Provocative premise and great character development!
Chloe Benjamin immediately drew me into the Immortalists with her provocative premise. On a hot summer day in 1969, the Gold children visit a fortune teller. At the impressionable ages of 13, 11, 9 and 7, the siblings learn the dates of their death. Is the psychic to be believed? And, if so, how will knowing the day you will die, shape the way you live.
In the opening scenes, we only learn that the oldest child, Varya, is predicted to live a long but likely not entirely happy, life. Based on his initial reaction, we suspect young Simon was predicted to die young. Klara and Daniel both found the encounter unsettling, but the readers must be patient to learn more. The siblings keep their predictions to themselves for eight years, when together mourning the death of their father, they reveal their dates and feelings about the prophecies.
The remainder of the book is divided into sections by character. The tone and perspective of each section is unique. Despite the characters leading wildly different existences, the stories build upon each other and slowly reveal deep insights into the power of suggestion in shaping character and ultimately, their destiny.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I became mesmerized by the character development. I desperately wanted to know whether the prophecies would come true for each character. I had a soft spot in my heart for Simon, and cringed for I could see the future he was barreling head first towards. And, it wasn't until I read Daniel's portion of the book that Klara's convictions really hit me.
I would highly recommend this book to some … but not all … my literary friends. Simon's section contains some fairly graphic sex scenes which may be unsettling to some readers. It is worth noting, however, that Simon's section is just that … Simon's section. Once you get through it, you'll become immersed in three entirely different worlds.
I want to thank BookishFirst for the ARC of the Immortalist in exchange for an unbiased review.
In the opening scenes, we only learn that the oldest child, Varya, is predicted to live a long but likely not entirely happy, life. Based on his initial reaction, we suspect young Simon was predicted to die young. Klara and Daniel both found the encounter unsettling, but the readers must be patient to learn more. The siblings keep their predictions to themselves for eight years, when together mourning the death of their father, they reveal their dates and feelings about the prophecies.
The remainder of the book is divided into sections by character. The tone and perspective of each section is unique. Despite the characters leading wildly different existences, the stories build upon each other and slowly reveal deep insights into the power of suggestion in shaping character and ultimately, their destiny.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I became mesmerized by the character development. I desperately wanted to know whether the prophecies would come true for each character. I had a soft spot in my heart for Simon, and cringed for I could see the future he was barreling head first towards. And, it wasn't until I read Daniel's portion of the book that Klara's convictions really hit me.
I would highly recommend this book to some … but not all … my literary friends. Simon's section contains some fairly graphic sex scenes which may be unsettling to some readers. It is worth noting, however, that Simon's section is just that … Simon's section. Once you get through it, you'll become immersed in three entirely different worlds.
I want to thank BookishFirst for the ARC of the Immortalist in exchange for an unbiased review.