Tom Stewart is back with Immortal North Two!

It's rare for me to pick up books and their sequels so close to each other. It's never on purpose, it just sort of... happens. I end up reading a book and the sequel takes forever to come out, I can't get my hands on them, or life just gets in the way and I completely forget to keep going with a series until the sequel magically pops up on my bookshelf years later. You know... NORMAL reasons.

Lucky for me, Tom Stewart asked me to review Immortal North #1 and then after I completed it the sequel came out! Perfect timing for a reader like me! I took a small break between reading the first and second book because these books are DEEP. Deep in a good way, but very heavy on your heart when you take in all of the theme work Tom puts into these books.

Immortal North 1 and 2 dive into grief and life in the north (as you would suspect from the title). Our trapper from the first book dive into his grief and despair in this book which seems to be an ode to nature, grief, and healing. The imagery and characterization of nature in this book is absolutely insane. It feels like the kind of book we would pick apart in my Canadian Literature class in university. It's so beautiful how Tom seems to understand how nature can be a metaphor for much of the trauma life can bring us.

The book also goes into the town and their reaction to what happened in the first book. If you didn't read the first book you won't understand ANYTHING that happens with them (even if you might be able to appreciate the book itself). While this part was intriguing and engaging, for me it wasn't the best part. I loved watching our lead character grow throughout the story and deal with the issues at hand. How can one process grief? How does one grieve? The world is tough on us and unpredictable things can happen. Nature and the North does not pick favourites, as the book says. Sometimes we have to deal with the tough blows life gives us, even if it hurts too much and we feel guilty, shame, or regretful. It's haunting and pulls at your heartstrings, but by the end you can see how this character has grown to learn from the horrible lessons life has given him. It's tough but it is possible.

This book is just MIND BLOWING. I don't understand how more people haven't picked it up because it's such a beautiful read. It can be a heavy hitter but man... Tom Stewart knows how to write.

Five out of five stars. Not my typical read by any means, but just WOW.

I received this book for free from the author, Tom Stewart, in exchange for an honest review. ( )