The Mark on Eve
This novel begins during a storm off Cape Cod in 1717, when the imminent foundering of a ship captained by her lover compels Eve Hale to save him by seeking the aid of a witch. Rather than assist, the witch, jealous of the Captain’s love, curses Eve to eternal life, wherein she never ages and is forced to move constantly to protect her identity. Throughout the following centuries, Eve avidly follows the historical progression of women’s rights. A film producer in contemporary times, she works on promoting the upcoming election of the first female U.S. president. After she finds herself thrust into the media spotlight, however, a savvy reporter catches anomalies which can’t reasonably be explained, and Eve finds herself in imminent danger of discovery.
I was intrigued by this story outline but unfortunately didn’t get far before losing interest. A rather stiff and unsympathetic protagonist, Eve keeps herself at arm’s length. The premise of the plot, even for a fantasy, did not feel plausible to me. The novel lacks authenticity, is at times confusing and unfortunately has a predictably poor conclusion. Other fantasy readers may think my criticisms too harsh, but this story did not appeal to me.
