Review: Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity 

Author:Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperTeen
Young Adult
400 pages hardcover

"If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be."-Unknown.  Aislinn battles with this as her relationship with Seth evolves.  One night after a revel with her court, Aislinn seeks seclusion in Seth’s steel train house.  After nights like these she isn’t very stable and soon realizes that she can’t go on like this.  If she’s not careful she burns him.  Thoughts plague her mind about the short lifespan of her mortal friends and family.  One day she won’t have her ties to the mortal world. One day she’ll have to admit to herself that she’s meant to be a faerie and can’t go on living both lives.  Can she ever bring herself to let Seth go?

Seth begins to search for a way to make himself immortal so he can spend eternity with Aislinn; it terrifies him that once he dies Keenan will have Aislinn all to himself.  He seeks the help of his best friend Niall, the new Dark King, to try and help him find a way at immortality.  Niall, like Aislinn, refuses to tell Seth a way because of the dangers of asking for such a huge “gift.”  Words of wisdom:  Immortality comes at a great price.  And right when Seth begins to think there may never be a way, Bannach appears and proclaims that she’ll take the mortal to her sister Sorcha, ruler of the High Court.  Knowing this may be the only opportunity he ever gets, Seth agrees to travel with Bannach. 

Not once does Seth question Bananach on her motives.  All he knows, and really thinks about is “I get Aislinn forever,” which really clouds his judgment.  Once he appears before the High Queen, Sorcha must make the decision: grant the mortal what he wishes or send him back empty-handed with Bannach, who will just kill him off.  Seth’s life now rests in Sorcha’s hands.  What fate will she choose for the lovesick mortal?

Meanwhile Keenan and Donia are still trying to make their relationship work.  Keenan knows that as long as Aislinn has Seth, he will be able to be with the girl he truly loves and Donia knows that once Aislinn calls, Keenan will go running into the arms of his Queen.  Will Keenan and Donia ever be able to be together?  Will Keenan and Aislinn ever be able to fight their attraction to one another?

What will Seth risk to be immortal?  Will he be making the biggest mistake of his life? Will he have forever with the love of his life or will he lose her to Keenan?  Will Bannach get the war she seeks?

My Rating: 4 stars

When I read the description of this novel on my library’s website, all I could think was “Oh no…what did Seth do,” which is a very reasonable reaction.  The circumstances seriously could’ve been horrible! No, I’m not saying they weren’t.  I’m just stating the obvious fact that something really bad could’ve happened and it would’ve been all.his.fault.   You’re just going to have to read to find out what Seth did, though you can probably already conclude it has something to do with his mortality.  Now you’re probably wondering “What will Seth give up to be immortal?” 

What I loved about this book is how close Aislinn and Keenan get.  I find their friends with benefits type relationship kind of intriguing.  I like the tension created by Aislinn and Keenan’s struggle against their fated attraction for one another and their desire to be with their true love.  I know I’ve said Donia is my favorite, and no offense to her or Seth, but I wish Keenan and Aislinn could be together. 

*Anna Note:  I know in my summaries I state many questions.  I can’t tell you everything about the book!  Some things must be left unanswered to fuel your desire to read.*

Will Seth become immortal? How do you feel about Aislinn and Keenan’s relationship?