I have read mixed reviews about Cate Tiernan's new series called Immortal Beloved, a paranormal romance trilogy, that is being marketed as fresh, new spin on the extremely popular genre. I wondered how much can you really change a paranormal romance book? Sure, you can switch the paranormal creature (i.e. vampire, werewolf, fallen angel, zombie) and write it from a different perspective (i.e. either the 'ordinary' or the one who holds the secret) but what else? Intrigued by the question, I sought out Immortal Beloved and decided to read it.
Description: Nastasya is over 400 years old immortal and has spent much of her life partying hard throughout the centuries. When she witnesses her best friend, Incy, use magick to break a cabbie's spine after their typical night of drinking and partying, Nastasya decides she wants to change her lifestyle. She moves to Massachusetts and enrolls in a rehab treatment center for immortals who want to maintain a balance of magick in their lives.
During her treatment, Nastasya meets a handsome, mysterious, aloof character named Reyne, who she swears she knows from her past, but doesn't know where. Strange things begin to happen at the treatment center and Nastasya is in the center of it all. She must face her dark past and escape from dark immortals who want her in order to truly start living.
Review: Immortal Beloved has a great concept: What if there was a rehab center for paranormal characters? I can immediately picture and name a few characters who I would like to see get checked in. Despite the premise, I found my reading experience to be frustrating. In the half of the book, we meet Natasya, a partyer immortal in London, who suddenly has an epiphany when her night out goes wrong. She then decides to travel across the ocean to Massachusetts and checks into a rehab center. She complains incessantly how 'backwards' the rehab center is and how her life sucks. In between her rants, we meet Reyn aka Viking god who infuriates and tempts Natasya, as well as some interesting flashback tidbits on her many lives throughout history. All of this takes place in 200 pages, which could have easily be edited to at least 50 to 75 pages tops. The book finally got somewhat interesting at the book's halfway mark when we find out how Natasya's and Reyn's histories connect, but that plot line doesn't really go anywhere.
To be completely honest, I was really tempted to dump this book. I didn't warm up to Natasya's elitist, snarky attitude. Nor did I care for her love interest Reyn, who didn't really come to life for me. I felt as if I read about him instead of meeting him. Their relationship is just a little bit above lust, but not much. While the book is marketed as a paranormal romace, the first book is actually about Natasya accepting who she really is, faults and all, and confronting her past, which I admit is done quite well without being too preachy.
Since I didn't care for the characters or the plot, I'm not going to pick up this series. I'm more likely to suggest it to friends who need a filler book while they wait for something they really want to read that isn't available at the moment. All in all, Immortal Beloved is okay, but not great by any means.
Rating: 2 stars
Words of Caution: There is strong language in the book. There are also some scenes that have strong violence where people are beheaded that might be a bit too gory for middle schoolers. Recommended to 9th grade and up.
If you like this book try: Marked by PC and Kristen Cast or Evermore by Alyson Noel
Description: Nastasya is over 400 years old immortal and has spent much of her life partying hard throughout the centuries. When she witnesses her best friend, Incy, use magick to break a cabbie's spine after their typical night of drinking and partying, Nastasya decides she wants to change her lifestyle. She moves to Massachusetts and enrolls in a rehab treatment center for immortals who want to maintain a balance of magick in their lives.During her treatment, Nastasya meets a handsome, mysterious, aloof character named Reyne, who she swears she knows from her past, but doesn't know where. Strange things begin to happen at the treatment center and Nastasya is in the center of it all. She must face her dark past and escape from dark immortals who want her in order to truly start living.
Review: Immortal Beloved has a great concept: What if there was a rehab center for paranormal characters? I can immediately picture and name a few characters who I would like to see get checked in. Despite the premise, I found my reading experience to be frustrating. In the half of the book, we meet Natasya, a partyer immortal in London, who suddenly has an epiphany when her night out goes wrong. She then decides to travel across the ocean to Massachusetts and checks into a rehab center. She complains incessantly how 'backwards' the rehab center is and how her life sucks. In between her rants, we meet Reyn aka Viking god who infuriates and tempts Natasya, as well as some interesting flashback tidbits on her many lives throughout history. All of this takes place in 200 pages, which could have easily be edited to at least 50 to 75 pages tops. The book finally got somewhat interesting at the book's halfway mark when we find out how Natasya's and Reyn's histories connect, but that plot line doesn't really go anywhere.
To be completely honest, I was really tempted to dump this book. I didn't warm up to Natasya's elitist, snarky attitude. Nor did I care for her love interest Reyn, who didn't really come to life for me. I felt as if I read about him instead of meeting him. Their relationship is just a little bit above lust, but not much. While the book is marketed as a paranormal romace, the first book is actually about Natasya accepting who she really is, faults and all, and confronting her past, which I admit is done quite well without being too preachy.
Since I didn't care for the characters or the plot, I'm not going to pick up this series. I'm more likely to suggest it to friends who need a filler book while they wait for something they really want to read that isn't available at the moment. All in all, Immortal Beloved is okay, but not great by any means.
Rating: 2 stars
Words of Caution: There is strong language in the book. There are also some scenes that have strong violence where people are beheaded that might be a bit too gory for middle schoolers. Recommended to 9th grade and up.
If you like this book try: Marked by PC and Kristen Cast or Evermore by Alyson Noel
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