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Immortal by Gene Doucette

katrinamarie's review

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4.0

Adam has been around since the beginning of mankind.

Adam takes us through the events that lead to someone discovery what he is. He has a few encounters with other species, and is able to finally figure out how to get rid of one of them. You also get a glimpse back to his earlier times and when he first encountered some of the beings that are after him. His memories back to some of the earliest moments in history shape him and give you an idea of the man he is now.

This is a great book. It's definitely not what I expected. While he stopped aging around his thirties, Adam believes he can, in fact, be killed. He isn't quite sure how he came to be immortal.

There is a ton of dry humor, which makes reading this book that much better. I love that Adam is not a hero. He's a drunk that goes from town to town just living his life. He's never had any aspirations to do great things. He doesn't care to be the "good guy." He also has very good fight or flight instincts, and that is what has let him survive for so long. Adam is also trying to figure out who the mysterious red-headed woman is.

This is a great book for those wanting to dip into the fantasy world, but don't care for magic. Immortal has supernatural creatures, but doesn't include the "magic" that makes them who they are. They are just people who Adam runs into from time to time. It is definitely not a book for kids. There are a few crude parts, so if you don't like that sort of thing you can pass over them.

pussreboots's review against another edition

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3.0

Immortal by Gene Doucette is about a dude named Adam (who may or may not be that Adam). He's seen nations rise and fall and endless numbers of friends grow old and die. He wants to lay low, stay out of trouble and maybe have a few drinks and do some drugs. There's just one problem, a price has been put on his head and now he's a wanted man.

Adam first realizes he's wanted when his current roommates are murdered. He's fingered for their deaths and has to scramble. As he's trying to sort out what happened he becomes aware of a new-to-him group who are interested in his immortality.

In a book where immortality is possible but not probable, there are also other supernatural creatures like pixies and vampires. Fortunately Adam's story doesn't get lost in a menagerie of creatures as happens to so many of these books.

With an immortal character, there are quite a few flashbacks. They come and go as Adam is reminded of something. I found some of these asides problematic for the overall pacing of the modern day mystery. I really just wanted to focus on the here and now of Adam's problems.

Review copy received by the author.

kurenai's review against another edition

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3.0

Uh, that ending was rather abrupt.

I must admit that I liked the storytelling, the history, the plot, the main character's voice. I don't know if I liked it enough to go out of my way to find the next book in the series (I didn't even realize this wasn't a stand-alone book!) but if it happened to fall into my lap I wouldn't turn the next book away.