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The Last Immortal #1
The Last Immortal
Gothic action-adventure transported to twenty-first-century London
The first installment of a brand new adventure series, The Last Immortal combines the action of Percy Jackson with the mystery-solving of Sherlock, and a superhero cast reminiscent of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
In Victorian London, 13-year-old Luke dreams of joining the Immortals, a supernatural crime-fighting squad, founded by his father, the infamous Victor Frankenstein. But when Luke secretly follows the Immortals on a mission against the resurrected Dark Pharaoh Sanakhte, he is killed.
Luke is preserved for 160 years before he is reanimated in the modern day by his childhood friend Evelyn and her father, Jonathan Harker—both vampires. His reconstructed body is fitted with cybernetic upgrades that make him an incredible athlete and fighter. And he’ll need them, because Sanakhte and his followers have returned.
Now Luke and his friends must reunite the scattered Immortals: Raziel, a living gargoyle; Aurora Cage, a werewolf bounty hunter; and Dodger, a Victorian pickpocket cursed with eternal life. But to destroy the Dark Pharaoh, Luke must first uncover a terrible secret hidden in his past . . .
The first installment of a brand new adventure series, The Last Immortal combines the action of Percy Jackson with the mystery-solving of Sherlock, and a superhero cast reminiscent of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
In Victorian London, 13-year-old Luke dreams of joining the Immortals, a supernatural crime-fighting squad, founded by his father, the infamous Victor Frankenstein. But when Luke secretly follows the Immortals on a mission against the resurrected Dark Pharaoh Sanakhte, he is killed.
Luke is preserved for 160 years before he is reanimated in the modern day by his childhood friend Evelyn and her father, Jonathan Harker—both vampires. His reconstructed body is fitted with cybernetic upgrades that make him an incredible athlete and fighter. And he’ll need them, because Sanakhte and his followers have returned.
Now Luke and his friends must reunite the scattered Immortals: Raziel, a living gargoyle; Aurora Cage, a werewolf bounty hunter; and Dodger, a Victorian pickpocket cursed with eternal life. But to destroy the Dark Pharaoh, Luke must first uncover a terrible secret hidden in his past . . .
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2016
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189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 8, 2017
The Last Immortal is a fantasy-historical fiction novel that is about a team of supernatural humanoid monsters whose purpose is to protect the earth from out of the ordinary threats.
During this book Marlowe highlights the conflicts between the Immortals and a cult of resurrected humans that follow a dark pharaoh.
This story takes place in modern day London. I think that this was a good choice of setting because most of the main protagonists originate in London and it also adds to the overall dark mood of the book.
Most characters in this book are well crafted but I feel that the antagonists need more development.
The Last Immortal is written in a very descriptive way giving a clear visual image all the way through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys descriptive fight sequences and is looking for a quick read.
What would have made this book better would be a more complex plot that leaves a reader on a cliff-hanger.
During this book Marlowe highlights the conflicts between the Immortals and a cult of resurrected humans that follow a dark pharaoh.
This story takes place in modern day London. I think that this was a good choice of setting because most of the main protagonists originate in London and it also adds to the overall dark mood of the book.
Most characters in this book are well crafted but I feel that the antagonists need more development.
The Last Immortal is written in a very descriptive way giving a clear visual image all the way through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys descriptive fight sequences and is looking for a quick read.
What would have made this book better would be a more complex plot that leaves a reader on a cliff-hanger.
December 7, 2015
A brilliant new voice in the 9-12 age group, perfect for your young readers who like a bit of old school horror
September 9, 2019
The Last Immortal
Author:Alex Marlowe
Publisher: The book was published by Hodder & Stoughton
Illustrator: Keron Ward
Audience: 10 years and older
Awards: The book was shortlisted for the Bolton Children's Fiction Award 2017
Themes: Fiction, fantasy, thriller magical realism
A brief summary of the plot
Does the book fit into a genre, like mystery or romance, and why?
The book portrays many genres through out each chapter. Not romance as such but there are some chapters were the author shows strong connections between certain characters. The book involves mystery but in a way that the reader wouldn’t expect. Truths or secrets that have nothing to do with the main plot of the book. This keeps the reader hooked as they are hungry for more revelations and information on dark pasts. Look at the information above for more specific genres.
When and where does the action in the book take place? Does the author do a good job of
making you feel like you are there? How?
The book starts in a empty museum, at night 160 years ago. The vibe of the place is old, creepy and full of mummies who want to kill you (the author describes it so well you feel like you are that character, it’s relatable). The author describes it by using descriptive smilies, personification, metaphors, adjectives and other clever descriptive terms. Terms like ‘crumbling stone pillars’ are used to give the reader the indication that it is very run down and old. When Luke dies by the hand of the mummies the author uses powerful language that makes you feel really sorry for them and their family. When he is resurrected as an immortal the author shows Luke’s emotions, towards the mummy who killed him, later in the book when they read his diary. Luke’s thoughts are very relatable and persuasive which makes the reader instantly agree with him and feel like that character. The author make you know what feels like to be in his position. This makes you feel like you are the character which makes the book and setting way more dramatic and life threatening.
The Book’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Are the main characters believable? Do you know anyone like them? Does the author
adequately describe them?
All the characters in the book are very believable.They get annoyed about the same things anyone would hate and have relatable pain and heartbreak after the death of someone they loved. Each character have different complex/layered emotions. This means that they remind you if so many people. The reader can see different characteristics of so many people that they see in their everyday lives.
What do you like or dislike about the author’s writing style? That is, do you like the way the
author uses words?
The author uses words to their advantage. Formulating the words to make the reader feel fear, heartbreak and loss very powerfully. However this is not always a positive. I thoroughly enjoyed this powerful edge and how well dark pasts were described, but this is not everyone’s cup of tea. This can be upsetting for some people or just to realistic and overcoming. It depends if you are into that genre or not. The themes can be quite dark so if you are to read this book (I highly suggest this) then be prepared and take the genres into account.
Personal Response
I really enjoyed this book and find it hard to fault. The emotions were all spot on and powerful and you felt sorry for all the characters. You really felt like you were in the book and the characters choices would affect you. The places felt so real and scary that you found yourself jumping every time you turned a corner. The cover is so eye catching and hard to leave on the shelf. It is one of my favourite books and I highly suggest it.
Author:Alex Marlowe
Publisher: The book was published by Hodder & Stoughton
Illustrator: Keron Ward
Audience: 10 years and older
Awards: The book was shortlisted for the Bolton Children's Fiction Award 2017
Themes: Fiction, fantasy, thriller magical realism
A brief summary of the plot
Does the book fit into a genre, like mystery or romance, and why?
The book portrays many genres through out each chapter. Not romance as such but there are some chapters were the author shows strong connections between certain characters. The book involves mystery but in a way that the reader wouldn’t expect. Truths or secrets that have nothing to do with the main plot of the book. This keeps the reader hooked as they are hungry for more revelations and information on dark pasts. Look at the information above for more specific genres.
When and where does the action in the book take place? Does the author do a good job of
making you feel like you are there? How?
The book starts in a empty museum, at night 160 years ago. The vibe of the place is old, creepy and full of mummies who want to kill you (the author describes it so well you feel like you are that character, it’s relatable). The author describes it by using descriptive smilies, personification, metaphors, adjectives and other clever descriptive terms. Terms like ‘crumbling stone pillars’ are used to give the reader the indication that it is very run down and old. When Luke dies by the hand of the mummies the author uses powerful language that makes you feel really sorry for them and their family. When he is resurrected as an immortal the author shows Luke’s emotions, towards the mummy who killed him, later in the book when they read his diary. Luke’s thoughts are very relatable and persuasive which makes the reader instantly agree with him and feel like that character. The author make you know what feels like to be in his position. This makes you feel like you are the character which makes the book and setting way more dramatic and life threatening.
The Book’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Are the main characters believable? Do you know anyone like them? Does the author
adequately describe them?
All the characters in the book are very believable.They get annoyed about the same things anyone would hate and have relatable pain and heartbreak after the death of someone they loved. Each character have different complex/layered emotions. This means that they remind you if so many people. The reader can see different characteristics of so many people that they see in their everyday lives.
What do you like or dislike about the author’s writing style? That is, do you like the way the
author uses words?
The author uses words to their advantage. Formulating the words to make the reader feel fear, heartbreak and loss very powerfully. However this is not always a positive. I thoroughly enjoyed this powerful edge and how well dark pasts were described, but this is not everyone’s cup of tea. This can be upsetting for some people or just to realistic and overcoming. It depends if you are into that genre or not. The themes can be quite dark so if you are to read this book (I highly suggest this) then be prepared and take the genres into account.
Personal Response
I really enjoyed this book and find it hard to fault. The emotions were all spot on and powerful and you felt sorry for all the characters. You really felt like you were in the book and the characters choices would affect you. The places felt so real and scary that you found yourself jumping every time you turned a corner. The cover is so eye catching and hard to leave on the shelf. It is one of my favourite books and I highly suggest it.
September 8, 2021
What I liked:
- the variety of monsters
- the twist (though I saw it coming a mile away)
- descriptions of emotion
- action-packed, never a dull moment
- Egyptian mythology
What I did not like:
- the twist (saw it coming a mile away, i have neutral feelings about this point)
- the rushed transition between Luke’s first death and his first reanimation
- ability to add certain skills to Luke, feels like he could grow to be too powerful
recommend for teenagers who like action + monsters + mythology.
- the variety of monsters
- the twist (though I saw it coming a mile away)
- descriptions of emotion
- action-packed, never a dull moment
- Egyptian mythology
What I did not like:
- the twist (saw it coming a mile away, i have neutral feelings about this point)
- the rushed transition between Luke’s first death and his first reanimation
- ability to add certain skills to Luke, feels like he could grow to be too powerful
recommend for teenagers who like action + monsters + mythology.
July 12, 2018
I don't know what to say. It was a very cool book, except I feel like I was 4 years to old for it. If I had read this at the age of 12 it would have been amazing. However, reading it at the age of 16 made it slightly to soft and not drastic enough. I was missing the really scary and exciting.
However, I liked the idea and the different characters and the plot. I especially liked the secret vampire elite club in London. I thought that was an amazing idea.
However, I liked the idea and the different characters and the plot. I especially liked the secret vampire elite club in London. I thought that was an amazing idea.
March 8, 2024
Honestly, I really love the way the author brings back old classical characters or "monsters" and ties them into the story. It is an incredibly action-packed novel that hooks your right from the start and keeps you turning the page to read more. I love that I couldn't put this book down! I am looking forward to reading more like this!
January 8, 2016
What is this about?: It’s about my love for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to the point that I requested a very, very, YA (9-12) book. Look, I am a sucker for the right blurb. And, the blurb and the book does deliver.
What else is it about?: A cursed Pharaoh, death and family.
Should you read?: You should read this with your kid. It’s good fun.
I’m a sucker for the right blurb. And, I have a deep and abiding love for the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, which yes it’s not particularly brilliant, but it’s not like I care. The attraction of a wealth of different literary characters coming together to fight evil was just too good tor resist. (… Admit it, someone else out there loved The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, right?)
And years later it still is for me.
Luke, like every other kid, wants to be involved with the exciting stuff is father is embroiled in, which if your father is Victor Frankenstein, you know where he’s coming from. The book begins with a bang, letting us know how much Luke wants to be part of The Immortals, a society consistency of different (literary) immortal characters fighting the good fight against evil.
And, in those first chapters, Luke is killed. No rest for the wicked here. Fast-foward a 150-years and Luke is awake, alone in the world because of his father’s death, and the Immortals, the society which was a constant in his life disbanded. Only Jonathan Harker and his daughter Evelyn are around, and that’s because they finished his father’s work in bringing him back.
So begins Luke’s acclimatisation to modern life and his new body, not to mention the continuation of his almost frenemy relationship with Evelyn as she helps him understand what he can do. These scenes are so much fun, and Marlowe has a gift for writing action, bringing the complex scenes to life.
Training montage over, things get hairy when they discover the cult that caused Luke’s death is still around, searching for a heart of a Pharaoh. More than a couple of times, I got serious The Mummy vibes here.
Eventually, comes readers’ thorough introduction to the rest of The Immortals as Luke and Evelyn hunt them down to bring the band back together. This part is just downright fun, and any kid (or adult) will enjoy it.
One thing that did stick out to me, was that the bulk of this book is geared towards Luke finding out about the future and himself, and finding the rest of The Immortals, all in an effort to stop this cult — which, given as it’s supposed to be the main storyline sort of got lost a bit in everything else until it was tied up in the end. It might’ve been better to focus on Luke and his relationships, as well as the other Immortals more.
That said, the 9-12 years age group is going to love this!
What else is it about?: A cursed Pharaoh, death and family.
Should you read?: You should read this with your kid. It’s good fun.
I’m a sucker for the right blurb. And, I have a deep and abiding love for the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, which yes it’s not particularly brilliant, but it’s not like I care. The attraction of a wealth of different literary characters coming together to fight evil was just too good tor resist. (… Admit it, someone else out there loved The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, right?)
And years later it still is for me.
Luke, like every other kid, wants to be involved with the exciting stuff is father is embroiled in, which if your father is Victor Frankenstein, you know where he’s coming from. The book begins with a bang, letting us know how much Luke wants to be part of The Immortals, a society consistency of different (literary) immortal characters fighting the good fight against evil.
And, in those first chapters, Luke is killed. No rest for the wicked here. Fast-foward a 150-years and Luke is awake, alone in the world because of his father’s death, and the Immortals, the society which was a constant in his life disbanded. Only Jonathan Harker and his daughter Evelyn are around, and that’s because they finished his father’s work in bringing him back.
So begins Luke’s acclimatisation to modern life and his new body, not to mention the continuation of his almost frenemy relationship with Evelyn as she helps him understand what he can do. These scenes are so much fun, and Marlowe has a gift for writing action, bringing the complex scenes to life.
Training montage over, things get hairy when they discover the cult that caused Luke’s death is still around, searching for a heart of a Pharaoh. More than a couple of times, I got serious The Mummy vibes here.
Eventually, comes readers’ thorough introduction to the rest of The Immortals as Luke and Evelyn hunt them down to bring the band back together. This part is just downright fun, and any kid (or adult) will enjoy it.
One thing that did stick out to me, was that the bulk of this book is geared towards Luke finding out about the future and himself, and finding the rest of The Immortals, all in an effort to stop this cult — which, given as it’s supposed to be the main storyline sort of got lost a bit in everything else until it was tied up in the end. It might’ve been better to focus on Luke and his relationships, as well as the other Immortals more.
That said, the 9-12 years age group is going to love this!
March 7, 2016
Do you enjoy your heroes to have a touch of the supernatural and a hint of Victorian manners, but also like a familiar setting with lots of gadgets and fighting? Well, this book is for you. Mixing a Victorian bunch of supernatural crime-fighters with modern day London, this story is a fast, action-packed adventure that gleefully blends modern technology with ancient mythology and throws in a bit of horror along the way.
Luke is an average teenage boy who happens to have an extraordinary father with a handful of supernatural friends. It’s not surprising that Luke wants to help, since he’s obsessed with the Immortals’ adventures. But when things go horribly wrong, everything changes for Luke – and he wakes up 160 years later. However, once the initial shock wears off, Luke proves himself to be a gutsy, capable kid who revels in his new powers, even if he struggles with his new temper. Not that I blamed him for losing his temper with Evelyn a time or two, since she did deserve it.
I enjoyed the early scenes of Luke trying to adjust to the new world he’s been thrust into. There’s some talk of loss and change, but mostly he gets on with things, learning about his new body and adjusting to his new skills. Throughout it all, Jonathan and Evelyn Harker are there to help and guide him. Well, Jonathan is mostly supportive while Evelyn is pushy and a little bit unkind at times, but when she’s not being prickly and Luke isn’t angry, they do work well together.
Alongside Luke and the Harkers, the team of Immortals is an interesting bunch. Gargoyle Raziel is my favourite, but I quite liked werewolf Aurora too, while Dodger provides plenty of fun. There’s a nice mix of strengths and weakness across the group, and I found them fun to read about.
The action comes thick and fast throughout as the heroes battle against the Dark Pharaoh’s creepy minions. It’s all nicely Gothic, with lots of sneaking around, rainy dark nights, suspicious shadows and enemies who won’t stay dead. It’s exciting and a bit scary, with a little bit of investigative work and a few important secrets, all of which combine to make this a gripping read.
Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and superheroes, this book is mainly aimed at boys but with a few well-written female characters to give girls something to cheer for. If you like your books mysterious and exciting, then give this a go – or if you know of a young reader with a taste for Gothic adventures, then point them towards this. It’s a promising start to this series – I look forward to seeing where the Immortals’ adventures take them next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Luke is an average teenage boy who happens to have an extraordinary father with a handful of supernatural friends. It’s not surprising that Luke wants to help, since he’s obsessed with the Immortals’ adventures. But when things go horribly wrong, everything changes for Luke – and he wakes up 160 years later. However, once the initial shock wears off, Luke proves himself to be a gutsy, capable kid who revels in his new powers, even if he struggles with his new temper. Not that I blamed him for losing his temper with Evelyn a time or two, since she did deserve it.
I enjoyed the early scenes of Luke trying to adjust to the new world he’s been thrust into. There’s some talk of loss and change, but mostly he gets on with things, learning about his new body and adjusting to his new skills. Throughout it all, Jonathan and Evelyn Harker are there to help and guide him. Well, Jonathan is mostly supportive while Evelyn is pushy and a little bit unkind at times, but when she’s not being prickly and Luke isn’t angry, they do work well together.
Alongside Luke and the Harkers, the team of Immortals is an interesting bunch. Gargoyle Raziel is my favourite, but I quite liked werewolf Aurora too, while Dodger provides plenty of fun. There’s a nice mix of strengths and weakness across the group, and I found them fun to read about.
The action comes thick and fast throughout as the heroes battle against the Dark Pharaoh’s creepy minions. It’s all nicely Gothic, with lots of sneaking around, rainy dark nights, suspicious shadows and enemies who won’t stay dead. It’s exciting and a bit scary, with a little bit of investigative work and a few important secrets, all of which combine to make this a gripping read.
Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and superheroes, this book is mainly aimed at boys but with a few well-written female characters to give girls something to cheer for. If you like your books mysterious and exciting, then give this a go – or if you know of a young reader with a taste for Gothic adventures, then point them towards this. It’s a promising start to this series – I look forward to seeing where the Immortals’ adventures take them next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
January 17, 2017
3 stars.
A modern Gothic urban fantasy that middle grade or lower YA age groups will enjoy, drawing on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Egyptian pharaohs and werewolf and vampire lore.
Luke, son of Victor Frankenstein, has always wanted to join his father’s band of supernatural police: The Immortals. But when a rash decision has him killed, preserved and awakened 150 years later, he has no choice but to reassemble The Immortals to stop the Dark Pharaoh Sanakhte.
Though this book is written to appeal to a younger reader than I, I still found the themes of family and loss touching and realistic. Luke was an energetic and brave protagonist, who felt and dealt with his emotions realistically. I enjoyed the dynamics between The Immortals. Evelyn reminded me of a young Isabelle Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments series and I liked Dodger as street performer-slash-pickpocket a la Gavroche from Les Mis. Raziel and Aurora were great older additions to the cast and rounded out the ages nicely.
With an apt cover, tightly paced action sequences and intriguing mysteries, The Last Immortal will appeal to the lower YA set of readers looking for a fast, Gothic-inspired read.
*eARC received from Hachette Children's Books Australia and LittleBrown UK via Netgalley.*
A modern Gothic urban fantasy that middle grade or lower YA age groups will enjoy, drawing on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Egyptian pharaohs and werewolf and vampire lore.
Luke, son of Victor Frankenstein, has always wanted to join his father’s band of supernatural police: The Immortals. But when a rash decision has him killed, preserved and awakened 150 years later, he has no choice but to reassemble The Immortals to stop the Dark Pharaoh Sanakhte.
Though this book is written to appeal to a younger reader than I, I still found the themes of family and loss touching and realistic. Luke was an energetic and brave protagonist, who felt and dealt with his emotions realistically. I enjoyed the dynamics between The Immortals. Evelyn reminded me of a young Isabelle Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments series and I liked Dodger as street performer-slash-pickpocket a la Gavroche from Les Mis. Raziel and Aurora were great older additions to the cast and rounded out the ages nicely.
With an apt cover, tightly paced action sequences and intriguing mysteries, The Last Immortal will appeal to the lower YA set of readers looking for a fast, Gothic-inspired read.
*eARC received from Hachette Children's Books Australia and LittleBrown UK via Netgalley.*
February 2, 2016
A great read for fans of comic book action heroes! This was just a little different. Great for the 10-13 age range, this action packed story will appeal to readers of paranormal action mysteries. Loved it! Had kick-butt male & female characters as well as a good strong secondary characters. Vampires, a werewolf, a gargoyle, a street urchin, and the walking formerly dead band together to save the world. Great concept!
May 23, 2017
I actually genuinely liked this read. It's a bit different from what I usually read but it was given as a gift. I was secretly pining for Luke and Evelyn to have a little romance action but I guess it's okay to not have romance in every book.
Although, I feel like Marlowe could have gone into more depth about the characters and why they ended up the way they were. I was very curious about it. But in all it was a great read
Although, I feel like Marlowe could have gone into more depth about the characters and why they ended up the way they were. I was very curious about it. But in all it was a great read
January 6, 2017
This was a fun little middle grade romp. It's sort of a mashup of Frankenstein with Dracula and Oliver Twist meets The League of Extraordinary Gentleman with a dash of Wolverine thrown in for fun. It's well written and kept me turning the pages. I'm giving it 3 stars because I think some of it could have been tightened up a bit and a few less cliches.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews