Review-Immortal Flame
By Jillian David
One of my goals when starting this SubStack was to read and review almost exclusively Indie or self-published authors. I know firsthand how hard it is to get your book done, and then also have to edit, proof, format, design, and upload it for all the world to NOT see. Self promotion is difficult and awkward, but if you have a book you think I should read let me know!
Once again, I knew nothing about this book before I read it. I met Jillian at a comic book convention where she pitched a different book but I wanted to start at the beginning of this series, so here we go!
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
In a new twist on hell, demons, and the devil, we find Peter Blackstone who became an “Indebted” - an immortal being that heals itself when injured and kills “bad guys” to feed their life force to Jerahmeel, the devil - when he traded his soul for the life of his dying wife in the 1940’s.
At the beginning of the book, Peter is involved in a very bad accident and goes unconscious. The EMT’s take him to the hospital not knowing what he is. The doctor on call is Allison “Al” La Croix who has the ability to see a person’s impending death if she comes into physical contact with them. Al does everything she can to avoid physical contact in order to keep her visions from happening. She has no idea how to control this ability and it has ruined many relationships. Her sister, though, knows of this power and is very supportive. Al has a special bond with her niece, who is a little spitfire.
When near Peter, something happens with Al’s power and when they touch, she is doesn’t see his death, but is able to see all of the people he’s killed. Later after Peter has healed and been assigned a surprise job in her town, we find out that Al is a “Ward” and reluctantly, Peter helps her discover what that means.
Peter has lived a miserable life for decades, killing in the hopes that he’ll eventually find his “Meaningful Kill” and it will be the last, making him mortal again. After one of Jerahmeel’s minions is sent to destroy anyone who Peter has gotten close to, he finds out exactly what he has to lose.
What I Thought
Immortal Flame is a quick and easy read. I think I finished it in two days. Jillian David provides an interesting and unique dynamic in the world of demons and devils and I’m here for it. She builds her characters and their world vividly. There were a few sections and characters that I would have liked to have had more detail about, but I was able to picture everyone and every scene easily.
While I expected more spice based on the cover and name, all of their moments together fit into the storyline and didn’t seem forced. This was definitely one of the milder, plot-driven Romance books I’ve read in a while, and even thought it was “tame” I bought into the arc of their relationship. This is a feel-good story with a predictable ending, so if you need a “palate cleanser” this is the book for you.
Jillian David writes extremely well. So well, in fact, that I had to look up 4-5 words. I fancy myself a word geek and when I came across some new words I was giddy. These words didn’t feel like they were talking down to the reader, though and worked well within the tone of the story with clear context clues.
I felt like I knew the main characters, but would have liked to have known a bit more about some of the supporting characters. Al’s parent’s and her difficult upbringing was touched on, and I was left wondering more about her sister and the ex-boyfriend that was mentioned. Occasionally the dialogue was stunted, and there were a few typos, but overall I completely bought into what was happening and rooting for Al and Peter.
I will absolutely read more of her work.