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Allie Munroe has only ever wanted to belong, maybe even be well liked. But even though she’s nice and smart and has a couple of friends, she’s still pretty much the invisible girl at school. So when the chance to work with her friends and some of the popular kids on an English project comes up, Allie jumps at the chance to be noticed. And her plan would have worked out just fine…if they hadn’t been sucked into a magical realm through a dusty old book of fairy tales in the middle of the library. Now, Allie and her classmates are stuck in Nerissette, a world where karma rules and your social status is determined by what you deserve. Which makes a misfit like Allie the Crown Princess, and her archrival the scullery maid. And the only way out is for Allie to rally and lead the people of Nerissette against the evil forces that threaten their very existence.

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2013

6 people are currently reading
750 people want to read

About the author

Andria Buchanan

3 books82 followers
Trapped for years around adults who thought they knew everything, Andria Buchanan started writing to keep herself sane and out of jail. Now, instead of fighting traffic and dealing with staff meetings Andria prefers to spend her days hanging out by the pool in a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, typing away at stories about young women who are completely capable of kicking butt, saving themselves, and rescuing a cute prince in need of kissing all without chipping their nail polish and still getting their math homework done.

When she's not working she's either on Twitter @AndriaBuchanan or chasing down one of her two dogs (aka The Not So Wonder Twins) who believe it's their life's mission to eat all her left socks.

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
718 reviews51 followers
November 26, 2014
For the full review, head to so long and thanks for all the fish

First, and most importantly, ignore the first paragraph of the synopsis. Allie is not like that at all! Ordinarily a blurb like that would be enough to turn me away from a book, but it was the second paragraph that really drew me in. And I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! (And also that the publisher granted my request of course!)

The world building is awesome! It's clear the author has a very detailed plan of how the world is set up. I would have loved to see even more revealed in this book, because a lot of it is quickly explained, but not really in an in-depth manner. But then I'm a fiend for world building and not spending more time with the descriptions kept up the fast pace. Really it was very well done, and I'm looking forward to what else she fleshes out in the world building as the series progresses.

I also love that her best friends are real. Allie and her two best friends, Winston and Mercedes, are a unit. They do everything together, they have real conversations...basically their relationship is what most of my relationships with my best friends are like. And I'll give some spoilers here about something I am SO FREAKING HAPPY ABOUT!! *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* If you are curious, the spoilers won't ruin the book since it's pretty obvious throughout the book, but I figured I'd leave it in case people don't want anything revealed!

One of my very few criticisms is the character development of Jessie and Heidi. They are shown to be the stereotypical mean, popular kids, and both are very dumb. And OF COURSE they are both blonde. As a blonde, I take offense that almost every mean girl ever is blonde. Why is that exactly? And why are mean girls dumb? Honestly if you're going to be that conniving, I'd imagine you'd have to be quite smart actually.

The book wraps up nicely, and the epilogue makes it clear there's a next book, but if you leave the epilogue off the story fits as a whole. And that's something I like very much from books in a series! Finish up your story, THEN move on to the next book!

This is looking to be a great fantasy series - relateable characters, solid world building, a mythology I can buy into. Some of the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked and rely a little too much on stereotypes and I'd like to see a little more world building, but I'm definitely sticking around to see these all play out in the second book!
Profile Image for Julie.
236 reviews11 followers
January 20, 2014
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Allie and four others were dragged through a book into a land where she was declared queen and told they were destined to save said land.

For the first half of the book I kept thinking with a few modifications it would have made a better children's or preteen story. Around the halfway mark things began to get more graphic and I decided the children's book idea had flown away.

There were enough stereotypes to be off putting. Among them were the popular jock who was mean to everyone he believed was beneath him and told Allie she was his girlfriend because she was going to be queen. Another was the pretty girl from the real world who relied only on her looks and expected everyone and everything to flock to her and do her bidding.

I did like Allie's attitude towards the other creatures she met throughout the story. She was respectful and tried to get to know them. She didn't just expect everyone to bow to her just because she was the queen.

There was a major plot point I did not like. These people got sucked into a book and the memories of them got erased from those left in the real world. The only one who really seemed bothered by this was Allie. She was the only one who was actively trying to get home. Everyone else just accepted it and moved on. From the beginning they made lives for themselves in this weird land. I thought, well so much for family love and friendships.
Profile Image for Grace Fonseca.
240 reviews23 followers
September 20, 2013
One of the most entertaining books I’ve read in a while. I really did find that the characters are very likeable here. Our heroine, Allie or Alicia immediately is likeable and so are her classmates as well. This is rather one of those books where every character is going through something or getting some major powers when they go to Nerissette.

Nerissette is really rather different than anything our characters have seen. They have mostly only read about places like this or had dreams of this place. I think that the Cat, Esmerelda was interesting because she tells Allie that she is a princess and going to be queen and needs to lead these people and help Nerisette in a great upcoming battle. Prophecies are wonderful, but sometimes things always don’t go the way that the prophecies are written. Also Allie and her friends really want to return to their everyday lives, but can’t because it’s not as easy. There are rules of course.

Then there’s the Fate Maker. I really disliked his character from the moment he was introduced. He was such a jerk to everyone. Although he is a wizard, he claims to know what fate wants and acts in Fate’s best interest. This happens not to be the case. The Fate Maker really has his own agenda and decides that he knows best for Nerissette. After all, he has been the ruler of this kingdom for 17 years and isn’t going to give it up just because the lost princess has returned suddenly. Nothing is ever easy for our heroine. Also there are some really interesting things that happen for all our characters.

I really do love the interactions that happen between the teenage characters. Also the other character that was really interesting was Rhys, who is the captain of the royal army or guard. He is interesting because he actually is a guy who has kind of been stuck in Nerissette, yet found a purpose there. I really like how he helps Allie see that she can be so much more than what she thinks she is. She has the ability to rule without the Fate Maker trying to use her to be his puppet. Also the fact that Heidi and Jessie are now trying to fit into their new roles can be challenging for Allie to deal with.

Heidi and Jessie were boyfriend and girlfriend back home, but here in Nerissette their roles are reversed. Since Allie is the queen, the Fate Maker made Jessie her betrothed and Heidi her maid. Needless to say Heidi is not happy. Heidi in a lot of ways is that typical mean girl, but during the course of the book, Heidi starts to develop into someone that Allie comes to from time to time for advice. Some of Heidi’s advice is really good. Heidi also starts to become a better human being. She starts off really not a nice person, but being in the role of servant is something that Heidi needed I think to develop into a better human being. Jessie is such a prick. I really didn’t like the way that he acted. Jessie is the guy that dates the girl that will get him power or status. Plus he disregards anyone else’s feelings. I felt with the Jessie character that people are just things to him to be used and all he wants is to be with someone that has power.

Also Winston is such a great guy. I really like him. I thought him and Allie had one of the best friendships, relationships of the book. Everything about them was so perfect. Loved how Allie and him related in a lot of ways. Not to mention how Winston came to her rescue when she needed it the most.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book was how Allie found the courage to stand up to the Fate Maker and make her own destiny with help from those around her. Also loved how when it came time to choose what to do, she chose to fight in what was right, and not take the easy way out. One of the most interesting aspects of this book was how many people, creatures gave her advice. Her conversations with the mermaid queen was wonderful. Sometimes a queen has to fight and that a queen is more than a figurehead. Leaders sometimes have to make hard decisions.

Allie very much becomes a leader. I really liked this book and want to read more of this series.

Rating:

Four Hearts
Profile Image for Zaira's Bookshelf.
619 reviews
May 17, 2018
First thing you should know: The blurb lies. Seriously. I read it again after reading the book and was like, what the crap? None of this has to do with the book!

1. Allie isn't some wannabe popular person. She's her own gal and she rocks it with her friends Win and Mercedes.
2. Karma has nothing to do with this book. At all.
3. The archrival doesn't have much place in this book.

Anyways. Despite the blurb being a liar, it was still very enjoyable. I laughed a lot and became pretty attached to most of the characters. I loved being in Allie's pov. She is a very good person with a healthy amount of sass and good sense. Her friends Winston and Mercedes were awesome!!! Their relationship with Allie just cracks me up. The other minor characters, like Rhys and Timpago, were WONDERFUL. I loved all of the minor characters with a couple of exceptions. I'll talk about it in a sec.

The worldbuilding of Nerrisette is just fascinating. There are dragons and nymphs and mermaids and goblins and it's all sorts of good. It was just a lot of fun.

What I didn't like were three things, and they happen to be characters. The archrival, Heidi, and her boyfriend, Jesse. They are supposed to be the 'mean' clique in high school... and they stayed that way the entire time. Jesse was so focused on Allie after she became queen that it was disgusting, and Heidi was constantly saying that looks are what matter most. I wish they had been fleshed out a little bit more. I mean, who on the football team and cheerleading squad don't care about their grades to a point? Whatever.

The villain also ticked me off a little. He was an okay bad guy--regular I'm-going-to-rule-the-world stuff. And he was pretty creepy sometimes. But he was also just kind of bland.

Other than that, I liked it a lot. The plot was interesting, Allie's growth was great, and the romance was barely there, but super cute nonetheless.
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,755 reviews17 followers
April 21, 2021
This is the first book in the series. Allie joins her group at the library so they can find a story for their project. The group includes her friends Winston and Mercedes, along with two popular classmates, Heidi and Jesse. After rejecting many books, Allie comes across a book from her childhood that was beloved by her mother, The Chronicles of Nerissette. But when they open the book, they are drawn into a different world. They first meet the talking cat, Esmerelda who introduces them to the Fate Maker and their new roles. Winston becomes a shape-shifting dragon, Mercedes, a dryad, while Allie is destined as the Rose, destined to take the crown. Jesse is to be her consort, while Heidi has been downgraded to her maid. But all is not as it seems, and the Fate Maker is intent on keeping the status quo by being the power behind the throne and stopping anything from changing. As Allie learns about her family history, she must make a choice to fight against the tyranny of the Fate Maker, even if it may mean that they can never return home or that they may die in the attempt. The author does a nice job of building a world and most of the characters had good development over the course of the novel.
Profile Image for Grace Tehrani.
74 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2019
Okay, here's the thing. It was boring. I liked the plot from the moment I read the back cover but then as I began to read it, my eyes just started to glaze over. I'm thinking it could be personal preference, because the book is interesting but the overuse of made up fantasy words/names and the overly descriptive description just put me to sleep. I struggled to finish it!

And also, Allie. She was irritating, to say the least. She had no sense of responsibility and frankly, acted like she was twelve instead of sixteen. People are dying here and all she's saying is like "I don't wanna be queen! I'm going home!" instead of just owning up to the fact that, yeah, she didn't choose this but this is what's happening so I'm going to deal with it. Winston I liked, he was a very nice guy. Even Jesse's character was kind of nice, it seemed he could be redeemed at some point. Maybe.
Profile Image for Angie.
2,367 reviews251 followers
December 17, 2014
I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Magic makes me happy and the magicalness of Everlast did not disappoint. Therefore, Everlast makes me happy. The story took off right away, thrusting us into the magical realm of Nerissette along with Allie and her friends (and not-so friends). Turns out that what Allie had thought were just fairy tales her mom use to tell her are true stories from another life. She's the lost princess and rightful heir to the thrown of Nerissette, a kingdom in desperate need of helping. Once Allie and her friends realize that they won't be getting home anytime soon, they each settle into their new roles, and Allie realizes that not everyone is there to help her. There's an evil wizard out to control everything and everyone, and she has step up and stop him. Yes, it's the cliche evil wizard is evil plot, but it was exciting and entertaining, which is what counts.

The first thing about Everlast which stood out to me were the characters. In good and bad ways, but I'll start with the good. Allie is the typical, nice, unpopular, smart girl who's really a princess. I liked her though! She isn't a damsel in distress when things get tough, but she also doesn't try to act like she knows more than she does. She has two best friends, Winston and Mercedes, who are actually good friends to her! There's no weird polar opposites, where she feels left out or picked on. They're a true trio and I loved it! Winston is also the love interest (yes, singular!) and a person of color! So much love for Winston! Now for the bad: Jesse and Heidi. They are the stereotypical popular kids, and they're both idiots. I was actually surprised by some of things to come out their mouths. There's no depth to them at all, and it was a bit disappointing. Then there's a whole mess of characters in Nerissette that are all their own unique individuals!

The world building of Everlast was also pretty great! A book of fairy tales acts as a portal to bring people over into Nerissette, and there's also a magic mirror that can send them back and forth, but it's a bit more complicated than the book. There's a talking cat, dragons, dryads, mermaids, goblins, trolls, giants, wizards, and pixies! So many magical beings in one place, but they all had their distinct roles within the world. Oh, and there's enchanted furniture that behaves differently depending on who's interacting with it. I love that! Of course, there's also myths and prophecies which drive the plot forward. Not quite as fun, but still kind of interesting.

Everlast was a wonderful introduction to this trilogy! It sets the stage really well, and while there were no real twists or surprises, I really enjoyed it. It also doesn't end on a cliffhanger, which is nice. It read like one full adventure, but there were some loose ends so that the story can continue. Allie may have defeated evil this time, but there's much more lurking around in the shadows. I'm definitely looking forward to more of Nerissette and I'm rooting for Allie to succeed in her mission to save her kingdom!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Profile Image for Tiffany Loves Books.
131 reviews13 followers
August 28, 2013
I think I should start off by saying that I just about loved this book. It starts off with Allie and her friends headed off to the library to meet up with the school's it couple to work on a class project. They can't agree on which book to base it on and then they open one that is a portal between worlds and they are taken to Narissettee: A world of dragons, mermaids, goblins, giants and wizards. Then it turns out that Allie, the protagonist, is their long lost princess.

There were a lot of things that I just loved about the story. I loved how Allie dealt with the bullies in this story. At times it was tough seeing just how far they would go and definitely brought me back to some of my primitive years where I was constantly dealing with bullies. Buchanan did a great job of capturing to helplessness that is usually associated with being bullied and the fight that it sparks in us to fight back. That being said, I loved Allie's spirit. Her fight, her strength and her realistic show of emotions. When it came down to a fight and her standing up against said bully. She didn't allow anyone to fight her battles. I loved the humor in the story and the overall character development. Most of the secondary characters were just amazing and they made the book that much better. And of course, you guys know I'm going to mention the romance right? At first it was a bit understated but it was sweet and I enjoyed it. In time it intensified and became all the sweeter.

Now, there were some things that I didn't like. The biggest thing: Allie. Although it did get better in time, I didn't like just how 'kind' she was. Seriously, she was constantly kind to the point of foolishness. It frustrated me and I understand that that kindness is what made her queen and unique but sheesh, it drove me nuts. But like I said that did improve in time. Also, with most of the bullies in the story she was either very quick to stand up to them or she was biding her time to be the most effective. But with Jesse I just don't understand why she wasn't firmer and quicker to absolutely put him in his place. Boy did I hate this dude. I was happy when she finally managed to bring him down a notch.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved how it kept me on the edge of my seat and forced me to read it mostly in one sitting. I loved Buchanan's writing style and how most things were simple and understated and made the story that much more unique. (Seriously, it doesn't always have to be fireworks and DRAMA. Lesson learned. ;) ) This is a novel I enjoyed, one I recommend and one who's sequel I am looking forward to.

*I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

To see more of my reviews be sure to check out my blog TiffanyLovesBooks
Profile Image for Rhianna.
459 reviews93 followers
August 29, 2013
A clean fantasy light for the middle school bunch.

When Allie Munroe sets off for the library to work on a project with her friends and a pair of popular kids she has no idea what a bad day she's in for. When the quintet get sucked into a magic book and deposited into the world of Nerissette their lives are forever changed. Allie finds out she's the princess of Nerissette and each of her companions' fate is changed. Told that Fate—a god of the magical realm—chose this new life for them the only thing to do is play along. But the longer they remain in Nerissette the more Allie realizes about the lies she was raised on.

The man who is supposed to have been the steward of the kingdom in the absence of its queen has been manipulating the people and it's up to Allie and her friends to save Nerissette. If they ever want to get home they are going to have to change Fate's design and fight for control of the kingdom.

Having read Buchanan's work under her other pen name I had high hopes for Everlast. Unfortunately, it was just not for me. From the start the pacing is choppy, the character development is minimal, and the story itself has plot holes that an adult reader is likely to pick apart quickly. With that in mind this is one YA title I won't recommend to adults but think is a great choice for the middle school age group. It's very clean (no cursing, kisses at most) and only mildly violent. If you're in that age group I think you might really enjoy this story.

The one thing I did love about Everlast was that Allie's friend/crush, Winston, isn't white. I love interracial relationships and feel that really set this one apart from others in the genre. Kudos for choosing diversity Andria! Now if only Allie wasn't so dull and clueless and everyone didn't repeat and rehash the same things over and over and over and over until I wanted to throw my ereader across the room.

To sum it up... this is one YA title that's suited to the target audience but will probably frustrate and annoy adult fans of the genre.

Notes: ARC received via publisher.
Profile Image for Donna .
494 reviews128 followers
Read
August 20, 2013
Everlast throws the reader right into the story. When Allie meets her friends (and frenemy) at the library to work on a project, they suddenly find themselves transported through a book into an alternate world full of magic. Allie finds herself being hailed as princess and future queen of this strange world while her friends are each given supporting roles and some unique magical powers thanks to Esmeralda, the talking cat and The Fate Master, the wizard who had, up until now, been ruling Nerissette. As Allie explores this new world, she quickly learns that while the world is full of magical creatures ready to recognize her as princess, those close to her may have much more sinister intentions than she first realized. She must figure out how to navigate this magical realm while keeping herself and her friends safe until she can figure out a way to get back home.

The dialog between characters moves this story along fairly quickly. The reader is able to get a glimpse of each character’s personality and how they fit into the group dynamic through these interactions. These dynamics begin to change as each character figures out their place in this realm and their role in Allie’s life. I enjoy reading characters that change and grow within the story and what is special about Everlast is that each character, even the more minor ones, have a chance to shine. Each has a significant role to play in the story and each have their own distinct personality.

I enjoyed reading about all of the magical creatures, fairies, goblins, mermaids etc. that populated the world of Nerissette. This was probably my favorite aspect of this book. This is a world I would love to visit once Allie takes care of the more unsavory elements that make this realm a bit more dangerous than I would like! While there were a few glitches in this fast paced novel, overall it was a fun magical read. I would recommend it to younger YA readers who enjoy magical fantasy
Profile Image for Ursula (momermaid48).
112 reviews9 followers
September 3, 2013
From the moment I read the description of this book I was excited to read it. I am a huge lover of the fairytales and this version where a girl finds herself trapped in another world where she is princess and the girl who tormented her is her maid was too good to pass up. I have to say, it didn’t quite turn out the way I expected. It was a quite journey for all the characters both literally and figuratively.

Ms. Buchanan did a stupendous showing us this new world. The descriptions and characters reactions kept me riveted. We meet many interesting creatures, both the stuff of dreams and nightmares. Bottom line, it was just a plain interesting story to read. The world building isn’t overwhelming. I was never bored as the story unfolded. Finding out why Allie and her friends were brought to Neris and the prophecies that were foretold was so cool. I kept turning the pages, excited to see what was going to happen next and where the journey would take them.

Of course, I was always rooting for Allie, Mercedes, Rhys and Winston. They are all good people, right down to their soul and they prove it in a myriad of ways throughout the story. There is of course the romance angle, but that never took over the story. I really disliked the Fate Maker and the more we learned of Allie’s history, the more I hated him. I am eager to how what we learned in this book impacts her in the future installments.

The story as it is revealed in this, the first in the series of The Chronicles of Nerissette is pretty much solved by the end of the book. For now. There isn’t a major cliffhanger, but you know there is more to come. The epilogue, instead of tying things up in a neat bow, hints at the story to come and left me wanting more! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the trilogy: Evanescent It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Ruthsic.
1,766 reviews32 followers
October 5, 2013
3.5 stars

Everlast is the story of Allie, who was raised from childhood on the stories of Nerisette believing them to be fairy tales. One day, however, she and her friends are pulled in through a book in the library into the World of Dreams, where Fate rules supreme and Allie is the Crown Princess, and the people have been waiting for her return. In her absence, the Fate Maker has been ruling over Nerisette but under his regime, the wizards have taken over and are exploiting people. Now, it is upto Allie to claim her throne, prove the kind of Queen she can become and save her people from oppression.

I loved the premise of the book - it was a childhood fantasy of mine to go to another world (yup, a fantasy buff even then) where there are different creatures like dragon, dryads, mermaids, etc. World-building was good - the different species and maintaining peace between them can be difficult and it is Allie's job to ensure that no one is getting discriminated against. The harvesting also seemed so barbaric that I can't believe the wizards would actually do that. Mythology-wise, this book is very innovative and makes for an interesting read. The names, though, at times, become a bit difficult to remember.

About the plot -well, at the start, everything felt too convenient and I thought it would have a very predictable storyline. It more or less, did, but there were quite a few surprises thrown in too. I did feel sad about the fact that they basically have no way back and I was skeptical about how people would accept her rule considering she was basically forced into it, but it turned out fine. The characters definitely need more development, which is the reason I felt a bit of disconnect with the book. Overall, a good read for fantasy lovers.

Received a copy from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Danielle Young.
Author 7 books87 followers
October 7, 2013
Life was not exactly a fairy tale for Allie,
but in fairy tales she did believe.

Raised with stories every girl loves,
tales her mother shared,
so full and rich with love.
But fairy tales of a secret land they turned out to be.

As she and her friends are sucked onto the scene,
which is the fantasy of every girls dream.
to discover that she is their lost queen.

A queen foretold to end their suffering.
To end their darkness
and stop the fates reign.

But war must be raged,
creature against creature;
man against man.
People of the kingdom must take a stand.

To follow a princess of another world,
will she be their saving queen
and save them from the evil that reigns?

The book of Everlast sucked me right in,
in that magical place
I witnessed amazing things
And it made me truly believe
in fantasical things.

It is no secret that I love fairy tales. What little girl doesn't? Everlast absolutely played to every fantasy I had as a little girl. So many times I wished I lived in a fairy tale kingdom and was crowned their queen. I have to say that the story of Allie and her friends sucked me in, no pun intended, and held my interest from start to finish. Everlast gave me everything that I have ever wanted in a story, a real life fairy tale, with dragons, nymphs, wizards, mermaids, princesses, humor, action and lets not forget love.

Everlast is one of those books that really is every girls dream and if you have ever fantasized about living in a fairy tale, then you definitely have to read this book. I promise it will deliver on all those fantasies you dreamed up long ago, and will even bring you some new ones to boot.

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Tonja Drecker.
Author 3 books236 followers
October 28, 2013
I tend to enjoy the books which come out of Entangled Press, but this was the first one I've read from their Teen series. I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Lovely. That one word wraps up EVERLAST pretty well.

The story centers around a modern day girl, Allie, who's swept away into a fantasy world of dragons, swords, magic and fairytale creatures of all sorts and types. Her 'nerdy' days are over as she immediately discovers she's the princess, the only rightful ruler by birth. Of course, the evil side isn't about to let her take things over so easily.

Allie is a nice, level-headed character, who subtly grows with the challenge. She's not a born fighter, carries some doubts (although not over-powering), and is one of the more 'normal' main female characters I've run into in awhile. That made her easy to like and sympathize with. Even her romantic interests are sweet and fitting for her age. They revolve around a friendship which has turned into more. There are wonderful, tender moments -- very fitting for this age.

The story has quite a bit of adventure but wasn't as fast-packed as I expected. Still, it has a nice flow and tends to show more of the personal battles/decisions Allie faces with the other characters, which definitely reflects the problems and concerns teens (especially female) are truly concerned with at this age.

Summed up, this is an enjoyable story which is well-crafted for especially girls ages 12-17.
Profile Image for books are love.
3,160 reviews23 followers
October 3, 2013
This is a adorable and very entertaining book. Allie has no confidence in herself in terms of beauty and spunk. She believes her friend Win only sees her as one of the guys and that she is just meant to be a geek. That is until a strange occurrence happens in the library. A book of fairytales she remembers from childhood sucks her and 4 others into the book.

In this alternate world known as Nerissette, Allie is a princess about to become a queen. Her best friend mercedes becomes a wood sprite and Win a dragon. The karma comes when the two popular ones that came with them become a maid and her prince consort. Okay the prince consort isn't one she is happy about.

As she adjusts, she is seen as compassionate to those around her. Not knowing that she is influencing them to be loyal she is nervous about her circumstances as she sees that evil is afoot. Win lets her know he likes her and not as one of the guys and she dares to hope they can get together but first she must survive her coronation and the war she wishes to incite to free her subjects from the evil that has ruled in her absence.

does she survive? Will her and Win get together? I guess you will just need to pick up this entertaining and adorable reading book to see. I am anxious to see what will happen next in the next book.
Profile Image for Nayab.
329 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2016



I read somewhere that this was a Middle Grade level book and who knew middle Grade books were so intense?! Not me, that’s for definite.


Honestly, I’ll be the first one to admit that until fairly recently, I thought that Middle Grade books dealt with less intense subjects, something that would be a little easier to read than, say YA or New Adult.


And it’s true, to an extent. Just because the subject matter of Middle Grade books isn’t as intense as some books that doesn’t mean that their impact is any less, in fact, the impact and intensity is exactly the same, just framed/written a little differently.


And Everlast demonstrates that perfectly. When I started reading Everlast I knew I was reading Middle Grade but as the book went on, I completely forgot about that what I was reading was technically classed as Middle Grade and got completely lost in the storyline.



It did feel to me as if the book start dragging a little towards the end chapters but it might have seemed that way to me because I read the book in a day (and not because it actually dragged.


What an adventure Everlast was! I loved learning about Nerisette and all its inhabitants. Most if all though, I loved the friendship angle of it and the message that the book was giving out and for that alone, I would recommend this book, no matter what your age.
Profile Image for Arys.
651 reviews34 followers
December 27, 2016
Everlast (The Chronicles of Nerissette) is the first book in Andria Buchanan's series about a young girl who soon finds herself (along with her classmates), with the magic of a dusty old book, transported to the magical realm of Narissette where karma rules and your social status is determined by what you deserve.

Allie Munroe has only ever wanted to belong. Nice and smart, but still invisible she jumps at the chance to be in a group project with her friends and the popular kids. Unbeknownst to her, they soon find themselves in Nerissette and if being in an unknown world wasn't enough...she's the Crown Princess! And to save herself and her classmates from evil forces she'll have to become a leader.

I enjoyed this story and Ms. Buchanan's world-building with its many magical creatures and how Allie is connected to Nerissette. The characters were also enjoyable. I loved Allie, Winston and Mercedes. This is a fun and entertaining introduction to a series that anyone who loves magic, adventure, and friendship will enjoy.

Everlast by Andria Buchanan is a story not to miss.

*Received an ARC from publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Olivia (Bookcomet).
362 reviews36 followers
September 15, 2013
For me, my review of Everlast is going to be very difficult to write. It wasn't really for me but there were a few things that I did like.

Pros:
- There were some quirky lines
.- The idea was pretty good, I mean, you are ranked as you deserve!
- The protagonist, Allie, was likeable and I enjoyed reading about her.
- Even though Allie was queen, the power didn't go straight to her head.
- Didn't expect the ending.

Cons:
- I really couldn't get into the story.
- I got a little bit confused.
- I wanted to know a little bit of backstory for the characters so that I could understand them better.

I love the cover, it's so pretty! I feel as though it really captures what the book is about.

I would recommend Everlast to middle grade readers and possibly teens. It had a good story line and I quite liked it.

3/5 stars
Profile Image for Dana.
2,415 reviews
November 14, 2013
Allie was a fairly normal teenager until one day, she and some friends "Opened the book...fell through the hole in reality, woke up here." Here would be Nerissette, a place that Allie had only read about as a fairy tale. Now, she and her friends are trapped there and she is to become their queen. With dragons and dryads, evil trolls and giants and the most evil of all, the magicians, Nerissette needs a queen to save them all. Apparantly, that would be Allie. Fantastic adventure and a lovely fairy tale! I am looking forward to reading the next two books!
Profile Image for Samantha.
623 reviews98 followers
February 7, 2014
"All Allie wanted to do was get her group project done and figure out a way to get out of the friend zone with her best friend, Winston. That all changes when she opens an old fairy tale book and her and her group are sucked into that world. Now, they are in Nerissette, and a cat is telling Allie she is the queen. Allie has to try to figure out how to rule a country amidst evil plots and work out how to get her and her friends back home." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
Profile Image for Breath of Life.
338 reviews63 followers
September 21, 2013
OH WOW, OH WOW!!!

I so loved reading every word in this sweet, mysterious, magical world of a ride through a Fairy Tale Book and of all things, your in the library!

Author Andria Buchanan has put some new spins, well at least to me on my way of looking at our telling of fairy tales. Her way of writing pulls you in, literally into:

To read more of my review:
Breath of Life
117 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2015
I thought the book was okay. It wasn't riveting where I couldn't wait to see what the next page brought. The whole book was very rushed and didn't really take the time to describe the world of dreams and the people living there. We only got a glimpse of the harvest and that's it. The war came very sudden too. The book was a good read but didn't leave an impression on me. The concept was very unique but could've expanded the book a bit more to give it more of a back drop.
Profile Image for Nicole.
49 reviews11 followers
August 24, 2015
I was really excited about the concept of this story when I read the back of the book. However, the book isn't like what the back says, and for the first sixty pages, I was utterly and totally confused. I did like the main character, but the rest of the book really wasn't my cup of tea. I think that if an editor had gone through this twice more, it would have been a much better book, but I just didn't enjoy my time reading it.
Profile Image for Hallie Beatty.
53 reviews
October 2, 2013
I didn't even get passed the first 30 pages before I returned it. The book I bought instead was SOO much better anyway.
Profile Image for Kaeli McIntyre.
22 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2014
Juvenile writing style and underdeveloped characters. The plot moves too quickly (probably the reason why the characters have not been fully developed.)
Profile Image for Clara.
139 reviews
May 20, 2015
This was amazing! I had such a blast reading it, a couple plot twists that turned me around!
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