Book Review :: Evermore, by Sara Holland

Evermore by Sara Holland
ISBN: 1408349523
Series: Everless #2
Also in this series: Everless
Published by Hachette NZ
on 2018-12-31
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Source: Hachette Publishing NZ
Find at Hachette NZ
Goodreads

Jules Ember was raised hearing legends of the ancient magic of the wicked Alchemist and the good Sorceress. But she has just learned the truth: not only are the stories true, but she herself is the Alchemist, and Caro—a woman who single-handedly murdered the Queen and Jules’s first love, Roan, in cold blood—is the Sorceress.

The whole kingdom believes that Jules is responsible for the murders, and a hefty bounty has been placed on her head. And Caro is intent on destroying Jules, who stole her heart twelve lifetimes ago. Jules must delve into the stories that she now recognises are accounts of her own past. For it is only by piecing together the mysteries of her lives that Jules will be able to save the person who has captured her own heart in this one.

Last updated on 14 October 2023

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My thoughts on Evermore

SPOILER ALERT! This review will contain spoilers for Everless but not Evermore.

This review is a little hard to write, as my love of Everless, the first in this series, did not, unfortunately, continue over into Evermore. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this book (hence the 3 stars), but I found that what I loved about the Everless was lacking in Evermore.

We pick up after the events of Everless and Jules (aka The Alchemist) is in hiding from Caro (aka The Sorceress). Then she’s on the run with Liam Gerling, as they try to figure out how to kill The Sorceress, as they mourn the loss of friends and family, and meet some interesting characters along the way. The whole story is basically Jules having strange visions of her past lives as The Alchemist, and all the times she and Caro have faced off over the centuries. Using those visions, Jules and Liam (who knows more about The Alchemist than even Jules does) work on piecing together a plan to conqueror Caro and end their personal war once that affects the whole country and for all.

While I was really looking forward to jumping back in the world of Everless and it’s fantastical-sci-fi nature, we left more of the Sci-Fi aspect behind, and Evermore was definitely a more typical Young Adult fantasy book than Everless was. That would have been fine and dandy, except it was that slightly alternative nature of Everless that really made me love it.

However, the characters were still really enjoyable, and like I mentioned in my review of the first book, I do really like Jules as a main character. Liam was less grumpy, bad-guy vibes in this book, which I guess was fine … but not great. There was something about him in the first book that he seems to lose in the second. I was expecting a similar Liam with less grump perhaps, a little more good-guy vibes without losing that edge … but I felt he lost a bit of his sparkle. There were a few new characters in this book who I quite enjoyed, including Elias, who is Liam’s friend from a different land which doesn’t have magic. He was a bit sassy, quick with his words, and I would have liked more of him in the story.

Overall thoughts on Evermore

I’m very torn with this book; it was a let down in terms of building on my love of the first book, but it was an okay, decent read that ended in an okay, decent way. Oh to have more words than ‘okay’ and ‘decent’. I’m sticking with my 3 stars, I think, because despite my gripes with Evermore, I’m comparing it to it’s predecessor when I should be giving it it’s own worth and value. If you’ve read Everless and enjoyed it, then I do recommend you pick up Evermore; perhaps just be aware that it might not be what you’re hoping for. Or it might! You may love it! If you do, please do pop back here and let me know what you thought!

Have you read Evermore? What did you think?

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Thank you to Hachette Publishing NZ for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.