Book Review: The Immortalists By Chloe Benjamin

New York, 1969: four siblings go to a fortune teller to learn the day of their deaths.

The knowledge they take home with them that day will reverberate through each of their lives. We follow each sibling as they come to terms with their fates – first, Simon, the youngest, as he moves to San Francisco and lives his life selfishly but to the fullest.

Klara, with her dreams of becoming a magician and her obsession with fates, all the while battling an undiagnosed mental illness.

Daniel who is uptight and has a huge chip on his shoulder, struggles with regret and longing for familial connection.

Lastly, Varya, the obsessive-compulsive eldest, who hesitates to form any connections and does not feel capable of sustaining any meaningful relationships.

Author Chloe Benjamin juggles storylines past and present with ease and no confusion. The characters are rich and flawed, all with their own unique voice.

Benjamin’s ability to capture time and place is organic and requires few words, which makes The Immortalists a compelling and wondrous to read.

Hachette Australia $32.99