Title: Everly
Author: Meg Bonney
Publisher: Pandamoon
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Pages: 343
Book Source: ARC
Madison Rosewood on her 18th birthday is about to graduate and head off toward a big, bright future that any kid would kill for: a full ride on a track scholarship, the world’s greatest best friend, and an aunt that has always provided for her. The problem? Madison just wants to find her birth parents, even if it costs her all of the above.
When her Aunt Ruth is kidnapped and taken to a hidden world called Everly, all of Madison’s plans are put on hold. Guided by a mysterious stranger, Madison and her best friend follow Aunt Ruth’s kidnappers through a portal into Everly. Traveling through fairy lit caverns and towering oak tree forests Madison quickly realizes that behind Everly’s beauty is a world of magic, violence, and shocking truths about her family.
There, armed only with an enchanted sword and a sharp tongue, she battles her way past deceptive witches and bounty hunters to attempt a dangerous rescue that changes both her and Everly’s future forever.
My Review:
What a fantastic beginning to a new YA Fantasy series! Meg Bonney does a wonderful job at creating complex characters. Even though some of the characters only have a brief part in the book, they are still very well fleshed out. The banter and pop culture references between Madison and her best friend, Jason, were some of my favorite parts of this book.
The themes in this book; not really knowing who you are, knowing who you can trust, and realizing the power you have, are problems that teens (and adults) will be able to easily relate to.
The fantasy world the Bonney created was also done very well. Her descriptions of other species and the surrounding lands, are easily visualized. Sometimes authors can be overly descriptive, and I find myself skimming, but Bonney had just the right amount of description.
If you enjoy fantasy with a strong female lead, a bit of romance, and lots of adventure, then you will definitely want to read this one. And I’m really looking forward to, Rosewood Burning, the next book in this series.