ARC Review: The Ever After by Amanda Hocking

My Review:

The Suns set in the green sky when the good morning becomes the violent night.

In The Ever After, Ulla, Pan, Dagny, and Elof have returned after being held captive, and none can remember their month of captivity. As Ulla and her friends try to regain their memories, they continue to uncover a plot that involves her parents, a mythical city, a mysterious and dangerous secret society, and mythological children’s stories. Ulla’s journey is long, complex, and dangerous, and the consequences of failing are severe. The Ever After is the most action-packed and exciting of the trilogy, and the unexpected twists left me shocked, devastated, and delighted.

I know I said it in my last review, but Hocking’s skill in creating vivid and immersive worlds bears repeating. The Omte Origins is a complex story with many layers, and Hocking weaves the story together as seamlessly and masterfully as she does the rest of the Trylle world. The characters, mythology, literature, languages, culture, and more are all dynamically developed and fascinating. I continue to be amazed at Hocking’s storytelling ability.

I loved the slow-building romance between Ulla and Pan. Their relationship is strong and deep, built on friendship, respect, trust, and admiration. Plus, they have great chemistry. I loved watching their connection grow throughout the first two books, and Hocking takes it to the next level in this one.

I also adored the protagonist, Ulla. Ulla is not a warrior. She’s not beautiful. She’s a little chubby, and she is the epitome of a hero. She is searching for herself, for a sense of where she came from and what happened to her and her family, but she finds out so much more than that. Ulla discovers things that can shake the foundation of the Trylle world. I love her determination, strength, perseverance, loyalty, and kindness. People gravitate to her because she is a good person and a true friend. She’s also the reason some of my favorite characters from Trylle and Kanin Chronicles (the first and second series in the Trylle world) make an appearance in this series.

You don’t need to read Trylle and Kanin Chronicles, but if you did, it’s fascinating to see how all of the characters and stories connect and merge in this epic conclusion. Wendy, Loki, Finn, Brynne, Tove, and so many other beloved characters return to help Ulla, Pan, and their friends in their quest. It is awesome and heartbreaking, and I didn’t want the story to end.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• Ulla. She is a fantastic protagonist, and I loved her story.

• The romance, of course. It was a slow-building, lovely, and supportive romance that I adored.

• The Trylle world. It’s so immersive and vivid.

Favorite Lines:

You’re going through something, and no doubt the journey is treacherous at times. But you must remember that you are not alone, and you still get to decide where this journey ends.

My love, you must remember – only together can we slay the monsters that chase us.

For the first time, I wondered if all of this was worth it. If maybe it would be better to give up my hunt for the past so I could actually have a present.

Recommendations:

This is a great story for readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with fantastic characters and epic world-building. It is the third book in the series, and I recommend reading the first two before you read this one. Check out my reviews below!!