I'll Read What She's Reading

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie | September Book Club

October 1, 2025

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  • The hosts generally rated *Immortal Consequences* by I.V. Marie as a three or 3.5-star read, citing pacing issues due to juggling six distinct points of view as the primary drawback. 
  • The setting, which involves the afterlife, reaping souls, and fighting demons, was praised, but the stakes felt low until later revelations, and the school setting within the afterlife felt juvenile. 
  • The hosts were highly invested in the relationship between the characters Olivier and Emilio, but found the central romance between Wren and August to be predictable and lacking tension, despite enjoying the banter and the audiobook narration. 
  • The October book club pick for *I'll Read What She's Reading* is announced to be *Alchemized* by Senlin Yu, which is noted as a long book that has already been optioned for a movie adaptation. 

Segments

Introduction and Book Context
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(00:00:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts, Reggie, Michaela, and Kennedy, are recording the September book club episode for I’ll Read What She’s Reading to discuss Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce themselves and confirm they have not discussed the book prior to recording, relying only on brief Fable book club posts. They mention that the episode will cover ratings, thoughts, and a fan cast, concluding with the October book announcement. The hosts note they were all rushing to finish the book, with one finishing the morning of recording.
Review Format and Pacing Issues
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(00:01:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The review format starts with overall ratings, followed by likes/dislikes, and then a fan cast, with the October pick announced at the end.
  • Summary: Michaela struggled with the first 130 pages until the first trial began, attributing pacing issues to managing seven characters’ perspectives. She ultimately rated the book a 3 or 3.5 because the ending was strong, but felt the plot could have progressed sooner. The pacing felt uneven due to the non-consecutive nature of the trials.
Stakes and Character Connection
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(00:05:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Kennedy also rated the book three stars, finding it difficult to develop a connection with any character due to the high number of points of view, which made the stakes feel low initially.
  • Summary: The low stakes were compounded by the revelation that death in the trials was real only coming later in the story. The relationship between August and Wren felt derivative of other popular books, though the setting of the afterlife and soul reaping was appreciated as a good September theme. Kennedy is undecided about reading the sequel.
Rating Justification and World Building
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(00:08:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Reggie leaned toward a 2.75-star rating because she struggled to stay invested, particularly with the August and Wren relationship, though she was invested in Olivier and Emilio.
  • Summary: The multiple points of view made it hard to stay invested, and the stakes did not feel high enough until later revelations. The school setting within the afterlife, where characters centuries old are still learning magic, felt juvenile and raised questions about the world’s backstory. The hosts agreed that the book’s premise and setting were cool, but the execution left many unanswered questions early on.
Demian Order and Plot Twists
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(00:15:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts questioned the true threat level of the Demian Order, noting that several characters, including Ren, ended up joining it, suggesting the rebellion might be the true good side.
  • Summary: The revelation that August is a Demian and that Edith is his biological sibling surprised the hosts, though August’s mysterious nature foreshadowed secrets. The plot twist regarding memory wiping felt predictable but still served to make the story interesting. Olivier joining the Demian Order was noted as a surprising character development.
Favorite Elements and Character Casts
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(00:17:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivier was cited as the favorite character by multiple hosts, and the first trial, involving a maze and creature chase, was the most vividly described and enjoyed sequence.
  • Summary: The audiobook narration was highly praised for its talent, with specific appreciation for the accents used for characters like Emilio and Olivier, reflecting the author’s Peruvian and Chilean heritage. The hosts agreed that the book’s concept and vivid descriptions of magic and monsters were strong points, making it a potential recommendation for new fantasy readers.
Rivalry Mislabeling and Future Predictions
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(00:23:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts felt deceived by the back cover describing the characters as ‘six rivals’ when they were largely friends who helped each other, suggesting ‘six competitors’ would have been more accurate.
  • Summary: The lack of tension and enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Ren and August, who seemed to have instant connection, disappointed some hosts. They predicted the next book will involve the resistance building, a conflict between the Academy, the Demian Order, and the Rebellion, and hoped the series remains a duology.
Final Thoughts and October Pick Announcement
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(00:38:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite mixed feelings, the hosts concluded that Immortal Consequences was not a waste of time, and the October book club selection is Alchemized by Senlin Yu.
  • Summary: The hosts apologized for being negative but emphasized that their current reading slump influenced their reception, noting that a three-star rating means they had a good time but won’t reread it. Alchemized is a long book that has been picked up for a movie adaptation by the team behind Dune and Jurassic Park. The discussion for Alchemized will take place the first Wednesday of November.