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Elisabeth Ginger | @elisabeth_ginger_
Eva García Sáenz de Urturi (Vitoria, 1972), one of the most read authors of contemporary Spanish literature, immerses us in an exciting story with The saga of the long-lived 1, a novel that mixes history, fantasy and thriller with a touch of Romance. Winner of the Planeta Prize in 2020 for Aquitania and translated into more than forty languages, Eva G.ª Sáenz de Urturi has captivated millions of readers around the world.
First published in 2012, this work quickly became a cult phenomenon that sold out its original copies and reached high prices on the second-hand market. Today, thanks to the Planeta publishing house, we once again have the opportunity to enjoy this unique story.
A tale of immortality and family secrets
The plot follows Iago del Castillo, a charismatic 10,300-year-old man, and his family, who have a genetic mutation that keeps them young and allows them to live for centuries. These long-lived people, far from being mythological beings, are ordinary people with an extraordinary condition that they have kept secret for centuries. However, the pain of seeing their loved ones die has led their siblings, Jairo and Kyra, to want to understand the origin of their longevity and to dream of a line of long-lived people to accompany them. This longing propels them into a genetic investigation that Iago reluctantly leads.
Everything is complicated with the arrival of Adriana, an archaeologist specialized in Prehistory, who returns to her hometown, Santander, to investigate her mother’s suicide. Upon being hired by Iago, she soon discovers his ancient nature, which awakens in her a mixture of curiosity and attraction. The relationship between the two is key to the novel, and as they explore together the secrets of Adriana’s longevity and past, they face ethical and emotional dilemmas that only eternal life can pose.
A trip through Cantabria and the echoes of history
The landscapes of Cantabria provide a magical and mysterious atmosphere to the narrative. From the caves of Altamira to the cliffs of the Cabárceno park, the work transports us to an environment full of history and mysticism. García Sáenz weaves historical details with scientific theories about genetics and longevity, making the story feel as real as it is epic. Through memories and flashbacks, we travel to different times and cultures, discovering how these long-lived people have lived and the challenges they have faced over the centuries.
A captivating read that leaves its mark
The saga of the long-lived stands out not only for its original plot, but also for the emotional depth of its characters and the dilemmas it poses. The novel explores universal themes such as the passage of time, loss and the weight of memories, inviting us to reflect on the nature of life and the legacy we leave behind. With an immersive and emotional narrative, this work is one of those readings that is impossible to abandon and that leaves an indelible mark.
In 2025, Planeta will launch the second installment of the saga, along with a third and final unpublished part that will complete this trilogy. For those looking for a novel that transports you to another era and makes you reflect on life and time, The Saga of the Long-Eared is an unmissable recommendation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eva García Sáenz de Urturi (Vitoria) published his first novel in 2012, The Saga of the Long-Eared, a critical and sales phenomenon, and in 2014 the second installment, The Children of Adán, along with the historical novel Passage to Tahiti. In 2016 he published The Silence of the White City, a gripping thriller set in his hometown that has been a great success in our country and has been translated into more than twenty languages, topping the best-seller list in countries such as the United States. USA, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Mexico, Argentina or Brazil. It was also the subject of a film adaptation in 2019, currently available on Netflix. With this novel he started a trilogy of which The Rites of Water was the second installment and The Lords of Time the third and the outcome of the White City Trilogy. It has been awarded prestigious awards, such as the Fiction Book of the Year in 2018 and The Golden Bullet for the best foreign crime novel of 2019.
After winning the 2020 Planeta Prize with Aquitania, he published The Black Book of Hours, the best-selling novel of 2022, and The Angel of the City (2023). In 2024 he has recovered The Saga of the Long-Lived 1. The Old Family and, throughout 2025, The Saga of the Long-Lived 2. The Children of Adam and The Saga of the Long-Lived 3. The Way of the Father, the long-awaited closing of the trilogy.
His novels have more than four million readers. It is considered the queen of quality bestsellers.
Synopsis of The Saga of the Long-lived 1. The Old Family
Never forget that being long-lived does not make you immortal.
Castle Lake is a charismatic and attractive long-lived 10,300 years old with a prodigious brain. However, when one morning wake up in San Franciscofar from his home in Santander, is unable to remember his name or the details of the mysterious investigation that has taken him there; an investigation that aims to decipher the reasons why neither he nor the other members of his family age. But neither Iago nor Hector, his father, have any intention of sharing the results; they are aware of the risks and the suffering that their way of life implies. It is his brothers Jairus (a troublesome Scythian almost 3000 years old) and Kyra (a runaway Celtic 2500 years old) who, tired of traveling alone through the centuries and tired of having to bury their children, they are determined to create a long-lived lineage like them. At the same time, Adriana, an archaeologist specialized in Prehistory, is willing to take advantage of the fact that destiny has brought her back to her native Santander to clarify the strange suicide of his mother happened fifteen years ago. From the beginning, Iago and her They will feel a powerful attraction for each other, even if they both try to ignore it.
CHARACTERISTICS
Themes: Thriller, Mystery novels, Adventures, Historical novel, Crime novel, Fantasy
Publication: Oct 2, 2024
Collection: Planet
Presentation: Hardcover with dust jacket
Series: The saga of the long-lived
Format: 15 x 23 cm
Publisher: Planeta Editorial
ISBN: 978-84-08-29269-2
Pages: 480
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