🩸 Horror Fiction

Necrology

✍️ Meg Ripley
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$20.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A tale of broken magical pacts and revolutionary youth in a post-Salem world.

This novel follows Rabbit’s journey from orphan to revolutionary witness. She navigates a world where magic is forbidden and contracts dictate survival. The narrative highlights the harsh reality faced by those who violate the peace treaty between witches and Freemen. Whitetail’s plight serves as the catalyst for Rabbit’s awakening. The story does not shy away from the brutal consequences of defying powerful institutions. It offers a gritty look at how young people can challenge entrenched systems when all other options are exhausted.

Key Themes
Magical contracts Youthful rebellion Salem aftermath
Literary Context

The book sits in the tradition of gothic supernatural fiction, drawing on the historical Salem witch trials. It is set two hundred years after those events in a Catskills orphanage. The narrative engages with themes of freedom from violence and the power dynamics between magical women and non-magical men.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
N.K. Jemisin · Catherynne M. Valente · Angela Carter
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Creature Publishing 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781951971144
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Necrology

Meg Ripley’s Necrology reimagines the Salem witch trials through a fantastical lens. The narrative centers on magical women called the Dirty who signed a pact with non-magical Freemen to end violence. Two centuries later, headmistress Whitetail in a Catskills orphanage grows antlers, signaling a broken contract. Her wealthy benefactor proposes marriage, but his reaction to her appearance leads to abuse. When eight-year-old Rabbit defends her teacher, she curses the benefactor dead. Whitetail faces arrest and execution on false charges. Rabbit becomes the Freemen’s star witness, learning their terrifying goals. With her magic at risk and a loose tooth, Rabbit finds little to lose and much to gain in a revolution. The story explores themes of magical contracts, systemic oppression, and youthful rebellion against authoritarian power structures rooted in historical witch trial fears.

💎 Our verdict on Necrology

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Ripley delivers a potent reimagining of Salem’s aftermath, focusing on the Dirty and their fraught pact with the Freemen. The narrative excels in depicting the brutal consequences of defying powerful institutions, particularly through Whitetail’s plight and Rabbit’s awakening. By centering on an orphan navigating a world where contracts dictate survival, the book offers a gritty, atmospheric exploration of magical contracts and systemic oppression. It suits readers who prefer horror with strong political undertones and revolutionary themes. The tone is appropriately dark, avoiding sentimentality to highlight the terrifying goals of those in power. This is a compelling entry for those seeking a story about how young people can challenge authoritarian structures when exhausted.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy gritty, politically charged horror will find this novel compelling for its unflinching look at youthful rebellion against authoritarian regimes. The story appeals to those interested in the intersection of magic and systemic oppression, offering a narrative where young protagonists challenge entrenched systems when all other options are exhausted. It is ideal for fans of dark fantasy who appreciate complex magical pacts and the harsh realities faced by those who violate peace treaties. The book provides a visceral experience of resistance, highlighting how broken contracts and historical trauma fuel revolutionary fervor in a world where magic is forbidden.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Ripley delivers a potent reimagining of Salem’s aftermath, focusing on the Dirty and their fraught pact with the Freemen. The narrative excels in depicting the brutal consequences of defying powerful institutions, particularly through Whitetail’s plight and Rabbit’s awakening. By centering on an orphan navigating a world where contracts dictate survival, the book offers a gritty, atmospheric exploration of magical contracts and systemic oppression. It suits readers who prefer horror with strong political undertones and revolutionary themes. The tone is appropriately dark, avoiding sentimentality to highlight the terrifying goals of those in power. This is a compelling entry for those seeking a story about how young people can challenge authoritarian structures when exhausted.

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