Immortal City, Amy Kuivalainen

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.

Warning: Due to the graphic scene(s) I would advise against this for young adult readers.

An Australian academic travels to Venice and becomes involved with hunting a fanatical serial killer and uncovers the ancient truth of Atlantis. Penelope has always believed in Atlantis – regardless of what her colleagues think – and is willing to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Alexis has spent hundreds of years hiding the existence of Atlantis and magic but a serial killer’s public rituals risks exposing the truth. Now the two are forced to work together to save Venice itself.

I loved exploring the city of Venice, especially from the perspective of an Australian academic. Venice is a beautiful city with an ancient culture and this novel was good at showing this. Carnevale was epic and sounded like one of the biggest parties in the world, full of life and spirit. Plus, I knew plenty of the Australian places Penelope spoke of, which was a lot of fun.

While the blurb made me think this was going to be an urban fantasy hunting a serial killer (and at times it was) this novel was more focused on the romance between Penelope and Alexis. Their relationship was mildly interesting, but I am in no way a romance fan, I always find it slows down the story, and that I exactly my problem with this novel. You’d think hunting a serial killer would be their main focus with them attempting to catch him as fast as possible. However, they spend most of their time discussing Atlantis – and I can understand Penelope’s curiosity as an academic – or in their secret library instead of dealing with the impending threat. You only really deal with the serial killer in the beginning and at the end.

I did enjoy the magic and how each magician’s magic smelled differently. The scenes of Atlantis flashbacks were interesting, and the story of Atlantis’ fall may have made a good book or novella on its’ own. Plus, the small crew of magicians were entertaining, though both the interactions and flashbacks greatly slowed down the pace. Each magician clearly imbodied a specific personality type and each of their actions expressed this. From your spoiled, tempestuous princess, to your charming playboy and the brooding love interest.

The climax was fine, some parts were obvious from the clear foreshadowing while some elements were a surprise. Overall, I found it alright, though I believe my dislike of romance makes me the wrong audience for this novel. I give it 3/5.

This was a fun read. Dark magic, Atlantis and Venice are ingredients for an intriguing premise.
I enjoyed the adventure, murder mystery and romance within, and the plot kept me turning the pages.
I have to say it’s been a long time since I read some steamy romance but I enjoyed the spark between Penelope and Alexis.

The Immortal City is an adult fantasy novel set in Venice from Amy Kuivalainen. The story revolves around Dr. Penelope Bryne who is on the trail of finding the Lost City of Atlantis. There are some pretty awesome magicians, stunning scenery and a captivating alchemical mystery rooted in the mythology and folklore of a lost city which has baffled generations of academics and history lovers alike. Huge thanks to BHC Press and Netgalley for providing me with a complimetary eARC in an exchange for this honest review. Here are my 5 Biblioshelf Musings about 'The Immortal City'.

Viva Venezia – There were two words that made me hit that Request button as soon as I read the blurb of The Immortal City – one of them was ‘magicians’ and the other was Venice. Having been lucky enough to visit this stunning city, I’m always longing for a novel which is going to instantly transport me back to those canals and bring about the nostalgia of spending time there. Not many books have been able to do that for me, but The Immortal City definitely invoked my inner wanderlust and transported me back to that wondrous place. The detailed ways Amy describes the Magicians’ palazzo and local landmarks of Venice creates an absorbing setting which makes me want to hop right on plane and head back over to Italy. Incorporating the MOSE system (a design to try and protect Venice and the Lagoon from flooding) into the storyline adds a realistic and poignant edge to many of the topical news stories currently surrounding this famous city such as the rising water-levels and protection of the city and its heritage from mega cruise ships and mass tourism – preventing it from becoming our own modern-day Atlantis.

Lost civilisations – Atlantis has inspired countless stories and conspiracies across the generations. Don’t be duped, The Immortal City is not a quest to find the physical location of The Lost City of Atlantis – the author takes a different thread of this well-known myth by making it so that Penelope ends up finding the heart of what Atlantis left behind – the last guardians and magicians from a place lost to the sea. In my own opinion, I felt that one of the main messages here was trying to highlight that it is the stories and remnants of places which end up forming its heritage and keeping them alive, not necessarily physical places. The way the mythology of a lost civilization is tied together with a plot-line filled with forgotten languages, alchemical symbology and the one of the most amazing historical archives literature could ever imagine all makes for a fascinating plot which kept me turning page after page.

Move over Christian Grey…
…There’s a new hot guy in town and his name is Alexis Donato. This fantasy novel is definitely one for the adults out there. Alexis Donato, the dark and brooding magician at the centre of the story is HOT! The romance and relationship between him and Penelope tastefully fits into the story without bordering on seedy or distracting away from the plot and changing the tone of the novel to something more “chick-litty”. I definitely wouldn’t say no to being pulled out of a Venetian canal by him!

The Atlantean microcosm – gimme more! – Amy Kuivalainen has created such an intriguing bunch of immortal characters. Packed with romance, banter, tension, tragedy and friendships, I quickly grew attached to each and every one of them. The events that happen towards the end of the story left me on a cliff edge waiting to see where this story goes next. Amy has created a little world of characters who I want to find out everything about. Having seen two listings for this book on Goodreads, I’m slightly unsure as to whether or not this is a standalone or part of a series as it’s listed as both but I would instantaneously be adding a sequel to my TBR should one be written… *hint hint* 🙏🙏

More than just watery – There is a whole sunken city’s worth of different elements to like within this story that it could appeal to many readers. When I first requested it, I didn’t really know what to expect and at the start of reading it was clear this story didn’t really fit into just one bracket: there are murders and violence, but this doesn’t feel like a typical crime novel – the murders are filled with alchemical symbols and mystery which are used as plot devices throughout the story; there are magicians, but they are not your typical Dumbledores walking around in stuffy castles wearing cloaks – they are the last immortals left over from a lost civilization who are now living in our modern world; there is romance which varies from zero to all-consuming within mere pages but didn’t distract me from the main story; there is fantasy, history and magic that feels totally realistic, even though you know it’s just fiction. Either way, there’s plenty to entertain!

Overall thoughts –
For the past few years, the books I’ve read have tended to be the ones which have been hyped about all over Goodreads or Bookstagram. I took a chance in reading The Immortal City and it was a breath of fresh air to my reading pile – this is the adult fantasy novel I have been waiting for! If you’re a fan of some of the things mentioned above, then I definitely recommend you try this book. It’s a little whirlwind of a ride and like all stories there are some points which don’t always flow or which may make you roll your eyes internally, but this book has definitely left me wanting to find out more about the captivating world of the Magicians of Venice and I’m positive I’ll be rereading it at some point in the near future. There is magic, gore, lust, danger, passion and a whole load of Italian/Atlantean goodness packed into every page. Yes this is a work of fiction, but holy gods do I wish it were real! Get me to those Palazzo archives right away!

I will definitely recommend this title. It is very well thought out and imaginative. I can't wait for more titles by this author.

So, what did I like about it?
As a new-to me author, I was very impressed with Ms Kuivalainen’s writing style; it felt graceful, full bodied and very easy to read. I thought that the story itself was intelligent and felt well researched and cleverly balanced myth and fantasy with the hard brutality of a crime thriller. I enjoyed her prose; the way she weaved the beautiful Italian language into her tale while adding the archaic Atlantean and magical languages that added a depth of realism was inspired. The Immortal City was an unexpected find that I will treasure.
Those of you that have read my reviews before, will know that I enjoy a story more when the main female character is intelligent, resilient and can look after herself and I wasn’t disappointed here; Penelope proved to be all of these things and more. But this story is not just about Dr Penelope Bryne, there are a host of well written characters in this book that all play their part. I liked the way that Ms Kuivalainen seemed to build up our relationships with the entire supporting cast over the course of this book, giving us insights into their personalities, histories and motivation which brought them alive in my imagination.
Crime thrillers are not my usual reading genre - especially ones involving brutal serial killers - but this book captured my interest and kept me hooked. I loved that it had me so captivated and invested with our protagonists that I found myself blubbering like a baby as well as giggling out loud and although it horrified and shocked me at times too and got my blood boiling with fear and rage, it definitely hit all the right spots passion-wise *blush* and warmed my old romantic heart.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
As you can tell by my rating, I really enjoyed this book. My only niggle was that I had already guessed a few twists before they had been revealed. There were a few growls at my Kindle because I was frustrated that these proven intelligent characters hadn’t already realised what I had worked out myself pages earlier.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that, as a first in a new series, there are threads that are left to continue to the next book and beyond, but rest assured, dear reader, no perilous life-or-death cliffhanger for our main characters in this book to leave you bereft and frustrated. woop!woop!

So, basically what I’m saying is...
I really liked this gripping story and lost track time while reading it. The Immortal City has everything that I look for in a great read; adventure, mystery, action, great characters, a little humour and it even had sprinkling of romance.

Due to the darker themes, sexual content and graphic violence, I’d recommend this book to adults who are not offended by scenes of this nature who enjoy urban fantasy stories about myths and magic that feel like modern crime thrillers – think Dan Brown - with the added layers of relationship drama – family, platonic and romantic.

This review will go live on my blog on 1st September 2019

DNF @ 25%

This sounded really interesting, and I'm fascinated by interpretations of Atlantis, magic, ancient language systems. However, the writing felt awkward — between the random interspersed Italian phrases, stilted dialogue, and some puzzling ungrammatical, illogical syntax — and I was exasperated by all the constant reminders that the main character is “not like other academics” (which actually shows up almost verbatim in the text).

I just have one word....ATLANTIS!!! I was so excited to read a book that centered around the lost city, but add in magicians and Greek gods with modern day murder and you have my undivided attention.

Academic Penelope Bryne had no idea what she was getting herself into when she spontaneously hopped a plane to Venice to help solve a murder that involved an ancient language. When she meets Alexis, everything that she has been working so hard for is finally, literally, right in front of her but she can tell no one. While working with the police to solve a string of sacrificial murders and prevent an ancient evil god from coming back, she learns that there is much more to the history she has been chasing for so long.

I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the second one to come out. While it wasn't a 5 star read for me, it was still a great book and it will definitely have a place on my re-read shelf!

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.

A dark and compelling story with a fast pase. It took a while before I got into the story. I guess that the fast pace made it a bit harder for me to truly connect with the characters from the beginning. But when I did, I could not put this book down!

I’m always up for a bit of fantasy, especially when that fantasy overlaps with existing history and legends. Amy Kuivalainen’s upcoming The Immortal City promises to be the start of a series that brings various fantastical theories about the lost Atlantis and its inhabitants to life. But this first novel isn’t a straightforward fantasy; its pacing and narrative patterns follow those more likely to be found in murder mysteries, especially through the first part of the book.

When a gruesome and apparently ritualistic murder occurs in Venice, the text found at the scene inspires Inspector Marco Dandolo to reach out for the expertise of academic Penelope Bryne. The text is similar to that on a tablet she found on a dive—a tablet that she believes is a relic of the lost Atlantis. It’s a theory that has made her a laughing stock in many of her professional circles and, in the absence of funding, her research has stalled. So, Penelope hops on a plane and deftly inserts herself into the investigation. But once she’s in Venice, the case begins to affect her in strange ways. She sees a man in a vision while meditating and then runs into that man on the street. Attempts are made on her life that appear to be linked to the Atlantis tablet and the secrets she’s close to uncovering. And that man who was more than a vision, turns out to be more than just an ordinary man.

The Immortal City wasn’t quite what I expected, but I enjoyed it in the end. I found it a little slow and rocky to start, which is probably because of the more murder mystery set up that kicks things off. After Penelope’s first significant interactions with Alexis, when the history of Atlantis and its people begins to come to light, it picked up nicely. While the connection between Alexis and Penelope can feel too convenient (and occasionally forced), the larger themes their relationship and that the seven magicians raise are more satisfying. The tension between choice and fate is something I hope to see explored more in whatever future novels may come for this series. While it’s present in The Immortal City, the two elements aren’t interrogated as much as they could be.

While I did enjoy the story, there is clearly still a lot that’s being held back from the reader. Given that this appears to only be the beginning of a larger series arc, that’s understandable, but it also left certain events and elements feeling a bit hollow to me. The “action” sequences were okay, but perhaps over too quickly, lacking some of the necessary build up for their resolutions to be truly satisfying (though they did get better toward the end). While I appreciated the murder mystery element that framed this first installment, I don’t think it was completely successful. It takes a back seat to everything surrounding Alexis and Atlantis—as it should—however, that helps to sap some of the impact of what’s been going on in that investigation. The ties between the two sides of the story are there, and they do complement one another, but it’s an awkward fit.

Still, when all is said and done, I enjoyed The Immortal City enough for me to want to read more. The fantasy and Atlantis side was compelling along with most of the characters (the central characters certainly and the supporting characters enough to want more time with them in the next book).

The Immortal City will be available starting September 19, 2019.

Not my usual genre of book, but I was intrigued by the prologue. Several chapters in, I began to think that that was going to be the highlight of this read, but am so glad I continued, as the book surpassed my initial thoughts,and it turned into a magical and utterly entrancing read!.
Penelope Byrne is an academic, who has spent most of her life on a quest to find Atlantis. A particularly violent murder in Venice, leads to the Police requesting her help, as the murder seems to be rooted in the Atlantis legend, judging by the gruesomeness of the deed, and symbols drawn on a nearby wall. We are introduced to Inspector Marco Dandolo, who agrees to Penelope taking an active role in this case, and Alexis Donato, who is later revealed to be a magician , one of five, who have sworn to protect the truth of the fabled isle from being discovered.
The story didn't liven up for me, until the action shifted to Venice. The murders were well described, but slightly gruesome. The spark between Alexis and Penelope was engaging, and they made a compelling duo, as they investigated the myths, legends and demons associated with Atlantis. We are also introduced to the fellow magicians and their particular skill sets, and the speed of events are rapid, breathtaking and fun!. Penelope is both childlike, yet at times, as smart as a whip! Alexis is not all he seems, as romance and death follow him in equal amounts.
We have black magic, ancient legends, blood sacrifices and a house that moves internal walls and doors , very Harry Potter!!
This is the first book of a planned trilogy. I absolutely adored this book, such a lovely piece of escapism, myths and legends with such engaging characters. There has been an enormous amount of research in this book, yet it sparkles with wit and humour, despite all the blackness and evil that makes up this story. There are some strong and engaging characters with interesting tales to tell, and the book ends on a typical cliffhanger, that means I will keep my eyes open for the next intriguing chapters. A most enjoyable read, I heartily recommend this as a five star read. Thank you for my ARC, this is my honest review.

If you're a fan of Discovery of Witches, you will likely enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I did not care for that one, and this one is too similar for my tastes. You have an immortal magician instead of a vampire, a recoloring of the defender love interest role, and an academic protagonist who makes some questionable choices. Of course, of the two, this one is better, and partly due to the better writing (and an author who gets to their point quickly not ten chapters later), but it wasn't quite the kind of novel I'd otherwise seek out.

Solid 3.5 stars

Do you like Sherrilyn Kenton's Dark Hunter series? Then you will enjoy this book! Magic, romance, and danger all abound here.

Magicians, murders, and the stunning backdrop of Venice make for a fast-paced enjoyable read. There were some inconsistencies and ignored details - but those may be addressed in the final version (if so, this goes up to 4 stars).

The three primary characters, Marco, Alexis, and Penelope all had believable elements even if they are rather cliche. Marco - the dependable police offer, Alexis - the mysterious ridiculously handsome magician, and Penelope - the stubborn academic caught up in the chaos. The swiftness of the book means only the primary narrator (Penelope) received much development, but her interactions with different characters throughout the book did flesh them out. Alexis' past was explored as well.

I enjoyed reading an adventure romance with some of the mythology of Atlantis tied in, even if there were not many in-depth explanations. Overall, definitely a delightful book.

This review was given on an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Ugh, this was not very good. I expected Dan Brown and got something more like Twilight (which I haven’t read but is my go-to example for paranormal romance). This was just so utterly unbelievable it’s like the author didn’t even try.

I think this author was just not for me. I should have looked into the other books she had written before this one, and if I had I instantly would have known this was going to be some kind of vaguely supernatural trashy romance. It's really unfortunate, and books like this should have a better description - this book was partly about the mystery, but so much about the romance between the main character and a "mysterious vaguely foreign looking stranger". It was cliche upon cliche.

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Actual rating of 3.5

Penelope Bryne is an academic, she's been researching, searching and absolutely in love with Atlantis for as long as she can remember. However, after finding a section of tablet of the coast of Crete, her career took a nose dive. A lot of people think she has her head in the clouds and should seek to find something a bit more down to Earth to throw herself into, her Dad is one of them. But when she is called by Marco, a police officer in Venice, and shown some pictures of script from a recent, horrific crime scene, Penelope can't help but follow it to Venice. She knows that it has something to do with Atlantis, she's seen the writing before, on her stone tablet, what she doesn't know is how someone else knows enough of it to use it in such an awful way. While in Venice Penelope is thrown into an investigation unlike any other, she meets some extremely interesting people, one of which is called Alexi, a man with many talents, and many secrets. If she makes it through this, she may come out the other side completely changed, but first, she has to make it through.

I'm a sucker for a good murder mystery, and one that has it's roots in evil, demon worshipping cults just gets my goat every time. It just adds that bit of spice that I really love in my mysteries. What I wasn't really expecting was that the mystery and the ritualistic killings weren't so much going to be in the forefront of this story, they very much took a backseat while the mysteries of Atlantis and the strange man that Penelope has met, are definitely the front runner here. It wasn't a bad thing exactly, but I was just a little unprepared for it. I was expecting a gritty mystery into ritualistic murders that somehow tied into the history, mythology and existence of Atlantis, what I got was more a fantasy/Sci-Fi romance with a sprinkling of ritualistic murder thrown in to help drive the story forward. Without the murders there wouldn't have been a plausible reason for anything that happened in the story, so it was incredibly important as it was the catalyst that drove the plot forward, I just wish the blurb was able to describe it this way instead of making me think I was in for something totally different than what I got.

The story was well thought out, the ritualistic killings tied beautifully into the overall plot that was happening here. Kuivalainen has a way with words, with lovely flowing descriptions that show instead of tell. The story lines were incredibly well thought out in all accounts and blended seamlessly to create a world full of mystery, intrigue, wonder and romance against one of the most romantic backdrops in the world, Venice. It painted a picture of a city that I already want to visit, but now even more so, especially during Carnivale ;)

The characters were very well written each with a distinct personality and identity. I really enjoyed the character of Penelope Bryne, an academic with a fantastic mind who doesn't baulk at the first sign of 'difference' she encounters. I'm going to try and be as vague as I possibly can here because the story really took a turn into a place that I totally wasn't expecting to go, and I think it's better to go into this without knowing it at all. The other characters that we meet are incredibly alluring in there personalities and quirks. I really enjoyed the chemistry and bickering between Aelia and Phaidros, they were probably my favourite characters followed by Nereus.

The palazzo that we encounter is almost like a character in itself. The way that it's never really described as such yet you have such a clear picture in your mind about it is just brilliant, a stroke of genius. I love the sentience of it and it was probably my most favourite thing about this novel.

One thing that I did have a little bit of a problem with, was the pacing. This book, according to Goodreads, sits at a length of 324 pages. It felt SO much longer than that. I wouldn't have been surprised to find out that this was pushing close to 500 with how long it seemed. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot happening, but it just seemed like it was taking me so long to get through it. It dragged a little in the beginning but I'm glad that I stuck with it, because by the end I was pleasantly surprised with how everything turned out, and I'm ecstatic to find out that this is book one it what I hope is a trilogy at least. I believe that the story has been left open as a larger scale plot has been left unresolved, but the story definitely wrapped up at the end, I was so worried when I saw the percentage getting closer and closer to 100 and things hadn't been resolved yet, even though I knew what was going to happen, I still needed to see it happen haha.

All in all, this was an interesting take on the legend of Atlantis and I absolutely LOVE where Kuivalainen went with it. I cannot WAIT until book 2 and I sincerely hope it's not far away.

If you love a fantasy romance that is peppered with mystery, give this one a go, if you find you're struggling at the beginning, just push through, you won't be disappointed.

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.

A mix of "Strange the Dreamer" and "A Discovery of Witches". With a bit of "The DaVinci Code" thrown in for good measure.. This book was super fun! The mystery of Atlantis explained by magicians, a terrifying shadow group, and a plucky protagnoist round out the group. I loved how real Penelope was, and how her relationships with everyone felt very real and organic. I need more of the Inspector in my life, and maybe more about his porspective relationship with the anti-terrorism agent?

Lots of steamy looks, steamy sex, and dastardly murder. I enjoyed this book and hope for more!

I requested this book because a friend of mine was raving about it. I wasn't really sure what to expect from it.

I really liked the story and where it was going, but unfortunately the characters were a bit.. how do you say that in English, flat? Not really flat, but without any issues I guess. Or with a lot of clichés. Anyway, I did really love that it was a mix of a murder mystery and a romance and it had Atlantic (Atlantis?) history in it. Though it did shift its focus to romance a bit quick and I wasn't expecting it.

While it was a book I enjoyed, I'm not sure I would pick it up again, but maybe a second time will change my mind. We'll see.

I really liked this. A good Venetian story and I looked up a lot of the sights mentioned and enjoyed it. I liked the history involved and the magical aspects. Penelope finds a sacred ancient piece of a tablet from Atlantis. Academically she is discredited but is an expert in ancient languages so when some gruesome murders occur she is contacted to consult, She heads to Venice to consult. There is a scary demon worshipping cult making sacrifices and she is tasked with helping to find the killers. She helps the police. During meditation, she accidentally astral projects to a man meditating and she meets a group of magicians from Atlantis trying to hide their existence. They work together to try to stop the demon worshipers. She and the magicians are the only way to stop the demon worshipers from taking over the world. I liked the story and am looking forward to the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dr. Penelope Bryne's academic career died from her attempts to find pieces of Atlantis. But when a murder in Italy uses ancient script she identified as Atlantean, she flies to Venice to help the police stop a killer and potentially find proof of Atlantis' existence.

This book was, unfortunately, not for me. Though the promise of a murder is usually enough to keep me reading, the characters were rather flat and the dialogue a bit ridiculous. I only made it 30% in, but I could not care about Penelope, Alexis, or the murders that were happening. I think it's an interesting premise, but it never held my attention.