Podcast Summary: "Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie"

I’ll Read What She’s Reading – September Book Club

Episode Date: October 1, 2025
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy

Overview

In this lively book club episode, Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy dive deep into Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie, sharing honest ratings, favorite (and less favorite) elements, fan casts, and predictions for the series. The episode features candid discussion about reading slumps, the challenges of multi-POV fantasy, and what makes a book “work” for different readers. The group also previews their October pick, Alchemized by Sen Lin Yu.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Initial Thoughts & Ratings

• All three hosts finished the book at the last minute, citing reading slumps and busy schedules ([00:46]-[01:00]).
• Mikayla (3-3.5 stars): Struggled with the pacing and large number of POV characters, but enjoyed the ending. She wished the trials were more consecutive and that stakes were introduced earlier ([02:38]-[05:11]).
• Kennedy (3 stars): Felt similarly, noting that multiple POVs reduced her connection to characters and the stakes felt low until later in the book ([05:19]-[08:35]).
• Reggie (2.75-3 stars): Hard time staying invested; didn’t connect with the main romance, but liked Olivier and Emilio as a subplot. Appreciated the audiobook ([08:35]-[11:11]).
• All agree the reading slump and current mood affected their enjoyment, and that multiple POVs may have weakened character development ([11:11]-[15:09]).

Notable Quote

“It was Harry Potter meets K-Pop Demon Hunters.” – Kennedy ([05:19])
“For a good 80% of this book, I was just kind of like, eh, we'll see where things go.” – Reggie ([11:08])

Pacing, Stakes & World-Building

• Pacing: The group felt the book was slow to start and dragged between trials. More consecutive trials might have helped ([04:13]-[05:11]).
• Stakes: The high-stakes element (dying if you fail trials) wasn't revealed soon enough, reducing tension and investment. The “chosen one” trope is present ([05:19]-[17:17]).
• World-building: Enjoyed the afterlife/reaping souls concept and set design, but had trouble with aspects like characters being dead for centuries yet still in school ([12:19]-[13:32]).
• Magic System: Felt the characters should have been more advanced and knowledgeable given their ages ([12:47]-[13:32]).

Notable Quote

“If you've been there for centuries, you're still going to school, you're still learning magic? ...That just felt really off to me.” – Reggie ([12:19])
“I found myself asking a lot of questions. Like, there were a lot of plot—maybe I shouldn't say plot holes—things that I was questioning that kind of took me out of the story a little bit.” – Reggie ([13:32])

Character Connections & Romance

• Too Many POVs: Six (or seven) viewpoints in under 500 pages led to shallow characterization ([04:13]-[05:11]).
• Favorite Characters: All enjoyed Olivier, with some love for Emilio and Mateo ([17:28]-[18:04]).
• Romance: The relationship between Ren and August felt predictable and lacked tension. The main romance was described as “instalove”—not true enemies-to-lovers ([23:38]-[24:17]).

Notable Quote

“Girl, that was insta love... That was not any celebrity. It was straight up.” – Mikayla ([24:00])

Fan Casts & Visualization

• Each host shares their dream cast—sometimes whimsical, sometimes serious.
• References include The Summer I Turned Pretty cast, Caitlin Dever for Ren, and even Danny Phantom for August.
• Kennedy admits to mentally casting the entire Wednesday Addams cast ([31:45], [35:02]).
• Discussion about visualizing characters and scenes; some hosts picture settings more vividly than people ([37:15]-[38:07]).

Notable Quote

“Let's just say my cast is the Wednesday Addams cast.” – Kennedy ([31:45])
“I have to actively think to picture it in my brain while I read.” – Kennedy ([37:17])

Audiobook Performance

• High praise for the audiobook’s voice talent and character accents.
• Noted some accent inconsistencies for August ([21:11]-[22:18]).
• Hosts appreciate the inclusion of diverse heritage through voices, reflecting the author’s background ([22:18]-[22:43]).

Plot Twists, Rivals, & Sequel Predictions

• Plot twists were mostly predictable (e.g., memory-wiping and August’s identity), though Edith’s “brother” reveal surprised Kennedy ([27:43]-[28:31]).
• The group was misled by the blurb’s description of “six rivals”—the competitors felt more like friends ([23:17]-[24:39]).
• Predict sequel will focus on an alliance or conflict among the Academy, Demian Order, and resistance, with Irene possibly getting a more interesting arc ([25:17]-[26:27]).

Notable Quote

“I feel a little deceived by the back of the book when it says six rivals. They were friends. They were all friends.” – Mikayla ([23:17])

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

• All three hosts respect the author for tackling six points of view in a debut/traditional first novel ([29:38]-[30:07]).
• Beautiful book cover and physical production noted as a positive ([30:08]-[30:30]).
• Would recommend Immortal Consequences as an accessible, approachable fantasy—especially for those newer to the genre or not looking for something too dense or high-stakes ([24:48]-[25:17]).
• None would re-read the book, but might try the next in the series ([30:30]-[31:19]).

Notable Quote

“I had a good time reading it. It just wasn't anything that I'm going to think about again.” – Mikayla ([31:19])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Initial Ratings: [02:38]-[11:11]
• Multi-POV/pacing discussion: [04:13]-[05:11]
• Romance & character connections: [06:41]-[11:08]
• World-building and school critique: [12:19]-[13:32]
• Favorite characters: [17:28]-[18:04]
• Audiobook talk: [21:11]-[22:43]
• Blurb/“six rivals” discussion: [23:17]-[24:17]
• Fan cast fun: [31:19]-[38:07]
• Plot twists & sequel predictions: [25:17]-[29:28]
• Book recommendation/reflection: [24:48]-[25:17], [30:08]-[31:30]

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s Harry Potter meets K-Pop Demon Hunters.” – Kennedy ([05:19])
• “For a good 80% of this book, I was just kind of like, eh, we'll see where things go.” – Reggie ([11:08])
• “If you've been there for centuries, you're still going to school, you're still learning magic?...That felt really off to me.” – Reggie ([12:19])
• “Let's just say my cast is the Wednesday Addams cast.” – Kennedy ([31:45])
• "I feel a little deceived by the back of the book when it says six rivals. They were friends. They were all friends." – Mikayla ([23:17])

Final Section: October Book Club Preview

• Next pick: Alchemized by Sen Lin Yu.
• The group is excited (and a little intimidated) by its length (over 1,000 pages) and upcoming film adaptation ([39:06]-[40:48]).

Summary

This episode offers an honest, warm, and sometimes critical look at Immortal Consequences, highlighting the challenges of complex fantasy with multiple viewpoints and reflecting on personal reading moods. The hosts blend insightful critique with humor, making their perspectives accessible whether you loved the book or are considering picking it up next.