I did not finish this.

There was a distinct lack of world building and the characters were bland not allowing any engagement.

The interaction between the characters felt very wooden and the story was really hard work.

Not for me.

Peter Newman's novels always sounds really interesting. However, no matter how many times I try them, I come away thinking, "Yeah, that was ok." I'm not sure why they don't land better for me. It's a shame, though, because he's clearly got a great imagination and ability to come up with interesting ideas and plots.

The Deathless is an interesting, albeit slightly flawed, first novel in a series. I'm still going to try the next book, but I do think I've read a fair number of better fantasy novels/series that I'd recommend before this one.

After trying yet again, I have to admit this this book, and most likely the author, simply aren't for me. The premise sounds absolutely fascinating, but something about the writing itself just doesn't work for me at all. I was unable to connect to or care about any of the characters, or to maintain any investment in the story. Because I have little positive to say, and because I wasn't able to read the book to completion, I will not be posting a review on any other site.

Good pacing and a few twists and turns. It's a bit if a genre style mix mash which is unusual and works I think.

This is the first book in The Deathless Trilogy, it is a really good read that sets the scene and then led me into the world of the Deathless.

The Deathless are immortal when they die their souls are reborn into a new body and they live as a normal person would until they get to old age or die, so the cycle begins again. They live in the castle of crystal that floats above the ground below. The ground is a wilderness full of great dangers from creatures that stalk the shadows and hunt everything. There are ways of living in the wild.

The Deathless are the rulers, and with rulers, there are going to be politics, and boy is there some underhanded shenanigans going on in this story. Trying to alter the future by removing bloodlines, or trying to discover ways of undermining another's position makes this an intriguing read.

There are various characters in this story, a mix of good, bad and often times not quite sure on which side of the fence they sit. On the ground, there are people with there own problems, and once again the matter of who can be trusted is an issue.

I really like this first book in the trilogy, it has a good pace and there is a lot going on to keep me turning the pages. I liked it a lot and I would recommend it to readers who are looking for a new fantasy trilogy to get into.

The story was interesting and individual, but it followed several characters and it took a little while to get used to them and get into the story. It was a well-written story that reached a satisfying conclusion and left you looking forward to the next book!

This book didn't really work for me. I found the world-building a little lacklustre, and to be honest, it reminded me a lot of Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, with the specially-grown crystal armour and noble houses. The story is kickstarted in medias res, which unfortunately left me dissatisfied with the information provided and struggling to connect to the characters. I may come back to it in future, but right now, it just didn't click for me.

This is the first book in the Deathless series, and from the first page I was transported. It jumps straight into the story but, despite the world’s complexity, does not feel overwhelming in the slightest. If anything, it just made me want to keep reading. The world of the Deathless, people who, after dying, return to life in the body of one of their descendants and live in floating crystal palaces, and demons, evil creatures who plague the lives of the mortals on the ground, is fascinating and I don’t think I’ve read anything like it. Each of the characters feel real, and you never know quite where they stand. It’s certainly a thrilling story and I know I’m curious to read more.

I liked that, from the first pages, you're plunged into a new world with floating castles, darkness and horrors, with its own creatures and rules. There are 4 POVs, but the characters are well written and their voices easy discernable.
The pace, however, was sometimes a little too slow and I tended to lose my focus.
Overall, very interesting premises, I'll surely check the next in the series.

Highlight
the creativity of the world
Lady Pari

Overall
The book was well written as all Peter Newman's books are but it was also easy to read. The story was well planned out and well built up, and the world was massively creative and original (to me anyway).

The Story
It's a scheming book filled with dark drama, murder, power plots and politics told by three different narrators. One narrator, Chandni, is on the run from assassins and gets help from an outsider, Lady Pari. Lady Pari however, just had a bad feeling and when to check it out to find an assassination plot in full swing. She is trying to figure things out and helps Chandni go on the run. The last narrator is Lord Vasini, who is persuaded to fight for their cause but he's never really fully invested. Three threads intertwine to create a compelling story and plot.

The World-building
It is well-build up as always. Peter Newman has a way of creating detailed vivid worlds that make perfect sense (in their sense anyway).

Welcome to a world ruled by the deathless. People who don't die. Well, they do but their soul is kept in a soul gem and rebirthed into another person so their lords and ladies can keep ruling. They live in floating castles on massive gems which represent their house. The different houses are named after gems in the real world; Sapphire, Spinel, Opal etc. While the normal people who live on the ground live normal lives and die normal deaths. It's a complex world, fully developed, but the world-building in the story is not as steep as I imagine the roads up the floating castle to be.

The magic/science
It's a complex science which is based on magic but some are explained by stating it is "old and forgotten magic". Essentially most of their magic is based on gems and the power of the songs within the gems. I don't fully understand it but I think that is part of the point. The characters don't fully understand it either.

The science involved is also related to gems in the way their armour is made of gems and their skyboots (which allows them to jump very high and very long and to run faster) and wings are made of gems too. Add some of your blood to the gems and the mould onto your body perfectly. It's cool!

The characters
The story is told through three different narrators.

Vasin - of House Sapphire is the youngest of the clan and thrust into the plotting almost by accident and force, though he is easily persuaded. He is a frustrating narrative but liked him in the end.

Lady Pari - of House Tanzanite is the lover of a Sapphire man (which is illegal) and tends to accidentally get stuck in Sapphire business. She is my favourite narrative so far. She is badass and clever even in her old age...

Chandni - of House Sapphire is the mother of a potential new vessel for a Sapphire Lord (a grandson of the lord) but finding assassins in her room and all around her castle sends her on the run. I found her narrative a bit boring but liked the hint of a romance with Varg. It will probably change in the next book. I'm with Pari on that note.

LGBT+?
nope

The Writing
The book is well written as always and easy to read. It flows easily and is a quick read but not too quick. However, that could be because I'm reading Gone With The Wind on the side and that is quite slow.

One negative comment is that I was not a fan of how the text changes between narrative. It's sudden and surprising and takes a few sentences to realise the narrative has changed and then I have to re-read the passage. However, that could have changed considering I read an ARC copy and not the final thing.

Summary
It's not a bad series and the world is very fascinating but I wasn't completely won over by the story. I'm intrigued to see where the next one goes. But I prefered his first book Vagrant.

I didn't finish this as I couldn't get into it. I may try again in the future but at the time of reading it just wasn't for me.

I enjoyed this very much will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series. A really breathtakingly good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It's been so long since I read a decent fantasy that it's such a welcome relief when I finally do come across one.
This was a fun read, full of mystique, double-crossings and back-stabbings, epic battles with monsters, and magic. Reading it felt like quite a unique story but aspects of it did remind me of other things, most notably was the Wild reminding me of the Witcher. Would have liked more description of the monsters within the Wild, and more encounters with them. Some of the encounters were a bit shortlived and could have easily been fleshed out.
Loved the aspect of the crystal palaces but it could have been embellished with more detail on the hierarchy within each. I would have liked to see more of the other houses that were only briefly mentioned and hope they are explored in more depth in the future.
Overall, a fun read and I look forward to the sequel(s).

This one didn't work for me. Won't be leaving a review for now. Might give it a go again in the future and re-rate/review the book.

Everything about the premise of this novel just screamed that it was going to be the book for me. Yet, somehow, it just wasn't.

The core of the novel focuses on The Deathless individuals, who reside over humanity in cloud-high castles and retake the body of another upon the death of their current one. Their soul lingers on and, with it, the knowledge and power to rule over all below them. These seven Deathless have long been the protectors for their realms, but now their borders are thick with evil that is encroaching ever closer upon their intended prey and maybe an infinite life isn't enough to halt them any more.

This was such an exciting concept to begin upon and yet somehow I lost my infatuation with it, just over the mid-point of the story. There was little to previously fault about this novel: Newman's penmanship was clever - often witty, suggestive, or emotional in turn - the plot was intriguing, and the characters disparate and unique. The story-line, however, was sometimes a little slower than my usual preference and the sluggish, travel-heavy scenes that segregated the action was where my mind began to wander away from where it was directed and, therefore, where my enamoured affection for the novel ended. I still maintain that this was an intriguing premise, however, and am eager to read more from Newman, in the future.

This was an amazing story of death and daring do. The enjoyable thing about Fantasy is that you can let your imagination run riot and anything is possible. Great read.

From Good Reads:
Floating Castles!!! - I shouldn't have to go any further.
I did like it, I think.
Interesting world, loads still to find out about its past, present and future.
My issue would probably be the characters: didn't particularly care about them, didn't understand their motivations and wasn't really concerned about what happened to them.
Basically, I was holding out for a hero - but didn't get one.
I am going to read the next mainly due to the setting - but fingers crossed for a bit of spark from our characters
But ....... floating castles

This title is the first installment in a new series that follows the conflict between the Deathless and the Wild. The Deathless are a bunch of families/clans that hold power over the rest of humanity, protecting them from the Wild and the sinister monsters and powers hidden in the forest.

The world building is vast, which in itself is no bad thing but I did find my attention wandering during the slow progress of all the characters. Some of my favourite bits included the weird and wonderful creatures that the characters encountered in the Wild, as well as the badass crystal armour the Deathless wear.

The writing alternates between the perspectives of different characters, all of whom are being set up as the major players in the conspiracies and battles to come, while at the same time I found that I didn't particularly care for any of them. The Deathless, by nature, are apparently pretty arrogant and dislikable but even those with regular life cycles were hard to identify with.

This book is best suited to fantasy readers with a love of family conspiracies and epic world building.

It's quite a long time since last I read such a good epic fantasy book.
It starts slowly and the beginning it's a bit confusing because you're catapulted into a new world without any guide. A fascinating world that you have to discover.
The book is full of fascinating thing, there's an original world building and fascinating and complex characters.
I love it and look forward to reading other stories in this series because it was a great reading experience with this enthralling and entertaining book.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Deathless is the start of a new fantasy series from Peter Newman, whose Vagrant trilogy has been very well received. The Deathless, though, is something else – bringing us a new world, filled with unknown horrors and immortals on the edge of righteousness, exploring the price people are willing to pay for their goals, the bonds of family and friendship, and the way a society can be both more or less than it is thought to be.

The Deathless, you see, are the perfect aristocracy. Living in castles in the air, they justify their wealth, their extravagance, their very existence, by their ability to defeat The Wild. What is the Wild? It is horror. It is dark woods on a day full of spilled noonday sun. It is creeping horrors in the corner of your eye. It is monstrosities creeping behind you. It is transformation wished and unwished for, decisions made incorrectly. It is the risk taken and betrayed. But at a more immediate point, it’s a massive dark wood, filled with psychotic monsters whose most immediate goal in life is devouring people alive, at best.

The Wild, as the hostile environment surrounding and enveloping both flying castles and mystically warded roads, is wonderfully portrayed. Each breath is a gift, each step the suggestion of ominous intent. This is a place, a darkly shrouded wood, which see’s humanity ad an interloper, and is willing to reach out and cut throats before draining their blood into its roots. But it’s also corruption, a slow game. Because the strange creatures of the wilds will make details. Maybe they want your hair, or your fingernails, or your face, and maybe the dreams you have of murder can be quieted, perhaps your other goals assured. The wood knows. It scents desecration and draws it out, adding to its store of poison. And there is always a price. This is a space of madness and magic, where everything hinges on the knife-edge, on a gesture, on a word, on a decision made moments before.

The Wild is a horror, twisting and breaking the people seeking to drive it back with a road. And so the houses exist, in soaring castles, insulated from the horrors of those suffering below. But the castles do provide champions – armed and armoured, with the strength of ten and speed to match – and other magic besides – the immortals are the heads of houses fighting back the Wild/ Of course, being immortal, they have their own effect on society. Where immortality is a limited gift, it is covered – the book asks questions of worth (or otherwise) to see if our immortals should hold their thrones. Even as they murder the demon before them, there is the issue of hereditary right, the subversion of heredity and bloodline as a positive. Where these people fight demons, where they fight back the Wild, it is because it advances their own interests. Which isn’t to say they aren’t glorious – angel-winged leading a hunt into the Wild, to defeat the existential threat to civilisation, one might think them civilised. But outside those castles are the poor and wretched and indigent, living this way to keep themselves alive. The book isn’t afraid to talk about The Wild, about the creeping horror, and the price of deals, but nor does it build a hagiography of those hacking back the roots. They have suffered and will continue to do so. But they continue to do so believable and we also see the vicious, focused, effective side of the house. Yes, they are immortal slavemasters, but they must protect their own – and if that own is not sufficiently noble, still they can be made so,

I suppose what I’m saying is, the world is a rich one, with layered interweaving of character and context. The sort of interconnection which makes characters see like people, and narratives feel real.

This is a rich, living world, albeit a horrifying one. The people within it slay demons, yes, they fight a creeping horror with their own hands and wake up at night screaming. There’s the politics of family and of immortality, of feudal obligation and enlightenment values, of blood as an oath and blood on the sword. This is a world to evoke wonder and horror, with characters whose very depth allows both sympathy and vilification. The story is there, sure enough, and heart-pumping, adrenaline soaked stuff it is, too. This is a text which rewards closer reading, and also one which rewards reading at all.

Give it a try; it’s a smashing tale.