Review of 'The Everlasting'

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Scholar Owen Mallory has been fascinated with the story of Sir Una Everlasting. When he receives a copy of a book that is not supposed to exist - “The Death of Una Everlasting” - He is beside himself, knowing that researching it will be the highlight of his career. The book disappears from his desk, replaced with a card containing an address - The capitol building where he meets Minister Rolfe who presents him with the same book…but with blank pages. Rolfe requests he complete the book himself then is mysteriously transported back in time to where Una Everlasting was still alive. Owen ends up meeting his hero, following her around in her last days before she is murdered. Back in the current day things have slightly changed when scholar Owen Mallory receives a copy of a book that is not supposed to exist - “The Death of Una Everlasting”…As he loops back in time again, and again, he begins to view Una less as the legendary hero of the Dominion and more like a human being, developing an attraction that goes well beyond simple adoration. There seems to be no way out of the situation…but maybe, just maybe…

A somewhat confusing novel that demands a bit of attention on the part of the reader but this is rewarded in an interesting story and relatable, though often bloodthirsty, characters. There is a bit of the sense of inevitability about certain plot points that when they eventually do come to pass are thwarted by the relentless repetitiveness of the time loop Owen finds himself in. The magic is fairly low key baring the obvious time-travel parts of it and, well, an immortal antagonist who will stop at nothing to further their ambition as once and future ruler of the world. It does take some time to understand how the world works and, importantly, it's history which plays a keep part in the story.

The story is largely told from the perspective of Owen as we learn of his obsession with Una while Una herself is a sad, old warrior who is tired of life but determined to fulfil her honour. It gets quite repetitive and drags in parts, particularly the middle where we seem to go over the same ground again and again (literally and figuratively), but the finale certainly makes up for it with an imaginative, if slightly melancholic, resolution to a seemingly impossible problem.

A mind-bending fantasy that requires the reader think a fair amount but is interesting nonetheless with a satisfactory conclusion.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2026-08-02

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tor

Publication Date: 2025

ISBN: 9781250799104