This review dwells mostly on the ending, so you can assume there may be spoilers. Don't read this until after you have finished the book yourself!
I still don't know how I feel about the ending of this book and series. Father Time knew it would all work out if Everley decided to fix the break in time, even if she lost all of her experiences and memories. And it does work out in a way. The current ending also works and allows the reader to fill in the blanks of how they might all be reunited in this alternate timeline.
But to me, it still feels like she will never become the person she was without the struggles in life that she had to endure. It's nice that she still remembers most of it and can make stories out of them, and that she at least meets Jamison again naturally and we can assume they will eventually end up together. But it's unlikely that she'll ever meet Claret, Laverick, and Vevina again, whether they are still streetwalkers or not. She'll very likely never meet the giant and elven friends again, or Radella, will never learn swordfighting or how to overcome fears like trusting people or swimming with a clock heart. She won't have the same belief and faith in the deities, Mother Madrona, Eiocha, and Father Time, because she will never have to go on a journey to save the timeline, will never go through the ups and downs to develop her own faith in them. She'll never be stubborn and resistant to friendship and have to overcome those things to trust those around her. Ideally, she will be better and won't have those same trust issues because Markham never influenced her life. She will have normal life problems to deal with, which is presumably the life she was intended to have, as Father Time implied earlier. But still, it's not the same.
In fact, if Markham was erased from the timeline entirely, that's hundreds of years unaffected by his actions. Yes it would fix the world from all of his evil influence, but it would also drastically alter the entire history since before he was born, including Princess Amadara's life as a Time-Bearer and protector of the person who created Eiocha's violin and his seclusion and eventual betrayal, destruction of the Land of Youth, all kinds of influence in the Land of Promise, Land Under the Wave, Land of , and potentially all the other lands affected by his mischief and scheming. Does the resetting of the timeline mean the triad was never reunited? Everley and her cause to take down Markham never happened, so there was no reason for elves to care or interfere with humans, no exposure of humans in the Silver Clouded Plain, no common cause for them to reunite and fight together. So the Silver Clouded Plain was never unlocked, and the giants are still trapped in their own world and are not allowed to connect with the others because Everley never convinced Eiocha to forgive them and reopen their portals. The Black Forest is still untouched with sleeping warrior giants beneath. Things just go unchanged and unresolved between the peoples. At least Markham's damage eventually united all the different creatures and would lead to better worlds in the end. Maybe that's just one perspective.
It's risky to mess with time because someone will always see it another way and want something changed. I personally wouldn't have minded if Everley survived and defeated Markham but wasn't able to reset the timeline. It changed the worlds, I think for the better eventually, and they would use what they experienced as reminders for why that can't happen again. All the worlds would remember the destruction of the Land of Youth and would work hard to never let it happen again. They would appreciate the cooperation of all the creatures now that they have been reunited and can understand each other. They can share what they've learned with their peoples so they understand the intentions of the deities for why each race was given a certain world. They can appreciate their own worlds, their own purposes, and work together to improve them again, just as they were created for. It's unfortunate that none of those learned lessons will remain. Maybe in the stories Everley will write about her adventures. But that won't solve the issues among the races and worlds that existed even before Markham got involved.
I still accept the current ending and believe they all deserve a chance at the lives they were meant to have without interference. They deserve to be happy and live well. I'm just saying, the other way would have been an alternate ending and I think readers would have accepted it also. The worlds are a mess after war, but we learn to appreciate what was learned and saved, and rebuild to be even better and avoid those terrible mistakes again. I would have accepted either ending. I don't hate the current one, I just had to get my thoughts out there about why leaving the timeline as it was could have still worked. I still enjoyed this adventurous series though!
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**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.**Title Everafter Song (The Evermore Chronicles #3)Author Emily R. KingRelease Date December 10, 2019DescriptionThere’s a price on Everley Donovan’s head. Fleeing from the queen’s false accusation of murder and sorcery, the girl with the clock heart knows there’s only one way to prove her innocence. Everley must catch Killian Markham, the fugitive prince guilty of the crimes for which she’s been condemned. To do that, Everley must follow him into the towering realm of the Silver-Clouded Plain. It’s where flesh-eating Behemoths thrive, long-lost gods hide, and an artifact of destructive force awaits the death grip of the immortal prince.Haunted by visions of burning Everwoods and bloody battlefields, Everley’s fears are rising. Because the elusive relic threatens more than the very power that drives her clock heart. In Killian’s hands, it can lead to the dismantling of the seven worlds. With everything—and everyone—Everley loves at stake, she must depend on Killian’s one weakness to outwit him: in his mad ambitions, Killian has underestimated her once again. For Everley is the Time Bearer. This is her destiny. The time of reckoning is at hand.Initial ThoughtsThe first book in this series was totally a cover/bookstagram influenced purchase. It was so beautiful and it turns out, it’s also an amazing book. I loved the first book and then was given an ARC of the second book, Into the Hourglass and devoured that too. I was so excited when I received an ARC of this book and I’m so happy to help promote such a wonderful series.Some Things I LikedThoughtful world building and unique settings. I love the world Emily R. King has created and throughout this series, she has taken the reader to such rich and amazing places. Everafter Song is no exception. I loved the Land of Promise as well as the time Everley, Jamison and the gang spent at his family home.Loose ends tied up. I loved that everything came full circle in an way that felt complete. I hate loose ends and I love that this series, while leaving some details up to the imagination of the reader, also gives closure to many open questions.Thought-provoking questions. Most of this series is driven by Everley’s vendetta against the man who murdered her family. There are moments where is is asked to decide between her revenge and something else. I really enjoyed watching Everley’s character grow as she learned what is really important to her. Everafter Song in particular prompts questions of morality (what should they do with Killian) as well as risk vs. reward of a quest for revenge.The ending. I loved it. I cried and it was everything I hoped it would be and more.Series ValueI would love to read more from this series. I loved the characters and the various realms were so masterfully crafted. I’d love novellas or even more full length novels about my favorites. I think this world and this series have so much to offer.Final ThoughtsThis conclusion was everything I wanted. It was the perfect end to a series that I am so glad I stumbled upon on Instagram.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Recommendations for Further ReadingDaughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller – although Before the Broken Star is not a tale of pirates, a large portion of it takes place on the sea and travelling. Also, Alosa and Riden remind me so much of Everley and Jamison.Everless and Evermore by Sara Holland – I think these books are similar to Before the Broken Star because of the time element. Everley constantly worries about living on borrowed time and not knowing when her time will run out. The setting of Everless has an interesting take on life, immortality, and the idea of borrowed time.Dark Breaks the Dawn and Bright Burns the Night by Sara B. Larson – this is another story with an interesting concept of time. Also, there are strong parallels between the plot through elements such as romance, curses, and family legacies.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019
Everafter Song is a powerful conclusion to an amazing saga of courage and conviction, so, so good!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2019
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A wildman
You will only be beneath another if they convince you that’s where you belong.”
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2020Customers who bought this item also bought
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