Chronicles of the Necromancer

The Chronicles of the Necromancer is a series of fantasy novels written by Gail Z. Martin. The first book in the series, The Summoner, was released January 30, 2007. The second book, The Blood King, was released in the United States on February 1, 2008. Dark Haven, the third book, was released in February 2009. The fourth book, Dark Lady's Chosen was released December 29, 2009^[1]. A fifth book, The Sworn was released March of 2011, beginning the "Fallen Kings Cycle"^[2].

The Summoner

Main article: The Summoner

The world of Prince Martris Drayke is disrupted when his brother murders their father with the help of his mage Arantola, who is also a powerful vayash moru (Vampire) and seizes the throne. Cast out, with Jared hunting him at every turn, Martris and his friends Carroway, the Court Bard, Soterius, his best friend and Captain of the Guard, and Harrtuck, his armsmaster with a mercenary past, are all forced to flee to his uncle's neighbouring kingdom where he believes they can regroup and plot their retaliation.

Magical creatures summoned by his brother's mage bar the way, however, and in a bid to cross the barrier created by the creatures, they join a caravan group with the aid of Jonmarc Vahanian, a highly-skilled mercenary with first-hand knowledge of Arantola's cruelty and a price on his head in almost every kingdom. Though he swore never to get involved in politics again, he shows them how to survive outside the palace, and teaches them to fight and kill. Meanwhile, Tris' magical abilities as a Summoner, Lord of the Dead, begin to emerge, inherited from his grandmother Bava K'aa, the greatest Summoner of the age, putting strain on his relationship with his friends and creating extra difficulties.

In a dream, Tris receives more bad news from his grandmother-Arantola is attempting to revive an ancient evil spirit, the Obsidian King, by placing murdered souls in a Soulcatcher to be released on the night of the Hawthorn Moon. In this orb he has captured the spirits of all Tris's family, and has banished the palace ghosts so they cannot stop him.

While moving with the caravan, they meet Carina, a powerful healer who takes an instant dislike to Vahanian, and Cam, her giant of a brother. They continue northward, but after a bandit attack, Tris nearly goes mad seeing all the spirits rise from the newly dead, and turns to Carina and Alyzza, a hedge-witch for help. Though he learns to control his powers, he is hampered by his desire for revenge on Jared, and whilst the group is still recovering, they are captured by slavers, who plan to sell whom they can and kill the rest. Whilst captured, Vahanian is almost killed, and is barely healed before dying, and they are assisted by a small girl named Berry on the promise they will take her with them when they escape. Vahanian is very protective of her and they become close.

The route back takes them through a place cursed with wronged spirits, and Tris is able to bargain for aid in return for the spirits' aid helping them move on, though the effort nearly kills him. They are joined by Gabriel, a vayash moru who seems to know Vahanian, though Jonmarc has never met him before. He warns them not to cross into his uncles kingdom but to go to Principality instead to find the Sisterhood, a reclusive group of powerful mages who can help him control his gift.

Meanwhile, Princess Kiara, leader of the small country of Isencroft, finds herself in a bind as she struggles out of an arranged marriage with the Heir of Margolan (Jared), and worries about her father's failing health, waning because of Arantola's evil magic. In a last bid for her country's freedom, she rides upon a Journey given to her by the Eight-Faced Goddess, experiencing first-hand Jared's greed and cruelty, rescuing several refugees who help her to Principality. She ends up joining Tris's band when they are attacked by a group of monsters drawn by a magical amulet, the same amulet which caused the death of Vahanian's wife. She re-unites with her cousin, Carina the healer, and agrees to ride with them to an almost-forgotten Sisterhood library to discover how she might save her father, and her nigh-doomed country.

While there, Arantola attacks Kiara, and Tris continues his training under Royster the Librarian and other Sisters, eventually gaining MageSlayer, a powerful sword guarded by the dead, and the only blade capable of killing them. Kiara and Tris begin to fall in love, and Kiara is bidden by the Goddess to assist in their quest. Vahanian and Carina also show signs of romantic feelings, though Carina is desperate to deny them because of something in her past, and Vahanian does not believe she will like him as he has no prospects. He is still grief stricken over the death of his wife, which he felt responsible for, though she forgives him when Tris summons her.

They set off for Principality, but they are detained by King Staden of Principality's soldiers, and it is revealed that the general of the troops is the brother of the man Carina fell in love with and failed to save. He makes their lives difficult, but agrees to send Berry and Roysten ahead to escape the bitter cold.

Once at the royal court, the King reveals he escorted them for safety to show his support, and that they saved his daughter Berwyn (Berry), and Vahanian is made Lord of Dark Haven, the vayash moru stronghold as a reward. The king pledges his full support. Upon realising that if Tris takes the throne, he will be the Heir to Margolan and her betrothed, Kiara and Tris admit their feelings before Tris goes to continues his training.

The Blood King

Pursued by assassins and caught in a dangerous web of intrigue, Tris' greatest danger is his own magic which if used will call upon the evil Arontala to his location. The fate of his kingdom, his lady (Kiara) and his soul hang in the balance.

Tris holds a spirit Court during Winters Tide, releasing many spirits and Vayash Moru, but unwittingly attracting the attention of a traitor. He also releases the spirit of Carina's fiancée, who visits Vahanian and gives his blessing on their romance. But it has no time to grow, as she and Tris are put against fierce training by the sisterhood, in magic, weaponry and the resistance of poisons. Though his skills rapidly improve, Tris is pushed to exhaustion, and it becomes clear that a traitor is trying to kill him. It is revealed to be a Sister possessed by Arantola in a bid to prevent him from raising the Obsidian King, and he narrowly defeats her.

Meanwhile, Soterius and Carroway are busy organising the refugees who have fled Jared, and, while wildly successful, come up against berserker warriors trained by torture and magic, almost impossible to kill. Soterius meets Alle, a spy he is attracted to, who helps gain information from inside Margolan to assist the resistance. Vahanian, busy learning how to climb with Kiara, and is busy working with the generals and mercenaries to come up with an effective way to divert Jared's attention while the main group sneak into Margolan. Soterius also discovers his home has been ransacked and all his family killed for his helping Tris escape.

Tris also enlists the help of the vayash moru from their ruling council, who swore a policy of non-interference to prevent unnecessary deaths. He succeeds, though making an enemy of one of the council. Uri, who opposes helping and believes the Vayash moru should rule, swears revenge.

He then sets out downriver for Margolan, hoping to sneak into the palace from the cliffs above and confront Jared and Arantola before the Hawthorn Moon when the Obsidian King will be free. It is also revealed when they find the lost diary of the Obsidian King, that he has no physical form, and is in fact a spirit who possessed Lemuel, a great Summoner and the love of his grandmother, Bava K'aa, who gives him a potion that can cure a mortal wound.

As Margolan plunges into darkness under the yoke of a tyrant, Tris leads an unlikely insurrection, travelling downriver until Carina and Carroway are captured by Nargi, fanatical priests who plan to kill them to please Jared. When Vahanian goes unbidden to save them, he himself is captured as they flee. A wanted fugitive in Nargi, he is tortured, forced to fight and nearly killed by a general whose disgrace he was involved in years earlier. Tris encroaches the help of the spirits to save him, and he and Carina confess their feelings.

Upon arriving in Margolan's capital, Carroway and Carina with the help of Alyzza set up numerous distractions to help the group enter the palace. Tris barely manages to slay Jared, and is too late to stop the rise of the Obsidian King, who possesses Kiara. Forced to kill her and Arantola, he manages to save her by forcing her to remain with his own strength making her drink the potion his grandmother gave her, dying himself in the process, though he is rescued by the spirit of Lemuel.

He then breaks the Soulcatcher, releasing his family, and is told his grandfather was in fact Lemuel, the host for the Obsidian King, as he impregnated his grandmother after being possessed. After letting them pass on, he is then crowned king, and dares Carroway to plan his and Kiara's wedding, leading to ansumptuous affair. Afterwards, Soterius becomes a general, Carroway the Court Bard, and Vahanian, Carina and Cam return to Dark Haven, setting the scene for the next book.

Dark Haven

In the third installment of the series, Vahanian has taken his post as lord of Dark Haven, and must deal with trouble caused by the vayash moru council member Uri and his brood. Meanwhile, Tris and Kiara plan their wedding while dealing with several assassination attempts. Tris is forced to go to war against Curane, who plans to kill the new Margolan king and queen and install Jared's bastard child in their place. During the war, Kiara is left at the Margolan castle, and must deal with more assassination attempts as well as the strategic removal of her companions.

Dark Lady's Chosen

The fourth book in the 'Chronicles of the Necromancer' series begins with treachery and blood magic threatening King Martris Drayke’s hold on the throne he risked everything to win. As the battle against a traitor lord comes to its final days, war, plague and betrayal bring Margolan to the brink of destruction.

Civil war looms in Isencroft. In Dark Haven, Lord Jonmarc Vahanian has bargained his soul for vengeance as he leads the vayash moru against a dangerous rogue who would usher in a future drenched in blood.

The Sworn

THE SWORN is the fifth book in the 'Chronicles of the Necromancer' series, and the first chapter of 'The Fallen Kings Cycle'.

As plague and famine scourge the Winter Kingdoms, a new threat arises from across the Northern Sea, a dark spirit mage wielding the blood magic of ancient, vanquished gods. Summoner-King Martris Drayke faces the greatest threat yet to his kingdom, as he assembles a ragged army against a huge invasion force. Neighboring kingdoms are reeling toward anarchy as assassination or plague topple monarch after monarch. Tris must seek new allies from among the living and the dead as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle against overwhelming odds. As the conflict escalates, the legendary Dread wake from their millennia-long slumber beneath sacred barrows. They become a power Tris must harness if he is to vanquish the invaders. First, he must determine whether the Dread are friend or foe.

The Dread

THE DREAD is the sixth book in the 'Chronicles of the Necromancer' series, and the conclusion of 'The Fallen Kings Cycle'.

Summoner-King Tris Drayke takes what remains of the Margolan army north to fight a war Margolan is ill-prepared to fight, as reports from spies confirm Tris' worst fear. A new threat rises across the sea: a dark summoner who intends to make the most of the Winter Kingdoms' weakness. And in Isencroft, King Donelan is assassinated and Tris's wife, Kiara, will now have no choice except to return and claim the crown. But the dark summoner's agents will go to any length to prevent her from reaching her goal. Kiara and Tris must discover the truth behind the dark summoner, the mysterious power surrounding their infant son, and face the awesome power of the Dread as they rise from their burrows for the first time in over a millennium.

Characters

Protagonists

Prince/King Martris Drayke, Summoner Mage and Lord of the Dead and Undead. Once the second son of Margolan's king who never wanted to be king, he is forced to flee when his mad half-brother seizes the throne and murders their father, and his mother and younger sister. He travels with his friends Soterius, Harrtuck and Carroway, who now have prices on their heads, and he plans to find a way to depose Jared and his mage Arantola, and prevent them summoning the Obsidian King, the horrible and great sorcerer who plunged the world into the greatest war it has ever known . While doing this, he meets Vahanian, Carina, Cam and Kiara, with whom he forms a close friendship. By the end of The Summoner he has fallen in love with Kiara (who is his brother's betrothed.)

His past was largely happy, with the exception of his half-brother, who often beat him and his sister when in a rage, killed palace pets and forced himself on servant girls. He is patient, calm and always keeps his words, but suffers from nightmares due to all the things he has seen. He has white hair tied back, pale skin, high cheekbones and bright green eyes that are very recognizable and make it difficult for him to blend in while trying to flee. His brother, Jared, also looks a great deal like him, except with a darker complexion.

Descended from Lemuel and Bava K'aa, the two most powerful mages and summoners of the age, he possesses unparalleled gifts of sorcery, able to control the elements and see, summon and pass over spirits, the rarest and most powerful gift. He is initially unable to control his gifts, but gains power and control as his journey continues and he learns from different teachers. In Dark Haven he marries Kiara and gives her a son, who is foretold to be even more powerful than him, but will live in shadow and the spirit plane.

Princess Kiara of Isencroft/Queen Kiara of Margolan, Goddess Blessed- So named because of the visitation by the eightfold goddess when she was young, she flees her home in order to escape her marriage contract to Jared. She also seeks to save her father from the mage-sent illness that is killing him, despite having sent her cousins Cam and Carina to do so. She is sent on a journey by the Goddess, and passes through Margolan, seeing for herself the horror of Jared's rule. She meets up with Tris' group on her way to the library and falls slowly in love with him. Little is revealed of her past, except her visitation of the battlefield from Chenne, an aspect of the Goddess. She was trained in battle and statecraft at an early age, and misses her mother, who died when she was horse back riding. She is devoted to her country and her father, is fierce, loyal, and cannot stand people being patronizing. She has auburn hair, brown eyes, and a strong slim figure.

A skilled warrior due to years of training, she has a small skill of scrying and visions, though they only occur when influencing Isencroft's safety, and they always leave her utterly drained. She has a pet gyregon (miniature dragon) named Jae, who fights with her. In Dark Haven she marries Tris and conceives a son, who will be a stronger summoner than his father.

Jonmarc Vahanian, Lord of Dark Haven- A former mercenary, bounty hunter smuggler and illicit trader with a bounty on his head in nearly every kingdom, he swore never to become involved in politics or magic after events in his past. At first he was only in it for the pay, but eventually he agrees to assist them to get revenge on Arantola, and later falls in love with Carina, and becomes friends with the group. He has dark hair and eyes, a tall wiry build, and a handsome weather-beaten face with a large scar from eye to jawline. Used to being in charge, he is acutely aware of his lower status compared to the others, leading him to believe Carina would reject his advances and that the others are only polite to him because they are alone, and is surprised when the friendship continues after they reach Principality City. Several references are made to a connection with Dark Haven, the stronghold of the Vayash moru, though he is not made Lord of Dark Haven till the end of the Summoner. His sad past in revealed slowly- he was born a blacksmith till his parents were killed in a pirate raid decimating his home village. The sole survivor, he escaped and grew up and married a woman named Shanna, who was killed when an amulet he was sent to find by Arantola summoned magic creatures that burned his town (at first we believe the amulet summoned the monsters, but we later learn Arantola summoned them, and the amulet only protects the wearer). He is unable to get over this till Tris summons Shanna's spirit to talk to him. After joining the army, he is sent under a general influenced by Arantola and is court-martialled and nearly killed for refusing to burn down a village. He escapes into Nargi, where he was captured and kept as a gladiator/slave for several years before escaping to become a mercenary and smuggler. After being captured by slavers and nearly, he forms a close bond with Berry, a little girl who helps them escape. She is revealed to be a princess, and he is made Lord of Dark Haven as a reward, along with gold given to the group from the king. The best sword and hand-to-hand fighter in the group, he teaches his companions street-fighting. Very observant, street-smart and intelligent, with an avoidance of magic due to his memories. There are also several mentions to a link with the Dark Lady, the most feared of the eightfold goddesses attributes that he is not aware of, part of which is becoming Lord of Dark Haven.

Carina, The Healer - A stubborn, determined girl, though shy once she is not acting the role of a healer, gifted at healing physical and mental injuries (with a particular affinity for horses) she has short dark hair, pale skin and bright green eyes. She takes an instant dislike to Vahanian, but gets closer to him as they travel together, risking her life to heal him after he is almost killed. Close to Tris and the others, she is Kiara's cousin and brother to Cam, on whom she relies for strength when healing. She is sent by Kiara to find a cure for the magical disease killing her father, and joins a traveling caravan to get to the sisterhood's library, where a cure could be found. She leaves with the group after they are attacked by slavers, and begins falling for Vahanian, but refuses to admit it despite almost everyone in the group (and several people at court) noticing and pointing it out to her. The people where she lived cast her and her brother out, as they were twins and she could do magic. They joined a wandering band and she fell in love with the leader, Ric, who died of a mortal wound despite her attempts at healing. This prevented her ever getting close to people, and men in particular, till she is told by Ric's spirit to move on when Tris accidentally summons him and Vahanian works past her defenses.

Carroway, Court Bard- A master storyteller with dark hair and an almost beautiful face, he has a knack for the dramatic and has many powders and potions he uses to enhance his stories. These are useful as distractions and for earning money- he earns for the group by performing at taverns. Moving with an almost flowing grace that make him a natural climber and dancer, he is romantically interested in a flute player at Bricen's court, before being forced to leave her behind. A minor noble, his land is worthless as a plague struck it, killing all of his family and causing people to avoid it. He does not mention his land or title often. He is a master climber and performer, with an aptitude for throwing knives.

Captain/General Ban Soterius- A ladies man, head guardsman and excellent soldier, he has the habit of fighting by the rules. Tall, handsome and well built with light brown hair, he is a favourite of the ladies at court, sporting several of them at once and loving it. Tris's best friend, he is loyal, smart and brave, leading the resistance effort into Margolan, but Tris' powers scare him, and he avoids him for several chapters once his powers being to emerge. He shows affection for Alle, a spy for the Margolan resistance. Excellent with a sword, though he is not good at street fighting as there are no rules. He learns a lot from Vahanian, and though originally distrusting the mercenary, he comes to respect him and view him as a friend. He quickly becomes friends with Kiara and Carina as well.

Bava K'aa, The Summoner- Tris' grandmother who taught him how to use his gifts, she fought in the Mage Wars against the Obsidian King, finally trapping him in the abyss between life and death. She was unable to destroy him completely as she loved Lemuel, the man whose body the Obsidian King was inhabiting, and the effort involved nearly killed her. After her recovery, she married an old friend in order to give her baby by Lemuel a father. She remains as a spirit after her death to guide and help Tris till the Obsidian King is defeated and Lemuel is free.

Gabriel, Vayash Moru Lord- An inhabitant of Dark Haven and therefore the liege of Vahanian, he assists the group after dark to free the vayash moru in Margolan, who are being hunted down by Jared as part of a terror campaign. A member of the ruling council he votes to assist Tris, despite it being against the code drawn up to prevent bloodshed. He meets the group when sent with a message for Vahanian, and makes frequent mentions to Vahanian's link with Dark Haven and the Vayash Moru, claiming the Dark Lady only permits his self-deception that he makes his own choices. Gabriel is constantly looking after Jonmarc, in the final battle with Arontola and the Obsidian King he jumps in front of Vahanian to take most of the Obsidian King's mage fire and in Dark Haven he has his brood protecting Jonmarc. He is at least five hundred years old and as is typical with Vayash Moru he has inhuman strength and speed.

Mikhail, Vayash Moru, Gabriel's second- One of Gabriel's brood, Mikhail helps Tris take the Throne of Margolan. He goes with Ban to raise the rebel army and participates in the raids against Jared's troops. After the Tris is crowned King he remains in Margolan to protect Kiara and Tris. When the army marches on Curane, he stays with Kiara but is imprisoned when he is framed for murder by Curane's agent.

Royster, The Librarian- Teaches Tris magic from books as he cannot use it himself, and is haunted by the ghost of his old master because he never got the filing right. He joins the group at the library of the sisterhood and goes on with them to keep teaching Tris, as he has most of the library memorized.

Aidane- Originally working in Nargi, Aidane is a seroquette, or a 'Ghost Whore'. She has the ability to allow temporary possession of her body by spirits, used in her occupation to reunite lovers temporarily. She is abducted by the Durim and later rescued by the vayash moru Kolin, and escorted to Dark Haven. On the way, she encounters the spirit of Jonmarc Vahanian's former companion, Thaine, and uses her powers to transport the spirit, and Thaine's message, to Dark Haven.

Antagonists

Prince/King Jared of Margolan- Tris Drayke's mad half-brother, he is the opposite of Tris himself. Violent, cruel, vicious and greedy, he has dark hair and eyes where his brother is fair. The favourite of his father due to his resemblance to his mother, he hates his half-brother and sister. On the Feast of the Departed, he overthrows and murders almost all his family with the help of mage Arontola. Violent and clever, he alienates the people due to his cruelty, greed and violence. He is terrified of his brother and grandmother as he knows they have the power to overthrow him, and puts huge prices on the heads of Tris and his companions. Engaged to Kiara of Isencroft, he is incensed when she runs away and falls in love with Tris, and plots to kill them all, but is killed by his brother on the Night of the Hawthorn Moon, ending his reign of terror.

Fireclan Mage Foor Arontala, Vayash Moru- A fireclan mage who hopes to become a summoner, he has lived for centuries in the hope of using the souls he catches Soulcatcher to awaken the Obsidian King, who he hopes will grant his wish in return for his physical form. Is responsible for the terror campaign against the vayash moru and many of the atrocities cause by Jared, including the torture and kidnap of mages and civilians, whose blood he uses in his magic to make himself stronger. He is killed in battle by Tris before the Obsidian King can possess him.

The Obsidian King- An ancient evil spirit which sought to become an immortal god, that possessed the body of Summoner Lemuel, Tris' grandfather. Was trapped in the abyss between life and death by Bava K'aa, and could only be released on the Hawthorn Moon by feeding on souls from the Soulcatcher, after which he could possess a mortal body. Foor Arontala sought to free him, and allow him to possess Arontala's immortal body, but Arontala is killed by Tris before the Obsidian King can possess him. In desperation, he tries unsuccessfully to possess Tris, and ultimately breaks through Kiara's defenses to possess her. Tris uses Kiara's charmed dagger to kill her and destroy the Obsidian King within her. The charmed dagger destroys the Obsidian King's soul forever.

Lord Curane – A major supporter of Jared Drayke before and after his death. He arranges assassination attempts for Tris and Kiara, though they fail. His main goal is to remove Tris as king and replace him with Jared's bastard child (whose mother is Curane's granddaughter). Once the child is on the throne he plans to act as regent for him and he and other Jared supporters plan to use him for their own puppet to rule how they like.

Malesh – A vayash moru who has formed an uprising at Dark Haven and plans to kill Jonmarc Vahanian, and start a new war between mortals and vayash moru. As a plan to draw him out, he attempts to turn Cairna into one of his fledglings, to no avail, because of her healing abilities, and threatens to destroy one village every night until Jonmarc come out of hiding.

The Durim - A cult of worshipers of the ancient deity Shanthadura. They move across the land violating the sacred barrows the Sworn are charged with protecting, releasing dark creatures via blood sacrifices and rituals. They may be working with a Blood Mage from across the ocean to bring about a 'War of Unmaking'.

References

1. ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/chronicleofthenecromancer
2. ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/chronicleofthenecromancer