Everless by Sara Holland – a Review

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Description:
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.

Review:

Everless by Sara Holland is her debut novel, and I am happy to say it was slam bang of a beginning.  Everless is a fantasy novel, with a different world building that I have never encountered before.  It is a world where time is currency, and people can pay from their life time (years) in blood for money.  In the kingdom of Sempera, the rich Gerlings and the Queen have the most time, which allows them to live indefinitely.  Their servants are paid through coins of life, and any punishment is loss of time through bleed outs. 

Jules Ember, our heroine, used to live in Everless with her father years before.  10 years later, with her father close to dying, Jules is forced to return to Everless as a servant to help her father.  She has not forgotten her friendship with her childhood crush on Roan Gerling, the now Prince, as well as his brother, Liam, whom she hates for having driven her father from Everless.

Once Jules begins to work on the estate, where she will meet new friends, and discover many secrets.  Jules will come face to face with both Roan, who is betrothed to the future Queen; and  Liam, who recognizes Jules right away, and despite his attempts to make her leave Everless, and stay away from those above her, she continues to try and find out the truth about her childhood past.  Jules has always had nightmares, and also hides that she is able to stop time for a short period; something which she has no idea why, but knows she needs to keep this a secret.

Jules was an amazing heroine, and as she learns more and more about herself and her magic, she becomes stronger, but also finds her life in danger.  Rather than tell too much more would become spoilers.  There are so many twists and turns, with a few surprises that were totally unexpected. Who could Jules really trust? Who was real and who was the evil betrayer?  I have to say towards the end, I was a bit shocked as we raced to the finish, and had me breathless with each mind blowing reveal.

Everless is an exciting & different fantasy story line, which had a great heroine, and some excellent secondary characters.   Sara Holland has done a fantastic job writing this story, especially being her first novel.  I am not a fan of cliffhangers, but this one was a doozy.  Well done, Sara Holland, for your super start in what I imagine will be a great career.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher