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The Magicians of Venice #1
The Immortal City
In the heart of Venice, a woman is sacrificed to a forgotten god, sparking a mystery lost for thousands of years.
Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis, but when an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site, she flies to Venice determined to help the police before the killer strikes again.
Penelope has spent her entire life trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis, but when she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, everything she believes will be challenged. Little does she know, Alexis has spent the last three years doing his best to sabotage Penelope’s career so doesn’t learn the truth—Atlantis had seven magicians who survived, and who he has a duty to protect.
As Alexis draws her into the darkly, seductive world of magic and history, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks.
With the new MOSE system due to come online, and Carnivale exploding around them, Penelope and Alexis will have to work together to stop the killer and prevent dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea.
Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis, but when an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site, she flies to Venice determined to help the police before the killer strikes again.
Penelope has spent her entire life trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis, but when she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, everything she believes will be challenged. Little does she know, Alexis has spent the last three years doing his best to sabotage Penelope’s career so doesn’t learn the truth—Atlantis had seven magicians who survived, and who he has a duty to protect.
As Alexis draws her into the darkly, seductive world of magic and history, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks.
With the new MOSE system due to come online, and Carnivale exploding around them, Penelope and Alexis will have to work together to stop the killer and prevent dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2019
324 people are currently reading
6844 people want to read
About the author
Amy Kuivalainen
50 books432 followersAmy is a best-selling author of fantasy, paranormal, and romance novels. After realizing she wasn't fit for academia, she channelled her passion for ancient history, magic, and mythology into her storytelling. With Amy's books, you can always expect adventure, mystery, and sizzling romance.
For those wondering, her Finnish surname is pronounced 'Quiver-lay-nen.'
For those wondering, her Finnish surname is pronounced 'Quiver-lay-nen.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
May 24, 2020
4 pleasantly surprised ★★★★✩
⇝Update.
This unexpected surprise just got a sequel and i. am. here. for. it. And guess who got an arc for it.
⇝Overall.
To be honest, I wasn't really sure what I would get into with this book. I do, however, have an obsession with extinct cultures, civilizations and legends, for example the Celts and Atlanteans, to give you an idea.
Naturally, I had to request this book, when it was up for Review on #NetGalley and I couldn't be happier that it was approved. #theimmortalcity is a fast-paced and well-written piece about a series of ritual murders in Venice.
➺What’s happening.
In the middle of it is an Australian-Irish academic, Penelope, whose career is somewhat questionable. A while ago she found a tablet in the Meditarennean Penelope identifies as Atlantean heritage. While some colleagues certainly have an open ear for her theory, the biggest part of the academic realm, however, sees nothing more but the wild fantasies of a woman. Pen is contacted by Marco, the inspector responsible for the homicides in Venice. The second she lays eyes on the pictures of the crime scenes she is sure: this is connected somehow, maybe even only loosely connected to the tablet she found. Pen doesn't even have to think about it, just jumps on the next best plane to Italy, thereby putting her right in the middle of the investigations...and the focus of a couple of Atlanteans, some of them eviler than others.
Amidst in one of her calming meditations, she finds herself opposite a mysterious man she also runs into in person the following day. As she gets caught up more and more in this mess, the mystery man even saves her life. He pretty much pulled her back from the dead. It is then she fully comes to comprehend that her passion for Atlantis, a lost civilization advanced in so many ways even 10.000 years ago, is definitely real. Because Alexis, her saviour, is an Atlantean magician, thousands of years old and pretty easy on the eyes.
Also, Alexis and his fellas live in this amazing palazzo, including archives that are filled with texts and artefacts. Goes without saying, that our academic geek is absolutely smitten by Alexis. To be honest, I would luuurvee to have a look at this library (and the sexy Atlanteans) as well....
He and his friends got wind of the murderers and recognized it as the ritual doings of the priests of Thevetat, a demon that, once he got through with the necessary preparations, would wreak havoc over La Serenissima. And these priests have their eyes on Penelope: several attempts on her life and a couple of abductions prove that Thevetat's priests will not stop until they got everything they want.
As if this weren't stressful enough already, Penelope and Alexis cannot deny there is a pull between the two that makes it pretty much impossible for them to stay away from each other. But is it love? If so, can they both survive to enjoy it? She is human and he is pretty much immortal, after all...
If you have an open ear for fantastic tellings of civilizations who have fascinated us since the dawn of time, then this is definitely for you. Time flies by with this fast read.
__________________
Writing Quality + ease of reading = 4*
pace = 3.5*
plot development = 4*
characters = 5* (sorry, a girl can only resist so many Atlanteans...)
enjoyability = 3.5*
insightfulness = 2*
___________________
This eArc was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book is for you if… you have a fetish for the fantastic tales of Atlantis. A general inclination towards fantasy novels that feature archeological and mythological elements and some sexy action will do as well.
⇝Update.
This unexpected surprise just got a sequel and i. am. here. for. it. And guess who got an arc for it.
⇝Overall.
To be honest, I wasn't really sure what I would get into with this book. I do, however, have an obsession with extinct cultures, civilizations and legends, for example the Celts and Atlanteans, to give you an idea.
Naturally, I had to request this book, when it was up for Review on #NetGalley and I couldn't be happier that it was approved. #theimmortalcity is a fast-paced and well-written piece about a series of ritual murders in Venice.
➺What’s happening.
In the middle of it is an Australian-Irish academic, Penelope, whose career is somewhat questionable. A while ago she found a tablet in the Meditarennean Penelope identifies as Atlantean heritage. While some colleagues certainly have an open ear for her theory, the biggest part of the academic realm, however, sees nothing more but the wild fantasies of a woman. Pen is contacted by Marco, the inspector responsible for the homicides in Venice. The second she lays eyes on the pictures of the crime scenes she is sure: this is connected somehow, maybe even only loosely connected to the tablet she found. Pen doesn't even have to think about it, just jumps on the next best plane to Italy, thereby putting her right in the middle of the investigations...and the focus of a couple of Atlanteans, some of them eviler than others.
Amidst in one of her calming meditations, she finds herself opposite a mysterious man she also runs into in person the following day. As she gets caught up more and more in this mess, the mystery man even saves her life. He pretty much pulled her back from the dead. It is then she fully comes to comprehend that her passion for Atlantis, a lost civilization advanced in so many ways even 10.000 years ago, is definitely real. Because Alexis, her saviour, is an Atlantean magician, thousands of years old and pretty easy on the eyes.
Also, Alexis and his fellas live in this amazing palazzo, including archives that are filled with texts and artefacts. Goes without saying, that our academic geek is absolutely smitten by Alexis. To be honest, I would luuurvee to have a look at this library (and the sexy Atlanteans) as well....
He and his friends got wind of the murderers and recognized it as the ritual doings of the priests of Thevetat, a demon that, once he got through with the necessary preparations, would wreak havoc over La Serenissima. And these priests have their eyes on Penelope: several attempts on her life and a couple of abductions prove that Thevetat's priests will not stop until they got everything they want.
As if this weren't stressful enough already, Penelope and Alexis cannot deny there is a pull between the two that makes it pretty much impossible for them to stay away from each other. But is it love? If so, can they both survive to enjoy it? She is human and he is pretty much immortal, after all...
If you have an open ear for fantastic tellings of civilizations who have fascinated us since the dawn of time, then this is definitely for you. Time flies by with this fast read.
__________________
Writing Quality + ease of reading = 4*
pace = 3.5*
plot development = 4*
characters = 5* (sorry, a girl can only resist so many Atlanteans...)
enjoyability = 3.5*
insightfulness = 2*
___________________
This eArc was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 6, 2019
I found this gem while scrolling in my Libby app for something to read. This book is a mystery, mythical, magical story all in one. The fact that is is rooted in the Atlantis legend is just a bonus. Penelope is a great character. She is smart, feisty, and has a whole lot of courage. Alexis is strong, wise, and a protective defender. I loved the plot and how fast paced the story was. I hated that life happened and I had to stop reading it for a couple days. I highly recommend this book. A wonderful escape.
September 14, 2019
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The discovery of a piece of tablet that Dr. Penelope Bryne found on the ocean floor has her claiming it is from the lost civilization of Atlantis. Trying to get funding, she gives a lecture on her findings but is made to look a fool when an audience member directs the conversation towards magic. When an Inspector in Italy emails about a gruesome murder in Venice, she flies on the first plane out of Australia when the writing and symbols decorating the murder scene match the writing on her tablet.
Alexis is known as The Defender and for thousands of years, he has tried to keep any knowledge about Atlantis from the public. As one of the surviving magicians from Atlantis, he feel it is his sacred duty. When Dr. Bryne's discovery gains attention, he immediately tries to destroy any credibility she may have but he can't ignore the feelings he has for her.
Ritual murders and long thought enemies destroyed will have Penelope and Alexis working together and also fighting the magic happening between them.
The Doctor and the magician eyed each other, neither moving.
The first in The Immortal City series, we are first introduced to Penelope who is fighting to prove Atlantis existed and trying to help an Inspector Marco with a series of ritualistic murders. The set-up to get Penelope to Venice and involved in the murders was a little loose and her involvement lessens to a degree that made it feel a bit weak. I did enjoy the secondary character of Marco and how he helped fill out the story but at times he felt more colored in than Alexis, who should be the co-star, with Penelope, of the story.
We learn the basics of who Alexis is, an immortal magician from Atlantis, but a solid backstory is left to around the sixty percent, where we learn a little bit about his life in Atlantis and how he was picked to become a magician. The other six magicians, with Nereus being their leader, were rounded out well and they did intrigue enough to gain some interest in their future books.
“A man appears in my meditation, turns out to be a real-life magician from Atlantis who wants my help hunting down priests of a demonic cult,”
The gist of the plot is Penelope trying to help Marco translate the writing at what appears to be ritualistic murder scenes (the author gets pretty gruesome in describing these scenes) with Alexis coming in as he's been keeping tabs on Penelope and trying to figure out how the murderer could possibly know about Atlantis dark magic. There's the mystery of could it be dark priests or demons of a cult, called Thevetat that the magicians clashed with and brought down the demise of Atlantis but thought to have died there or if the killings are just supposed to scare people in a political power move. The inclusion of how Venice should be structured because of rising water levels with DIGOS and MOSE was more confusing than adding another level to the story, I thought this whole part should have been left out in favor of just going with the magicians versus Thevetat and more of a backstory to them in Atlantis.
“We do this together, Penelope Bryne, or not at all.”
Penelope's character came through strong but for most of the story, I didn't have a strong feel for Alexis and this caused some lack of emotional connection between the two for me. They are said to have a destiny knot and that seemed to be more of an explanation for attraction between the two than I wanted; would have liked to have felt their growing attraction to each other more through scenes.
Some of the middle, forty to sixy percent, dragged for me as we didn't have much momentum in the murder mystery and rehashed a lot but then we get more of Alexis' backstory and the magical, fantasy elements were included more and it did become interesting fiction reading. Alexis and Penelope's romance felt underdeveloped to me and there seemed to be an overall polish to the story that was missing but the author has set-up a curious world with magicians, demons, and Atlantis.
The discovery of a piece of tablet that Dr. Penelope Bryne found on the ocean floor has her claiming it is from the lost civilization of Atlantis. Trying to get funding, she gives a lecture on her findings but is made to look a fool when an audience member directs the conversation towards magic. When an Inspector in Italy emails about a gruesome murder in Venice, she flies on the first plane out of Australia when the writing and symbols decorating the murder scene match the writing on her tablet.
Alexis is known as The Defender and for thousands of years, he has tried to keep any knowledge about Atlantis from the public. As one of the surviving magicians from Atlantis, he feel it is his sacred duty. When Dr. Bryne's discovery gains attention, he immediately tries to destroy any credibility she may have but he can't ignore the feelings he has for her.
Ritual murders and long thought enemies destroyed will have Penelope and Alexis working together and also fighting the magic happening between them.
The Doctor and the magician eyed each other, neither moving.
The first in The Immortal City series, we are first introduced to Penelope who is fighting to prove Atlantis existed and trying to help an Inspector Marco with a series of ritualistic murders. The set-up to get Penelope to Venice and involved in the murders was a little loose and her involvement lessens to a degree that made it feel a bit weak. I did enjoy the secondary character of Marco and how he helped fill out the story but at times he felt more colored in than Alexis, who should be the co-star, with Penelope, of the story.
We learn the basics of who Alexis is, an immortal magician from Atlantis, but a solid backstory is left to around the sixty percent, where we learn a little bit about his life in Atlantis and how he was picked to become a magician. The other six magicians, with Nereus being their leader, were rounded out well and they did intrigue enough to gain some interest in their future books.
“A man appears in my meditation, turns out to be a real-life magician from Atlantis who wants my help hunting down priests of a demonic cult,”
The gist of the plot is Penelope trying to help Marco translate the writing at what appears to be ritualistic murder scenes (the author gets pretty gruesome in describing these scenes) with Alexis coming in as he's been keeping tabs on Penelope and trying to figure out how the murderer could possibly know about Atlantis dark magic. There's the mystery of could it be dark priests or demons of a cult, called Thevetat that the magicians clashed with and brought down the demise of Atlantis but thought to have died there or if the killings are just supposed to scare people in a political power move. The inclusion of how Venice should be structured because of rising water levels with DIGOS and MOSE was more confusing than adding another level to the story, I thought this whole part should have been left out in favor of just going with the magicians versus Thevetat and more of a backstory to them in Atlantis.
“We do this together, Penelope Bryne, or not at all.”
Penelope's character came through strong but for most of the story, I didn't have a strong feel for Alexis and this caused some lack of emotional connection between the two for me. They are said to have a destiny knot and that seemed to be more of an explanation for attraction between the two than I wanted; would have liked to have felt their growing attraction to each other more through scenes.
Some of the middle, forty to sixy percent, dragged for me as we didn't have much momentum in the murder mystery and rehashed a lot but then we get more of Alexis' backstory and the magical, fantasy elements were included more and it did become interesting fiction reading. Alexis and Penelope's romance felt underdeveloped to me and there seemed to be an overall polish to the story that was missing but the author has set-up a curious world with magicians, demons, and Atlantis.
August 17, 2019
A ritual murder shocks the Venice police department. When alchemical symbols are discovered at the murder scene, inspector Marco knows exactly who to call for help. Deep diver and archeologist Penelope, specialised in ancient script, is hired as a consultant.
From the ritual murder above ground we follow Penelope into the underworld of Venice where we find the remains of Atlantis, its few survivors, the not-so-lost library of Alexandria, mythology, astral projection, magicians, demons and the law of attraction.
This book drew me right in. Great scenery, true to life dialogue, solid characters, set at a fast pace.
With a good mix of modern fiction and fantasy, ancient history and magic, this is one very well crafted highly entertaining pageturner!
Thank you Netgalley and BHC Press for the ARC.
From the ritual murder above ground we follow Penelope into the underworld of Venice where we find the remains of Atlantis, its few survivors, the not-so-lost library of Alexandria, mythology, astral projection, magicians, demons and the law of attraction.
This book drew me right in. Great scenery, true to life dialogue, solid characters, set at a fast pace.
With a good mix of modern fiction and fantasy, ancient history and magic, this is one very well crafted highly entertaining pageturner!
Thank you Netgalley and BHC Press for the ARC.
July 24, 2019
This ending gave me goosebumps all over. I want to cry because the book is over, and because I cannot share those lovely characters' lives anymore.😭
I don't remember if I read the synopsis when I requested the book on NetGalley, but I didn't before reading it (as always, to keep the surprise coming!). I was totally and pleasantly surprised. I loved how different, yet so similar the characters were. And, I have to admit, I've been intrigued by Atlantis all my life too, like Penelope. And I love books about magic. Bring those two together with a murder, and I was hooked. (It does help that Alexis looks like a god, but who am I to judge, really.)
I really hope that this will be a series. I will enjoy very much reading the next book and plunge into this world again.
Many thanks to BHC Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I don't remember if I read the synopsis when I requested the book on NetGalley, but I didn't before reading it (as always, to keep the surprise coming!). I was totally and pleasantly surprised. I loved how different, yet so similar the characters were. And, I have to admit, I've been intrigued by Atlantis all my life too, like Penelope. And I love books about magic. Bring those two together with a murder, and I was hooked. (It does help that Alexis looks like a god, but who am I to judge, really.)
I really hope that this will be a series. I will enjoy very much reading the next book and plunge into this world again.
Many thanks to BHC Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 21, 2019
Could you say you never thought "what if magic was real, what would I do if it was real in my world" while reading a book about magic realism? For me, this, one of the books which makes me thought that.
Penelope has spent her entire life trying to find about the history of Atlantis (she knew it exists she could feel it in her bones) while trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis. Her father always was the first one who tries to stop her from going after her dream.
Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis. She found Atlantis tablet she thought it would be the key to her purpose, but what it had done was to set her up for more disappointment. When she just started her first holiday in two years, she got a mail about a case in Venice. Without thinking she went to Venice determined to help to the police before the killer strike again but found herself in a world she can't imagine.
Everything she believes will be challenged, the magic she tries to hard not to believe was real and learned about Atlantis even more than she can dream. In the darkly, seductive world of magic, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks and she wants to live.
I loved the story as soon as I read the excerpt. After began to read the book I can say it didn't disappoint me except the romance. Shortly I can do without details about the affairs between main characters. I read romance novels not much but I can love them from time to time. But for this story, I love the adventure so much that taking a break with the romance spoiled my joy (I can understand they need to have a connection with each other so the story will be more good). I love the other characters, other romance was a nice addition to the story and I love how the story builds as time pass but the ending was too quick looks like it's rushed. I couldn't believe how the evil plan come to ruin so easily when they prepared so thoroughly.
All with that I would recommend to anyone who wouldn't mind having romance in a well-developed magic realism story. I enjoy reading #TheImmortalCity first book in The Magicians of Venice Series by Amy Kuivalainen and I would like to read other books will come in the series. After this book, I would check Amy Kuivalainen's other books too. :))
Thanks to #NetGalley and the BHC Press providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review and making this available!
P.S. The book published is September 19th, 2019 by BHC Press.
Penelope has spent her entire life trying to find about the history of Atlantis (she knew it exists she could feel it in her bones) while trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis. Her father always was the first one who tries to stop her from going after her dream.
Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis. She found Atlantis tablet she thought it would be the key to her purpose, but what it had done was to set her up for more disappointment. When she just started her first holiday in two years, she got a mail about a case in Venice. Without thinking she went to Venice determined to help to the police before the killer strike again but found herself in a world she can't imagine.
Everything she believes will be challenged, the magic she tries to hard not to believe was real and learned about Atlantis even more than she can dream. In the darkly, seductive world of magic, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks and she wants to live.
I loved the story as soon as I read the excerpt. After began to read the book I can say it didn't disappoint me except the romance. Shortly I can do without details about the affairs between main characters. I read romance novels not much but I can love them from time to time. But for this story, I love the adventure so much that taking a break with the romance spoiled my joy (I can understand they need to have a connection with each other so the story will be more good). I love the other characters, other romance was a nice addition to the story and I love how the story builds as time pass but the ending was too quick looks like it's rushed. I couldn't believe how the evil plan come to ruin so easily when they prepared so thoroughly.
All with that I would recommend to anyone who wouldn't mind having romance in a well-developed magic realism story. I enjoy reading #TheImmortalCity first book in The Magicians of Venice Series by Amy Kuivalainen and I would like to read other books will come in the series. After this book, I would check Amy Kuivalainen's other books too. :))
Thanks to #NetGalley and the BHC Press providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review and making this available!
P.S. The book published is September 19th, 2019 by BHC Press.
June 7, 2019
This is one book you do not want to pass up! It was so much better then I was even hoping for. Think Venice, Lost City of Atlantis and very hot Magicians! Yeah I know what you're thinking- because when I think of magicians, I think of those awkward magicians you see on TV and creepy clowns at like a street fair but these Magicians were definitely not those. So throw those images right out of your head! These Magicians are from another time and another place and did I say OH SO VERY HOT! I seriously had dreams about all three for days. To say the least, I was very pleasantly surprised and I'm really hoping the publisher opts to continue this as a series if they haven't already. I need more of these Immortals right now!
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
September 20, 2019
The Immortal City is fantasy/mystery story set in modern times, but focusing on the lost city of Atlantis. It didn’t work 100% for me, but it was still a nice book that I believe some will really enjoy.
Thoughts:
I’ve always found Atlantis to be an intriguing story plot because of all different avenue’s an author can go down to create their story. Does it still exist? What happened? Is anything left? In The Immortal City, the author uses modern day world to begin the tale. At the beginning the book feels like a crime novel, a mystery/thriller that I found such a nice change of pace for a book in the fantasy genre. Slowly we begin to engage with the mystery and what clues they can find, but then Alexis, an Atlantean, enters and the fantasy part of the story begins to merge with the crime novel portion.
Once we meet Alexis, our exposure into the Atlantean world begins, which takes us in a new phase within the book. At that point we begin to get to know of its culture, magical system, history, and about other Atlanteans. I will add that I found it rather disturbing once I learned the lengths they will go to protect their Atlantis secrets and I appreciated how Penelope didn’t immediately trust them, although I probably would have been wary a lot longer than she was. However, the ritual murders are never completely forgotten in these sections of the book and eventually the reader is brought back to the crime they are trying to solve. However, solving the crime only brings more questions that don’t necessarily have answers – at least answers, yet.
Overall I liked the story and thought it was nicely done, but it was also a mixed-bag for me too. The middle section wasn’t always my cup of tea as there was a lot more focus on romance and the history of the Atlanteans than I had expected and less on fantasy or the main overall mystery. Although I didn’t love it and probably won’t continue in the series, it was set up nicely for the next in the Magicians of Venice series, Book 2.
Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts:
I’ve always found Atlantis to be an intriguing story plot because of all different avenue’s an author can go down to create their story. Does it still exist? What happened? Is anything left? In The Immortal City, the author uses modern day world to begin the tale. At the beginning the book feels like a crime novel, a mystery/thriller that I found such a nice change of pace for a book in the fantasy genre. Slowly we begin to engage with the mystery and what clues they can find, but then Alexis, an Atlantean, enters and the fantasy part of the story begins to merge with the crime novel portion.
Once we meet Alexis, our exposure into the Atlantean world begins, which takes us in a new phase within the book. At that point we begin to get to know of its culture, magical system, history, and about other Atlanteans. I will add that I found it rather disturbing once I learned the lengths they will go to protect their Atlantis secrets and I appreciated how Penelope didn’t immediately trust them, although I probably would have been wary a lot longer than she was. However, the ritual murders are never completely forgotten in these sections of the book and eventually the reader is brought back to the crime they are trying to solve. However, solving the crime only brings more questions that don’t necessarily have answers – at least answers, yet.
Overall I liked the story and thought it was nicely done, but it was also a mixed-bag for me too. The middle section wasn’t always my cup of tea as there was a lot more focus on romance and the history of the Atlanteans than I had expected and less on fantasy or the main overall mystery. Although I didn’t love it and probably won’t continue in the series, it was set up nicely for the next in the Magicians of Venice series, Book 2.
Rating: 4 stars
January 18, 2022
3.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“If this is a dream, it is a fascinating one. If this is real, then I’m being given the opportunity to brush against true mystery, and hopefully, find the answers that have plagued me since childhood.”
The Immortal City is the first installment in the Magicians of Venice series and is considered a reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code. It's drenched in ancient magic, murder mystery, rich mythology, and fanaticism.
The story takes you to the stunning floating city of Venice, so imagine adding to that beautiful setting an ominous backdrop and the haunting mysteries of the Lost City of Atlantis? You have a beautifully constructed and compelling story.
— It's a New Adult Urban Fantasy
— Slowburn Romance
— Ancient Magic
— Magicians
— Mysticism and Culticism
— Murder Mystery and Suspense
— Demonic spirits and Fanatic Acolytes
— Enriched with mythology and history including the myths of the Lost City of Atlantis.
Dr. Penelope Bryne have always been passionate about researching the mysteries of the Lost City of Atlantis and to her delight, she made a grand discovery at the bottom of the ocean by declaring that she had found a missing piece belonging to a tablet that originates from Atlantis.
Unfortunate for her, becoming dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of a city that is considered a pure myth and being an ambitious scholar who is a woman in a male-dominated field makes her an easy target—that includes efforts to sabotage her work.
It takes a gruesome murder of a woman ritualistically killed and hanged over a bridge to summon Penelope all the way from Australia to the vibrant city of Venice. The killer marked the ritualistic murder scene with a mysterious ancient script that resembles the one on the ancient tablet piece Penelope discovered and her knowledge now becomes an asset in solving the murder.
The more threads Penelope picks up the more she is tangled up in the mysteries of the murder and the ancient magic that finds its way to her.
“Knowledge is sacred, whether it’s magical or not. It’s always worth protecting because its value is infinite.”
This book had a strong plot that kept me invested and eager to see what could unfold next. It's full of mysteries and the murders are horrific but they do not overwhelm the story overall.
I really liked the characters but my issue was the heavy and lengthy dialogue that made me want to pause reading sometimes to take a break. There isn't much info-dumping but the flow of the dialogue was not smooth.
I don't think I've read a book that weaves the myths of Atlantis into its story but I'm glad I read this one because it's a different take and gave me more than what I expected.
God, she wanted him, to unlock every part of him like he was a living book filled with deep unknowable secrets, terrifying fairy tales of magic and violence and loss. She wanted to swallow the smoke of his voice and know the feeling of his fingertips on her face.
The romance starts out slow and I enjoyed some of the couple's moments, but I wish the love interest was fleshed out more as I am still not entirely sold on him. Maybe that's because I felt the build-up was a bit fragmented.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but had some minor issues that stopped me from giving it a 4-star rating. I do plan to read the sequel but I am not excited to start it right away.
Trigger Warnings: graphic scenes of death, murder, and torture.
“If this is a dream, it is a fascinating one. If this is real, then I’m being given the opportunity to brush against true mystery, and hopefully, find the answers that have plagued me since childhood.”
The Immortal City is the first installment in the Magicians of Venice series and is considered a reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code. It's drenched in ancient magic, murder mystery, rich mythology, and fanaticism.
The story takes you to the stunning floating city of Venice, so imagine adding to that beautiful setting an ominous backdrop and the haunting mysteries of the Lost City of Atlantis? You have a beautifully constructed and compelling story.
— It's a New Adult Urban Fantasy
— Slowburn Romance
— Ancient Magic
— Magicians
— Mysticism and Culticism
— Murder Mystery and Suspense
— Demonic spirits and Fanatic Acolytes
— Enriched with mythology and history including the myths of the Lost City of Atlantis.
Dr. Penelope Bryne have always been passionate about researching the mysteries of the Lost City of Atlantis and to her delight, she made a grand discovery at the bottom of the ocean by declaring that she had found a missing piece belonging to a tablet that originates from Atlantis.
Unfortunate for her, becoming dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of a city that is considered a pure myth and being an ambitious scholar who is a woman in a male-dominated field makes her an easy target—that includes efforts to sabotage her work.
It takes a gruesome murder of a woman ritualistically killed and hanged over a bridge to summon Penelope all the way from Australia to the vibrant city of Venice. The killer marked the ritualistic murder scene with a mysterious ancient script that resembles the one on the ancient tablet piece Penelope discovered and her knowledge now becomes an asset in solving the murder.
The more threads Penelope picks up the more she is tangled up in the mysteries of the murder and the ancient magic that finds its way to her.
“Knowledge is sacred, whether it’s magical or not. It’s always worth protecting because its value is infinite.”
This book had a strong plot that kept me invested and eager to see what could unfold next. It's full of mysteries and the murders are horrific but they do not overwhelm the story overall.
I really liked the characters but my issue was the heavy and lengthy dialogue that made me want to pause reading sometimes to take a break. There isn't much info-dumping but the flow of the dialogue was not smooth.
I don't think I've read a book that weaves the myths of Atlantis into its story but I'm glad I read this one because it's a different take and gave me more than what I expected.
God, she wanted him, to unlock every part of him like he was a living book filled with deep unknowable secrets, terrifying fairy tales of magic and violence and loss. She wanted to swallow the smoke of his voice and know the feeling of his fingertips on her face.
The romance starts out slow and I enjoyed some of the couple's moments, but I wish the love interest was fleshed out more as I am still not entirely sold on him. Maybe that's because I felt the build-up was a bit fragmented.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but had some minor issues that stopped me from giving it a 4-star rating. I do plan to read the sequel but I am not excited to start it right away.
Trigger Warnings: graphic scenes of death, murder, and torture.
June 17, 2019
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book but it certainly wasn’t Demons, Magicians and the secret of Atlantis ! Add in a somewhat discredited archaeologist who gets embroiled in a murder investigation in Venice and it really was an interesting story . There’s an evil plot, characters with their own issues and of course a romance. I just honestly found myself getting sucked in and would definitely read more from this author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
June 26, 2019
I expected a kind of urban mystery/murder story with elements of mythology and magic, and since it is about Atlantis, my mind went straight to Disney's Atlantis for grown ups. It wasn't anything like this.
First of all, I didn't know there would be romance, so the moment it started taking over every single element that I loved in the book I lost my interest. The story started with a murder in Venice and the inspector asking our heroine, an Atlantis expert, for some help to solve the murder. She immediately travels there to look at the scene and find more clues for her research. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see where the story would go, how they would solve the ritualistic murders and the Atlantis history. Very early in the story the premise changed and from paranormal, murder mystery it became a romantic story. I didn't like how quickly it happened and how much it took from the story. The writing in general was good and the original idea very interesting, but the romance was unnecessary and the characters average at best.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, I didn't know there would be romance, so the moment it started taking over every single element that I loved in the book I lost my interest. The story started with a murder in Venice and the inspector asking our heroine, an Atlantis expert, for some help to solve the murder. She immediately travels there to look at the scene and find more clues for her research. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see where the story would go, how they would solve the ritualistic murders and the Atlantis history. Very early in the story the premise changed and from paranormal, murder mystery it became a romantic story. I didn't like how quickly it happened and how much it took from the story. The writing in general was good and the original idea very interesting, but the romance was unnecessary and the characters average at best.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2020
This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!
Actual rating: 3.5*
Disclaimer: I got an ARC via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Back when I requested a copy of The Immortal City on Netgalley, I was looking for something light and interesting book to read, thinking I’ll be having all the time finishing it before release. Life of course decided to kick my ass instead and a year passed somehow until my schedule cleared up enough to finally get to it. By this point I basically jumped into it blindly, I could not remember the blurb and decided not to look it up so it would be a mystery.
And The Immortal City does start out as a mystery. Modern-day Venice is plagued by a brutal murderer and Inspector Marco Dandolo asks for help from archeologist Dr. Penelope Byrne to help understand the strange symbols left at the scenes. Unlike herself, Penelope gets on the first plane to fly half a world over in hopes to get closer to learning something about Atlantis. Her efforts ridiculed by everyone, her career in ruins, she is unable to give up on finding answers. She knows Atlantis must have existed and a piece of stone tablet might prove it. As well as the murderer roaming free in Venice who uses very similar symbols. What Penelope finds though is a life-threatening danger, unexpected friendship, and new possibilities.
The Immortal City got me hooked pretty early on. I love crime fiction, especially if it’s paired with some fantasy. It starts our more crime fiction and ends up being more fantasy. I was intrigued by the investigation and was a bit disappointed when the focus switched to Penelope and Alex’s relationship. That’s where things have become a bit cliché. Not that it stopped me basically devouring the book. Was it predictable? Yeah. I didn’t really care about the MC, Penelope either, but there was still something in this book that just made me unable to stop reading. I probably read it at the right time and it just clicked with me on some level.
I liked the side-characters, the magicians living with Alexis. Phaedros, Aelia and Zo bring a great comedic relief on their own way, while the others, Nereus, Lyca and Galenos are more serious. They balance each other out well. I somehow found Penelope a bit flat as a character among all these colorful, vibrant personalities. Sure, all of them has their problems and hardships, Penelope included, but she kind of felt like a tool in the plot rather than an active participant. Things are happening to her and she is by no means a weak character, just… not interesting enough I guess. It’s hard to explain.
The Immortal City is a fast-paced, decent Fantasy set in the beautiful Venice – of which we get not nearly enough by the way. It might be a perfect read for those who love Mystery books with star-crossed lovers and magic chasing thousands of years old myths. It has a lot going for it and Kuivalainen made Venice alive in this modern-day blood-soaked love story.
Actual rating: 3.5*
Disclaimer: I got an ARC via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
“Venice had survived like a small pocket of the decadent past, its mythology only enhanced by the world that loved and protected her, even if they were not Venetian. It was a city that still welcomed all and stole their hearts as easily as it relieved the money from their giving pockets.”
Back when I requested a copy of The Immortal City on Netgalley, I was looking for something light and interesting book to read, thinking I’ll be having all the time finishing it before release. Life of course decided to kick my ass instead and a year passed somehow until my schedule cleared up enough to finally get to it. By this point I basically jumped into it blindly, I could not remember the blurb and decided not to look it up so it would be a mystery.
And The Immortal City does start out as a mystery. Modern-day Venice is plagued by a brutal murderer and Inspector Marco Dandolo asks for help from archeologist Dr. Penelope Byrne to help understand the strange symbols left at the scenes. Unlike herself, Penelope gets on the first plane to fly half a world over in hopes to get closer to learning something about Atlantis. Her efforts ridiculed by everyone, her career in ruins, she is unable to give up on finding answers. She knows Atlantis must have existed and a piece of stone tablet might prove it. As well as the murderer roaming free in Venice who uses very similar symbols. What Penelope finds though is a life-threatening danger, unexpected friendship, and new possibilities.
The Immortal City got me hooked pretty early on. I love crime fiction, especially if it’s paired with some fantasy. It starts our more crime fiction and ends up being more fantasy. I was intrigued by the investigation and was a bit disappointed when the focus switched to Penelope and Alex’s relationship. That’s where things have become a bit cliché. Not that it stopped me basically devouring the book. Was it predictable? Yeah. I didn’t really care about the MC, Penelope either, but there was still something in this book that just made me unable to stop reading. I probably read it at the right time and it just clicked with me on some level.
I liked the side-characters, the magicians living with Alexis. Phaedros, Aelia and Zo bring a great comedic relief on their own way, while the others, Nereus, Lyca and Galenos are more serious. They balance each other out well. I somehow found Penelope a bit flat as a character among all these colorful, vibrant personalities. Sure, all of them has their problems and hardships, Penelope included, but she kind of felt like a tool in the plot rather than an active participant. Things are happening to her and she is by no means a weak character, just… not interesting enough I guess. It’s hard to explain.
The Immortal City is a fast-paced, decent Fantasy set in the beautiful Venice – of which we get not nearly enough by the way. It might be a perfect read for those who love Mystery books with star-crossed lovers and magic chasing thousands of years old myths. It has a lot going for it and Kuivalainen made Venice alive in this modern-day blood-soaked love story.
June 16, 2023
Pros:
- Atmosphere
- Mix of magic and mythology and history
- The beginning
I really was enjoying this book in the beginning although fair warning, the murders ESPECIALLY the first one are written quite graphically. Besides the murders the rest is written with a sense of wonder. The thing is once Penelope stays at the tower, the plot slows way down.
Cons:
- Murder mystery?? what murder mystery??
- 1D side characters (7 magicians and I kept forgetting who they all were)
- Romance
- Middle of the book slows down
- Shallow world-building
So, the romance was not insta-love, but it felt like it??? Probably because I don't understand how feelings developed between them. Penelope goes from "I don't have time to date" to jumping his bones without any internal change. Chemistry is there, but I don't believe it.
The side characters disappear and rarely use magic -- also their magic is different??? How? Instead of telling stories of their past or figuring out who they were in history, how about explaining how the magic works?
AND are magicians not human? There is a line were one of them says they were human before becoming magicians and I shouted "WHAT!?" aloud because they keep talking down about humans, only for it to be said the people of Atlantis WERE human, but somehow magicians are made and live forever?? Why is none of this explained?? I need more present day/time information to help me understand the world, not another story about how Zo, the poet, was Homer or wrote Dante's Inferno.
The mystery disappears mid-book as they dig into history *sigh*.
So, do I recommend it? Yes and no. If you like the Venice setting and want some magic with romantic tension you should totally dive in. This is also a great beach read since it won't take too much concentration.
If you're looking for an adventure and puzzles with steamy scenes, no this isn't the one for you.
- Atmosphere
- Mix of magic and mythology and history
- The beginning
I really was enjoying this book in the beginning although fair warning, the murders ESPECIALLY the first one are written quite graphically. Besides the murders the rest is written with a sense of wonder. The thing is once Penelope stays at the tower, the plot slows way down.
Cons:
- Murder mystery?? what murder mystery??
- 1D side characters (7 magicians and I kept forgetting who they all were)
- Romance
- Middle of the book slows down
- Shallow world-building
So, the romance was not insta-love, but it felt like it??? Probably because I don't understand how feelings developed between them. Penelope goes from "I don't have time to date" to jumping his bones without any internal change. Chemistry is there, but I don't believe it.
The side characters disappear and rarely use magic -- also their magic is different??? How? Instead of telling stories of their past or figuring out who they were in history, how about explaining how the magic works?
AND are magicians not human? There is a line were one of them says they were human before becoming magicians and I shouted "WHAT!?" aloud because they keep talking down about humans, only for it to be said the people of Atlantis WERE human, but somehow magicians are made and live forever?? Why is none of this explained?? I need more present day/time information to help me understand the world, not another story about how Zo, the poet, was Homer or wrote Dante's Inferno.
The mystery disappears mid-book as they dig into history *sigh*.
So, do I recommend it? Yes and no. If you like the Venice setting and want some magic with romantic tension you should totally dive in. This is also a great beach read since it won't take too much concentration.
If you're looking for an adventure and puzzles with steamy scenes, no this isn't the one for you.
April 13, 2019
Wow!
This book was WOW!
Quick paced, witty characters and a murderous plot to uncover.
Penelope Byrne, after being laughed out of the academic world, an expert in Atlantean history is taken on to help decipher some glyphs at a murder/sacrificial scene in Venice.
This then takes Penelope on a wild ride!
Being stabbed and almost drowning to being rescued by a very very hot (that’s how I imagined him) stranger, but Penelope isn’t one who needs saving! She is no damsel in distress! She is Ms Indiana Jones, ready to fight her way through whomever she has to, especially if answers are behind them.
I don’t know how to explain this without spoilers!
So badass, smart woman + super hot mysterious fella + magic + plot to destroy Venice + Atlantis. Plus a whole lot more hotness!!!!
I can’t wait for the release date so I can get a physical copy, that cover is stunning!!!
I want to thank BHC for the ebook via NetGalley, I received this free in exchange for an honest review
This book was WOW!
Quick paced, witty characters and a murderous plot to uncover.
Penelope Byrne, after being laughed out of the academic world, an expert in Atlantean history is taken on to help decipher some glyphs at a murder/sacrificial scene in Venice.
This then takes Penelope on a wild ride!
Being stabbed and almost drowning to being rescued by a very very hot (that’s how I imagined him) stranger, but Penelope isn’t one who needs saving! She is no damsel in distress! She is Ms Indiana Jones, ready to fight her way through whomever she has to, especially if answers are behind them.
I don’t know how to explain this without spoilers!
So badass, smart woman + super hot mysterious fella + magic + plot to destroy Venice + Atlantis. Plus a whole lot more hotness!!!!
I can’t wait for the release date so I can get a physical copy, that cover is stunning!!!
I want to thank BHC for the ebook via NetGalley, I received this free in exchange for an honest review
November 6, 2021
Incredible! Author Amy Kuivalainen transports you to the gorgeous magical city of Venice, when archeologist Dr Penelope Bryne is asked to help solve a ritualistic murder. She discovers dark ancient secrets and maybe a bit of magic when she meets Alexis, one of the last survivors of Atlantis!!! This action packed, magical murder mystery is full of mythology, ancient relics, fantastic characters, and a bit of amore ;)
June 20, 2022
**4 Venetian Stars**
Well, this book took me by surprise.
A couple of weeks ago I was looking for books on Atlantis and came up empty-handed. Fast forward to a couple of days ago, scrolling my TBR in search of a book to read. I usually spend hours to choose which book to read, going back to the blurb and reviews. This time, when I reached The immortal city I didn't give it 2 thoughts, I picked it without going back to check what it was about (it had been on my TBR for > 7 months), just because it filled the I of my alphabet reading challenge. And, you guessed it, Atlantis!
I went in with some preconceptions about what to expect and was delightfully wrong.
This book has many strong and interesting elements. I liked that it is a thriller / murder investigation with a side of magic, of fantasy and ancient mythologies and a touch of romance.
I loved the magicians, their banters and antics.
The theme of immortality has been explored throuroughly in science-fiction and I do wonder what would remain of your humanity if you lived for centuries or millennia? It is one point of this book that felt weak. All the magicians are very human. But may be that's a gift of magic.
Also, there was a change of balance between thriller and romance in the middle of the book. Because the romance is not the initial plot point it lacks development and feels rushed. I hope it will be more developed in the next book. Because the investigation is not the main plot point anymore in the second half, the author had to resort to lightbulb moments to move it forward.
But overall, it was a very good book and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward reading the next books in the series.
Well, this book took me by surprise.
A couple of weeks ago I was looking for books on Atlantis and came up empty-handed. Fast forward to a couple of days ago, scrolling my TBR in search of a book to read. I usually spend hours to choose which book to read, going back to the blurb and reviews. This time, when I reached The immortal city I didn't give it 2 thoughts, I picked it without going back to check what it was about (it had been on my TBR for > 7 months), just because it filled the I of my alphabet reading challenge. And, you guessed it, Atlantis!
I went in with some preconceptions about what to expect and was delightfully wrong.
This book has many strong and interesting elements. I liked that it is a thriller / murder investigation with a side of magic, of fantasy and ancient mythologies and a touch of romance.
I loved the magicians, their banters and antics.
The theme of immortality has been explored throuroughly in science-fiction and I do wonder what would remain of your humanity if you lived for centuries or millennia? It is one point of this book that felt weak. All the magicians are very human. But may be that's a gift of magic.
Also, there was a change of balance between thriller and romance in the middle of the book. Because the romance is not the initial plot point it lacks development and feels rushed. I hope it will be more developed in the next book. Because the investigation is not the main plot point anymore in the second half, the author had to resort to lightbulb moments to move it forward.
But overall, it was a very good book and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward reading the next books in the series.
November 11, 2019
3.75 stars
A very interesting read, even with the murder-case that i'm not so fond of. But i loved the part with Atlantis in it. Plus, i came to like Alexis & Penelope alot, Penelope kind of reminded me a bit of Milo from the Disney's Atlantis movie, without the stuttering and the glasses, but you get the gist.
A very interesting read, even with the murder-case that i'm not so fond of. But i loved the part with Atlantis in it. Plus, i came to like Alexis & Penelope alot, Penelope kind of reminded me a bit of Milo from the Disney's Atlantis movie, without the stuttering and the glasses, but you get the gist.
May 22, 2019
I'll admit, I was hesitant going into this book. There were so many things that could go wrong with this premise, but I really ended up liking it. It's a little bit murder mystery and snarky academia meets the magic of Atlantis. See, even as I write that, it feels kind of bonkers. But alas! This is a really fun, solid read. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. There's going to be a sequel, isn't there, Ms. Kuivalainen?
Many thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for providing me an advanced release copy for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for providing me an advanced release copy for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
Magicians from the lost city of Atlantis in modern-day Venezia? Talk about an unusual premise, and I was immediately intrigued. THE IMMORTAL CITY is a page-turner from the beginning when archaeologist Penelope finds herself consultant to detectives at a murder scene, then swept up into a fascinating underground world of immortal magicians and demons.
I did find myself at times wondering if this was a book meant for new adult/YA as the relationship between Penelope and the magician Alexis (who looks like a Turkish corsair) was so heavy-handed, in a way that felt I remember being so swept away by in books when I was young.
Overall, a fun read and I look forward to reading the next books in the trilogy.
I did find myself at times wondering if this was a book meant for new adult/YA as the relationship between Penelope and the magician Alexis (who looks like a Turkish corsair) was so heavy-handed, in a way that felt I remember being so swept away by in books when I was young.
Overall, a fun read and I look forward to reading the next books in the trilogy.
May 6, 2019
Rounded up from 1.5/5
Sometimes writing a book review feels a lot like writing a student’s report card at the end of a semester. The reports of those students that are either good or bad can be written both quickly and easily as there is always plenty to say. In fact, even some middling students can be easy to write about if they are a mixture of good qualities and some that are…less than desirable. However, every class has a few students that, unfortunately, don’t have any exceptional qualities, good or bad, and thus struggle to stand out or be memorable. For me, The Immortal City felt like one of those middling students. After I had finished reading the book, I really struggled to determine what opinions I had, if any. So, I forced myself to read it for a second time in the hope of finding some inspiration. I had limited success.
The premise for The Immortal City is certainly interesting enough. Ritualistic murders in Venice coupled with magicians from the lost city of Atlantis…there’s so much potential here. However, despite having so many interesting aspects of the story to work with, I felt that far too much page time was dedicated to the burgeoning romance between the two protagonists. Certainly, I can appreciate that the romantic element was necessary for the overall story, but what I really wanted was to learn more about Atlantis and the mysteries happening in Venice.
Amy Kuivalainen clearly knows how to write a book. The Immortal City reads ok, flows from beginning to end, and doesn’t suffer from any major pacing issues. The characters develop satisfactorily (although, without ever feeling truly dynamic), while their relationships and interactions with one another are, for the most part, believable. But it all just felt so…meh. The only way that I can really think to describe it is that it had a ‘paint-by-numbers’ feel about it. Whatever magic that Kuivalainen has put into these pages has unfortunately passed me by.
Thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Sometimes writing a book review feels a lot like writing a student’s report card at the end of a semester. The reports of those students that are either good or bad can be written both quickly and easily as there is always plenty to say. In fact, even some middling students can be easy to write about if they are a mixture of good qualities and some that are…less than desirable. However, every class has a few students that, unfortunately, don’t have any exceptional qualities, good or bad, and thus struggle to stand out or be memorable. For me, The Immortal City felt like one of those middling students. After I had finished reading the book, I really struggled to determine what opinions I had, if any. So, I forced myself to read it for a second time in the hope of finding some inspiration. I had limited success.
The premise for The Immortal City is certainly interesting enough. Ritualistic murders in Venice coupled with magicians from the lost city of Atlantis…there’s so much potential here. However, despite having so many interesting aspects of the story to work with, I felt that far too much page time was dedicated to the burgeoning romance between the two protagonists. Certainly, I can appreciate that the romantic element was necessary for the overall story, but what I really wanted was to learn more about Atlantis and the mysteries happening in Venice.
Amy Kuivalainen clearly knows how to write a book. The Immortal City reads ok, flows from beginning to end, and doesn’t suffer from any major pacing issues. The characters develop satisfactorily (although, without ever feeling truly dynamic), while their relationships and interactions with one another are, for the most part, believable. But it all just felt so…meh. The only way that I can really think to describe it is that it had a ‘paint-by-numbers’ feel about it. Whatever magic that Kuivalainen has put into these pages has unfortunately passed me by.
Thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 14, 2019
I was in the middle of reading a really dark nonfiction book about police torture and this book was a delightful escape.
I'm awfully glad I picked this book up on a whim, and the author has earned a place on my list of new releases to track. I love scholarly chick lit (which, since I enjoyed this and Discovery of Witches, is apparently a genre, and one that I am quite into.)
Dr. Bryne is a historian facing a fair amount of ridicule in her field after declaring she had found real evidence of the existence of Atlantis and wanted to pursue it further. While otherwise maligned for her interest in the subject, she does find herself called to Venice to advise on a murder case where the murderer seems to have used symbolism seen in her research.
Having lived a rather mundane life until this point, she is startled to encounter in Venice what can only be described as magical phenomena, and recurring through it all is a handsome man she saw once in a dream. The two of them must work together through dangerous circumstances to stop the killer before he strikes again, while discovering that the lost secrets of Atlantis aren't so lost at all.
A good addition for fans of urban fantasy or paranormal romance.
arc received by the publisher
World Reading Challenge: Australia (author is Australian)
I'm awfully glad I picked this book up on a whim, and the author has earned a place on my list of new releases to track. I love scholarly chick lit (which, since I enjoyed this and Discovery of Witches, is apparently a genre, and one that I am quite into.)
Dr. Bryne is a historian facing a fair amount of ridicule in her field after declaring she had found real evidence of the existence of Atlantis and wanted to pursue it further. While otherwise maligned for her interest in the subject, she does find herself called to Venice to advise on a murder case where the murderer seems to have used symbolism seen in her research.
Having lived a rather mundane life until this point, she is startled to encounter in Venice what can only be described as magical phenomena, and recurring through it all is a handsome man she saw once in a dream. The two of them must work together through dangerous circumstances to stop the killer before he strikes again, while discovering that the lost secrets of Atlantis aren't so lost at all.
A good addition for fans of urban fantasy or paranormal romance.
arc received by the publisher
World Reading Challenge: Australia (author is Australian)
March 15, 2024
THE IMMORTAL CITY was a fantastic contemporary fantasy filled with magic, Atlantean survivors, and a swoony romance! The world building and connection to real history and beliefs about Atlantis were so interesting and I felt completely immersed in the story and by the end I was desperate to visit Venice myself. I especially loved the way Kuivalainen wrote the palazzo the Magicians lived in; it was amazing and I loved that it could think for itself and had a bit of a personality. The changing pathways and rooms were really cool and, of course, the massive Archives would be a book lover's dream!
I went into this expecting it to be more fantasy than romance based on the reviews but actually the romance between Penelope and Alexis was one of the best I’ve read! It wasn't overly steamy but it was top tier romantic. I can’t wait to see more of their relationship in the future books. In addition the romance the other Magicians were a delight as side characters and Marco, our police inspector, was so charming and likable. Side note, I loved how professionally Marco treated Penelope which I feel was really important considering how Penelope’s research and reputation has been criticized. Marco always respected her intelligence as an expert in her field.
Content Warning: depiction of murder/sacrifice scenes; references to the rape and torture of a side character
I went into this expecting it to be more fantasy than romance based on the reviews but actually the romance between Penelope and Alexis was one of the best I’ve read! It wasn't overly steamy but it was top tier romantic. I can’t wait to see more of their relationship in the future books. In addition the romance the other Magicians were a delight as side characters and Marco, our police inspector, was so charming and likable. Side note, I loved how professionally Marco treated Penelope which I feel was really important considering how Penelope’s research and reputation has been criticized. Marco always respected her intelligence as an expert in her field.
Content Warning: depiction of murder/sacrifice scenes; references to the rape and torture of a side character
October 30, 2019
Netgalley provided me with a copy of this book and it found it unfinishable. The heroine of the tale was portrayed more like a silly teenager than an intelligent researcher with a deep calling. The dialogue was cheesy when it was even in English, and every scene and conversation was rushed and flat. I also had a hard time determining who the target audience for this book would be. If YA, perhaps the simplicity was intentional. But it wasn’t listed as YA, so it just seemed insulting.
May 5, 2019
• Title: The Immortal City
• Author: Amy Kuivalainen
• Series: The Magicians of Venice Book 1
• Pages: 324
• Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Magical Realism
• Rating Out of 5 Stars: 4
My Thoughts:
Archaeologist gets caught up in an unusual excavation, just maybe finding the lost city of Atlantis and perhaps an ancient blood cult on top of it. Sign me up!
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to get with this title but I am so thrilled that I had the opportunity to read it. The Immortal City is well-written, witty, charming, atmospheric and left me wanting the next book all ready in my hands.
This was such an interesting take on the Atlantian legend. I appreciated the amount of research that had to have gone into this. Its got its hooks into me early and I couldn't put it down. As much as I enjoyed the story, the characters really drove this particular book.
Penelope, our quasi laughing stock of the historical archaeological community, has a drive that doesn’t quit. When she gets called by the Venetian police to come and take a look at some Runes at a ritual murder site that match ones she found before she cant help but go. But she gets more than she bargains for. When things take an unexpected turn you’d think she would go safely home. Her need to find the truth won’t let her give up so easily. While it gets her into some amazing places like the Palazzo (Mercy where do I get one of my own?) with a group of ancient magicians it also gets her right into the sights of their rival and their dark deity with the Cult of Thevetat. While some of the encounters really made me question her level of academia and alleged creative deduction abilities...they moved at a good enough clip to not be more than a minor irritation.
We have a pretty varied crew all with their own quirks and habits. Our Magical Motley Crew consists of Alexis, Nereus, Phaidros, Lyca, Aelia & Zo.
Mostly we focus on Alexis. He is the main defender and love interest of Penelope. He tends to hold the role of Leader among the group just below Nereus. He becomes a love interest to Penelope rather quickly and sometimes the relationship feels like a forced point to move the story forward but I still found myself routing for them. The are so much better together then they are apart.
Phaidros is that flirtatious, lovable and obnoxiously endearing little brother that you would do anything for and have no doubt he would do the same for those he cares about in return. He works in the Palazzo library as an understudy of sorts to Nereus and a proverbial pain in the behind to Aelia.
Aelia is a both a priestess and Princess of the former lost city. She is drop dead gorgeous, knows it and still has a heart of gold.
Lyca, is the strong silent type. She is a fighter and has no problem letting the group know just how little she wants to deal with all the problems Penelope poses.
Zo, How I adored this character! His lines had me laughing out loud more than once. Especially when they were discussing certain historical figures. The man goes on rants like I do and I admire the hell out of him. I wish he had been more present in the story.
Nereus is the resident Healer, historian and general leader of the group. As the elder everyone defers to her. She either likes you, or she doesn't. She has a no-nonsense attitude about what she’ll tolerate and if the woman ever wanted another helper for that library I volunteer. The library was easily my favorite setting in the story for reasons I wont spoil because its a treat every historian and book lover will appreciate without a heads up.
We do focus on one other character outside of the magicians that the team works with. Marco, who is the local police contact working with them on the cases, is a tolerable character. I personally didn’t find him to be more then a bridge between the everyday world and the magical world but he made for a decent balance to Alexis.
As far as our settings; you’re in Venice during Carnival. You’re also in Atlantis in the past, and where ever the Palazzo has set you up as a personal sanctuary when there. Its lush and dreamy and sometimes absolutely terrifying. As much beauty as we get with the magicians, we see all the gory macabre that the Cult of Thevetat can create. When I mean gory. I mean gory.
The settings of the ritual murders do not shy away from the details. If you have a weak stomach please bear that in mind when picking this title up.
The followers of Thevetat are such an unforgiving group. What makes them all the more horrifying is that cause that they give for justifying everything that they do is really not a bad reason.
When I came to the end of it I was so disappointed. I didn’t want to leave the world yet. I cannot wait to see what happens with the next installment. This really was an unexpected pleasure to read.
EARC was kindly provided by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
• Author: Amy Kuivalainen
• Series: The Magicians of Venice Book 1
• Pages: 324
• Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Magical Realism
• Rating Out of 5 Stars: 4
My Thoughts:
Archaeologist gets caught up in an unusual excavation, just maybe finding the lost city of Atlantis and perhaps an ancient blood cult on top of it. Sign me up!
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to get with this title but I am so thrilled that I had the opportunity to read it. The Immortal City is well-written, witty, charming, atmospheric and left me wanting the next book all ready in my hands.
This was such an interesting take on the Atlantian legend. I appreciated the amount of research that had to have gone into this. Its got its hooks into me early and I couldn't put it down. As much as I enjoyed the story, the characters really drove this particular book.
Penelope, our quasi laughing stock of the historical archaeological community, has a drive that doesn’t quit. When she gets called by the Venetian police to come and take a look at some Runes at a ritual murder site that match ones she found before she cant help but go. But she gets more than she bargains for. When things take an unexpected turn you’d think she would go safely home. Her need to find the truth won’t let her give up so easily. While it gets her into some amazing places like the Palazzo (Mercy where do I get one of my own?) with a group of ancient magicians it also gets her right into the sights of their rival and their dark deity with the Cult of Thevetat. While some of the encounters really made me question her level of academia and alleged creative deduction abilities...they moved at a good enough clip to not be more than a minor irritation.
We have a pretty varied crew all with their own quirks and habits. Our Magical Motley Crew consists of Alexis, Nereus, Phaidros, Lyca, Aelia & Zo.
Mostly we focus on Alexis. He is the main defender and love interest of Penelope. He tends to hold the role of Leader among the group just below Nereus. He becomes a love interest to Penelope rather quickly and sometimes the relationship feels like a forced point to move the story forward but I still found myself routing for them. The are so much better together then they are apart.
Phaidros is that flirtatious, lovable and obnoxiously endearing little brother that you would do anything for and have no doubt he would do the same for those he cares about in return. He works in the Palazzo library as an understudy of sorts to Nereus and a proverbial pain in the behind to Aelia.
Aelia is a both a priestess and Princess of the former lost city. She is drop dead gorgeous, knows it and still has a heart of gold.
Lyca, is the strong silent type. She is a fighter and has no problem letting the group know just how little she wants to deal with all the problems Penelope poses.
Zo, How I adored this character! His lines had me laughing out loud more than once. Especially when they were discussing certain historical figures. The man goes on rants like I do and I admire the hell out of him. I wish he had been more present in the story.
Nereus is the resident Healer, historian and general leader of the group. As the elder everyone defers to her. She either likes you, or she doesn't. She has a no-nonsense attitude about what she’ll tolerate and if the woman ever wanted another helper for that library I volunteer. The library was easily my favorite setting in the story for reasons I wont spoil because its a treat every historian and book lover will appreciate without a heads up.
We do focus on one other character outside of the magicians that the team works with. Marco, who is the local police contact working with them on the cases, is a tolerable character. I personally didn’t find him to be more then a bridge between the everyday world and the magical world but he made for a decent balance to Alexis.
As far as our settings; you’re in Venice during Carnival. You’re also in Atlantis in the past, and where ever the Palazzo has set you up as a personal sanctuary when there. Its lush and dreamy and sometimes absolutely terrifying. As much beauty as we get with the magicians, we see all the gory macabre that the Cult of Thevetat can create. When I mean gory. I mean gory.
The settings of the ritual murders do not shy away from the details. If you have a weak stomach please bear that in mind when picking this title up.
The followers of Thevetat are such an unforgiving group. What makes them all the more horrifying is that cause that they give for justifying everything that they do is really not a bad reason.
When I came to the end of it I was so disappointed. I didn’t want to leave the world yet. I cannot wait to see what happens with the next installment. This really was an unexpected pleasure to read.
EARC was kindly provided by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 22, 2019
Rating - 3.5-4 (can't decide,sorry lol)
I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!All the following opinions are my own!
The Immortal City was a novel that very pleasantly surprised me and I really enjoyed reading it! The description of the book is slightly misleading. While the book *is* about murder and a bunch of magical and non-magical folk trying to find the people/demons responsible for it, it is also just a really trashy YA paranormal/urban fantasy with kind of a slow-burn romance.
And I adored it!
The plot was essentially very straight forward and didn't take too many unnecessary tangents, which is great for a book like this. There was a lot of love and research that went into the book since it heavily relied on elements of Greek/Egyptian/Turkish history and mythology. And of course, the mythology of Atlantis. I think the book did a fairly good job of meshing the supernatural with the historic, but there was some annoying name-dropping, as is the case with most novels that go down this path, which I could've done without. Also, there aren't any mind-blowing plot elements in this novel. Everything is pretty much something you can figure out and/or you've seen before. But it was still really enjoyable so I'll give it points for that!
The descriptions were pretty straightforward and the writing style was not too flowery. This was a good choice for this novel because it did have its fair share of moments when the story was a by-the-numbers police investigation and it would've been jarring for the reader to shift between flowery and non-flowery writing. I especially liked the dialogue in this book. It was pretty natural and it dominated most of the events in the book which worked for it! There were a few clunky bits here and there, but they didn't really bother me!
The characters were pretty good, too! I do think they could've been done a little better - and there could've been more showing and less telling when it came to some of their characteristics, but I ended up really caring for them by the end. The main characters are definitely likeable and I didn't regret the time I spent with them in the course of this novel. The side characters could use some more screen-time, so to speak, and a little bit more fleshing out. But they were still fun to read about! My favorite character was, surprisingly, Marco, the cop. I'm a little sad that he didn't get as much screen time as other characters did in the parts2&3 of the book, but he was definitely one of the more polished of the lot!
The romance in this book is...uhh...well, it's intense. It's very YA. If you've read any mainstream popular YA book from the 2000s,you know what I'm talking about. I wasn't a huge fan of how quickly the romance developed in the book, but I do admit that there was definitely chemistry between the characters and it wasn't all just forced and random. It started off awkwardly and progressed too quickly, but it also kind of works and it had its moments. Personally, I would've preferred if their relationship had been a very intense platonic thing--like canon Aziraphale and Crowley (give me some straight-baiting, I'm begging you) -- but that's just probably my ace self projecting on everything.
(*mild spoiler* they had sex and he didn't put on a condom and I almost had a stroke like STAY SAFE KIDS WTF)
Overall, I think this book works as a really quick, fun, distracting read. Don't expect something really deep or groundbreaking going into this, and you'll be fine. In my review, I've tried to be critical about certain aspects of the book, but the reason I'm giving it a high rating is just that it was a really fun time and while I acknowledge its flaws, I think my enjoyment of the book kind of makes up for them! And honestly, I really want to keep reading this series and I can't wait for the next book! I will admit, though, that this is definitely not everyone's cup of tea and you might find this book too generic or boring if you've read too much YA and are kind of over a few of the things that the genre is famous for. (If you read it because of me and don't like it, don't @ me lmao)
I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!All the following opinions are my own!
The Immortal City was a novel that very pleasantly surprised me and I really enjoyed reading it! The description of the book is slightly misleading. While the book *is* about murder and a bunch of magical and non-magical folk trying to find the people/demons responsible for it, it is also just a really trashy YA paranormal/urban fantasy with kind of a slow-burn romance.
And I adored it!
The plot was essentially very straight forward and didn't take too many unnecessary tangents, which is great for a book like this. There was a lot of love and research that went into the book since it heavily relied on elements of Greek/Egyptian/Turkish history and mythology. And of course, the mythology of Atlantis. I think the book did a fairly good job of meshing the supernatural with the historic, but there was some annoying name-dropping, as is the case with most novels that go down this path, which I could've done without. Also, there aren't any mind-blowing plot elements in this novel. Everything is pretty much something you can figure out and/or you've seen before. But it was still really enjoyable so I'll give it points for that!
The descriptions were pretty straightforward and the writing style was not too flowery. This was a good choice for this novel because it did have its fair share of moments when the story was a by-the-numbers police investigation and it would've been jarring for the reader to shift between flowery and non-flowery writing. I especially liked the dialogue in this book. It was pretty natural and it dominated most of the events in the book which worked for it! There were a few clunky bits here and there, but they didn't really bother me!
The characters were pretty good, too! I do think they could've been done a little better - and there could've been more showing and less telling when it came to some of their characteristics, but I ended up really caring for them by the end. The main characters are definitely likeable and I didn't regret the time I spent with them in the course of this novel. The side characters could use some more screen-time, so to speak, and a little bit more fleshing out. But they were still fun to read about! My favorite character was, surprisingly, Marco, the cop. I'm a little sad that he didn't get as much screen time as other characters did in the parts2&3 of the book, but he was definitely one of the more polished of the lot!
The romance in this book is...uhh...well, it's intense. It's very YA. If you've read any mainstream popular YA book from the 2000s,you know what I'm talking about. I wasn't a huge fan of how quickly the romance developed in the book, but I do admit that there was definitely chemistry between the characters and it wasn't all just forced and random. It started off awkwardly and progressed too quickly, but it also kind of works and it had its moments. Personally, I would've preferred if their relationship had been a very intense platonic thing--like canon Aziraphale and Crowley (give me some straight-baiting, I'm begging you) -- but that's just probably my ace self projecting on everything.
(*mild spoiler* they had sex and he didn't put on a condom and I almost had a stroke like STAY SAFE KIDS WTF)
Overall, I think this book works as a really quick, fun, distracting read. Don't expect something really deep or groundbreaking going into this, and you'll be fine. In my review, I've tried to be critical about certain aspects of the book, but the reason I'm giving it a high rating is just that it was a really fun time and while I acknowledge its flaws, I think my enjoyment of the book kind of makes up for them! And honestly, I really want to keep reading this series and I can't wait for the next book! I will admit, though, that this is definitely not everyone's cup of tea and you might find this book too generic or boring if you've read too much YA and are kind of over a few of the things that the genre is famous for. (If you read it because of me and don't like it, don't @ me lmao)
January 22, 2022
Reading The Immortal City was... an interesting experience.
Be careful before starting this book because there are some scenes that could be disturbing (graphic depiction of violence, gore and mentions of rape).
The murder scene is very detailed and, well, nasty, so I would recommend to think it over before reading it at night.
The main POV is Penelope's, but there are also other two POVs that give us a wider picture and interesting insights on the other characters thoughts and actions.
I enjoyed the plot, it has some elements that reminded me of other books/movies, but the author made them work very well and in a unique way. Some plot twists were expected but great nonetheless!
I didn't fall in love with any particular character, even though they're all pretty likable.
Dr Penelope Bryne has her moments, I cheered for her the whole time even when I wanted to yell at her. She's very strong and obstinate, patient and compassionate, not afraid to do whatever is in her power to help others and to get what she wants.
Marco Dandolo is your typical middle-aged good looking Italian policeman who loves tojokingly flirt with beautiful women, and that includes Penelope. He's always nice and respectful, and I honestly loved how his relationship with the protagonist developed over the course of the story.
Alexis Donato should definitely use his powers to get out of the book and bless our world with hisTurkish corsar awesomeness. He deserves all the love and happiness.
Usage of Italian language in this book
Let's move on to what may get my fellow Italians to want to call Amy Kuivalainen and ask her: "WHY DIDN'T YOU HIRE AN ITALIAN SPEAKING PERSON TO CHECK THE ITALIAN WORDS?"
There are quite a few spelling errors (that could've been easily fixed by checking a dictionary) and words and articles used in the wrong way.
To be fair most of the expressions were sweet and funny and it was very nice to read them.
If you don't speak Italian I'm sure this is the least of your concerns, but if you do I assure you that reading those mistakes was frustrating and distracting.
I don't want to pass as a party pooper but the story is literally *set* in Italy, so a little more effort would've been very appreciated!
If you're interested, I made some notes on the mistakes that annoyed me the most. They may count as (minor) SPOILERS so read at your discreetion.
- inspecttori → inspettore ✔
- mi scusi, hai da accendere? → mi scusi, ha da accendere ✔
- le Doge Cane → il Doge Cane ✔ (tbh it doesn't make much sense either way)
- dottore Bryne → dottoressa Bryne ✔
- they are arrogante → they are arroganti ✔
- mi scusi! → scusami! ✔ ("mi scusi" is way too formal in that scene)
- il innamorato → l'innamorato ✔
- il stregone → lo stregone ✔
In conclusion it was a nice and entertaining book and I will definitely read the next one in the trilogy.
If you like magic, mystery thriller, fantasy with a hint of romance then do go ahead and let the Magicians of Venice welcome you in this magical story!
Be careful before starting this book because there are some scenes that could be disturbing (graphic depiction of violence, gore and mentions of rape).
The murder scene is very detailed and, well, nasty, so I would recommend to think it over before reading it at night.
The main POV is Penelope's, but there are also other two POVs that give us a wider picture and interesting insights on the other characters thoughts and actions.
I enjoyed the plot, it has some elements that reminded me of other books/movies, but the author made them work very well and in a unique way. Some plot twists were expected but great nonetheless!
I didn't fall in love with any particular character, even though they're all pretty likable.
Dr Penelope Bryne has her moments, I cheered for her the whole time even when I wanted to yell at her. She's very strong and obstinate, patient and compassionate, not afraid to do whatever is in her power to help others and to get what she wants.
Marco Dandolo is your typical middle-aged good looking Italian policeman who loves to
Alexis Donato should definitely use his powers to get out of the book and bless our world with his
Usage of Italian language in this book
Let's move on to what may get my fellow Italians to want to call Amy Kuivalainen and ask her: "WHY DIDN'T YOU HIRE AN ITALIAN SPEAKING PERSON TO CHECK THE ITALIAN WORDS?"
There are quite a few spelling errors (that could've been easily fixed by checking a dictionary) and words and articles used in the wrong way.
To be fair most of the expressions were sweet and funny and it was very nice to read them.
If you don't speak Italian I'm sure this is the least of your concerns, but if you do I assure you that reading those mistakes was frustrating and distracting.
I don't want to pass as a party pooper but the story is literally *set* in Italy, so a little more effort would've been very appreciated!
If you're interested, I made some notes on the mistakes that annoyed me the most. They may count as (minor) SPOILERS so read at your discreetion.
- inspecttori → inspettore ✔
- mi scusi, hai da accendere? → mi scusi, ha da accendere ✔
- le Doge Cane → il Doge Cane ✔ (tbh it doesn't make much sense either way)
- dottore Bryne → dottoressa Bryne ✔
- they are arrogante → they are arroganti ✔
- mi scusi! → scusami! ✔ ("mi scusi" is way too formal in that scene)
- il innamorato → l'innamorato ✔
- il stregone → lo stregone ✔
In conclusion it was a nice and entertaining book and I will definitely read the next one in the trilogy.
If you like magic, mystery thriller, fantasy with a hint of romance then do go ahead and let the Magicians of Venice welcome you in this magical story!
April 21, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Immortal City follows Penelope, an academic who is obsessed with finding the lost city of Atlantis. She has been ridiculed and had all but accepted her fate to become a professor when she is contacted by the Italian police. They need her help in order to make sense of a gruesome and sacrificial murder committed in Venice. While in Venice, Penelope finds herself in the cross hairs of a good looking mystery man who seems to have taken interest in these crimes as well. Can Penelope trust this stranger, or is she just pulling herself closer to being the next victim?
Let me start off this review by saying I put off reading this story for so long because I just knew it would be the author trying to replicate the success of The Davinci Code and didn't want to be disappointed. I am happily eating the biggest helping of crow I've had to swallow over a book in years. The plot holds it's own and while I do get Davinci Code vibes, it plays more with fantasy aspects that kept the plot refreshing enough to keep my wanting more. It is so well written, I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. The pacing is excellent and there is just the right blend of historical fiction, action, and just a touch of romance.
My only gripe is actually the romance. It's your very typical "girl is found by gorgeous stranger who awakens her to a new piece of the world and feelings in her loins that could shake the earth". It is extremely quickly developed that it finds a way to be off-putting. There is a sex scene towards the end of the book that just felt clunky, awkward, and unnecessary. Also, the show down with the Villian leaves something to be desired, but as this is meant to be the beginning of a series I appreciate a build up to leave us ready for the next installment.
Overall, it's a super enjoyable story with well developed characters and a exciting world that is well built. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction or even just fantasy lovers.
The Immortal City follows Penelope, an academic who is obsessed with finding the lost city of Atlantis. She has been ridiculed and had all but accepted her fate to become a professor when she is contacted by the Italian police. They need her help in order to make sense of a gruesome and sacrificial murder committed in Venice. While in Venice, Penelope finds herself in the cross hairs of a good looking mystery man who seems to have taken interest in these crimes as well. Can Penelope trust this stranger, or is she just pulling herself closer to being the next victim?
Let me start off this review by saying I put off reading this story for so long because I just knew it would be the author trying to replicate the success of The Davinci Code and didn't want to be disappointed. I am happily eating the biggest helping of crow I've had to swallow over a book in years. The plot holds it's own and while I do get Davinci Code vibes, it plays more with fantasy aspects that kept the plot refreshing enough to keep my wanting more. It is so well written, I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. The pacing is excellent and there is just the right blend of historical fiction, action, and just a touch of romance.
My only gripe is actually the romance. It's your very typical "girl is found by gorgeous stranger who awakens her to a new piece of the world and feelings in her loins that could shake the earth". It is extremely quickly developed that it finds a way to be off-putting. There is a sex scene towards the end of the book that just felt clunky, awkward, and unnecessary. Also, the show down with the Villian leaves something to be desired, but as this is meant to be the beginning of a series I appreciate a build up to leave us ready for the next installment.
Overall, it's a super enjoyable story with well developed characters and a exciting world that is well built. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction or even just fantasy lovers.
June 11, 2019
Thank you to BHC Press and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of The Immortal City in exchange for an honest review.
The Immortal City by Amy Kuivalainen was a phenomenal story combining modern adventure with ancient mythology. Readers follow Dr. Penelope Byrne, a woman who has dedicated her career to uncovering the secrets of the lost city of Atlantis. Her knowledge leads her to assist with a murder in Venice. But what starts off as a ritualistic murder spirals into something much bigger, involving more gruesome killings, demonic presences, magic, danger, long lost Atlanteans, and sizzling romance.
I absolutely loved the mythology and historical portion of this book. You can tell how much research Kuivalainen poured into this book. She found the perfect balance of bringing the ancient feel of Atlantis into the latter-day setting. The consistency of her detail gave the story great flow. It made the sequence of events seem more realistic. All of the fight scenes, captures or murders in the book had a greater sense of danger because of how thorough Kuivalainen illustrated the threats.
Where the story fell flat for me was, unfortunately, character development. While I liked Penelope, she was a bit of a cliche for me. It drives me nuts when headstrong characters are never wrong, and she is the perfect example of this. Everything Penelope researched happened to be true, despite everyone in her profession laughing and mocking her; she managed to create nearly every breakthrough for the murder case; this is not a bad thing, because it fit the purpose of the story. However, the way it was implemented just made it all seem too good to be true. I also wasn't partial to the romance. While I loved all of the scenes with Alexis and Penelope, I felt their relationship moved much too quickly. One moment they were flirty, the next Alexis was head over heels in love with her. There wasn't enough slow burn and cultivation for the relationship to seem genuine.
Overall, I give The Immortal City 3.5 stars. I loved the plot and all of the incorporated mythology, but the characters were a bit disappointing. I am excited to see where the story continues in the next book.
The Immortal City by Amy Kuivalainen was a phenomenal story combining modern adventure with ancient mythology. Readers follow Dr. Penelope Byrne, a woman who has dedicated her career to uncovering the secrets of the lost city of Atlantis. Her knowledge leads her to assist with a murder in Venice. But what starts off as a ritualistic murder spirals into something much bigger, involving more gruesome killings, demonic presences, magic, danger, long lost Atlanteans, and sizzling romance.
I absolutely loved the mythology and historical portion of this book. You can tell how much research Kuivalainen poured into this book. She found the perfect balance of bringing the ancient feel of Atlantis into the latter-day setting. The consistency of her detail gave the story great flow. It made the sequence of events seem more realistic. All of the fight scenes, captures or murders in the book had a greater sense of danger because of how thorough Kuivalainen illustrated the threats.
Where the story fell flat for me was, unfortunately, character development. While I liked Penelope, she was a bit of a cliche for me. It drives me nuts when headstrong characters are never wrong, and she is the perfect example of this. Everything Penelope researched happened to be true, despite everyone in her profession laughing and mocking her; she managed to create nearly every breakthrough for the murder case; this is not a bad thing, because it fit the purpose of the story. However, the way it was implemented just made it all seem too good to be true. I also wasn't partial to the romance. While I loved all of the scenes with Alexis and Penelope, I felt their relationship moved much too quickly. One moment they were flirty, the next Alexis was head over heels in love with her. There wasn't enough slow burn and cultivation for the relationship to seem genuine.
Overall, I give The Immortal City 3.5 stars. I loved the plot and all of the incorporated mythology, but the characters were a bit disappointing. I am excited to see where the story continues in the next book.
June 21, 2019
I have to admit that when I request ARCs of books, I don't always pay attention to what I'm requesting. So when I received this book and eventually realized I only had 10 days to read it, I may have freaked out a bit. 'AH! If I hate it, then it will be a hard 10 days!'
... I didn't hate it. I reaaaaally didn't hate it.
In fact, I was sad to finish it and am very happy with it. In short, Penelope has been on the search for Atlantis since she first heard stories about it as a little girl. She is the laughing stock of her field for believing it is real, but is brought to Venice because of a murder that is associated with what seems to be the Atlantean language that she has been studying. She meets a handsome man... full of sexiness, magic, and knowledge of Atlantis.
Lots of romance, magic, and a murder mystery thrown in there.
As a 30+ year old, I don't go for romance much anymore. I'm often sick of books that look to be perfectly made for a tv show on the CW. And in general, this kind of fits that description: a bit ridiculous, definitely too many pretty people, and a main character that has to be right ALL the time.
And yet I loved it. I was sucked in after about 20% and hidden from my family until I finished. The worst part of reading ARCs? Having to wait for the next book in a series... when the first book isn't even technically out yet! I want number 2! I want more of this!
Thank you so much to BHC Press and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of "The Immortal City" in exchange for an honest review. I hope I will be considered for the next in the series! ;) :)
... I didn't hate it. I reaaaaally didn't hate it.
In fact, I was sad to finish it and am very happy with it. In short, Penelope has been on the search for Atlantis since she first heard stories about it as a little girl. She is the laughing stock of her field for believing it is real, but is brought to Venice because of a murder that is associated with what seems to be the Atlantean language that she has been studying. She meets a handsome man... full of sexiness, magic, and knowledge of Atlantis.
Lots of romance, magic, and a murder mystery thrown in there.
As a 30+ year old, I don't go for romance much anymore. I'm often sick of books that look to be perfectly made for a tv show on the CW. And in general, this kind of fits that description: a bit ridiculous, definitely too many pretty people, and a main character that has to be right ALL the time.
And yet I loved it. I was sucked in after about 20% and hidden from my family until I finished. The worst part of reading ARCs? Having to wait for the next book in a series... when the first book isn't even technically out yet! I want number 2! I want more of this!
Thank you so much to BHC Press and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of "The Immortal City" in exchange for an honest review. I hope I will be considered for the next in the series! ;) :)
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