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Immortal #2
Hellenic Immortal
From the best-selling author of The Spaceship Next Door:
“Very occasionally, I will pop up in the historical record. Most of the time I’m not at all easy to spot, because most of the time I’m just a guy who does a thing and then disappears again into the background behind someone-or-other who’s busy doing something much more important. But there are a couple of rare occasions when I get a starring role.”
--Adam the Immortal
An oracle has predicted the sojourner’s end, which is a problem for Adam insofar as he has never encountered an oracular prediction that didn’t come true . . . and he is the sojourner. To survive, he’s going to have to figure out what a beautiful ex-government analyst, an eco-terrorist, a rogue FBI agent, and the world’s oldest religious cult all want with him, and fast.
And all he wanted when he came to Vegas was to forget about a girl. And maybe have a drink or two.
“I am probably not the best source when it comes to who invented what. For a long time I thought I invented the wheel.”
--Adam the Immortal
The second book in the Immortal series, Hellenic Immortal follows the continuing adventures of Adam, a sixty-thousand-year-old man with a wry sense of humor, a flair for storytelling, and a knack for staying alive. Hellenic Immortal is a clever blend of history, mythology, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, mystery and romance. A little something, in other words, for every reader.
“Very occasionally, I will pop up in the historical record. Most of the time I’m not at all easy to spot, because most of the time I’m just a guy who does a thing and then disappears again into the background behind someone-or-other who’s busy doing something much more important. But there are a couple of rare occasions when I get a starring role.”
--Adam the Immortal
An oracle has predicted the sojourner’s end, which is a problem for Adam insofar as he has never encountered an oracular prediction that didn’t come true . . . and he is the sojourner. To survive, he’s going to have to figure out what a beautiful ex-government analyst, an eco-terrorist, a rogue FBI agent, and the world’s oldest religious cult all want with him, and fast.
And all he wanted when he came to Vegas was to forget about a girl. And maybe have a drink or two.
“I am probably not the best source when it comes to who invented what. For a long time I thought I invented the wheel.”
--Adam the Immortal
The second book in the Immortal series, Hellenic Immortal follows the continuing adventures of Adam, a sixty-thousand-year-old man with a wry sense of humor, a flair for storytelling, and a knack for staying alive. Hellenic Immortal is a clever blend of history, mythology, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, mystery and romance. A little something, in other words, for every reader.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2012
90 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Gene Doucette
43 books436 followersGene Doucette is a hybrid author, albeit in a somewhat roundabout way. From 2010 through 2014, Gene published four full-length novels (Immortal, Hellenic Immortal, Fixer, and Immortal at the Edge of the World) with a small indie publisher. Then, in 2014, Gene started self-publishing novellas that were set in the same universe as the Immortal series, at which point he was a hybrid.
When the novellas proved more lucrative than the novels, Gene tried self-publishing a full novel, The Spaceship Next Door, in 2015. This went well. So well, that in 2016, Gene reacquired the rights to the earlier four novels from the publisher, and re-released them, at which point he wasn’t a hybrid any longer.
Additional self-published novels followed: Immortal and the Island of Impossible Things (2016); Unfiction (2017); and The Frequency of Aliens (2017).
In 2018, John Joseph Adams Books (an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) acquired the rights to The Spaceship Next Door. The reprint was published in September of that year, at which point Gene was once again a hybrid author.
Since then, a number of things have happened. Gene published two more novels—Immortal From Hell at the end of 2018, and Fixer Redux in 2019—and wrote a new novel called The Apocalypse Seven that he did not self-publish; it was acquired by JJA/HMH in September of 2019. Publication date is May 25, 2021.
Gene plans to continue writing novels for both markets (traditional and self-published) as long as that continues to make sense. His most recent self-published novel is Immortal: Last Call (2020). He is currently at work on a large science fiction world-building project taking place on his Patreon site, the result of which will be a multi-novel series.
When the novellas proved more lucrative than the novels, Gene tried self-publishing a full novel, The Spaceship Next Door, in 2015. This went well. So well, that in 2016, Gene reacquired the rights to the earlier four novels from the publisher, and re-released them, at which point he wasn’t a hybrid any longer.
Additional self-published novels followed: Immortal and the Island of Impossible Things (2016); Unfiction (2017); and The Frequency of Aliens (2017).
In 2018, John Joseph Adams Books (an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) acquired the rights to The Spaceship Next Door. The reprint was published in September of that year, at which point Gene was once again a hybrid author.
Since then, a number of things have happened. Gene published two more novels—Immortal From Hell at the end of 2018, and Fixer Redux in 2019—and wrote a new novel called The Apocalypse Seven that he did not self-publish; it was acquired by JJA/HMH in September of 2019. Publication date is May 25, 2021.
Gene plans to continue writing novels for both markets (traditional and self-published) as long as that continues to make sense. His most recent self-published novel is Immortal: Last Call (2020). He is currently at work on a large science fiction world-building project taking place on his Patreon site, the result of which will be a multi-novel series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 20, 2018
Getting better and better
Now that I'm used to the back and forth in time, and generally speaking the writing style of the author, I can say that I enjoyed this second volume quite thoroughly. The venturing into the world of Greek mythology was very well done while not quite rehashing the old classics either: bonus points! A few new "creatures" are introduced quite smartly: winning! Overall very well written!
Now that I'm used to the back and forth in time, and generally speaking the writing style of the author, I can say that I enjoyed this second volume quite thoroughly. The venturing into the world of Greek mythology was very well done while not quite rehashing the old classics either: bonus points! A few new "creatures" are introduced quite smartly: winning! Overall very well written!
May 2, 2012
I am always a bit skeptical about sequels. Especially if it’s the second book. Most times, it failed my expectation by either being a preamble to the amazing conclusion for the third book, or just plain boring. I am happy to report this is definitely not the case with Hellenic Immortal.
It continues on the adventures of Adam, some years after Immortal. It follows a Greek cult and mythology background, some crazy environmentalist, packs a lot of action and a little bit of romance.
The beginning sold me right to it. Adam is as sarcastic as ever. He said the craziest things that made me laughing out loud:
“… instead I was drinking in Las Vegas and quietly wishing for a nice plague or two to make the planet a bit less crowded.”
It just shows how honest he is. He definitely says what he thinks, and when you are sixty thousand years old or something, I do believe you would have such confidence. I would be lying if I said I never had any bad thoughts crossing my mind when I came across annoying people, so I find this part very refreshing.
The story picks up nicely after that. I especially love the Greek cult background to this book. It ties the story very well and it gives a nice blend of historical and current events. It also adds a sense of realness to it, making Adam’s character felt very present. It seems like he could be the next guy you saw in a bar. (No, please don’t try to pretend you’re Adam when you met me.)
The only part I’m not too crazy about is the excerpts from Silenus the Younger. Sometimes I felt like it’s more of a distraction to the flow of the story, especially when it’s a longer text. Maybe I’m just not a fan of excerpts taken from some older text / poems in general. But at least, as I got nearer to the end of the book, I realized the importance and connection of the texts. So, if you’re like me, please bear the connection in mind, I think you would probably like it better that way.
Overall, Hellenic Immortal is a great book. I love it even more than Immortal. I don’t even think you have to read the first one to understand what’s going on in this book (although I bet you’ll be sorry if you haven’t read Immortal yet!). It is more of an action packed historical/fantasy adventure so I would recommend this book especially for guys and girls who think like guys. Hey, I don’t mean to be discriminative, but if you only like sappy romances, rainbows and unicorns, this is definitely not for you. If you like sarcastic humor, please read this book! You might find yourself wishing you’re Adam. (You’ve been warned!)
For an interview with Gene Doucette over at my blog, please visit http://astridparamita.com/2012/05/hel...
It continues on the adventures of Adam, some years after Immortal. It follows a Greek cult and mythology background, some crazy environmentalist, packs a lot of action and a little bit of romance.
The beginning sold me right to it. Adam is as sarcastic as ever. He said the craziest things that made me laughing out loud:
“… instead I was drinking in Las Vegas and quietly wishing for a nice plague or two to make the planet a bit less crowded.”
It just shows how honest he is. He definitely says what he thinks, and when you are sixty thousand years old or something, I do believe you would have such confidence. I would be lying if I said I never had any bad thoughts crossing my mind when I came across annoying people, so I find this part very refreshing.
The story picks up nicely after that. I especially love the Greek cult background to this book. It ties the story very well and it gives a nice blend of historical and current events. It also adds a sense of realness to it, making Adam’s character felt very present. It seems like he could be the next guy you saw in a bar. (No, please don’t try to pretend you’re Adam when you met me.)
The only part I’m not too crazy about is the excerpts from Silenus the Younger. Sometimes I felt like it’s more of a distraction to the flow of the story, especially when it’s a longer text. Maybe I’m just not a fan of excerpts taken from some older text / poems in general. But at least, as I got nearer to the end of the book, I realized the importance and connection of the texts. So, if you’re like me, please bear the connection in mind, I think you would probably like it better that way.
Overall, Hellenic Immortal is a great book. I love it even more than Immortal. I don’t even think you have to read the first one to understand what’s going on in this book (although I bet you’ll be sorry if you haven’t read Immortal yet!). It is more of an action packed historical/fantasy adventure so I would recommend this book especially for guys and girls who think like guys. Hey, I don’t mean to be discriminative, but if you only like sappy romances, rainbows and unicorns, this is definitely not for you. If you like sarcastic humor, please read this book! You might find yourself wishing you’re Adam. (You’ve been warned!)
For an interview with Gene Doucette over at my blog, please visit http://astridparamita.com/2012/05/hel...
June 29, 2012
Review from http://passionforpages.blogspot.ca/20...
I’m always a little nervous when starting the second book in a series, especially if I loved the first book. Will it live up to my expectations? What if it doesn’t? What if I find it mind numbingly boring because of a crappy plot and characters that lost the zest they had in book one? Will the author’s eagerness to publish the next installment ruin what I loved about the series to begin with?
Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about any of that with Hellenic Immortal.
Adam’s continued journey kept me intrigued and wanting more the entire read. Maybe even more so than Immortal did. I admit I didn’t read the summary before receiving the book – that may have had something to do with me being so damn excited to read it that I really didn’t care what it was about. However, considering how Immortal ended, I expected it to be about Adam going off to find “Eve”. Or maybe even a story about Adam and Clara.
Nope. Not even close. Of course if I had read the summary I would have realized that. The story was so much more than I expected and I once again loved every single page of it. The new supernatural characters Doucette threw into the mix actually made me want to research and see just how much truth there was to the gods he wrote about. Of course I knew some of them were true, but the fact that he made me want to learn more about ancient History is… well, pretty much a miracle.
I had a thing for Mike the second he appeared in Adam’s hotel room. And the more I learned about him, the more I loved him. That also might have had something to do with the mystery behind his being. And I really liked how it was revealed; how Mike didn’t seem to have a clue that he was different.
Ariadne. For a character that didn’t have a whole lot of story time, she sure made up for it towards the end. Although, because of the lack of face time she got in the novel, I found that I didn’t really have any feelings toward her one way or another. I didn’t care about her character or what happened to her even though she turned out to be a fairly important part. I didn’t dislike her, I just didn’t care.
I would have liked some returning characters, like the red-headed woman. It would have been interesting if she had somehow been tied into all that was happening, but I’m not terribly disappointed that she wasn’t part of the book – aside from the little glimpse Adam gets of her at the end. The same can be said for Clara. Considering she’s now also an immortal I fully expected her to be more apart of Adam’s life, but the fact that she wasn’t didn’t really upset me either. And that’s only because Doucette made it to me by writing such fascinating new characters.
I’m always a little nervous when starting the second book in a series, especially if I loved the first book. Will it live up to my expectations? What if it doesn’t? What if I find it mind numbingly boring because of a crappy plot and characters that lost the zest they had in book one? Will the author’s eagerness to publish the next installment ruin what I loved about the series to begin with?
Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about any of that with Hellenic Immortal.
Adam’s continued journey kept me intrigued and wanting more the entire read. Maybe even more so than Immortal did. I admit I didn’t read the summary before receiving the book – that may have had something to do with me being so damn excited to read it that I really didn’t care what it was about. However, considering how Immortal ended, I expected it to be about Adam going off to find “Eve”. Or maybe even a story about Adam and Clara.
Nope. Not even close. Of course if I had read the summary I would have realized that. The story was so much more than I expected and I once again loved every single page of it. The new supernatural characters Doucette threw into the mix actually made me want to research and see just how much truth there was to the gods he wrote about. Of course I knew some of them were true, but the fact that he made me want to learn more about ancient History is… well, pretty much a miracle.
I had a thing for Mike the second he appeared in Adam’s hotel room. And the more I learned about him, the more I loved him. That also might have had something to do with the mystery behind his being. And I really liked how it was revealed; how Mike didn’t seem to have a clue that he was different.
Ariadne. For a character that didn’t have a whole lot of story time, she sure made up for it towards the end. Although, because of the lack of face time she got in the novel, I found that I didn’t really have any feelings toward her one way or another. I didn’t care about her character or what happened to her even though she turned out to be a fairly important part. I didn’t dislike her, I just didn’t care.
I would have liked some returning characters, like the red-headed woman. It would have been interesting if she had somehow been tied into all that was happening, but I’m not terribly disappointed that she wasn’t part of the book – aside from the little glimpse Adam gets of her at the end. The same can be said for Clara. Considering she’s now also an immortal I fully expected her to be more apart of Adam’s life, but the fact that she wasn’t didn’t really upset me either. And that’s only because Doucette made it to me by writing such fascinating new characters.
May 15, 2012
In this sequel to "Immortal", Gene Doucette delivers another fantastic page-turner that kept me riveted to the pages.
Adam, our immortal man, is nursing a somewhat broken heart in Las Vegas a couple of years after the end of the first book, when he notices a young woman following him. With snark and sarcasm, he soon realizes that her intentions are not quite kosher, especially when he's visited in the middle of the night by a man who identifies himself as an FBI agent.
A bit of action and subterfuge later, Adam is leaving Vegas and visits an old friend (and oracle) who gives him a cryptic reading seemingly predicting his end. Well, he doesn't appreciate that much, not after 60,000 plus years of wandering the earth. He has no plans to die now.
Intrigued, and a wee bit worried, Adam digs deeper and finds that an ancient Greek cult (he may have started) is now being used by some crazy environmentalists.
And then the fun begins.
Throughout the book, a narrative of Silenus the Younger's interactions with Dionysus seem at first to be interrupting the flow, but the reader soon realizes that these are hints at the background for the cult.
Again, Gene Doucette uses Adam's trips down memory lane to subtly explain and further the plot, with the same irreverent and sarcastic voice I came to love in the first book.
As the book progresses, new creatures are introduced. We learn about Satyrs, werewolves and wood nymphs. We learn about Gilgamesh's hammer and its origins. We learn about wine and how it was invented. And throughout, Adam's witty, snarky comments had me giggling and laughing out loud, while the detailed narration impressed me with its in-depth research.
While the 2nd installment is perhaps a little bit weaker than the first one, I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that the author will soon bring us another fantastic glimpse into the life of the immortal man.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Adam, our immortal man, is nursing a somewhat broken heart in Las Vegas a couple of years after the end of the first book, when he notices a young woman following him. With snark and sarcasm, he soon realizes that her intentions are not quite kosher, especially when he's visited in the middle of the night by a man who identifies himself as an FBI agent.
A bit of action and subterfuge later, Adam is leaving Vegas and visits an old friend (and oracle) who gives him a cryptic reading seemingly predicting his end. Well, he doesn't appreciate that much, not after 60,000 plus years of wandering the earth. He has no plans to die now.
Intrigued, and a wee bit worried, Adam digs deeper and finds that an ancient Greek cult (he may have started) is now being used by some crazy environmentalists.
And then the fun begins.
Throughout the book, a narrative of Silenus the Younger's interactions with Dionysus seem at first to be interrupting the flow, but the reader soon realizes that these are hints at the background for the cult.
Again, Gene Doucette uses Adam's trips down memory lane to subtly explain and further the plot, with the same irreverent and sarcastic voice I came to love in the first book.
As the book progresses, new creatures are introduced. We learn about Satyrs, werewolves and wood nymphs. We learn about Gilgamesh's hammer and its origins. We learn about wine and how it was invented. And throughout, Adam's witty, snarky comments had me giggling and laughing out loud, while the detailed narration impressed me with its in-depth research.
While the 2nd installment is perhaps a little bit weaker than the first one, I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that the author will soon bring us another fantastic glimpse into the life of the immortal man.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
December 26, 2024
"Hellenic Immortal: The Immortal Series, Book 2" by Gene Doucette, narrated by Steve Carlson, is a captivating continuation of the adventures of Adam, the 60,000-year-old immortal protagonist introduced in the 1st book. Published in 2017, this audiobook delves deeper into Adam's past while presenting new challenges in the present.
Plot Overview
Picking up where "Immortal" left off, Adam finds himself embroiled in a new set of adventures that take him back to ancient Greece and Rome. The story is interwoven with flashbacks to his historical encounters with gods, demi-gods, and mythological creatures, blending historical fiction with fantasy. In the present day, Adam's life is again at risk, thanks to an oracle's prediction signaling his end. He must navigate through a maze of modern and ancient threats, including eco-terrorists, rogue FBI agents, and religious cults.
Narration
Steve Carlson's narration once again brings Adam's wit and sarcasm to life. His voice captures the essence of Adam's dry humor and weary wisdom, making the character feel both relatable and amusing. Carlson's ability to seamlessly switch between different accents and tones adds richness to the narrative, enhancing the listener's experience.
Themes and Style
The book continues to explore themes of survival, identity, and the burden of immortality. Doucette's writing style balances humor and suspense, maintaining a light-hearted tone while addressing deep philosophical questions. The blend of historical and modern-day elements creates a fascinating juxtaposition, keeping the story engaging and thought-provoking.
Character Development
Adam remains the central focus, with his character further developed through his interactions with both historical figures and contemporary characters. The flashbacks to ancient Greece and Rome provide insight into Adam's long and complex past, revealing more about his strengths and vulnerabilities. Supporting characters, such as the ex-government analyst and eco-terrorist, add depth to the storyline, each with their unique motivations and connections to Adam's journey.
Overall Impression
"Hellenic Immortal" is a well-crafted sequel that builds on the foundation laid by the first book. Doucette's ability to weave together historical fiction, fantasy, and modern-day adventure makes for a compelling and immersive experience. The audiobook's engaging plot, witty dialogue, and dynamic narration by Steve Carlson ensure that listeners remain hooked from start to finish.
Plot Overview
Picking up where "Immortal" left off, Adam finds himself embroiled in a new set of adventures that take him back to ancient Greece and Rome. The story is interwoven with flashbacks to his historical encounters with gods, demi-gods, and mythological creatures, blending historical fiction with fantasy. In the present day, Adam's life is again at risk, thanks to an oracle's prediction signaling his end. He must navigate through a maze of modern and ancient threats, including eco-terrorists, rogue FBI agents, and religious cults.
Narration
Steve Carlson's narration once again brings Adam's wit and sarcasm to life. His voice captures the essence of Adam's dry humor and weary wisdom, making the character feel both relatable and amusing. Carlson's ability to seamlessly switch between different accents and tones adds richness to the narrative, enhancing the listener's experience.
Themes and Style
The book continues to explore themes of survival, identity, and the burden of immortality. Doucette's writing style balances humor and suspense, maintaining a light-hearted tone while addressing deep philosophical questions. The blend of historical and modern-day elements creates a fascinating juxtaposition, keeping the story engaging and thought-provoking.
Character Development
Adam remains the central focus, with his character further developed through his interactions with both historical figures and contemporary characters. The flashbacks to ancient Greece and Rome provide insight into Adam's long and complex past, revealing more about his strengths and vulnerabilities. Supporting characters, such as the ex-government analyst and eco-terrorist, add depth to the storyline, each with their unique motivations and connections to Adam's journey.
Overall Impression
"Hellenic Immortal" is a well-crafted sequel that builds on the foundation laid by the first book. Doucette's ability to weave together historical fiction, fantasy, and modern-day adventure makes for a compelling and immersive experience. The audiobook's engaging plot, witty dialogue, and dynamic narration by Steve Carlson ensure that listeners remain hooked from start to finish.
May 15, 2012
This book left me very disappointed. It picked up shortly after the first book ended, but had almost no returning characters and didn't answer many of the questions I had after reading the first book. I did learn quite a bit about a particular period of Adam's history, but there were so many rambling asides that it was hard to keep track of the many storyline.
I found the humour to be much less than in the first book. The story kept my attention in the second half, but it didn't have the same impact as the first.
Each chapter started with an excerpt from a story about Silenus the Younger. These excerpts didn't really make much sense until late in the book. Then it tied in smoothly, but they were distracting and disjointed for most of the book, especially when the excerpt was on the longer side.
Overall, this was an okay read, and maybe if I had left more time between reading this and first book I might have enjoyed it more. As it was, this second book didn't even compare to the first.
I found the humour to be much less than in the first book. The story kept my attention in the second half, but it didn't have the same impact as the first.
Each chapter started with an excerpt from a story about Silenus the Younger. These excerpts didn't really make much sense until late in the book. Then it tied in smoothly, but they were distracting and disjointed for most of the book, especially when the excerpt was on the longer side.
Overall, this was an okay read, and maybe if I had left more time between reading this and first book I might have enjoyed it more. As it was, this second book didn't even compare to the first.
June 14, 2014
Enjoyed the first one Immortal, but this one was .... OK. Still a fun story and some drama at the end, but I didn't feel that same excitement as the first one. The first book was fascinating because of the idea that someone could live for thousands of years and see history personally and walk unknown among us AND that persons unknown would want to capture him. It's an interesting concept how much more precious life is when it's ten thousand years long.
In Hellenic Immortal, that novelty is gone. Probably unreasonable to expect it in a sequel, but I felt this second book kind of went into fantasy-land a little too much. We had a werewolf, a demon, and someone that wants to become a god.
In Hellenic Immortal, that novelty is gone. Probably unreasonable to expect it in a sequel, but I felt this second book kind of went into fantasy-land a little too much. We had a werewolf, a demon, and someone that wants to become a god.
October 24, 2012
This follow-up book to the brilliant IMMORTAL is highly satisfying.
Of course the impact could never be as great as the first book because you know roughly what's coming.
But the Greek God connection is entertaining and the modern day quest to find answers is always gripping.
You could start with this book but I seriously recommend that you start at the beginning with IMMORTAL.
It seems that IMMORTAL 3 is in production and I, for one, can't wait.
Doucette's style makes for a comfortable read, and the characters and odd creatures keeps you on your toes.
Go get it!
Of course the impact could never be as great as the first book because you know roughly what's coming.
But the Greek God connection is entertaining and the modern day quest to find answers is always gripping.
You could start with this book but I seriously recommend that you start at the beginning with IMMORTAL.
It seems that IMMORTAL 3 is in production and I, for one, can't wait.
Doucette's style makes for a comfortable read, and the characters and odd creatures keeps you on your toes.
Go get it!
August 5, 2022
Maybe my expectations were too high after Immortal, but something seemed off to me in Hellenic Immortal. I'm very character oriented when reading and I just didn't connect with this cast of characters. I'm glad I read it because we learned who the red-headed woman is (more or less). This installment leaned more towards fantasy, than science fiction. Read full review at Girl Who Reads
January 2, 2018
This is the second book of the series, and I still think it's a 5/5. Great, isn't it? :) Happens less often than I would wish.
I am not quite sure, what to think of the implications of the ending...but I liked the book itself a lot. I'm curious about the third book....whether the trend of enjoyable books continues and, especially, if he's going to chase Eve/Allmother forever, or if he'll actually pin her down someday.
I am not quite sure, what to think of the implications of the ending...but I liked the book itself a lot. I'm curious about the third book....whether the trend of enjoyable books continues and, especially, if he's going to chase Eve/Allmother forever, or if he'll actually pin her down someday.
June 5, 2016
It's been a few years since I've read the first book of this series and quite frankly I forgot about it completely, but recently I saw it as a goodreads recommendation and I decided to finish the series. I've had a bit of a blank concerning the first book but it came back to me eventually and I found the sequel to be better.
I enjoyed this tale and the different approach to myth and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
I enjoyed this tale and the different approach to myth and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
October 12, 2014
Received from Netgalley for review
I did not know what to think about this book.I really enjoyed Immortal, so I was looking forward to Hellenic Immortal.It started well with the same sense of humour and history of the first book,but the excerpts put me off and It felt a bit disjointed.I will go on to read book 3 as I would like to see what happens next.
Overall slightly disappointed.
I did not know what to think about this book.I really enjoyed Immortal, so I was looking forward to Hellenic Immortal.It started well with the same sense of humour and history of the first book,but the excerpts put me off and It felt a bit disjointed.I will go on to read book 3 as I would like to see what happens next.
Overall slightly disappointed.
August 23, 2018
Better the on the second read, practically required as it features prophecies and a slowly revealed secondary plot line.
In this book we learn more about Adam’s time in Greece as Dionysus, yes that was just as fun as it sounds, and the other "mythical" creatures he has befriended over the millennia.
I liked it but mostly it left me greedy for book three!
In this book we learn more about Adam’s time in Greece as Dionysus, yes that was just as fun as it sounds, and the other "mythical" creatures he has befriended over the millennia.
I liked it but mostly it left me greedy for book three!
May 21, 2014
Great Great and i can say it is much better than the first , mind you the first is great by itself and the second book stands out and is much better.. great story line with great mysteries and excellent tie-up with the greek mythology.. want more of Adam cant get enough of this series..
June 18, 2014
not as fun as the first part.
December 12, 2018
Please give a helpful vote to my Amazon review - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Helenic Immortal by Gene Doucette
I really, really, really enjoyed this.
Adam is 50,000 years old and a drunk. In addition, he is very dangerous, sarcastic and lazy. All those features come together in this second book of what is now a five book series.
This book starts with a woman. In this case, it is a woman who seems to be stalking him at casinos in Las Vegas. Adam approaches and gets a hint that she knows something about his earlier life, back when he was the god Dionysus. Adam then learns that this woman has been under surveillance by the FBI, and now he is under FBI scrutiny. He meets an FBI agent named Mike Lycos who seems to have no trouble accessing his third-floor balcony. Then, it's off to an oracle and then Greece as Adam puts together what is fast becoming a deeper mystery that involves his past.
The story is a fun romp. The writing is light and fun. Adam comes across as someone I'd like to have a drink with it, and definitely wouldn't want to piss off.
We get some clues to the central mystery posited in the first book - who is the mysterious red-headed immortal woman that Adam can never seem to get close to?
I read the books out of order. I read Yuletide Immortal, so it was kind of fun seeing what was meant by Adam's references to the Sileni and imps.
I had to go back to my review of Immortal, where I promised that I was going to read the next in order of the series, i.e., this book, Hellenic Immortal. I was surprised to see that my review was posted in 2012.
So, it took me six years to get around to it. I've picked up the next in the series, and I should read it in fewer than six years.
Helenic Immortal by Gene Doucette
I really, really, really enjoyed this.
Adam is 50,000 years old and a drunk. In addition, he is very dangerous, sarcastic and lazy. All those features come together in this second book of what is now a five book series.
This book starts with a woman. In this case, it is a woman who seems to be stalking him at casinos in Las Vegas. Adam approaches and gets a hint that she knows something about his earlier life, back when he was the god Dionysus. Adam then learns that this woman has been under surveillance by the FBI, and now he is under FBI scrutiny. He meets an FBI agent named Mike Lycos who seems to have no trouble accessing his third-floor balcony. Then, it's off to an oracle and then Greece as Adam puts together what is fast becoming a deeper mystery that involves his past.
The story is a fun romp. The writing is light and fun. Adam comes across as someone I'd like to have a drink with it, and definitely wouldn't want to piss off.
We get some clues to the central mystery posited in the first book - who is the mysterious red-headed immortal woman that Adam can never seem to get close to?
I read the books out of order. I read Yuletide Immortal, so it was kind of fun seeing what was meant by Adam's references to the Sileni and imps.
I had to go back to my review of Immortal, where I promised that I was going to read the next in order of the series, i.e., this book, Hellenic Immortal. I was surprised to see that my review was posted in 2012.
So, it took me six years to get around to it. I've picked up the next in the series, and I should read it in fewer than six years.
April 23, 2025
4/5 Stars for me.
♥The prologue was very good and pulled me into wanting to read and continue the story right away!
♥the first half with the government shpeals was a little slow for me, but the action picked up very fast- and I love reading the authors take and twist on mythological creatures that the main character "actually knew" about- bieng immortal and all.
♥I am going to start a spin off project where i try to look up a show/movie with the title of the book to see if i can find anything based off books and compare. If i cant, i just watch a random movie/show with the title to enjoy some brain rot TV!
♥I love Genes 1st person fantasy writing much more then his 3rd person sci fi YA series the spaceship next door. By reading this series, he is now on my radar to read more books that come out from him in a fantasy setting!
♥One thing that brought it down was how it felt slightly jarring that the characters were suddenly split up with not a solid reason why, and never validated by the end of the book- hopefully this will branch off more and make sense in the next addition!
♥The mysteries are slowly bieng peeled back at the end half with our character "eve/demeter/etc" Cant wait to read the short novella based off her after the third book!
♥I really like how this story touched on playing on bieng a "god" because of immortality, and how it works to his advantage, and against thim with the main character.
♥The best part of this series is the past perspectives that tie into the currest ones- it makes a very interesting read and story, and builds the world to make sense with the spinoffs that occur throughout.
♥The prologue was very good and pulled me into wanting to read and continue the story right away!
♥the first half with the government shpeals was a little slow for me, but the action picked up very fast- and I love reading the authors take and twist on mythological creatures that the main character "actually knew" about- bieng immortal and all.
♥I am going to start a spin off project where i try to look up a show/movie with the title of the book to see if i can find anything based off books and compare. If i cant, i just watch a random movie/show with the title to enjoy some brain rot TV!
♥I love Genes 1st person fantasy writing much more then his 3rd person sci fi YA series the spaceship next door. By reading this series, he is now on my radar to read more books that come out from him in a fantasy setting!
♥One thing that brought it down was how it felt slightly jarring that the characters were suddenly split up with not a solid reason why, and never validated by the end of the book- hopefully this will branch off more and make sense in the next addition!
♥The mysteries are slowly bieng peeled back at the end half with our character "eve/demeter/etc" Cant wait to read the short novella based off her after the third book!
♥I really like how this story touched on playing on bieng a "god" because of immortality, and how it works to his advantage, and against thim with the main character.
♥The best part of this series is the past perspectives that tie into the currest ones- it makes a very interesting read and story, and builds the world to make sense with the spinoffs that occur throughout.
February 22, 2021
Gene Doucette's 2012 novel "Immortal, Book 2: Hellenic Immortal" is just as good as the first book in the series (interesting plot and characters, plus good writing). Unfortunately, I've got the same minor issue with this one as I did with that one: I'm not happy with the protagonist. He's a drunk and a wastrel. It's a silly issue since thinking about it for a bit makes it obvious that someone who's watched everything and everyone around him die for 60,000 years will be lucky if he's just a drunk and not suicidal. Plus, as we saw in the previous book, becoming visible is not a good thing for such a person. And actively trying to improve anything over those time periods (i.e., not be a wastrel) would make him visible. So, yes. It's my problem and not the author's. So, I'm rating the book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.
February 21, 2019
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
I had forgotten how much I love Adam! And I choose to believe his version of history over any other that I might have "learned" in the past. :)
This is the second book in the Immortal series and it doesn't really have much to do with the first book, although a little primer at the beginning of the book would have been nice so I could remember why he was whining about a certain girl.
As with the first book, most of the the highlights in the story come from Adam's past. The inventor of wine? There's a whole cult-based story going on in the present, but each event serves as a great opportunity to remember something from ages ago - and I loved it!
This is a great series (so far) and if you haven't started it yet, the time is now!
Read it!
I had forgotten how much I love Adam! And I choose to believe his version of history over any other that I might have "learned" in the past. :)
This is the second book in the Immortal series and it doesn't really have much to do with the first book, although a little primer at the beginning of the book would have been nice so I could remember why he was whining about a certain girl.
As with the first book, most of the the highlights in the story come from Adam's past. The inventor of wine? There's a whole cult-based story going on in the present, but each event serves as a great opportunity to remember something from ages ago - and I loved it!
This is a great series (so far) and if you haven't started it yet, the time is now!
Read it!
November 5, 2017
So. Much. Fun!
This book is about an immortal man, in a world without magic (as far as he knows). He's seen too much, remembers too much, and drinks too much. A man who is being stalked by a woman who thinks he is the key to an ancient religious rite. And that he may be the god who set it up.
I continue to love the nuggets of "history" throughout the book (and series). I love how, while they're not quite what I was taught in school, they still largely have the feel of what I was taught. It's just that some of the details we thought we had right, we got wrong (from his point of view).
And excellent jaunt.
This book is about an immortal man, in a world without magic (as far as he knows). He's seen too much, remembers too much, and drinks too much. A man who is being stalked by a woman who thinks he is the key to an ancient religious rite. And that he may be the god who set it up.
I continue to love the nuggets of "history" throughout the book (and series). I love how, while they're not quite what I was taught in school, they still largely have the feel of what I was taught. It's just that some of the details we thought we had right, we got wrong (from his point of view).
And excellent jaunt.
September 5, 2022
So. Much. Fun!
This book is about an immortal man, in a world without magic (as far as he knows). He's seen too much, remembers too much, and drinks too much. A man who is being stalked by a woman who thinks he is the key to an ancient religious rite. And that he may be the god who set it up.
I continue to love the nuggets of "history" throughout the book (and series). I love how, while they're not quite what I was taught in school, they still largely have the feel of what I was taught. It's just that some of the details we thought we had right, we got wrong (from his point of view).
And excellent jaunt.
This book is about an immortal man, in a world without magic (as far as he knows). He's seen too much, remembers too much, and drinks too much. A man who is being stalked by a woman who thinks he is the key to an ancient religious rite. And that he may be the god who set it up.
I continue to love the nuggets of "history" throughout the book (and series). I love how, while they're not quite what I was taught in school, they still largely have the feel of what I was taught. It's just that some of the details we thought we had right, we got wrong (from his point of view).
And excellent jaunt.
July 8, 2019
SUCH a good series... Get it! Yes, you!
Book 2 was even better than the first one, packed with adventure and his take on historic events in Ancient Greek history, but with a wonderful dollop of snark! Eminently well-written, imaginative and supremely enjoyable - if the character were alive, and I was both 30 years younger and unmarried, well...
Book 2 was even better than the first one, packed with adventure and his take on historic events in Ancient Greek history, but with a wonderful dollop of snark! Eminently well-written, imaginative and supremely enjoyable - if the character were alive, and I was both 30 years younger and unmarried, well...
September 10, 2017
Something tells me Doucette really identifies with the immortal who stars in this series. The plot is interesting and the characters are delightful. And there's another book in the series to read.. Perfect!
July 16, 2020
This book was a bit harder to absorb than the other two. I had trouble keeping up with all of Urr's different timelines. However the events in book 3 would really be confusing without reading book 2.
I'd still tell you to read it if you read book 1 and liked it.
I'd still tell you to read it if you read book 1 and liked it.
October 15, 2022
I think the author tried a little too hard with this one. For some reason I felt Adam wasn't as itneresting as the people around him - the satyrs, etc, and the story itself with the antagonists and the reasoning wasn't engaging.
November 23, 2025
The further adventures of an immortal who can be killed. This time the slant is from a Greek mythological perspective.
Note quite as entertaining as the original but still manages to maintain the premise.
Note quite as entertaining as the original but still manages to maintain the premise.
August 8, 2017
Oh this series is so much fun. A cynical sarcastic (slightly) alcohol 60000 man and his story. Fun!
September 21, 2017
Lots of fun!
November 13, 2017
Really enjoyable! I could have majored in History if it would have been told like this. Already stoked for book 3.
September 7, 2018
A good story with wit and humor sprinkled within a more serious story.
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