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There are currently 27 member reviews
for The God of Endings
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Bev C. (Latrobe, PA)
The God of Endings
I'm not an expert on the vampire as a literary character or devotee of the "immortal narrator", but Collette LaSange is unique. In the 1980's she coordinates a fine arts pre-school in upstate New York.
She is tender, supportive and encouraging to all the young participants and especially aware of a gifted child (Leo) with a turbulent home life.
There are lighthearted moments as she navigates the children exploring their gifts, but her hunger is deepening. There are also dark atmospheric times as we are introduced to her past as Anya (Anna).
Her characters easily become etched in your mind. They are vivid and finely detailed.
The God of Endings is not a beach read! It is an intense fictional debut and I think it deserves a slow deliberate read. I'll be interested watching Jacqueline Holland's literary pathway.
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Barbara B. (Evansville, IN)
Great Novel for Halloween
Vampires have a variety of personalities, just like mortal humans do. In this dark and somewhat realistic novel, perfect for Halloween, immortal vampire Anna is a conscientious female who fears many things, especially being a vampire forever. She is the director and teacher at a preschool specializing in Art, located in New York. She is also compassionate and gullible, even with her students and their families.
However, Anna has a terrifying side to her personality, quite fittingly her earlier life in France during World War II. Occasionally, there is subtle humor, but mostly there is blood, and lots of it. This is a slightly realistic fantasy, but not for the faint of heart. As her first novel, I think the author tried to put too many details in the long, extended life of her main character.
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Jackie R. (Clark, NJ)
Nature vs Nurture - Who Do We Choose To Be In This Lifetime And The Next
A pinch of Anne Rice with a peck of Elizabeth Kostova's "The Historian".
Great suggestion for a book club.
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Sue P. (Albuquerque, NM)
The God of Endings
I am trying to find a good synonym for the word "lush", because that word seems overused, but actually that is the best word I can find to describe the writing in this book. A vampire story, but terribly human as well, in that the author touches so deeply on the pain and grief of all beings. I, like others, am reminded of Anne Rice, but I felt that the heroine, Collette, was much more captivating, though never in a light-hearted manner, than any of Rice's troubled characters. Collette's capacity for love and acceptance of anguish and torment was beautifully portrayed. I won't forget this book easily.
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Freya H. (Phoenix, AZ)
The God of Endings
The subject matter was not particularly appealing to me. However, Jacqueline Holland
wrote a noteworthy first novel and that's why I gave it 4 stars. I'd be very careful in
recommending it. Book Groups may find it an interesting book to discuss.
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Anne G. (Austin, TX)
The God of Endings
"Is life in this world a gift or a curse?"
This is the question readers explore through the character who we first meet as Anya. As a young girl she is being taught by her father the art of stone carving. When he dies, leaving her orphaned, she is rescued by her grandfather who "gifts" her with eternity—the life of an immortal.
Vampires? I haven't read a book like this in ages but I was hooked on Collette's story and her growing unease along with the abiding loneliness defining her life. This beautifully written debut novel had just the right amount of creepiness for fall reading and for me had definite shades of Ann Rice.
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Laura C. (Woodworth, LA)
An impressive debut
The narrator of The God of Endings is a vampire whose immortality is bestowed on her at age 10 by her grandfather. Anna is never comfortable in the role and uses her superhuman powers only reluctantly and to benefit the humans who befriend and help her. To the author's credit, gory description of vampiring is kept to a minimum and nothing is lost there. (At times I almost forgot that Anna is a vampire.) More important and beautifully described are Anna's agonizing interactions with humans of all ages, over centuries, whom she longs to love and connect with but will not allow herself to.
Jacqueline Holland's debut novel is 464 pages of beautiful prose, a compelling story of longing for the unattainable, and a shocking but satisfying ending. Throughout the story, the author demonstrates a deep knowledge of art and uses it to great effect with Anna and especially with her 6 year old student Leo, a gifted but troubled child who changes the course of Anna's existence. I will look forward to Holland's future work as her talents are remarkable.
