Ever by Gail Carson Levine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved how short this book was, honestly forgot how short it was too. This was yet another childhood fave that I’m rereading because I wanted to write a full review for it. Basically Gail Carson Levine just dominated my entire childhood. It was completely hers and I’m so blessed to have been able to get some of my faves (sadly not including this one) signed last year by her.
Anyway, I will never get over this book. I forgot that the world and mythology of this story was all completely original, as are the majority of her books. But my goodness, I forgot just how well done and well established and explored the religion and mythology was in this book!
I also loved how while we had one pantheon securely proven in the book, Kezi and her families beliefs were questioned the entire novel, and for this to not even be 300 pages - that is so well done. I think this is certainly a book all young girls should read (again - most of Levine’s books should be) and I remember why this book so easily became a favorite when I was like eight years old.
I love the creepy and unsettling trials that Kezi and Olus had to go through, and though it had been over a decade since I even looked at this beautiful book, I remembered there was something frightening about it. For it to still be unsettling today is a feat. And I stand by what I’ve said for my other recent reviews of Gail Carson Levine’s books, they stand the test of time. You can be just learning to read, in your teen years, in your twenties (like I am), fifty, even 100 years old, and find something you enjoy in her books.
I also realize as I’m typing this in my notes app on my phone, that a large part of my love for this novel is likely due to also being terrified of small spaces like Olus is for a majority of the book, and constantly questioning religion as an agnostic Jewish raised woman. So I thank Gail Carson Levine for her imagination, without which I don’t know where I’d be today.