by Sara Holland
Series: Everless #1
Published on January 2, 2018 by HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 362
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.
No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.
But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.
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When I first heard about Sara Holland’s Everless, I couldn’t help but think about that horrible Justin Timberlake movie from a few years ago. The concept of time as currency is SO COOL- that movie was so not. So I really, really, really hoped that Everless would be the everything that I’d hoped from from the JT-film debacle.
Everless was everything I wanted AND MORE. This book was shockingly good. I absolutely couldn’t stop reading, I just needed to know what would happen next all the way to the last page. And now I still need to know what happens next, but unfortunately I ran out of book.
This book did not feel like a debut to me. The writing felt seasoned, the pacing was excellent, and Holland has created a unique world with a darkly romantic feel to it. I loved how twisty the story was. And yes, some of the twists were predictable, but others weren’t, so it evened out and the story never felt boring or derivative.
The characters were to die for. Jules is an excellent lead, she really holds the story on her own. A few times her decisions felt a bit infuriating, but overall I really liked where her character went along with the story. The side characters for the most part were well-developed and fleshed out. The romance was definitely lackluster for me, I felt like it was a bit forced and somewhat out of character for Jules. The friendships were really good though. And Holland did a fantastic job of making me question where everyone’s loyalty lay up until the very end, which added to the fun of reading.
Everless is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s perfect for fans of Caraval or A Shadow Bright and Burning. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the sequel goes, and I can see myself diving back into Everless in the meantime.
About Katie
I'm a twenty-something aspiring writer who really, really needs to get back to revisions. I've been reviewing books since 2014, and am determined to somehow make stories my day job. I truly think that every book out there contains something good and is meant for somebody.
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