The Lesser Evil — E.A. Rappaport

Villagers and animals are mysteriously disappearing from the coastal towns of the Cold Sea. The only ones who can restore peace are a necromancer, obsessed with bones and death, and a cunning thief who only cares about protecting his gold. The lifelong bandit, Senfra, does not care about anyone or anything except a good night at the pub, certainly not about the people and animals rumored to be disappearing from the Cold Sea coast. But when his gang rebels and steals his fortune, he finds himself on the Cursed Island, surrounded by dangerous crossbreeds. Senfra's only possible ally is Toth, a necromancer reviled by society because of his fascination with bones and death. The two must learn to trust each other while confronting a master transmuter who has been creating an army of unearthly abominations by combining animals, humans, and objects.