The Rise and Ruin of Everwood

On The Hills of Hope #1

by Alicia Morgan

In a merciless world, deep in the Adirondacks, where Mother Nature rules the land—Eva vowed two things: to protect the people of Everwood and never fall in love. Love in these dangerous times is a liability, one she can’t afford to risk.

When fate intervenes, she meets a mysterious man who has lost his memory and his way. Slowly, her heart begins to betraying her promise. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, Evangeline Wolf is faced with a decision. One that could not only affect her settlement but the rest of her life.

In this postapocalyptic era, where perils are hidden around every corner, this handsome stranger may be Eva’s only hope to save Everwood—forcing her to reevaluate who the true enemy is and what lengths she is willing to go to establish peace.

Genres: Romantasy, Ebooks, Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Rise and Ruin of Everwood by Alicia Morgan. This is Book 1 in her On The Hills Of Hope series, and I'm excited to read any future installments. This is my first book of Alicia's and I'm thrilled to have been part of the ARC team.

Even though I usually don't gravitate toward post-apocalyptic scenarios, I found myself intrigued by the book's blurb, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world that is broken, destroyed, and on the verge of completely ruining itself. What is left of mankind is divided into small settlements, trying to navigate and survive in the harsh and unforgiving environment. We mostly follow the story of two settlements - Everwood and Stone Haven, existing in a state of conflict for more than a decade.

There is a dual POV - Eva, the FMC and daughter of the leader of Everwood, and Krieger, a mysterious stranger found wounded and with his memories lost, now living in Everwood while trying to find his place and regain his memories. The main focus of the story is the blossoming romance between Eva and Krieger; I loved how Alicia took her time with them, giving them time and space to develop and explore their feelings. But of course, it is never that easy...

There are several plots, twists, and heartbreaking betrayals, and the pace is fast and full of action. The book ends on a cliffhanger, making me want to read Book 2 as soon as possible. I loved the overall story, the post-apocalyptic setting, the romance at the center of it, and the way the story flowed. There is so much more to unravel in Book 2, and I'm excited to see how the story will continue!

What will see find in The Rise and Ruin of Everwood?

- post-apocalyptic setting
- hidden identities
- plot twists
- a blossoming romance between MCs
- no spice and some language
- forced proximity
- touch her and die
- arranged marriage

I am sure you will enjoy this fast-paced and exciting story as much as I did!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for providing me with the ARC! I always a story with a strong female lead and this did not disappoint! Add in a hot male stranger with amnesia? Instant chemistry of course! All this set in the future post apocalyptic world. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and looking forward to the next installment!

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨The Rise and Ruin of Everwood✨

Alicia always knows how to kick off a book to drag you straight in. This is my second read from her and equally as delightful to comply dive into the chaos. It reminded me of a romantic Fallout and I loved her innovation and creativity around this post apocalyptic dystopia.

We follow 2 POVs: Eva, the daughter to the leader of Everwood seeking peace from their neighbors who they’ve been at war with for years, and Kreiger, a mysterious man who comes to Eva injured and with no memory of his past or identity. We get to follow them as Kreiger becomes a part of the Everwood community before plots twists and his identity are revealed.

This short, fast paced read was so fun. It left on quite the cliffhanger and was over too soon! I’m super excited to see what Alicia has in store for us in book 2 and I’m humbled and thankful for this gifted arc from her.

TRAROE includes no spice, some language, hidden identity, plot twists, forced proximity, touch her and die, stabby FMC, slow burn, cinnamon roll MMC, arranged marriage. The romance was so sweet and selfless- I’m excited to see it move forward!

[NeedMoreBookSpace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is going fine for Eva. Her community is safe in their post-apocalyptic treehouse village. Sure, they have a feud with the people of Stone Haven, but a treaty is in the works. Since the beginning of their community of Everwood, Eva has promised herself two things. One, she will protect her people no matter the cost. And two, she will NEVER fall in love. Love makes you weak, and you cannot afford to be weak when Mother Nature hates humanity. And its all going just fine...until he comes along. This man survived an explosion and a terrible fever caused by infection...and woke up calling her an angel. Why does that make her heart skip a beat? And is she willing to risk it all to hear him call her angel again?

This was a very enjoyable dystopian read. The characters were engaging and made sense for the events they are going through. Eva is a strong FMC who is very easy to relate with. This is some romance in the book, but it is very closed door. I am not going to lie to you and tell you this book left me guessing around every turn. I knew where the road was taking me, and I still enjoyed the journey. If you want a slow burn, closed door romance set in a post-apocalypse America...you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author for my ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 in the On The Hills of Hope series, The Rise and Ruin of Everwood is based in a time where Mother Nature rules and humans fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. This is not a genre I would normally reach for, but the blurb caught my eye and I’m so glad it did. This book did not disappoint!

Mankind is spread through little pockets of settlement throughout the land. Some follow a life of crime and others try to carve out new prosperous settlements where they can in an unforgiving landscape.

Told from dual POVs the story centers around Eva and Krieger. Eva is the daughter of the leader of Everwood, a safe and unified group of settlers. While Krieger is suffering from amnesia after a bomb blast. There is a blossoming, slow burn romance between the two but not knowing who Krieger is and rising tensions between a rival settlement make Eva keep him at arms length.

This book had everything I was looking for in terms of a strong and determined FMC, a protective and skilled MMC and so many twists and turns I couldn’t put the book down. Betrayal, touch her and die, arranged marriage and forced proximity without any spice were the key tropes of the story! I cannot wait for Book 2 after reading the teaser at the end!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What will you do when the odds are stacked against you? Be the hope.”

What an absolutely compelling story! From the very first chapter, I found myself unable to take my eyes off the pages! The Rise and Ruin of Everwood has an interesting world and strong characters that make the book so much fun to read.

Eva is the perfect heroine. After experiencing difficulty trauma, she learns herself to fight and becomes a wonderful leader. She always puts her people first and never worries about herself. She would do anything and everything to protect those around her.

Krieger’s storyline was definitely an interesting one. When we first meet him, he suffers from memory loss and wakes up to his ‘Angel’ caring for him. He becomes a vital member of the Everwood community and slowly (but surely) develops feelings for Eva.

Although there is romance in this book, there is so much action and adventure. This book has unexpected twists and turns and was truly fun to read!

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the first in a new post-apocalyptic series. It follows Evangaline Wolf, who lives in Everwood, a community her and her father over see. She meets a mysterious man who she helped save and who has lost his memories. Her only goal is to protect her people and guard her heart, but she starts to fall for him anyway.

This is a quick, easy read. I really enjoyed the setting/scenery of this book. There were twists I didn't see coming and some that were expected. Read if you like :

Strong FMC
Slow burn
Forced proximity
Arranged marriage
Hidden identity
Cliff hangers

*I received this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own*

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶?”
“𝘽𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚.”

In this post-apocalyptic novel, Evangeline Wolf will do anything to protect the people of Everwood. She made a promise to herself that she will never love again and will give her life to protect her people. After nursing a mysterious man to health, Eva finds herself questioning her promises. When faced with an opportunity to secure protection for their settlement, Eva must make a decision. Will she keep her promise or let love in?

This book held my attention from the first pages. I found myself hooked and lost in the story while reading! Alicia created an interesting world in a post-apocalyptic era with a compelling storyline and relatable characters. Eva is a strong FMC which I love! This dual POV story is action packed with romance woven in. This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next book! Highly recommend checking this one out! A quick, action-packed read that won’t disappoint!

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed The Rise & Ruin of Everwood. We first meet Eva, daughter to the leader of Everwood - a settlement in this post apocalyptic world that is just trying to survive. Eva is a fierce warrior for her people and at her core… just wants her people to be safe. Next we meet the mysterious man from another settlement who Eva helped save and heal after an ambush attack. Although his injuries heal physically, he is left with memory loss and no idea as to who he is or his past. Everwood has been in a decade long feud with another settlement, Stone Haven, and finally an opportunity for peace has arisen. Although he doesn’t remember his past, Krieger (as named by Eva), begins to make a home for himself in Everwood and begins to care for its people and for the strong, beautiful leaders daughter. He can’t seem to stay away from her and finds that she seems to feel the same. It’s becoming apparent that peace between Everwood and Stone Haven is necessary, as it can save countless lives for both settlements…. However, the cost of that peace comes at a great cost, especially for Eva. Is she really willing to do anything to protect her people? Is Krieger going to be able to stand aside and let Eva do whatever is necessary to save the lives of Everwood?

Be prepared for a fast paced, action packed story that leaves you hanging with a major cliffhanger at the end. This book gives you the slow burn romance we all love without the spice…. I didn’t want to put this book down and look forward to the next book to continue Eva’s story.

[sam | sammylou.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I've read a dystopian book. They're not usually my go-to, but this book pleasantly surprised me! I started it last night and here we are 😂 I figured out the plot twist pretty early on, but it was still a good read! This is book one in a series and it does end on a cliffhanger!

"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮; 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨...𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜."

"𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨-𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚."

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🌲 post-apocalyptic world
🌲 slow burn (closed door)
🌲 forced proximity
🌲 he falls first
🌲 hidden identity
🌲 dual pov

Thank you to Alicia Morgan for reaching out and sending me an eARC of The Rise and Ruin of Everwood. All opinions are my own.

[KMart Vet]

DNF 25%:
I couldn't get beyond the instant-love. It's a trope that doesn't often work for me and I didn't know it was present.

I couldn't get attached to the characters and they seemed far-fetched to me.
Without trying, I figured out who the MMC was immediately and wanted a little more surprise.

I appreciate the copy from the author. If you like instant love, rivals, post-apoc/dystopian, and amnesia - try this one out! I think you'll love it!

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the heart of the untamed Adirondacks, where the forces of nature hold sway, Evangeline Wolf has made an unbreakable pledge: to safeguard the residents of Everwood and steer clear of matters of the heart. In this ruthless environment, love is seen as a dangerous gamble she cannot afford to take.

But destiny throws a curveball when she crosses paths with a enigmatic amnesiac man wandering aimlessly. Against her better judgment, her heart starts to stray from its intended path. As tensions mount and truths come to light, Evangeline is faced with a choice that could shake up her future settlement and change the trajectory of her own life forever.

Everwood’s post-apocalyptic landscape is brought to life with vibrant detail by Alicia Morgan. She expertly crafts a world teeming with danger at every turn, allowing readers to dive headfirst into the story. The fast-paced narrative ensures you’ll be hooked until the very last page.

Meet Evangeline, aka Eva, the fierce and unyielding hero of our story. She never backs down when it comes to defending her people, even when her own feelings throw her for a loop. And then there’s Krieger, the mysterious stranger who brings a whole new layer of intrigue. Their connection sizzles with electricity, shedding light on their inner battles in a way that’s absolutely captivating.

The book delves into ideas of giving up what you hold dear, staying true to those you care about, and the fuzzy boundary separating ally from adversary. It encourages readers to ponder what they’d give up in the name of righteousness and shakes Eva’s beliefs about affection and openness.

Morgan paints a stunning picture of the Adirondack landscape, setting a tense atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With alternating viewpoints and expertly crafted character development, the suspense builds to a fever pitch. And don’t even get me started on that jaw-dropping cliffhanger – readers will be counting down the days until the next installment hits the shelves.

Morgan’s writing is like a perfectly mixed cocktail – it’s short and snappy, yet full of emotion. She manages to juggle heart-pounding action scenes with moments of deep reflection, resulting in a story that hits all the right notes. And let’s not forget about the slow-burning romance that simmers in the background, adding a layer of complexity without stealing the spotlight from the main storyline.

“The Rise and Ruin of Everwood” is like a delicious swirl of romance, suspense, and survival that will have your heart racing and your mind contemplating the intricacies of love and responsibility in a world full of challenges. And just when you think you can’t handle the suspense, the cliffhanger at the end will leave you itching to dive headfirst into the next installment.

For those who love diving into post-apocalyptic worlds, slow-burning romance, and badass female leads, I cannot urge you enough to pick up this book. With its intricate world-building and surprising plot twists, Everwood guarantees to keep you hooked from start to finish!

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5
Spice: 🌶 out of 5

Tropes:
🌪Dystopian
💙He Falls First
🤫Dark Secret
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
❣️F0rced Pr0ximity
🔪Strong/Capable FMC

Review:
This was my first modern post-apocalyptic book, and I gotta say I enjoyed the ride this first book in a series took me on. It's a bit shorter but it feels like solid set up, which I'm all for!

The way we learn about what happened to the world (via an onslaught of natural catastrophes courtesy of Mother Nature) is revealed through our FMC's (Eva) POV. She has experienced loss as a by-product of the harsh reality that the world has become. As a result, she hardened herself by way of training to survive.

Humans have coalesced into groups to survive without the technological comforts once enjoyed. Eva and her father lead one such group but have strenuous relations with a more violent/possessive neighboring faction.

In the aftermath of a skirmish, a young soldier is brought to Eva and she nurses him back to health but the kicker is he's lost his memory. I got quite attached to Kriegan from the get-go, a blank slate of a man yet filled with gratitude towards his "Angel" savior Eva and wanting to be productive and helpful to her cause.

Most of this book takes place as a group of them set out on a trek, get separated and Eva and Kriegen have to work together to survive the horrors that this unkind landscape throws their way. I was hooked by the action sequences and the angst in between the calm moments was palpable.

There's rivalry between Kriegen and some of the other group members, a secondary plot point of an arranged marriage to secure peace and the ever-present mystery of who Kriegen really is....which I love.

I'm very excited to dive deeper into where this story is headed and to learn more about this world that's been ripped apart by natural disasters. The focus on our two main characters is strong and full of deepening potential in book two...along with seeing how human nature can be just as dark as Mother Nature!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Fear controlled their actions, hope inspired ours."

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book reminded me of The Last of Us (the tv show) with complicated survival adventures and tumultuous society.

Overview:
•Dystopian Romance
•Dual POV
•Forgotten Identity (amnesia)
•Close Proximity
•Chaotic Mother Nature

First of all, I loved the dedication. (“To those brave enough to let go of what you thought life would look like and embrace all the wonderful things waiting for you.”)

I really enjoyed this post-apocalyptic world building. This story is set in the Adirondacks in New York, and the author did a great job at creating this chaotic environment with potential dangers around every corner.

The focus of this story is the romance between the two MCs, and it was a little too Insta Love for my personal preferences.

The FMC, Eva, is a warrior and a leader. Her character has promise, but I wanted her to have a little more depth, especially in her interactions with the other characters.

The chapters from the MMC’s POV were interesting since he started the book with total amnesia. The MMC, Kreiger, was immediately obsessed with Eva, and I didn’t love how he treated her like a frail creature in the beginning, but I liked him much more by the end.

I liked all of the action-packed sequences, which painted a clear picture of this unsteady and dangerous world they inhabit.

My favorite part of this book was the intentional focus on hope over despair.

Overall, this has good bones for a dystopian romance story! I just think it needed a little more depth for my personal preferences.

Thank you to the author Alicia Morgan for sending me a digital ARC! I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Pandora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read set in a post-apocalyptic world with a strong female lead. This book brings to life an entirely realistic possible future where mother nature is rebelling and humanity is forced backwards, living in settlements and fending for themselves whilst dealing with earthquakes, floods and tornadoes.

Eva is a great character, leader of the soldiers for her settlement and more than capable of taking care of herself and others. I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the main male's name (Krieger) at first but when you discover the origins later on in the story it grows on you.

I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series and I'm grateful to Alicia for giving me an advanced copy of this one.

[JenInchiostro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t the typical book I reach for- it is post apocalyptic and modern. It also is more YA/New Adult than I typically read.

I received it as an ARC and so I jumped in with an open mind.

It was a fun book- great world building. I loved the tree-top village.

I love a good “He Falls First” and “Amnesia” storyline- so those hooked me in. I found the second half of the book picked up for me and then time flew!


I’m excited to see how book 2 unfolds!!!!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 ⭐️ s

I Enjoyed the fast paced writing in this dystopian post apocalyptic novel. A different genre than I typically read, but I enjoyed the slow burn.

Contains:
Forced proximity
Arranged marriage
Insta love
Slow burn

And so much more!

Thank you for the free arc sent to me for my honest review!

[Cristie Sluberski · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ✨

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆 & 𝑹𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆:
⚔️ post apocalyptic
💚 arranged marriage
⚔️ hidden identities
💚 forced proximity
⚔️ slow burn
💚 closed door/no spice
⚔️ dual POV

After losing her mother, Eva, the daughter of the leader of Everwood, has learned to become a warrior. While on a mission, Eva stumbles upon an unknown man. This man has no recollection of who he is so Eva names him Krieger. Everwood is trying to make peace with their surrounding neighbors & are working hard at keeping their citizens safe. Krieger has developed a loyalty to Everwood & to Eva as they start to show attraction toward each other.

I have never read a post-apocalyptic book before, but I am always interested in broadening my reading genres & I am happy I took a chance on this one because I really enjoyed it! The plot twists & turns in this one kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I was rooting for Eva & Krieger throughout so the plot twist at the end of this one had my jaw dropped. This one does leave off on a cliffhanger & definitely has me wanting to read the next book in the series!!

[✨Rissa✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was having a hard time getting into this book probably because the setting is post apocalyptic dystopian. But after a few chapters I was hooked and eager to see how Eva’s story turned out only to be sucker punched with a cliffhanger! Needless to say I’m already looking forward to book two!

[Jessy Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic read filled with tension & no spice, this is for you!!! I didn’t know what to expect when starting this but I really enjoyed the story! Both MC’s were equally strong and easy to love.

The imagery was impeccable, I could picture everything perfectly & it felt like I was watching a movie play right before my eyes.

The mmc’s identity wasn’t a shocker to me but I was glad to see that there were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming! Overall, I’m glad I read it but I’m not happy it ended on a cliffhanger 😭

[Kaitlyn Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book was definitely a quick and easy read! I wish that we had a bit more backstory to the situation and more development to the characters/plot, but maybe we'll see that in book 2! I guessed the plot twist pretty early, but that didn't take away from the reading experience. If anything, it was kind of funny "knowing" something that the characters don't.

Tropes:
- strong fmc
- forced proximity
- arranged marriage
- dystopia
- amnesia

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little over eleven years ago, multiple worldwide disasters devastated the world, followed by the collapse of the economy and government. Chaos erupted and humans entered a new era, that of Mother Earth who now rules earth and survival is priority. Some adjusted, some did not who are called Others.
Eva and her father live in Everwood. A settlement of a couple hundred people. They received word that a nearby settlement was running out of food and were sending some people to them. Well, as they were meeting them, they were ambushed by an enemy settlement and an explosion occurred. This is where Eva found a man who barely survived, but now cannot remember who he is. So, Eva calls him Krieger.
After Krieger wakes up, he cannot remember who he is and decides he’ll stay in Everwood and become a soldier. One evening, they receive word the enemy settlement, Stone Haven, is coming.
Stone Haven wants a peace treaty after the ambush that occurred between the settlements stating it was a misunderstanding. In order to ensure the peace treaty is followed, they have a condition and that is to have Eva marry the current heir. And now Eve must decide whether she will do it or not.

I’m not sure I can make that summary any smaller 😅 there’s a lot packed into this book and it’s not a very thick book, but it packs a punch.

I loved that this is a post-apocalyptic world after an environmental disaster occurred throughout the world leaving everything devastated. Except, Mother Nature still has natural disasters occur here and there suddenly and it’s a new and unique take on an apocalyptic world. Just shows how important it is that we take care of the environment.

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. It’s a very fast paced plot. We learn about the characters more than I expected with how fast paced the book is.

Eva lost her mother when she was little and is determined to just never love again so that she can never be hurt like that again. Enter Krieger and she’s like, I want him, but I can’t do this. So a lot of push and pull and tension through this book, which I always love.

The amnesia trope in this book is done SO WELL. Krieger is this cinnamon roll MMC and (a tiny spoiler)……



When Krieger gets his memories back, a switch is flipped and you’re like “who is this person!?”. The author did so well subtly turning him into a different person. It’s like he was the same, but more, and I LOVED HIM. I already had a soft spot for him, but then he gets his memories back and I’m like 🥵 He’s definitely a favorite of mine in this series!

There are secrets and twists that occur in here that I could see a mile away, but that didn’t take away from the story. I enjoyed the drama that occurred l😹

My one issue was the romance is definitely instalove, and I’m not a fan of that, however, the way the romance progresses at the end I really liked and I really liked Eva who is strong, but is more logical than a lot of female characters I read nowadays and is less dramatic and emotional. She thinks things through rather than assuming the worst. The end is really well done and I’m looking forward to the next book!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This was good 🙂‍↕️ they really were fighting 24/7 like tf they were always in danger 😭
-
-
-
SPOILERS
Waiting for the second book, so I think it will be then saving the village and then getting married??? and maybe more, we’ll see.

[NerdyBookFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

5 stars out of 5.
Spice: 0 out of 5 stars.

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic
Dual POV/Third Person
Read in one sitting?: It could be! About a 5 hour read.

"What will you do when the odds are stacked against you?"
"Be the hope."

I love post-apocalyptic settings - it's one of the few genres I'll read in the modern(ish) day that doesn't have an element of paranormal or fantasy. The synopsis for this book grabbed my attention, and I was curious how it would play out.

It is definitely a quick read, with a predominantly fast pace. There was a bit of a lull in the middle that I was ready to move on from, but that is a personal preference. Others may enjoy that bit and be more engaged. The authors writing style was really easy to read, understand and visualize descriptions, and become immersed in the plot.

There is absolutely NO spice, just some kissing and embracing. It could be a good recommendation for younger teenagers that enjoy Hunger Games like action depending on the direction of the series.

I definitely enjoyed the MMC at the end of the story, I was getting a bit annoyed with his possessiveness during the book. The FMC was more enjoyable, with a bit more depth to her due to her internal struggle with the wall she built. They are definitely set up to have major character growth through the series.

The big, bad for this story is Mother Nature, due to climate change. This is where I get Hunger Game vibes from, due to the ever-changing environment the characters have to navigate and endure. The setting of the story is set after Mother Nature has had her way with the earth, and how the survivors have learned to survive. No zombies, sorry. (Maybe a plot twist at the end of the series. Kidding.) I really enjoyed the Mother Earth weather-events (despite that I think the most bored I was was during the flood), but I just love a good rainy day.

Speaking of raining days, this story is set at the end of fall, beginning of winter. I kept thinking throughout the story this would be a good read to curl up to during fall or winter - not the blazing heat of summer. So go grab your favorite comfort drink, cozy up in your favorite pajamas, curl up under your coziest blanket and enjoy the read! Definite recommend.

[Stephanie B. •literaryland_livin• · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world is now ruled by mother nature and dangers lurk behind every corner. Amidst all the world’s post apocalyptic chaos is the treetop settlement of Everwood. This is Eva’s home. As the daughter of Everwood’s leader it is her duty and mission to protect it and its people at all cost. Eva’s calculated plans and routines are quickly turned upside down when the arrival of a mysterious wounded stranger occurs. He has no memory of his past or his name. While Eva has sworn off love she suddenly finds herself unexplainably drawn to this man. As time passes Eva slowly realizes that the handsome stranger may be more than he seems. Forcing Eva to reevaluate everything she has always known to be true. With every secret revealed Eva begins to see that the mysterious stranger may hold the key to saving Everwood and its future.

The Rise and Ruin of Everwood is the first book in the On the Hills of Hope series by Alicia Morgan. This was my first time reading one of Morgan‘s books and what a fun first book this was. We follow dual POV‘s from our two main characters, Eva and Krieger, the mysterious stranger. The plot unfolds rather quickly with our characters navigating how to survive in post-apocalyptic New York. With mother nature reigning supreme in this new world order, Morgan paints a picture of humanity being forced to live more primitively. Our characters are fending and forging to survive. All while dealing with deadly earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and waring settlements. The romance between our two MCs was very sweet (no spice) and seemed truly genuine. Krieger was serving all the touch her and die vibes while Eva was giving stabby FMC energy. This read was very easy to fly thru with its fast paced action, sweet romance, secrets, and twists. The cliffhanger ending without a doubt will leave you screaming for more. If you enjoy books with dystopian post apocalyptic settings, forced proximity, arranged marriage, and a slow burn sweet romance then most definitely check out this book.

The Rise and Ruin of Everwood comes out May 14th, 2024.

Thank you so very much Alicia Morgan for providing me a copy of this book along with the opportunity to review it.

[Heather Heineman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a post-apocalyptic era where Mother Earth rules, this story follows Eva Wolf, a selfless soldier who has dedicated her life to protecting the people of Everwood, a tree-house village settlement led by her father. During a mission to aid new arrivals coming to the settlement, she finds a man unconscious and badly injured. She brings the stranger back to her village to heal. After a long journey of healing with Eva by his side, the stranger wakes up no memory of who he is or what has happened. But the one thing he does know is that Eva must be protected at all costs. Krieger is almost immediately touch-her-and-die from the moment he wakes up, no matter how hard Eva fights against letting him in. But he doesn’t back down, even though he knows Eva isn’t going to make it easy for him, because he sees that she is worth fighting for.

Favorite passages:

-“𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚… 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧.”

-𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧. 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩.
𝙃𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙃𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚.
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙧. “𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

-“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧.”

This is a story for anyone who has ever felt alone even in a crowded room. Eva has spent years teaching herself to be the strongest soldier possible and to take care of everyone but herself, but someone has finally come into her life that truly sees her and prioritizes her above all else, even when she doesn’t prioritize herself. This story is amazing and so so sweet. I highly recommend! Can’t wait to read book two!

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off-script synopsis! 💬
This romance is set in future that doesn't seem too far off for some, in a post global warming breakdown where humans are scattered in isolated settlements battling over remaining resources and adapting to survive. Evangeline Wolf is the fierce protector of Everwood, vowing to never let love become her liability, until she meets a mysterious stranger who lost his memory and finds himself in dangerous territory. You guessed it, love begins to grow in the most unlikely of places.

When rival settlements threaten the safety of everyone and Eva is faced with a decision that could change everything. While mother nature rages around her, Eva is forced to rely on her instincts and follow her heart. What she finds may have her questioning who the true enemy is.

This is the first book to a new series. It's a slow-burn (no major spice yet!), he falls first, "I'd die for you" kind of romance that we wish for, set in a world we hope never to find ourselves in.

The tea 🍵

The Characters: 👫
Relatable, and a bit predictable. Foreshadowing is on point! So many instances where I found myself saying out loud "oh, don't do that, this is going to happen" and then it did. However, Alicia Morgan manages to provide enough depth and dimension to give readers something more to connect to- even if they're not a stubborn, independent and a little violent woman on a mission. 😏

The Plot: 🌎🌍
Amidst the foreshadowing, Alicia still weaves a web of suspense and reveals her secrets at just the right times. I've never read a post-apocalyptic story that didn't feel that far out of reach. I was engaged in the storyline for the entirety of the book and am pleased to say I couldn't put it down.

Reminder: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ♻️ and protect our Mother Earth 🌎🌍

I'd recommend this book for anyone that doesn't want to read a million pages to find adventure and intrigue. For me, 250 pages (Kindle) is a taste, and it has me asking for more. I'll definitely be returning to Everwood with the next book in this series.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
🫑

ARC Review

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.

I haven't read a dystopia in a while so I jumped at the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was a really unique world and I think it has a lot of potential. There were some things I really enjoyed and some that didn't quite work for me. 

The world building in this story is great. This book is set in a post apocalyptic New York in 2052. I really love the history that was given about how things got to the way they are. The descriptions of the scenery really painted a great picture and I felt like it was really easy to visualize this world. The settlement of Everwood as a treehouse village is such a fun concept and I found the uniqueness of it to be really appealing. 

This book is fairly short at about 250 pages, and I have personally found that when a fantasy (or dystopia) is on the shorter side, and element of the story suffers. In this case I think it was the character development. While I found both MCs, Eva and Krieger, very interesting, I failed to connect with them for a lot of the book. I also thought that the speed of their relationship was entirely too fast. I'm not a huge fan of insta-love and this was borderline insta-obsession, with not a lot to back it up.

By the end of the book I did enjoy their relationship, and the last 25% or so of this book is a ride. The twists were a bit predictable, but I enjoyed it all the same and it did have me curious about how the story will continue. I will definitely read the second book to see how things play out. I mostly think this book could have used another 50-100 pages of depth to make it a more well rounded story. 

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝑩𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆.

Read May 8-9, 2024

[Sam.the_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok where do I start, this book took me on a journey, every time I thought we were out of danger.. nope I was again sitting at the edge of my seat reading and anticipating what might comes next.. rooting for them to survive. I had a feeling who might Krieger be few chapters in but it still made it so interesting till the truth was revealed. It was quite an adventure. I loved the world building.. I truly felt captivated by it all. The characters are so lovable .. and let me tell you the slow burn is something here. The strength of Eva is astonishing and admirable. I loved the description of both settlements (Everwood and Stone Haven) even it’s meant to be a survival place after the chaos they seemed beautiful.
This book made me laugh, cry. Felt happy and sad.. it triggered many emotions.

Did I read this book from cover to cover including everything that was extra at the end of the book.. yes I was hungry for more. Looking forward to the next book. If you love adventure, enemies to lovers, family and friendship ties, slow burn and sweet characters that make your heart melt. Then I recommend you read this book because I loved every minute of it ❤️

Some of my favorite quotes:

“Eva, battle isn’t for the faint of heart. You will need to harden yourself to confront some ugly realities.”

“Angle, I would make the same choice a hundred times over to save you from pain or worse… you are someone worth hurting for.”

“What have you done to me?”

“Control is an illusion, don’t you see?”

“You were saying goodbye, weren’t you?” 😭😭😭😭😭

“Well, I can’t watch you martyr yourself. I won’t.”

“Just remember, I got you.”

“Separately they were strong, together they were invincible.”

“What will you do when the odds are stacked against you? Be the hope.”

[Danie Y. | BohoBookMama · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌿 The Rise and Ruin of Everwood - Alicia Morgan 🌿
eARC Review - out now!!

🌿 Dystopian World
🌿 Hidden Identity
🌿 Slow Burn (closed door)
🌿 Forced Proximity
🌿 Dual POV
🌿 He Falls First

I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you for this honor to read this early! 🫶🏻 These are 100% my true feelings and unbiased opinions on this book. Thank you so much @aliciamorgan_books!

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun ride. It was fast paced, and action packed, and there were so many twists and turns! It was a fast and faun read with great pacing and world building! This really takes me back, I used to only read dystopian novels and now I remember why! This was just so interesting to me! I loved the dual POV and the romance aspect! It was a slow burn and Alicia let the characters really develop their relationship so deeply! This definitely reignited my love for all things dystopian/post apocalyptic! Can’t wait to see where this series takes us! Be warned this does end in a cliffhanger! ❤️

Blurb:

In a merciless world, deep in the Adirondacks, where Mother Nature rules the land-Eva vowed two things: to protect the people of Everwood and never fall in love. Love in these dangerous times is a liability, one she can’t afford to risk.
When fate intervenes, she meets a mysterious man who has lost his memory and his way. Slowly, her heart begins to betraying her promise. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, Evangeline Wolf is faced with a decision. One that could not only affect her settlement but the rest of her life. In this postapocalyptic era, where perils are hidden around every corner, this handsome stranger may be Eva’s only hope to save Everwood-forcing her to reevaluate who the true enemy is and what lengths she is willing to go to establish peace.