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For five centuries, Immortal High Witch Nicodimus has been suspended in an eternity of darkness. His heart was stolen away in the ultimate betrayal by his love Arianna... Now Arianna discovers a way to bring him back. But the power that returns Nicodimus to her arms also summons an ancient enemy. To fight this dark danger, they must confront the past--and reclaim infinity...

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

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About the author

Maggie Shayne

257 books2,571 followers
I live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.

My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.

No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)

That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!

And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)

Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.

Glory is not amused.

She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.

My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I

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5 stars
647 (45%)
4 stars
497 (34%)
3 stars
234 (16%)
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40 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Elida.
34 reviews9 followers
June 19, 2007
This book is great! I read it in 2 days. Thats how great it was. I am going to read her next one that involves some of the same characters in Infinity. I just bought the book and it is called Destiny. I am sure I will enjoy this book as well! I'll let ya know :)
Profile Image for Hollie.
1,680 reviews
February 22, 2016
~3.5 stars~

I was really impressed with the first book in this series and was eager to find out how things played out, so I purchased book 2 immediately after completing first book. Here's my breakdown:

Pros:
* I loved seeing how things progressed Anya and Duncan from previous book
* Amazing writing style


Cons:
* Overpriced at $4.99 - This was a bit pricey for me but I justified buying it since book 1 was offered as a freebie
* The romance was lacking - I didn’t feel an intense love/bond between Arianna and Nic (no comparison to what Anya and Duncan shared)
* There were some slow spells during the plot

Overall, I didn’t love this book but I'm still glad I read it. However, I doubt I will continue this series onto book 3. I'll definitely check out more of this writers work though.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,597 reviews56 followers
August 4, 2008
This is the second book in Maggie Shayne’s “Witch” series. I didn’t think the back cover’s description of this book did it justice. It sounded very boring, and I was just going to read it because Ms. Shayne is one of my top favorite authors. I should have known that it would have been excellent! Ms. Shayne writes everything well! I read this so long ago that I don’t remember the particulars of the plot. I just remember that the witch series sounded very boring, but turned out to be a lot of fun, and I just loved every one of them!
55 reviews
February 21, 2025
Debo decir que leí éste libro con muchas expectativas, porque en Eternity, Arianna fue mi personaje favorito, quería saber más de su vida, de su trasfondo y en especial de su interés amoroso.

Amé el desarrollo que tuvo Arianna, mostró una gran madurez y temple, sin embargo el ser testadura e impulsiva viene de familia, me encantó el personaje de Nic.

Tenía expectativas muy altas con los antagonistas, pero me decepcioné, siento que la autora pudo haberle sacado más provecho y no lo hizo.

El final lo sentí muy inconcluso y apresurado, al final quedé con más dudas que respuestas.
472 reviews6 followers
May 2, 2020
As soon as I finished the first book, I wanted to read the second one. I wanted to know the story of Arianna, Raven's sister. I wasn't disappointed with her love story at all.
Profile Image for Kathy Davie.
4,876 reviews738 followers
July 27, 2020
Second in The Immortals paranormal romance series and revolving around Arianna and Nicodimus, beginning in Scotland in 1511 to the present day in 1999.

My Take
Infinity takes us back to the year that Raven first died in 1511 and proceeds to inform us of Arianna's origins. After quite awhile, we come to today's world from the end of Eternity , 1, where Arianna and Raven have met again and carries on from there, combining Nicodimus' ending in 1511 with Dearborne's death.

It's a combination of points-of-view; first person protagonist from Nicodimus' perspective, which is how we learn all his back history, along with all his angst about not wanting to love Arianna...and yet he's falling for her...oy. The rest is a third person subjective, mostly from Arianna's perspective. It's annoying in 1511 as she's such a brat, who does know her mind...and isn't afraid to let all know what she's thinking. And that's where her immaturity comes in, for she loves shocking the villagers with her proclamations of being a witch. This in a time when witches were persecuted. Stupid twit. But that POV does inform us of her honor in 1999.

Of course, the villagers are hypocrites. They'll use the services of The Crones in private while they decry them in public. I do like that Joseph. He's much more open-minded and in favor of justice.
"...we should call for the execution of everyone who used The Crones' ways to aid themselves. For if what they did was sin, then we all are as guilty as they."
It's a fascinating world and magic that Shayne has created. Yet, this love meme of I-can-never-love-again is annoying. Nicodimus has had over 700 years to get over it. No, I'm not trying to make light of his losing his wife and sons, but really...700 years?? Then there's the don't-tell-her meme, so Arianna is not prepared for who and what she is.

There's plenty of action — and be sure to read Eternity first! The characters are stereotypical with a pace that alternates between slow and fast and does meander about. Still, it is a fascinating story that I enjoyed

The Story
A meeting of Witches, both High and Dark, that results in murders, kidnappings, and betrayal.

It's unexpected love that will last for centuries.

The Characters
Arianna Sinclair is a stubborn, immature, selfish village girl, the daughter of the saddler. Mara Sinclair is her mother; her father, Edwyn. Raven is the sister who drowned in the loch, trying to save Arianna ( Eternity ) and whom Arianna found again in 1691. Duncan is Raven's lover whom Raven found again in Eternity .

Nicodimus Lachlan, a cousin, many times removed, to Joseph, is an Immortal Witch who considers Stonehaven a refuge from his life. Black is his faithful horse.

Stonehaven is...
...a village in the Scottish Highlands. Joseph Lachlan is its widowed laird. Kenyon and Lud are his bullyish sons. Nidaba originated in Sumeria and is Nicodimus' best friend who also sees Stonehaven as a refuge.

Angus MacClennan is the cobbler's son — and I cannot blame Arianna for not being interested in the boy! Katie McDaniel would love to hook up with Angus. God knows why. Maddy Hargrove nearly died giving birth to young Billy; Nathan MacGregor still has his leg. The Crones are Leandra, Celia, and Mary, the village witches, herbal women who cure the villagers who also fear them.

Kenwick is...
...Marten's keep. Nathaniel Dearborne is a Dark High Witch and spiritual counselor to Marten. Lydia and Kathleen are to be Arianna's maids. Gorden will be her "bodyguard".

764 was...
...Nicodimus' time. Anya is the girl fourteen-year-old Nicodimus rescued/took from her abusive family after a winning battle. Together they had two sons: Will and Jaymes. Kohl and Marten, who develops telepathic combustion as a skill, are Anya's brutal brothers who have become Dark High Witches.

Druids taught Nicodimus his first magics. The Dark Ones use black magic and murder to attain immortality. Immortal High Witches are of the light. They are created when a person dies while attempting to save the life of a Witch, and they return in another lifetime with the gift of immortality. A High Witch can die if someone removes their heart.

The Cover and Title
The cover has a grayed-down pink background with three scrolls of greenery and roses in the left corners and lower right corner. In the center is an oval graphic outlined in a lighter pink with a longhaired blonde with a wreath of flowers in a white dress sitting on the grass with a brown-haired man in a green cape, flowing-sleeved white smock and brown leather jerkin in a green plaid kilt, black stockings and brown leather boots, his head resting in her lap. Framing them and in the background are menhirs, a stonehenge of power. At the top is an info blurb in cream. Below that is the author's name in a flowing gothic font in an embossed-appearing cream. To the left of the oval is a testimonial in cream with the title in a cream script at the bottom.

The title is how long an Immortal Witch lives, how long guilt and grief can last, what the possibilities are for love and joy to last...into Infinity.
Profile Image for Marina.
617 reviews29 followers
November 16, 2012
Ms. S writing is beautiful. The story flows fast and strong.A complicated tale with a very satisfying ending.

If you would like to read this book or others like it please check out booksfreeswap.com.This book is ready for swap!
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Spoiler
Note: 1511 Scotland, 1999 US & Scotland
Nicodimus Lachlan (700+yo,immortal High Witch,widower,reincarnated son)+ Arianna Sinclair (487yo, immortal High Witch,older sis), Nidaba (immortal High Witch,mother,healer, 4,000yo), Raven S. (reincarnated sis, 300yo,immortal High Witch) + Duncan Wallace (immortal High Witch,minister).
Profile Image for mlady_rebecca.
2,435 reviews115 followers
December 20, 2015
Historical romance with a heavy SF/Fantasy theme - immortals - in this case Witches.

Very good. I do see a trend with me liking fiction populated by Immortals. (If I recall correctly, "Highlander" and "Buffy" at the time.) I wonder what that says about my psyche. Going to try to find her other book "Eternity".

(review initially written 01/03/2002 - in my day planner)
Profile Image for Jenn Doyle.
271 reviews
September 14, 2011
This would be about a 4.2. Arianna is a much spunkier character IMHO than Raven. Didn't dislike Raven, but she was very passive about certain things & Arianna is definitely not passive. Liked Nicodimus as well....bit broody though. Anyhow, some nice backstory on who everyone was and nice lead in to the next book about Nidaba.
Profile Image for Yolanda.
3 reviews
April 15, 2012
Very good indeed. Puts everything into perspective & makes things right as two people who are deeply in love finally realize it & lives are set in their rightful paths. But makes one still wonder for poor Nidaba, who has suffered so much.
Profile Image for Carmen.
438 reviews32 followers
October 8, 2021
Ever time I read this story I love it. There is just something about picking up a comfort reread. The entire trilogy is in my reread pile regularly.

I love that Arianna and Nic’s story and how they find love doesn’t run parallel to how Duncan and Raven find love.

In the first book the characters have a love at first site romance that just keeps getting hurtles thrown at them to keep them from their HEA.

With Infinity we have Nic who is already a few centuries old and jaded about love and lose, who has known Arianna since she was a toddler when he’s visited her clan in the past. And Arianna, 17 and still recently morning the death of her sister, doesn’t give to shits about conforming anymore so when Nic comes back to the clan and into her life she makes it clear that she has feelings even he doesn’t.

I love the slow burn romance and the tragedy that separates them at the end of part 1.

There’s just something about the trope where one of the MCs is presumed dead, or in paranormal/fantasy actually dead, and the other experiences the fully wait of grief only that get to be reunited (because these are romance novels not the Love Story…obviously we have a HEA)

I also love that this series respects practicing witches. Not casting them as villains or making it about flashy magic.
Profile Image for Sonja Schultz.
330 reviews
January 2, 2021
The story between Arianna and Nicodemus was a long one, the romance was a constant up and down emotionally one which made it hard to read. I can't say I enjoyed the whole story but it was a good one. The story wasn't for me, I felt Arianna was treated like a child a lot in this story and her wrecklesness bordered on just plan stupidity. Nicodemus was honestly very stand offish pretty much the whole book!!!! The guy had like no give and ignored the feelings he was developing for Arianna. Then when he is reborn he's feelings for her is still to reject her, until his memory comes back. Like WTF? Ya I didn't quite feel this love story like I felt Raven and Duncans.
Profile Image for Brigitte .
1,611 reviews23 followers
May 8, 2021
A good sequel to book one. We go back in time for Arianna's story and her history with Nic. Then fast forward to the present day where past wrongs are put to rights.

It's a good plot. The romance is tentative, but destiny is not to be denied. The twists are blended in seamlessly. A little slow to begin with, and once Raven and Duncan make their appearances, it takes off nicely. All in all a reasonable read.
Profile Image for Jennifer Prescott.
507 reviews22 followers
August 9, 2017
Would have loved more "time" with these characters. Am -definitely- going to get the next book in this series, and most likely continue collecting books by this author! Ms. Shayne is an amazing storyteller.
Profile Image for Lily.
199 reviews5 followers
August 19, 2017
Was pleasantly surprised in the writing to keep the characters going...this time with Arianna. I enjoyed this book equally to the first one. How immortality in a witch can be both a gift and a burden. How love can transcend centuries.
Profile Image for Judi Borne.
58 reviews
December 23, 2018
A Must Read

I enjoyed this book as much as the first one in the series. It can be read as a standalone. It kept me interested. I look forward the reading the next book. I like how the story seems to be going back further in time than the first but keeping the characters true.
12 reviews
October 8, 2019
This is the first edition with this ISBN: 0515126101 (ISBN13: 9780515126105)
1 review
January 26, 2023
I loved this book.

I really love the writings, it was very back and forth. But it was interesting to see where they oils end up.
76 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2023
My favorite thing about Maggie's writing, especially the epic witchy love stories is her writing. She actually writes as someone who practices which is important to those who are witchy. Her Immortals series is my all time favorite and what turn me onto Maggie. Her books, are easy fast reads leaving you wanting more!! If you are looking for witchy magical with some🌶🌶 reading this is the series!! She's amazing author who writes romance for many genres!!
Profile Image for Amy.
55 reviews
May 13, 2014
The story of Arianna Sinclair and Nicodimus.  I really enjoyed this story.  As with the first installment in this series, we get to see the heroine grow and mature theoughout the story.  Learning more about the relationships between Arianna, Nicodimus, and a few new characters we are introduced to just builds on the beautiful story from the first book.  

The only disappointment I had in this story was that Arianna ended the first book with a mission, which she fulfilled in this book, at least partially with bringing Nicodimus back into her life.  However, the rest of the mission seems to get lost and I was left wondering about the other Immortal High Witches who were trapped as Nicodimus was.  

This book could easily be read on its own without having read the first In the series, but to really understand the relationships in the book, you want to read the whole series.  Overall I thoroughly enjoyed his story and can't wait to read more by this incredible author.
Profile Image for LaurLa.
171 reviews94 followers
December 29, 2015
I think I liked this book better than the first in the series. I enjoyed the development between the MCs before his defeat and burial. We had more of that in this book than the first which was more of an insta-love thing. I would have like a portion of the book to focus on her life between Nic being killed and her finding him again. We know what went on after she found her sister, but her personality changed a lot between Nic's death and finding her sister - I would have liked to have seen some of this.

Besides feeling I missed out on some of Ariana's development, I otherwise enjoyed the story and am looking forward to Nidaba's story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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