The Everlasting Demands a Spot on Your TBR
Every so often, a book comes along that feels like it’s been waiting for you. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow is exactly that kind of story—equal parts fairytale, legend, and heart-wrenching character journey. I first spotted the ARC on NetGalley, instantly drawn in by its symbolic, swoon-worthy cover art (graphic designers, you know the thrill). But once I started reading, I realized this book wasn’t just a pretty face. It’s layered, immersive, and deeply human in a way that makes you think about love, history, and the stories we tell to survive.
Hype Report
Get hyped for this upcoming release, sure to hit you right in the feels!
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Aesthetic
The Cover
The Everlasting cover is gorgeous! Breath-taking illustration, beautifully intertwined with the well-balanced typography. The shapes and colors set the correct tone for the novel. And, dare I say it, is that some symbolism? See if you spot it, and we can fully break it down in the comments!
Interior
I read this as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) digitally, so I haven’t seen the inside of the physical book (yet). The ebook was properly formatted, and I didn’t have any trouble with it.
Did the design affect whether I bought the book?
Heck yeah, it did! As I was browsing upcoming ARCs on NetGalley, this cover caught my eye. I barely read the description before I hit “request”.
Summary
In Short
A legendary knight and cowardly historian live their intertwined lives on repeat until they can get the story just right.
From the Publisher
DELUXE EDITION―a beautiful hardcover edition featuring dark teal sprayed edges, a foil stamp on the casing, and full-page illustrations!
From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.
Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters―but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.
Centuries later, Owen Mallory―failed soldier, struggling scholar―falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives―and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.
But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend―if they want to tell a different story–they’ll have to rewrite history itself.
“Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent.” ―Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six
“An utter masterpiece… I loved every single page.” ―Rachel Gillig, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of One Dark Window
Character Analysis
The Mains
Cliche-crushers! Yes, a tale of a knight in shining armor and a time-traveling historian could have been a rote snooze fest. Harrow broke the mold with these two, though. There was so much depth of character, unexpected nuance, and hard-won development for both the female main character (FMC) and the male main character (MMC). I was particularly struck by how the author used the characters as mirrors for each other. That is, showing the main characters how the person who loves them sees them, opening their eyes to a new sense of self. Beautifully executed.
The Baddie
The villain fulfilled the trope of a tyrannical despot that you might expect in a multi-timeline tale. However, the scope of their crimes is not contained in the political sphere. This villain personally manipulates, gaslights, and controls every other character in the entire book at some point. One almost admires the sheer ambition, cunning, and tenacity that it takes to be so ruthless to so many for so long.
On the side
On another note, the side characters are colorful and interesting, and deliberate. The story is so tightly woven that nothing, it seems, is superfluous. I can’t wait to hear who your favorite is!
As was my long custom in every stressful situation, I panicked.
Writing Style
Compelling! The Everlasting’s pace is steady but not too fast. In some books, that feels like a slow start, but I was engaged from the first chapter.
POV
Written in first person as if the point of view (POV) character is speaking to the other main character (I and You), this felt fresh. I don’t know that I’ve read any other books in that format unless it’s told through letters or some other device. Other sections are told in third person as if the historian were writing the story of the knight.
World building
Foreshadowing and repetition blend to create a feeling of familiarity that one might find with a favorite fairytale or legend. Building a fantasy world on top of general notions of medieval-era Europe made the story easy to sink into without a lot of overly descriptive language or information about political systems.
Symbolism
The yew tree, being a strong symbol of death and resurrection or immortality, made it such a perfect touchstone for the story cycle. The name of the country, Dominion (meaning sovereignty or control), is also particularly on point. The symbols are there for those who are looking or who happen to have prior knowledge, but are not forced or pointed out to readers who are just there for vibes.
My whole life existed only to bear witness to yours, and God! it was worth it.
Themes
The Everlasting takes a deep look at love – familial, patriotic, friendly, romantic, and even self-love. How those relationships influence and change us. How can they be empowering or toxic? How our beliefs about love can deeply impact the choices we make and the way that we feel about ourselves.
Harrow doesn’t stop there. Heroism is also under the microscope. Ambition: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Oppressive government structures. Race and identity. And let’s not forget about history (or herstory), which is written (and adapted) by the victorious.
In the end, The Everlasting is all these things and a story about stories and how they mold and shape us as individuals, as communities, and as nations.
Critical Evaluation
There are depths to be mined in Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting. But that doesn’t mean you can’t just read it for vibes. It’s so accessible that I think you get out of it as much or as little as you want to.
There were a few points where I was sure I knew what was going to happen, and I was mostly right. But I didn’t always see where it was going, and the predictable plot points generally added the familiar feeling of a legend or fairytale, but also came at that trope with a twist.
In order to have a future worth fighting for, you must have a past worth remembering.
Personal Opinion
I rarely rate a book by stars ✨ but The Everlasting is a five-star read for me. I had all kinds of feelings and thoughts. I was so engaged with the story the whole way through.
Recommendation
Yes. Read it. Tell me what you think!
Let the fan-casting begin! Who would you cast in a film production of The Everlasting?Tell me in the comments…
Buy This Book
May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.
Happy Reading!
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