I didn't expect to love Immortal as much as I did, but it is a fantastic ride from start to finish. There's a perfect amount of romance, intrigue, and suspense to keep the pages turning!

⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ✩

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Okay I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun little read and I will definitely be reading the second book, I am excited to get more into this world and these characters and I'm excited to see where the story goes. Definitely recommend if this is you’re kinda vibe, was right up my street 🤩

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Thank you to NetGalley and V.E Duncan for the ARC 🫶🏼

Unfortunately, I found this book to be underwhelming. I enjoyed the unique premise—immortality blood parasites. However, the romance was subpar. The love felt shallow and it developed too quickly. There were a number of scenes where the writing felt overly dramatic and unnatural. I think there was a lot of potential for this storyline, it just didn’t deliver for me.

I have been searching for an urban fantasy read for a while, and this landed on my NetGalley shelf. I didn’t realise this actually came out in April, but that’s a win because I definitely want to read the second book!

This gave real twilight vibes, and Jackson was a lot like Edward Cullen who is one of my favourite book characters of all time.

Things I liked:
- tortured soul MMC
- Well thought out fantasy elements
- Action packed, suspenseful and romantic

Things I would have liked:
- a bit longer to build the romance
- More core female characters

An interesting take on immortality, Immortal blends elements of paranormal, sci-fi, thriller and romance all into one delightful read. I really enjoyed how much thought and medical science went into the design of the parasitic virus and playing it parallel to Kait’s childhood cancer made it seem all the more harrowing, terrifying and interesting in its own morbid way.

Death is a constant companion throughout the book, intertwined with themes of grief for oneself and others. Kait juggles the weight of possibly dying as a child with the trauma of living through that, making her a multifaceted and empathetic character. In contrast to Jackson who has dealt with death around him while he lives on through his parasitically altered lifespan. It’s two opposing situations and watching both of them navigate their own emotions around their unique circumstances while slowly circling and falling deeper into each other’s lives despite both of them trying to keep each other at a distance kept me hooked.

The hidden world of the Immortals slides seamlessly into the real world, fraught with dangers and ethical dilemmas. The slow build of the overarching plot combined with the steady shift in the dynamics of Kait and Jackson’s relationship was balanced well within the pacing of the book.

Overall Immortal is an engaging read with a strong and compelling narrative. I really enjoyed it and will be keeping my eye out for the second book because I want more from this world and these characters. I’m excited to see where the story goes.

As a final note I would caution readers to check the triggers before reading.

This was a different concept. Most time when we think of Immortals we think of vampires, not the case here. These immortals are more of an evolutionary step ahead. I liked the story and world building. Writer's style/voice was different, I liked it. Overall I enjoyed the book.

I was first drawn to this book by its pretty cover. I love a good paranormal/fantasy book. After the reading the synopsis, I decided to give it a try.

First for readers, this is definitely NOT a vampire book. It's a book about immortal beings. The way you become an immortal is being infected by a parasite (through blood/fluid transfer) that genetically alters a mortal human to an immortal. This process gives immortals superhuman abilities and makes them harder (but not impossible) to kill. Living forever and having superhero-type abilities may sound great, but there's a deadly price for immortality.

Kait is a strong heroine, surviving childhood cancer and three bone marrow transplants. Currently in remission, she's working in art therapy at a local hospital with children fighting cancer. Kait is temporarily living in a basement apartment at her mom's home. The relationship is strained because Kait's mom is a hoverer and overprotector. Kait has a lot of emotional baggage from her time in treatment and her relationship with her mom, which I could absolutely relate to. It was sometimes difficult to get through their scenes together because the feelings and emotions were so heightened and relatable.

Kait meets Jackson one fateful (and weird) night and can't get him out of her mind. As if she conjured him up, he starts coming around and inserting himself in her daily life, which is a blessing and a curse. While she's got feelings developing for this mysterious man, she knows he's not being fully honest with her, and that's something Kait will not tolerate. Kait's also leaving town in a few weeks so she decides to make the most of her time with Jackson.

When one of Kait's patients becomes a target by a strange man lurking in the hospital, she works to discover his identity and intentions. Soon, Kait realizes she's now a target and Jackson may be involved. Was she wrong about him all along?

The plot kept me engaged and entertained throughout the story. The characters are interesting and the chemistry between Kait and Jackson was sweet and savory.

The book ends with several loose ends, not necessarily a cliffhanger-type situation, but more like a trilogy situation. I'm not sure how the series is constructed, but it left me with enough breadcrumbs to want to find out what happens next.

This was a strong start to the Immortal series and was a strong debut from VE Duncan. The supernatural elements worked with the story and was engaged with what was happening. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their world, and it left me wanting more in this series.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I do like trying new authors so I thought I would try it. IM very glad I did. This book explores the concept of immortality as a disease that is infectious along with the story of childhood cancer and I found it a fascinating parallel . The Characters were well rounded and I did enjoy the book.
I would recommend

I’m really going out my comfort zone with this and I’m so glad I did
This was amazing
Such an unique story with some amazing characters
A lovely slow burn romance I was all in for
Fantastic character loved their development they really became their own
Definitely a must read

This was a very interesting, kind of odd book. I’m all about originality and twists on the typical fantasy, but I think this was just a little more science fiction for my liking. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I was just so confused and intrigued by figuring out what everything was talking about that I read it quickly. Once it was action packed, it was fast paced. I feel that the romance was a little rushed, definitely could have shown more moments rather than offhandedly mention it. I think the plot twist was a bit obvious but still interesting to watch unfold. Overall not a bad read, but not too sure if I’ll pick up the second book in the series.

3.5 stars

Kait Peters is a normal Mortal living a normal life until an accident on a rain-slicked road exposes her to a deadly parasite and a hidden world. Kait soon suspects the questions haunting her since that night could reveal secrets more dangerous than anything she could have imagined. She meets Jackson Cunningham on that fateful night who is an Immortal infected with a parasite granting him superhuman abilities with a terrible cost. Together they must fight to protect the ones they care about from a rogue Immortal infecting people.

I was really excited for the premise of this book. I love a good twist on vampire retellings. I had a really hard time pushing through the overly descriptive paragraphs that plague the first couple of chapters. I can see what Duncan was going for after I pushed through and learned more about the Immortals but that is mostly what brought the rating down for me. I really loved how frank and honest Kait was. I wish we could have seen a little more into her life and relationships before the action of the story begins. I feel like Duncan really hits her stride about 35% of the way through this book. The characters fell a little flat for me because the whole plot takes place in a little over 3 weeks and I wanted more depth from the characters. It looks like this will be the first book in this series. I am curious on how this will develop. I really do like this world and want more from it. Duncan has set up some great potential for world building and character development.




Posted review on storygraph and Instagram 10/15/24 @kayskraftyreads

"Immortal" by V.E. Duncan is a captivating blend of fantasy and science fiction, enriched with elements of thriller, mystery, and romance. This multifaceted narrative introduces readers to Kait, a resilient childhood cancer survivor who returns to her hometown to teach art to young patients in the pediatric oncology unit. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Jackson, a intriguing immortal who belongs to a secretive underground society. This group is infected by a parasite that alters their lifespan and abilities, rendering them dangerous to mortals during a monthly event known as the Bloom.

The story begins with a fateful car accident that brings Jackson into Kait's life. Though he is bound by duty to maintain distance, Jackson finds himself irresistibly drawn to Kait. Their burgeoning, yet forbidden relationship unfolds against the backdrop of a darker narrative involving a rogue immortal with plans to genetically engineer the parasite and exploit innocent mortals for his experiments.

Duncan skillfully weaves a plot that is both engaging and thought-provoking, seamlessly blending romance with themes of danger and ethical dilemmas. The character development is commendable; both Kait and Jackson are nuanced and relatable, navigating their complex emotions amid external threats. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, keeping readers invested from start to finish.

Overall, "Immortal" is an enthralling read that successfully merges various genres into a cohesive and compelling narrative. V.E. Duncan has crafted a story that not only entertains but also prompts reflection on the nature of life and the ethical implications of immortality. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of fantasy and science fiction alike.

Immortal by VE Duncan is a romantic science fiction novel about Kait, a mortal, accidentally exposed to a parasite that causes immortality and Jackson, the immortal tasked with monitoring her for symptoms of the parasite. I really enjoyed this twist on immortality and learning about the hidden world. It was a lot different than I expected. There’s also a mystery and romance woven in. The mystery aspect I really enjoyed and it kept me entertained. The romance was ok. I would’ve liked more chemistry between Kait and Jackson. There were a few dates and interactions we’re told about that I think would’ve been beneficial to the romantic development if we’d seen the scenes actually play out. Overall, I enjoyed the book but would’ve like a better developed romance since the relationship was a major plot point.

Kait Peters is an ordinary Mortal leading a typical life until a fateful accident on a rain-slicked road exposes her to a deadly parasite and unveils a hidden world. This incident leads her to Jackson Cunningham, an enigmatic stranger who comes to her aid. Unbeknownst to Kait, Jackson is an Immortal infected with the same parasite that grants him superhuman abilities but at a significant cost. His responsibility now lies in observing Kait for any signs of infection while keeping the existence of the underground world of Immortals hidden from her.

As their paths intertwine, Kait begins to see through Jackson’s carefully constructed facade. Meanwhile, a rogue Immortal threatens Mortals by infecting them with the immortality parasite, putting Kait directly in danger as Jackson pursues this rogue. Together, they must navigate their growing attraction amidst the web of lies and half-truths that threaten their lives and love.

The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the collision between two worlds—one mortal and one immortal—as Kait and Jackson fight to protect each other against external threats while grappling with their own secrets.

I would rate Immortal 4.5
The pacing of the plot kept me engaged all the way through. The characters were interesting. I appreciated Kait's growth from her own background and Jackson's literal take on every word was amusing. Unique plot overall and I look forward to the next installment in the series.