Immortal Wounds
About
After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years into the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters, one of whom is a witch with secrets of her own who instantly draws Isobel in.
Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sibling, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years. Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?
Praise for this book
I met Angie Barton at an author event both of us participated in in Texas a few years ago. Immortal Wounds is one of the few I have purchased at such events, and I bought it because I loved the cover and title, which I also discovered matched the content perfectly. To my shame, it took me a year to open it.
My first reaction to Angie’s novel was one of depression! The descriptions of the characters and landscapes were so rich I immediately thought my novels were inadequate and reached for the whiskey. I found her style of writing took a little bit of effort to slide into, but that is likely because mine is so different. If you have the same challenge, stick with it because it is more than worth it.
Set in the Dark Ages, Immortal Wounds is a story of vampires, witches, and “normal” people. It has an interesting twist of time travel, although within a narrow few centuries. I would consider the genre as Historical Fantasy. Given the age in which the story is set and how those accused, often maliciously, of witchcraft, were treated, I wondered who the worse monster was.
I also would consider Immortal Wounds to be a mystery novel with a haunting Gothic feel. Each time I thought I had the mystery solved, Angie tossed in a new twist. Hence, the story is a page-turner, which made me regret having to put it down. The small group of characters are well-described and developed, generating sympathy, frustration, and dislike.
I would recommend Immortal Wounds without reservation and hope Angie is working on the sequel.
Immortal Wounds is a quick read, well written and a difficult novel to put down when my bride rings the dinner bell. I loved the fact that the 390 page book covers only a 4 to 6 week time line. I could not wait to find out what transpires in the next chapter. I also loved the fact that the novel was not overly violent but has plenty of action. I cannot wait for the second novel to become available!! I one hundred percent recommend it and give it my 5 out of 5 star rating!!
Met Angie at a book fair where she was promoting her new book, Immortal Wounds. As she was telling me about the book it sounded interesting but maybe like all the other vampire/witch books I had read- It wasn't. She does such a good job at describing the characters and scenes that I was instantly drawn in. During the day I kept thinking I need to finish watching that show to find out what is going to happen... then reminding myself it isn't a show I am watching, but a book I am reading.
I can't wait for the next book.
I am a sucker for historical fiction and this story was full of storytelling from multiple time periods. Such twists and turns in the story kept me reading and wanting more. Hoping Angie Barton will continue Isobel and charlottes story so I can find out what happens next!!
***It was as if Outlander and Twilight had a child with a very dark twist. I guarantee you'll love it!***
Immortal Wounds is the special type of hidden gem that deserves to be in the spotlight. Some of the first words that come to mind when I think of this book are bewitching, mysterious, thought-provoking, and daring. I literally read this book in one day over the span of 8 hours. I absolutely could not put it down!The year is 1882 in New England. Isobel, who comes from a long line of witches, stumbles upon the horrific murder of her Mother and Husband. Pregnant with her unborn daughter, she flees her home whilst being pursued by the two blood thirsty Vampires who killed her loved ones.
She summons a portal- which is the only powers she possesses- hoping to escape death herself, and to time travel 200 years in the past to her ancestor in Scotland, Miriam in hopes she can help. Before she passes through this portal, one of the Vampires claims to be her Father and urges her to stay with him.
The only problem- Isobel goes a century too far and lands in the 1500’s. She makes it to the Castle where she believes her ancestor, Miriam, to be, but is met by a fierce, angry looking highlander warrior, Gavan, and his two sisters; Elspeth and Meg.
Isobel immediately feels a connection to Meg, and believes her to be a witch as well.
As we follow Meg in the beginning of this story, we meet a Vampire, Cristian to whom Meg has an arrangement with. She allows him to feed from her, giving Cristian a temporary release from his lonely existence, and in turn gives Meg his physical abilities.
Everyone is suspicious of Isobel, but none more so than Gavan. He doesn’t trust Isobel and wants her out of his family’s life as soon as possible, but Elspeth insists that they must seek a midwife to help Isobel in her condition and that she should stay with them.
Witch hunts are on the rise and Isobel is not safe in this time. With the help of her secret companion, her Familiar, a magpie named Fara that followed her back in time, Isobel must figure out if she should return to her own time, or if she was meant to be here.This book had so many plot twists and aha moments, I was at the edge of my figurative seat the whole time. This book has curses, prophecies, secrets, lies, magic, and revenge. It was as if Outlander and Twilight had a child with a very dark twist. I guarantee you’ll love it!