Some say a miracle cured her father's cancer, while others say he made a deal with the devil. Alice wasn't quite sure what to believe, except it was too good to be true.
***
Alice Foster, a Princeton ecology student, never believed in the supernatural. But after her father's sudden disappearance, her frantic search for answers leads to something impossible: a feral reanimated corpse in her basement.
Rescued by a group of peculiar strangers, Alice is thrust into the world of alchemy and dark magic-which is precisely what her father used to cure himself. Now he's become something far more dangerous than she ever imagined, bound by darkness and insane enough to kill anyone in his path.
Desperate to save him, she plunges into the esoteric literature alongside William—a charming new ally haunted by his own father's tragic past. Their connection deepens and hidden truths surface as they race to uncover a way to restore her father's humanity before his bloodthirsty madness consumes him.
An excellent debut novel! The beginning of this book hooked me immediately, with the urgency and panic Alice was experiencing really jumping right off the page. I had to pace myself to not read through this one too quickly so that I could absorb the details and clues to the mystery unfolding.
There’s a fairly big cast of characters once things get going, yet I found myself invested in all of them. Their unique personalities and what they bring to the overall story was well done. I hope to see more of them in future books. With that said… Violet will have my heart forever and ever!!
There are more things about the plot I’d love to get into, but I want to keep this review spoiler free! I’m excited for others to read this in June and will be checking the author’s page for news about book two.
There were many elements of this that I liked. The gothic atmosphere, the supernatural aspects. I liked the storyline that Alice was trying to help her father. I certainly trusted no one. I think if this was in first person from Alice’s POV I would have felt more connected to her.
Unfortunately, I think this story would resonate with someone else better than it did myself.
If you like a paranormal romance, than give this one a try. Alice’s father goes missing and she is suddenly thrust into a world of alchemy and dark magic. Good world-building with an interesting plot and historical details.
"Alice’s mind ran through reels of television shows and movies, all with dark creatures that drank blood and undead monsters that stalked the living. None of them compared to the horrors she experienced or learned about so far. She never imagined she’d be living in a world where monsters and ghosts were real."
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for review!
🩸🔪🫀A mortal named Alice must assist a group of immortals in finding and curing her father, who got caught over his head in a dark magic ritual of blood and sacrifice 🩸🔪🫀
From haunted astral projecting, ancient tomes of ritualistic magic, to even Jack the Ripper, this book sure delivered on its promise of spooky esoteric lit! I adored all the seasonal descriptions of wet, suffocating cold and horrors blanketed in snow! Pick this up in winter for the ultimate immersion.
At times I found the plot a bit predictable and repetitive, particularly the bulk of the novel involving Alice having to wait around while the immortals do the heavy lifting. I feel she lacked a strong emotional development throughout the novel, most of the events happening to her not with her if that makes sense. She stays largely distressed and anxious through the whole book until the end with little reprieve. The arc with William was quite intriguing though, helping break some of the waiting, monotone nature of the plot. However, his "ending" was quite predictable as well.
One thing I really enjoyed in this book is the Greywalking (aka, astral projecting!) It seemed very familiar to the Insidious film franchise, down to the spooky things waiting to feast on you around every "grey" corner! These scenes were tense, action packed, and entirely enthralling. I'm sure as this series processes, and as Alice learns more about these powers, this will turn into a true superpower for her.
Overall a really decent novel that was equally enjoyable and haunting! Check this out if you're looking for an easy spooky read (especially if it's winter!)
The Immortal's Assistant is out of my normal book genre, but the paranormal horror and mystery elements kept me intrigued enough to keep me reading. While I did feel that the book ended on a soft cliffhanger, I am so curious as to how Leander, William, and the others have lived for so long fighting the spirits of the in-between. The story behind Alice's dad did make me sad and I wish there could have been a better ending for him. I do think that for what Alice experienced in this book, it opened her eyes to what she can become and how strong she really is. I did feel that some of her thoughts became very dark towards the end of the book and my heart broke for her. William definitely seemed like a good guy in the beginning, but for him to show his true colors toward the end of the book, I'm not sure how I feel about him anymore. Part of me wants him to have a redemption arc, but part of me wants him to burn in hell for what he did.
Even with ending not being what I expected it to be, it showed that some loves drive you to the point of madness that you'll do anything to bring them back and when you're immortal there will always be things who try to end you. It also showed that despite your best efforts at trying to save yourself, sometimes it just isn't enough.
Overall, this was an excellent debut and I can't wait to read future books. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy murder mysteries, murder investigations, dark academia, horror, and paranormal romance.
Thank you to the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
DNF - couldn't make it through chapter 1. Overwritten descriptors slowing down the pacing, repetition of not trusting the reader, moments of naval gazing in a tense scene (including tonal changes), random information dropping that isn't needed at the time when we're in a rush, and awkward characterization of the lead while also having awkward first dialogue. There is apparently a self-appointed hall monitor in college. And, it's so awkward and clunky.
The descriptions of the lead's physical state are either repeated or given as moment to moment updates...in between rushing around, chatting, and reminencing. She goes from panic, to a quirky thought about her dad, to a sad and harrowing thought. Meanwhile snow is "bombarding" as she recalls how lately her father's skin is "pale as winter."
There are also some grammatical errors and odd or incorrect word choices, too. There are detailed descriptions and then "random collectible historical items". Why do I need to know about the specific statues that feel like they're watching her and then get random items instead of something that clearly shows what her dad is a professor of?
Too much happening outside of the story for me to go on. I ended when she went from thinking about how quickly she could get to her dad (7 minutes) to not finding him and then going to "pick up stuff" before heading home. Where did the rush to find him go? I skimmed a bit more to where the lead called the guy who picked-up papers she dropped, and had just met, a stalker. Yeah, not for me.
A dark academia and supernatural thriller? Yes please!
Normally I tend to stick with fantasy and romance, so this wasn't my usual genre. It still managed to bring me in and kept me hooked.
The Immortals Assistant is a dark supernatural story with psychological elements. The FMC, Alice, is a girl who is tossed into a world filled with alchemy, spirits, demons, and a group called the Chosen after discovering that her father, who has terminal cancer, went missing after trying to cure himself using dark magic. Alice, desperate to save her father, works with the Chosen, who have their own dark secrets.
The book itself is well written. And I liked the story. However the characters irked me, except Violet, she's okay. Perhaps it's on me for catching onto things pretty early into the book and due to this, I kept wanting yell at the characters. That was the point though haha. I loved the plot twist at the end (though I saw it coming). Then the psychological elements throughout? Perfection. I love seeing how the characters have a more realistic reaction to the events around them. The part that really affected me was her father's cancer. It is scary when a family member has it - and my grandma suffered from it and eventually passed away. So I understood Alice, I related to the pain she felt.
Thank you J.P. Flynn for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
This book was a great debut novel! The first chapter got me hooked to this book! The mystery, the horror…everything was great. The magic and the world building was great and it slightly reminded me of Twilight.
Alice was a complicated character. The things she went through and had to learn about her dad, herself and the world she lived in contributes to her character. I feel for how she felt throughout the book if I was in her shoes too. At the end of the book, she slowly tried to get back into herself and I can’t wait to see her growth in the next book. All the characters that Alice has to stay with throughout the book were likable even though Alice herself doesn’t think that way. But I can see more of the found family aspect in the next book.
William was such a lovable character at the beginning. I had a hunch on what might happen at the end and I was disappointed to see that it was true. I don’t know how I feel about him now that I’ve read the whole book and I don’t know if I want to see a redemption arc for his character which might be a possibility in the future books.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the next one!
This book was incredible! I received an ARC and this is my honest and unsolicited review. This book was a rollercoaster of adventure, magic, and emotion. It will both intrigue and wreck you. It is 100% one of my favorite books I have read this year. The story follows Alice, a college student who discovers by chance that myths and legends all have a bit of truth and that magic and science are more connected than you would think. The storyline, the characters, the worldbuilding are all incredible! I am amazed at this book and the fact that it has not been snatched up by a publishing company. It deserves all the awards, and the recognition! There is a tiny bit of spice, but no detailed description. Easy to glaze over. If I had to choose something to be picky about, I would say this: I wish there wasn't as much swearing. I prefer to read books with very, very limited language, or no language at all; however, the swear words were few and far between, and in this case, not enough to make me DNF. The author should be incredibly proud of this book. It is amazing, fantastic, incredible, spectacular. There are not enough superlatives to describe how much I enjoyed this book!
When Alice's dad mysteriously goes missing, a series of terrifying events lead her into witness protection. While hiding out with two strangers that may or may not actually be the police, and a sweet older lady that really loves tea, she decides she must start investigating her dad's whereabouts herself. While fighting to find her dad, Alice is pulled into a world of magic, ghosts, and the undead.
Overall, had a good time reading this story. I enjoyed the plot, it did get a little scary, and the romance subplot was well-done as well. Alice was relatable and real, as I would also be completely losing my MIND if I was put in that situation! I did find some of the twists a little predictable, but that's not always a bad thing. It's about the ride, not the destination!
Recommend to fans of darker magical realism and urban fantasy that like a little dash of horror in their reads.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early!
I honestly went into this blind and wanted to ensure that I finished it by the deadline so I sat down and read it in one sitting. I loved the premise of this story.
Imagine your father is cancer ridden and a professor. One day he disappears and you being the lively daughter that you are go look for him. Instead you wake up somewhere you are completely unfamiliar, and get told your father is going to die. As any sane person you do all you can to help, the question is: will it work?
Following Alice and all of the characters go thru the motions as they try to find her father Benjamin you go thru twists and turns as you uncover so much more than what is happening right now.
I enjoyed this journey. I loved seeing the story devolp and Alice go thru so much with uncovering the truth of her father. It does have a medium pace which helped keep me locked in. Throughly enjoyed and highly recommend for a slight but intriguing read!
Wow, I loved the uniqueness of this story and the fact that even though I signed up for the ARC, I really didn’t know what to expect. I enjoyed how it started off grounded in reality, but the deeper the story went, the more it pulled you into its paranormal fantasy elements.
It definitely had a lot of eerie, unsettling moments that probably would’ve had me covering my eyes if I was watching it on TV. The author was so vivid with the descriptions of the undead that I honestly felt like I was seeing everything with my own two eyes right alongside the main character.
A group of immortals chosen to protect people from evil creatures? Yeah, I was entertained for sure. Mystery and suspense were definitely there, and the author’s creativity was on full display, especially with the way things unfolded toward the ending.
Thank you J P Flynn for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the book and I will say I can absolutely thank Supernatural for that as this gave me all the vibes from one of my favorite tv show with a mix of the Old Guard.
This is a very different type of book than I normally read, but it was a good change and I did enjoy the horror and supernatural aspects of the story.
The FMC, Alice, felt very believable and I would absolutely act as she did in the story. I will admit I was often very mad for her that she was never told the truth about things so the end, part of which I predicted, had me feeling everything she was feeling.
I don’t believe this is a standalone and am interested in seeing where the author takes this. Will we continue with Alice and her story or will each book focus on the group as a whole and their paranormal adventures? Guess we will find out!
The Immortals Assistant is binge worthy fantasy read with dark academia vibes. The author has established her own magic system involving herbs, blood, immortality, rituals, and ghosts. This detailed oriented read kept me turning pages until the very end.
Alice is grieving her father's cancer diagnosis, juggling classes and a social life and loneliness before her life blows up spectacularly. Thrown into a whole new world that she barely recognizing she is forced to decide if she is going to trust those she deems untrustworthy to save her father.
This book is heartbreak, grief, and maybe a little hope. I cannot wait to read book 2. Even if Alice did pick the wrong brother *insert side eye here*
J.P. Flynn is a descriptive writter who paints pictures with her words. She does a marvelous job of scene building using all 5 senses to pull the reader in and keep them hooked.
When Princeton student Alice Foster’s father goes missing, she is quickly plunged into a world of blood magic and deceit after she witnesses him killing a man and drinking his blood. The novel explores themes of grief and extremes; how far people will go for the ones they love. This was very well done, especially the ending, as Alice comes to terms with how her world has changed since her father disappeared. Her story is absolutely heartbreaking. I found myself wanting a bit more showing of emotion rather than telling as the book went on. Some of Alice’s emotions and decisions changed rapidly, at times within a single paragraph. This was my biggest critique of the novel; I couldn’t feel what Alice was feeling, except when it came to her grief. Overall, I thought this was a solid beginning to the series and I will be reading book two when it comes out!
✨ ARC Review ✨ Wow. I started this book one night at 1am bc my toddler was having a rough night and I seriously never went back to sleep...I couldn't put it down! I read from 1am to 6:40am when I started my day & proceeded to finish it that evening because I just had to know how it was going to end!
Honestly starting this book at 1am was a mistake, not only bc of the lack of sleep it provided...but because the spookiness was truly atmospheric. 😅 I found myself pausing to look around my room in the dark & flipping my kindle over to gasp and take a moment to process what spooky thing was just said.
This book has it all, a mystery to solve, slow burn romance, and a touch of horror. I found it very easy to relate to the FMC Alice! At times she could be seen as immature and annoying but in reality how else would one react to these circumstances! This book had me questioning who the real bad guy was the whole time, never fully deciding which team to actually trust. I am eager to see how this continues to unfold in book 2!
This story takes place in New Jersey and being that I'm currently residing here, it made the book even more immersive and spooky for me! Hearing the names of real towns and urban legends from around this area was so much fun! •Daemons •Ghosts •🩸 Rituals •Dark Academia Vibes •Touch of spooky horror •Closed door romance •Mystery to solve •Relatable FMC
As someone who doesn't typically read a lot of paranormal fantasy, I was surprised by how quickly The Immortal's Assistant pulled me in. The very first chapter had me hooked, and from that point on I couldn't stop reading. The mystery surrounding Alice's father, combined with the paranormal elements, kept me constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
I really enjoyed watching Alice navigate everything that was thrown at her. Her journey felt emotional and believable, and I found myself rooting for her as she uncovered the truth about her family, herself, and the world around her.
I also appreciated the romance woven throughout the story. It never overshadowed the main plot, but instead added an extra layer of emotion and connection that made me even more invested in the characters.
This book was absolutely incredible! From the very beginning, I was completely hooked. The paranormal elements were so well-written and immersive—they felt vivid, eerie, and perfectly balanced without ever being overwhelming. And the character development? So good. Watching each character grow and unravel added so much depth and made it impossible not to get attached.
But what really stood out was the plot—it just kept thickening in the best way possible. Every chapter raised the stakes, added new twists, and had me genuinely on the edge of my seat. I kept thinking I knew what was coming, and I was wrong every time. I could not put this book down!
It’s thrilling, intense, and completely captivating—one of those reads that pulls you in and refuses to let go. I’m still thinking about it!
Even though I went into this ARC without knowing exactly what to expect, the vividly dark atmosphere completely reeled me in. The world-building is gorgeously atmospheric. my favorite part was the magic system. Centered around herbs, blood, and ghosts, it is one of the most unique systems I’ve come across thus far. It was fascinating to see it all come together. I absolutely loved the characters and their development. They felt incredibly relatable, and their decision-making was entirely natural. There were times I truly didn’t see the plot twists coming, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Although i wish the some characters had diffrent outcomes. i still enjoyed this read. If you enjoy gothic paranormal fantasy or dark academia, you may enjoy reading this book.
Thank you J.P Flynn for the ARC! I devoured this book. I was hooked from the beginning with what was happening, the horrors and feelings. It kept me intrigued the entire way through the book. It involved a lot of characters, but it never took away from the story and I loved learning about each one and their different stories and how they all connected in some form. J.P wrote the feelings so good that Inwas literally feeling them with the characters. I felt the anxiety, the panic, the loneliness and fear, the helplessness and everything in between. The ending of this book, from about 95% to the finish, it broke my heart and I cried. but that last sentence, healed. I recommend reading this book!
I love a good paranormal romance, and this one leans a little more into horror and I'm a huge fan of that! I want to see more horror/romance!
So Alice has has her world absolutely destroyed with the disappearance of her father and the suspicious activity around campus. You can really feel her frustration and her heartbreak, and her responses are real and make sense for her background. She's just a regular person in a terrible situation, she's not some badass heroine. I appreciate that SO MUCH!
The romance is more of a subplot here, but it hits just the same. And I actually like the direction the author takes it!
Overall this is a creepy, eerie read full of mystery vibes! Thanks for the ARC!
Reading The Immortal's Assistant was like stepping into a familiar world that is just slightly off, in all the best ways. The beginning feels a little stilted, but there is an explanation as to why as you continue reading, so don't let it throw you off!
Alice is a complicated character who doesn't realize she's complicated until she has to face where her steps have lead her. And as I yelled at J.P. when I finished "Well that was heartbreaking as fuck, and I bawled! Fantastic story! Is it going to be standalone?"
It will, in fact, be a series!
If you love dark academia and ghost stories O suggest you get this in your hands ASAP!
I enjoyed the writing style. The pacing flowed well, and the prose was easy to sink into. One of my favorite things was that the FMC stayed human. Her confusion, anxiety, and constant questions felt realistic considering everything happening around her. I appreciated that she wasn t handed superpowers overnight. I would have loved the horror elements to be a little darker and teh creatures a bit more unsettling....but that's mostly because I like my horror extra creepy
I have a talent for finding the most morally questionable character in a book and immediately wanting their entire backstory and this one was no exception. I want a prequel
I loved this story! It had me hooked from the first chapter. I loved that it started off with what appears to be normal reality and then takes off in the paranormal. It kinda reminded me of supernatural :)
Alice is a relatable character in that learning about her dad and the paranormal sounds crazy. I couldn’t even imagine how I would feel if any of this story were real. Probably try and hide in a corner somewhere lol Alice doesn’t do that and shows courage and strength throughout this story.
This was an amazing story that kept me wanting more. Once I got into it, it was hard to put it down. Highly recommend this book!
The Immortal’s Assistant was a really unique read. It’s different from most of what is currently being published in the fantasy world. To me, it had a similar vibe to Shadowhunters and I really enjoyed it. I struggled a bit with the writing pace at times, but it truly was a very good read from start to finish. The ending made me want to throw my phone across the room from shock, so if you like plot twists… this book is for you! Overall, I 100% recommend picking this book up if you’re looking for a unique fantasy with a great MMC and a FMC who isn’t a wallflower.
I received this book as an ARC and I am writing a review by my own choice. This book pulls you in immediately with a sense of urgency that you as the reader pick up on and want to learn about. Alice's dad is missing, and she can't find him anywhere. She is frantic trying to find him, but when she finally does, nothing is as it seems and her life is forever changed. I enjoyed the unique magic and story, and the author did a great job at building the world, the history of it all and the suspense. I will definitely be reading the next books to see what comes next.
Unfortunately I DNF’d this at 20%. I really tried to get into the story, and even put it down and came back later hoping it was just the mood I was in initially. Alas, this just wasn’t for me. The writing style made it difficult for me to get into the story, and the FMC irked me from the first chapter. All that to say, it just wasn’t for me, but I still recommend giving a new author a chance.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
This was an absolutely phenomenal debut! I was hooked from the very beginning and grew to love the characters dearly. Alice's emotional journey gripped my heart from the first chapter and I was so invested. This book has everything I want: a slow burn romance, a ridiculously intriguing mystery, and characters that make me want to pledge eternal allegiance to them. That's not even mentioning the delicious spookiness the author captures. This is THE book I'm recommending to people this year. And I'm dying to see what else the author has in store for us next!!
I absolutely loved how this story blended the fantasy in with the realism ✨ The beginning caught my attention really quick with the panic that Alice felt searching for her father and it just got even better from there. There are several characters that you will get introduced to, but she did a good job at keeping everyone separate and giving them personalities that shine through the pages 📃✨ Can’t wait for news of book 2!