Highlander by Garry Kilworth (Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere)

The Burden of Forever

There is a particular kind of melancholy that comes with realizing your childhood heroes were actually quite miserable. We all wanted to be immortal when we first saw the film, but Kilworth’s novelization makes a very strong case for why that would be a nightmare. It skips the shiny, cinematic polish and goes straight for the bone. The vibe is gritty, slightly damp, and smells like old leather and New York exhaust fumes.

The plot is a simple mechanism: Immortals live, they hide, and eventually, they must chop each other's heads off because "there can be only one." But the "why" is where the meat is. MacLeod is a man who has seen every empire fall and every fashion trend fail, yet he still bothers to fix old clocks and fall in love. It’s a stubborn, illogical hope that feels more human than any of the supernatural swordplay.

Kilworth’s style is punchy. He doesn't linger on the scenery; he hits you with the sensory details that matter: the weight of a broadsword, the coldness of the rain, the specific terror of seeing a face from four centuries ago in a crowded bar. The pacing is tight, though the transitions between eras occasionally feel like a jolt to the system. The Kurgan is a beast of a character, written with a visceral nastiness that makes him a genuine threat rather than a cartoon villain.

"I have lived for four hundred and fifty years, and I can tell you, for a fact, that the world is a very small place."

This isn't for people looking for a complex magic system or world-building maps. It’s for those of us who appreciate a story that looks at the passage of time and shrugs. It’s honest, it’s a bit mean, and it’s surprisingly moving. If you want a reminder that life is meaningful precisely because it ends, this is your book. Otherwise, just keep scrolling and pretend you'll live forever.

4/5

Similar reads for the weary traveler:

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
• How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
• Casca: The Eternal Mercenary by Barry Sadler