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Ageless
" Ageless is a debut for the ages and Inman is a talented new writer for readers to watch out for." ― Examiner.com
Imagine that you never aged ― that you would forever remain young and vital, impervious to the ravages of time. For Alessandra, a woman whose genetic code keeps her eternally young―perhaps even making her immortal―this fantasy is a reality. But it's not as idyllic as it seems.
Her rare condition only leaves her feeling isolated and strange, fearful of what her circumstances really mean for her future. And Alessandra has every reason to be afraid. After many years in captivity as the subject of Nazi scientist experimentations in an underground lab, she's haunted by the memories of her exploitation and desperate to keep her identity a secret. This proves to be exceptionally difficult when impassioned CIA agent Mark Richards develops an unhealthy obsession with capturing her.
Ageless is a thrilling journey that spans decades and asks the If you could live forever, would you want to?
Imagine that you never aged ― that you would forever remain young and vital, impervious to the ravages of time. For Alessandra, a woman whose genetic code keeps her eternally young―perhaps even making her immortal―this fantasy is a reality. But it's not as idyllic as it seems.
Her rare condition only leaves her feeling isolated and strange, fearful of what her circumstances really mean for her future. And Alessandra has every reason to be afraid. After many years in captivity as the subject of Nazi scientist experimentations in an underground lab, she's haunted by the memories of her exploitation and desperate to keep her identity a secret. This proves to be exceptionally difficult when impassioned CIA agent Mark Richards develops an unhealthy obsession with capturing her.
Ageless is a thrilling journey that spans decades and asks the If you could live forever, would you want to?
- GenresScience FictionFiction
280 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
3 people are currently reading
1476 people want to read
About the author
Paul Inman
3 books43 followersPaul Inman has had a passion for creating all of his life. He first began flexing his creative muscles in high school and took his love of storytelling across many platforms, including all genres of music, short films, podcasts, and different types of writing.
In his debut novel, Ageless, he dives headlong into an adventure spanning multiple decades across past, present, and future. Ageless is one of the winning entries in the Sword and Laser Collection Contest from Inkshares Crowdfunding Publishing.
As a graduate of Coastal Carolina University, he holds a BA in Music Performance and an MA in Teaching. He currently teaches chorus at Myrtle Beach Middle School and lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with his amazing wife, Kim, and beautiful daughter, Parker.
In his debut novel, Ageless, he dives headlong into an adventure spanning multiple decades across past, present, and future. Ageless is one of the winning entries in the Sword and Laser Collection Contest from Inkshares Crowdfunding Publishing.
As a graduate of Coastal Carolina University, he holds a BA in Music Performance and an MA in Teaching. He currently teaches chorus at Myrtle Beach Middle School and lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with his amazing wife, Kim, and beautiful daughter, Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 11, 2016
My goodness this book was hard to put down. I liked the premise of Ageless and Paul Inman did a fantastic job of making me want to find out what happens. Sadly, I didn't connect with the main character, Aless, as much as I would have liked, and I was frustrated by the clueless CIA agents insisting on doggedly chasing Aless. I really wanted to like the characters in this book, but they weren't developed enough for me.
While reading this book, I felt like the story was building up to an ending that would resolve things and would leave me with some hope for the main character's future. Sadly, this did not happen and I was left disappointed. However, I am interested to see what Paul Inman will write in the future. I think he had a great idea with Ageless.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkshares for the ARC.
While reading this book, I felt like the story was building up to an ending that would resolve things and would leave me with some hope for the main character's future. Sadly, this did not happen and I was left disappointed. However, I am interested to see what Paul Inman will write in the future. I think he had a great idea with Ageless.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkshares for the ARC.
March 30, 2016
And the crowd goes wild! Ageless is an Inkshares production, meaning that hundreds of people voted this book into existence. And with good reason, the hook is irresistible to we ephemeral folk who shuffle off our mortal coil. (Or should I go with 'out, out brief candle,' even Shakespeare knew mortality was a dead end.)
Aless been on the run for her whole life, living in the shadows, from the day she was liberated from an underground lab. The Nazis had her, the CIA wants her. Ageless careens from decade to decade, and characters grow old and die while Aless is forced to hide her secret from everyone. Will she ever be able to stop running?
Filled with surprises of the 'wow' sort, there's even a little romance. (There's also a scene in a lab the squeamish may want to skim. Fair warning.) This crowdfunded debut book, and winner of the Sword & Laser Collection Contest, is a fresh take on a ageless theme.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aless been on the run for her whole life, living in the shadows, from the day she was liberated from an underground lab. The Nazis had her, the CIA wants her. Ageless careens from decade to decade, and characters grow old and die while Aless is forced to hide her secret from everyone. Will she ever be able to stop running?
Filled with surprises of the 'wow' sort, there's even a little romance. (There's also a scene in a lab the squeamish may want to skim. Fair warning.) This crowdfunded debut book, and winner of the Sword & Laser Collection Contest, is a fresh take on a ageless theme.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2016
Ageless starts off feeling like a noir piece. It's not, not really. Nor is it straightforwardly science-fiction. It's not an action-adventure-spy novel, or a somewhat out-of-fashion alternate universe story.
Instead it blends elements of all of the above.
The premise is not an unfamiliar one, the Escaped Nazi Experiment. But the writing is gripping and not unrealistic. If it's noir, its modern noir, in all of it's Jason Bourne splendor. Inman's pacing is slow and deliberate, keeping you following along, waiting, itching for a resolution that is always just out of reach.
To be honest, this isnt really my genre. Presented as science fiction, it really does read more like a mainstream action-adventure piece, despite it's spec-fic plotline. It'll be a great treat for those who enjoy both genres, but SpaceOpera or tech-talk lovers might want to give this one a miss.
Ageless was provided to me for review by NetGalley.com
Instead it blends elements of all of the above.
The premise is not an unfamiliar one, the Escaped Nazi Experiment. But the writing is gripping and not unrealistic. If it's noir, its modern noir, in all of it's Jason Bourne splendor. Inman's pacing is slow and deliberate, keeping you following along, waiting, itching for a resolution that is always just out of reach.
To be honest, this isnt really my genre. Presented as science fiction, it really does read more like a mainstream action-adventure piece, despite it's spec-fic plotline. It'll be a great treat for those who enjoy both genres, but SpaceOpera or tech-talk lovers might want to give this one a miss.
Ageless was provided to me for review by NetGalley.com
April 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this. As a person who loves to think about what being immortal would be like, I was instantly drawn into the concept of the book. Of course... this highlights just how much everyone would want that. Unless you're the person with it. Heh. I'll have to update my own dreams of making sure that everyone has it instead of just me.
I like how Aless, through all the hopping in the story, gets her views on relationships as everyone dies from old age around her and how that would affect a person.
For me, I think the biggest selling point of the book also sparks your own imagination. What would you do in the shoes of Aless?
Powerful concept. Engaging Characters. Pretty much everything you want in a book that was a winner in the Sword and Laser contest.
I like how Aless, through all the hopping in the story, gets her views on relationships as everyone dies from old age around her and how that would affect a person.
For me, I think the biggest selling point of the book also sparks your own imagination. What would you do in the shoes of Aless?
Powerful concept. Engaging Characters. Pretty much everything you want in a book that was a winner in the Sword and Laser contest.
June 12, 2019
A psychological thriller during Nazi Germany when a woman seems to have eternal youth. But has this condition become her prison? After being a human guinea pig and tested upon is there anyone she can truly trust?
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
June 18, 2016
We often try to classify writing by its elemental genre, the thing at the heart of the text that drives or emotional attachment to the story. These aren’t things like “fantasy,” “science fiction,” or “slipstream”; rather, it’s mystery, adventure, wonder, horror, relationship, and the like that connect us, on a human level, to what we read.
At a first glance, Ageless seems to be a combination of mystery and wonder: we have the big “what if” of wonder— what if a person aged so slowly that they were essentially immortal?— and the puzzle-piece arrangement of our leap into the story, immediately eliciting questions of “how” that start off a mystery.
But as Ageless progresses, it becomes clear that it is a character-driven story, unfolding across generations, and dealing with fundamental questions of love and loss, and the limits of human kindness and cruelty. It is a book about relationships.
It’s a good book, and it tells its story well, jumping back and forth across time, building a picture of how one (ostensibly endless) life can touch others, and the ripple effect that flows through the years as a result. Perhaps it was the nazi experimentation, or the conflicted emotional relationships I built with the cast as I read, but Ageless made me think at length about the chance meetings that have had a lasting impact on my life, and the events of the past that inform so many pieces of my life, in ways great and subtle. I think also about the monumental, global-scale events, like the holocaust, the transistor, and atomic bomb, in whose wake all human life is altered, the ripples more like tidal waves pushing us toward the future.
The climactic moment at the end of Ageless is intended to be (I imagine,) tragic, but I felt for Alessandra in that moment. She had dealt with enough. It was time. It was tragic, yes, but there was also release.
A peculiar way to relate to a character, perhaps, but that’s the result of the theoretical exercise that is Ageless. What would it be like to be ostensibly immortal? A life punctuated by fear and loss, mistrust and bitter solitude. Death is a grand unifier. To be excluded from it, while a utopian dream on the one hand, strips one of the basic elements of basic humanity away.
Ageless a compelling adventure populated with dynamic characters, and it’s thought provoking. Books don’t get much better than that.
Ageless is available on Amazon and on Inkshares.com
At a first glance, Ageless seems to be a combination of mystery and wonder: we have the big “what if” of wonder— what if a person aged so slowly that they were essentially immortal?— and the puzzle-piece arrangement of our leap into the story, immediately eliciting questions of “how” that start off a mystery.
But as Ageless progresses, it becomes clear that it is a character-driven story, unfolding across generations, and dealing with fundamental questions of love and loss, and the limits of human kindness and cruelty. It is a book about relationships.
It’s a good book, and it tells its story well, jumping back and forth across time, building a picture of how one (ostensibly endless) life can touch others, and the ripple effect that flows through the years as a result. Perhaps it was the nazi experimentation, or the conflicted emotional relationships I built with the cast as I read, but Ageless made me think at length about the chance meetings that have had a lasting impact on my life, and the events of the past that inform so many pieces of my life, in ways great and subtle. I think also about the monumental, global-scale events, like the holocaust, the transistor, and atomic bomb, in whose wake all human life is altered, the ripples more like tidal waves pushing us toward the future.
The climactic moment at the end of Ageless is intended to be (I imagine,) tragic, but I felt for Alessandra in that moment. She had dealt with enough. It was time. It was tragic, yes, but there was also release.
A peculiar way to relate to a character, perhaps, but that’s the result of the theoretical exercise that is Ageless. What would it be like to be ostensibly immortal? A life punctuated by fear and loss, mistrust and bitter solitude. Death is a grand unifier. To be excluded from it, while a utopian dream on the one hand, strips one of the basic elements of basic humanity away.
Ageless a compelling adventure populated with dynamic characters, and it’s thought provoking. Books don’t get much better than that.
Ageless is available on Amazon and on Inkshares.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2016
Review posted on: Ourkidsmom.com
I don’t know about you, but my Summer-time is filled with books. Whether it’s lounging by the pool, in the car on the way to vacation, or just relaxing in the air conditioning, you can bet I probably have a book in my hand. My latest read was a book called Ageless by author Paul Inman.
Ageless tells the story of a girl names Alessandra Satori, who was the test subject of Nazi eugenics experimentation during World War 2. The interesting thing about Alessandra (also known as Aless) is that she has a genetic anomaly that makes her “ageless,” hence the title of the book. The memories of her time as a test subject haunt her, but something else she can never seem to escape is CIA agent Mark Richards. Ever since case number 110102 -involving the girl who appears to never age- landed on Richard’s desk, Alessandra is all he could think about. His life obsession turns into finding and capturing her. As Aless both figuratively and literally runs and hides from her past, she is left to ponder the question, is eternal life a gift or a curse?
When I first picked up this book, I thought it sounded thrilling. After reading the first few chapters I was not disappointed, and it seemed like I couldn’t read the pages fast enough (yes I did stay up until 2:00 A.M. one morning to finish it). One thing that I would critique about the book is the way the chapters are set up. The chapters bounce backward and forward on the timeline of the story, which can make things hard to keep up with at times. With that being said, this book is totally worth the temporary confusion, especially because you get the hang of the time hopping as you progress through the book. Although I personally enjoyed this book, I would not recommend it to people who are squeamish. There are a couple of unnerving Nazi lab experiment parts that might make your toes curl.
All in all, I do recommend this book to anyone looking for a good page turner. The constant mystery behind Alessandra’s past and future is enough to make just about anybody love this sci-fi, action, and thriller mash-up. Comment below what your thoughts are on this book, and if you think it’s something you would be interested in reading too!
Read more at http://www.ourkidsmom.com/ageless/#R2...
I don’t know about you, but my Summer-time is filled with books. Whether it’s lounging by the pool, in the car on the way to vacation, or just relaxing in the air conditioning, you can bet I probably have a book in my hand. My latest read was a book called Ageless by author Paul Inman.
Ageless tells the story of a girl names Alessandra Satori, who was the test subject of Nazi eugenics experimentation during World War 2. The interesting thing about Alessandra (also known as Aless) is that she has a genetic anomaly that makes her “ageless,” hence the title of the book. The memories of her time as a test subject haunt her, but something else she can never seem to escape is CIA agent Mark Richards. Ever since case number 110102 -involving the girl who appears to never age- landed on Richard’s desk, Alessandra is all he could think about. His life obsession turns into finding and capturing her. As Aless both figuratively and literally runs and hides from her past, she is left to ponder the question, is eternal life a gift or a curse?
When I first picked up this book, I thought it sounded thrilling. After reading the first few chapters I was not disappointed, and it seemed like I couldn’t read the pages fast enough (yes I did stay up until 2:00 A.M. one morning to finish it). One thing that I would critique about the book is the way the chapters are set up. The chapters bounce backward and forward on the timeline of the story, which can make things hard to keep up with at times. With that being said, this book is totally worth the temporary confusion, especially because you get the hang of the time hopping as you progress through the book. Although I personally enjoyed this book, I would not recommend it to people who are squeamish. There are a couple of unnerving Nazi lab experiment parts that might make your toes curl.
All in all, I do recommend this book to anyone looking for a good page turner. The constant mystery behind Alessandra’s past and future is enough to make just about anybody love this sci-fi, action, and thriller mash-up. Comment below what your thoughts are on this book, and if you think it’s something you would be interested in reading too!
Read more at http://www.ourkidsmom.com/ageless/#R2...
November 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I thought that the characters were interesting and there were a few twists that I didn't expect. While each chapter covered a different point in time, I thought that I could still follow the story with the jumping around, time wise. I could see another book (sequel) about these characters, with the different time line chapters, there's still more detail that could be covered!
September 25, 2016
Full disclosure - author is a friend and I've slept in his spare room.
The non-linear structure of this novel is its best feature - honestly I wish there had been more time riddles to unravel. Inman keeps each character voice distinct while jumping from different setting and time period with strategic glee. Fans of Lost or late Claremont X-men will feel right at home in this piece. Tons of action, violence - a fair smattering of body horror, so be aware!
I really enjoyed the two main characters Aless and Mark - they make up the spine of the narrative, their cat and mouse interplay across the years. Dug it, loved it. However, I did not like the addition of Grey Chapman - he felt like an unnecessary 'window' POV character who took up screen time that could have gone to the much more interesting protagonist of Aless, hence the docked star.
I'm not a -giant- fan of the ending, even with the addition of the epilogue - but with a promised sequel on the horizon, I'm willing to withhold final judgement until the next adventure.
Come for the action, stay for the fascinating time-split plot structure - Aless' story is one worth unraveling.
The non-linear structure of this novel is its best feature - honestly I wish there had been more time riddles to unravel. Inman keeps each character voice distinct while jumping from different setting and time period with strategic glee. Fans of Lost or late Claremont X-men will feel right at home in this piece. Tons of action, violence - a fair smattering of body horror, so be aware!
I really enjoyed the two main characters Aless and Mark - they make up the spine of the narrative, their cat and mouse interplay across the years. Dug it, loved it. However, I did not like the addition of Grey Chapman - he felt like an unnecessary 'window' POV character who took up screen time that could have gone to the much more interesting protagonist of Aless, hence the docked star.
I'm not a -giant- fan of the ending, even with the addition of the epilogue - but with a promised sequel on the horizon, I'm willing to withhold final judgement until the next adventure.
Come for the action, stay for the fascinating time-split plot structure - Aless' story is one worth unraveling.
May 2, 2016
Inkshares and NetGalley have provided me with an electronic copy of Ageless, in exchange for an honest review.
Alessandra's genetic code keeps her eternally young, which frightens her. As she has been exploited in the past, Alessandra is desperate to keep her true identity hidden. More along the lines of hunting or stalking, Mark Richards has been searching for her for the last 36 years. Will Alessandra be able to evade capture and live some semblance of a normal life?
Ageless has a good premise, but the execution of the plot had me shaking my head. The constant time shifts, from past, to present, and back again, ruined the continuity of the story. It does create a heightened feeling of suspense, but that feeling is worthless when there is a sense of confusion over the whole story. I would have rather the author build suspense in another way, instead of resorting to the usual bag of tricks. Alessandra's story is compelling, but I found it difficult to connect to her character. This book was a miss for me, but might be interesting to readers who like books in this genre.
Alessandra's genetic code keeps her eternally young, which frightens her. As she has been exploited in the past, Alessandra is desperate to keep her true identity hidden. More along the lines of hunting or stalking, Mark Richards has been searching for her for the last 36 years. Will Alessandra be able to evade capture and live some semblance of a normal life?
Ageless has a good premise, but the execution of the plot had me shaking my head. The constant time shifts, from past, to present, and back again, ruined the continuity of the story. It does create a heightened feeling of suspense, but that feeling is worthless when there is a sense of confusion over the whole story. I would have rather the author build suspense in another way, instead of resorting to the usual bag of tricks. Alessandra's story is compelling, but I found it difficult to connect to her character. This book was a miss for me, but might be interesting to readers who like books in this genre.
May 22, 2016
An original and intriguing novel that explores the pursuit of immortality and the brutality of human medical experimentation. The main character's history is revealed slowly, through flashbacks and an intelligence investigation that has been passed down to a series of agents over time. The characters are engaging and have their own distinct voices, and the flashbacks are handled smoothly. This book respects the intelligence of the reader, and secrets reveal both answers and more questions. Readers will be tempted to read all night; savor it instead because when it is over, you will want more.
This book was provided to me as a pre-release copy bu the publisher.
This book was provided to me as a pre-release copy bu the publisher.
May 9, 2016
An Ageless (paper from Inkshares) person is chased for those trying to duplicate her abilities Alessandra was born in Italy in 1938 and taken by a Nazi laboratory on Sardonica. After being rescued by the allies, she escapes when she lands in America. Chased by the CIA by an agent and his nephew, she is aided through her long teenage growth period and by her quick healing. Paul Inman tells an intense tale that ranges from the nightmare of a Nazi lab, to the free world of 2028 with scenes flickering back and forth in time to tell a solid tale of a woman always on the run, and the agents obsessed with finding her. ExcellentReview printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
February 1, 2017
Inman's debut sci-fi/fantasy novel AGELESS asks the question -- If you could live forever, would you? Alessandra Sartori wasn't given that choice as a child, but she is forced to live with the consequences. Inman follows her struggles across the decades from 1943 to 2025 as she endeavors to evade the sinister forces arrayed against her when her secret becomes known. Brisk pacing keeps the reader engaged. The author’s willingness to delve into the darker aspects of mortality creates an undercurrent of menace and the unexpected ending provides a chilling climax.
August 9, 2020
Is living forever a curse or a blessing? For Aless it would've been better to be able to settle down somewhere and be able to live without the fear of being caught and experimented on for the rest of her life. She wasn't alone in her situation and yet she was often alone. It seems like a double edged sword. A fascinating story that I put off way too long to read. Don't make my mistake there. Sometimes the unknown should stay that way. We need mysteries in life to keep us going and to believe there are greater things out there.
May 11, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Although the time shifts can be a touch confusing, I thoroughly enjoyed this what if: imagine you do not age like other people and can heal almost magically. How frightened and confused Alessandra is! After Nazi experimentation she develops these traits, and then the CIA wants in on the action. Could do with a touch more editing? My opinion only.
Although the time shifts can be a touch confusing, I thoroughly enjoyed this what if: imagine you do not age like other people and can heal almost magically. How frightened and confused Alessandra is! After Nazi experimentation she develops these traits, and then the CIA wants in on the action. Could do with a touch more editing? My opinion only.
September 27, 2016
Unlike other books I have read, Ageless makes you feel like you are there with the characters, seeing and feeling everything that they see and feel. I felt a variety of emotions when reading it, but I most clearly remember feeling disturbed. Despite this, I find myself waiting eagerly for a continuation.
June 24, 2021
I’ve been slowly clearing out old ARC’s off my shelf and came across this Goodreads Giveaway book. The overall premise is great but the timeline jumping kept me from fully engaging in the story. I think a more linear layout with Aless and Gene’s stories intersecting naturally would have made this “unputdownable”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2016
An original spin on eternal life. The story uses some familiar elements but adds in enough surprises on the way to keep you guessing. Very much enjoyed the read and looking forward to more from the Author!
April 15, 2016
A well crafted story with engaging characters, excellent descriptions, and a deep, thoughtful plot. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to Inman's next outing. Possibly a sequel...?
June 19, 2016
Pure awesomeness !!!
Read
October 18, 2016I really enjoyed reading this book, it wasn't like anything I have read in awhile. I just wish there was more!! I received this book through the Goodreads giveaways!
April 22, 2017
Ageless is a challenging but rewarding read. The complex storyline demands a lot out of the reader but makes it well worth the while. Serious readers will find much enjoyment within these pages.
February 3, 2017
Ageless has an intellectual plot playing on the philosophical quandary regarding the value of immortality. A solid read.
July 12, 2018
I won this book quite some time ago as a Goodreads giveaway.
For all intents and purposes, this is a self-published book. Unfortunately, it suffers from the same issues that most self-published books do. It is, however, a lot more polished and fleshed out than most of the self-published drek I've read in the last little while, but there are still a lot of glaring errors that really should have been caught in the first-reader phase.
My first comment is on sentence structure (yup, going there before plot...). I'm only about 50 pages in now, and there are far too many clunky sections. It's hard to describe clunky other than it just doesn't sit right. Generally, it has nothing to do with grammatical structure (although sometimes it does), but it just doesn't flow. The easiest way to get rid of clunky sections is to read things out loud. Unfortunately most beginning authors do not do this, and so their prose suffers.
As for plot, lots and lots of awkward exposition going on. Lots of telling. Lots of stuff that we really don't need to know but are being told anyhow. Similarly, there's lots of passages where the PoV is said to not know something, then the narrator proceeds to inform us about that very thing. Um, nope... if the PoV doesn't know, WE don't know. The same goes for language. Time and again, Aless is unfamiliar with whatever language something is said in, whether someone is talking or a song, and we are again given the translation... No, no, and no! If the PoV doesn't understand, it's just unintelligible sounds until the PoV DOES understand.
I'm a firm believer in eliminating unnecessary PoV characters. If the person is not pivotal to the overall story arc, then they should not be a PoV character. Full stop. ESPECIALLY if another character in the same scene IS. As a result, we get whole chapters of unnecessary backstory cluttering up the book. (The whole section on MMORPG raiding? Yup, this is one section... I'm a long-time semi-hardcore raider, so don't even get me started on how this ISN'T how raiding goes...)
So much info dumping is happening in this book. And what makes it worse is that 90% of the info dumpage is shit that we really, really, REALLY don't need to know. It's not even remotely pivotal to the plot, adds next to nothing to the backstory or atmosphere of the book. In short, it's wasted words.
There are lots of stuff that need to be better researched (or, hell, ANY research done on it) to make it correct. Two examples, then I'm done with this point. First, an English person would NEVER consider a rare/medium-rare hunk of beef as 'cooked perfectly'. Not now, and certainly not in the 1940s when food safety is for all intents and purposes non-existent. That is a modern, American, mentality. Second, identical twins can NEVER be boy/girl. EVER. Boy/girl sets of twins are ALWAYS fraternal.
So I'm finally done the book, so here are my overall impressions. First, the bouncing around through time was jarring. Yes, I realize it was done so that the truth behind the people involved isn't known until the end, but the way it was done was just bad. Second, this story is supposed to be about Alessandra. Too much of the book spent too much time going into far too much detail about too many other characters. In the end, maybe 20% of the book was about Aless, and I think that's not a good thing. Third, the ending was, well, predictable. Not only was it predictable, but it's the same damn way most books dealing with (virtual) immortality does. It just comes earlier in the life of Aless, as well as with far, far less rumination/angst than most immortals go through. This can be directly connected to point two, in that the book spends too much time away from Aless.
I'll give this book a 3-star rating, mostly because the concept was interesting, if poorly executed. Sometimes the writing was decent, but most times it was cringeworthy.
For all intents and purposes, this is a self-published book. Unfortunately, it suffers from the same issues that most self-published books do. It is, however, a lot more polished and fleshed out than most of the self-published drek I've read in the last little while, but there are still a lot of glaring errors that really should have been caught in the first-reader phase.
My first comment is on sentence structure (yup, going there before plot...). I'm only about 50 pages in now, and there are far too many clunky sections. It's hard to describe clunky other than it just doesn't sit right. Generally, it has nothing to do with grammatical structure (although sometimes it does), but it just doesn't flow. The easiest way to get rid of clunky sections is to read things out loud. Unfortunately most beginning authors do not do this, and so their prose suffers.
As for plot, lots and lots of awkward exposition going on. Lots of telling. Lots of stuff that we really don't need to know but are being told anyhow. Similarly, there's lots of passages where the PoV is said to not know something, then the narrator proceeds to inform us about that very thing. Um, nope... if the PoV doesn't know, WE don't know. The same goes for language. Time and again, Aless is unfamiliar with whatever language something is said in, whether someone is talking or a song, and we are again given the translation... No, no, and no! If the PoV doesn't understand, it's just unintelligible sounds until the PoV DOES understand.
I'm a firm believer in eliminating unnecessary PoV characters. If the person is not pivotal to the overall story arc, then they should not be a PoV character. Full stop. ESPECIALLY if another character in the same scene IS. As a result, we get whole chapters of unnecessary backstory cluttering up the book. (The whole section on MMORPG raiding? Yup, this is one section... I'm a long-time semi-hardcore raider, so don't even get me started on how this ISN'T how raiding goes...)
So much info dumping is happening in this book. And what makes it worse is that 90% of the info dumpage is shit that we really, really, REALLY don't need to know. It's not even remotely pivotal to the plot, adds next to nothing to the backstory or atmosphere of the book. In short, it's wasted words.
There are lots of stuff that need to be better researched (or, hell, ANY research done on it) to make it correct. Two examples, then I'm done with this point. First, an English person would NEVER consider a rare/medium-rare hunk of beef as 'cooked perfectly'. Not now, and certainly not in the 1940s when food safety is for all intents and purposes non-existent. That is a modern, American, mentality. Second, identical twins can NEVER be boy/girl. EVER. Boy/girl sets of twins are ALWAYS fraternal.
So I'm finally done the book, so here are my overall impressions. First, the bouncing around through time was jarring. Yes, I realize it was done so that the truth behind the people involved isn't known until the end, but the way it was done was just bad. Second, this story is supposed to be about Alessandra. Too much of the book spent too much time going into far too much detail about too many other characters. In the end, maybe 20% of the book was about Aless, and I think that's not a good thing. Third, the ending was, well, predictable. Not only was it predictable, but it's the same damn way most books dealing with (virtual) immortality does. It just comes earlier in the life of Aless, as well as with far, far less rumination/angst than most immortals go through. This can be directly connected to point two, in that the book spends too much time away from Aless.
I'll give this book a 3-star rating, mostly because the concept was interesting, if poorly executed. Sometimes the writing was decent, but most times it was cringeworthy.
June 4, 2017
I was giving away 4.5 stars, but I rounded it up.
This novel is a mix of sci-fi elements, as well action, thriller, and fiction mixed with historical data. I am not sure which genre to put it in. But I loved this mix.
It was hard to put this novel down. I am not sure about the ending, and I don't like the jumping in time structure too much. Still.. Paul Inman did a great job in writing this novel.
Synopsis:
Alessandra is on run her whole life. It doesn't matter which country or year it is, she is being chased. And she is really tired of it. Because of her DNA code she seems ageless. She is 90 years old but looks in her 20's. She is on the CIA missing person list. As a child she was a subject to cruel experiments by Nazi.
Almost one century later her case still sparks interest, especially for one of the CIA agents- Richardson.
Is being ageless a gift or curse?
This novel is a mix of sci-fi elements, as well action, thriller, and fiction mixed with historical data. I am not sure which genre to put it in. But I loved this mix.
It was hard to put this novel down. I am not sure about the ending, and I don't like the jumping in time structure too much. Still.. Paul Inman did a great job in writing this novel.
Synopsis:
Alessandra is on run her whole life. It doesn't matter which country or year it is, she is being chased. And she is really tired of it. Because of her DNA code she seems ageless. She is 90 years old but looks in her 20's. She is on the CIA missing person list. As a child she was a subject to cruel experiments by Nazi.
Almost one century later her case still sparks interest, especially for one of the CIA agents- Richardson.
Is being ageless a gift or curse?
June 21, 2017
I am writing this for Goodreads. Interesting book. Never fully grabbed my imagination but kept my interest. The flashing through different times looked to be a problem but the author did this smoothly.
November 26, 2016
i felt the ending was rushed.
August 21, 2020
I really couldn't get into this book. The premise was interesting, I usually love books about World War 2. This is about an immortal names Alessandra, and who was a test subject of the Nazi's.
It's a combo of sci-fi and thriller, and it's just not my genre apparently!
It's a combo of sci-fi and thriller, and it's just not my genre apparently!
April 24, 2016
Title: Ageless
Author: Paul Inman
Rating: 5/5
At first, young Aless was a target for the Nazis. After her escape, she was a target for the CIA. A genetic difference makes the girl immune to harm and disease, and slows down her aging drastically. At 16 years old, she bears the body of a child -- at seventy, the body of a teenager. For Aless, the world is dangerous, and she spends the majority of it running from those who wish to exploit her differences. For Aless, this immunity is not a gift, but a nightmare.
What a wild ride! The first five chapters were quite confusing, but still I kept on reading, because the premise of this book interested me. This story flashes forward and backward in time, and you only get the last pieces of the puzzle once you've reached the last chapter. It's a complex type of book to read, and it either misses the mark, or (like The Night Circus) it hits it dead on. This book is definitely the latter.
The characters are all well-crafted, and their development is quite wonderful to see. I rooted for each of them individually, and I'm quite sad that the book is a stand-alone. It was wonderful to close the book and really get closure on every front, though. The cops to the scientists made wonderful villains; they were the kind who truly believe that what they're doing is right. The heroes were also flawed, and the author made Aless relatable.
Squeamish readers might want to steer clear from this book, however. There were pretty graphic descriptions of violence that might make some readers uncomfortable. I would nonetheless recommend this book to anyone who can stomach pretty descriptive violence in a few chapters.
I would like to thank Inkshares, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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