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Tales of the Immortali
Across an endless sea of life, what is left to hold on to?
For centuries, twin immortali Fresca and Scherzo have roamed sunlit towns, painting murals, singing stories, and fleeing hunters who covet their gift . . . or condemn them as demons. But their lives of artful performances shatter when a sudden bullet strikes—and leaves one twin slowly turning mortal.
Adagio, the most ancient and jaded immortale, has one goal: to die. He agrees to help the twins summon the god of death to obtain their mortality. But he soon discovers tensions in their bond—Fresca’s virtuous faith clashing with Scherzo’s bloodstained beliefs. Meanwhile, a ruthless huntress, a legion of priests, and a cult of worshipers chase the immortali’s heels in the name of divine devotion.
As bonds break and secrets unravel, each immortale must confront the painful ghosts of their past before their hunters catch up to them, and death knocks on their door.
Set in a lush Renaissance Italy-inspired world, M.M. Orozco’s darkly whimsical YA fantasy debut explores art, identity, and memory in the corruption of time.
For centuries, twin immortali Fresca and Scherzo have roamed sunlit towns, painting murals, singing stories, and fleeing hunters who covet their gift . . . or condemn them as demons. But their lives of artful performances shatter when a sudden bullet strikes—and leaves one twin slowly turning mortal.
Adagio, the most ancient and jaded immortale, has one goal: to die. He agrees to help the twins summon the god of death to obtain their mortality. But he soon discovers tensions in their bond—Fresca’s virtuous faith clashing with Scherzo’s bloodstained beliefs. Meanwhile, a ruthless huntress, a legion of priests, and a cult of worshipers chase the immortali’s heels in the name of divine devotion.
As bonds break and secrets unravel, each immortale must confront the painful ghosts of their past before their hunters catch up to them, and death knocks on their door.
Set in a lush Renaissance Italy-inspired world, M.M. Orozco’s darkly whimsical YA fantasy debut explores art, identity, and memory in the corruption of time.
- GenresFantasy
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2026
About the author
M.M. Orozco
1 book12 followersM.M. Orozco, also known as Mayumi, is a writer and college student from the Philippines. For updates, follow her on Instagram and Facebook @mayumiswriting or check out mmorozco.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 17, 2026
first of all, a huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🩷
tales of the immortali is a fantasy set in the fictional land of cassaria, following twin immortali fresca and scherzo—a painter and a storyteller, as they scramble to reverse fresca's mysterious decline into mortality. along the way, they wake up adagio, the oldest immortale alive, who has been sleeping in a catacomb for a century and wants nothing more than to finally, permanently die. gods, divine laws, a deadly huntress, a grief-stricken woodcarver, and a servant who is not quite what she seems. it is a lot a lot to take on but that’s really exciting
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
✨ adagio wrecked me in ways i did not see coming. here is a boy who has been alive for over two thousand years, who has been hunted, tortured, and killed more times than he can count, and whose response to all of it was to crawl into a catacomb and sleep for a century. watching him slowly, reluctantly, almost against his own will, begin to laugh again is just everything
✨ the relationship between the twins is the emotional backbone of the whole book. fresca and scherzo love each other deeply and have also quietly been destroying each other for centuries without fully realizing it
✨ the world feels genuinely alive. the renaissance italian aesthetic gives everything a grounded, textured quality, and the theology which are seven divines with real personalities, real opinions, and occasionally very bad judgment has actual weight to it. these are not decorative gods. they have stakes in the story
✨ the final act on the bridge between life and death is one of the most creative sequences i have read in a long time. it is such a clean, emotionally perfect expression of everything the book has been building toward
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
⭐️ i will be honest. the opening chapters took real effort to get through. the world is rich, but it is also dense, and i found myself re-reading passages to make sure i had my footing before moving on. the payoff is absolutely there, but the entry point genuinely requires patience and attention.
⭐️ this is categorized as young adult, but the worldbuilding and thematic weight often felt more aligned with high fantasy. that is not a complaint so much as a heads-up: come in with your full focus or you will get lost in the details and lose the emotional thread with it
i am amazed how M.M. Orozco is nineteen years old. nineteen. the complexity of what she has constructed here: the layered mythology, the interlocking character arcs, the thematic ambition, the way every character's flaw connects directly to the plot's central crisis, is honestly staggering for any writer, let alone one this young
overall, this is a genuinely impressive debut—ambitious, emotionally complex, and deeply felt. if you enjoy stories about immortality, grief, the cost of love, and art as a means of survival, just clear your schedule, and be ready to have your heart broken a little by a ten-year-old boy who is two thousand years old and just wants to rest
tales of the immortali is a fantasy set in the fictional land of cassaria, following twin immortali fresca and scherzo—a painter and a storyteller, as they scramble to reverse fresca's mysterious decline into mortality. along the way, they wake up adagio, the oldest immortale alive, who has been sleeping in a catacomb for a century and wants nothing more than to finally, permanently die. gods, divine laws, a deadly huntress, a grief-stricken woodcarver, and a servant who is not quite what she seems. it is a lot a lot to take on but that’s really exciting
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
✨ adagio wrecked me in ways i did not see coming. here is a boy who has been alive for over two thousand years, who has been hunted, tortured, and killed more times than he can count, and whose response to all of it was to crawl into a catacomb and sleep for a century. watching him slowly, reluctantly, almost against his own will, begin to laugh again is just everything
✨ the relationship between the twins is the emotional backbone of the whole book. fresca and scherzo love each other deeply and have also quietly been destroying each other for centuries without fully realizing it
✨ the world feels genuinely alive. the renaissance italian aesthetic gives everything a grounded, textured quality, and the theology which are seven divines with real personalities, real opinions, and occasionally very bad judgment has actual weight to it. these are not decorative gods. they have stakes in the story
✨ the final act on the bridge between life and death is one of the most creative sequences i have read in a long time. it is such a clean, emotionally perfect expression of everything the book has been building toward
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞:
⭐️ i will be honest. the opening chapters took real effort to get through. the world is rich, but it is also dense, and i found myself re-reading passages to make sure i had my footing before moving on. the payoff is absolutely there, but the entry point genuinely requires patience and attention.
⭐️ this is categorized as young adult, but the worldbuilding and thematic weight often felt more aligned with high fantasy. that is not a complaint so much as a heads-up: come in with your full focus or you will get lost in the details and lose the emotional thread with it
i am amazed how M.M. Orozco is nineteen years old. nineteen. the complexity of what she has constructed here: the layered mythology, the interlocking character arcs, the thematic ambition, the way every character's flaw connects directly to the plot's central crisis, is honestly staggering for any writer, let alone one this young
overall, this is a genuinely impressive debut—ambitious, emotionally complex, and deeply felt. if you enjoy stories about immortality, grief, the cost of love, and art as a means of survival, just clear your schedule, and be ready to have your heart broken a little by a ten-year-old boy who is two thousand years old and just wants to rest
May 16, 2026
“Brittle bone and rotten flesh! No touch of death can end the era of Immortali!”
This is genuinely one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.
The renaissance Italian aesthetic was amazing
I felt like I was actually there and
The concept of a bored immortal who sees their life span as a curse has been done before, but this is the best one I’ve ever seen!
The book mainly touches upon the topic of “if I have nothing to live for why should I keep living?” Was done tastefully and without being unnecessarily dark
This is one of the most emotionally impactful stories I’ve read in a very long time and is one of the only books that has ever made me cry 😭
The book has some amazing allegorical Christian themes which is massively impressive
This is now one of my favorite books of all time and I will be recommending it to whomever will listen 😂
M.M. Orozco must be the storyteller immortali herself 🤭
7⭐️
Language 0/10
Violence 3/10
Suggestive content/Romance 0/10
Other- the topic of death is central to the story but it’s done tastefully
This is genuinely one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.
The renaissance Italian aesthetic was amazing
I felt like I was actually there and
The concept of a bored immortal who sees their life span as a curse has been done before, but this is the best one I’ve ever seen!
The book mainly touches upon the topic of “if I have nothing to live for why should I keep living?” Was done tastefully and without being unnecessarily dark
This is one of the most emotionally impactful stories I’ve read in a very long time and is one of the only books that has ever made me cry 😭
The book has some amazing allegorical Christian themes which is massively impressive
This is now one of my favorite books of all time and I will be recommending it to whomever will listen 😂
M.M. Orozco must be the storyteller immortali herself 🤭
7⭐️
Language 0/10
Violence 3/10
Suggestive content/Romance 0/10
Other- the topic of death is central to the story but it’s done tastefully
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Tales of the Immortali follows twin artistic immortali, Fresca and Scherzo, who perform shows for their mortal audiences while constantly being hunted. When Fresca gets shot by the Huntress, she begins turning mortal, and the twins set out on a journey to preserve her immortality. They come across another immortale, Adagio, who helps them summon the God of Death, Thanatos, to save Fresca.
I’m super impressed by this novel, considering that MM Orozco is only 19! The story is filled with rich ideas and has a strong emotional core. I can tell there’s a lot of thought and imagination that went into this story.
The beginning is heavy on the world building. It can feel overwhelming at first and it took me some time to fully settle into the story, but the pieces started to come together as the plot progressed. If this was an adult fantasy, I think there would be even more opportunity to further develop the world.
The characters, both main and side characters, are one of the highlights of this book. “A woodcarver cursed by Death, an old servant who never left, a painter immortal turning mortal, a trickster immortal with drinking habits, and a quiet immortal who can sleep for a century.” Their dynamics felt wholesome and readers will likely find some reflection of themselves in different characters. The relationship between the twins is pretty central to the story, with their connection driving many of their choices.
Religion plays a significant role throughout the story and this book explores different relationships with faith… devotion, doubt, resentment, and purpose. The Huntress, the antagonist, has unwavering devotion to the God of Death, showing how belief can shape one’s identity and actions.
This book explores the theme of life vs death. What would it be like to live forever and what are the consequences? To what extent does immortality become a burden rather than a gift? Through the beautifully written characters, the story reflects on human experiences.. what it’s like to love, to experience loss, to be betrayed, and what it means to continue living when others cannot. The introduction of Adagio brings this question to life in the book.
Overall, Tales of the Immortali is a thought-provoking story with strong characters and meaningful themes. The heart of the story truly shows the author’s talents and where they shine through. The character development was great and paced well. I’m excited to see what’s next for MM Orozco!
Tales of the Immortali follows twin artistic immortali, Fresca and Scherzo, who perform shows for their mortal audiences while constantly being hunted. When Fresca gets shot by the Huntress, she begins turning mortal, and the twins set out on a journey to preserve her immortality. They come across another immortale, Adagio, who helps them summon the God of Death, Thanatos, to save Fresca.
I’m super impressed by this novel, considering that MM Orozco is only 19! The story is filled with rich ideas and has a strong emotional core. I can tell there’s a lot of thought and imagination that went into this story.
The beginning is heavy on the world building. It can feel overwhelming at first and it took me some time to fully settle into the story, but the pieces started to come together as the plot progressed. If this was an adult fantasy, I think there would be even more opportunity to further develop the world.
The characters, both main and side characters, are one of the highlights of this book. “A woodcarver cursed by Death, an old servant who never left, a painter immortal turning mortal, a trickster immortal with drinking habits, and a quiet immortal who can sleep for a century.” Their dynamics felt wholesome and readers will likely find some reflection of themselves in different characters. The relationship between the twins is pretty central to the story, with their connection driving many of their choices.
Religion plays a significant role throughout the story and this book explores different relationships with faith… devotion, doubt, resentment, and purpose. The Huntress, the antagonist, has unwavering devotion to the God of Death, showing how belief can shape one’s identity and actions.
This book explores the theme of life vs death. What would it be like to live forever and what are the consequences? To what extent does immortality become a burden rather than a gift? Through the beautifully written characters, the story reflects on human experiences.. what it’s like to love, to experience loss, to be betrayed, and what it means to continue living when others cannot. The introduction of Adagio brings this question to life in the book.
Overall, Tales of the Immortali is a thought-provoking story with strong characters and meaningful themes. The heart of the story truly shows the author’s talents and where they shine through. The character development was great and paced well. I’m excited to see what’s next for MM Orozco!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ A centuries-spanning fantasy about art, death, and what it means to be alive — told through the eyes of two immortal twin, Fresca and Scherzo — a painter and a storyteller —who have seen it all, yet still have so much to lose.
What I Loved
- The cast is wonderfully distinct and you'll be interested knowing every single one of them. Scherzo is a delightfully flawed, charming, and protective trickster, while Fresca balances him beautifully with her deep empathy, artistic spirit, and unyielding trust in humanity. Even the supporting characters leap off the page with personalities so vivid— like the blunt servant Natale and the ancient, quietly heartbreaking Adagio.
- The opening performance scene in Lucerata alone was worth the read, it's so immersive. I could vividly picture Scherzo chanting his verses and plucking his lute while Fresca danced across the scaffolding, her brush sweeping midnight blues and sea-town horizons across wet plaster. I love the artistry component in this book.
- The author did such a beautiful job building the aesthetic and atmosphere through her social media presence (which is where I found this out btw). Reading the actual book felt like stepping directly into those carefully curated vibes — and that kind of cohesion between an author's brand and their actual story is something special.
What Didn't Quite Work For Me
- To be transparent, after the explosive inciting incident, the pacing dips noticeably as the story shifts into unpacking the summoning ritual's rules and gathering the necessary artifacts. It took me real effort to push through. That said, the rich character moments and emotional depth woven through those chapters made the patience worthwhile. It's a slow burn that eventually earns it.
Final Verdict
M.M. Orozco is a 19-year-old Filipina author, and I believe this is a remarkably beautiful debut for her. I'm so proud as her kababayan (fellow citizen) :>
If you're a fan of lush, atmospheric fantasy with deeply human characters, themes of grief and memory, and a world that feels genuinely alive — Tales of the Immortali is absolutely for you.
While the middle stretch requires some patience, this story ultimately unfolds into something quietly unforgettable. Mayumi is a talent to watch, and I genuinely cannot wait to see where she goes next and read more from her. ✨
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
What I Loved
- The cast is wonderfully distinct and you'll be interested knowing every single one of them. Scherzo is a delightfully flawed, charming, and protective trickster, while Fresca balances him beautifully with her deep empathy, artistic spirit, and unyielding trust in humanity. Even the supporting characters leap off the page with personalities so vivid— like the blunt servant Natale and the ancient, quietly heartbreaking Adagio.
- The opening performance scene in Lucerata alone was worth the read, it's so immersive. I could vividly picture Scherzo chanting his verses and plucking his lute while Fresca danced across the scaffolding, her brush sweeping midnight blues and sea-town horizons across wet plaster. I love the artistry component in this book.
- The author did such a beautiful job building the aesthetic and atmosphere through her social media presence (which is where I found this out btw). Reading the actual book felt like stepping directly into those carefully curated vibes — and that kind of cohesion between an author's brand and their actual story is something special.
What Didn't Quite Work For Me
- To be transparent, after the explosive inciting incident, the pacing dips noticeably as the story shifts into unpacking the summoning ritual's rules and gathering the necessary artifacts. It took me real effort to push through. That said, the rich character moments and emotional depth woven through those chapters made the patience worthwhile. It's a slow burn that eventually earns it.
Final Verdict
M.M. Orozco is a 19-year-old Filipina author, and I believe this is a remarkably beautiful debut for her. I'm so proud as her kababayan (fellow citizen) :>
If you're a fan of lush, atmospheric fantasy with deeply human characters, themes of grief and memory, and a world that feels genuinely alive — Tales of the Immortali is absolutely for you.
While the middle stretch requires some patience, this story ultimately unfolds into something quietly unforgettable. Mayumi is a talent to watch, and I genuinely cannot wait to see where she goes next and read more from her. ✨
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for the advanced copy!
3.7 stars out of 5
Tales of the Immortali is a rich story that dives into many complex themes and ideas. With that being said it is quite dark so keep that in mind if you can't handle that type of stuff.
In all honesty, it took me a while to properly get into the book. While the setting is different to what I'm used to, making the world feel more intriguing, I had an issue with the vast number of action scenes scattered here and there. The story is relatively slow paced at times so the action can make it feel like you're constantly stopping and starting. I think part of the problem lies in the fact that there wasn't much tension. Things tended to go from one to one hundred real quick rather than a slow build up to the climax.
Frankly, it is quite hard to execute a great fantasy quest plotline in a singular book. There's so much to do within so little pages, characters, plot, worldbuilding - you have to juggle several different elements into one novel. For me I needed just a tad more in this story, more content, more character development, more build up. Despite this there was still a lot to love in Tales of the Immortali.
What I appreciated was the juxtaposition between Fresca and Scherzo but also how neither twin was necessarily "good" or "bad". The exploration into how Fresca's inaction impacted Scherzo despite her good intentions was well done and I enjoyed that immensely.
While a lot of narratives tend to include immortals, rarely do they explore the price that comes with living forever. I valued Adagio's struggle with his immortality and how it didn't just impact him mentally but also on a physical level, through his constant headaches and tiredness. There are a lot of small details or sweet moments that really stood out to me.
All in all, the concept was interesting, the ideas and themes skilfully touched on, and it was a great break from all the standalone copy paste romantasy I keep reading for some strange reason. If you're looking for a book that focuses on siblings, found family, fantasy and the struggles of morality this may be the book for you!
3.7 stars out of 5
Tales of the Immortali is a rich story that dives into many complex themes and ideas. With that being said it is quite dark so keep that in mind if you can't handle that type of stuff.
In all honesty, it took me a while to properly get into the book. While the setting is different to what I'm used to, making the world feel more intriguing, I had an issue with the vast number of action scenes scattered here and there. The story is relatively slow paced at times so the action can make it feel like you're constantly stopping and starting. I think part of the problem lies in the fact that there wasn't much tension. Things tended to go from one to one hundred real quick rather than a slow build up to the climax.
Frankly, it is quite hard to execute a great fantasy quest plotline in a singular book. There's so much to do within so little pages, characters, plot, worldbuilding - you have to juggle several different elements into one novel. For me I needed just a tad more in this story, more content, more character development, more build up. Despite this there was still a lot to love in Tales of the Immortali.
What I appreciated was the juxtaposition between Fresca and Scherzo but also how neither twin was necessarily "good" or "bad". The exploration into how Fresca's inaction impacted Scherzo despite her good intentions was well done and I enjoyed that immensely.
While a lot of narratives tend to include immortals, rarely do they explore the price that comes with living forever. I valued Adagio's struggle with his immortality and how it didn't just impact him mentally but also on a physical level, through his constant headaches and tiredness. There are a lot of small details or sweet moments that really stood out to me.
All in all, the concept was interesting, the ideas and themes skilfully touched on, and it was a great break from all the standalone copy paste romantasy I keep reading for some strange reason. If you're looking for a book that focuses on siblings, found family, fantasy and the struggles of morality this may be the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm a frustrated artist and musician so this really piqued my interest. Plus it's a fantasy story so I really wanted to read this.
The cover art really made me picture the characters well as I read through the book, it was exactly how I pictured them to be in my mind.
To be honest, this kind of reminded me of Genshin Impact with the first chapter. If you like that kind of lore this book is for you. This book is for people who like historical fantasy, or maybe people who are into EPIC the musical, Percy Jackson, Red Pyramid, and other fantasy stories that get you hooked with their adventures. (Yes, I'm a Rick Riordan fan and a musical geek)
The first chapter got me invested right away. The hook was good but I stayed for the plot because it was even better. The first chapter made me a bit confused at first though, I guess it's because I haven't read farther in the book so I didn't understand the lore. But as I got deeper, I understood it better.
I also got confused on some parts because instead of saying the characters' name the author would either describe them or use pronouns more. So there are times I'm confused on who's talking and who's being talked to. Then again, it might just be my comprehension skill.
Some scenes of the book made me cry too 🥺
Very heavy on faith and everything that comes with religion and myths.
About the author, at the ripe age of 19, her play with words are astounding. Her vocabulary is so wide that it's fun to read because I get to learn new words- Italian words.
For young readers ages 12 to 16, they might have difficulty in reading the novel unless they're avid readers that already read english novels like this book. I recommend this to atleast 18 year olds because some topics are heavy, I took a lot of notes on it about mental health. The author really took her time to research because I felt the characters' pain and suffering. She described it perfectly.
Overall great read, 4.5 out of 5, I can't wait to see what's next for M.M. Orozco 💕
The cover art really made me picture the characters well as I read through the book, it was exactly how I pictured them to be in my mind.
To be honest, this kind of reminded me of Genshin Impact with the first chapter. If you like that kind of lore this book is for you. This book is for people who like historical fantasy, or maybe people who are into EPIC the musical, Percy Jackson, Red Pyramid, and other fantasy stories that get you hooked with their adventures. (Yes, I'm a Rick Riordan fan and a musical geek)
The first chapter got me invested right away. The hook was good but I stayed for the plot because it was even better. The first chapter made me a bit confused at first though, I guess it's because I haven't read farther in the book so I didn't understand the lore. But as I got deeper, I understood it better.
I also got confused on some parts because instead of saying the characters' name the author would either describe them or use pronouns more. So there are times I'm confused on who's talking and who's being talked to. Then again, it might just be my comprehension skill.
Some scenes of the book made me cry too 🥺
Very heavy on faith and everything that comes with religion and myths.
About the author, at the ripe age of 19, her play with words are astounding. Her vocabulary is so wide that it's fun to read because I get to learn new words- Italian words.
For young readers ages 12 to 16, they might have difficulty in reading the novel unless they're avid readers that already read english novels like this book. I recommend this to atleast 18 year olds because some topics are heavy, I took a lot of notes on it about mental health. The author really took her time to research because I felt the characters' pain and suffering. She described it perfectly.
Overall great read, 4.5 out of 5, I can't wait to see what's next for M.M. Orozco 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Doesn’t it pain you? To be left behind by them after such a short while?”
She shook her head. “This pain is a remnant of them. What their soul, and its absence, has left me with. I would rather have this ache than numbness. I hold on to it.” She brightened. “And it’s not just pain, Adagio. I have good memories of joy and contentment. That’s why I want to stay alive—to bring them with me, forever.”
What a darling of a book! The world M.M. Orozco builds in Tales of the Immortali is so intricate and sprawling with life, it was so easy to fall in love with it and the characters. There were many aspects of this book I loved. It was very reminiscent of some of my favorite fantasy books such as Brandon Sanderson’s Yumi and the Nightmare Painter and Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals.
Scherzo, Fresca, and Adagio are some of the most well-developed characters I’ve read as of recent and wholly have my heart <3 Their character arcs are compelling and beautifully intertwined with the novel’s themes. I especially loved how the story explores the weight of immortality, centuries of carried trauma, and the power of belief through the differing perspectives of its main cast.
I almost didn’t want the story to end, but I think the conclusion tied together each character’s arcs in a way that was both satisfying and emotional. I’ve spent PLENTY of nights and afternoons crying over certain scenes...
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I first came across this novel through the author’s Instagram and was immediately drawn in by the premise. Learning that the author is Filipino and only 19 years old made me especially happy, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support fellow Filipino Gen Z authors. This was an incredibly impressive debut, and I’ll definitely be buying this book when it comes out, along with any future works!
★ 4.5, rounded up!
Review of advance copy
i was given an Advanced Reader's Copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.
this was such a beautifully written story. ill admit it did take me a while to get into it (which is why it took me three weeks to finish 🥹) but it has an intriguing storyline which is why i signed up to be an ARC reader in the first place!
i thought adagio was a delight. his character was who i resonated with the most—everything in his story hit deep. the twins too were well built characters. each of them had their own agency and principles that it was mostly fun (it did get a bit repetitive in the final act) to see the different perspectives between the story breaks.
the story itself was overwhelming at times, but it kept me on my toes and had me asking questions that were later answered. it included a surprising amount of violence honestly 😭 but it always served a purpose to the plot as a whole and made everything feel more emotional.
my main issue with this book was the pacing. it started slow, but even then it didn't allow me to feel that the stakes were as high as they were. there were spikes during the action scenes, and eventually the biggest emotional beats were the last 4 chapters of the book where i was fully immersed and connected to the characters. (this is my opinion! my reading experience may have interfered with this aspect.)
despite this, it was a story i am in awe of. the relationships between the trio were the hearts of the story, and by the end, i felt just that much more grateful to be living the life i have.
M.M. Orozco has the talent and potential to break into the Philippine literary world with her thoughtful words and carefully crafted stories. thank you for allowing me this!
this was such a beautifully written story. ill admit it did take me a while to get into it (which is why it took me three weeks to finish 🥹) but it has an intriguing storyline which is why i signed up to be an ARC reader in the first place!
i thought adagio was a delight. his character was who i resonated with the most—everything in his story hit deep. the twins too were well built characters. each of them had their own agency and principles that it was mostly fun (it did get a bit repetitive in the final act) to see the different perspectives between the story breaks.
the story itself was overwhelming at times, but it kept me on my toes and had me asking questions that were later answered. it included a surprising amount of violence honestly 😭 but it always served a purpose to the plot as a whole and made everything feel more emotional.
my main issue with this book was the pacing. it started slow, but even then it didn't allow me to feel that the stakes were as high as they were. there were spikes during the action scenes, and eventually the biggest emotional beats were the last 4 chapters of the book where i was fully immersed and connected to the characters. (this is my opinion! my reading experience may have interfered with this aspect.)
despite this, it was a story i am in awe of. the relationships between the trio were the hearts of the story, and by the end, i felt just that much more grateful to be living the life i have.
M.M. Orozco has the talent and potential to break into the Philippine literary world with her thoughtful words and carefully crafted stories. thank you for allowing me this!
June 5, 2026
much can be said about 'living life to the fullest', you could even say that life's gravitas stems from the fact that there's an end date. humans are aware that at some point life will cease to exist, and that drives their everyday choices.
what if, one day, you became immortal? everything remains the same except, you heal from wounds and revive if an unfortunate circumstance has led you to die. whether good or bad, you've seen all there is to see, experienced all there is to experience, and loved and lost. would you consider this a gift or a curse?
in tales of the immortali, three immortals traverse the earth. though stuck in the bodies of children, two of them (twins) have been alive for 300 years, while the other, 2000. you can probably guess who wants to live and who wants to tap out. i mean, if you've lived this long- you'd probably be at wit's end with the question of life's purpose hanging in the air.
interwoven so beautifully within the story are themes regarding life, death, religion, purpose, memory and relationship dynamics. each character is distinctly full of nuanced personality, it's reflective of real life which makes them relatable in some ways.
to see this level of character depth so early in an author's career is astounding! a blessing to the world of storytelling!
having not read fantasy novels in so long, i almost forgot how limitless they can be. tales of the immortali was a lovely reintroduction to the genre especially with its vivid world building and descriptions that touch on all the senses. this one is a standalone but i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for mayumi's next releases!
what if, one day, you became immortal? everything remains the same except, you heal from wounds and revive if an unfortunate circumstance has led you to die. whether good or bad, you've seen all there is to see, experienced all there is to experience, and loved and lost. would you consider this a gift or a curse?
in tales of the immortali, three immortals traverse the earth. though stuck in the bodies of children, two of them (twins) have been alive for 300 years, while the other, 2000. you can probably guess who wants to live and who wants to tap out. i mean, if you've lived this long- you'd probably be at wit's end with the question of life's purpose hanging in the air.
interwoven so beautifully within the story are themes regarding life, death, religion, purpose, memory and relationship dynamics. each character is distinctly full of nuanced personality, it's reflective of real life which makes them relatable in some ways.
to see this level of character depth so early in an author's career is astounding! a blessing to the world of storytelling!
having not read fantasy novels in so long, i almost forgot how limitless they can be. tales of the immortali was a lovely reintroduction to the genre especially with its vivid world building and descriptions that touch on all the senses. this one is a standalone but i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for mayumi's next releases!
Review of advance copy received from Author
For centuries, the Twin Immortals, Scherzo and Fresca, have performed for their mortal audience while fleeing hunters. During one show, the huntress shot Fresca, who then began turning mortal. They then began their journey to regain her immortality. They meet Adagio, an older Immortali, who helps the twins summon the God of Death to save Fresca.
The story intrigues readers, and the author has written the characters well, as each possesses flaws that later connect to the plot. The twins’ relationship is beautiful. Fresca, as the older sister, holds on to the innocent little version of Scherzo before they turned immortal.
Adagio, my favourite character, is the one I resonate with the most. The one who has gone through a lot of struggles in his immortal life, I looked forward to his story during the initial chapters, and the patience paid off!!
I started off slow as the world-building was rich and heavy; soon, I could connect the pieces as the plot moved forward. The book explores the themes of faith, survival, love, grief, and forgiveness and reflects human experiences. Overall, Tales of the Immortali is a wholesome book with relatable characters and meaningful themes. Pretty excited for the upcoming releases by the talented author!!!
Big thanks to the author for giving me an advance reader copy of the book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5 Rating
The story intrigues readers, and the author has written the characters well, as each possesses flaws that later connect to the plot. The twins’ relationship is beautiful. Fresca, as the older sister, holds on to the innocent little version of Scherzo before they turned immortal.
Adagio, my favourite character, is the one I resonate with the most. The one who has gone through a lot of struggles in his immortal life, I looked forward to his story during the initial chapters, and the patience paid off!!
I started off slow as the world-building was rich and heavy; soon, I could connect the pieces as the plot moved forward. The book explores the themes of faith, survival, love, grief, and forgiveness and reflects human experiences. Overall, Tales of the Immortali is a wholesome book with relatable characters and meaningful themes. Pretty excited for the upcoming releases by the talented author!!!
Big thanks to the author for giving me an advance reader copy of the book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5 Rating
June 8, 2026
*I received this as an ARC and am writing this review as my honest opinion.
The first line hooked me immediately. And the rest of the book? Did not disappoint. The writing is well-crafted and the details are immersive, making you feel like you are right there with the immortali twins. I thought the author did a wonderful job with the character arcs, especially Scherzo's. The ending wasn't predictable and in my opinion was very satisfying. Also, I might've stayed up late finishing the book...
My only critique is that Fresca's arc didn't feel as rich as the other two main characters. I think she needed a few more flaws to help show a more prevalent growth throughout the story.
Overall, this was a well-written book that I highly recommend for all fantasy readers.
The first line hooked me immediately. And the rest of the book? Did not disappoint. The writing is well-crafted and the details are immersive, making you feel like you are right there with the immortali twins. I thought the author did a wonderful job with the character arcs, especially Scherzo's. The ending wasn't predictable and in my opinion was very satisfying. Also, I might've stayed up late finishing the book...
My only critique is that Fresca's arc didn't feel as rich as the other two main characters. I think she needed a few more flaws to help show a more prevalent growth throughout the story.
Overall, this was a well-written book that I highly recommend for all fantasy readers.
June 7, 2026
Review of Advanced Reader Copy
Amazing amazing amazing debut novel!!!! The first chapter alone makes you fall in love with both of the siblings that are our main characters.
Orozco's worldbuilding is phenomenal and immersive. There is a sense of familiarity while still maintaining the mystical setting and fantastical elements.
Please read. This novel is full of love, and you can tell from every single word. I want to have a physical copy and reread it all again.
Amazing amazing amazing debut novel!!!! The first chapter alone makes you fall in love with both of the siblings that are our main characters.
Orozco's worldbuilding is phenomenal and immersive. There is a sense of familiarity while still maintaining the mystical setting and fantastical elements.
Please read. This novel is full of love, and you can tell from every single word. I want to have a physical copy and reread it all again.
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