Reviewed by Dakota Watson

Long Live by V.B. Lacey had potential to a great story. For the most part, I did enjoy the book. It had suspense, intrigue, romance and twists and turns.  The world building was decent and the elemental magical beings were an interesting addition to the story. The use of multiple points of view added depth to the narrative, offering different perspectives that enhanced my understanding of the story.

However, despite these strengths, the novel fell short in some crucial areas. I found myself stumbling over gaping plot holes that detracted from my overall enjoyment. Additionally, the execution of the plot left much to be desired. The pacing felt uneven, with rushed scenes juxtaposed against moments that dragged on unnecessarily.

The immortal beings, who have supposedly lived for centuries, should have possessed wisdom and insight beyond mortal comprehension. However, throughout the book, their actions and decisions often felt disappointingly immature. Instead of embodying the wisdom one would expect from beings with such vast lifespans, they behaved more like impulsive children. Their naivety was particularly glaring, given their supposed age and experience. Instead of making calculated decisions based on centuries of knowledge, they often acted recklessly, with little consideration for the consequences.

And sadly, I did not like Isla at all. She was extremely hypocritical and self righteous. While I understand the author’s intention to portray Isla as morally grey, the execution of it was very weak. The point of creating morally ambiguous character is to make them complex and multidimensional, but someone the reader would still both understand and root for. However, in Isla’s case, I found it challenging to reconcile her actions with any sense of empathy or support. Her hypocrisy was particularly grating, as she often condemned others for actions that she herself was guilty of. This inconsistency made it hard for me to take her character seriously or invest in her journey. Additionally, Isla’s self righteousness added another layer of detachment. Instead of empathizing with her struggles, I found myself frustrated by her holier-than-thou attitude, which undermined any sympathy I might have had for her.

My feelings toward Rynn and Sebastian as love interests, are rather lukewarm. Throughout the story, I struggled to form any significant emotional connection with them. It’s possible that the lack of substance in their characters made it difficult for me to root for them. Both Rynn and Sebastian came across as somewhat wooden and ‘tropey’, lacking the depth and complexity that would have made them more compelling. Their personalities felt somewhat flat, leaving me wanting more from their characters.

On the other hand, characters like Jade, Kai, and Aiden added a lot to the story. Their points of view provided interesting insights into the fantastical world and helped fill in gaps about its backstory, although they failed to embody the timeless essence expected of immortal beings, as I mentioned earlier.

The numerous plot holes in Long Live were a major disappointment for me, and they ultimately marred my overall enjoyment of the book. These glaring inconsistencies were difficult to overlook and severely undermined the credibility of the story. As a result, the plot fell short of its intended mark, leaving me feeling unsatisfied by the book’s conclusion.