The final book in this series, and I’m actually glad to get to the end of it. This series hasn’t been so unlikable that I couldn’t finish, but it wasn’t to my taste either. I hope maybe this book might be able to round it off nicely.

Read: Jun. 25 – Jun. 28, 2025

Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural; Romance
Audience: Teen, Young Adult
Book contains: violence, death, mortality/immortality, spiritualism, attempted murder

Purchase a copy from Indigo.ca

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Glad It’s Over

Ever Bloom faces a new mystery in the form of an old woman rising to meet her at the swamp of the Shadowland. The old woman brings prophecies and claims that only Ever can redeem her and save them all. Will she rise to the challenge, or listen to Damen and ignore the summons?

I’m of the opinion that the character of Ever did not progress at the reasonable pace. Her personality was quite stagnant for the first three books before overcoming a drastic change at the end of book four, then becoming so “enlightened” and spiritual in this last book—it fell flat for me. Sure, the message of physical immortality being a false form of living forever is a good one, but delivered by such an unlikable character, I feel more inclined to rebel against that notion. That is what this book (and series as a whole) amounted to me.

Ever, of course, is our main character, and the story follows her exclusively in a first-person present tense perspective. Because of this, there is no guarantee that she shall survive past the end of the book, which allows the author to make ample use of her close calls. However, this is hindered by the multiple escapes from death Ever has made already, taking the suspense out of it.

I read this book the old-fashioned way, sitting outside in the shade as the hot weather has come back.

Miles continues to be my favourite character in this series, mainly because he is the most mature and down-to-earth of all the characters. He has powerful emotional moments, sure, but he has the best interpretation of immortality, the most solid view of himself and what he wants in life, and more. Paul Munoz is similar in that way and is thus my second favourite character. I still find Ever unlikable, even though she’s finally doing something purely good rather than selfish for the plot (which I can see as character growth, but too late in the series). Damen is even more unlikable as, though he had ample time to become better as a person, he remains as egotistical and selfish as ever, believing himself to be right and everyone who disagrees with him wrong. (I could go on about him, but I’ll leave it at that.)

I say once again that the relationship between Ever and Damen isn’t the greatest. I’m not a fan of the concept of soulmates in general, for one thing. For another, I don’t actually see any genuine love between them. There is infatuation between them, sure, but the drawn-out curse holding them in suspense of “fulfilling” their relationship through sex feels like the only thing holding them back from getting bored with each other. Like, once they take that final step, there’s actually no substance behind the relationship. There is no understanding, no compromise between them, and Damen, being six hundred years old, shows a lot of his worldly experience by how he thinks that Ever can offer no new ideas or perspectives. He’s already taken the next steps of everything she suggests and deems it inconsequential. This is a very toxic mindset, and he doesn’t even really overcome it as a character flaw. In the end, he only agrees with her as a pacifying gesture because she gives him an ultimatum.

The writing was decent. Average like the others. I can see the amount of research that was put into the writing of the rituals and magical elements of the story, but the messaging and character portrayals were still a bit too sloppy for my tastes. It wasn’t anything profound or deep beyond the surface message of immortality being a crutch at best and genuine evil at worst.

The pacing, as well, was decent, as Ever first faced the argument of whether to trust the old woman or not, then spent time negotiating with Damen, who continuously is trying to get his way without compromise. Finally, Ever carves out an agreement with Damen and makes the journey that the old woman is sending her on. This journey (and the next) is action-packed enough to hold the reader’s attention.

Though I did not enjoy this series much myself, I’m sure it’ll rank highly among lovers of ritualistic magical fantasy or of soulmate romance fiction.

Related Reviews:

The Immortals Book 1: Evermore by Alyson Noël
The Immortals Book 2: Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
The Immortals Book 3: Shadowland by Alyson Noël
The Immortals Book 4: Dark Flame by Alyson Noël
The Immortals Book 5: Night Star by Alyson Noël
The Immortals Book 6: Everlasting by Alyson Noël
The Twilight Saga Book 1: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The Mortal Instruments Book 1: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
*Dawned by Michelle Areaux*
*The Other Side of Daylight by Nicole Chartier*