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dsoobs's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
majincloud's review against another edition
4.0
This book is something i've been searching for a while. It brings back the feeling i had when i was first watching Highlander as a child. The main character feels like Methos for the most part. It's what made me read the book with only one break (for sleep). The only reason i cant give it a 5 star is because of the bad guys. All of them have this "lets be gentlemen about violence" that at the beginning was kind of irritating an just got worse at the end. I get that all ofg them are professionals, but when more and more pop up it's like they're clones
All in all it's a great book and i will probably continue reading this series
All in all it's a great book and i will probably continue reading this series
mollymortensen's review against another edition
2.0
Warning: This is an adult book for violence, sex, and adult humor.
I am a sucker for funny books, so I when I read the summary I was sold. I mean, a funny immortal guy? I’m there.
There’s also more to the world than just one immortal guy, there’s vampires, iffrits, demons and all sorts of other things, which was cool.
I’m still not sure if I like the main character or not. He’s definitely an antihero; killing when necessary, and not always saving people, though he does feel bad about it later. He’s also a drunk. (He was drunk for like 90% of this book.)
The good:
I liked that for once there was an immortal who liked being immortal, even if he is a bit cynical about everything. He doesn’t want to die, and he’s a unique immortal, because he’s pretty sure that things that would kill a normal person would kill him too, he just doesn’t age or get sick.
There’s an info dump at the beginning telling about his life, but I didn’t mind it at all, because it was well done and witty. I loved his ability to blend into with whatever culture he’s around, his skin tone and hair changing. I wish this had been used more, it was a unique little twist.
He makes many observations about humans that really added to the story and made me believe the whole immortal thing. Like he comments that there are only so many faces out there, so it’s weird running into someone you used to know.
I actually liked the flash backs better than the main story. I understand the need for flashbacks with an immortal character living a long life, but the flash forwards (thankfully done in italics) complicated things a bit too much. Once it stays in one time the pace really picked up and it was a more enjoyable read.
The Bad:
I didn’t like the Iffrit Jerry, I thought he was crude. Fortunately he isn’t in the book much.
Towards the middle of the book it gets into the whole sex thing.
Adam’s done some horrible things in his life, (He always defends himself in parentheses saying it was what everyone at the time did.) but some of those things are pretty unforgiveable.
For instance when talking about his early life (cave man type days) he said: “We won the fight and rewarded ourselves by raping several of their women. It’s what one did. Don’t ask me to feel bad about it if you weren’t there.” This wasn’t funny and was completely unnecessary.
Verdict: Immortal is hard book to rate, because I liked most of it and it’s certainly an amusing book, with some interesting details, but there were aspects that I really didn’t like.
Odd fact: I was watching that new show Forever (which is very good by the way) and at the end of the second episode (Forever spoiler alert) the bad guy says something which totally made me think of this book.
“You want to call me something, call me Adam, feels like I’ve been here right from the beginning.“ – Adam, Forever
“I like to brag that I’ve been there from the beginning, and while this may very well be true, I generally just say it to pick up girls.” -Adam, The Immortal
Visit my blog Woven Magic Books for an interview with the author.
Point of View: First (Adam)
Predictability: 4 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)
Comedy Scale: 2 amusing, but I didn’t laugh aloud.
My Rating: 5/10 Stars
I am a sucker for funny books, so I when I read the summary I was sold. I mean, a funny immortal guy? I’m there.
There’s also more to the world than just one immortal guy, there’s vampires, iffrits, demons and all sorts of other things, which was cool.
I’m still not sure if I like the main character or not. He’s definitely an antihero; killing when necessary, and not always saving people, though he does feel bad about it later. He’s also a drunk. (He was drunk for like 90% of this book.)
The good:
I liked that for once there was an immortal who liked being immortal, even if he is a bit cynical about everything. He doesn’t want to die, and he’s a unique immortal, because he’s pretty sure that things that would kill a normal person would kill him too, he just doesn’t age or get sick.
There’s an info dump at the beginning telling about his life, but I didn’t mind it at all, because it was well done and witty. I loved his ability to blend into with whatever culture he’s around, his skin tone and hair changing. I wish this had been used more, it was a unique little twist.
He makes many observations about humans that really added to the story and made me believe the whole immortal thing. Like he comments that there are only so many faces out there, so it’s weird running into someone you used to know.
I actually liked the flash backs better than the main story. I understand the need for flashbacks with an immortal character living a long life, but the flash forwards (thankfully done in italics) complicated things a bit too much. Once it stays in one time the pace really picked up and it was a more enjoyable read.
The Bad:
I didn’t like the Iffrit Jerry, I thought he was crude. Fortunately he isn’t in the book much.
Towards the middle of the book it gets into the whole sex thing.
Adam’s done some horrible things in his life, (He always defends himself in parentheses saying it was what everyone at the time did.) but some of those things are pretty unforgiveable.
For instance when talking about his early life (cave man type days) he said: “We won the fight and rewarded ourselves by raping several of their women. It’s what one did. Don’t ask me to feel bad about it if you weren’t there.” This wasn’t funny and was completely unnecessary.
Verdict: Immortal is hard book to rate, because I liked most of it and it’s certainly an amusing book, with some interesting details, but there were aspects that I really didn’t like.
Odd fact: I was watching that new show Forever (which is very good by the way) and at the end of the second episode (Forever spoiler alert) the bad guy says something which totally made me think of this book.
“You want to call me something, call me Adam, feels like I’ve been here right from the beginning.“ – Adam, Forever
“I like to brag that I’ve been there from the beginning, and while this may very well be true, I generally just say it to pick up girls.” -Adam, The Immortal
Visit my blog Woven Magic Books for an interview with the author.
Point of View: First (Adam)
Predictability: 4 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)
Comedy Scale: 2 amusing, but I didn’t laugh aloud.
My Rating: 5/10 Stars
katrinamarie's review against another edition
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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