A Necromancer called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe

Blurb:

A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight.

A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses.

When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they're dressed for the occasion.

Review:

I’ve heard a lot of good things about A Necromancer Called Gam Gam. In fact, I got myself a copy a few years ago when it first released, but for one reason or another, I never got around to reading it. That was until I saw the author Adam Holcombe commenting in an r/Fantasy Bingo thread, where he recommended his book for the ‘High Fashion’ square. I couldn’t find another book I actually wanted to read for the square, and this one had been on my TBR for far too long. So naturally, I picked it up.

But, did it live up to the hype?

SPOILERS AHEAD!

What I liked:

Holcombe dumps you right in the middle of the action with a chase scene from the perspective of a little girl. You don’t know anything about her, her pursuers, or the world. All you know is that she’s running away from them, and that she’s in distress. She stumbles into a travelling wagon, and what follows is a heartwarming adventure that not only reveals the story of this pursuit, but the many emotional arcs that branch out from it. 

A Necromancer Called Gam Gam immediately reminded me of Discworld. While Adam Holcombe has his own writing style, I can’t help but see parallels with Pratchett, and that to me is one of the biggest compliments I can give an author. The way his prose flows forward, wrapping itself around your heart and making you empathize with his characters is just beautifully spellbinding. You get smacked with that comforting voice right from the opening lines. And beneath the beauty of that prose lies a story that’s full of heart and warmth. 

The characters really are what make A Necromancer Called Gam Gam such a sweet experience. Gam Gam is that stereotypical loving grandma that we all have seen in kids’ stories. Except, she’s also a badass necromancer who’s unflinching in the face of tyranny. And then there’s Mina, a girl in distress who, even in her worst moments, doesn’t break away from the kindness that her parents inculcated in her. Being around them for the hundred and something pages of this book was like spending a short train journey with a very sweet grandma-granddaughter duo who you’d actually like to keep in touch with even after the journey ends.  

While simple and straightforward, it’s the scenes between the actions that really shine brightly. SPOILERS: Mina isn’t your average girl, but a very powerful, albeit new, neuromancer. She can manipulate people’s emotions and memories. On the other hand, the kindly old woman she runs into ends up being a necromancer on her own journey with tragically personal stakes. Their coming together feels fated, filling emotional voids left in their lives by their individual backstories. 

And, the story takes its time to let them feel that grief. It gives them the safe space to cope and grow, and come to terms with their individual losses. The way Holcombe navigates these tough emotional ropes with lyrical finesse is equal parts admirable and endearing. The climactic final battle beautifully wraps things up on the plot-front, but the denouement that follows with Mina’s, as well as Gam Gam’s, emotional catharsis both are the main reason why I loved this book so much. 

What I didn’t like:

Honestly, I can’t think of anything. The things I can think of too aren’t big complaints, but well, here they are. 

The world and story aren’t really as unique. Yet, that familiarity of the setting and plot is what makes this a cozy, comforting read. Some of the scenes did drag on longer than they should have, but none of those are real complaints, are they?

Well, I guess I just really loved this book that much. And that’s rare. 

In Conclusion:

An endearing tale of grief and coping, A Necromancer Called Gam Gam is a brilliantly cozy novella with heart, loveable characters, and some dark magic.

TL;DR: 

What I liked: Characters, Prose, Emotional Catharsis

What I didn’t like: Some scenes dragged on longer than they should have, not enough necromancy