Look, I have been burned by surprise vampires before (looking directly at you Joyce Carol Oates), but Jacqueline Holland's debut The God of Endings really delivered. The novel follows Anna from the early nineteenth-century, coming to terms with her "change" as she travels across Europe in turmoil, to her life in the 1980s running an elite preschool as Collette LeSange. Bouncing around her timeline, Anna is haunted by Czernobog, the god of endings.

A kind of philosophical meeting of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Interview With a Vampire, Holland contends with the pitfalls of immortality, the ethics of "predation," and the responsibility of giving life. There are moments where the pacing drags, but as a reflection of the repetition of loss: Czernobog's endings. Some of the events of the past are left unresolved, which was frustrating for me when everything else is so neatly tied together.

Holland crafting a haunting and gorgeous gothic debut novel that strikes at the heart of lonliness and obligation. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

The God of Endings is the debut novel of Jacqueline Holland, and released on March 7th, 2023. It is the story of Anna, a young girl born in the 1800s who contracts tuberculosis as a child, and is granted eternal life by way of vampirism after she passes. The novel alternates back and forth between scenes of the “modern-day” Anna (who runs an elite preschool in 1980s upstate New York), and the past, where Anna becomes a vampire and lives through the centuries. In the modern day, Anna is becoming ravenous and uncontrollable: her hunger comes faster and more strongly, and she begins to have memory loss. She finds herself awakening in unfamiliar places with soiled hands, with no understanding of what transpired. Anna tries to find the cause of this insatiability while managing her preschool and dealing with a troubled child that attends it.

The God of Endings brings a lot of strengths to the table. Holland writes with a solid, consumable prose that frequently dips into moments of beauty. For the most part, the book is tightly written, and chapters are fast and don’t overstay their welcome—I found it to be a page turner when I least expected it too, and the book read fairly fast overall. Holland’s clearest strength is her ability to write emotion, something that The God of Endings leans heavily into. Feelings of melancholy loneliness oozed effortlessly off the page due to her writing, and the tone of the book was captured well from cover to cover.

However, my favorite aspect of The God of Endings revolves around the titular character. Czernobog, the Slavic “god of endings” haunts the life of Anna throughout both past and present. From Anna’s perspective, it is obsessed with ending her relationships and happiness, dominating her life and making its presence known with ash and the smell of smoke whenever it comes. I found Czernobog be refreshingly different compared to the usual antagonistic forces I encounter. It is less an villainous actor and more a force of nature you must contend with: not an individual, but an inevitability. There were a few segments of The God of Endings where Holland really leans into the Slavic lore and a sort of half-lucid fever dream atmosphere, which shined as my favorite parts of the book. Holland can write weird really well, but didn’t seem to touch on it all that much here. I hope she does in the future.

Unfortunately, some weaknesses became apparent throughout The God of Endings as well. The present-time sections were dominated by interactions at Anna’s preschool, or with preschoolers themselves—however these talk and act unlike any preschooler I’ve ever encountered. Holland tries to cheat past this by emphasizing this is an elite preschool and that these are incredibly intelligent children, but it just doesn’t pass muster for me. These act like obviously older kids, and the conversations feel clichéd and limited as Holland struggles to balance writing actual preschoolers versus writing something that fits into her mature world. It may seem small, but it irked me enough throughout the novel that it was overall fairly detracting.

In the past sections, there simply isn’t enough time spent with each side character in Anna’s life to really inject any verisimilitude into the relationships. When they come to an end, the reader is left only with the emotion of Anna, as we have not developed a meaningful connection between the characters. I would have really preferred it if Holland cut out one or two of these past segments in order to spend more time with the others.

Despite some strengths, I ultimately found the biggest weakness in The God of Endings to be Anna herself. Unfortunately, I found nearly every character in the book to be more engaging and interesting than the main one. This is exacerbated by the use of first-person narrative: the reader is privy to every thought that goes through Anna’s head over the centuries, so you better make sure it is full of good ones. It wasn’t. At times it seemed like Anna lacked any intellectual curiosity at all, and instead of problem-solving we only get lugubrious whimpers. At times Anna felt like she was 190 going on 19, and I got to the end of the book feeling like she had learned nothing over the centuries aside from fluency in a half-dozen languages. I am apprehensive about using the term “idiot ball” to describe a plot, but I lack a better one. The problems Anna faces seem to be largely ones of her own incompetence.

I’ll give two examples. At one point, Anna is worried about finding a blood source after she loses access to her neighbor’s cows. But, we have seen chapters where Anna lives for decades by hunting! She also owned her own livestock in Europe for this very purpose—yet both solutions are just ignored, and Anna laments her situation before flailing around carelessly. At another point near the end of the book, Anna encounters a fellow vampire from her past. She conveniently does not ask them about the central conflict of the book—her vampiric hunger suddenly growing out of control, which at this point is dominating her existence. In fact, after they leave, Anna says something along the lines of “I can’t believe I forgot to ask them about that!”. Give me a break. If you ever write that sentence, something has gone very, very wrong with your plotting.

Although it has strong writing and a unique Slavic influence, I ultimately found The God of Endings to be a fairly average read. I mostly enjoyed my time with it, and there were sections that I really enjoyed alongside some sections that made me roll my eyes. I think Holland has a lot of talent with writing and prose, although I’d like to see the plotting improve in her next work. Fans of vampire books might find this worth picking up.

3/5 stars.

You should read The God of Endings if:
-You’re in the mood for a vampire story that emphasizes contemplative loneliness over violence.
-You enjoy split-narrative books, particularly ones that alternate across time periods.
-You’re intrigued by books that have influences from Slavic mythology.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

Collette LeSange is a vampire like creature that runs a high end preschool in New York. She is immortal and drinks blood but can be out in the day. The book goes over her current life and back through her past. Collette gets involved in the family life of one of her students and his erratic parents.

I enjoyed the book but it was a bit too long. .

The God of Endings was a little difficult to get through. Although it wasn't bad, I wasn't as charmed as I had hoped to be. I usually enjoy slow-paced novels, but this one wasn't for me. This book delves into what it means to be human, hope, how to cope with difficult circumstances, and grief. The writing is lovely, and the book was overall enjoyable to read.

The prose in this book is undeniably beautiful. And it makes you want to fold yourself in the words. The way Holland compares death and nature could legitimately bring tears to my eyes.

It's why it pains me to say that the plot itself didn't grip me the way I wanted to. The split timelines felt a little too disjointed and jarring to keep me engaged, and while the prose was beautiful, I had a hard time caring about the characters and the plot. For the most part, it didn't really feel like there was a point, so it made it difficult to want to continue reading.

This was ambitious but just didn't work for me.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Netgalley for the arc!

I cannot recommend THE GOD OF ENDINGS enough. It’s a unique and interesting story about a vampire named Collette LeSange. Over many many years, she has finally created a life for herself. She feels at peace, until one day her ties to one of her students brings back her cravings. We move around between timelines to get a glimpse into Collette’s past and I ate it up. At 480 pages, I could not put this book down. It’s dark, contemplative, deals in life and death, and good vs evil. Holland wrote a stellar debut. Do not miss this! Hello…It’s VAMPIRES!

The God of Endings is a story about a vampire. However, it reads more like a philosophical tale weighing the pros and cons of immortality. It is slow and sometimes confusing. It is probably best for literary fiction fans rather than fantasy, horror or even historical fiction readers. Still, it is beautifully written so 4 stars!

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Vampires stories will be as immortal as they are. And it's because you have so many liberties to take when telling a vampire story.
This one had similarities to Interview With the Vampire. It was beautiful and thought provoking. The dual timelines alternating between past and present helped set the tone for our character and her struggles/changes.
I liked how she accepted Czernobog by the end. I think it was the only way to end her story, although those last paragraphs do make me want a sequel. So maybe that wasn't the end?
I had no trouble getting into the story, the writing captivated me early on. I loved this book exactly for what it was. Vampires. Historical fiction. I don't think you can go wrong. But this exceeded expectations.

TL;DR

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland is a unique take on vampire stories. It’s an existential novel pondering whether life is a blessing or a curse. This all too human portrait of Collette is wonderful. Highly recommended. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland

Books are unique in all of art in that they allow us access to the thoughts of another. While reading, we are inside the head of another individual experiencing their life and their thoughts. While fictional characters don’t exist, fiction is as close as we can get to experiencing another person’s thoughts transferred directly into our brains. It’s amazing that we can find connection and a sense of community this way. It baffles me to no end. All books are entertainment, but some reach beyond that and strike me at the core of my being. I feel both bigger and smaller for having read them. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland is one of those books.

In 1984, Collette LeSange runs an elite school. She has built a quiet life for herself teaching children how to make art. She prefers younger children because they are so full of life that it distracts her from her existential woe. For Collette is a vampire; though, she’s unlike any other vampire I’ve read about. Collette remains human despite the gifts of eternal life. She struggles with depression, and her morals don’t let her feed from humans. She also doesn’t kill when she feeds. In fact, she’s collected a clowder of cats that she feeds from when needed. They are also the pets of the school, and in a way, the only family that Collette has nearby. Her immortal grandfather is only seen at the beginning of the book when she’s transformed; he remains a specter over the rest of the novel but not present on the page. His gift of immortal life weighs heavily on Collette and has throughout history. In 1834, Collette – then named Anna – was dying of cholera, following her brother and father. But her grandfather turned her because he saw a strength in her to live on. Collette spends the rest of the novel wishing she hadn’t been turned. But with the addition of little Leo Hardman to her school, Collette’s life is about to become a little less quiet. For with Leo’s arrival Collette suspects she feels the supernatural presence of Czernobog, the God of Endings. Hunger grips Collette in a way that it never has before, and she begins to wake up missing time. What does Czernobog’s sudden appearance in Collette’s life portend?

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland is a first person point of view novel that alternates between the present of 1984 and various other dates in Collette’s past. The pace is measured, and the book is less concerned with action than it is with observation. Collette seeks to protect her secret and twists herself up in many ways to remain among humans and live her own moral life. Holland uses Collette’s immortal existence to muse on whether life is a blessing or a curse. At the same time, Collette’s thoughts on art are wonderful. This is a slow, ponderous book that dwells, ruminates, and explores. It’s as engaging as any action packed blockbuster.

A New Kind of Vampire (At Least, to Me)

Holland’s take on the vampire mythos was a new, fresh take. At least, as far as my reading is concerned, that is. While Collette has certain traits to fit the archetype: a hunger for blood, super strength, super speed, healing, fangs for ingesting blood, and the inability to eat human food, Collette also deviates. She’s asexual; even so far as losing her human genitals and secondary sex traits. This makes sense, right? Vampires procreate asexually; so, why do they need human genitals? She’s not aromantic, though. Throughout her past, she falls for various men. She also doesn’t kill to feed and doesn’t feed off humans if she can help it. The exception to that rule is Nazis, and we can all agree that’s a good exception. Despite being powerful, she doesn’t seek to play hero or meddle in the affairs of humans. She simply wants to exist and make art. Her existence, however, weighs on her. For Collette immortality isn’t all its cracked up to be. She loses people over and over and over again. Her very nature always means she has to have one foot out the door, and this is a terrible thing when forging relationships with people. Collette wants connection so much, and that’s why she’s opened her school. She needs some sort of connection to people to survive. Holland gives readers a glimpse of various connections in her past, both romantic and platonic. But they all end in heartbreak for Collette, whether through death or the small-mindedness of humanity.

Holland’s take on the vampire myth allows her to philosophize more. Through Collette, she ponders whether life is a blessing or a curse. Rightly so, she doesn’t give an answer; Holland leaves it up to the reader. This worked for me. Ultimately, the purpose of life is an individual thing we must all figure out for ourselves. Holland presented arguments for and against life as a blessing. Even though Collette wasn’t aware of some of those arguments, Holland put them in there for the reader to see.

Art as Purpose

Collette paints. She’s an artist, and that’s what her school is about. The reason she takes to Leo so strongly is his abnormal ability to create art. He’s a prodigy who’s skill level is way above where it should be for his age. Readers see Collette give him instruction, and through her instruction, we see the joy that art brings her. Holland muses on art throughout the book, and though it’s not the main purpose of the book, I can’t help but see it as a love letter to creativity. Art give Collette purpose at various points throughout her life, both high and low points. It keeps her human because it allows her to express emotion. And Collette is full of repressed emotion. How could she not be? She has a huge secret to keep, and it weighs on her. But when she’s creating, she’s in the moment. She’s being. She’s observing nature. She’s focused. These are good things that art can bring to a person. Creativity is an excellent form of mental healthcare. For Collette, though, art is so much more than that, so much more than a coping mechanism. It’s a way to connect with other people.

It seems as if art and the humanities are always under attack, and right now as the U.S. careens towards totalitarianism, having art be the purpose of your life brings about ridicule or disdain. To say you’re an artist takes courage. People will nod at you but wonder what you ‘really do.’ If you’re not getting paid for it, then people question whether that really makes you an artist or not. When the answer is simple. Ask yourself, do you create art? If the answer is yes, you’re an artist. There’s no other qualifier necessary. Art can be life saving, and Holland shows that to be the case with Collette. Though Collette is immortal, there is a small portion of the book where she’s existing but not living. It’s her art that differentiates living from existence. This is true for many of us.

Czernobog and the Supernatural

Holland never indicates whether there are other supernatural entities in her world. Other vampires exist, but as for werewolves and other myths, Holland doesn’t say. It doesn’t matter to this novel whether they do or not except for Czernobog. I liked this because Collette is attempting to be human throughout her long life. She’s not trying to integrate into the supernatural community. By keeping her exclusively in the ‘human’ world, Holland shows that Collette doesn’t suddenly become part of a new world. She retains the same sort of life many of us have. Through this, she attempts to remain human, just with a few caveats.

Czernobog may exist or may just be Collette attempting to make purpose of changing events. The fact that Collette doesn’t know is fantastic. By putting The God of Endings in first person, Holland lets the reader decide. Collette’s belief in Czernobog is another way of expressing her humanity. Readers don’t see religious vampires; in fact, religion is often a weapon against them. But Collette learns of this ancient Slavic god and sees his effects in various traumatic moments in her life. Czernobog is not a comfort to her. In a way, though, he is an old friend. He connects her to a long lost love. I don’t know if Czernobog is in the novel or not, and I love that. To me, that’s more powerful and meaningful than if he had appeared directly on the page taking responsibility.

Conclusion

Jacqueline Holland’s The God of Endings blew me away. It works as a character study, as a philosophical rumination on life, as a vampire story, and as an acceptance story. Holland’s Collette is a unique vampire in a genre suffused with vampires. But it’s not the supernatural that makes The God of Endings wonderful, it’s Collette’s humanity underneath the weight of history, of loss, and of pain.

Highly recommended.

I love vampires and love to see them making a resurgence in a much different way. Collette is worn down by her immortal life and I love the way the author managed to slip back into the past to give glimpses into her change and her fears of losing control of herself. All the best vampire stories to me are centered around that lack of control and what it means to try to hold onto humanity in the wake of such a monsterous awakening. It did drag a little in the past and there were some things I didn't think were handled the best (particularly the prejudice for Roma and Jewish people) but the story overall was an enjoyable read. It left me with many things to ponder on.

The God of Endings follows Collete, an immortal woman, over centuries of life - a life often fraught with regret, hunger, and loneliness, though also kindness.

The use of dual timelines and the pacing at which certain moments of Collette's life are revealed was done beautifully. The exploration of what immortality could actually entail - not only what one would stand to gain with everlasting life, but what one may face losing was such a compelling take on the classic subject of vampires. With that, it also poses the question of where the line exists between endings and beginnings. While we often encounter the fantastical and romanticized in this genre, Holland's take felt like we were diving into a more intimate look at our main character - their humanity.

I’m really looking forward to what comes next from Jacqueline Holland and recommend this to fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Woman, Eating.

Thanks to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and Jacqueline Holland for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a cool book that I wasn’t expecting. It had so many layers to it that I found myself sucked into it. It had parts that were slower and that’s when I found my attention waning but for the most part I found myself thoroughly immersed and enjoying in the story. It was an interesting read I’d suggest others check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Vampires are making a comeback and I’m not mad about it. This seems to be a story of what it means to truly be alive wrapped up in a neat, vampiric bow to draw in the appeal. Half of the book follows Collette as she is now and half follows her during her childhood and change, which I really enjoyed. We follow along as she struggles with the possibility or thought of losing her mind and her control - two things that one could argue are imperative to a vampire’s existence. But is existing the same thing as living?
This is beautifully written and an interesting book to read. It isn’t a new conversation people are having, but it does offer an intriguing look into what immortality could actually mean, both good and bad. There are some drawbacks. I didn’t really connect with the characters much if I were to be completely honest. I can see people not enjoying the dual timelines and some could get bored with it, as it isn’t the most action-packed read. However, if you enjoy wondering around with a main character who is contemplating their existence and quite possibly losing their noggin, you may enjoy this one.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks goes to NetGalley and Flatiron Books.

Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Historical Fantasy
Violence: Low-Medium (Blood but nothing too horrible on the page.)
Trigger Warnings: Even though the violence on the page isn't high, there are still things that could be a trigger for some people. Self-harm, Abuse, Drugs, Prostitution

There is a LOT going on in this 480 page chunky book.

It's been a long time since I've read a book with vampires in it, but I decided I was in for the ride.

These are not your campy or typical vampires.

Collette runs a preschool. She's rather disaffected with life and living and would welcome death. Through the past, we see how she became the person she is at the school (1980s). The "God of Endings" is found in the past sections and essential to understand for this book.

I was initially interested in both the past and the present timelines. Once she moves through her "art period" in the wilderness, I found myself less interested in the past portions. Some extreme prejudice is examined. Specifically the Roma people and the Jews—I'm not sure about how I felt about this because it didn't seem like the character was specific enough in her reaction to know if there was a feeling of censure or acceptance of the prejudice against marginalized people. I was also not comfortable with the interaction with a young black woman named Dream (this fell into a stereotype and didn't seem to have a strong balance on the other side—you'll have to see what you think).

As Collette's growing hunger takes over, I kept wondering why—what does this signal? She is also wondering what this change portends. I also felt a sense of dread because of her life in the past. And the only "solution" I could see was not exactly heartwarming or even felt satisfying. So, I kept reading.

Typical for me, I truly felt for the preschool boy with the terrible home life. Leo is plagued by his own demons via his family. Collette accidentally becomes embroiled in this family's problems. So, this is the second major conflict that I wanted to see how it was resolved.

I'm not sure why, but the conflict with Leo and his family seemed like the more pressing one. Perhaps, because it involved a child.

By the end, I felt a bit wrung out. And I'm having a hard time giving this book stars. I feel like the point of the book is that life is not fair. Or possibly to love the life you're given, if you want more optimism. If this review was for myself, I would leave it empty. But as an ARC, I must give it a rating. I will say 3.5, rounded to 4.

Hauntingly beautiful and structurally epic, this deeply rich character piece explores the value and vicissitudes of life and how our desire to control it can destroy us.

All that wrapped up in pretty vampire paper? Yes please.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

Thanks to Flatiron Books for the copy of this book!

When I read "vampires + Addie LaRue vibes" I knew I had to pick this book up. While there isn't a strong romance storyline like there is in Addie LaRue, The God of Endings is a strong character-driven story about a women who is turned into a vampire by her grandfather at a young age when she's on the brink of death. He says, "This world, my dear child, all of it, right to the very end if there is to be an end, is a gift. But it's a gift few are strong enough to receive. I made a judgment that you might be among those strong few, that you might be better served on this side of things than the other. I thought you might find some use for the world and it for you. But if not, my sincerest apologies for the miscalculation."

As we follow our vampire, Collette LaSange in the 1980s timeline, we get flashbacks to her childhood a century and a half before and her reflection on her grandather's words throughout her life. She struggles to source her food while also presenting as "just your regular, everyday art teacher", to be a vampire while also caring for small children, and to continue on with life when she longs for the silence of death.

I enjoyed this read. It's definitely for a particular type of reader, and is a slow and winding story that I believe is best read over the course of a week or two - which is also how I read Addie LaRue. I absolutely loved the ending of this, too!

Read if you:
- Enjoy character-driven stories
- Like vampires
- Loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
- Want to take your time with a read

This book delves into the themes of making difficult choices, persevering through tough times, and discovering hope. The use of a narrative point of view in this book adds a personal and touching element as the protagonist, who happens to be a vampire, shares her life story. The emotional journey of loss, heartbreak, and isolation is truly heart-wrenching. It's a thought-provoking read that will leave you contemplating your own existence.

In terms of pacing, I noticed that certain parts of the story were moving slower, which impacted my engagement with the material. However, I recognized that these scenes were essential to the overall narrative and thus had to be included.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm seeing comparisons of this to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and I can see that, but beware that Addie is soft and sad, while this is sharp and dark. Yes, it is a vampire story but much more The Historian than Twilight. Collette LeSange (the protagonist's current name) is experiencing a sudden increase in cravings. "For more than a century, I could have set a clock by my cravings, and a quart of blood every third day never failed to satisfy them. But suddenly and mysteriously, this is no longer the case." Pursued by Czernobog, the god of endings, we follow Ana/Collette across the globe, through war and persecution, landing in 1984 teaching privileged preschoolers at her private home school. As she becomes intertwined with one of the students and his mother (think A Simple Favor) her actions become more dangerous until she acknowledges what she must do to curb her increased appetite. This story unfolded in so many directions that I could see it being turned into a television series.

At 480 pages this debut novel runs long and the nonlinear timeline confused me a few times, but I was truly invested in and enjoyed the story. No spoilers but the ending is both final and leaves the option for a sequel (or series) that I would love to read.

I just couldn't. It ended up on my DNF list. The page in my blog notebook got ripped out The download was deleted from my library. I wanted to so badly, but I just couldn't. This felt NOTHING like Addie LaRue (a book I adore to my very core) and I can almost feel Anne Rice rolling her eyes into the back of her head over the comparison with Interview With a Vampire. I may have maybe more lenient if it was left in Northern New York, an area I know and love. I had high HIGH hopes when I saw Plattsburgh mentioned at the beginning. But no. We jumped times and locations and right on my last nerve. Maybe it would have worked if it had been severely edited down to half its length -- cut out some of the jumping around, the apparent hatred of the Romani, the endless rambling that I tend to do in my reviews. Maybe MAYBE it would have been finished. Maybe.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!~

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland follows our main character Collette/Anna/Anya/No One as she's given the gift of immortality. A gift that, surely, she would have preferred been given to someone else. Starting our story during 1843, in a town that believed illness was brought on by the devil and the dead, Anna just wants to let her illness take her. Instead, her grandfather, a man she's never met, strolls into town and takes her back to his estate, with the intentions of using "modern medicine" to cure her ailment. After little success in her treatments, he makes a decision, he turns her. Flashing forward to now, the 80's in New York, Collette runs a fancy painting academy for welloff children. Things have been going well and she's been following a routine that works for here. Strangely enough, once she welcomes a student with troubled parents into her school, her life is turned upside down. Why has she meddled in the personal lives of this child and his parents, why is her thirst for blood suddenly so much stronger and frequent, where is she going in the middle of the night?

This debut really blew me away. I read it in three sittings, which may have been a bit excessive. For the first half of the book, I found myself much more interested in what had happened in Collette's past. The children at the art school were interesting, but it kept me hungry for more info on why she's at where she is today. As we approached the climax of the Leo situation, I was hungry for more chapters on what was happening in present day!!! That whole situation really caught me off guard because I was so focused on the past. I really wish Collette the best, I can't believe how she's survived so much pain in her long life. While I very much loved Piroska, Vano, and Ehru; I think Paul's story hurt me the most. I also find it very unique that in most vampire stories, vampires are very sexual creatures. The twist of her body changes were a very different change of pace, and made her transition and immortality all the more tragic. Holland has quite a way with writing tragedy - I hope to read more from her in the future!