Review: Everless by Sara Holland

Everless

Sara Holland

(Everless #1)

Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Hardcover, 362 pages, HarperTeen

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

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.

My Review

Everless is a YA fantasy centered around blood being the ultimate currency and what happens to the poor when the wealthy hoard it. There's also a bit of magic and mystery to the story as well. Honestly, this book reads a lot like a young adult fairytale retelling, even though it isn't one.

The main character of Everless, Jules, is, unfortunately, not super special in terms of personality, though she does have a secret ability. Jules mostly comes across as an average young adult fantasy female protagonist. Despite this, the story was fun to read and quick to fly through.

As for the other characters, there weren't very many that actually stood out. I did enjoy the love interest switch, though I wanted more from both boys in terms of personality, just like Jules. The side characters were soft and charming, and Jules' father and her friends were nice. They simply weren't as involved in the story as they could have been. I think all of these character issues could have been solved with another 100 pages added to the book to really delve into who these fictional people are.

Continuing on the idea that there needed to be more pages was the plot of the book. Sometimes it felt like a fever dream and wasn't explained very well. (More pages would've helped flush things out.) Also, the "ending twist" was predictable, but I did like the cliffhanger. I may or may not pick up book two. It just depends on when/if I get around to buying a copy.

Overall, it's an intriguing world that could have been a lot darker if the author had explained things in depth or slowed things down a lot more to make the story truly devious and fascinating. After all, a world built on blood currency is rather grim.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.