After mucking around in the Icy Waters of Waiting for the Next Book, I decided it was time to say goodbye. Next up is the Wyrd and Wonder Fountain of Youth! While on this conglomerate of islands I’ll mention some books that feature immortal characters. Thinking back on what I’ve read, I suppose I’ve read a fair amount that fall into this category.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
Series: None
Genre: Horror, Historical Fantasy, Paranormal
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Redhook
Publish Date: October 04, 2022
Print Length: 304
Purchase: Bookshop.org
Check out my review here.
Synopsis
In this dark, fantasy sensation, S. T. Gibson spins the gothic, seductive tale of Dracula’s first bride, Constanta.This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. . .
Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.
Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.
Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro
Series: None
Genre: Horror, Historical Fantasy, Paranormal
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Publish Date: April 16, 2024
Print Length: 304
Purchase: Bookshop.org
Check out my review here.
Synopsis
An ancient Aztec vampire roams the modern world in search of vengeance and love in this seductive dark fantasy from the author of The Haunting of Alejandra.
Hundreds of years ago, she was known as La Malinche: a Nahua woman who translated for the conquistador Cortés. In the centuries since, her name has gone down in infamy as a traitor. But no one ever found out what happened to La Malinche after Cortés destroyed her people.
In the ashes of the empire, she was reborn as Malinalli, an immortal vampire. And she has become an avenger of conquered peoples, traveling the world to reclaim their stolen artifacts and return them to their homelands.
But she has also been in search of something more, for this ancient vampire still has deeply human longings for pleasure and for love.
When she arrives in Dublin in search of a pair of Aztec skulls–artifacts intimately connected to her own dark history–she finds something else: two men who satisfy her cravings in very different ways.
For the first time she meets a mortal man–a horror novelist–who is not repelled by her strange condition but attracted by it. But there is also another man, an immortal like herself, who shares the darkness in her heart.
Now Malinalli is on the most perilous adventure of all: a journey into her own desires.
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Awakening, #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Bramble
Publish Date: September 12, 2023
Print Length: 432
Purchase: Bookshop.org
Check out my review here.
Synopsis
SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.
From Jennifer L. Armentrout, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Blood and Ash, comes the beginning of a searing fantasy romance series for adults, Fall of Ruin and Wrath.
Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian–royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.
Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.
When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning–and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he’ll be her doom.
When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.
Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.
Breathtaking suspense and scorching romance meet in this immersive new fantasy from a mega-bestselling force, Jennifer L. Armentrout.
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
Series: Adrian x Isolde, #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Bloom Books
Publish Date: November 30, 2021
Print Length: 400
Purchase: Bookshop.org
Check out my review here.
Synopsis
An instant USA Today bestseller! From fan-favorite Scarlett St. Clair, the bestselling author of the Hades & Persephone series, comes a new fantasy filled with danger, darkness, and insatiable romance.
Their union is his revenge.
Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day to be her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him.
But her assassination attempt is thwarted, and Adrian threatens that if Isolde tries to kill him again, he will raise her as the undead. Faced with the possibility of becoming the thing she hates most, Isolde seeks other ways to defy him and survive the brutal vampire court.
Except it isn’t the court she fears most–it’s Adrian. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she wonders why the king–fierce, savage, merciless–chose her as consort.
The answer will shatter her world.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I think this series needs little introduction. If you want to read my reviews, you can check out the first one here, then use the search bar on my blog to find the others.
Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
I think this is another SJM series that needs little introduction. Especially if you read within the same genre I do (mainly fantasy). I didn’t write reviews for these, but there are plenty floating out there.
And that’s it for my stop at the Fountain of Youth! What books have you read that have immortal characters?
The black dragon artwork is by Ehtisham Sajid. Ariana at The Book Nook created the Wyrd and Wonder map.
I haven’t read a huge amount with immortal characters. Sometimes, there have been series where it has turned out that a character is actually an immortal and that can annoy me although I couldn’t say why that’s the case. Two series that I have read are the Belgariad by David Eddings and the Riftwar series by Raymond Feist both of which feature an immortal sorcerer. I guess LOTR would fit that category too. ????
Yea I thought I hadn’t read many with immortal characters, but turns out I have. I’d count LOTR in that!
This is a great list. Vampires are always my favorite immortal creatures. I would also add Vicious by V.E. Schwab, which I haven’t read in years but I’m pretty sure the main characters figured out a way to become immortal.
Thanks! I’ve only read one book by Schwab (Addie LaRue), but I know her other books are also well enjoyed!
I’m currently rereading The Ninth Rain which has a very long lived race as well.
I adore books about vampires and the fae so I’m horrified to admit that I’ve only read one series from the ones listed here (ACOTAR) although I do really hope to get to Crescent City and hopefully get A Dowry Of Blood out of the library this year. Oh and the Jennifer Armentrout series, I really want to check that out ????
I adore Addie LaRue which takes a totally different approach to immortality. And I’ve read lots of different vampire books.