Immortality [Paperback]

Maggie Shayne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

Acclaimed as one of the masters of paranormal romance, Maggie Shayne enthralled readers with her extraordinary trilogy about a race of immortal witches. Now, she presents the story of an immortal whose existence has centered solely on vengeance and hatred-only to find a second chance at love, redemption-and immortality.

Her name is Puabi-and she's an Immortal High Witch whose past is littered with dark secrets. Convinced she has eluded death for the last time, she is shocked to find herself being rescued by a mysterious stranger who fills her with a desire she thought was lost forever...

His name is Matthew Fairchild-and he is a millionaire tormented by guilt over the tragic death of his wife. The last thing he expected to encounter was a beautiful woman who possessed an uncanny resemblance to the woman he loved and lost. But Puabi is like no one he's ever met before. Is it possible this enigmatic beauty can heal the bitter wounds that have nearly cost him his heart?

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Jove (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515140783
• ISBN-13: 978-0515140781
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,261,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published 53 novels, all for major NY Publishers, in her 18 year career. So far. In 2012 she'll be releasing a brand new trilogy dubbed "The Portal" and its books will include MARK OF THE WITCH in October 2012, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELL CASTER in December 2012, and BLOOD OF THE SORCERESS in February 2013, all for MIRA Books.

Maggie has published westerns, category romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, urban fantasy, women's fiction, and just about everything in between, and is currently working on her first thriller. She's a winner of the RITA Award, the romance fiction industry's most prestigious prize, and has won countless others.

Maggie's "Twilight" series of vampire novels, officially known as Wings in the Night, began in 1993 with a TWILIGHT PHANTASIES from Silhouette Shadows. The series only just concluded with TWILIGHT FULFILLED in October 2011. (Printable list and reading order at the author's website and on her Facebook page.)

Besides being an author, Maggie is a Wiccan High Priestess, Reiki healer, Tarot Card Reader, unofficial Life Coach, Law of Attraction expert, advice columnist, and a licensed minister. Her long running newspaper advice column has just now been compiled into book form; SHAYNE ON YOU, the author's first non-fiction book.

Recently, Maggie has begun re-releasing her out of print novels in ebook format. So far these include FAIRYTALE, FOREVER ENCHANTED and ANNIE'S HERO, fantasy-romances she wrote for Avon Books (Harper Collins) in the early 1990's, and a novella WITCH MOON RISING, originally published by Spilled Candy Books.

There will be much more to come.

Of course Maggie's publishers also release E-versions of her works, and it's difficult for the average reader to tell whether an ebook is released by a publisher, or the author herself. Especially books that were previously published by a NY Publishing House. Just look for the "Publisher" listing in the book's information and you'll see what's what. The prices are usually a little bit lower on the books Maggie releases herself.

Maggie lives with her soulmate Lance in a tiny town called Taylor (phone exchange: Truxton, mailing address: Cincinnatus, tax map: Cuyler. Smalltown folks understand!) in New York State's little known but sprawling and gorgeous dairy farm & wine country near the Fingerlakes region. Together they have a pair of Old English Mastiffs (Dozer & Daisy,) a chubby little bulldog (Niblet), an arrogant cat (Glorificus,) a saltwater reef aquarium with two clown fish (Larry & Cill) and two damsels (Vinnie & Blue,) a bearded dragon (Captain Yellow Beard) and a life of utter contentment and joy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice, October 17, 2005

By 

A. Messinger "thirstforknowledge" (Lodi, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Immortality (Paperback)

I read this story when it was in an anthology called Out of This World. After reading it, I was inspired to go back and read Destiny, Eternity, and Infinity. This is a wonderful story that gives the reader more perspective on the Immortal High Witch Puabi that was featured in an earlier novel. I highly reccommend it, especially if you have read any of the others I mentioned.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Read of Shayne's novels instead, January 28, 2010

By 

SHR (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immortality (Paperback)

***Review containers spoilers***

This is a novella, which centres on Puabi - a dark Immortal High Witch. She throws herself into the sea after her husband leaves her to burn in their house, as he runs off with his mistress. Matthew rescues her from the sea. Puabi could be the twin of his dead wife, Gabrielle.
The story is about redemption and love and has an unbelievable happy ending.
It was a compelling read but not a satisfying one - even though I knew I was going to get a predictable romance before I started reading. I don't usually mind that - so I guess I must have found other elements of the story unsatisfying and that is probably down to the length - not enough time for characters to be drawn properly and events to unfold at a natural pace.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great short story - reissued from an anthology, February 24, 2006

By 

Darkcat_ak "darkcat_ak" (Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immortality (Paperback)

IMMORTALITY originally released as a short story in the OUT OF THIS WORLD anthology in 2001.

When her beloved husband betrays Puabi to be with his mistress, it was all she could do to pull herself from her burning home and crawl to the cliffs near her house where she falls into the ocean. Badly burned and suffering from smoke inhalation, she still hopes to survive, but if she doesn't at least she has the satisfaction of knowing her husband won't find her body.

An unknown amount of time later, Matthew Fairchild is out boating and sees the body of a woman drifting in the ocean. Pulling her into his boat, he quickly discovers that she is still alive and much to his surprise she the vision of his deceased wife!

Maggie Shayne is an author who never fails to impress me with her writing ability and this is actually the first of her witch stories I've read. IMMORTALITY has inspired me to go and read more of her witch novels.

Puabi is an Immortal High Witch and has given up her soul by killing numerous "light ones" to maintain her life and youth. By tossing herself into the ocean, she dies a thousand deaths, each time restoring herself with a life she had previously stolen. She is a bitter woman, a Queen in her own right and while weak in body strong in will. She desperately needs to be loved, and loved in return. While she comes across as very hard, I actually thought she also came across as very noble, so I liked her as a character.

Matthew lost his wife and unborn child because he was too devoted to his work and very neglectful of his needy wife. Even though he had married her out of duty, Matthew blaims himself for her death and cannot come to terms with her loss. Finding Puabi, he realizes that while she is and was not his wife, she is the type of woman he could very easily love.

This story is very touching and the end was a little bit of a surprise for me. I hadn't read IMMORTALITY in the anthology, and with the current trend of publishing the individual short stories, thought I would give this one a shot. Great story!