I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Infinity
by
Maggie Shayne
paranormal romance in a paperback edition that was published by Jove on October 1, 1999 and has 352 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Night's Edge, Twilight Begins , Man of My Dreams, Weddings From Hell, An Enchanted Season, Wild Thing, Hot Blooded
Sorry, everyone, we had no Internet all frickin’ weekend, and just got it back now at 5 frickin’ pm Monday! Argh…
Second in The Immortals paranormal romance series and revolving around Arianna and Nicodimus, beginning in Scotland in 1511 to the present day in 1999.
My Take
Infinity takes us back to the year that Raven first died in 1511 and proceeds to inform us of Arianna’s origins. After quite awhile, we come to today’s world from the end of Eternity, 1, where Arianna and Raven have met again and carries on from there, combining Nicodimus’ ending in 1511 with Dearborne’s death.
It’s a combination of points-of-view; first person protagonist from Nicodimus’ perspective, which is how we learn all his back history, along with all his angst about not wanting to love Arianna…and yet he’s falling for her…oy. The rest is a third person subjective, mostly from Arianna’s perspective. It’s annoying in 1511 as she’s such a brat, who does know her mind…and isn’t afraid to let all know what she’s thinking. And that’s where her immaturity comes in, for she loves shocking the villagers with her proclamations of being a witch. This in a time when witches were persecuted. Stupid twit. But that POV does inform us of her honor in 1999.
Of course, the villagers are hypocrites. They’ll use the services of The Crones in private while they decry them in public. I do like that Joseph. He’s much more open-minded and in favor of justice.
“…we should call for the execution of everyone who used The Crones’ ways to aid themselves. For if what they did was sin, then we all are as guilty as they.”
It’s a fascinating world and magic that Shayne has created. Yet, this love meme of I-can-never-love-again is annoying. Nicodimus has had over 700 years to get over it. No, I’m not trying to make light of his losing his wife and sons, but really…700 years?? Then there’s the don’t-tell-her meme, so Arianna is not prepared for who and what she is.
There’s plenty of action — and be sure to read Eternity first! The characters are stereotypical with a pace that alternates between slow and fast and does meander about. Still, it is a fascinating story that I enjoyed
The Story
A meeting of Witches, both High and Dark, that results in murders, kidnappings, and betrayal.
It’s unexpected love that will last for centuries.
The Characters
Arianna Sinclair is a stubborn, immature, selfish village girl, the daughter of the saddler. Mara Sinclair is her mother; her father, Edwyn. Raven is the sister who drowned in the loch, trying to save Arianna (Eternity) and whom Arianna found again in 1691. Duncan is Raven’s lover whom Raven found again in Eternity.
Nicodimus Lachlan, a cousin, many times removed, to Joseph, is an Immortal Witch who considers Stonehaven a refuge from his life. Black is his faithful horse.
Stonehaven is…
…a village in the Scottish Highlands. Joseph Lachlan is its widowed laird. Kenyon and Lud are his bullyish sons. Nidaba originated in Sumeria and is Nicodimus’ best friend who also sees Stonehaven as a refuge.
Angus MacClennan is the cobbler’s son — and I cannot blame Arianna for not being interested in the boy! Katie McDaniel would love to hook up with Angus. God knows why. Maddy Hargrove nearly died giving birth to young Billy; Nathan MacGregor still has his leg. The Crones are Leandra, Celia, and Mary, the village witches, herbal women who cure the villagers who also fear them.
Kenwick is…
…Marten’s keep. Nathaniel Dearborne is a Dark High Witch and spiritual counselor to Marten. Lydia and Kathleen are to be Arianna’s maids. Gorden will be her “bodyguard”.
764 was…
…Nicodimus’ time. Anya is the girl fourteen-year-old Nicodimus rescued/took from her abusive family after a winning battle. Together they had two sons: Will and Jaymes. Kohl and Marten, who develops telepathic combustion as a skill, are Anya’s brutal brothers who have become Dark High Witches.
Druids taught Nicodimus his first magics. The Dark Ones use black magic and murder to attain immortality. Immortal High Witches are of the light. They are created when a person dies while attempting to save the life of a Witch, and they return in another lifetime with the gift of immortality. A High Witch can die if someone removes their heart.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a grayed-down pink background with three scrolls of greenery and roses in the left corners and lower right corner. In the center is an oval graphic outlined in a lighter pink with a longhaired blonde with a wreath of flowers in a white dress sitting on the grass with a brown-haired man in a green cape, flowing-sleeved white smock and brown leather jerkin in a green plaid kilt, black stockings and brown leather boots, his head resting in her lap. Framing them and in the background are menhirs, a stonehenge of power. At the top is an info blurb in cream. Below that is the author’s name in a flowing gothic font in an embossed-appearing cream. To the left of the oval is a testimonial in cream with the title in a cream script at the bottom.
The title is how long an Immortal Witch lives, how long guilt and grief can last, what the possibilities are for love and joy to last…into Infinity.
