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Are you thinking about reading Evermore by Jody Hedlund? If you enjoy medieval series, you may just find that this is the story type for you.
However, it is not for everyone, so checking out what we think before you buy could save you a few dollars.
This book falls into the Christian Young Adult Historical genre, so it comes with quite a niche market, but there are plenty of readers who fit perfectly into this category.
The book is available in paperback or as an e-book and is only 222 pages long, the ideal length for this genre and category.
It is the first in the series ‘The Lost Princess’ and comes just after the prequel novella, which was only released shortly before this (the first in the series).
Not quite sure if this book is for you? No worries, we have put together this review to make sure that if you decide to pick it up, you are happy!
Evermore is a story about Adelaide, who is one of the Lost Princesses of Mercia, and she is the true heir to the throne.
It is important that before you read this book, you read Always. Always is the prequel to Evermore and helps to set up the story, explaining why the Princesses of Mercia are lost.
When the only mother she can remember dies, she learns that her true identity is Princess Constance and that her true place is as the heir to the throne of Mercia.
As she embraces her destiny, her cousins Christopher and Mitchell vow to help her, and she embarks on a mission to find her twin sisters.
Adelaide is a strong woman, especially in the time in which this is set, but her heart is soft, and as she comes to terms with the very unexpected fate she has found, she turns to God for wisdom and a combination of her compassion and faith draws people around her to follow her.
As a reader, it may take you a while to get used to the set-up of the story; however, reading Always beforehand can help. While many are not so keen on the set-up of Adelaide with Christopher, do stick with it as he does get more charming.
It can be quite a gripping tale (even if you are not the biggest fan of the romance inside the pages, it can still keep you invested as it is an adventure story.
It is also a novel that is teen-appropriate, as it is Young Adult fiction, and can get teens invested in the romance and adventure of Christian historical fiction works (If you like Christian fiction and Romance, you might also like Smoke Screen By Terri Blackstock. Check out this book review on it!).
This book is the first in the series and has been preceded by only one novella that will help you to better understand the story as it commences in Evermore.
While it may seem like tedium for some to pick up the novella prior, it is well worth it for the deepening of the plot.
Most of us will pick up and read the blurb of a book before we buy, to save you the trouble of hunting around online for this, we have provided it for you here:
“An Ancient Key. A secret treasure. And a princess destined to use them both to fight evil and restore peace”
“Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she is one of the lost princesses, and is the true heir to the throne of Mercia.
Until a visitor arrives at the families’ estate, revealing her birthright as the queen and thrusting her into a quest for the throne, be she ready for it or not.”
“Unable to tolerate King Ethelwulf’s cruelty and lawlessness, Christopher Langley left Mercia years ago, training a rebel ground in Norland. When he returns home, hence his mother’s death, he finds out that Adelaide is grown, but also that she is the true queen of Mercia.”
“However, when King Ethelwulf discovers Adelaide’s location, he is sure to stop at nothing to capture her and the key to the ancient treasures.
Christopher is as determined to protect Adelaide, though, so that she can lead the ever-growing rebellion. Yet, when feelings spark between these old friends, forces begin to threaten their love and tear them apart forever.”
From the start, it is not difficult to be intrigued by the characters that Hedlund has created, especially our powerful heroine, Adelaide. The opening scene has her masquerading as a man (her cousin) in a joust.
Not long after, she finds out her true royal identity and ventures on a quest to restore peace to her kingdom, currently being ruled over by Ethelwulf, an evil King.
After this, the plot moves rather quickly, and it can really keep you hooked, fast-paced and intriguing, making you wonder what will happen next.
We love how Adelaide is a very strong-spirited heroine, with her strength coming not just from her noble character but from her persona displayed right at the start. Compassion for their subjects and her faith are also very endearing in our leading lady.
However, she still feels human and real with her struggles in imagining herself as a queen. Her character does grow, and we see that she sees a great deal of character development as she finally comes to accept who she is.
The strong moves well, not too fast but not too slow, well crafted supporting male characters that prove to be worth Adelaide’s affections, and with continuing character development even in these supporting characters.
However, the story does seem to be rife with romance and personal struggle, but there is also plenty of action and adventure within the pages as well, as the trio and growing rebellion need to battle the elitist knights of the King to progress in their journey.
There is plentiful angst between Christopher and Adelaide as well, however, so if you are seeking an intense romance between characters in your next read, this one may just tick that box.
There are moments worthy of a good eye-roll, but also plenty of romance to have you swooning as well.
This tale is also jam-packed with historical details, from body armour description to antiquated words that will have you looking back to find out how the people of these times spoke and the uniqueness of their dialect.
Not only does it take you into a medieval political drama, but it fills you with romance and adventure whilst also giving you a history lesson too!
Evermore can easily be found online and is available on Amazon as a Kindle or as a paperback. It has an impressive 211 ratings on Amazon and is rated at 4.7 out of 5 stars. Here are some things some readers on Amazon said in their reviews:
“I don’t know where to begin. The prequel to the series and this first book are AMAZING. I can’t wait to read the next two. Read them. Just one-click now and read them. Seriously. You won’t regret it” – ABenn, 5-Stars
“I could not put this book down. Love this author. I’m looking forward to reading her complete series. Action, love, and wisdom” – Annette Hudson, 5-Stars.
“I borrowed this because my Kindle Unlimited is still good until the end of the month. It was a good adventure story with interesting characters.
I don’t think they were as developed as I would usually want, but this is a young-adult book. I’m reading this as an adult, and there’s a lot that fell short to me.” English Lady, 3-Stars.
“Contrary to the lovely picture on the cover, I HATED the way it ended. I know things don’t always work out in real life, but when I read a novel, I want a good ending. This one was horrible.” – Amazon customer, 1-Star.
Before you pick up this book, or let the reviews influence your purchase too much, remember that every story will not fit every person, and so, while someone else may not like its ending, or the clichés, it might be perfect for you!
Speaking of whom this book is for…
The book is a young adult (If you like Young Adult Fiction Books, check out the works of Kiera Cass and how to read them) novel, so it does suit teens and young persons, however, it is suitable for adult reading as well. But, do not expect it to be mature in content or deepen in adult concepts, the focus is the adventure and the story.
The story is a gripping Christian Young Adult Historical fiction novel (If you like Young Adult Fiction Books, check out the works of Tahereh Mafis and how to read them and Norwegian Wood by Murakami), from the perspective of a young girl who has to find herself after having her true identity revealed. It is a riveting novel and the first in a series that is well worth reading by Jody Hedlund.
