That Dark Infinity - Hardcover

Pentecost, Kate

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0759557837 ISBN 13: 9780759557833

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2021

Synopsis

An immortal monster hunter and a royal handmaiden embark on an epic journey to change their fates in this soul-stirring young adult fantasy novel for fans of The Witcher and The Last Unicorn.

By night, the Ankou is a legendary, permanently young mercenary—the most fearsome sword for hire in all of the Five Lands, and its most abiding mystery. But when the sun rises, a dark magic leaves him no more than bones. Cursed with this cycle of death and resurrection, the Ankou wants only to find the final rest that has been prophesied for him, no matter the cost.

When the kingdom of Kaer-Ise is sacked, Flora, handmaiden to the royal family, is assaulted and left for dead. Wounded, heartbroken, and the sole survivor of the massacre, Flora wants desperately to be reunited with the princess she served and loved. She and the Ankou make a deal: He will help Flora find her princess, and train Flora in combat, in exchange for her aid in breaking his curse. But it isn't easy to kill an immortal, especially when their bond begins to deepen into something more . . .

Together, they will solve mysteries, battle monsters, and race against time in this fantasy novel about sacrifice, love, and healing by Elysium Girls author Kate Pentecost.

About this title

About the Author

Kate Pentecost was born and raised on the Texas/Louisiana border, but has lived in many different places. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently lives in Houston with her dog, Stevie Nyx, and has plans to build her own black caravan, just for the fun of it. Elysium Girls was her debut young adult fantasy novel.

Reviews

Gr 6-10-Ankou can't be killed. He suffers a kind of death each day when he decays to skeletal remains before awakening again to his 300-year-old teen body, ready to fight monsters. During his waking hours, Lazarus, as he calls himself, easily heals from mortal wounds caused by the various horrors he vanquishes as he travels the five kingdoms. It is a witch's curse that makes death impossible. Flora is a handmaiden to a princess, brutally raped and left for dead when the kingdom she serves is invaded and annihilated. Ankou finds her and teaches her to survive with a sword and hunting skills. They pick up a third outcast, Dr. Atonais, master of lightning, as Lazarus tries to fulfill the elements of a riddle that could save him from the immortality he suffers. This is an adventure with trials and riddles, battles and tests, as well as a love story. Pentecost has a fine rhythm with descriptions and worldbuilding that make this a satisfying and engaging read with characters worthy of the empathy they evoke. VERDICT Purchase where the author's previous works circulate well and dark fantasy has a following.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago P.L.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0759557837
• ISBN 13: 9780759557833
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384