Review: Immortally Yours by Angie Fox (Monster M*A*S*H #1)

Immortally Yours (Monster M*A*S*H #1)
Angie Fox
Published: Aug. 28, 2012 (St. Martin’s Press)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon

Reviewed by: Krista

Rating (out of 5): 3 stars

The first thing you need to know about this series is that it has more to do with the amazing ‘70s dramedy than it does with the 1962 novelty song.

I had been circling around this book for a long time, intrigued by the idea of a Monster M*A*S*H.  The TV show M*A*S*H had gotten me through a spat of insomnia during university (thank you late-night History Channel programming). For all of you who may be television-deprived M*A*S*H stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Dr. Petra Robichaud is a half-fae surgeon, who had been conscripted into a war between the old gods and the new gods. Now, why would a war between immortals need medical personal? Well, immortals in this world can die, it just takes more effort. Meaning injuries are more extreme and hell of a lot bloodier.

Both sides are allowed to recruit from the supernatural races on Earth (the war itself takes place in a Limbo-like realm), but these recruits are given no choice and little notice. And for most, it’s a life sentence as they’re in the fight until the end of a war that has already been raging for 700 years. The immortal cast who inhabits this world ranges from dragons to sphinxes to vampires to werewolves to demigods. Our main character has already –twice over– been a casualty of this war; her fiance being recruited and then killed before she had finished med school and the loss of her human father because of her own recruitment.

While attempting to save one of the many wounded soldiers who pass through her table on a daily basis, Petra accidentally reveals that she is able to talk to ghosts.  Unfortunately, because of a pesky prophecy stating that a healer who can converse with the formerly living will end the divine war, this could lead to her execution. Gods do not like anyone meddling with their glorious war. When the gorgeous stubborn demigod Galen of Delphi catches her slip, she finds herself in a very precarious position.

The setting and premise of Immortally Yours were enough for me to give it a try, but after finishing it I feel somewhat unsatisfied. I enjoyed the hijinks that Petra and her fellow inmates/doctors got up to. I chuckled when I learned that the most important thing Petra had taken with her was her favorite paranormal romance books. I also appreciated all the wit and sarcasm Angie Fox gave her characters. I liked it, but I can’t really pick out anything that was spectacular. It was a nice, light read, though. I will definitely give the sequel a chance, but with more realistic expectations.

Sexual content: Sex