annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Secrets Ever Green is a charming and well written coming of age YA romantasy and the first book in the Everlight series by Sara Knightly. Released 1st Feb 2024, it's 269 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The characters are well defined, with an appealingly honest and stubborn orphan MC, the daughter of a renowned arborist (working with plants, trees specifically, and the magical systems of the world in which they live). Her focus has been to just qualify to continue her late father's work, but there are hidden forces drawing her along another more adventurous path. She has a loyal best friend (maybe more?), and classmates who are in awe of her father and by turns intimidated and/or jealous of her, though she's got an intractable case of imposter syndrome.
Add in a catty antagonistic "mean-girl", some weirdly mysterious unexplained occurrences, a darkly shadowy plot, and stir well. The world building is superlative and the magic system well wrought and intriguing.
Four stars. There's a second book in the series which released in June 2024. It would make a good binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.