3 out of 4 stars
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Undying Love by Bill Liggins is a sci-fi/romance novel that follows the story of Malchides, an immortal being whose only desire is to perish. Because of his unique nature, humanity has either worshiped or feared him, often misinterpreting his actions. For this reason, he has been forced to retreat into anonymity, although he has always acted in the best interests of mankind from the shadows. But his desire to achieve peace and his unconditional love for those women who had won his heart will lead him to test the limits of his immortality. For the torture to which his soul has been subjected may have no end.
The book focuses on Malchides' three love interests in three different periods. First, we have Candace Amanirenas, a woman of Nubian royalty and sister of the highest authority of the Roman Empire on her land. Then, we have Tamara Jennings, a young 21st-century researcher obsessed with a recurring figure in the history of mankind who is seemingly immortal. Finally, we have Sage Kolene, a female metasapien (an artificial being) who finds herself suddenly separated from the Core that directs her species and with the need to fend for herself.
The prose throughout the book is extremely fluid and pleasant for reading. Although it distances itself from the protagonists at times, it manages to capture their essence as it focuses on their feelings and thoughts along with their actions. While not bold, the romance scenes are very well built around the physical perceptions of the characters, their connection deep and almost mystical. The author also does a great job in setting the reader in each of the three periods in which the book takes place, from the conflicts in the power of Rome to the relationships between the organic and artificial beings in the future. Additionally, the editing work is nearly flawless. Apart from a couple of missing double quotation marks in dialogues, some absent words, and a few misplaced commas, there are no grammatical mistakes or typos.
My only real complaint about this book is related to its plot. It is not a matter of whether or not it is engaging, but of focus. Considering the title, I expected something more from the development of the romantic plots between the characters, with the exception of Kolene's case. Although the secondary conflicts around the role of the powerful organizations of humanity in relation to the figure of the Malchides are interesting, they take over the focus of the text at times. While the addition of these elements enriches the plot, the reader may come to expect a little more romance in a story of this kind.
Nevertheless, the story is compelling, the characters are charismatic, and the conclusion is satisfying. I would have given it one more star, but considering what I mentioned about the “focus” thing and the fact that the book would have benefited from expanding Malchides' perspective for much of its length, I give it 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to readers of romance books who accept the presence of sci-fi elements in their texts. Additionally, I recommend it to sci-fi readers looking for stories with parallels between past, present, and future, as well as thriller elements in their texts.
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Undying Love
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