Finn Fancy Necromancy

The Familia Arcana, Book 1

By: Randy Henderson

Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn

Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Writers of the Future grand prize winner Randy Henderson presents a dark and quirky debut in Finn Fancy Necromancy.

Finn Gramaraye was framed for the crime of dark necromancy at the age of 15 and exiled to the Other Realm for 25 years. But now that he's free, someone--probably the same someone--is trying to get him sent back. Finn has only a few days to discover who is so desperate to keep him out of the mortal world and find evidence to prove it to the Arcane Enforcers. They are going to be very hard to convince since he's already been convicted of trying to kill someone with dark magic.

But Finn has his family: his brother, Mort, who is running the family necrotorium business now; his brother, Pete, who believes he's a werewolf, though he is not; and his sister, Samantha, who is, unfortunately, allergic to magic. And he's got Zeke, a fellow exile and former enforcer who doesn't really believe in Finn's innocence but is willing to follow along in hopes of getting his old job back.

©2015 Randall Scott Henderson (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

liked it!

Good story, with a strong performance by the narrator. The interesting plot and fairly quick pace made it very easy to listen to and enjoy.

Awesome Playlist

I have over 2000 books and I can say that this book and its sequel are the only ones from which I've made playlists.
If you are Gen X and love feel-good dark fantasy..then get this book and Big Foot Loose and Fancy Free.

Witty New Fantasy Voice

When Finn Fancy showed up in my Audible recommendations, I didn't pay much attention for a while because I never heard of Randy Henderson or the narrator, Todd Haberkorn, and the cover art and title made me think it might be too silly. After all, everyone and his dog seems to think he can write fantasy and a lot of it is drivel. But I finally picked this one up when I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to hear and wow - I LOVED THIS BOOK and I really loved the narration, too!

The story starts with the release of Finn from exile where he has been for 25 years having been sentenced to having his spirit separated from his body for a magical crime where he was the fall guy. The story flows from there with Finn's determined pursuit to find the truth about who set him up, why that was done, and who is still out to get him.

One of the things I liked best about the story is that Finn, although he has some magical abilities, is such a regular Joe. He loves his family, but doesn't always like them or get along with them; he wants to find love, but doesn't recognize it when it sneaks up on him; he has work to rid himself of prejudices he was taught when he was young. And this poor guy has to face all those regular human challenges and some major magical challenges while he has just jumped physically, mentally, and emotionally from being 15 to being 40!

There was nothing I didn't like about Finn Fancy and so much I loved so I'll just list a few:

* Great prose, much better than most fantasy writers and I particularly like the many clever similes that Henderson throws around. One example:"To know I'd helped to make him so unhappy, made me feel like I had beaten a unicorn to death with a Care Bear in front of a small child."

* Good World Building. This story is low fantasy - magical elements integrated into our world with most non-magical people (Mundanes or Mundies) being unaware - but most of the plot takes place on the magical side with mostly magical characters. Henderson lets his world unfold naturally with the plot progression so there are no info-dumps, but also very little time when the reader is confused.

* Fun 80's nostalgia. If you were born early enough to remember the 80's you'll get a kick out of the references to old TV shows (a lot of great Trekker references incorporated here), movies, slang, and miscellany (remember the Commodore 64 anyone?). Henderson has a lot of fun with our hero having to leap the big technology gap from then to now.

* Nice characterizations and realistic relationships between characters.

* Both witty and suspenseful. It's a tricky line for a writer to use some dark and suspenseful themes mixed with some comedy relief, but Henderson does this really well. So there is a good mystery with a twisty resolution in this story, but a lot of engaging funny moments and a great deal of wit that keeps the story lighter and fun..And, for all that I am usually a fan of snarky humor, most of the wit in Finn Fancy is much more gentle and leans to clever rather than snarky and that was a nice change of pace.

So, I've found a new writer I love, but I've also stumbled on a narrator I really enjoyed as well. I initially thought that Todd Haberkorn sounded a bit nerdy and then I realized - that's the character. Finn is a bit of nerd and Haberkorn not only captures him well, but finds a great voice for every other character in the novel (including women and girls). Really nice performance for a really fun novel.

This is Randy Henderson's debut novel which explains why I hadn't heard of him before. I sure hope to hear a LOT more from him in the future.

love this series!

Well written and read! Unique take on genre. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly re-readable! Can't wait for more!

High Entertainment

I have a new friend. Randy Henderson shall join my library of literary friends that share time with me on the couch with a cup o' coffee and the warmth of the wood stove radiating its love. The narration of Todd Haberkorn was exquisite with the creation of multi voiced story telling. I look forward to spending more time with Finn in his continuing exploits into the Arcane.
Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry

original, hidden gem

Easy listen, great story, fantastic originality. I started listening to this thinking it was gonna be an off the wall story that I wouldn't have to pay much attention to. i ended up binging it and listening twice!

Finntastically Uncanny

The story was both wonderfully familiar as well as being curiously unique. It offered flavors of Skullduggery Pleasant, MYTH Inc., and the adventure of The Chronicles of Amber, all while drawing you in with a new dynamic between the mundane and magical.

Fun listen

Any additional comments?

This is fun urban fantasy in the vein of the Iron Druid. Character is snarky and likable. Narrator does a good job and brings a cool modern tone to most of the fantasy characters, wasn't too crazy about his "people of color" voice, but very good besides that. The story was not the best I've heard, but the author made up with likable characters. The ending was strange.....last chapter should have been a prologue, story just kinda went on and then ended, good listen none the less.

hits me in all the right places.

this was highly engaging and a lot of fun for me, I especially appreciated the inclusion of the character Pete. the family dynamic was depicted in a very believable manner. I will soon start book two since this also did an excellent job of leaving me wanting more.

very enjoyable romp

Well written and narrated, a fun story, great characters with depth with a roller coaster plot. not the standard urban fantasy.