Everless by Sara Holland

Everless (Everless, #1)

by Sara Holland

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 TAX THE POOR TO THE HILT, EXTENDING THEIR OWN LIVES BY CENTURIES.

And 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.

Reviewed by shannonmiz on

3 of 5 stars

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You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

3.5*

The premise for this book is kind of incredible, no? Time as currency, and gleaned from blood. Certainly unique, and absolutely what made me want to read this book. And it wasn't bad. It also didn't wholly blow me away, either.

While the world and premise were fabulous, I think I needed to know a bit more about its origins. I do hold out hope for more information from the sequel, so I can't fault it too much for that. I loved the concept of trading actual time from your life as a source of payment. Now, I don't mean I love it as in "let's do that here too!" but the idea of it in a story. I feel like it relates a lot to our society, where the rich literally get to live longer because they have the means for health care and such. I could go on, but this is a mini-review, not a political debate.

Jules was a fine character. I liked her, I definitely felt for her. She went through a lot in the book, and it seemed like she'd never get a break at times. The world felt as depressing as it was certainly supposed to, which I appreciated. The author did a great job of translating the townspeople's misery onto the page.

What I didn't like about it was mostly just that the plot felt a bit predictable to me. And even then, I wasn't totally convinced of why Jules decided to fight this fight. I did guess some of the bigger plot points in advance, which always makes me sad. Still, it was unique enough to hold my interest.

Will I Read the Sequel? Yeah. I was so intrigued by the world, I am kind of needing to know more about it.

Bottom Line: While I loved the concept, the execution was slightly predictable. Still, it was worth reading for me.

**Copy provided for review

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 November, 2017: Finished reading
  • 28 November, 2017: Reviewed