Twice Dead

June 15, 2018
Naya Garth, apprentice to her wealthy merchant father, has been sent to prove herself by speaking with a supplier--but will it be the test she was expecting? On her way from her father's ship to the supplier's home in Ceramor, 17-year-old Naya is killed. A necromancer brings her back to life as a wraith with the authority of Ambassador Valn from her home country of Talmir. He wants her to continue to be of service to Talmir by becoming a spy. Naya has great difficulty accepting her circumstances until she meets Corten, another wraith, who helps her learn about her new powers. Over time Naya begins to question whether she is on the right side of the conflict between Ceramor and Talmir. She also fears what she has inadvertently involved Corten in. Naya, Corten, and the inhabitants of Ceramor are described as being tan-skinned, and the inclusion of a lesbian couple makes for a pleasantly diverse cast. Debut author Seal's characters aren't particularly well-rounded, but the world they inhabit is richly detailed and the plotline is exciting, if at times predictable. This is a promising beginning to a series that makes us question what we think we know.A high fantasy filled with adventure, espionage, and romance that envelops the reader in a world where the undead walk among the living. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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August 1, 2018
Grades 7-11 Naya dies far from home, a merchant's daughter trading in a foreign city where necromancers bind the souls of the dead who have yet to fulfill their life purpose. She awakens as a wraith, resurrected to serve as her country's spy. To master the advantages of her new form, Naya turns to Corten, a more seasoned wraith. She finds him a patient teacher who helps her to see the beauty of soul binding, which her country called a depravity. Together they discover that Naya has the powers of a reaper, a rare being created by necromancers during the last war. After taking part in covert operations, Naya begins to question her nation's interests in the capital city of necromancy. Who was truly behind the attack that took her life? Is she working to ensure peace or renew war? Uneven pacing and vague stakes weigh down this debut, the first in a planned series, but the plot-heavy story line leaves plenty of room for the sequel to explore the ethics of necromancy in more depth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)