eARC Review: The Immortal Abyss by Katherine Briggs
Release date: 17 September 2024
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Seize the throne. Seek the legend and conquer the Abyss.
Nations rise and fall in the aftermath of war over the Eternity Gate. The corrupted desert throne stands empty, and the Immortal Abyss awakens. Drought ravages the continent, and people long for the rebirth of a starpalm, who will rise from among mortals and end their judgment.
Orphaned at birth, Tol grew up hiding in the farthest corners of the desert, training under powerful rebel fire wielders. She now dedicates her life to the Rebellion’s cause to seize the throne and Abyss from the surviving dynasty and deliver both to the coming deity.
Chosen as the Rebellion’s messenger, she travels to reach sympathizers capable of identifying the starpalm. Familiar figures haunt her dreams, and her path twists with every step she takes. Can Tol fulfill her purpose and summon a legend? Or will her country perish under the judgment of the twin gates?
Review
When I opened The Eternity Gate last year, I had no idea what I was in for. What started as a casual reading of a possibly good book turned into a mad dash to the end of what I now consider to be one of my favorite YA fantasy series ever. Katherine Briggs knows how to write it all. Action. Suspense. Misdirection. Fantastic characters. Great world building. All the things. If you have a heart for YA fantasy, and you miss the YA fantasy of yesteryear, before it was flooded with adult content, pick The Threshold Duology up today. It’s a breath of fresh air.
The most interesting thing about The Immortal Abyss revolves around how it’s connected to The Eternity Gate. It's essentially a sequel that follows different characters. Both novels are centered on magical gates that the protagonists must open in order to break curses upon their respective lands, but those curses are different, and the access to and locations of the gates are different. The lands are in conflict, but they must heal the rift between one another in order to relieve their self-inflicted suffering. The Eternity Gate must be read first, or the reader will spoil some of the plot workings from it in The Immortal Abyss.
Briggs’ special writing talent to me lies in her character building. Tol, our gifted main character, wields the fire of her native people of Vedoa (the people of Laijon in The Eternity Gate wield light magic). She’s semi-talented, orphaned, on the run, and on the lam. Her mentor is nowhere to be found, and she must team up with a serving boy to help her get across the desert to safety so she can help summon the much longed for starpalm and deliver Vedoa from its long-suffered drought. Tol suffers from massive self-doubt, but she dearly loves the people she fights for, and she’s wonderfully humble and such a great main character.
I can’t list any more characters and gush over how well crafted they are; it would be spoiling. Yes, even the characters work intricately into the plot and play major roles in the events. I got supremely attached to the main characters in The Eternity Gate, so much so that I thought it impossible for me to love any of these characters even a fraction as much. Having read both books, I find it difficult deciding whom to love more.
The world building and plot structure are some of the best storycrafting in YA fantasy I’ve read of late. The pace moves along at quite a clip, and the story goes quickly along with it. I love that there’s no info dump for the mechanics—everything organically works into the storyline. These stories offer encouraging, moving tales of forgiveness, redemption, healing, and hope.
I’m not a person who rereads many books. There are too many out there to spend on the same one more than once unless it’s extraordinary. To me—Briggs’ books are among a handful of books I would pick up again.
Briggs wove a storytelling spell on me with this duology. I wasn’t expecting to love these books so much—I didn’t really have any expectations when I picked the first one up. They sit now among some of my favorite YA fantasy. I highly recommend, especially if you love fantasy, to pick them up and give them a try.
My most sincere thanks to Enclave Publishing and Katherine Briggs for the eARC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.
Comments