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Immortown

Lily Markova (Goodreads Author)

3.98 · Rating details · 40 ratings · 23 reviews

Immortown is a strange place. It is stuck in October and haunted by the smell of ashes. It is rainy and melancholy, malevolent but charming in its own way. Entire buildings keep vanishing, the only hotel is home to an ill-tempered ghost, and the local bar has some serious customer service problems. The ocean is fake. No one will tell you anything about this town, except: Y ...more

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Kindle Edition, 266 pages

Published July 22nd 2015

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Aug 06, 2015 Paul Bowler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this book in one sitting, which is always a good sign. Especially as the paranormal isn't my usual fare.

The author, very quickly, succeeds in engaging the reader in a complex plot. And she has created characters, both sympathetic and villainous, that are as compelling as they are, in some cases, repellent.

The ending, while unexpected, was all the more satisfying for it. ...more

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Aug 20, 2015 T. C. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Immortown is a unique kind of story that has its own style. I liked the fact that it wasn't a usual type of plot and that the way the characters were described felt authentic and a little creepy at times. The author did an excellent job keeping the book fresh while adding in some surprises that catch you off guard. I recommend this book if you are looking for something original and stylistically unique.

T.C. ...more

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Sep 12, 2015 Remesh R. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a strange book. I have never read anything gothic (or bizarre) before. It was confusing at times with the narrative switch and dark all the time. There were bits of humor here and there. My favorite would be "Your sarcasm is the third reason on my list for thinking about suicide".
I liked the book. It was refreshing and strange. The author is skilled no doubt, and is capable of creating magic. Keep up the good work, Lily. ...more

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Mar 02, 2017 Faith Jones rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Lily Markova is the best unsigned writer of literature in the world today.

Justice, if you do exist somewhere in your ivory tower of airy promises, please read that line again.

I swear I will return and revise that statement if I find another rookie novelist with no publishing deal who can elevate prose to the same standard as Lily Markova, The Loneliest Whale being the current benchmark. The crazy thing is, this one isn’t her best book but it represents a prototype of literary craft that forewarn Lily Markova is the best unsigned writer of literature in the world today.

Justice, if you do exist somewhere in your ivory tower of airy promises, please read that line again.

I swear I will return and revise that statement if I find another rookie novelist with no publishing deal who can elevate prose to the same standard as Lily Markova, The Loneliest Whale being the current benchmark. The crazy thing is, this one isn’t her best book but it represents a prototype of literary craft that forewarns of a pen-scratching ability rising up with every title.

Immortown is Lily Markova’s second book, the one from the shades, the bleak moments of dying candles and lowered voices, whispers at a wake, personal loss and an edge of self-protection, all drawn into a singularity of otherworldly unfairness that has become a location, a genius loci that endures and entraps in a town that no longer exists. Is remembrance useful or does it stop us living? Mortality then, as a theme? Cruelty and entropy enter the story too, again shaped by the spirit of place and the wastefulness of waiting. Not as soulful as her latest work, more tragic and isolating certainly, yet still mesmerising and exquisite in its realisation. Lily writes of realities behind the world we see, senses, memories and feelings all pictured as spaces.

Should I describe the plot? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone writing about the shadows and the ruins is likely to have been at a high point in their life but discussing this would demean the colours and vitality in this writing, the stream of insights that show this writer can take a negative subject and bring even that back to life. There’s the summation really. This book is a pomegranate in the underworld and I think you should discover it as a path to her latest work, the one where all the lights come on and you’re aware of the cottontail sky.

Ok, I’m done but when you award the contract to design a new Universe, you could do worse than hand it to Lily Markova because she’ll give you access to more beautiful layers than the single reality we’ve been locked into in this one. ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Elysian Fields rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs

This was an interesting read to say the least. I spent a good portion of this book confused and uncertain of what was going on, I felt thrown in without any background. Once I did dig through and get information the story was good.

Freya is trying to move on after her parents death, but she is having a difficult time. She (and the reader by default) end up in a town called Immortown. This is once interesting town, filled with quirky and funny characters. I'm not quite sure as to her role or missi ...more

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Sep 11, 2015 Red Lace Reviews rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: those who like the dark paranormal

Recommended to Red by: Lily Markova

Shelves: received-for-review, ghosts-apparitions, lily-markova

Famous actress Freya Auror suddenly finds herself in a very odd town where the townsfolk spend all their time consuming powerful substances and killing themselves. She soon discovers she's trapped, yet not all hope is lost. Maybe there's a way out for her, a way to escape the clutches of Immortown. Or just maybe she'll remain there until she fades...

(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thanks goes to Lily Markova for giving me t ...more

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Jul 27, 2015 A. Powers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review at onlinebookclub.org. You can read my official review here: http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...

To summarize my feelings for the book: at first I was skeptical. Stuff was just kind of weird, and things just didn't seem to make any sense. But then I kept reading, and I was so glad I did! Stuff fell into place like some kind of mosaic jigsaw puzzle; it looks so random when you look at each individual piece, but when you step ...more

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Jan 05, 2019 Lily Markova rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite (Rating: 5 Stars)

"Immortown by Lily Markova is an irresistibly dark read with strange and charming characters. Freya is still processing the death of her brother by putting her focus on her job as an actress. Then an accident on set changes everything. Suddenly she finds herself in Immortown. A strange town that Freya can't quite figure out, full of even stranger characters. The first person she meets claims to be the girlfriend of her late brother, w Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite (Rating: 5 Stars)

"Immortown by Lily Markova is an irresistibly dark read with strange and charming characters. Freya is still processing the death of her brother by putting her focus on her job as an actress. Then an accident on set changes everything. Suddenly she finds herself in Immortown. A strange town that Freya can't quite figure out, full of even stranger characters. The first person she meets claims to be the girlfriend of her late brother, which she knows is impossible. When she arrives at the Drunk Dead, she receives mixed messages from the various patrons; then she finds a guy dead in the tub ... only moments later to find him not so dead. An artist named Kai seems to have a connection to her and his paintings have a strange tendency to come to life, but she's not sure she can trust him. She doesn't know how she ended up here, but she'll do whatever she can to leave Immortown.

"Lily Markova switches perspectives between Freya and Kai, which gives contrasting views to the town. As a resident, Kai is so used to the strange events that they're all normal to him, while Freya is new to town so she sees everything in a strange and slightly twisted way. She stumbles into this whole other world similar to Alice discovering Wonderland, only Markova brings out darker elements to Freya's journey. The town is chaotic and the tone is melancholy with dark humor and themes of death. Markova explores the meaning of life and death while also touching on serious topics which include suicide and depression. The humor is often bleak and with murderous undertones, but levity does have a presence throughout with certain moments being lighter, though the overall tone remains dark from beginning to end. The characters are vivid with complex personalities and eccentricities fitted to the tone of the town. Immortown itself plays several parts. It has an interesting mix of feeling free for some of the characters while others feel trapped since the characters have a tendency not to be able to leave. It also has a presence that makes it feel like another character in the story. Immortown is a unique tale with characters who are charmingly weird and delightfully murderous in a journey exploring death and grief." ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is split between Kai's and Freya's point of view.

Freya's perspective is disjointed and confusing at first due to her lack of knowledge.Kai's has more information, but takes for granted that the reader knows what is going on.This is a book is one that required a second read.It is short but impactful and a second read may be useful.The writing style is poetic though stylistically awkward at points.The world building and characters could be more concrete but it is enjoyable.

I received a f ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 Molly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Tragedy brought Freya to a dark and lethal crossroads. Much like the mythical Hotel California, it doesn’t seem she can ever leave.

The on set tragedy was basically accidental, yet folks in this crazy place seem to have pretty deliberate murder in their minds: herd. Freya cannot grasp how they do not seem to think that she should take the attempts personally

Is this a one way trip with no exit for Freya?

Intense, dark humor adventure

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am volun ...more

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May 17, 2019 Lori rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a very well written story.It is different and you find yourself trying to figure out what is actually happening. I found it flowed well and kept me interested until the very end. This was my first book by this author but I will be looking for more of their work. I received this as an ARC in return for my honest opinion.I highly recommend this read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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May 14, 2019 Becky Adams rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Watermelon sugar.

This book reminds me of in Watermelon sugar. A book I read 50 years ago in school. Lines are drawn between the living and the dead. But both mingle together through out the story. Twist and turns occur till the very end. Who is dead who is alive and how is this world of immortown even possible read to find out.

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Jan 02, 2020 Penny Hickman rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Immortown is for the dead. I had a hard time staying interested in this one. Nothing against the story or the author, just wasn't my taste.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Aug 04, 2015 Mark Hayes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is not the easiest book I have ever read, stylistic I would even call it awkward. But when the world is full of simple formulaic books that are written in familiar patterns reading then something with interesting quirks that takes a different approach is both refreshing and engaging. Immortown is full of quirks, which seemed a little jarring at first but which drew me into them as I read further. Until the quirks became all the more appealing.
The narrative is a progression of first person m This is not the easiest book I have ever read, stylistic I would even call it awkward. But when the world is full of simple formulaic books that are written in familiar patterns reading then something with interesting quirks that takes a different approach is both refreshing and engaging. Immortown is full of quirks, which seemed a little jarring at first but which drew me into them as I read further. Until the quirks became all the more appealing.
The narrative is a progression of first person memoirist viewpoints which slip between two characters.
The first narrative character is Freya an actress who plays her roles almost too well. Running from a tragedy on the set of her latest film and in search of answers to the earlier one of her brother’s death. She slips between the real world and the ghostly haunted world of Immortown. Confused and lost in this strange world she struggles to come to terms with what may have happened to her, and the first side of the narrative is in part driven by this confusion.
The second narrative character is Kai. In part his is the more interesting portrait of words, he is a dark and strange view point which belongs to one who knows all the secrets and so does not feel the need to share them. Leaving you feeling his narrative washes over you, alluding to possibilities as much by what he does not say as by what he does. His perspectives and insights in to the characters that inhabit Immortown all have a shaded twist to them that is at once creepy and gets under your skin. A fine trick of the writers narration.
The twin narration slipping between viewpoints offers a complex read, at times it can become confusing but only in the wonderfully artistic weaves of the words. Pictures painted by them owe much to your imagination, feeding it and playing with it all the same.
The character of Immortown itself helps set the story out from the average and mundane. It is spooky and yet real in the way only an imaginary place can be. The inhabitants of this strange ghostly town are at once both human and parodies of their living selves. As selfish, and self-absorbed as only humans can be. They exist in an afterlife they are both desperate to leave and yet desperately clinging to all the same.
The plot weaves its thread around the narratives, slipping behind you as things come to light that you don’t see coming more because the hints are so carefully crafted. A few words slipped here or there into the narratives take on more significance later in the book. The way a good plot should, without leading you by the nose.
In summery it is a less than simple tale, told less than simply, and all the more enjoyably for that.
...more

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Oct 04, 2015 Gloria Piper rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: anti-establishment-fiction, fantasy, humor, paranormal, young-adult

Freya, an actress with a cult following, visits her brother's grave after he commits suicide. As she leaves on foot to return to her car, the scenery has changed. Suddenly she is in Immortown, a crazy place which no one can leave. How did she get there? Has she gone insane? Slowly she learns the truth as she searches for escape, and for her brother.

I read this book twice. The first time, I was totally at sea, as if I were attending Alice in Wonderland's tea party. What kept me going was the auth Freya, an actress with a cult following, visits her brother's grave after he commits suicide. As she leaves on foot to return to her car, the scenery has changed. Suddenly she is in Immortown, a crazy place which no one can leave. How did she get there? Has she gone insane? Slowly she learns the truth as she searches for escape, and for her brother.

I read this book twice. The first time, I was totally at sea, as if I were attending Alice in Wonderland's tea party. What kept me going was the author's beautiful poetic descriptions and the dreamy quality. With so much great writing, I figured that eventually the story would develop focus and I would see clearly what was happening. It was not to be.

Nevertheless by the book's end, I now knew the characters and enough of their actions that I returned for the second read. I'm glad I did, because the story is lovely and unique with a dose of dark humor. And as I read I identified the tripwires that had so hitched me up.

The story starts with a blurb. The author tells us the tale unfolds through two people addressing each other. Pay attention to that statement.

Even so, confusion begins because these two people are not quickly identified, and the first sections are the author's point of view as she introduces us first to Freya, the actress who tends to lose herself in her role, and then to Kai, the artist whose paintings have a strange power.

After we get to the first person point of view sections, other tripwires of confusion arise. Mostly these arise because of lateness. The author is late to identify characters. For example, Kai is late in identifying a girl cutting her throat as his sister, something he would know immediately. Often the dialogue tag trails after a lengthy statement that calls for an immediate response. Sometimes figurative detail almost overlaps literal, which adds more murk, as when Eever's photograph on his tombstone seems to come alive in Freya's imagination. Sometimes characters pop up in the scene without a transition that lets us know how they arrived. Sometimes I recognize a typo; sometimes not, because word usage is occasionally odd. On page 181, I never did figure out who was using whose body.

It isn't that the book needs dire editing. It's so beautifully written and the story engrossing that I would recommend a polish to get rid of minor typos and confusions. If you find yourself losing the thread of the story, soldier through to the end and then give the book a second read. You won't regret it.
...more

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Aug 04, 2015 Shazia rated it liked it · review of another edition

I received a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on goodreads. My review may also contain some spoilers.

Reading the description of this book, it immediately drew my attention because I do enjoy a good paranormal themed story. However, it did take a few tries for me to fully get into this book. Once I was in about 40 pages it was an easier read. I feel the need to make a note that a lot of these characters have "different" names or very different spellings of more common I received a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on goodreads. My review may also contain some spoilers.

Reading the description of this book, it immediately drew my attention because I do enjoy a good paranormal themed story. However, it did take a few tries for me to fully get into this book. Once I was in about 40 pages it was an easier read. I feel the need to make a note that a lot of these characters have "different" names or very different spellings of more common names (example: Freya, Eever, Kristle). I also feel like one reason it was hard for me to get into the story when I first started to read was because a lot of the characters were being introduced and I felt lost with the large number.

In the description it is also stated that this book is "told by two people addressing each other." I wouldn't necessary agree with that, seeing that the whole book was not in that format. A lot of it was in a normal, first person narrative told by Freya.

Unfortunately I did not really connect with the main character. My favorite characters were Chace and Dude and I really did enjoy their storylines. I feel that Chace was a really important character in the way that he filled in Freya (and the readers) with everything she needed to know. And seeing Dude develop as a character was really great.

As the book went on, I found myself getting confused, especially nearing the end. I felt that I had no idea what was going on and that the writing was a little bit sloppy. The timeline needed to be a little more clearer, I did not know how much time was passing by the time Chace and Freya were camped out by the ocean. Also the bit with Kia painting a mirror was a little strange--I understand that there was a part from his childhood that included the story of Snow White (I believe it was Snow White) but I did not see the reason why he created a mirror. The ending of the book was just off for me.

Despite my confusion, I think the story itself is great and really interesting. This storyline is something that hasn't been done before (at least to my knowledge) and there were some surprises within the ending.

...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Joanie Chevalier rated it liked it · review of another edition

At times this story was brilliant, at other times, confusing, haunting, abstract and full of idea fragments. I still enjoyed the story though, in spite of this and that fact that the different points of view were a little hard to follow at times. The life after death idea was intriguing. I have never read a book quite like this and that was the brilliant part. The basic idea is that Freya died (I think-at times she thought she was alive) and is stuck in Immortown along with other ghosts. These g ...more

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Sep 10, 2015 Neil Carstairs rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Immortown paints a strange, almost hallucinogenic view of life after death, or possibly life before death, when the spirit has wandered to a place where they will live until they fade.

Freya is one such spirit, an actress with what seems to be mental health problems, still missing her brother a year after his apparent suicide. She visits his grave and meets Kristle, who claims to have been her brother’s girlfriend. From the cemetery Freya stumbles into the Immortown, and finds that this is one pl ...more

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Dec 06, 2015 Barbara Land rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’m left with mixed feelings after reading Immortown by Lily Markova.

On the one hand, Ms Markova’s writing is excellent – sometimes brilliant – and on the other, you have a book fraught with rapidly changing POVs amid paragraphs such as this:

“Somehow it seems to me that if you had stayed in the room, they wouldn’t harm me. It seems to me somehow that you wouldn’t let them. Seems if I call you, you’ll come in time and stop them.”

This only makes sense if you know who all these pronouns are at any ...more

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Nov 14, 2015 Natalia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book in 2 days! I was really addicted to the story... It is great written unique book!
Author expressed characters so good, that it was impossible not to love them.
Nowadays it is quite hart to find an original book that has something new in it. BUT that is Immortown! Everything I expected I found!
Sometimes it happens to me, that I found the book boring cause there are too much information contained - in Immortown there was nothing I would mind.
Only one thing I wasn't satisfied wit ...more

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Aug 06, 2015 Amber Daniels rated it liked it · review of another edition

I started this book and put aside a few times but finally I set out to read it and was determined to finish it. Well I have to say I liked it. I got a little confused in spots but I figured it out. I want to read more from this author because I think she develops characters well and had a great story line. I am also sure her imagination has a lot more to offer. I don't usually read this genre I read more romance and science fiction/fantasy than anything but I do like to spread my wings on occasi ...more

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Aug 14, 2015 Kristy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

This book was a very intriguing read. I wished it had more of a happy ending for everyone though, but can appreciate the path the author chose. It was definitely a book that made the reader think & I always love that in the books I read. The characters felt a little superficial & the plot at times felt like it was missing something; I didn't get pulled into the story right away, which is why the rating wasn't higher for me. I would still recommend this book though.

*I received a free copy of this ...more

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Nov 19, 2015 Nicole B rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, tt-challenge-books, young-adult, kindle-unlimited

Well that was a weird ride. Immortown reminds me of silent hill's plot in many ways. Entering another world which is not really here and being haunted by your demons. Immortown is a ghost town. Its interesting and the characters were excellent but I did get lost occasionally with what was going on. ...more

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Jessica Kocan rated it liked it
Dec 21, 2018

M Patricia rated it it was amazing
Jul 05, 2019

Carolynn Fullwood rated it it was ok
May 21, 2020

Damon Hatton rated it really liked it
Nov 01, 2015

Klaudia rated it really liked it
Oct 11, 2017

Alison Norgrove rated it liked it
Oct 22, 2019

anita longden rated it it was amazing
Nov 30, 2019

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Lovers of Paranor...: R2R {731} Immortown CLOSED	6	91	Dec 11, 2015 08:19AM
New Adult Book Club: #167/15 Immortown by Lily Markova	4	20	Nov 10, 2015 02:49PM
Making Connections: 3952. - IMMORTOWN by Lily Markova	1	16	Aug 21, 2015 08:49PM