Review - Immortal Beloved

by Cate Tiernan
publisher: Poppy
date of publication: January 2, 2012 (1st pub. 9/10/2010)
format: paperback
pages: 407
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya 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.

What I Thought  

Immortal Beloved first caught my interest with a unique premise: rehab for wayward immortals?  Tell me more!  I had certainly never come across anything else like it, so when the opportunity came up for me to read and review this title along with the second in the series, I jumped at the chance.  At first, I found myself hesitant as the book begins with Nastasya at her worst, including a very fractured series of memories.  However, as the pace picked up, I became more and more hesitant.  You see, I didn't want to put it down!

Nastasya is one of those characters that has to grow on you, though she grows on you pretty quickly.  When her story begins, she witnesses something horrible, which makes her look at herself and realize that she has hit rock bottom.  She is a troubled, broken girl who is running from a traumatic past that she has been running away from for more than 400 years.  While she is a bit difficult to follow, at first, due to some very disjointed flashback sequences, she soon becomes a more engaging character with a vibrant, tragic history.  As she struggled with her inner darkness and set out to improve her life, she became a much more relatable character.  One can't help but feel for her as she reveals the source of her issues and learns to come to terms with her horrible past.  I found her to be a very entertaining character due to her sense of humor, as well as her history and her purpose.  She made for a great narrator when all was said and done.

The settings for Immortal Beloved were a bit touch-and-go.  The settings that are introduced in Nastasya's memories are, to be honest, difficult to get a clear mental image of.  This could be due to the nature of Nastasya's memories, but they were somewhat more difficult to become immersed in.  It isn't until she arrives at River's Edge that a really vivid setting takes shape, one that definitely made the story come completely to life.  Everything about River's Edge was intriguing, from its residents to the descriptions of its appearance.  I especially enjoyed seeing the effect it had upon Nastasya as she took on the task of saving herself from her own darkness.  

The style in which Immortal Beloved is written is completely refreshing.  Rather than completely revolving around Nastasya's relationship with a love interest (though there is one present at some points), this book is more geared toward Nastasya's relationship with herself.  I really enjoyed the ways in which she had to learn to come to terms with her past and discover fully what she wanted for herself before a romance entered the picture.  It was such a fantastic break from the typical PR equation that I couldn't help but feel enthusiastic about this book.

Immortal Beloved is an intriguing approach at the concept and pitfalls of immortality.  If you are looking for a different approach to paranormal romance, look no farther.  With a witty character and unique premise, Immortal Beloved makes for an absorbing read and a great change of pace.  If you find yourself impatient with the beginning, trust me when I say it's worth waiting for.  Otherwise, you will miss out on some laughs, some tears, and some interesting ideas.

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Poppy for the opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.