Jul 17

Jul 17 The Everlasting

About the book

Author: Alix E. Harrow
Publisher: Tor Books

More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.

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My Review

Alix Harrow is an auto-read author for me. Her books range from quick and fun to certified bangers — and y’all, The Everlasting (out in October) is a CERTIFIED BANGER. A wholly original and unputdownable sweeping, epic, magical story for the ages, this is my favorite book I’ve read so far this year and could easily maintain that #1 spot all the way through.

The Everlasting is about a historian named Owen living in a republic called Dominion, which justifies its present-day colonialism with its origin story of Una Everlasting, a brave and valiant knight who fought to unify the lands for her queen. One day, Owen finds the long-lost original manuscript of Una’s story delivered to his office without a return address. Little does he know that he’s about to find himself back in time, by her side, convincing her to play her part in the greatest legend ever told. Or is it?

I don’t even know where to start with this, friends. The first section (of five) destroyed me, and when I hit 40% I silently screamed and cursed my decision to read this so early (it’s out in October — thanks Tor and Netgalley!) that I had no one to live-text my reactions to. This was the first time in a long, long time that I found myself legitimately angry that I had to stop reading to go to sleep; I wanted to inhale it but also savor every word. THE WAY THIS WOMAN USES WORDS, WHEW!!!

An epic love story, a delicious villain, time travel executed perfectly, I could go on and on. Plus, she has so much to say about what it means to be free, what it means to love someone, what it means to make choices, and the never-ending cycle of colonial propaganda and radicalization. Who writes the legendarium and why? How do stories become myths? It’s timeless and so incredibly timely.

If you don’t all preorder this book and read it immediately upon publication, I will riot. You’ve been warned.