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There are currently 27 member reviews
for The God of Endings
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Colleen T. (Lakewood, CO)
Great Adventure
The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland is a wonderful first novel. I was completely engrossed with the twists and turns of the story, with Anna's coming of age over centuries instead of years, and her coming to terms with her grief, loss and who she is throughout all that she saw and experienced. I love a book I don't want to put down, and this novel is like that. Kudos to Ms. Holland on her first novel.
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Bonne O. (Hartwell, GA)
The Cycle of Endings
I really loved The God of Endings. It is a wonderfully exciting different kind of vampire story. This epic tale of a young women's personal growth and acceptance spans numerous life times over two centuries and across several continents. It delves into the struggle of her unwanted immortality, the powers it gives her and the denial of human attributes she longs to have.
It's beautifully written with detailed imagery of mountain landscapes, quaint villages, ocean voyages, and interesting people. I was so captivated by the heroines loving and compassionate qualities that I easily accepted some of the more gruesome unthinkable ones. In the course of all the twists and turns inevitable in multiple lifetimes, I particularly enjoyed how the author integrated art as a perfect segue to each new beginning.
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Victoria B. (Little River, SC)
Not Your Average Vampire Book
The God of Endings is Jacqueline Holland's debut novel but it reads as if she has been writing bestsellers for years. The story is told through the eyes of her protagonist Anna, who goes by many names throughout her decades, and who is saved from death by her grandfather in the 1830's. Living her eternal life as a vampire-like creature, Anna is uncomfortable with this life. As time goes on Anna is torn between the need for companionship and both the transient yet often cruel nature of human company. Into this mix, Holland throws the Slavic legend of Czernobog, the God of Endings, an essence who may be stalking her. The story is a combination of historical fiction, horror along with a bit of philosophy, but is ultimately a tribute to life.
Jacqueline Holland's writing is absolutely beautiful. She has developed her characters so finely that the reader seems to know them intimately. I am only sorry that the publication timing is scheduled for March as this would be a wonderful read during the waning months of October through December.
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Amy E. (Delaware, OH)
A pleasant surprise--The God of Endings
When I selected the book to review I was not aware of the subject matter and when I discovered it was "vampires", I thought I should probably just let the powers that be know the book was not for me and I did not wish to review it. However as I had finished my bookclub book for October and there was nothing on my nightstand, I started reading. One page led to another and so on. The book just pulled me in and I found I really enjoyed it. It was quite different from the traditional vampire books I had read. The characters were so well developed and the writing was beautiful. There were many ideas and questions about the state of our existence that made for a very interesting and thought provoking book.
I am so glad that I did not stop reading it.
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Rosemary C. (Golden, CO)
Excellent Writing, Engaging Story
I ordinarily wouldn't think to read a novel about immortal characters who nourish themselves with blood, but Holland has created a main character in Collette who mesmerized me. In beautiful prose describing parts of Collette's centuries' long life, the author provides a study about love, grief, loss, inhumanity, motherhood and more. I think this would be a great book club selection because it poses many questions. I'm still thinking about the book's implications.
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Wendy A. (Durham, NC)
Learn Patience and Learn Trust
Jacqueline Holland's first novel weaves an impressive journey covering over a century and a half and locations across the globe. The narrator- -Anna/Anya/Collette—is transformed into a vampire-like creature at age 10 at the hands of her grandfather. Anna's path takes her from the 1830's and continues to 1984 dreading the arrival of The God of Endings-- Czernobog—that exists in Anna's mind and may (or may not) actually appear in the novel. The novel brings up many questions that go unanswered, just as they do for Anna. A worthy read- -all 464 pages!
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Marcia C. (Jeffersonville, PA)
The Pros and Cons of Imortality
A young child in 1830's New York has been orphaned in a diphtheria epidemic that has devastated her village. Fate has placed her future in the hands of a distant grandfather. She does not know him. Neither do any of the other villagers. With great authority the grandfather swoops in and whisks her away to his home. His intention--to make her an immortal.
So begins the saga that is to become Anna's life, a life she wanted no part of. How does this young girl transform into the vampire who will live through centuries of hardship, sorrow and loss in her quest to find human companionship and love? Anna, with an innate sense of right and wrong is determined not to inflict her dilemma onto unsuspecting acquaintances. She has major decisions to make in each of the lifetimes into which she is thrown. Her lifetimes are many and varied.
My heart went out to this young woman who suffered one disappointment after another. I admired her earnestness and her concern for others as well as her resilience and her fierceness in the face of the great losses throughout her lifetimes--quite the heroine.
The author has left Anna's story open-ended. I am not at all satisfied with the way this story ended. I definitely want more. I'm eager to see what happens next. I'm hoping that Ms. Holland has another volume of Anna's journey to spin before her readers.
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