Laura Steven

They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.

Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.

The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for bone marrow transplants in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to:

1. Find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first.
2. Figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse.
3. Try not to fall in love.

Our Infinite Fates

"The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person who would ultimately destroy me."

I really, really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, and for a lot of it I found it entertaining and enjoyable, but the further into the book I got the less I did, unfortunately. I was drawn in by the blurb for this book, although I haven't read the two comparative titles 

 yet they have been two that I've been fascinated by for a while, so when my bookclub chose this book back in June (yes, I know, I'm horribly behind, my mood reading got a little bit out of hand for a bit) I was excited to give this book a go. Although the storyline didn't quite give what I had been initially expecting at first, I enjoyed the initial set up and the first few flashbacks were intriguing enough that I wanted to carry on and find the truth to this mystery, and the overarching question throughout the whole book being "why?" nagged at me, I had to know the answer. I had hope for it up until around the 75% mark and then I just feel like it lost the plot a bit, sadly.

I want to preface this by saying that I liked most of the writing in this book, I thought it was poetic and yearning, and the quotes I pulled from this story are really lovely. Reading back through my notebook of the highlights was like experiencing the story all over again, which was pretty cool, but it proved to me, too, why I just didn't love this story. We are told again and again how much they love each other, that their love story is a tragically infinite form of reincarnation and it transcends anything mortal or knowable, but I didn't really 

 that connection like I wanted to. "Show not tell" was really needed here. I think I was imaging this story would be a romantic, mysterious chase through history, and in some ways it tried to be, but I think both the choice to do sporadic flashbacks to past lives and to extend the main storyline through Wales 2022 didn't quite work in its favour. We didn't really get a chance to see enough of the two of them together in the past lifes, many of them starting with them meeting for the first time moments before killing each other and also through many times where they're either angry or Evelyn is forgetful just didn't give that intense love, but more a frustrating tension that never really felt like true chemistry. This also meant the modern timeline suffered a bit as well. I wanted to see more of Gracie and Dylan and their mum, wanted to really get bone deep in their love for each other and feel that yearn Branwen had to remain in that timeline, but I just didn't. There was a quote 

"I was so tired of sailing through history like a hunk of driftwood that could never grow roots."

 and that sums up a bit how I felt, we were sailing through history in this book and didn't really get that depth we needed.

The ending wasn't my favourite choice, the very last chapter was very sweet and made my heart arche a bit, but the unraveling of the truth and finding out the answer to my above questions just didn't satisfy me as much as I was hoping. >>>SPOILER The 

 line made me grimace, it felt so prediactble and one-dimensional, like no real deeper thought had been put into the "why" question that permeated this story and had just been pulled superficially from a concept of an underworld and a devilish evil that just 

 and can't really be explained. This unknowability seemed a bit of a weak attempt at hiding the fact there was a plot hole here that the author didn't know how to fill. And then when we cut back to Evelyn and Arden's true 

 origin in Greece it just felt like an after thought, sadly.<<<END SPOILER

In the end I didn't mind it too much, but it sets this book firmly as "just okay" and not something that I would rave about. This seems like a harsh review but I will say that for the most part I did genuinely feel interested in the story and swept away by it, I was just a bit disappointed.

Overall, this book had some beautiful sweeping declarations of love, some criticisms about our world and an interesting way of looking at imminent grief. I liked that this was a relatively non-binary and pansexual storyline in terms of the way Evelyn and Arden both appeared throughout history as different genders, and I thought this was handed nicely. I think it also had just enough messiness and mystery to the plot that it had me in shock and laughter a few times, and tries to keep you on the edge of your seat. I thought the writing had some sweet examples of inspiration from Taylor Swift's writing and it felt like finding Easter eggs, which was fun. But in the end, I just felt pretty meh about the story as a whole and I wish it had been edited a bit further, a bit more depth and thought put into it, and then I think this could've been something really really special!

Genevieve 

"The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person who would ultimately destroy me."

3.5⭐

I really, really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, and for a lot of it I found it entertaining and enjoyable, but the further into the book I got the less I did, unfortunately. I was drawn in by the blurb for this book, although I haven't read the two comparative titles The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and This is How You Lose The Time War yet they have been two that I've been fascinated by for a while, so when my bookclub chose this book back in June (yes, I know, I'm horribly behind, my mood reading got a little bit out of hand for a bit) I was excited to give this book a go. Although the storyline didn't quite give what I had been initially expecting at first, I enjoyed the initial set up and the first few flashbacks were intriguing enough that I wanted to carry on and find the truth to this mystery, and the overarching question throughout the whole book being "why?" nagged at me, I had to know the answer. I had hope for it up until around the 75% mark and then I just feel like it lost the plot a bit, sadly.

I want to preface this by saying that I liked most of the writing in this book, I thought it was poetic and yearning, and the quotes I pulled from this story are really lovely. Reading back through my notebook of the highlights was like experiencing the story all over again, which was pretty cool, but it proved to me, too, why I just didn't love this story. We are told again and again how much they love each other, that their love story is a tragically infinite form of reincarnation and it transcends anything mortal or knowable, but I didn't really feel that connection like I wanted to. "Show not tell" was really needed here. I think I was imaging this story would be a romantic, mysterious chase through history, and in some ways it tried to be, but I think both the choice to do sporadic flashbacks to past lives and to extend the main storyline through Wales 2022 didn't quite work in its favour. We didn't really get a chance to see enough of the two of them together in the past lifes, many of them starting with them meeting for the first time moments before killing each other and also through many times where they're either angry or Evelyn is forgetful just didn't give that intense love, but more a frustrating tension that never really felt like true chemistry. This also meant the modern timeline suffered a bit as well. I wanted to see more of Gracie and Dylan and their mum, wanted to really get bone deep in their love for each other and feel that yearn Branwen had to remain in that timeline, but I just didn't. There was a quote "I was so tired of sailing through history like a hunk of driftwood that could never grow roots." and that sums up a bit how I felt, we were sailing through history in this book and didn't really get that depth we needed.

The ending wasn't my favourite choice, the very last chapter was very sweet and made my heart arche a bit, but the unraveling of the truth and finding out the answer to my above questions just didn't satisfy me as much as I was hoping. >>>SPOILER The "You are the devil." line made me grimace, it felt so prediactble and one-dimensional, like no real deeper thought had been put into the "why" question that permeated this story and had just been pulled superficially from a concept of an underworld and a devilish evil that just is and can't really be explained. This unknowability seemed a bit of a weak attempt at hiding the fact there was a plot hole here that the author didn't know how to fill. And then when we cut back to Evelyn and Arden's true true origin in Greece it just felt like an after thought, sadly.<<<END SPOILER
In the end I didn't mind it too much, but it sets this book firmly as "just okay" and not something that I would rave about. This seems like a harsh review but I will say that for the most part I did genuinely feel interested in the story and swept away by it, I was just a bit disappointed.

Overall, this book had some beautiful sweeping declarations of love, some criticisms about our world and an interesting way of looking at imminent grief. I liked that this was a relatively non-binary and pansexual storyline in terms of the way Evelyn and Arden both appeared throughout history as different genders, and I thought this was handed nicely. I think it also had just enough messiness and mystery to the plot that it had me in shock and laughter a few times, and tries to keep you on the edge of your seat. I thought the writing had some sweet examples of inspiration from Taylor Swift's writing and it felt like finding Easter eggs, which was fun. But in the end, I just felt pretty meh about the story as a whole and I wish it had been edited a bit further, a bit more depth and thought put into it, and then I think this could've been something really really special!

Ever wonder what it’s like when we say “I’ll come back and haunt you in every life” lmaooooo this is exactly it! Loved it!! Like lots of mini plots bc so many different lifetimes 

Kyra Cracchiola

Beautiful prose, but god the plot twist actually kinda pissed me off. I also don't feel that the romance was fleshed out very well. In every past life, we're told rather than shown the depth of affection so when they finally come together in the end.... it just doesn't feel earned.

However, the ending was beautiful, so you lose some, you win some. 

cee 

Beautiful prose, but god the plot twist actually kinda pissed me off. I also don't feel that the romance was fleshed out very well. In every past life, we're told rather than shown the depth of affection so when they finally come together in the end.... it just doesn't feel earned.

However, the ending was beautiful, so you lose some, you win some. 

I really enjoyed this book, the little snippets of poetry were a great touch, I would love to see the same book from Ardens point of view. Knowing Evelyn  can not remember but he can could be a good plot. I did not want it to end.

Kathy gerrard

After seeing this book all over my Instagram timelines recently I knew that I needed to pick this one up and when I remembered that I read Steven’s books as a Teen I knew this one was going to be a winner as well and WOW, what a journey this one was from start to end you are left turning each and every page wanting to know more and also not wanting it to end.

Evelyn and Arden are inextricably intertwined in every lifetime. It is almost as if destiny itself has conspired to make this relationship the most beautiful, yet devastating experience in each lifetime. The story flips between present day, and historical recounts of Evelyn and Arden’s relationship. Each time they inevitably meet, Evelyn continues to unravel the reason that Arden seeks to kill her.

Steven’s writing is just mesmerising. I was captivated by her poetic, whimsical, yet dark writing style. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, and the unexpected twist was perfect. The alternating timeline allowed me to delve deeper into the characters with every chapter, which I found very satisfying.

This is a story about the meaning of life and the depth of love—its beauty and its power. This will stay with you long after you finish turning the last page.

Ian Brakspear

After seeing this book all over my Instagram timelines recently I knew that I needed to pick this one up and when I remembered that I read Steven’s books as a Teen I knew this one was going to be a winner as well and WOW, what a journey this one was from start to end you are left turning each and every page wanting to know more and also not wanting it to end.

 

Evelyn and Arden are inextricably intertwined in every lifetime. It is almost as if destiny itself has conspired to make this relationship the most beautiful, yet devastating experience in each lifetime. The story flips between present day, and historical recounts of Evelyn and Arden’s relationship. Each time they inevitably meet, Evelyn continues to unravel the reason that Arden seeks to kill her.

 

Steven’s writing is just mesmerising. I was captivated by her poetic, whimsical, yet dark writing style. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, and the unexpected twist was perfect. The alternating timeline allowed me to delve deeper into the characters with every chapter, which I found very satisfying.

This is a story about the meaning of life and the depth of love—its beauty and its power. This will stay with you long after you finish turning the last page.