The Book of Ile-Rien by Martha Wells contains books one & two of Ile-Rien series, The Element of Fire & The Death of the Necromancer. These are a revised version and brilliantly told from troubles within the castle court to an embittered nobleman out for revenge. I completely lost myself in this world and stories.

The Book of Ile-Rien: The Element of Fire & The Death of the Necromancer
by Martha Wells
Series: Ile-Rien #1, Ile-Rien #2
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate

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Collecting Martha Wells’ Element of Fire and Death of the Necromancer for the first time in one place, in a new and revised edition!

From the author of Witch King and the Murderbot Diaries:

Both novels included in this volume have been revised and updated. These are the author’s preferred texts.

The Element of Fire

The kingdom of Ile-Rien lies in peril, menaced by sorcerous threats and devious intrigue, when Kade, bastard sister of King Roland, appears unexpectedly at court. The illegitimate daughter of the old king and the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, Kade’s true desires are cloaked in mystery.

It falls to Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queen’s Guard, to keep the kingdom from harm. But is one man’s steel enough to counter all the magic of fayre?

The Death of the Necromancer

Nicholas Valiarde is a passionate, embittered nobleman and the greatest thief in all of Ile-Rien. On the gaslit streets of the city, Nicholas assumes the guise of a master criminal, stealing jewels from wealthy nobles to finance his quest for a long-pursued vengeance.

But Nicholas’s murderous mission is being interrupted by a series of eerie, unexplainable, and fatal events. A dark magic opposes him, and traces of a necromantic power that hasn’t been used for centuries abound. Nicholas and his compatriots find themselves battling an ancient evil.

And if they lose? Death would be preferable to the fate that awaits them….

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I enjoy Martha Wells Murderbot series and the City of Bones, so I was delighted to dive into The Book of Ile-Rien. Both stories, The Element of Fire & the Death of the Necromancer, are brilliant but different as well. Both contain magic, suspense, well-drawn characters and take place in the same world.

Elements of Fire – This takes place in a time with castles, kings, royal family and court politics. There is magic, fae, gods, sorcerers and plenty of treacherous characters within the court. We follow the bastard daughter of the king and the Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queen’s Guard, as they fight to save the kingdom. I found the plot an intriguing one, and the characters pulled me in. This was Wells debut novel and while perhaps polished in this newest edition, it was apparent she’s a masterful storyteller. 4.5 cups of coffee.

The Death of the Necromancer – This was perhaps my favorite, as I was now familiar with the world but also because I picked up on the tie-ins to book one. This read to me like a historical fantasy- mystery as we follow Nicholas Valiarde, a nobleman, thief, and sleuth. He has a reputation of being one of the greatest thieves in the kingdom, and I found him to be clever. He and his crew are on a heist when they stumble upon a dark magic, one that seems to thwart their efforts. All of this leads him to a powerful necromancer who must be stopped and not just for the sake of his activities. 5 cups of coffee.

Whether you are a fan or new to Martha Wells, I highly recommend losing yourself within these stories and world.

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