Review of The Deathless One (The Gravesinger, #1)
When I first stumbled upon The Deathless One by Amanda Lynn, I was immediately drawn in by the promise of dark magic and mysterious realms. The cover, with its haunting visuals, whispered tales of adventure that pulled me in like a moth to a flame. Little did I know that I would soon be crying out, "Oh thank god that’s over!" upon finishing the last page—a dramatic sentiment that now haunts my reading experience.
The novel revolves around Jessamine, a character so reminiscent of the Dishonored games that I wondered if this started as fanfiction. From her name, echoing that of the murdered empress in the game, to the eerie plague transforming people into mindless creatures, the similarities were hard to ignore. The world of Inverholm, a gritty steampunk backdrop, lacks depth and feels more like a pale imitation of something far richer. The city scenes are shallow, and the plague serves little purpose beyond a faint grunge aesthetic.
While the premise was intriguing, the execution falters spectacularly. The secondary characters feel annoyingly one-dimensional and serve mostly as cardboard cutouts in Jessamine’s journey—her woman-power mantra often felt more like a clumsy slogan than a proper character arc. The sham of "girl power trumps all" pervades the narrative; at times, I felt embarrassed for the protagonist, who thrived on the barest flickers of self-affirmation.
As we dive deeper into the plot, the pacing and writing took turns that felt more like exclusion than revelation. An abundance of plot holes roamed through the narrative like a plague of their own. The sudden jumps in perspective made high-tension scenes nearly non-existent, leaving me searching for emotional engagements I desperately craved but never found. Jessamine’s penchant for leaving graffiti to inspire her beleaguered people rather than taking decisive action is perhaps the most egregious misstep; it creates a disconnect that only reinforces the cringe factor.
Moreover, let’s address the magic, which lacks even the barest structure. I kept asking myself, "What are the rules here?" The arbitrary whims of magic felt almost childish, as if crafted by middle schoolers with a penchant for darkness. Jessamine’s abilities come and go without explanation, making her a hero who seems to do things because “cool” dictates it.
And those rushed and confusing romantic interludes at the end? Let’s just say they felt tacked on, some kind of afterthought that left me smirking more than swooning. If there was surprise or delight to find in this reading experience, it was overshadowed by my growing ire.
For anyone who adores rich world-building, nuanced characters, or compelling plots, I would say steer clear of The Deathless One. The themes of empowerment and resilience drown in a pool of superficial execution that, while perhaps aiming to be inspiring, falters into mere decoration. While some readers may find a guilty pleasure in its chaotic charm, I found it more of an affront to the genre and its potential.
Thus, if your tastes lean toward more fleshed-out character journey and engaging storytelling, I assure you—there are far better literary adventures waiting beyond the pages of this book. Trust me; your time will be far more rewarding elsewhere.
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