Hopeless Necromantic: A debut romantic fantasy that's good enough to raise the dead . . .

Hardback Published on: 02/06/2026
Price: £19.99
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 days
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Bookseller Reviews

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Hopeless Necromantic
A classic fantasy rom-com
This was a fun and fast-paced adventure following the town’s resident necromancer, who refuses to let the dead lie in more ways than one. It’s exactly the ... READ MORE
Bookseller Adam, Lichfield
Hopeless Necromantic
Hopelessly long wait for book 2
This fantasy adventure promised a fun read at a first glance and it deliveres greatly. However, there is much more that lurks beneath the surface. Despite ... READ MORE
Kali at Newcastle

Synopsis

SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life - and death - start to get a little complicated.

Helspira must play escort to Sikras - a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead - as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom.

No-one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer - and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel - will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?

RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.

Necromantasy is the new romantasy in Hopeless Necromantic, a debut romantic fantasy for fans of Gideon the Ninth, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy, Long Live Evil or Assistant to the Villain.

'An irreverent romp that has charmed me entirely' Brigitte Knightley

'A delightfully quirky mix of outrageous humour and heartfelt tenderness. Sikras and Helspira are a couple to die for!' Stephanie Burgis

Goodreads reviews:

'If you took the feeling of having your favourite dessert for the first time, your first good kiss, and the nostalgia from an old favourite show, and mashed them all together, you get Hopeless Necromantic. Am I obsessed? Yes. Yes I am.'
★★★★★
'From page one, this book had me cackling, cringing, and clutching my chest. The wit is sharp, the action is wild, and the characters? They're the kind that move into your brain and refuse to pay rent. Sikras especially.'
★★★★★
'I literally sprinted to write this review after finishing this book because DANG I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long, long time...It's the best debut I've ever read'
★★★★★
'Complex characters, a well-paced plot, and a genuine slow burn romance that blossoms from friendship'
★★★★★
'Legitimately the best book I've read this year.'
★★★★★
'I loved this lil chaotic trio with all my heart, especially my man Benjamin'
★★★★★
'A lovable cast of somewhat damaged characters you'd love to be friends with. Highly recommend'
★★★★★
'A knockout 10/10 on all fronts! ... I am utterly obsessed with Sikras, Benjamin, and Helspira'
★★★★★

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
  • ISBN: 9780356528878
  • Number of pages: 368
  • Dimensions: 234 x 158 x 38 mm
  • Weight: 580g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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Hopeless Necromantic
Hopelessly Loveable
Oh my gosh, from the cover to the description of this book I was crossing my fingers that I would love this one and thankfully I was right! Who doesn't lov... READ MORE
Renee_Reads
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A perfect blend of adventure, humour and emotional damage
Hopeless Necromantic was such a breath of fresh air, from the vibrant characters and careful worldbuilding, to the romance that doesn't feel rushed or forc... READ MORE
Elise Ardener
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A fun slowburn romance in a D&D esque fantasy world!
You wouldn’t think a book dealing in necromancy, demons and the undead could be cosy and yet Hopeless Necromantic gave me the same kind of cosy but still s... READ MORE
BooksWithBoz
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Necromancy, Skeletons, and Vibes (But Please, Sir, I’d Like a Map)
I had fun with Hopeless Necromantic. I really did. But I also spent a good chunk of this book thinking, Where are we? What does this place look like? What ... READ MORE
Annie
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A cosy fantasy with so much heart
I went into this not really knowing what to expect and ended up loving it. It was funny, cosy, and surprisingly emotional, balancing heavier themes like gr... READ MORE
Sandra Macia Vazquez
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Cute, quirky, and emotional
Delightfully cute and peculiar, this was a very enjoyable read. Full of witty dialogue and quirky characters, it also touched upon death and grief in a ver... READ MORE
Ania
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
3.5 stars
3.5 stars Headlines: Exceptional banter Skeletal crush Dark enemies Hopeless Necromantic presented a rather sad, down on life, MMC Sikras and brou... READ MORE
Micky - bookphenomena
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Must read!
5
Sarah Jones
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Spectacular book that made my life better
I want to make it clear that this book is a hoot. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, and I loved every page of it. I fell hard for these two main chara... READ MORE
Elisabeth Pih
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Fast-paced, fun read
This is a fast-paced, easy read with lots of humour. There's not a lot of world building and a simple magic system so is a great read if you're looking for... READ MORE
Emily
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A fantastic fantasy debut - humourous, exciting and emotional
One of my favourite releases so far this year, Hopeless Necromantic was equal parts funny, emotional and exciting. Characters were likeable, but flawed, an... READ MORE
Louise
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Help I am in love with a talking skeleton?
4.5⭐️ | OUT June 2nd 2026 Thank you so much Orbit books for this early finished copy for review. I absolutely adored this band of misfits and ⅔ abomi... READ MORE
Olivia G
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Funny and full of heart!
I thought this was just going to be a silly good time (not that it wasn’t that too) but this had so much feeling in it too. This was pretty much my perfect... READ MORE
Kaitlyn May
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
such a fun new fantasy read
First off, I am in love with the cover of this book, it’s stunning.This is such a fun new fantasy read that had me hooked from the start. We follow Sikras,... READ MORE
Michaela McClelland
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
cosy, character-driven read that perfectly explores themes of grief and guilt
gut instinct as soon as i finished this was 4 stars but after sleeping on it, i had to bump it up to the full 5 stars because i couldn’t stop thinking abou... READ MORE
Lucy-Jayne Copley
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A cute, cosy fantasy about loss & friendship, with a liiiiiittle bit of romance
"my reason" is the cutest pet name i have ever read in my entire life omggg I really enjoyed this! Hopeless Necromantic is a dark fantasy that is genuin... READ MORE
elmreadsbooks
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
A necromancer, a demon and a skeleton walk into a bar..:
4.5 stars rounded up!Thank you to Shiloh Briar and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an eARC of this book on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.Argh I loved ... READ MORE
Izzy
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Hopeless Necromantic
Really fun, and surprisingly deep and emotional read
I knew I was going to enjoy this one, but it really exceeded my expectations!A romantasy between a sad necromancer and a hopeful demon is such a fun idea a... READ MORE
Charlotte Foreman
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.