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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I really, really loved this one. It completely took me by surprise and I just couldn't put it down once I'd started. There have been a few YA novels recently that took on the issue of immortality and love across generations and I wasn't quite sure I was up to it. But despite the title, this one isn't particularly focused on a love story (and it feels entirely different to anything else I've read recently). Instead, it's really layered with many different aspects to the story, each as fascinating as the rest. A big thank you to Hodder for sending me this one for review. Immortal Beloved is set to be published 6 Jan 2011!
Nastasya is 559 years old. She's been through a lot and she finds the best way to get through the neverending days and months and years is by drinking and partying with her friends. They go out together and do wild things and one night is very much like the rest. When they get bored, they up sticks and find the next happening place to be. For now, London. That is until Nastasya witnesses her best friend torture a human... just for fun, it seems. She really can't believe her eyes and as she's wondering how she got to this point in her life, Nastasya decides to run away.
She finds herself in a small town in America, with a woman she met briefly many years ago who now runs a home for wayward immortals. There she learns to how to value herself, those around her and the life around her. But Nastasya does it all with a bunch of sarcasm and self-doubt and I really felt for her the entire way though. At the start of the book, she's really washed-out and unhealthy, drowning in grief and self-loathing. She just seems to ooze all of this emotion. And when she first meets Reyn, this Viking god of an immortal, everything just sort of sizzles. I don't normally like the aloof love interest who's rude and stand-offish, but .. *fans self*
What I loved most about the book, besides Nastasya herself, was the amount that Tiernan threw at the story without it being over-complicated or confusing. Each new piece of information that we learned is incredibly interesting, from Nastasya's current situation at this Immortal-rehab centre, to her recent history with her gang of druggy Immortals. And piece by piece we found out some of the harder things that Nastasya has had to deal with, with her family and growing up. Things that make us realise just why a life of drinking and partying appealed to her for so long.
This one is more of a character-driven novel, I'd say. The pace can be slow at times but for me, I really enjoyed the gentle pace as we see the subtle transformation of Nastasya into someone who cares about nobody and nothing into someone with a history and a heart. I loved Nastasya's voice, she's quite funny and sarcastic. There's such vulnerability about her. I really loved how the story unfolds, almost like a mystery, giving us hints that there's something important about Nastasya.
It's been awhile since I've been THIS excited about a new series. But I really, really want to know what happens next! All of the characters, the history, the love story. Everything about it drew me in and now it feels as though the next books in the series will be explosive and epic. We shall see. I can't wait.
This book is truly amazing and I really, really enjoyed it. While I must admit, it’s very different to anything I’ve read before and it did take me a few chapters to get into - I was soon completely hooked by the story. Based around the idea of immortality, the book contains elements of tragedy, drama, romance and self-discovery. A really fascinating read.
The story follows Natasya, a 559 year old immortal who has forgotten what it means to live a normal life. Going from party to party, she has spent the last few hundred years in an alcohol/drug induced haze that keeps each day fun and interesting – but lately she’s finding even her wild lifestyle a little monotonous. But then Natasya witnesses her best friend torture a mortal human for no reason other than for entertainment, and it wakes her up to the kind of life – and the kind of people - she’s choosing to have and spend time with.
Telling no one where she is going, Natasya decides enough is enough and runs away to America in search of a fellow immortal who she met many years ago. She soon finds herself in a small rural town and ends up at kind of sanctuary for wayward immortals. Here she learns to reacquaint herself with life and for the first time in years, she allows herself to remember the tragedy of losing her family. But her dark past will soon catch up her present and when Natasya accidentally befriends the person responsible for making her an orphan…
There were many great things about this book but my favourite would have to be Natasya’s character. At first I thought she was quite a shallow and party loving kind of person but as the story unfolds, you learn about the horrors and trials she’s suffered. The history she has been a part of and the many different lives and disguises she has lived in. They all shaped her into this sarcastic, clever and often, very sad and lonely person who in this story – just wants to find meaning in living life again.
The plot is very character driven and as the storyline is fairly complex, I did find the pace a little slow at times but ultimately I remained engaged in the story. I liked watching Natasya evolve as person and I enjoyed seeing how she overcame each new trial. The other characters were also very unique and interesting individuals – each trying to deal with their own problems and histories.
The romance in the story was also well written. From the beginning, Natasya’s attraction to sexy ex-Viking Reyn is undeniable – but unlike many YA romances, this one is a slow burn and comes with plenty of drama and shocking revelations. I can’t wait to see how things will develop between them in the next book.
So overall, a really great read and a fabulous start to what promises to be a fantastic new series. Dark and dramatic, Immortal Beloved is truly an amazing read! 4 stars!
The story follows Natasya, a 559 year old immortal who has forgotten what it means to live a normal life. Going from party to party, she has spent the last few hundred years in an alcohol/drug induced haze that keeps each day fun and interesting – but lately she’s finding even her wild lifestyle a little monotonous. But then Natasya witnesses her best friend torture a mortal human for no reason other than for entertainment, and it wakes her up to the kind of life – and the kind of people - she’s choosing to have and spend time with.
Telling no one where she is going, Natasya decides enough is enough and runs away to America in search of a fellow immortal who she met many years ago. She soon finds herself in a small rural town and ends up at kind of sanctuary for wayward immortals. Here she learns to reacquaint herself with life and for the first time in years, she allows herself to remember the tragedy of losing her family. But her dark past will soon catch up her present and when Natasya accidentally befriends the person responsible for making her an orphan…
There were many great things about this book but my favourite would have to be Natasya’s character. At first I thought she was quite a shallow and party loving kind of person but as the story unfolds, you learn about the horrors and trials she’s suffered. The history she has been a part of and the many different lives and disguises she has lived in. They all shaped her into this sarcastic, clever and often, very sad and lonely person who in this story – just wants to find meaning in living life again.
The plot is very character driven and as the storyline is fairly complex, I did find the pace a little slow at times but ultimately I remained engaged in the story. I liked watching Natasya evolve as person and I enjoyed seeing how she overcame each new trial. The other characters were also very unique and interesting individuals – each trying to deal with their own problems and histories.
The romance in the story was also well written. From the beginning, Natasya’s attraction to sexy ex-Viking Reyn is undeniable – but unlike many YA romances, this one is a slow burn and comes with plenty of drama and shocking revelations. I can’t wait to see how things will develop between them in the next book.
So overall, a really great read and a fabulous start to what promises to be a fantastic new series. Dark and dramatic, Immortal Beloved is truly an amazing read! 4 stars!
This book started off incredibly slow. I think what made it slow was that it gave in depth information about what being Immortal was about right at the start....I would have preferred this information spread throughout the first half of the book rather than in the first 100 pages. Once I made it to about page 150 the story really got going.
Nastasya (Nasty) started off a little pathetic but she soon comes into her own and I found myself really liking her.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters of River and the rest of the "rehab" type people. And definately a lot more room for character development if there is a second book, which I assume there is going to be.
I would really like to hear more about Reyn and his story and definately the love story angle should be more interesting in book 2.
I really liked Cate Tiernans writing style, the book is described as YA but it wasnt written for just YA and I can definately see adults enjoying this one.
I will definately be getting book 2 and look forward to the next installment and all of the character developments.
Nastasya (Nasty) started off a little pathetic but she soon comes into her own and I found myself really liking her.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters of River and the rest of the "rehab" type people. And definately a lot more room for character development if there is a second book, which I assume there is going to be.
I would really like to hear more about Reyn and his story and definately the love story angle should be more interesting in book 2.
I really liked Cate Tiernans writing style, the book is described as YA but it wasnt written for just YA and I can definately see adults enjoying this one.
I will definately be getting book 2 and look forward to the next installment and all of the character developments.
FINALLY! A good book that didn't disappointment at all! I love Mrs. Tiernan's work from the Sweep series to her newest(can't remember the name but, I read it this year!). This such a dynamic story with it's unique characters and a journey that you go on while you read this story. Nastasya(not her really name) goes up there with Katniss, Celaena, and Mikasa(Attack on Titan) on kick-a$$ chicas list. She has her moments but I still like her. Review is here->Greyland Reviews 5 stars
Ce roman est une très bonne surprise!!
Très différent des autres romans YA actuels, il se démarque grâce à une héroïne complètement larguée, bourrée de sarcasme, en quête de réponses à une vie qui ne lui correspond plus...
Je me suis totalement laissée envoutée par l'histoire et l'ambiance de ce livre...♥
Parfaite lecture young adult automnale!! ;)
Mon avis plus complet: http://chezmllepointilles.over-blog.com/article-immortels-cate-tiernan-110939943.html
Très différent des autres romans YA actuels, il se démarque grâce à une héroïne complètement larguée, bourrée de sarcasme, en quête de réponses à une vie qui ne lui correspond plus...
Je me suis totalement laissée envoutée par l'histoire et l'ambiance de ce livre...♥
Parfaite lecture young adult automnale!! ;)
Mon avis plus complet: http://chezmllepointilles.over-blog.com/article-immortels-cate-tiernan-110939943.html
DNF@65%. Too boring and way too much description. More than half of the book is all world description and explaing the main character's past. To be honest I prefer dialogues, since it attracts my attention and don't bore me to death.
I started skipping a lot of paragraphs and then the story didn't make sense anymore.
Sooo I will not force myself to continue reading this book.
I started skipping a lot of paragraphs and then the story didn't make sense anymore.
Sooo I will not force myself to continue reading this book.
I really liked this book! The concept and polt was something I could really sink into and enjoy. The writing was inescapeable, I couldn't put this down for hardly a minute! But with that being said, the story fell kind of short. Mostly, throughout this book, we are just learning about the main character's life, and how she came to be who she is today. And don't get me wrong, that was all pretty interesting, but I found that there was no climax whatsoever and the book continued on a regular, rather mundane course throughout. Nothing was discernable enough for me to pick out a particular point in which the story picked up. By no means do I feel I've wasted my time on this book, and I will be picking up the sequel at some point because I liked all of the characters, and, like I said, the plot was stunning. I reccomend this book.
Although the idea of immortality is extremely intriguing, I'm sick to death of the unaware heroine who bashes about her clumsiness and inherent ignorance of her beauty. It's basically the Twilight heroine who lives forever. ACK. Stupid.
More immortality, less stupid.
More immortality, less stupid.
Annoying first books are annoying, and Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved is no exception, excellent premise aside. We are introduced to Nastasya, a centuries-old immortal who has spent more of her years partying and doing nothing of relevance until she suddenly takes a look around her and realizes she's hanging out with a group of people who don't care about anything but themselves.
She takes herself off to an "immortal rehab" of sorts where she's forced to confront her past as well as her present by doing such things as menial work for minimum wage and washing dishes and working the rehab's organic farm. She's simultaneously attracted to and repelled by a fellow rehab resident who may or may not have something to do with her past.
Tiernan tells the story in flashbacks between the past and present, but odds are you'll connect the dots to Nastasya's fellow rehabber far more quickly than Tiernan's plot does. The will-they-won't-they romance feels forced and not at all authentic; there's nothing more between these two than a described attraction and repulsion -- no talks, no falling for each other, nothing to show why they would get together at any point other than they are attractive and we are told they may or may not.
Add in that this is the first of a series, and you can guess that the book is a mere set-up for the next book so nothing between these two is even slightly resolved. It's a frustrating read that's designed to get you to read the next book, but left me unwilling to do so in the slightest. I simply didn't care enough about the characters to want to know what happens next.
She takes herself off to an "immortal rehab" of sorts where she's forced to confront her past as well as her present by doing such things as menial work for minimum wage and washing dishes and working the rehab's organic farm. She's simultaneously attracted to and repelled by a fellow rehab resident who may or may not have something to do with her past.
Tiernan tells the story in flashbacks between the past and present, but odds are you'll connect the dots to Nastasya's fellow rehabber far more quickly than Tiernan's plot does. The will-they-won't-they romance feels forced and not at all authentic; there's nothing more between these two than a described attraction and repulsion -- no talks, no falling for each other, nothing to show why they would get together at any point other than they are attractive and we are told they may or may not.
Add in that this is the first of a series, and you can guess that the book is a mere set-up for the next book so nothing between these two is even slightly resolved. It's a frustrating read that's designed to get you to read the next book, but left me unwilling to do so in the slightest. I simply didn't care enough about the characters to want to know what happens next.