Ever (Enchanted #4)

I liked the concept of the story, but I didn't enjoy the writing style and stopped reading after the first couple of chapters.

Reader reviewed by Emily H.

I liked the concept of the story, but I didn't enjoy the writing style and stopped reading after the first couple of chapters. I find that if I can't get past the writing style, no matter how engaging the characters, I won't enjoy the book. 

Reader reviewed by Lexie

First for anyone looking for another book set in the same universe as Ella Enchanted, Fairest or the Princess Tales
collection should look away now. This is a stand alone book with no
ties to any other book she has written. Which is both in its favor and
against it I think.

And yes my main gripe about it during the
Read-a-thon was the fact the girl on the cover is depicted as brunette
with blue eyes (never happens...no wait Sarah MacLean's cover for The Season
has a brunette with blue eyes, also named Alexandra and that's how she
is in the book!) I enjoyed the book well enough. I think if it hadn't
been back and forth with the view points I would have liked it better.
We have the story from two POV's, Kezi and Olus. While this helps give
us better understanding of their two different cultures, it also
brought me out of the moment while reading.

Of the two sides I
think that Kezi's is the more developed. We definitely learn more about
her people's culture, but mostly we learn about the differences in
their religions (or the religion that follows Olus) and how blind faith
can be. I found those discussions interesting since on the one hand
Olus is a God--he has powers far beyond mortal means, is immortal and
is worshipped. On the other, as Kezi points out, none of his fellow
Gods are omnipotent or all-seeing. They are also subject to Fate, just
like mortals as well. Kezi's God however is said to be omnipotent and
none can thwart his will. I found it interesting at the end the task
that Kezi takes upon herself after all is said and done.

In
the end I enjoyed the book, but would have liked it better if it had
been from either one first person POV or a third person POV. The back
and forth distracted me quite a bit.

(Reprinted with permission from the author)

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Olus, god of winds, youngest god in the kingdom of Akka, is lonely. He finds himself often watching the mortals and wishing to find a friend. This desire brings him to the far-away city of Hyte, where he is employed as a goatherd in the palace official Senats land. However, he finds himself using his winds to watch the sheep, instead spending most of his time observing Senats family, especially his teenage daughter, the weaver and dancer Kezi.

For Kezi, things are looking down. First her mati is deathly sick, then her padu offers a human sacrifice to the almight god, Admat (whom Olus has never heard of). To everyones horror, Kezi is that sacrifice. In thirty days, she must submit herself to Admats temple to be sacrificed to the god, or else he will avenge her family and her descendants forever.

Olus is desperately determined to save the life of the girl he has grown to love. He whisks her off to his home country of Akka, where they declare their love for each other and undergo challenges to prove themselves, he as a champion, and she as a heroine. For only if they pass their tests may Kezi have a chance to be immortal and thus save her life. The stakes are high, and the chances of success slim, but Olus and Kezis love for one another will hopefully churn out a happy ending.

While far from being her strongest book, EVER is nevertheless an enjoyable light fantasy read. Elementary school or middle school kids in particular may be attracted to Kezi and Olus story as one of the power of love to triumph over fate itself.