifying.
The writing style is this recent (?) present tense method. I am used to it now after reading Dyrk Ashton's Paternus series and can slide quite easily into the story.
This book has a wide range of appealing factors. It has quirk (Andrew's "dog"), humour (often of the dark variety, sometimes of the toilet variety), magic (of many "genres") and an imaginative climax (Buttercup was awesome!).
I've read that Buehlman's previous work is even better so I am going to check out more from this author.
Definitely worth a peek! This is no conjuror of cheap tricks!

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