The Necromancer Who Was Despised

My Thoughts on The Necromancer Who Was Despised

First Impressions

Okay, so I jumped into The Necromancer Who Was Despised expecting a grimdark tale of prejudice and struggle, given the title. What I found was… something different. It's a regression story, where our MC gets a second chance after a rough first life as a s*ave. He's not exactly trying to be a hero, more like just trying to survive and maybe build a power base while he's at it. The beginning definitely hooked me with the promise of dark fantasy elements and a pragmatic protagonist.

What Works Well

The concept of the MC using his knowledge from his past life to get ahead is definitely compelling. I liked that he's not naive, and while he shows kindness, he's pretty realistic about his motivations. The necromancy magic system itself is a plus. The idea of using corpses to create specialized structures and units is fascinating, and it definitely adds a unique flavor to the standard necromancer tropes. The translation quality is good, which always makes for a more enjoyable reading experience. The characters, while maybe not super deep, are consistently written, and I found the MC to be competent and proactive.

Areas of Concern

There were a few things that kept me from fully loving this novel. The plot, while decent, felt a bit too safe at times. The MC doesn't seem to face any real danger. I felt like the tension was lacking, and I never really worried about the outcome of battles or plans. The world-building could be more in depth, especially considering the MC’s past life. The "despised" aspect of the title doesn't really come into play, either. I was hoping for more conflict and drama surrounding his necromantic powers, but most characters seem surprisingly chill about it. The romance also felt a bit underdeveloped.

Final Verdict

The Necromancer Who Was Despised is an okay read, but it never truly transcends the genre. It's a solid, enjoyable story with interesting ideas, but it lacks the depth and excitement to make it truly memorable. It's a decent way to pass the time, but I wouldn't call it a must-read.