Reviews

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

shimmery's review against another edition

4.0

This was the kind of book I couldn’t wait to get back to and finished in a weekend. Intriguing premise (4 siblings who are told as children the dates on which they will die), interesting subject matter (not just the idea of fate and nature vs nurture but each sibling has a very different life: ballet dancer, magician, doctor, biologist) and beautiful writing. I’m not giving it 5 stars because I didn’t like how Daniel’s part ended and I personally sort of switch off reading about scientists — but these are personal preferences, objectively it probably is a 5 star book. I loved the relationships between the siblings and thought Benjamin captured well that intense love and belonging that exists when there is a group of you (I have 4 sisters myself and rarely come across writing that manages to capture that dynamic so well). A very moving book.

direton1's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

addywalker's review

5.0

Gobbled this right up! I recommend it even though the characters choices pissed me off. Some gay stuff, some magic, everything you want.

rachbere's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

1.5

ninalem's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

valsoceans's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

1.5

random_shoes's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

sammy_stenger's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i actually liked this a lot better on my second read!

suzecluez's review

4.0

A quick, easy and very interesting read. Thinking back I can't remember too much about the actual prose, but Benjamin does a great job getting emotions across and there were plot twists I did not see coming. I'd say she's a good storyteller, and does a good job quickly developing characters, which was needed for the structure of the book.

keen23's review

4.0

Does it become a self fulfilling prophecy if you know the day you're supposed to die?