Staff Review: THESE IMMORTAL TRUTHS

THESE IMMORTAL TRUTHS by Rachelle Raeta
9781250419460
6/30/26
Tor Books
Fiction / Fantasy / Romance

THESE IMMORTAL TRUTHS is the first in a powerful and romantic historical fantasy duology about a woman who, after living in exile, is gifted the burden and beauty of immortality.

Anna is a woman with an incredibly kind soul, defined by her devotion to others despite the cruelty she faced in her youth. When the pale shadows on her skin were mistaken for leprosy, she was cast out to the fringes of society, forced to fight for survival on the brink of starvation. Her life changes forever after a simple act of mercy: she helps a stranger who turns out to be a shapeshifting god named Khiran. In return, he offers her a peach that is far more than mere fruit. Upon taking a bite, Anna is granted eternal life and now has to learn not to just survive, but how to truly live.

As the decades stretch into centuries, Anna becomes a witness to the triumphs and tragedies of human history. She uses her gift to serve as a healer and midwife, a volunteer nurse amidst the smoke of world wars, and a protector providing a safe house for those escaping slavery in the South. She takes in abandoned children, offering them safety and a mother’s love even as the world around them shifts and breaks. Yet, the heartbreak of immortality is that the lives of everyone she touches eventually slip through her fingers. The only constant is Khiran, the god who gave her this life. He lingers in the periphery of her centuries, watching over her and appearing throughout the ages until their shared history blossoms into an aching romantic tension. It is the very epitome of a slowburn!

What I loved most about this story were the historical aspects, specifically the way it blends real events throughout time with the perspective of someone who, having witnessed it all, still chooses to care for the people around her. I also love how the author integrated well-known gods and beloved fairy tales into the story, connecting them beautifully to different characters throughout the book. It was so much fun exploring the world with these characters, and I cannot wait to continue the journey with the next book in the duology, THESE GODLY LIES.

With its gorgeous, lyrical writing and sweeping scope, this story is a perfect match for fans of genre-crossing favorites like THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, THE MINISTRY OF TIME, and THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE.

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“Beautiful, haunting, and healing, this book will sweep you through centuries as it envelops your heart. Wonderful and unforgettable!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of THE SPELLSHOP

“Rachelle Raeta weaves an epic and romantic tapestry—one of lush prose and rich historical detail, and of characters who will break your heart in one century and put it back together in the next. I adored this book.”—Bel Banta, author of THE COURT OF VENUS