A rare book with very real questions we often fail to ask. What if we are given the chance to live for thousands of years in this life? Would it be a gift? Or would it be a curse?

Amaranth gives us a scenario where immortality may indeed be possible. At the same time, it also explores the many consequences the world may face in the event someone suddenly offers it to us.

In the story, several characters were shown to have been offered the opportunity. We see their motivations, good and bad, and we learn where each eventually leads to. We find many who would give everything they possess just to have it. On the other hand, we find a woman who remains defiant in accepting what many consider to be a great blessing.

Marie doesn’t seem to have anything to lose when she was forcibly given an elixir that revived her youth, but we realize her deeper reasons as we learn more about what she believes deep within. Indeed, this is a book that is not afraid to depict characters who exercise their faith.

This does not mean that the characters never struggle with temptation. As far as the flow of the story goes, that’s the challenge the main protagonists, Marie and Peter need to go through. Will their faith remain as it was before it was challenged that deeply?

This book is very refreshing for me as it isn’t afraid to tackle the big questions novels like these often shy away from. It also shows characters whose faith is very much an important part of their lives. We are reminded that there are still people who are like them, authentic people with real struggles, but who nevertheless see something more than what this world could possibly offer us.