Now I wanted to like this book, I did; It has most things that I love: a powerful female character, it's dark as f**k, and it's got a weird cult involved. But this book just fell flat for me. Also, I knew there were going to be a lot of dark elements in the book, but the mild trigger warning page DID NOT do the triggers justice. There needs to be 2 pages of trigger warnings for this book. None of it triggered me, but there were a lot of SA elements that could be upsetting to a lot of people.
This story had a lot of potential, but it was not there for me.
I ended up DNFing at 65%, I just couldn't do it anymore.

DNF'd at around 60%

Pros :
Some really beautiful writing
A rather compelling (if a little confusing) magic system
Interesting characters
Plenty of plot twists

Cons:
Slow pace, with a confused sense of time passing
Very clear it was a series of novellas banded together - plotlines were repeated and re-explained too quickly, as if there had been considerable time between reading each part. Would have certainly benefited from editing these out.
Magic/power system is engaging but, as mentioned earlier, a little hard to pin down
Content/trigger warnings list was VERY incomplete - not an issue for myself, but certainly could be for other readers.

Wow. Just. Wow
I just reviewed The Last Immortal by Natalie Gibson. #TheLastImmortal

Victorian gothic horror.
My jaw was dropped the entire time, and my head was spinning with Lady Ramillia. I LIVE for an unexpected plot twist and this DELIVERED.

Be aware going in that there are a lot of triggers, and as Lady Ramillia warns, "not for the faint of heart"— she means it.

If you have any child-related triggers - this book may not be for you. I was able to make it through but that doesn't mean it's for everyone.

Some of the triggers include:
Assault/Murder
Animal cruelty
Blood/Gore
Cannibalism
Child SA
Child birth
Child death
BDSM
Drug use
Forced Abortion
Human Skin wearing
Incest
Mental health issues
Pedophilia
Reanimated corpse
SA
Self Harm

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a DNF for me. While the cover is compelling, the story was off to too slow of a start to feel excited to pick it back up.

Hello Fellow readers,

First off I want to say that this is a dark book. That in of itself isn't a bad thing, as dark fantasies are usually one of my favorite genres, what bothered me was FMC development. This is a long book, as we go through Ramillia's life we should see her development happen slowly (this is a very slow-paced book) but I felt like this was rushed which doesn't make sense. Her growth felt unnatural. The book's first half was extremely slow, with Gibson providing a little too many lore dumps and what feels like random world-building. The build-up felt forced and lacking something that hindered a book of this length. Some made sense in the latter half of the book, but it's a struggle to get there, I almost DNF'd a couple of times but forced myself to push through.

I will say a couple of positive things, despite the development, the characterization of Ramilla was nice and she showed the ability to make the right choices, something that most characters have trouble with. Gibsons's idea is also unique and refreshing, they also did a great job at building a gothic atmosphere and her writing is very lyrical.

Overall, I believe this book could have benefitted from being slightly faster-paced and edited down.

In all honesty I had to DNF this book. The premise was interesting and made it seem like a modern take on the classic horror genre. And the first few chapters started to feel that way. It started feeling off when it got into the main character’s backstory.

The whole thing is spun as if our main character is giving a look into her life leading up to somewhere. The reader is never introduced to the character as they exist in their modern time, never knows exactly who is telling this story. So it reads more like the usual outside perspective and much less biographical than it feels is intended. The perspective is set up to be this woman telling her life but at some point shifts to the usual outside narration. Is at least twice jarred back out to the modern with commentary from the mc herself. But a balance is never truly established.

The book also takes some weird turns in setting up the character’s early life. Somehow setting her up as someone who has had all of her privileges ripped away from her after the deaths of her family but also given insane amounts of privileges in the institution she is locked into because of some unknown man. The level of vagueness around her monstrous side and how much knowledge the people around her have about it and why felt, more often than not, too vague. Like it wasn’t setting up properly for the grand reveal of it all.

I'm not sure if I loved this or disliked it. There are a lot of TWs/CWs that need to be listed and are not. This is highly unhelpful for people who might need this Information. Other than that, I did like the story for the most part.

A powerful woman. A powerful man.
The ability to live forever after taking over another person.
The ability to share the bodies of yet others.
Sex, violence needed for them without explanation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC

DNF after 6 chapters. The book made no sense and made me highly uncomfortable with how it was displayed, I will not be posting a review on any platforms to not deter someone else’s interest.

It's quite violent and graphic but I liked the story ot this nightmarish characters and this world where there's no piety or friends.
it's intriguing and well plotted. Loved the original world building.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After reading several reviews for this book, I have decided not to read it, since the content will be very triggering for me. I was unaware of the content warnings for SA and child SA when I requested it. It may be a great book, but the triggers are too much for me.

Thank you BHC Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I don't even know where to begin with this review. When I read the summary I thought it was going to be more of dark gothic horror book. Once I actually started reading though it all I got was dark and horror but not in a good way. I LITERALLY forced myself to finish this book. Not only that but it took me weeks to actually finish it. Now that I'm done I wish I had just DNFd the book. The only good thing I can say about this book is the author finished it. The plot went from horrifying to making me feel so sick to my stomach that I had to vomit. The amount of grotesque SA scenes is absolutely insane. This included but not limited to CSA scenes. These scenes in my opinion did not add anything to the plot other than highlight the author's capabilities on writing pedophilia into a book. I wish I could say the characters were at least interesting but they weren't. They were all one dimensional and at no point did anything they do make sense. The plot was messy to say the least. I had to reread several pages over and over again because it was not clear what was happening in certain scenes. I definitely was not the target audience for this book and I'm beyond grateful for that fact. I wouldn't recommend this book or author to anyone. I wish I could get the time back I spent reading this book back or at least have my memories wiped of ever reading it. If I could give it negative stars I would.

I want to thank NetGalley, Publishers BHC Press, and the author Natalie Gibson for providing this e-ARC. Witch, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.

Please make sure you're aware of the trigger warnings this book contains, Some of the triggers include:
Animal cruelty, assault, murder, cannibalism, blood, gore, child sa, childbirth, child death, BDSM, drug use, forced abortion, human skin wearing, incest, mental health issues, pedophilia, reanimated corpse, sa, self-harm.

Lady Ramillia Winmoore is sent to an asylum, convicted of her parent's murder, where her nightmares became with mistreatments and invasive treatments. She only remembers parts of her childhood.
We see mental health representations not only in our FMC but in other patients and society in general.
Ramillia is saved by Sir Julian, whose estates she will soon be married to him.

The book's narrative is mostly filled with our FMC, thoughts, since she was put away from society for most of her living life she's adjusting to all she can absorb. The book evolved at a slow pace.

Heavily graphic and descriptive, full of violence and shocking events for a child to grow up to. Allow for a Gothic Horror I imagined it as the darkness sombre and gruesome of Frankenstein in a Tim Burton atmosphere.
I recommend this book to Gothic Horror lovers, full of twists.

The Last Immortal is not for the faint of heart. It is a heavy book that is very dark. Fans of paranormal and horror will devour this though! It is dark and atmospheric, truly living up to the gothic tag. Prepare to read with your jaw dropped and your head in a tail spin because this book just simply does not stop. I will say though, it is a very trigger laden book. Don't be afraid to take breaks if needed. Some scenes and instances may leave you feeling deeply uncomfortable and that's ok. While I enjoyed this one, it was a little hard to get through some particular parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

I really liked the idea of this one. The magic system and world building was a little intense for my liking, but I thoroughly enjoyed the overall plotline. Would recommend to anyone who is used to the typical world building / etc.

Loves:
- overall atmosphere of the book
-The FMC not prioritizing love in a way that would have her take the backseat.

Cons:
-there are trigger warnings that are missing
-feels like this should've been more than one book
-the ending feels a bit disconnected from the story, almost as if it was added as an afterthought and the author failed to see if the story pointed in that direction

Overall: A lot of potential but the execution just was not there.
2.5 rounded up

I loved it. I will definitely put this book in my re read pile for gothic horror. It is perfect to read for the spooky season. My favorite time of the year. It was so many twist and turn throughout this book.

In "Immortal Betrayal," Natalie Gibson spins a tale of chilling intrigue and dark secrets that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the very first page. Through the eyes of Lady Ramillia Winmoore, a Victorian aristocrat burdened with the curse of immortality, we are plunged into a world of violence, cruelty, and unimaginable horrors.

From the opening lines, Gibson grabs hold of our imagination and never lets go, immersing us in Ramillia's harrowing journey from the confines of the West Freeman Asylum for Lunatics to the twisted machinations of her benefactor, Sir Julian Lawrence. As Ramillia struggles to uncover the truth behind her fragmented memories and the sinister society of immortals she has been ensnared in, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and revelation.

Gibson's masterful prose paints a vivid picture of a gaslight-era world steeped in Gothic horror and paranormal intrigue. From the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London to the shadowy halls of Sir Julian's mansion, every setting is rendered with exquisite detail, evoking a sense of dread and foreboding that lingers long after the final page is turned.

But it is the character of Lady Ramillia herself who truly captivates. Despite the horrors she endures, she remains a resilient and compelling protagonist, driven by a fierce determination to reclaim her freedom and uncover the truth about her past. As she navigates a treacherous world where friends and foes alike wear masks of deception, readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way.

"Immortal Betrayal" is a gripping tale of suspense, betrayal, and the enduring power of the human spirit. With its richly imagined world, complex characters, and heart-pounding twists and turns, it is a must-read for fans of Gothic horror and dark fantasy alike. Prepare to be swept away on a journey that will leave you breathless and begging for more.

First I want to thank NetGalley and BHC Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When the summary said dark, I don't think I was prepared for just how dark this book would be. I am not one to shy away from more controversial depictions in literature but it was disappointing that the author hadn't considered to warn about the CSA until several reviewers had to bring it to attention.

I am normally a fan of gothic and historical literature but this one just was too much for me. Perhaps those who prefer very dark content would be the correct audience but I am someone that enjoys more reward for my investment and unfortunately the ending was a disappointment for me.