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House Immortal #2
Infinity Bell
Return to national bestselling author Devon Monk's heartpounding House Immortal series, where eleven powerful Houses control the world and all its resources. But now, the treaty between them has been broken, and no one—not even the immortal galvanized—is safe....
Matilda Case isn’t normal. Normal people aren’t stitched together, inhumanly strong, and ageless, as she and the other galvanized are. Normal people’s bodies don’t hold the secret to immortality—something the powerful Houses will kill to possess. And normal people don’t know that they’re going to die in a few days.
Matilda’s fight to protect the people she loves triggered a chaotic war between the Houses and shattered the world’s peace. On the run, she must find a way to stop the repeat of the ancient time experiment that gifted her and the other galvanized with immortality. Because this time, it will destroy her and everything she holds dear.
Caught in a cat-and-mouse game of lies, betrayal, and unseen foes, Matilda must fight to save the world from utter destruction. But time itself is her enemy, and every second brings her one step closer to disaster....
Matilda Case isn’t normal. Normal people aren’t stitched together, inhumanly strong, and ageless, as she and the other galvanized are. Normal people’s bodies don’t hold the secret to immortality—something the powerful Houses will kill to possess. And normal people don’t know that they’re going to die in a few days.
Matilda’s fight to protect the people she loves triggered a chaotic war between the Houses and shattered the world’s peace. On the run, she must find a way to stop the repeat of the ancient time experiment that gifted her and the other galvanized with immortality. Because this time, it will destroy her and everything she holds dear.
Caught in a cat-and-mouse game of lies, betrayal, and unseen foes, Matilda must fight to save the world from utter destruction. But time itself is her enemy, and every second brings her one step closer to disaster....
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
73 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Devon Monk
88 books2,061 followersDevon Monk is a national best selling writer of urban fantasy. Her series include Ordinary Magic, House Immortal, Allie Beckstrom, Broken Magic and Shame and Terric. She also writes the Age of Steam steampunk series, and the occasional short story which can be found in her collection: A Cup of Normal, and in various anthologies. She has one husband, two sons, and lives in Oregon. When not writing, Devon is either drinking too much coffee or knitting silly things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 7, 2016
*** 4.35 ***
A buddy read with my MacHalo Freaks and weirdness enthusiasts!!!
I keep being surprised by how good and innovative this series is... I guess I should not be, but we all tend to fall into patterns of genre expectations and when something comes outside the color-in lines, it smacks our brains with a brick and makes us think:):):) At least, that is what seems to make me wake up and think... the brick... smacking me that is... Yeeeaaaa, none too eager to move that muscle, I guess:)
So, as I told my MacHalos, I was young when I overdosed on time-travel novels and they make me very weary... I try to stay away from them with all my heart, since I get frustrated and tend to resent them even when the unfortunate books do not deserve it... I did not see that twist coming when we started this series. And I was, naturally, hoping it would not go there, despite all the signs that started popping up in the beginning of this installment... However, as freshly as the author presents the concept of zombies by turning them into the Galvanized, I think she did a wonderful job at looking and deconstructing the time-traveling issue as well!!! I was already a bit in awe of Monk, but now I am realy starting to respect the way this author looks on the world and can revive themes which seem worn out and sucked out dry!!!
Just as with every good book, I am terrified to mention anything about the plot, since it is so delicious to discover it for yourself, but I have to say that there is not only the going against the clock or doom and gloom will ensue plot, but also some very sweet romance, some very human longing, and some very devious and evil bad guys, who balance the gang of misfits with good intentions and the other dubious characters perfectly, playing with the dynamic of good, evil and indifferent by tugging here and pushing there enough, to keep you on your toes!!! Nothing is guarantied, nothing is promised to us, and we are left with no security blankets at all... Intense and fascinating, despite the pacing seeming slow at times. And it ends with a BANG!!! Just so we are absolutely unsettled for the next book, in case the rest of it was not enough... I am soooo scared to read the next book, since the possibilities of it going good or bad are about equal!!!
This read I recommend to all who like a story which thinks outside of the accepted lines, who can deal with changes of tempo. Also, it is a book which can be read by the whole spectrum of ages and not offend anyone:):):) However, you have to start from the beginning - it can not be read as a strand alone... I strongly recommend it!!!
Now, I wish all of you Happy Reading and may every book challenge your thoughts and feelings and leave you richer for it!!!!
A buddy read with my MacHalo Freaks and weirdness enthusiasts!!!
I keep being surprised by how good and innovative this series is... I guess I should not be, but we all tend to fall into patterns of genre expectations and when something comes outside the color-in lines, it smacks our brains with a brick and makes us think:):):) At least, that is what seems to make me wake up and think... the brick... smacking me that is... Yeeeaaaa, none too eager to move that muscle, I guess:)
So, as I told my MacHalos, I was young when I overdosed on time-travel novels and they make me very weary... I try to stay away from them with all my heart, since I get frustrated and tend to resent them even when the unfortunate books do not deserve it... I did not see that twist coming when we started this series. And I was, naturally, hoping it would not go there, despite all the signs that started popping up in the beginning of this installment... However, as freshly as the author presents the concept of zombies by turning them into the Galvanized, I think she did a wonderful job at looking and deconstructing the time-traveling issue as well!!! I was already a bit in awe of Monk, but now I am realy starting to respect the way this author looks on the world and can revive themes which seem worn out and sucked out dry!!!
Just as with every good book, I am terrified to mention anything about the plot, since it is so delicious to discover it for yourself, but I have to say that there is not only the going against the clock or doom and gloom will ensue plot, but also some very sweet romance, some very human longing, and some very devious and evil bad guys, who balance the gang of misfits with good intentions and the other dubious characters perfectly, playing with the dynamic of good, evil and indifferent by tugging here and pushing there enough, to keep you on your toes!!! Nothing is guarantied, nothing is promised to us, and we are left with no security blankets at all... Intense and fascinating, despite the pacing seeming slow at times. And it ends with a BANG!!! Just so we are absolutely unsettled for the next book, in case the rest of it was not enough... I am soooo scared to read the next book, since the possibilities of it going good or bad are about equal!!!
This read I recommend to all who like a story which thinks outside of the accepted lines, who can deal with changes of tempo. Also, it is a book which can be read by the whole spectrum of ages and not offend anyone:):):) However, you have to start from the beginning - it can not be read as a strand alone... I strongly recommend it!!!
Now, I wish all of you Happy Reading and may every book challenge your thoughts and feelings and leave you richer for it!!!!
March 3, 2015
3/3/15: Now Available!
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
5 Stars!
This book is absolutely amazing. Once I started reading, I simply could not put it down. It is just that good. The premise of the world within this book is so original and interesting that I found I was quickly hooked. The first book in the series, House Immortal, was good but this book far surpassed it. I would suggest that readers start with the first book in the series because this book doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the world. Instead, this book picks up right where the first book left off and doesn't stop until the final page.
The same wonderful cast of characters are back in this book. I must say that I like them even better after reading this book. Matilda is female lead character that I can really appreciate. She wants to take care of and protect the people that she loves regardless of how much it may cost her. She trusts those that others would not because she feels she should. I love that she is never afraid to go with her instincts. She is a tough character in many ways but she also isn't afraid to show her feeling.
I really love all of the characters in this story. Abraham is wonderful. In the first book, it was obvious that he was a true leader but in the book he really shows his true strength even when he is at his weakest. Neds, both of them, is such an interesting character and I really like how much we saw of him. Quinten was talked about a lot in the first book and he proves himself to be an intelligent yet troubled man who takes his responsibilities seriously.
This book was almost non-stop excitement which I loved. The pacing of the book was perfectly done. There was never a moment when this book felt dull and I had an incredibly hard time setting it aside even for a moment. I also really liked that this book builds on the world that was described in the first book of the series without rehashing everything. The ongoing politics between the Houses really becomes intense during this book but that isn't even half of the trouble that Matilda and her crew must face.
The writing was superb. I am amazed how much I felt for these characters. The character development in this book was fantastic. I learned so much more about the characters during this book and picked up on a few things that I hope to learn more about in future installments. I really wanted to see Matilda achieve her goals and I was incredibly happy to find a little bit of romance in this story. As much as I loved some of the characters, I found myself absolutely hating others. Devon Monk has done a fantastic job of creating villains that I would love to see defeated.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes urban fantasy or anything out of the ordinary. I do suggest that this series be read in order to be fully appreciated. I must admit that I am a little sad that I have to wait until September 2015 to read the next piece of Matilda's story.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
5 Stars!
This book is absolutely amazing. Once I started reading, I simply could not put it down. It is just that good. The premise of the world within this book is so original and interesting that I found I was quickly hooked. The first book in the series, House Immortal, was good but this book far surpassed it. I would suggest that readers start with the first book in the series because this book doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the world. Instead, this book picks up right where the first book left off and doesn't stop until the final page.
The same wonderful cast of characters are back in this book. I must say that I like them even better after reading this book. Matilda is female lead character that I can really appreciate. She wants to take care of and protect the people that she loves regardless of how much it may cost her. She trusts those that others would not because she feels she should. I love that she is never afraid to go with her instincts. She is a tough character in many ways but she also isn't afraid to show her feeling.
I really love all of the characters in this story. Abraham is wonderful. In the first book, it was obvious that he was a true leader but in the book he really shows his true strength even when he is at his weakest. Neds, both of them, is such an interesting character and I really like how much we saw of him. Quinten was talked about a lot in the first book and he proves himself to be an intelligent yet troubled man who takes his responsibilities seriously.
This book was almost non-stop excitement which I loved. The pacing of the book was perfectly done. There was never a moment when this book felt dull and I had an incredibly hard time setting it aside even for a moment. I also really liked that this book builds on the world that was described in the first book of the series without rehashing everything. The ongoing politics between the Houses really becomes intense during this book but that isn't even half of the trouble that Matilda and her crew must face.
The writing was superb. I am amazed how much I felt for these characters. The character development in this book was fantastic. I learned so much more about the characters during this book and picked up on a few things that I hope to learn more about in future installments. I really wanted to see Matilda achieve her goals and I was incredibly happy to find a little bit of romance in this story. As much as I loved some of the characters, I found myself absolutely hating others. Devon Monk has done a fantastic job of creating villains that I would love to see defeated.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes urban fantasy or anything out of the ordinary. I do suggest that this series be read in order to be fully appreciated. I must admit that I am a little sad that I have to wait until September 2015 to read the next piece of Matilda's story.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
March 6, 2015
If you've known me for five minutes you know my love for Devon Monk runs deep, and it's hard for me to not five star this just out of loyalty, but, it happened... Devon Monk has written a book I wasn't head over heels with.
This is a sad day in my life.
This is the second book in Matilda's series, and it's not that it's bad, because it's really not, but the book doesn't feel like it was as complete as it could have been I guess. It's like there was just a tiny bit of magic missing - I don't know how to describe it. The characters are still there and still awesome (give me more Neds!), and the new characters were just fabulous (hellooooo, Sallyo!), but that ending. UGH. We pick up right where book one left off but there's no need to reread before diving into this one; there never is for a Monk book - she's just that good. Abraham, Neds, and Matilda still have spectacular chemistry and the evolution of the romance plot was great. There's a lot of action going on and it's impossible to not be excited and tense while going on this crazy trip with these guys. Who wouldn't love a book with all that plus subtle humor and ride-or-die friends?!
The missing magic, for me, is mostly in the ending. Matilda and Quentin are in this high-stakes mission that is very nearly impossible, but as we go along I'm realizing that the end of the book is no where near enough time to wrap up the bomb dropped on me. I see what she did there when she wrote it, it's definitely fitting with the way things went down, but christ almighty, the last word written made me really aggravated. Cliffhangers, and cliffhanger-like endings always get to me, but it's the way things changed that I also got really frustrated with, even though I see how it sort of came to be. Sort of.
I just don't like it.
So, basically, this book is really hard to review because things are spoilery but I can't possibly recommend Devon Monk's books higher - even when I'm left frustrated by one, LOL.
April 6, 2017
This book ends in such a vastly different place than it began, I have to give credit to Devon Monk for the fearless way she takes things in an entirely new and unexpected direction. Infinity Bell is a bridge between the first book in this trilogy and the last –and it definitely feels like the transition it is. The pacing is a little uneven at times –and it felt like a lot of building to get us ready for the last book. But this journey kept me engaged and rooting for our heroine, all the way up to the twist at the end.
The story picks up right where House Immortal left off. Don’t start the series with this book. Don’t even read this review if you haven’t read that book. Just go back to the beginning of the series.
Anyway, Matilda is on the run with her brother, the Neds, and a gravely injured Abraham. A price is on all of their heads. They need medical attention. And worst of all, the experiment that created the galvanized is finally about to catch up with them. If Matilda’s brother Quentin can’t figure out a way around it, every one of the galvanized –Tilly included– will die in a matter of days.
So the story follows their escape from Hong Kong to California, then on to Kansas, never knowing who to trust, as they forge tighter bonds among themselves. That’s good news for Matilda and Abraham. The first book only gave us the promise of something more than the single kiss they shared. And I enjoyed watching their connection turn into something more. (Even if the big payoff happened off page.) I’m fascinated by Abraham. I wish we could have just a little taste of his POV. It’s clear that he’s moved by Matilda; that she is bringing something special to his life. I hope we can explore that more in the next book.
As for Matilda herself, she remains pretty consistent with the woman we have come to know. But it’s cool to finally see her interact with her big brother. It’s also cool that she is finally ready to go after what she wants in Abraham.
I liked getting to know the Neds a little better this time around –and Quentin too. Our villain is pretty one dimensional, but he’s still around, trying to destroy our band of travelers. None of this, of course, holds a candle to what happens in the last few chapters. I won’t spoil it. But I will say that I am so glad the next book is already out, so I don’t have to wait to dive in and see what happens next. No one can call this story predictable.
Rating: B
The story picks up right where House Immortal left off. Don’t start the series with this book. Don’t even read this review if you haven’t read that book. Just go back to the beginning of the series.
Anyway, Matilda is on the run with her brother, the Neds, and a gravely injured Abraham. A price is on all of their heads. They need medical attention. And worst of all, the experiment that created the galvanized is finally about to catch up with them. If Matilda’s brother Quentin can’t figure out a way around it, every one of the galvanized –Tilly included– will die in a matter of days.
So the story follows their escape from Hong Kong to California, then on to Kansas, never knowing who to trust, as they forge tighter bonds among themselves. That’s good news for Matilda and Abraham. The first book only gave us the promise of something more than the single kiss they shared. And I enjoyed watching their connection turn into something more. (Even if the big payoff happened off page.) I’m fascinated by Abraham. I wish we could have just a little taste of his POV. It’s clear that he’s moved by Matilda; that she is bringing something special to his life. I hope we can explore that more in the next book.
As for Matilda herself, she remains pretty consistent with the woman we have come to know. But it’s cool to finally see her interact with her big brother. It’s also cool that she is finally ready to go after what she wants in Abraham.
I liked getting to know the Neds a little better this time around –and Quentin too. Our villain is pretty one dimensional, but he’s still around, trying to destroy our band of travelers. None of this, of course, holds a candle to what happens in the last few chapters. I won’t spoil it. But I will say that I am so glad the next book is already out, so I don’t have to wait to dive in and see what happens next. No one can call this story predictable.
Rating: B
October 17, 2015
I liked this, but oh boy that ending... it really shakes things up and I am dying to know more of the details about the 'why' of it (trying to be vague and non spoilery). I'd have been a bit more flat footed at the end if there weren't some warning in the form of of an observation by one of the characters, because I was so wrapped up in the moment and the action that I wasn't thinking of consequences.
It sure is going to be hard to wait for the next book but on the other hand the shake up is a bit unsettling and has me wondering how I'll feel about where this is going to be going and how it is going to affect the characters and relationships that I enjoyed in the book- loved the people surrounding Matilda especially Neds, Abraham, and Wilton.
It sure is going to be hard to wait for the next book but on the other hand the shake up is a bit unsettling and has me wondering how I'll feel about where this is going to be going and how it is going to affect the characters and relationships that I enjoyed in the book- loved the people surrounding Matilda especially Neds, Abraham, and Wilton.
April 6, 2015
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
INFINITY BELL, the second book in the House Immortal series, shows that Devon Monk just doesn't know when to let up - in a good way! INFINITY BELL really takes the reader on a wild ride, throwing them from one conflict to the next, with smooth writing allowing for an excellent reading experience.
My main complaint about HOUSE IMMORTAL was the truncated romantic story line. This time around, we get to see much more growth in the relationship between Matilda and Abraham, which was enjoyable. Abraham is a fascinating character, as is Matilda, and watching their tentative movements around each other, each for different reasons, is sweet. The rest of the characters continue to delight, as well, as we get to know Matilda's brother better, and more about the Neds as the group takes their clandestine journey across the world.
Monk really excels at pacing, in my opinion, something that shines in INFINITY BELL. The book flows from one conflict to the next, with surprises around every corner. The main storyline progresses sufficiently, as well, ensuring that this second book in the House Immortal series doesn't feel like filler but instead has sufficient substance to move the story along.
HOUSE IMMORTAL is one you definitely need to set aside a block of time to read, since you won't want to put it down once you pick it up. A super fun read, HOUSE IMMORTAL went in directions I never would have imagined, and was an awesome adventure that I'm glad I got to take part in. Luckily, there's less than six months until CRUCIBLE ZERO, book three in the series, comes out!
Sexual content: Kissing, non-explicit sex scenes
INFINITY BELL, the second book in the House Immortal series, shows that Devon Monk just doesn't know when to let up - in a good way! INFINITY BELL really takes the reader on a wild ride, throwing them from one conflict to the next, with smooth writing allowing for an excellent reading experience.
My main complaint about HOUSE IMMORTAL was the truncated romantic story line. This time around, we get to see much more growth in the relationship between Matilda and Abraham, which was enjoyable. Abraham is a fascinating character, as is Matilda, and watching their tentative movements around each other, each for different reasons, is sweet. The rest of the characters continue to delight, as well, as we get to know Matilda's brother better, and more about the Neds as the group takes their clandestine journey across the world.
Monk really excels at pacing, in my opinion, something that shines in INFINITY BELL. The book flows from one conflict to the next, with surprises around every corner. The main storyline progresses sufficiently, as well, ensuring that this second book in the House Immortal series doesn't feel like filler but instead has sufficient substance to move the story along.
HOUSE IMMORTAL is one you definitely need to set aside a block of time to read, since you won't want to put it down once you pick it up. A super fun read, HOUSE IMMORTAL went in directions I never would have imagined, and was an awesome adventure that I'm glad I got to take part in. Luckily, there's less than six months until CRUCIBLE ZERO, book three in the series, comes out!
Sexual content: Kissing, non-explicit sex scenes
July 25, 2018
Very nice SiFi/Steampunk 2nd book in the trilogy. I enjoy the way the writer slowly twists the plot and keeps changing what we think we know is coming for the characters. Very interesting plot. Very recommended
March 10, 2015
I almost gave this two stars for "it was ok." Ultimately I felt like that would be a disservice, though.
I was uncomfortable through most of this book and I realized that the reason I was is because I was waiting to be toyed with at the end. The book seemed as if it was meant to be the end of book 1, if perhaps slightly longer than most of the genre. But instead of making it a slightly longer, really exceptional single book they picked a spot to cliff-hanger an ending and called it the first book, then added a lot of catching the reader up on what happened in book 1 to the second half of the story to call it a book. It was 100 pages or so shorter than book 1 at that.
So the entire time I'm reading this book it's after having been cliff hangered with the previous book and now feeling like we'd been played for a second sale. That all predisposed me to expect another cliff hanger and so I didn't enjoy the book at all. In fact when I got to the last 2 or so chapters I stopped reading it for a while because I didn't want to be disappointed by the end. Silly but true.
The story didn't really take off in this book until the last five or six chapters anyway. And just like the first book it hit an apex and got just beyond it and then stopped. Some might not call that a cliff hanger, but it's the second one that's left me feeling toyed with.
I'm undecided about whether I will read the next, which is due out later this year, right away or not. I'm considering just tabling the series until it's over and then reading it all as one long book.
The premise is original, the characters were mostly likeable although because the timeline has changed who knows if the previously likeable characters will continue to be so or not? But I'm not enjoying feeling like these are structures to squeeze the most sales out of.
I was uncomfortable through most of this book and I realized that the reason I was is because I was waiting to be toyed with at the end. The book seemed as if it was meant to be the end of book 1, if perhaps slightly longer than most of the genre. But instead of making it a slightly longer, really exceptional single book they picked a spot to cliff-hanger an ending and called it the first book, then added a lot of catching the reader up on what happened in book 1 to the second half of the story to call it a book. It was 100 pages or so shorter than book 1 at that.
So the entire time I'm reading this book it's after having been cliff hangered with the previous book and now feeling like we'd been played for a second sale. That all predisposed me to expect another cliff hanger and so I didn't enjoy the book at all. In fact when I got to the last 2 or so chapters I stopped reading it for a while because I didn't want to be disappointed by the end. Silly but true.
The story didn't really take off in this book until the last five or six chapters anyway. And just like the first book it hit an apex and got just beyond it and then stopped. Some might not call that a cliff hanger, but it's the second one that's left me feeling toyed with.
I'm undecided about whether I will read the next, which is due out later this year, right away or not. I'm considering just tabling the series until it's over and then reading it all as one long book.
The premise is original, the characters were mostly likeable although because the timeline has changed who knows if the previously likeable characters will continue to be so or not? But I'm not enjoying feeling like these are structures to squeeze the most sales out of.
September 8, 2015
Gahhhhh! I cannot believe it fucking ended like that! I need more immediately. This series is awesome!
Here is my review now that I've had time to calm down and process this:
I’ve got a book hangover because Infinity Bell was that fucking great! I got to the last page and went to flip to the next to realize it was over. I was left hanging with the mother of all cliffhangers.
So back to the beginning. It picked up right where House Immortal left off. These books are really a continuation of one story rather than individual stories involving the same set of characters. Because of this, every book in the series will probably have cliffhangers, but it’s so worth it. Anyway Matilda, Abraham, the Neds, and Quinton were on the run to save themselves from their enemies and to save millions of other people.
There was good character development. Some characters surprised me in both good and bad ways. Help came from unexpected sources. There are two bad guys in the series, and I completely underestimated one of them.
Towards the end some bad things happen. Then things changed and a good and bad thing happened. As a result all kinds of crazy shit happened. In regards to some of the time travel stuff, I’m not sure what really happened. Some people may be dead or may be alive. The. Fucking. End. I want my own time machine to jump 6 months into the future when the next book will be out.
Here is my review now that I've had time to calm down and process this:
I’ve got a book hangover because Infinity Bell was that fucking great! I got to the last page and went to flip to the next to realize it was over. I was left hanging with the mother of all cliffhangers.
So back to the beginning. It picked up right where House Immortal left off. These books are really a continuation of one story rather than individual stories involving the same set of characters. Because of this, every book in the series will probably have cliffhangers, but it’s so worth it. Anyway Matilda, Abraham, the Neds, and Quinton were on the run to save themselves from their enemies and to save millions of other people.
There was good character development. Some characters surprised me in both good and bad ways. Help came from unexpected sources. There are two bad guys in the series, and I completely underestimated one of them.
Towards the end some bad things happen. Then things changed and a good and bad thing happened. As a result all kinds of crazy shit happened. In regards to some of the time travel stuff, I’m not sure what really happened. Some people may be dead or may be alive. The. Fucking. End. I want my own time machine to jump 6 months into the future when the next book will be out.
March 4, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Penguin/ROC) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
"No matter how tomorrow ends, we won't be there to see it."
Infinity Bell (House Immortal # 2) picks up right where House Immortal sent us all over the cliff. Get it? Cliffhanger? Well then...after the events of the Gathering of the Galvanized and their Houses in Hong Kong where one of the House Leaders was murdered, Protagonist/Narrator Matilda "Tilly" Case, her brother Quinten, Abraham Seventh, and Neds Harris are on the run with prices on their head. This all comes as the Wings of Mercury experiment is slowly churning down to a major correction that will lead to the deaths of all the Galvanized, including Tilly if Quinten can't find a way to stop it.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 03/05/2015 - Link Shall Follow*
*Recvd via NetGalley 02/11/2015* Expected publication: March 3rd 2015 by Roc
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
"No matter how tomorrow ends, we won't be there to see it."
Infinity Bell (House Immortal # 2) picks up right where House Immortal sent us all over the cliff. Get it? Cliffhanger? Well then...after the events of the Gathering of the Galvanized and their Houses in Hong Kong where one of the House Leaders was murdered, Protagonist/Narrator Matilda "Tilly" Case, her brother Quinten, Abraham Seventh, and Neds Harris are on the run with prices on their head. This all comes as the Wings of Mercury experiment is slowly churning down to a major correction that will lead to the deaths of all the Galvanized, including Tilly if Quinten can't find a way to stop it.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 03/05/2015 - Link Shall Follow*
*Recvd via NetGalley 02/11/2015* Expected publication: March 3rd 2015 by Roc
September 18, 2023
I lost interest a couple times mostly bc of the catch up of book 1. After, it was just ok.
March 24, 2018
Devon Monk returns to her newest House Immortal series with Infinity Bell! Things are pretty chaotic in Matilda's world! There's so much going on, so many people and villains with their own plans, it can be hard to keep thing straight! And with the impending threat of the world and galvanized and humanity on Matilda's shoulders, there's not going to be any down time for her and Abraham any time soon!
SO once again, my overfilled mind, only had a little recollections on this one! But I was quick to just sit back and enjoy the story! Things are very intense for Matilda, her brother Quentin and her friends Neds and Abraham. The villain has gotten most everyone fooled and if he has his way, well...things won't be pretty. Needless to say!
Though Quentin has an idea, in order to save the galvanized, he can go back in time and help an ancestor correct a mistake in his machine. The details get a little complicated, I won't lie, I can't explicitly say what the plan was, but I could understand it as I read it! Science plays a pretty big role in this story, but not so much that I am completely clueless. The futuristic setting helps with that in my opinion, because in the future, you expect things to be far more advanced than right now.
It basically transforms into a save the world scenario. If Matilda fails, it could mean the death of everyone she holds dear.
The pacing to this one was pretty good! I had a few stumbling blocks in the beginning as I tried to recall what had happened, but then I forged ahead to enjoying the moment of the story! Matilda and crew are on the run and trying to stay out of their enemy's sight. But he has eyes everywhere. What Matilda needs to do is get home and protect her grandmother who may possess the key to their problems.
I did enjoy the linger romance we had between Matilda and Abraham. There's still a decided tension between them, but in this one we see better results! Though I wouldn't have complained for more! But since time is of the essence in this one, there's hardly reasoning to stop and have more romantic moments instead of trying to save the world so there will be more time for such moments!
The ending was by far the most shocking! There's quite a twist and I for one, cannot wait to see how this all plays out in the next one! There's a decided calmness to the situation, but there's still tension and questions that need answers and resolution. I look forward to seeing how Crucible Zero wraps it up! I don't know if this is a trilogy or a longer series just yet, Goodreads just shows three books so far, but only time will tell!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
SO once again, my overfilled mind, only had a little recollections on this one! But I was quick to just sit back and enjoy the story! Things are very intense for Matilda, her brother Quentin and her friends Neds and Abraham. The villain has gotten most everyone fooled and if he has his way, well...things won't be pretty. Needless to say!
Though Quentin has an idea, in order to save the galvanized, he can go back in time and help an ancestor correct a mistake in his machine. The details get a little complicated, I won't lie, I can't explicitly say what the plan was, but I could understand it as I read it! Science plays a pretty big role in this story, but not so much that I am completely clueless. The futuristic setting helps with that in my opinion, because in the future, you expect things to be far more advanced than right now.
It basically transforms into a save the world scenario. If Matilda fails, it could mean the death of everyone she holds dear.
The pacing to this one was pretty good! I had a few stumbling blocks in the beginning as I tried to recall what had happened, but then I forged ahead to enjoying the moment of the story! Matilda and crew are on the run and trying to stay out of their enemy's sight. But he has eyes everywhere. What Matilda needs to do is get home and protect her grandmother who may possess the key to their problems.
I did enjoy the linger romance we had between Matilda and Abraham. There's still a decided tension between them, but in this one we see better results! Though I wouldn't have complained for more! But since time is of the essence in this one, there's hardly reasoning to stop and have more romantic moments instead of trying to save the world so there will be more time for such moments!
The ending was by far the most shocking! There's quite a twist and I for one, cannot wait to see how this all plays out in the next one! There's a decided calmness to the situation, but there's still tension and questions that need answers and resolution. I look forward to seeing how Crucible Zero wraps it up! I don't know if this is a trilogy or a longer series just yet, Goodreads just shows three books so far, but only time will tell!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
July 16, 2016
Devon Monk's House Immortal series continues to delight me. I absolutely love the idea of her world and characters - her galvanized, scientist-created beings that give subtle nods to the classic Frankenstein tale, bringing a very new, very unique story to the Urban Fantasy genre.
After the events of the previous book in the series, House Immortal, Matilda Case's newly discovered world off the farm is left in a state of upheaval with the galvanized being thought of as the new enemy. On the run with Neds Harris, Abraham Seventh, Quentin, and a new surprising ally, they've encountered an even bigger problem. The experiment that not only gave the galvanized life, but also brought about a rip in time, is coming to a head. The Wings of Mercury Experiment wants to mend the break in time, but not without drastic consequences. With the time healed, the galvanized would cease to exist and thousands of humans would die. If Quentin manages to find a way to travel back in time to Alvere Case and alter the formula's calculations, he has a chance to save the future-galvanized -- but not without risks. Best case scenario: go back in time, save the galvanized, including Tilly, and people die. Worst case scenario: leave time alone, galvanized die, and humans die. There are dire consequences either way, but one thing is for sure - altering time also alters history, something that Matilda and her crew aren't really prepared for. With the pending apocalypse and a price on all their heads thanks to all the Houses and Slater Orange, the situation(s) at hand seem to be a shade below impossible.
While I thought the first book in the series was fantastic, Infinity Bell completely blew that one out of the water. Surprising thing is, the pacing of book two was quite slow when compared to it's predecessor, but the storyline was so much better. Fraught with heavy choices, heavier consequences, decisions that all have fairly unpredictable and bleak outcomes, I had no clue how Monk was going to save her fictional, futuristic world. And the ending! oh, the ending! Monk has taken what we've grown to love, what fans of this new series have come to expect and utterly shattered it. It's back to square one and this has left me feeling completely uneasy for these characters that I've grown to adore.
I so loved the time-travel aspect that was incorporated into this storyline. Anyone familiar with all of the ideas and concepts and theories of time-travel knows that if time is altered, along with history, the world as we've known it is slowly rocked off its axis with every change, even the slightest. That particular concept came in play in Infinity Bell and I must say, that gave me quite a feeling of dread throughout the bulk of the story. Being a huge fan of Monk's Allie Beckstrom series, I am quite familiar with her style -- she doesn't do rainbows and sunshine. She does dark, depressing, grey, and she does it quite well. She also manages to import bits of humor and fills the darkness with such lovely, wonderful, loveable characters, and this new series is no exception. Having those bits of lightness, the characters and humor, woven into the story takes away some of the darkness, but not much, and that's what I love. Monk makes me feel and that to me is a hallmark of a good storyteller.
Bottom line -- I absolutely recommend this second installment of Monk's House Immortal series. While there is a tiny bit of familiarity taken from the classic Frankenstein story, this series is NOT a retelling. Instead, Devon Monk makes this completely her own, borrowing very slightly from the original concept, while peppering the story with nods to the original tale (Shelley dust, anyone?). The House Immortal series is a highly original, very fresh entry into the Urban Fantasy genre, and it's a series that has quickly grown to be one of my favorites.
**eARC received on behalf of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
After the events of the previous book in the series, House Immortal, Matilda Case's newly discovered world off the farm is left in a state of upheaval with the galvanized being thought of as the new enemy. On the run with Neds Harris, Abraham Seventh, Quentin, and a new surprising ally, they've encountered an even bigger problem. The experiment that not only gave the galvanized life, but also brought about a rip in time, is coming to a head. The Wings of Mercury Experiment wants to mend the break in time, but not without drastic consequences. With the time healed, the galvanized would cease to exist and thousands of humans would die. If Quentin manages to find a way to travel back in time to Alvere Case and alter the formula's calculations, he has a chance to save the future-galvanized -- but not without risks. Best case scenario: go back in time, save the galvanized, including Tilly, and people die. Worst case scenario: leave time alone, galvanized die, and humans die. There are dire consequences either way, but one thing is for sure - altering time also alters history, something that Matilda and her crew aren't really prepared for. With the pending apocalypse and a price on all their heads thanks to all the Houses and Slater Orange, the situation(s) at hand seem to be a shade below impossible.
While I thought the first book in the series was fantastic, Infinity Bell completely blew that one out of the water. Surprising thing is, the pacing of book two was quite slow when compared to it's predecessor, but the storyline was so much better. Fraught with heavy choices, heavier consequences, decisions that all have fairly unpredictable and bleak outcomes, I had no clue how Monk was going to save her fictional, futuristic world. And the ending! oh, the ending! Monk has taken what we've grown to love, what fans of this new series have come to expect and utterly shattered it. It's back to square one and this has left me feeling completely uneasy for these characters that I've grown to adore.
I so loved the time-travel aspect that was incorporated into this storyline. Anyone familiar with all of the ideas and concepts and theories of time-travel knows that if time is altered, along with history, the world as we've known it is slowly rocked off its axis with every change, even the slightest. That particular concept came in play in Infinity Bell and I must say, that gave me quite a feeling of dread throughout the bulk of the story. Being a huge fan of Monk's Allie Beckstrom series, I am quite familiar with her style -- she doesn't do rainbows and sunshine. She does dark, depressing, grey, and she does it quite well. She also manages to import bits of humor and fills the darkness with such lovely, wonderful, loveable characters, and this new series is no exception. Having those bits of lightness, the characters and humor, woven into the story takes away some of the darkness, but not much, and that's what I love. Monk makes me feel and that to me is a hallmark of a good storyteller.
Bottom line -- I absolutely recommend this second installment of Monk's House Immortal series. While there is a tiny bit of familiarity taken from the classic Frankenstein story, this series is NOT a retelling. Instead, Devon Monk makes this completely her own, borrowing very slightly from the original concept, while peppering the story with nods to the original tale (Shelley dust, anyone?). The House Immortal series is a highly original, very fresh entry into the Urban Fantasy genre, and it's a series that has quickly grown to be one of my favorites.
**eARC received on behalf of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 12, 2015
4.5 stars!!
Infinity Bell is the second novel in Devon Monk’s House Immortal trilogy. Immediately, the story opens from where we left off — as Matilda Case, her brother Quentin, another galvanized Abraham (who is badly wounded), and Neds are running from killer assassins sent by the leader of Houses. Not only are they running for their lives, they are also running out of time. As readers learned from the first book, an experiment called the Wings of Mercury that was set-off by Case’s great-great-great grandfather three hundred years ago, had broken time. As time mended, in just few days, all the galvanized (the immortal non-humans) will die as time catches up with them. Since Matilda is one of the galvanized — her brother stitched her into the body of a girl who survived the experiment but has been sleeping all these years — she will also meet her demise.
I admit, I was almost worried because usually in a trilogy, book two can be quite a boring filler. Book one builds the set up, and book three is the major conclusion .. so book two could go either way. However, Infinity Bell is an action driven book; the adrenaline is high from beginning to end it’s like riding a roller-coaster. There is not a lot of info-dump here, since the world-build has been done in book #1. Instead, as a reader, I was practically running with Tilly and the others to reach the final point.
Monk doesn’t waste time (or page), she gives twists and turns from every corner, that just when I thought I could take a breath, she slammed me with another jaw-dropping scene. On top of that, the House politics, with allies and enemies, along with creepy manipulative chapters from the villain Slater Orange, gives a maximum impact for readers to keep reading.
... and that ending... OMG!!
I must say that the ending is both frustrating and brilliant. I couldn’t say anything specific because it will be a spoiler, and I think this is the kind of ending that one must experience for themselves. See, the ending is frustrating because Devon Monk introduces a game changer story-line that just turns the whole situation upside down. However, it is also brilliant since everything in this trilogy basically started with an experiment of time travel gone wrong. When one thinks about that, well, the ending is a smart way to end this book and makes us wanting book #3 to come faster.
As for the romance part, it takes a couple of steps back as Abraham Seventh, who is Tilly’s love interest, regains his health from being heavily wounded as they are all on the run. So there are no lovey-dovey scenes between the two. However, we get a different kind of romantic treat from new secondary character, Gloria, who is presented as someone who has a ‘relationship-history�� with Quentin Case. The tension and emotion between the two was really good, and I would love to know more about their history. I really loved all the characters here … and the villains were worthy adversaries, because all I wanted was for them to die a slow and painful death.
In conclusion, an outstanding sequel, and one of my favorite reads so far in 2015. I can’t wait until September for Crucible Zero, which will be the final conclusion. I hope it will be another exhilarating read.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
Infinity Bell is the second novel in Devon Monk’s House Immortal trilogy. Immediately, the story opens from where we left off — as Matilda Case, her brother Quentin, another galvanized Abraham (who is badly wounded), and Neds are running from killer assassins sent by the leader of Houses. Not only are they running for their lives, they are also running out of time. As readers learned from the first book, an experiment called the Wings of Mercury that was set-off by Case’s great-great-great grandfather three hundred years ago, had broken time. As time mended, in just few days, all the galvanized (the immortal non-humans) will die as time catches up with them. Since Matilda is one of the galvanized — her brother stitched her into the body of a girl who survived the experiment but has been sleeping all these years — she will also meet her demise.
I admit, I was almost worried because usually in a trilogy, book two can be quite a boring filler. Book one builds the set up, and book three is the major conclusion .. so book two could go either way. However, Infinity Bell is an action driven book; the adrenaline is high from beginning to end it’s like riding a roller-coaster. There is not a lot of info-dump here, since the world-build has been done in book #1. Instead, as a reader, I was practically running with Tilly and the others to reach the final point.
Monk doesn’t waste time (or page), she gives twists and turns from every corner, that just when I thought I could take a breath, she slammed me with another jaw-dropping scene. On top of that, the House politics, with allies and enemies, along with creepy manipulative chapters from the villain Slater Orange, gives a maximum impact for readers to keep reading.
... and that ending... OMG!!
I must say that the ending is both frustrating and brilliant. I couldn’t say anything specific because it will be a spoiler, and I think this is the kind of ending that one must experience for themselves. See, the ending is frustrating because Devon Monk introduces a game changer story-line that just turns the whole situation upside down. However, it is also brilliant since everything in this trilogy basically started with an experiment of time travel gone wrong. When one thinks about that, well, the ending is a smart way to end this book and makes us wanting book #3 to come faster.
As for the romance part, it takes a couple of steps back as Abraham Seventh, who is Tilly’s love interest, regains his health from being heavily wounded as they are all on the run. So there are no lovey-dovey scenes between the two. However, we get a different kind of romantic treat from new secondary character, Gloria, who is presented as someone who has a ‘relationship-history�� with Quentin Case. The tension and emotion between the two was really good, and I would love to know more about their history. I really loved all the characters here … and the villains were worthy adversaries, because all I wanted was for them to die a slow and painful death.
In conclusion, an outstanding sequel, and one of my favorite reads so far in 2015. I can’t wait until September for Crucible Zero, which will be the final conclusion. I hope it will be another exhilarating read.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
March 3, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Note: I will try my best, but there will probably be some spoilers from the first book. If you are new to the series, check out my review of House Immortal HERE.
Infinity Bell is the second book in the Urban Fantasy Series, House Immortal. The First book, House Immortal, was one of my favorite books of 2014, so I beyond excited to get my hands on the second book. And even more excited when I opened up to the first page of the ARC and saw that I was quoted from my review of the first book. (that was a major sqeeing moment...I'm not going to lie.) I need to go out and buy a couple finished copies to spotlight on my bookshelf now. But not just because I was quoted in the book, because Infinity Bell is ever bit as amazing as the first book! I freakin' love this series.
Infinity Bell picks up right where the first book left off, and man oh man did I forget what a humdinger House Immortal left us off at. Abraham was all shot up with Shelly Dust, which is super lethal to the galvanized. Matilde and the whole gang are back and are on the run from other houses. I loved how action packed Infinity Bell was. Devon Monk does such an amazing job with the details of the world, that picking up Infinity Bell was like seamlessly stepping back into this fantastical world and being greeted by all of your old friends. And trust me when I say that Devon Monk wastes no time dumping her characters right into the fray. The events of Infinity Bell take place over such a short period of time that the book read like real time. I really like this writing style when it is well done and Devon Monk is one of the best.
This series kicks ass. There is no other way to put it. All fans of Urban Fantasy need to read the House Immortal series. And if you don't like Urban Fantasy, this will be the series to convert you into a mega fan. I absolutely love the concept of the galvanized, and I am kind of obsessed with everything that comes out of the Case family's homestead. I want to get my hands on some of that soil. I love the mixture of action/adventure, suspense, dashes of romance, and mystery that make up this series. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
May 5, 2015
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Devon Monk's skill to keep a world fresh and interesting never ceases to amaze me. And her ability to shake things up? Surpurb. Of course that has a bit of downside as well, as the ending of this one has left me desperate to get my hands on the next installment to see how those wonderful twists play out. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here skipping to already wanting the next one before even telling you why you want this one. Simply put, the plot behind INFINITY BELL is an on the edge of your seat roller coaster ride. I couldn't put it down once I started as I had to know what happens next. Granted I felt similar about the previous, but this one even more so. Everything has been turned upside down and I really enjoyed how easy it was to immerse into the book right alongside the characters. I'm being purposely vague here as you'll want to read for yourself, so just trust me when I say, this one has one heck of a gripping plot.
As much as I loved the intensity of the plot, the characters are who really stole show. Everyone from Tilly, Abraham, the two Neds, her brother, and so on, made me fall completely in love with them all over again. I just loved how fully fleshed out all the characters were and reading the book felt like I was experiencing things right alongside these fabulous characters. Then on the reverse side are the villians, and they were just as every bit as fleshed out as the main cast. I cannot tell you how much I despised the main villan. Of course, that's not a bad thing considering it only sucked me further into the plot and plight of the "good" characters. So overall, a stellar job on both the characters and the plot.
In my review of the previous book I called her a powerhouse in the genre, and that proved itself true again in INFINITY BELL. I know with absolute certainty that when I pick up one of Devon Monk's books I'll have a guaranteed solid block of entertainment that I'll immensely enjoy. The track record is holding steady, and this series and INFINITY BELL are an absolute must buy for fans of the genre.
Devon Monk's skill to keep a world fresh and interesting never ceases to amaze me. And her ability to shake things up? Surpurb. Of course that has a bit of downside as well, as the ending of this one has left me desperate to get my hands on the next installment to see how those wonderful twists play out. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here skipping to already wanting the next one before even telling you why you want this one. Simply put, the plot behind INFINITY BELL is an on the edge of your seat roller coaster ride. I couldn't put it down once I started as I had to know what happens next. Granted I felt similar about the previous, but this one even more so. Everything has been turned upside down and I really enjoyed how easy it was to immerse into the book right alongside the characters. I'm being purposely vague here as you'll want to read for yourself, so just trust me when I say, this one has one heck of a gripping plot.
As much as I loved the intensity of the plot, the characters are who really stole show. Everyone from Tilly, Abraham, the two Neds, her brother, and so on, made me fall completely in love with them all over again. I just loved how fully fleshed out all the characters were and reading the book felt like I was experiencing things right alongside these fabulous characters. Then on the reverse side are the villians, and they were just as every bit as fleshed out as the main cast. I cannot tell you how much I despised the main villan. Of course, that's not a bad thing considering it only sucked me further into the plot and plight of the "good" characters. So overall, a stellar job on both the characters and the plot.
In my review of the previous book I called her a powerhouse in the genre, and that proved itself true again in INFINITY BELL. I know with absolute certainty that when I pick up one of Devon Monk's books I'll have a guaranteed solid block of entertainment that I'll immensely enjoy. The track record is holding steady, and this series and INFINITY BELL are an absolute must buy for fans of the genre.
December 26, 2014
Pre-release Review:
I finished the first book of the House Immortal series last week, the week before Christmas 2014, and I wrote a rave review in which I stated that the only problem was that I couldn't get the second book immediately. Two days later, Devon Monk had made sure that I received an Advanced Reading Copy of Infinity Bell, the second book. The novel won't appear on shelves until March, but I was lucky enough to read it on the plane from Oregon to New Jersey just before Christmas. I was on a red-eye, and I stayed up through the long night reading.
The second book brings the story of Tilly, Abraham, Grandma, Two-head Ned, and all the other colorful characters to a full climax, which I won't reveal. I will say that it was a great ride. The world building, the social systems, the personal pathos, and the ways in which the characters come to care about and for one another made the miles fly by. When I reached the end of this well-crafted tale, I was thrilled to discover an unexpected, inevitable, and satisfying ending. I hope Devon Monk manages to create some new stories in this world. I know I will be pleased to step into the wondrous world of House Immortal again and again.
I finished the first book of the House Immortal series last week, the week before Christmas 2014, and I wrote a rave review in which I stated that the only problem was that I couldn't get the second book immediately. Two days later, Devon Monk had made sure that I received an Advanced Reading Copy of Infinity Bell, the second book. The novel won't appear on shelves until March, but I was lucky enough to read it on the plane from Oregon to New Jersey just before Christmas. I was on a red-eye, and I stayed up through the long night reading.
The second book brings the story of Tilly, Abraham, Grandma, Two-head Ned, and all the other colorful characters to a full climax, which I won't reveal. I will say that it was a great ride. The world building, the social systems, the personal pathos, and the ways in which the characters come to care about and for one another made the miles fly by. When I reached the end of this well-crafted tale, I was thrilled to discover an unexpected, inevitable, and satisfying ending. I hope Devon Monk manages to create some new stories in this world. I know I will be pleased to step into the wondrous world of House Immortal again and again.
June 24, 2025
"Love clouds our eyes and fills our ears," Abraham said. "There is no cure for it."Thankfully, Infinity Bell picks up where House Immortal's painful cliffhanger left us dangling. Without sharing, well, much of anything, I will tell you this ... There is love, loss, and betrayal. There aren't many the gang can trust. Matilda's life and the lives of those she loves is at stake. In an effort to fix what's broken, she must take a huge leap of faith. They've only got one shot at this or do they?
I was on holiday while reading this book and I will not lie - I snuck a read every single second I had the chance. I could not get enough. Sadly, the ride was over too quickly and we're left, once again, hanging off a cliff hoping we can hold on until our net (Crucible Zero - 168 days away) is placed before us.
July 15, 2022
When I read HOUSE IMMORTAL I thought it was a nice YA scifi/alternate-earth book. I couldn't find a reading level for it but the writing and the level of plotting and characterization didn't convince me otherwise.
Apparently I was wrong.
Or at least there's a sex scene in INFINITY BELL that sort of argues against my previous conclusion. It's not graphic sex scene and it evolves naturally from the plot so maybe YA but not MA.
In fact, there isn't much that is graphic in the series thus far. No graphic violence. No torrid sex scenes. No massive amounts of swearing or drinking. It's sort of an old fashioned wholesome scifi romp.
-----
If you liked the first book you'll probably like this one.
I enjoyed catching up with Matilda, Neds, Abraham and the gang. I didn't enjoy a good portion of the adventure as it was a bit tedious and predictable. (#3 is not on my to-do list)
2.5 stars for moi
3-4 stars would be my guess for most folk
May 7, 2016
I am really enjoying this trilogy. The characters in these books are unique (people stitched together......a two headed man!?!), but done so well that they are believable. The aspects and especially the ending of this book are a little confusing so I'm anxious to move onto book 3 to see how this all ends!
March 30, 2016
This was my favorite one so far. 100% packed with awesomeness!
October 21, 2020
This series is. So. Good. A little slow through the first part, but excellent building of tension and the ending is right there on the edge, seat of your pants, fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen. SO. GOOD.
March 31, 2018
3 1/2 Stars
February 26, 2015
4.5/5
Mon avis en Français
My English review
The first volume was for me a real jewel, so I was curious to immerse myself in the following novel. I was a little anxious, afraid of being disappointed, but I should not have, because as always Devon Monk blew me away with her ideas! Oh yes, because once again, the series clashes with her originality and her characters and it remains amazing throughout the story.
We thus find our characters immediately after the end of the first volume. Abraham was seriously injured but Matilda is determined to save him. Accompanied by her brother Quentin and Neds, they will try to pass through the Houses radar to resolve the problems of time that could kill them all soon. Thus, an old friend of the brother is added to the small group, forced to flee with them for fear of being killed herself. I enjoyed the contribution of this doctor, to see Quentin and she together, to understand that if the events had been different, there could have been more for them. The group wishes to come back together at the farm of their childhood to change the time and arrange the experience that might cause again many deaths.
I loved to follow Matilda once afain and those with her. As I said, Devon Monk has a lot of fascinating ideas for her story and we’re carried through the chapters without being able to put the novel down. While following Matilda, we also have the chance to discover some chapters from the point of view of Slater, our villain of the first volume and I admit that I was really curious to see what his plans were now. He seems that he had a plan for everything, but unfortunately for him, everything is constantly changing and his forecasts should always be reviewed.
Despite the problems, we discover the evolution of the relationship between Matilda and Abraham and it’s true that I found everything really touching. Two different souls who manage to support one another and to advance through the trials. However, their plan is not easy to achieve, especially because of the Houses looking for them. Everyone wants something our heroes… Slater wants Quentin, others want Abraham or Matilda because of the previous events. Hopefully they will manage to resolve all that but we suspect that it will not be that simple. I was surprised to finally see some allegiances forming, some of which I would not have expected elsewhere. We have many revelations in the history, many very surprising indeed. But I confess that I did not expect to have such an end! Oh no! It opens many new opportunities, the world changes and I admit that I’m really curious to see what will happen now. Many problems may be resolved, but are the new one appearing better? I do not know yet but I’m really excited to be able to discover what the author has in store for us for the future.
As you can see, I was once again captivated. Matilda evolves gradually, realizing that she can not trust everyone as she did before and she is desperate to save the people she loves. If you do not know the series yet, I can only advise you to discover it. I know it is complicated to find an original story, but I can assure you that this is not a problem with this one. But in addition to that, it presents a mix of conspiracies, alliances, love but also an explosion of ideas that delights us completely. A story to discover without delay!
Mon avis en Français
My English review
The first volume was for me a real jewel, so I was curious to immerse myself in the following novel. I was a little anxious, afraid of being disappointed, but I should not have, because as always Devon Monk blew me away with her ideas! Oh yes, because once again, the series clashes with her originality and her characters and it remains amazing throughout the story.
We thus find our characters immediately after the end of the first volume. Abraham was seriously injured but Matilda is determined to save him. Accompanied by her brother Quentin and Neds, they will try to pass through the Houses radar to resolve the problems of time that could kill them all soon. Thus, an old friend of the brother is added to the small group, forced to flee with them for fear of being killed herself. I enjoyed the contribution of this doctor, to see Quentin and she together, to understand that if the events had been different, there could have been more for them. The group wishes to come back together at the farm of their childhood to change the time and arrange the experience that might cause again many deaths.
I loved to follow Matilda once afain and those with her. As I said, Devon Monk has a lot of fascinating ideas for her story and we’re carried through the chapters without being able to put the novel down. While following Matilda, we also have the chance to discover some chapters from the point of view of Slater, our villain of the first volume and I admit that I was really curious to see what his plans were now. He seems that he had a plan for everything, but unfortunately for him, everything is constantly changing and his forecasts should always be reviewed.
Despite the problems, we discover the evolution of the relationship between Matilda and Abraham and it’s true that I found everything really touching. Two different souls who manage to support one another and to advance through the trials. However, their plan is not easy to achieve, especially because of the Houses looking for them. Everyone wants something our heroes… Slater wants Quentin, others want Abraham or Matilda because of the previous events. Hopefully they will manage to resolve all that but we suspect that it will not be that simple. I was surprised to finally see some allegiances forming, some of which I would not have expected elsewhere. We have many revelations in the history, many very surprising indeed. But I confess that I did not expect to have such an end! Oh no! It opens many new opportunities, the world changes and I admit that I’m really curious to see what will happen now. Many problems may be resolved, but are the new one appearing better? I do not know yet but I’m really excited to be able to discover what the author has in store for us for the future.
As you can see, I was once again captivated. Matilda evolves gradually, realizing that she can not trust everyone as she did before and she is desperate to save the people she loves. If you do not know the series yet, I can only advise you to discover it. I know it is complicated to find an original story, but I can assure you that this is not a problem with this one. But in addition to that, it presents a mix of conspiracies, alliances, love but also an explosion of ideas that delights us completely. A story to discover without delay!
February 18, 2015
My what an amazing imagination this author has! I am in awe at the world building and just had no idea what on earth I had stumbled across. Unfortunately I hadn't seen the release of the previous book so came to this story somewhat blind but as I started to read my eyes just could not believe the words I was readng. Was I really reading about a possible future with beings that Victor Frankenstein could have created? A world divided by greedy despots ruling political Houses who only seek more power ? Then of course there are the mutations that range from tiny sheep to unusual lizards and don't get me started on the two headed man! Yes there's a lot to take in but it's a spectacular idea and if honest I'm still left reeling with questions!
Ok now imagine that in 1910 there was a crazy scientist who believed that it might be possible to travel through time and he built a machine to do just that. Something wasn't quite right though and everyone close by dies except for thirteen people who fall into what I suppose could only be likened to a coma. Fast forward a few years and these thirteen souls are brought back to life but are no longer whole , stitched back together their mutilated bodies are incredibly strong and immortal. Known as the Galvanised each is assigned to a ruling House in this twisted society all except one , Matilda who has only recently been given life by her brother. It was Matildas great great great grandfather who created the Wings of Mercury machine that broke time and together with her genius brother Quinton and a few trusted friends she's determined to help repair the damage that was done. The Galvanised are hunted like criminals following recent assignations and it looks like time might be quite literally running out . Time might have been stretched and messed up but if it resets just what will happen? One thing is certain Matilda is caught right in the crosshairs and the seconds are counting down!
This was without a doubt one crazy ride! I felt as if I was on a roller coaster as so much got thrown into the mixture . I wasn't instantly sure if I understood everything that was going on but the heroine Matilda leapt off the page right from the beginning. I loved her and found myself cheering her on . These characters go on a journey and for some it's a voyage of self discovery but the action is nail biting in it's intensity. This is more urban fantasy than paranormal but there is a developing romance in this story but no sex. I found it to be an engaging read with an almost steampunk vibe occasionally although it is set in the future which helps explain the technology. There's great potential here and a cliffhanger of sorts so clearly more to come. As I hadn't read the first book it took me a while to work out everything particularly the House system so I rate this a four and a half
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
Ok now imagine that in 1910 there was a crazy scientist who believed that it might be possible to travel through time and he built a machine to do just that. Something wasn't quite right though and everyone close by dies except for thirteen people who fall into what I suppose could only be likened to a coma. Fast forward a few years and these thirteen souls are brought back to life but are no longer whole , stitched back together their mutilated bodies are incredibly strong and immortal. Known as the Galvanised each is assigned to a ruling House in this twisted society all except one , Matilda who has only recently been given life by her brother. It was Matildas great great great grandfather who created the Wings of Mercury machine that broke time and together with her genius brother Quinton and a few trusted friends she's determined to help repair the damage that was done. The Galvanised are hunted like criminals following recent assignations and it looks like time might be quite literally running out . Time might have been stretched and messed up but if it resets just what will happen? One thing is certain Matilda is caught right in the crosshairs and the seconds are counting down!
This was without a doubt one crazy ride! I felt as if I was on a roller coaster as so much got thrown into the mixture . I wasn't instantly sure if I understood everything that was going on but the heroine Matilda leapt off the page right from the beginning. I loved her and found myself cheering her on . These characters go on a journey and for some it's a voyage of self discovery but the action is nail biting in it's intensity. This is more urban fantasy than paranormal but there is a developing romance in this story but no sex. I found it to be an engaging read with an almost steampunk vibe occasionally although it is set in the future which helps explain the technology. There's great potential here and a cliffhanger of sorts so clearly more to come. As I hadn't read the first book it took me a while to work out everything particularly the House system so I rate this a four and a half
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
March 1, 2015
This is the second book in the House Immortal trilogy. The third book, Crucible Zero, is scheduled to come out this September. I have been absolutely loving this series. It’s action packed, creative, and full of fun characters.
Tilly, Abraham, Quinten, and Ned are on the run after the events in the first book. They have also just found out from Quinten that time is going to mend soon and when it does all the galvanized will die. They are in a race against time to try and travel back in time to try to mend time differently. Meanwhile Slater, the head of House Orange, has taken over a body of a galvanized and is trying to maneuver his way into power. The politics following the events of the first book are tangled and twisted.
I have really enjoyed the characters in this series a lot. Tilly is a strong heroine and shows in this book how far she is willing to go to protect those under her protection. Abraham is awesome as well, he showed some leadership in the last book but we get to know him a lot better in this book. The budding relationship between him and Tilly is very well done and I really enjoyed it.
We learn more about Ned in this book as well and he is becoming a much more complicated character than he seemed in the first book. It was also a lot of fun to get to know Tilly’s brother Quentin better. He is one smart cookie, with a whole bevy of issues.
Some new and intriguing characters are introduced as well. I really liked the addition of Gloria; she is in this story a lot, has a ton of interesting medical knowledge, and has some history with Quinten. Of course the little sheep with wool that stops time are still some of my favorites in this book.
The world-building in this book is fantastic. I love the idea of the galvanized and the complex politics of the Houses. I also enjoyed that this is an interesting mish-mash of urban fantasy, steampunk, intrigue, time travel, science fiction, and dystopian themes. There is a very Frankenstein-like overtone to the idea of the galvanized as well that I really enjoy.
The plot is very unpredictable with lots of interesting twists and turns. I also really loved how action packed and fast-paced the novel is.
Overall this was a fantastic book, it’s a lot of fun to read and very creative. I love the characters, the complex house politics, and how action packed the story is. This is a very creative series with excellent world-building and characters I love reading about. I would definitely recommend this series to fans of fast-paced urban fantasy, steampunk, and sci-fi.
Tilly, Abraham, Quinten, and Ned are on the run after the events in the first book. They have also just found out from Quinten that time is going to mend soon and when it does all the galvanized will die. They are in a race against time to try and travel back in time to try to mend time differently. Meanwhile Slater, the head of House Orange, has taken over a body of a galvanized and is trying to maneuver his way into power. The politics following the events of the first book are tangled and twisted.
I have really enjoyed the characters in this series a lot. Tilly is a strong heroine and shows in this book how far she is willing to go to protect those under her protection. Abraham is awesome as well, he showed some leadership in the last book but we get to know him a lot better in this book. The budding relationship between him and Tilly is very well done and I really enjoyed it.
We learn more about Ned in this book as well and he is becoming a much more complicated character than he seemed in the first book. It was also a lot of fun to get to know Tilly’s brother Quentin better. He is one smart cookie, with a whole bevy of issues.
Some new and intriguing characters are introduced as well. I really liked the addition of Gloria; she is in this story a lot, has a ton of interesting medical knowledge, and has some history with Quinten. Of course the little sheep with wool that stops time are still some of my favorites in this book.
The world-building in this book is fantastic. I love the idea of the galvanized and the complex politics of the Houses. I also enjoyed that this is an interesting mish-mash of urban fantasy, steampunk, intrigue, time travel, science fiction, and dystopian themes. There is a very Frankenstein-like overtone to the idea of the galvanized as well that I really enjoy.
The plot is very unpredictable with lots of interesting twists and turns. I also really loved how action packed and fast-paced the novel is.
Overall this was a fantastic book, it’s a lot of fun to read and very creative. I love the characters, the complex house politics, and how action packed the story is. This is a very creative series with excellent world-building and characters I love reading about. I would definitely recommend this series to fans of fast-paced urban fantasy, steampunk, and sci-fi.
March 5, 2015
I still love these characters. I still care about what happens to them and I'm STILL worried. Thank everything the next book is out this fall instead of next March.
5 heart pounding stars
Review at The Book Nympho:
http://thebooknympho.com/2015/03/infi...
I still love these characters. I still care about what happens to them and I’m STILL worried. Thank everything the next book is out this fall instead of next March. The ending is another cliffhanger with my heart in a vice.
Infinity Bell is packed with action and emotion. I couldn’t put this book down any more than the last one. The focus was on a smaller group of those near and dear to me. The past, the present and the future are all interwoven. It is both emotionally and intellectually compelling.
I enjoyed learning much more about Quinten and a bit more about his childhood with Matilda. There is some insight into his time away from home and the last few years. He is a genius and has worked his whole life to protect his sister. It has cost him quite a bit personally.
The only ones of the thirteen galvanized we spend any real-time with in this book are Abraham and Matilda. Their relationship continues to grow and my heart was a world traveler here. I felt so many things. The time they share and their dialogue is precious to me. We learn more about the origin of the galvanized and their “immortality.”
The world, the mystery, the battles fought and the romances add to my connection with this story. The humor kept me from losing it. The diversity and complexity made it all too real. There have been three 5 star books released this week – please don’t miss this one!!! I can’t recommend Devon Monk or the House Immortal series more highly. It will easily be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Giggle worthy quote:
“Of course I’m not being tracked,” he said with mock offense. “I made sure of that before I left the House rulership in Libra’s hands.”
“Your cousin?” Abraham asked. “She’s … a little chaotic to be standing as a ruler, don’t you think?”
“No,” Welton said. “I think she is a lot chaotic. Which means she is making all sorts of crazy choices and decisions right now. Trust me when I say technology will not be easy for any of the Houses to access or use for a while. It’s …. delightful.” The smile spread into a grin, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.
“You are a troublemaker. You know that, Welton?” I set my duffel down next to one of the couches and sat.
5 heart pounding stars
Review at The Book Nympho:
http://thebooknympho.com/2015/03/infi...
I still love these characters. I still care about what happens to them and I’m STILL worried. Thank everything the next book is out this fall instead of next March. The ending is another cliffhanger with my heart in a vice.
Infinity Bell is packed with action and emotion. I couldn’t put this book down any more than the last one. The focus was on a smaller group of those near and dear to me. The past, the present and the future are all interwoven. It is both emotionally and intellectually compelling.
I enjoyed learning much more about Quinten and a bit more about his childhood with Matilda. There is some insight into his time away from home and the last few years. He is a genius and has worked his whole life to protect his sister. It has cost him quite a bit personally.
The only ones of the thirteen galvanized we spend any real-time with in this book are Abraham and Matilda. Their relationship continues to grow and my heart was a world traveler here. I felt so many things. The time they share and their dialogue is precious to me. We learn more about the origin of the galvanized and their “immortality.”
The world, the mystery, the battles fought and the romances add to my connection with this story. The humor kept me from losing it. The diversity and complexity made it all too real. There have been three 5 star books released this week – please don’t miss this one!!! I can’t recommend Devon Monk or the House Immortal series more highly. It will easily be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Giggle worthy quote:
“Of course I’m not being tracked,” he said with mock offense. “I made sure of that before I left the House rulership in Libra’s hands.”
“Your cousin?” Abraham asked. “She’s … a little chaotic to be standing as a ruler, don’t you think?”
“No,” Welton said. “I think she is a lot chaotic. Which means she is making all sorts of crazy choices and decisions right now. Trust me when I say technology will not be easy for any of the Houses to access or use for a while. It’s …. delightful.” The smile spread into a grin, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.
“You are a troublemaker. You know that, Welton?” I set my duffel down next to one of the couches and sat.
February 22, 2018
Really fast paced and hard to put down.
I'm not sure what to say about the ending. I'm glad that I don't have to wait a whole year for the next one to find out WTF is going on.
Full review from Goldilox and the Three Weres:
This is definitely a stay-up-late-because-you-can't-put-it-down kind of book! Fortunately it's also a fast read with tons of action. The fast pace really emphasizes the sense of urgency as Matilda and her friends are both on the run from the Houses who want to imprison Abraham and Matilda and racing against the clock to fix the experiment that fractured time.
I didn't feel like there was much added in terms of world building in this second book of the series. In fact, the world seems smaller in some ways since the characters are hiding from most of it. I missed seeing most of the Galvanized and the House leaders. But there are some new characters, like Doctor Gloria who provides some insight into Quentin's past. There's also a lot of new information about the Neds, who are full of surprises, as well as Abraham and Foster First. (Love both of them!) I loved hearing their memories of the day the experiment changed the world and the hints about their lives before they were Galvanized.
I loved this book right up until the very end when I was equal parts heart broken and confused. I kept trying to turn the page when I was already at the end. Even though a WTF ending is kind of to be expected when the characters spent the entire book trying to go back in time to change things, I still feel like I need more information about this new world.
There are some clues in the chapter headings, I think. Just like in House Immortal each one starts with a piece of a journal entry, though it's a different journal this time. I kind of want to go back and read just those parts knowing what I know now and see if it fills in any blanks. It definitely added to the suspense and uncertainty as I was reading the first time.
I'm thankful that I don't have to wait a whole year for the next book in the series. Crucible Zero is out in September. I think this series is a great one for a binge read where you can resolve those cliffhangers right away. I'm even thinking I'll re-read the first two to get ready for the next one. I've loved both of these books so far and certainly won't mind reading them again.
I'm not sure what to say about the ending. I'm glad that I don't have to wait a whole year for the next one to find out WTF is going on.
Full review from Goldilox and the Three Weres:
This is definitely a stay-up-late-because-you-can't-put-it-down kind of book! Fortunately it's also a fast read with tons of action. The fast pace really emphasizes the sense of urgency as Matilda and her friends are both on the run from the Houses who want to imprison Abraham and Matilda and racing against the clock to fix the experiment that fractured time.
I didn't feel like there was much added in terms of world building in this second book of the series. In fact, the world seems smaller in some ways since the characters are hiding from most of it. I missed seeing most of the Galvanized and the House leaders. But there are some new characters, like Doctor Gloria who provides some insight into Quentin's past. There's also a lot of new information about the Neds, who are full of surprises, as well as Abraham and Foster First. (Love both of them!) I loved hearing their memories of the day the experiment changed the world and the hints about their lives before they were Galvanized.
I loved this book right up until the very end when I was equal parts heart broken and confused. I kept trying to turn the page when I was already at the end. Even though a WTF ending is kind of to be expected when the characters spent the entire book trying to go back in time to change things, I still feel like I need more information about this new world.
There are some clues in the chapter headings, I think. Just like in House Immortal each one starts with a piece of a journal entry, though it's a different journal this time. I kind of want to go back and read just those parts knowing what I know now and see if it fills in any blanks. It definitely added to the suspense and uncertainty as I was reading the first time.
I'm thankful that I don't have to wait a whole year for the next book in the series. Crucible Zero is out in September. I think this series is a great one for a binge read where you can resolve those cliffhangers right away. I'm even thinking I'll re-read the first two to get ready for the next one. I've loved both of these books so far and certainly won't mind reading them again.
April 26, 2015
Probably more of a 2.5.
I didn't like this near as much as the first book in this series. I felt like nothing really happened until the last few pages, and then a bunch of things happened way too fast to have much impact. New characters were introduced and not really given much at all to do...which may be rectified in the final book, but if you're going to bring a character in, you shouldn't completely ignore them which is what I felt happened here. Like my problem with the first book, I felt that there were two stories here that didn't mesh well at all- the story of the galvanized and the story of the Houses. It felt like I was reading two very different books that weren't brought together in a way that was satisfactory.
The writing was well-done, and some of the characters were fleshed out. The main character was sympathetic and again, the romance wasn't too over-done although it was definitely an insta-love kind of thing (but most books in this genre do fall in to the insta-love trap). I am interested in the world the author creates, although I feel like not enough detail is given in certain aspects.
Also, although I can't get too far into it without spoiling anything, I feel like the last part of the novel happened much too quickly. When the main character is given a highly important task, I feel like she accomplished it far too easily and then kind of...left...to do something else. I understand why she did this, but it was rather jarring and ultimately made the importance placed on the initial task seem like a lead-up to nothing. I'm sorry if I'm not making more sense :/. Also, the main villain is really given zero motivation for doing what he's doing except for generic "rule the world" stuff. Which is fine, but for me, I prefer a bit more originality.
I would recommend this series just for the world-building. I will read the last book because I do want to see what happens, but I feel like the author's two stories never really coalesce into a cohesive narrative.
I didn't like this near as much as the first book in this series. I felt like nothing really happened until the last few pages, and then a bunch of things happened way too fast to have much impact. New characters were introduced and not really given much at all to do...which may be rectified in the final book, but if you're going to bring a character in, you shouldn't completely ignore them which is what I felt happened here. Like my problem with the first book, I felt that there were two stories here that didn't mesh well at all- the story of the galvanized and the story of the Houses. It felt like I was reading two very different books that weren't brought together in a way that was satisfactory.
The writing was well-done, and some of the characters were fleshed out. The main character was sympathetic and again, the romance wasn't too over-done although it was definitely an insta-love kind of thing (but most books in this genre do fall in to the insta-love trap). I am interested in the world the author creates, although I feel like not enough detail is given in certain aspects.
Also, although I can't get too far into it without spoiling anything, I feel like the last part of the novel happened much too quickly. When the main character is given a highly important task, I feel like she accomplished it far too easily and then kind of...left...to do something else. I understand why she did this, but it was rather jarring and ultimately made the importance placed on the initial task seem like a lead-up to nothing. I'm sorry if I'm not making more sense :/. Also, the main villain is really given zero motivation for doing what he's doing except for generic "rule the world" stuff. Which is fine, but for me, I prefer a bit more originality.
I would recommend this series just for the world-building. I will read the last book because I do want to see what happens, but I feel like the author's two stories never really coalesce into a cohesive narrative.
July 8, 2015
Seriously, if you’re thinking about reading this series, don’t read it now! Let me rephrase. Wait until the entire series is finished!! Each book ends on a cliffhanger. Trust me. I’m saving you tons of frustration.
This book takes the series in an entirely different time travelling direction. Don’t get me wrong, it still features stitched up Frankenstein’s monsters. However, this story picks right up where the last one left off with the group trying to evade capture. That’s pretty much the whole story, until the last couple of chapters.
There were several twists that I just had NO clue were coming. I was a chapter or two away from the end before I figured out the journal entries at the chapter headings. Honestly, I went back and reread all the chapter headings, once I really knew what was going on.
This is the fifth book by Monk that I’ve read. It’s also the first one I’ve given more than three stars. This one earns the extra star for the big plot twist. I have no idea where Monk is going to take the series in the next book.
I do wish the book included a summation of the previous book a little earlier. There were a couple of chapters I just had to wade through before Monk jogged my memory.
This book takes the series in an entirely different time travelling direction. Don’t get me wrong, it still features stitched up Frankenstein’s monsters. However, this story picks right up where the last one left off with the group trying to evade capture. That’s pretty much the whole story, until the last couple of chapters.
There were several twists that I just had NO clue were coming. I was a chapter or two away from the end before I figured out the journal entries at the chapter headings. Honestly, I went back and reread all the chapter headings, once I really knew what was going on.
This is the fifth book by Monk that I’ve read. It’s also the first one I’ve given more than three stars. This one earns the extra star for the big plot twist. I have no idea where Monk is going to take the series in the next book.
I do wish the book included a summation of the previous book a little earlier. There were a couple of chapters I just had to wade through before Monk jogged my memory.
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