Immortal Longings Book Review
It would be easier if he had betrayed her. That’s familiar territory, something she knows how to navigate.
Calla can handle pain. She can handle blood. But this—this is somehow all and none of that at once, a wrenching in her very soul.
This is tenderness. And she is more afraid of it than anything else in their forsaken kingdom.
Synopsis
Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.
Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him.
Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning.
Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.
Review
Do the ends justify the means?
Book 1 of the Flesh & False Gods trilogy, Immortal Longings, by Chloe Gong takes you on a gritty, high-stakes journey through the twin cities of San-Er, where body-jumping assassins and exiled aristocrats battle for power and survival. Chloe Gong’s retelling of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra in an urban fantasy/historical dystopian society setting is ambitious, weaving themes of power, loyalty, and deception with a narrative that challenges conventional ideas about identity and consent.
The concept of body-jumping is both intriguing and unsettling, raising questions about the nature of self and the ethics of possession. While this idea drives some of the novel’s tension, it also creates an underlying discomfort, particularly in how it handles the issue of consent. The depersonalization of bodies as mere assets to be borrowed or stolen adds a layer of complexity that some readers may find thought-provoking, while others might feel uneasy.
The multiple points of view and the third-person, present-tense narration offer a panoramic view of the characters’ motivations and internal struggles, though it can take some getting used to. Additionally, while not necessarily a bad thing, the pacing is slow, with infodumps that sometimes disrupt the flow of the story. Despite this, the plot is peppered with a few twists towards the end that you’ll be glad you kept reading for.
The characters are a mixed bag. Calla (our Cleopatra) and Anton (Mark Antony) have an interesting chemistry, and I enjoyed some of their flirty, funny, and, on occasion, tension-filled moments. August (Augustus/Octavius Caesar) adds some depth to the story, though he sometimes gets overshadowed by the more intense leads, and I suspect there’s still some more growth to be expected from him. Finally, Eno, a side character, stands out as a favorite, though I was saddened by the conclusion to his character arc.
Overall, Immortal Longings is a book that left me conflicted. It’s a story that makes you think deeply about whether the ends justify the means, wrapped in a complex world where the lines between right and wrong are constantly blurred. While the book has its flaws, its unique premise, moments of strong literary elements, and unexpected plot twists make it a compelling read and had me eager to read the next installment, Vilest Things.
Content warnings include issues of consent, violence, and death.
Publication date was 18 July 2023.
![“What’s in it for you? [...] Why risk San-Er finding out about its lost murderer princess?” “Would you believe me if I said the greater good?”](https://i0.wp.com/literarialuminaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Immortal-Longings-Quote-7.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)
Author Profile
Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in The New York Times, People, Forbes, and more. She is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she double-majored in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Chloe is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.
You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok under @thechloegong, or visit her website at www.thechloegong.com.
TL;DR
- Rating: 3.5 stars | Genre: Historical Fantasy | Pages: 384
- Book 1 of Flesh & False Gods trilogy
- A retelling of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
- Multiple POVs with third-person, present-tense narration
- Themes of power, loyalty, and deception
- Moments of strong literary elements, particularly in relation to the concept of body-jumping
- CWs: issues of consent, violence, and death
Want more?
See my review of Book 2, Vilest Things, HERE!
