This is one of those books that I bought on the power of the title alone, because I mean look at it. How could I not? Because of that I didn’t actually look at the blurb too closely. I thought I was buying a full length novel about an ex-Dark Queen, who grew old and soft and adopted small child that happened to run across her.

What I got was a short novella, with a granny that only recently took up necromancy.
And I think I like this concept more.

It’s short but it’s very sweet and very human. The magic is nicely sorted into different categories that are explained enough to make sense but not too much that you get stuck in the weeds. Most of the novella is dedicated to the development of the two main character. Mina is the girl on the run from both the soldiers and her own demons, a tough order for a girl that’s only twelve. Gam Gam is the necromancer that’s just passing through, on her way to help heal her own damaged heart. And together they’re both just what the other needed.

It’s a nice, emotional way to spend a couple of hours and I loved it a lot. What more is there to say?