Review: "Everless" by Sara Holland

Alchemy. Sorcery. Blood. Desire.

Okay this is a definite must read! I read this in a couple of hours on the train and I am already waiting for the next installment ... and this has only just been released!

Synopsis

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and burned to iron coins. The rich live for centuries, the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the Gerling family.

There, Julee encounters dangerous temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretch beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life forever...And possibly the future of time itself.

Overview

I absolutely loved this book. It transports you to a different world, where time is the only currency, and the rich can live on for centuries while the poor must choose between eating or giving away their dwindling hours.

The stories heroine, Jules, is superbly written. It was so easy to engage with her, and share her angers and fears as she returned to Everless.

Holland builds the story excellently, revealing snippets of Jule's history as the story develops, and allowing the readers to share in Jule's revelations. This means that the story unfolds gradually, throughout the whole book - rather than just with a few dramatic twists in the final chapters (although don't worry - there is certainly some drama!)

The characters are superbly written, and there is more to them than first appears. As Jule's learns more about those around her, so does the reader - and it quickly emerges that there is more than the good/bad brother and boy/girl romance story.

Also the premise of the story - that time is, literally, money - is fantastic. However, I found the system of blood irons confusing at first. I couldn't work out how blood money was taken, and how it detracts from what would be your 'natural' life. Although this is something that should be made clearer, it doesn't detract from the world of Sempera.

Overall:

If you want a book that is easy to read, gripping, and full of characters you can't help but support, then this is definitely worth checking out (but be prepared to get hooked and have to wait out the next installment!)

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️