Immortal Longings (Flesh & False Gods #1) (Hardcover)
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Staff Reviews
The novel, Immortal Longings, written by Chloe Gong is the first in the soon to be trilogy, Flesh and False Gods. This is the young author’s first official adult fantasy novel!
The book has a very Hunger-Games-esque type of vibe adding a slow-burn romance and a dash of spice.
The story takes place in the kingdom of Talin, where many of its inhabitants are able to jump bodies. Although it is illegal throughout the land, many do happen to jump bodies. With their qui (soul) so easily able to move vessels, citizens are each given an identity number that they have to input in order to do anything. If someone happens to jump too many times, they become stuck in a sort of purgatory state that slowly destroys their qui. In this kingdom, the twin cities, San-Ir, host a game for its civilians to take part in each year. Hundreds sign up, yet only eighty-eight people are selected. The games are a fight to the death, the victor winning a large sum of money, giving them hope of leaving their impoverished city. Of the selected players, there is Calla, the exiled princess who murdered her parents in cold blood just a few years prior. Signing up for the games under an alias, Calla plans to become victor in order to assassinate the king, destroying the current monarchy that has ignored the desperate state that the kingdom is in. Whilst growing up in the kingdom, Calla learned to fight which has created an advantage that many of the other players don’t have. Once the games begin, Calla manages to eliminate many of her fellow players, placing her in first place and giving her hope at being named victor. But, Anton Makusa, is closely behind her in the kill list, causing Calla some worry. Anton has his own reasons for signing up for the games, the primary one being he needs to pay off hospital bills that have been accruing since his oldest friend was placed in a purgatory state after she tried to jump bodies too many times. Calla and Anton form a truce to both successfully keep an eye on their main competitor and make it to the final round. As the story develops, a romance begins to blossom between the two, but it is destined to fail since there can only be one victor. While the games are occurring, the kingdom has its own mystery that it tries to solve throughout the book. Some of the players in the game have been attacked and the prince, August, is trying to find out just why and who has been doing these killings.
Since this book has a slow-paced introduction, I would not recommend trying to read while in a reading slump. But for those of you who love a heavily plot based story, this is just that kind of book.
— Bridget KellerAugust 2023 Indie Next List
“In Immortal Longings, Chloe Gong takes inspiration from Shakespeare and builds a fully imagined and detailed world. Her ability to create place, characters, and intrigue is astonishing. This story will leave you breathless.”
— Calvin Crosby, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
Description
A NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, is a “smart, imaginative, and brutal” (Wesley Chu, New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga) collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.
Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin 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 finally gets her opportunity 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.
About the Author
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.
Praise For…
The Fantasy Buzz Book of 2023: Time, Cosmopolitan, PopSugar, Glamour, Paste
“[Gong’s] adult debut is about to become your new obsession.”—Cosmopolitan
“[P]ulse-pounding action, tension, and intrigue…” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“[A] must-read.” — Booklist, starred review
“Spectacular worldbuilding, breathtaking action, and plenty of mischief.” — Kirkus, starred review
"I blew straight through this book, and I wish I could go back and read it again from scratch. Gong's first venture into adult fantasy, set in a claustrophobic, low-tech city where life is cheap and bodies are disposable, features wonderfully complex characters and a game to the death that is executed with aplomb. Immortal Longings is a lot of fun, with twists you won't see coming until right before the hammer drops."
—Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of the Between Earth and Sky trilogy
"I blew straight through this book, and I wish I could go back and read it again from scratch. Gong's first venture into adult fantasy, set in a claustrophobic, low-tech city where life is cheap and bodies are disposable, features wonderfully complex characters and a game to the death that is executed with aplomb. Immortal Longings is a lot of fun, with twists you won't see coming until right before the hammer drops."
—Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of the Between Earth and Sky trilogy
“Smart, imaginative, and brutal, Immortal Longings is a mind- and genre-bending epic that is as cutting and honest as it is unpredictable. Chloe Gong’s assertive style is filled with razor's-edge prose, and her complex characters will hurt you, but in the most thrilling way. What a time to be alive for book lovers.”
—Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga
“Gripping, bewildering, irresistible, Chloe Gong’s Immortal Longings is a tour de force of Asian Futurism, a provocative examination of self and destiny that melds the ruthless sensuality of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with the visceral urgency of The Hunger Games. This book left me breathless!”
—Ryka Aoki, author of Light From Uncommon Stars
“Immortal Longings is a grab-you-and-won’t-let-go sort of book, as brutal and merciless as its characters. Everyone has secret plans, and everyone’s life exists on the edge of betrayal. Each page is fierce and filled with yearning—I loved it.”
—Andrea Stewart, author of The Drowning Empire trilogy