As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Save an Undead Life
(The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy – Book 1)
by Hailey Edwards
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Urban Fantasy
Available in Paperback, and on Audio, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
Down and Dirty
If you like Kim Harrison or Ilona Andrews – you will LOVE this series!
What is it about?
(Blurb from GoodReads)
Grier Woolworth spends her nights weaving spooky tales of lost souls and tragedies for tourists on the streets of downtown Savannah. Hoop skirt and parasol aside, it’s not a bad gig. The pay is crap, but the tips keep the lights on in her personal haunted mansion and her pantry stocked with ramen.
Life is about as normal as it gets for an ex-necromancer hiding among humans. Until the society that excommunicated Grier offers her a second chance at being more than ordinary. Too bad no one warned her the trouble with being extraordinary is it can get you killed.
Warning: This book contains one ex-con/ex-heiress with a pet zombie parakeet who lives next door to her ex-army/ex-crush. Brace yourself, we’re talking more exes than a pirate treasure map here.
Thoughts
I love a good Urban Fantasy, and this novel fits the bill perfectly.
A kickass heroine (though she truly doesn’t know it yet) wrangling to overcome recent past events while dancing through the politics and maneuverings of a magical society bent on controlling her.
It’s fascinating and the perfect intro for a new to me (published in 2017!) UF series.
Perspective
First Person, single POV
Ending Type
Episodic
Pros:
- The Characters! Boaz, Amelie – ALL of them!
- The world building.
- Foreshadowing.
- Flows Very well.
- THIS PICTURE!
-
Drawn by Leah Farrow @leahfarrow.com - This above picture is part of each and every book in this series I have read thus far, and plays a huge role in the Meta Plot. The phrasing comes from her Adoptive Mother and also plays a huge role. Make no apologies for surviving.
Cons:
- While the foreshadowing is good, it’s also a con, because there are many things easy to figure out. But it’s still damn good.
Favorite Line
For one thing, alcohol was expensive. For another, it was an addictive balm that left you right back where you started from, just poorer for your trouble. (51%)
Verdict

Wonderful Urban Fantasy and perfect for fans of the slow build meta story that stretches across many books. Think Ilona Andrew or Kim Harrison.
Published August 18th, 2017
240 Pages
If you enjoyed this review, please consider checking out a few of my other articles.
- Royal Trials: Imposter by Tate James – A Book Review
- Virgo Rising by M.J. Marstens – A Book Review
- Dragon’s Fire by Lili Zander and Rory Reynolds – A Book Review

Your Turn
Have you read this series? What are you thoughts? Have you read anything else by Hailey Edwards? She has an extensive library that I am diving into soon. Leave a comment, toss me a recommendation – I would love to talk!
[…] Read my review of book 1 here! […]
[…] How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards – A Book Review […]
[…] How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards – A Book Review […]
[…] How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards – A Book Review […]