This isn’t my usual genre, but I was completely intrigued by the synopsis. It’s part fantasy, part love story and part thriller and it completely captivated me from the start. The main characters worked well together and the plot unfolded at pace. Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing and the author for the chance to review.

**Book Review: *Immortal* (Immortal Series, Book 1) by VE Duncan**

*Immortal* is the first book in VE Duncan's gripping *Immortal Series*, which introduces readers to a hidden world of immortals, parasites, and dangerous secrets. Blending paranormal romance with high-stakes action, this novel immerses the reader in a world that is both thrilling and terrifying, where love, survival, and the clash of two very different worlds take center stage.

The story begins with Kait Peters, an ordinary mortal whose life takes a dramatic turn after a rain-slicked road accident leaves her exposed to a deadly parasite. This fateful encounter reveals to her a hidden world of immortals and dark, ancient secrets. From this moment on, Kait's life will never be the same, as she begins to uncover the chilling truth about the parasite and the world she's inadvertently become part of.

Jackson Cunningham, the mysterious stranger who helps Kait during the accident, is an immortal himself, carrying a parasite that grants him superhuman abilities at a steep cost. Jackson is duty-bound to watch over Kait to see if she shows signs of infection, but his carefully crafted lies soon start to unravel as Kait begins to see through his secrets. The tension between them builds as they both struggle with their growing attraction to each other, even as their worlds pull them in opposing directions.

VE Duncan does an excellent job of creating a complex world filled with danger and intrigue. The concept of immortality, while often explored in paranormal fiction, takes on a new, darker twist here with the introduction of a parasitic infection that grants power but at a horrific price. The stakes are high, and the danger is constant, with a rogue immortal hunting mortals and spreading the parasite in a dangerous, unchecked way. Jackson's pursuit of this rogue immortal is not only a matter of duty but also a matter of survival for both him and Kait.

Kait, as the mortal caught in the middle of this supernatural conflict, is a strong and relatable protagonist. She’s intelligent, resourceful, and determined to uncover the truth about what’s happening to her, even when it puts her in direct danger. Her chemistry with Jackson is undeniable, and the relationship between them is both heart-pounding and emotionally charged. Their love story is fraught with tension, as they must navigate the lies and secrets that divide them while also fighting to protect each other from the very real threats closing in around them.

One of the most compelling aspects of *Immortal* is the way VE Duncan balances the romance with the action and mystery. The book doesn’t shy away from the darker side of immortality—such as violence, the ethical dilemmas of living forever, and the devastating consequences of the parasite. At the same time, there is an undercurrent of hope and love that drives Kait and Jackson's relationship forward, even as their circumstances pull them in different directions.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with the underground world of immortals, their rules, and their dangerous politics being slowly revealed throughout the book. The twists and turns keep the reader on edge, especially as secrets about Kait’s own role in this hidden world come to light. There’s a strong sense of urgency throughout the novel as the characters race against time to stop the rogue immortal and protect the people they love.

That being said, *Immortal* is not without its darker elements. The book features detailed depictions of violence, steamy sex scenes, profanity, and moments of intense peril. There’s also a trigger warning for suicide (a minor character), childhood cancer, and other difficult themes, which could be challenging for some readers. However, these elements are integral to the story and add depth to the characters and the stakes they face.

Overall, *Immortal* is an addictive start to a series that promises more twists, danger, and emotional depth in future installments. VE Duncan has crafted a captivating world where love and survival go hand-in-hand, and where nothing is ever truly as it seems. Fans of paranormal romance and dark fantasy will find much to enjoy in this thrilling, action-packed read.

This was a DNF for me. It wasn't the writing or the flow. It just couldn't keep my interest. I'm not sure why either. What I did read was beautifully written and well done. The plot was great. I'll try again to read this someday.

Kait is a childhood cancer survivor who returns home to teach art in the pediatric oncology unit. Jackson is an immortal, part of a secret society that is infected with a parasite that alters their lifespan and provides them different abilities that makes them a danger during the Bloom..

Despite being bound to maintain distance from Kait, Jackson finds himself drawn to Kait. Soon they find themselves thrust into a forbidden relationship. Meanwhile, an immortal is genetically modifying the parasite to be used and experimented on innocent mortals.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed. I was drawn into the book. I feel like it was a multifaceted book in so much that it is a sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, romance book. Very entertaining and easy to follow along.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Kait is past her teenage cancer diagnosis and in remission. She’s back home working as an art therapist temporarily at the hospital she was originally treated at. Everything changes for Kait, when she meets Jackson & is drawn into his world. He is an Immortal, a person infected with a parasite that extends their lifespan. Meanwhile, an Immortal nicknamed the Rogue is infecting humans with his own homegrown parasite. Is Kait next? Can Jackson save her?

This book definitely gave Twilight vibes, but no vampires or ware wolves.i didn’t feel the connection between Kait and Jackson, so that needed to be developed more. Also, it was extremely obvious who the Rogue was. Would have liked a bit more trickery.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for a copy of this book.

The book cover really drew me in so I was pleasantly surprised to also enjoy the plot! The romance element wasn't perhaps as slow burn as I usually prefer but I enjoyed the relationship development, and the Parasite premise kept me wanting to read more. I'm excited for future books!

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.