The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Blurb:

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.

Review:

“It begins where it ends: beneath the yew tree.”

Alix E. Harrow has created a legend, and a story that lives on past its pages. 

Alix has become an auto-buy author for me over the years, her stunning prose and ability to tweak that which is known into something new is absolutely masterful. I wasn’t going to request this early because I KNEW I was going to buy it.  But I changed my mind, and I’m so glad I requested the arc, I highlighted to my heart’s content (loads) and I get to tell you all how fabulous this is!

When I finished, I was broken into pieces what could I possibly read after this???
**Grabs Once and Future Witches by this same author**

“You already know the name of that sword, I think; who doesn’t?”

Right from the start I felt the familiar beats of an Arthurian Legend retelling, which this is not.  But with the same format, the comfort of a sword and a champion, a grail and a legend, you can feel the grandness of the story from the beginning. (Did I mention dragons? I should mention the dragon!!)

The stunning prose immediately reminded me of One Dark Window.  I highlighted so much in this book, I am, and have always been a “forest fantasy” reader.  I feel like the mention of the Yew tree and the analogies of sap made my heart immensely happy. 

“In order to have a future worth fighting for, you must have a past worth remembering.”

We have two main characters, Una Everlasting and Owen Mallory (Mallory totally calling back to Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory!). 

Owen Mallory – a bookish scholar who has followed the legend of Una all his life, with his regular exposure to the myth as a child and his educational background, he dedicates his life to studying her legend and uncovering WHO she really is. He is relatable and cautious until he isn’t. 

Una Everlasting – my sweet reluctant knight. Her story is told as propaganda for ages beyond her life, making her whatever was needed in each historical crisis. She feels that she is only a knife but you can feel her vulnerability as it radiates off the page (she’s entirely Brienne of Tarth coded, and I adored that).

I will not name the villain here for you, but I must say, it was impeccably done. The politicking was top notch, and the exploration of power and propaganda felt relevant to both the story and modern times.  

“You know that history is mostly happenstance. Accidents piled on top of mistakes, a series of dice rolled in dim rooms by careless hands. It is not a lesson, until we learn it. It is not a story, until we tell it.”

The characters were so achingly relatable and vulnerable, the writing really excelled at showing not telling. I loved the soft subversion of the usual “he’s the knight” and “she’s the scholar.”  The subversion is intentional and allows the author to explore gender and the roles each have been assigned in more (beautiful) context. The POV which had me SCREAMING, it was so heart wrenching. 

The book is able to touch on so many topics and doesn’t lose its humor while it does! The writing is witty and fun, and the jokes often made me smile. At the same time, I felt so many emotions reading this, I was heartbroken more than once!

What I liked best were the little refrains the author tucked into the story. Like listening to the familiar track of a musical, the below echoed throughout the story:

“Love makes cowards of us all.”

‘Who is free, who loves another?’

It’s a love story, but maybe not the one you expect. It’s a tale of acceptance and growth, but it’s also the tale of wanting and loss.  The yearning is TOP TEIR, there are a few intimate scenes, though I would not consider it a spicy book!

“You wanted a grand story, a fitting end to your book. And I wanted . . . to be what you wanted.” 

This will be one of my favorite reads of the year, and I am certain I will think about it for years to come! 

Thank you so much to Tor Publishing Group for the egalley of this book! What a masterpiece. The Everlasting is out October 28th, I know I’ll be getting a copy!

“I could deny my destiny, and even my queen. I could never deny you.”

Would I reread? Absolutely yes! I would love to see some of these twists coming, the whole thing is so expertly plotted that I was reeling several times!

Would I recommend? 100%!   This book would be great for all Arthurian fans, also great for anyone looking for a book where you can feel the love before the characters know that they feel it too! Also, I would recommend it to epic fantasy readers.  It feels timeless and majestic. 

Recommended for Fans of One Dark Window, Morgan is my Name, and fans of Time Travel plots!