Wow! I am just stunned at how good this book was! There could not possibly have been a better ending to the Fallen Angels series. Immortal was absolutely perfect in every way and, try as I may, I cannot think of a single thing that could have made it better. I also can't think of a single thing that I didn't like. I
LOVED
every single page of it. From the very first page this final showdown between good and evil takes off running and there is never a dull moment from beginning to end. Here's just a few things that I loved about Immortal :
1. After all this build-up between Jim/Sissy and Jim/Devina, the other angels, and the war in general, we get a final book that focuses completely on that. There aren't any new characters introduced so we get exactly what we've been waiting for with zero distractions. Jim and Sissy are the two final souls in the game so they are the focus, which is exactly what readers have been waiting for.
2. Jim himself. He proves to be such a strong character while fighting this war. It's coming to a close and he is completely worn down and feeling defeated. But then, we get to see him reach deep inside himself and find the strength to carry on, and make sacrifices for the good of others. I loved how Nigel always refers to him as the Savior. He truly saved to world with his inner strength and loyalty to the cause and his friends.
3. Eddie and Nigel are brought back to life. I have been wanting Eddie to return ever since he was killed in the 3rd book. Adrian has just been lost without his best friend and it was absolutely beautiful to see those two reunited. And what's the first thing they do? Why yes, it's going out to pick up women. Are we sure these guys are angels? ;-) Also, the way that Jim has to sacrifice himself, and take his own life, to go into purgatory to get Nigel was a very emotional and well written part of the book. It just tugged at your heartstrings. Then, Jim was able to use Nigel to petition the Creator to bring Eddie back as well. So Jim's sacrfice was able to bring back two very important angels.
4. Devina actually earned some sympathy in Immortal . I loved loved loved that the devil, Devina, was not only defeated, but that she was truly taught a lesson. She got her heart broken and realized that being evil was extremely lonely. She actually helped Adrian, Colin, and Sissy get Jim and Nigel out of purgatory after Jim went in to get Nigel. The scene where Devina realizes that Jim is dead was both disgusting (because she was too upset to hold her beautiful appearance and returned to her natural zombie-ish form) and also very emotional. She was truly broken hearted, and for her to mourn Jim was a very eye-opening experience for her. And then, after she helps to bring him back, she has to watch him run into Sissy's arms. That was sad, too. She learned her lesson way too late. She was still her completely crazy, and evil self for the vast majority of the book, but we do see some significant changes in her. And not only regarding her feelings for Jim. Turns out that her therapist was the Creator all along and, since she was created by Him, He still loves her. It was very moving to watch her figure all that out and she finally conquers her OCD by realizing that people are more important than the objects she collects and hoards.
5. The ending was perfect! Throughout the book we see Sissy upset that she will never get into Heaven. Even though she was a complete innocent when she was murdered bby Devina, the fact that Devina stole her soul and held it in Hell has contaminated her, and she can't go to Heaven for fear that she might infect the other "residents" with Devina's evil that's inside her. We also see, throughout the entire series, how much Jim misses his mother. He was chosen by both the good and evil sides because he has both goodness and pure evil within himself. The only thing that made him choose to fight for the good side was the fact that his mother was in Heaven and he didn't want the devil to have control of her soul. She has been his inspiration, along with Sissy, the entire time. Through a series of events, Sissy is cleansed of Devina's evil and Jim wins the war, so the Fallen Angels series comes to an end with Jim and Sissy entering Heaven and being met by Jim's mother. It was such a touching scene and the perfect way to close out the series.
I could seriously write a book about everything I loved about Immortal (Dog, the storyline about the halos on the souls in the game, the clock-which I never did quite figure out, Nigel and Colin, Eddie and Adrian's next mission involving Lassiter from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series- so we leave knowing we'll get to see them again, learning a bit more about Lassiter's past, etc, ect) but I'll stop there. Needless to say, I recommend this entire series, and this book in particular is definitely being added to my "favorites" shelf. This was a book where, when I finished reading the last page, I immediately went back to page one and started it all over again. It doesn't get better then that.