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Rarely does a book come along among my slew of Libby holds and Booktube recommendations that absolutely blows 99% of everything else out of the water. That was the case with Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting, a fantasy romance with classic fairytale inspiration that shines with every chapter.
In the last few years, I’ve read both Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches (currently available on Kindle Unlimited) as well as The Starling House. While I enjoyed both, I found the latter to be a more atmospheric, interesting experience than the former. I obviously enjoyed both enough to continue to pick up their works, and wow am I so glad I did.
The Everlasting was one of the best fantasies I’ve read in my life. Rich with everything a fantasy read should be—intriguing but simple to follow plot, politics and magic systems, a complex and interesting villain, whimsical settings described absolutely beautifully and most of all, a heart-wrenching romance FULL of yearning (my favorite).
Ever aspect of this epic story was well executed—from its incredible characters to its pacing to the lyrical writing that has you stopping ever few pages to marvel at it. It’s not often that a book can be both witty and funny, while also shattering your heart to the point of tears on multiple occasions.
At the heart of the story are two people bound by fate, an invisible string, and a legend that shapes the course of history. Una Everlasting, a relentless and talented knight, is taken in as a child by her two fathers, who raise her with love and understanding. She later becomes a fierce warrior for the queen and goes down in history as one of the most celebrated figures of her time. However, her epic story told to all the people of Dominion is not quite as it seems.
Owen, a historian and scholar, is thrust into her world when mysterious figures with political agendas send him back in time through an old, tattered book to witness, study, and document her legend. There, he finally meets the real Una — human flaws and all — and his lifelong obsession with her story transforms into something deeply personal. Caught in relentless time loops, Owen and Una’s lives become intertwined as they fall in love, and Owen must tell Una’s true story, not the one the queen wishes to go down in the history books.
Harrow does an incredible job managing the time travel and time jumps here. The recurring deaths of Una Everlasting never feel repetitive or unimportant, but make you feel as the reader that you’re right there with her and Owen, learning not just about the great legend herself, but about family, love, politics, power, imperialism, propaganda and so much more.
Much of this story is also told in second person POV (through both main characters) and this intentional choice felt perfect for the type of story this is. An epic tale, a fierce love story, an adventure for the ages.
Like the time loops and Una’s repeated deaths throughout the timeline of the book, I was heartbroken, healed, and devastated over and over again. By the end, however, I was left with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and like I had just witnessed one of the most unique and well-executed stories I’d encountered in my lifetime.