An Ever Fixed Mark

by Jessie Olson

Lizzie Watson didn’t expect to enjoy her high school reunion, much less that it would bring Ben Cottingham back into her life. She quickly realizes he isn’t just the boy who pined after her friend 15 years ago. In fact, he wasn’t a boy at all, but something entirely different. A different type of human that never ages, never gets ill, and needs the blood of another human to stay that way.

It is a relatively easy shift to accept the new reality, but a challenge to live the minor details. Ben will never appreciate her culinary talents. She already has gray hairs and must keep training to make her blood healthy and desirable. Her friends settle down to start families, an option she realizes leaves the table when committing to a vampire.

Or are these just excuses to keep running? Sort of. There is always something, something at the edge of her brain she knows she must understand before she can let herself feel completely. Something in the story of a missing girl from her hometown, something in the silences about his brother, something in the dreams that distort her present with a past before she was born. A past she must understand to stop running and fleeing from the consequences of her own inhumanity.

Genres: Vampires

490 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

I’m an author, explorer of local history, culinary inventor, theater junkie, hibernophile, seeker of social justice, plotting to save the world or at least a piece of it.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect remedy for Twilight fever for fans of the Meyer epic... but also the grown up, modern-day "Dracula" the rest of us were hoping to find instead.

Beyond the obvious "it's a vampire book," let's talk about the crazy tangled web Olson skillfully weaves. Her connections are connected so many ways it will make you scratch your head and wonder how she kept them straight. Still, she threads you along the right path, always moving forward. The result is an effortless tale befitting it's cryptic title... one that sucks you in, spins you around in circles, then asks you to walk a straight line.

It's gripping from beginning to end, especially once Lizzie's brain starts getting a little bit cloudy. I won't spoil anything, but you're in for quite a ride if you pick this one up!

Congrats, Jessie, on a fantastic debut novel!

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very thought out and well written. I was very captivated and found myself unable to put the book down on multiple occasions. Jessie Olsen should be very proud of her novel and I look forward to reading so much more!!

[busyreadingg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was frustrating at times, but, I could not put it down. I needed answers. There were times were the main characters actions got on my nerves but in the end you kind of understand why she acted the way she did. Thumbs up.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. I adored the characters and the slow methodical way they crept through the story.

[Sabrina]

I really couldn't get into this book . . I don't like the way it's written, and I'm not engaged. Made it about 1/2 through before I gave up.