Goodreads SynopsisNastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.
Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.
By Cate Tiernan
Hardcover, 407 pages
Published September 7th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
5 out 5 starsGenre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Wow! This was definitely a great and compelling read with a great main character who I instantly loved.
Nastasya is an immortal. She's been alive for about 450 years now, and her whole life she's been living a reckless and meaningless life. She's been a 'party-girl' for as long as she remembers, and she's always thought it was the way to live. Then one day, her best friend, Incy, another immortal, tortures a human with dark magic, causing Nastasya to question the way her life is heading and what she might become if she continues down the same road. So, she sets out to River's Edge in hopes of beginning a new life. There she meets a bunch of other immortals who are also trying to begin anew, and hope to become good immortals--Tahti. While at River's Edge, Nastasya assimilates to a complete different lifestyle from her previous years, in which she has to do chores--cooking, cleaning, picking eggs, and other chores she hates. She also gets a minimum paying job, which is unbelievable for her since she's never had a job in her whole life--at least, not like this.
There's so much more to the story than that, though. Nastasya is running away from her past, a past so terrible and frightening, Nastasya avoids thinking about it all the time. She has secrets and nightmares she doesn't share. She has darkness within her she doesn't want to admit to. I connected with her on so many levels. She has such a witty and sarcastic attitude--being inside her head is so much fun. She makes awkward situations light, teases other people for their faults. It's obvious she's spoiled and likes things to be fun and exciting, rather than dull and boring. So, coming to River's Edge is so unlike her character that at first she isn't intent on staying at all. But the people there, the atmosphere she finds herself in, makes her view her life in a new manner, and finally she actually feels like she's <i>doing</i> something. I loved all the characters in this book, even the mean ones. River, the immortal who takes in Nastasya, is patient and kind. She's a wonderful mother like figure for Nastasya. There's Brynne, Solis, and Charles among others who befriend Nastasya and teach her things she hadn't known before. She learns more about the history of Immortals and what they're capable of. And I can't forget about Reyn! She refers to him as the 'Viking God' and also very often, "Odis", because of his incredibly good looks. There is seriously so much tension between these two--I just wanted them to kiss already! She finds him insufferable though, and knows there's more to him than meets the eye. He ends up playing a large part in Nastasya's life, both past and present. He's almost a catalyst for Nastasya's new lifestyle where she faces the darkness within her, and learns to confront the past she's been running away from in the past 440 years. It's such a long and tough journey for her, but she never falters or backs down. Even with that tiny voice in her head giving her doubts, there's always a bigger part of her that wanted to keep going, to find the place she's been looking for her whole life. I loved how the author makes us realize that even though Nastasya is old, like really old, she's still a teenager at heart, still confused about the person she is, and the person she's meant to become.
Immortal Beloved doesn't have any action-packed scenes or drama-worthy fighting. This is simply a story about a girl who goes on a journey in hopes of finding the right path, while escaping the evil that she seems to have gotten caught up in recently. She recognizes the darkness in immortals and is determined to not let it conquer her. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, many including Nastasya's cranky boss, Old Macintyre, and, of course, Reyn. There's also a side-plot regarding someone who wants Nastasya dead. I loved the immortal history, their background. I want to learn more about them, and I want to see some more of Nastasya and Reyn--hopefully their relationship will be more prominent in the next book. We're also given insight into Nastasya'a history, and I'm definitely interested in learning more about her magick powers. This was a great story, great first book, and I'm eagerly ready for the next one! There is still unanswered questions lingering, and characters left out. It seems they'll be more focused in the next book.
This song reminded me of Nastasya's story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZUZjhX2qU&feature=related
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