Book Review: Everless; Sara Holland.

I finally got round to reading for this book, inspired by my friend in New Zealand begging me to get to it ASAP. It has been a little while since I've read a book like this, especially purely based on a friend's recommendation, so that was kind of fun!

SOURCE: Gift/NetGalley
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Everless
AUTHOR: Sara Holland
SERIES: Everless (#1)
PUBLISHER: Hatchette Children's Group
PAGES: 368
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
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.

What I Liked:

• The concepts in this book are really cool - especially the idea of time being a form of currency and the class war that creates! The book almost posed itself as a Dystopian, and yet it was actually much more fantastical with it's own folklore, magic and myth. It felt very fresh as a result.
• I liked the finale of this book! It was certainly very intense, with plenty of twists and turns, and I liked that the author didn't hold back on the shock factor either. I'm still invested in the series as a result!

What I Disliked:

• The plot felt a bit disorganised at times. There was so much build with an absolute ton of sub-plots that didn't really contribute to the end, nor did they really add a whole lot? Up until the final chapters, it all felt a bit messy and it wasn't helped by the fact that there was just a bit too much exposition and over-explaining.
• Jules, the MC, was a little lacklustre for me. She didn't have a whole lot of personality and that was a bit of a problem for me as it meant that I didn't really feel invested in her, nor did I feel convinced by the relationships she built with the characters around her.

Overall Conclusion:

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It's definitely my cup of tea world-building wise as there were so many original elements and fresh takes on beloved fantasy tropes. I particularly liked the time-blood stuff! Super cool! I just wish that the story had been a bit better organised and that I'd liked the MC a bit more. I'm still invested in the series after such a dramatic finale though, and hopefully there won't be so much exposition next book!