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When Yesterday Ends
Nettles Hollow is as good a place as any to restart your life. At least, Ambrose Howl hopes so after his life falls apart.
The town’s got everything he needs: a general store carrying his favorite cigarettes, a library he could get lost in, and a hedge witch who immediately befriends him. He settles in as an herbalist, using the knowledge he’d gained from academia that he’d left behind, and for once in his life, he feels like he could be content. It’s not so bad living in some rural, far-flung town.
Until he’s visited and kidnapped by the skeleton valet of Renwick Frey, a fey lord living in hiding who is cursed to eat human hearts every five summers to remain alive. As his next victim, Ambrose saves himself by making the desperate claim of knowing how to break curses. Renwick is charmed enough to let him try, but if Ambrose can’t break the curse by summer’s end, then his heart is forfeit.
The problem? He’s never broken a curse in his life, and given the mysterious circumstances of this one, he might even die before summer ends.
The town’s got everything he needs: a general store carrying his favorite cigarettes, a library he could get lost in, and a hedge witch who immediately befriends him. He settles in as an herbalist, using the knowledge he’d gained from academia that he’d left behind, and for once in his life, he feels like he could be content. It’s not so bad living in some rural, far-flung town.
Until he’s visited and kidnapped by the skeleton valet of Renwick Frey, a fey lord living in hiding who is cursed to eat human hearts every five summers to remain alive. As his next victim, Ambrose saves himself by making the desperate claim of knowing how to break curses. Renwick is charmed enough to let him try, but if Ambrose can’t break the curse by summer’s end, then his heart is forfeit.
The problem? He’s never broken a curse in his life, and given the mysterious circumstances of this one, he might even die before summer ends.
374 pages, ebook
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
S. Jean
15 books42 followersS. Jean (she/they) is a queer sci-fi & fantasy author writing whatever strikes their fancy at any given moment. When not writing or dreaming of what to write, they can be found dabbling in game dev and drawing!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
S. Jean is one of my favorite authors no doubt. Their mix of angst, terror-inducing gore, flowery prose, queer shenanigans and some powerful social commentary makes their art unique, and accessible despite that uniqueness. Whatever you want to say about the modernist literary attempts of the 20th and 21th century, not everyone can get them. S. Jean strikes a very delicate balance, one where queer people will get genuine representation and the art will comfort them, while non-cool people will still get a chance to read well-told stories that disturb them (with the gory descriptions and all).
When Yesterday Ends deliberately throws away certain ingredients from the mix to deliver a cozy fantasy of all genres of fiction S. Jean could be attempting their hand at. I don't know about y'all, but I don't exactly have a positive association with "cozy". It's mostly a marketing buzzword to describe a story that doesn't want to offend anyone, doesn't try to be rule-breaking, doesn't want to say anything interesting. It only exists to pacify the spectator of the art piece, like any other shitty lowbrow "art" peddled by big dogs of the book, movie, TV and videogame industries.
The book doesn't feel like what I just described. It still has plenty of violence, an angsty main character, and it touches on heavy topics in a fair amount of detail, although never explicitly shown (which is the primary deviation from the formula). Those are things I don't often associate with cozy. This leaves the only element of the book that strikes me as possibly cozy: the slow pacing. This didn't feel like a hindrance to me, the book took the time to worldbuild and make me care about the characters. Nothing wrong with that.
I still feel like something was lost during S. Jean's experiment at a more casual story. Some of the ingredients toned down to their store brand alternatives. This mainly affected the commentary, this time focused on loyalty. It's a fine topic to talk about, and plenty of good stories riffed on it, but it isn't certainly a grandiose topic like a personal socialist rebellion against a technofascist government (Wherever the Stars Call) or rejection of obedience to religious institutions (Errant Wings). Similarly, the angst is also toned down in this book, compared to the rock'n'roll horror ride of Be Not Afraid or the heartwrenching chase for a lost lover in Immortality in the Marrow.
S. Jean's experiment didn't play out for me like they likely intended. But don't get me wrong. This is not a bad book, and there's a lot to like here. The characters are relatable and interesting, the romance powerful, the prose as nice as ever and the cover is fucking beautiful. If you liked this book, get excited, because this isn't the ceiling for S. Jean's writing. It's only the beginning.
When Yesterday Ends deliberately throws away certain ingredients from the mix to deliver a cozy fantasy of all genres of fiction S. Jean could be attempting their hand at. I don't know about y'all, but I don't exactly have a positive association with "cozy". It's mostly a marketing buzzword to describe a story that doesn't want to offend anyone, doesn't try to be rule-breaking, doesn't want to say anything interesting. It only exists to pacify the spectator of the art piece, like any other shitty lowbrow "art" peddled by big dogs of the book, movie, TV and videogame industries.
The book doesn't feel like what I just described. It still has plenty of violence, an angsty main character, and it touches on heavy topics in a fair amount of detail, although never explicitly shown (which is the primary deviation from the formula). Those are things I don't often associate with cozy. This leaves the only element of the book that strikes me as possibly cozy: the slow pacing. This didn't feel like a hindrance to me, the book took the time to worldbuild and make me care about the characters. Nothing wrong with that.
I still feel like something was lost during S. Jean's experiment at a more casual story. Some of the ingredients toned down to their store brand alternatives. This mainly affected the commentary, this time focused on loyalty. It's a fine topic to talk about, and plenty of good stories riffed on it, but it isn't certainly a grandiose topic like a personal socialist rebellion against a technofascist government (Wherever the Stars Call) or rejection of obedience to religious institutions (Errant Wings). Similarly, the angst is also toned down in this book, compared to the rock'n'roll horror ride of Be Not Afraid or the heartwrenching chase for a lost lover in Immortality in the Marrow.
S. Jean's experiment didn't play out for me like they likely intended. But don't get me wrong. This is not a bad book, and there's a lot to like here. The characters are relatable and interesting, the romance powerful, the prose as nice as ever and the cover is fucking beautiful. If you liked this book, get excited, because this isn't the ceiling for S. Jean's writing. It's only the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a copy of this book as an ARC.
I’ve read another book by this author and leapt at the chance to get my hands on this new release because I couldn’t fathom how they would treat cozy. The last book seemed to so perfectly inhabit its world of filthy concrete and violence, and how do we get from a bloody length of pipe to tea and alchemy?* The answer is perfect, and a beloved trope in its own right: the small town with a dark secret. Love me a small town with a dark secret. The dwindling population, the diner where the town hangs out. The spooky manor at the edge of town and ominous history they failed to warn the new guy about…
Ambrose is a perennial outsider we meet in a confused moment where the process of running away from the last place that rejected him has stumbled into a strange new stage: actually (maybe) fitting in. Making friends. Feeling a hesitant sense of community. It seems too good to be true and is… but also isn’t because hey, cozy. Even if there are shadows, we’re at the end of the rainbow where good intentions may go awry but are at their core genuine.
When Yesterday Ends has the fresh air and nature, the friendship and hope I was looking for when I saw the subgenre. An organic magic system that feels credible and has the right witchy, earthy vibes. The spooky manor with a Startling-House-like responsiveness to the moods and needs of its inhabitants was an unexpected bonus. The tormented fae guy who’s totally not the real reason I showed up was more likable than I anticipated, but I’ll not risk spoilers by getting into it.
A satisfying read that kept its foot on the suspense to the very end, equal parts sunlight and cold shadows.
*Tbc the books have nothing to do with each other. Independent works and worlds, just same author
I’ve read another book by this author and leapt at the chance to get my hands on this new release because I couldn’t fathom how they would treat cozy. The last book seemed to so perfectly inhabit its world of filthy concrete and violence, and how do we get from a bloody length of pipe to tea and alchemy?* The answer is perfect, and a beloved trope in its own right: the small town with a dark secret. Love me a small town with a dark secret. The dwindling population, the diner where the town hangs out. The spooky manor at the edge of town and ominous history they failed to warn the new guy about…
Ambrose is a perennial outsider we meet in a confused moment where the process of running away from the last place that rejected him has stumbled into a strange new stage: actually (maybe) fitting in. Making friends. Feeling a hesitant sense of community. It seems too good to be true and is… but also isn’t because hey, cozy. Even if there are shadows, we’re at the end of the rainbow where good intentions may go awry but are at their core genuine.
When Yesterday Ends has the fresh air and nature, the friendship and hope I was looking for when I saw the subgenre. An organic magic system that feels credible and has the right witchy, earthy vibes. The spooky manor with a Startling-House-like responsiveness to the moods and needs of its inhabitants was an unexpected bonus. The tormented fae guy who’s totally not the real reason I showed up was more likable than I anticipated, but I’ll not risk spoilers by getting into it.
A satisfying read that kept its foot on the suspense to the very end, equal parts sunlight and cold shadows.
*Tbc the books have nothing to do with each other. Independent works and worlds, just same author
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a beta copy of this book from the author and am eagerly awaiting my final copy to re-read.
Even as a beta reader, I found this story wholly devour-able. I am an enjoyer of slower-paced and "cozy" style books (this book was exactly that), and though I don't normally go for books that contain magic, I found the way magic was interwoven into this world to be believable, balanced, and fair.
The book doesn't have a ton of action and focuses more on the longer form of developing relationships over a period of time through trial and error -- including with people who might've done the MC wrong in the past -- but there is a blowout scene of non-stop action close to the end where everything comes to a head and ties up.
Some of my favorite scenes were tender and sweet moments of quiet blossoming romance, and moments where Ambrose became fully intertwined with magic and really flexed his stuff. I thought at times Renwick was a little bit but his place in the world becomes more and more clear as the main conflict becomes bared and you
I am super curious to see what kind of changes have been made to the story since I last read it, and am eager to crack the spine of my new copy when I get it!
Even as a beta reader, I found this story wholly devour-able. I am an enjoyer of slower-paced and "cozy" style books (this book was exactly that), and though I don't normally go for books that contain magic, I found the way magic was interwoven into this world to be believable, balanced, and fair.
The book doesn't have a ton of action and focuses more on the longer form of developing relationships over a period of time through trial and error -- including with people who might've done the MC wrong in the past -- but there is a blowout scene of non-stop action close to the end where everything comes to a head and ties up.
Some of my favorite scenes were tender and sweet moments of quiet blossoming romance, and moments where Ambrose became fully intertwined with magic and really flexed his stuff. I thought at times Renwick was a little bit but his place in the world becomes more and more clear as the main conflict becomes bared and you
I am super curious to see what kind of changes have been made to the story since I last read it, and am eager to crack the spine of my new copy when I get it!
July 30, 2026
3.5☆ rounded up to 4☆ for Goodreads. Thank you to S. Jean for the ARC!
When Yesterday ends is a book I greatly enjoyed, with its character-driven, slow-paced ploy and a cast I grew to love, but a frustrating ending.
The strongest part of the novel is certainly the character work. All the little moments, like Ambrose and Renwick catching lightning, were lovely. Their reactions felt very human; people make stupid choices when they're hurt or in love. It was definitely mainly Renwick, Ambrose, and Lisan that felt three-dimensional, though. The rest of the cast was a bit weaker.
What knocked this story down from 4.5☆ to 3.5☆ is S. Jean's frustrating habit of ending major antagonists off-screen, revealing it through newspaper snippets in the final chapter. I find this continually unsatisfying. Rowe had been built up as a dangerous man, a desperate man, one who knew Ambrose's location and was willing to physically come get him. Except he didn't. And then a newspaper tells us he's dealt with.
Similarly, Ambrose's parents also knew his location. They were a big part of him running away; he couldn't face them and their imagined disappointment. This is another set-up for a plotline that was never delivered on. Unless you count Lowain telling him to write back in the last chapter, which Ambrose considers for one paragraph.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I wish we got more time with Renwick and Ambrose as they settled into their new life; their scenes together were a highlight. It's a shame about the frustrating and disappointing ending of certain plotlines.
When Yesterday ends is a book I greatly enjoyed, with its character-driven, slow-paced ploy and a cast I grew to love, but a frustrating ending.
The strongest part of the novel is certainly the character work. All the little moments, like Ambrose and Renwick catching lightning, were lovely. Their reactions felt very human; people make stupid choices when they're hurt or in love. It was definitely mainly Renwick, Ambrose, and Lisan that felt three-dimensional, though. The rest of the cast was a bit weaker.
What knocked this story down from 4.5☆ to 3.5☆ is S. Jean's frustrating habit of ending major antagonists off-screen, revealing it through newspaper snippets in the final chapter. I find this continually unsatisfying. Rowe had been built up as a dangerous man, a desperate man, one who knew Ambrose's location and was willing to physically come get him. Except he didn't. And then a newspaper tells us he's dealt with.
Similarly, Ambrose's parents also knew his location. They were a big part of him running away; he couldn't face them and their imagined disappointment. This is another set-up for a plotline that was never delivered on. Unless you count Lowain telling him to write back in the last chapter, which Ambrose considers for one paragraph.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I wish we got more time with Renwick and Ambrose as they settled into their new life; their scenes together were a highlight. It's a shame about the frustrating and disappointing ending of certain plotlines.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Copy given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who had read and enjoyed reading this author's past works before, I was really excited to dive into this one and give the ARC copy of this a read.
Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy reading this one because the pacing was so terribly slow. I ended up giving up on the book by about halfway through.
The characters were fine, but none of them were really memorable. I found it really confusing and even disappointing how the main character was fine with putting up with a lot of the other characters' BS. Without giving away spoilers, the MC would be impacted by xyz or zyx's characters' actions behind the scenes, forcing them to progress through certain actions or obstacles that they shouldn't have been pulled into in the first place (or at least they should've been warned about it beforehand). Despite this, the MC somehow puts up with them still despite it literally giving him some serious life-and-death circumstances after a few chapters of hating them for it. That also frustrated me a lot as well.
For those who enjoy a slow-paced plot, you might enjoy this more. But for me, I was just a bit frustrated. I would have enjoyed this way more if the pacing was a lot faster, and if the MC's actions made a bit more sense.
As someone who had read and enjoyed reading this author's past works before, I was really excited to dive into this one and give the ARC copy of this a read.
Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy reading this one because the pacing was so terribly slow. I ended up giving up on the book by about halfway through.
The characters were fine, but none of them were really memorable. I found it really confusing and even disappointing how the main character was fine with putting up with a lot of the other characters' BS. Without giving away spoilers, the MC would be impacted by xyz or zyx's characters' actions behind the scenes, forcing them to progress through certain actions or obstacles that they shouldn't have been pulled into in the first place (or at least they should've been warned about it beforehand). Despite this, the MC somehow puts up with them still despite it literally giving him some serious life-and-death circumstances after a few chapters of hating them for it. That also frustrated me a lot as well.
For those who enjoy a slow-paced plot, you might enjoy this more. But for me, I was just a bit frustrated. I would have enjoyed this way more if the pacing was a lot faster, and if the MC's actions made a bit more sense.
Review of advance copy received from Autor
I received a beta copy of this story, and I have to say it’s been a great experience.
I took my time reading it so I could savor it slowly, appreciating the details and descriptions. As someone for whom English is a second language, I sometimes had to pause to make sure I understood a word or sentence correctly, but overall it was quite easy to follow.
I’m a huge fan of romance, especially slow-burn stories, and this one hit the nail on the head. I feel like the characters are very well-developed; I can understand why they are the way they are, and watching them fall in love little by little was a wonderful experience. Ambrose made me laugh more than once with his unique personality, and I’m already looking forward to reading the final version of him. (Love him from the start💛🌻). I've got quite a shock with Renwick at the start, but it went really good afterwards.
Gotta say, I was a little nervous after seeing some of the author’s other works and how they tended to lean toward darker themes, but this cozy story was just perfect for me. Hope more people find it and love it too <3
I took my time reading it so I could savor it slowly, appreciating the details and descriptions. As someone for whom English is a second language, I sometimes had to pause to make sure I understood a word or sentence correctly, but overall it was quite easy to follow.
I’m a huge fan of romance, especially slow-burn stories, and this one hit the nail on the head. I feel like the characters are very well-developed; I can understand why they are the way they are, and watching them fall in love little by little was a wonderful experience. Ambrose made me laugh more than once with his unique personality, and I’m already looking forward to reading the final version of him. (Love him from the start💛🌻). I've got quite a shock with Renwick at the start, but it went really good afterwards.
Gotta say, I was a little nervous after seeing some of the author’s other works and how they tended to lean toward darker themes, but this cozy story was just perfect for me. Hope more people find it and love it too <3
July 28, 2026
I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, and my honest opinion is that I LOVED this book!
Ambrose is so petty and dry, I love him. While he may be the main character, the story isn't really ABOUT him, once you get past the inital bit. Things happen but it's not about him, it was never about him, and that is handled very well. A lot of stories feel like the main character is being yanked around by the plot, but Ambrose lets it wash over him then does something about it. He's tired, sure, but he's also angry and stubborn.
There is a cat. Patches is the best. The book is 10/10 just for Patches.
My only real critique is that the shift from animosity to friendship between Ambrose and Lowain felt a bit abrupt, and their relationship felt underdeveloped with Lowain as a character falling to the wayside.
Ambrose is so petty and dry, I love him. While he may be the main character, the story isn't really ABOUT him, once you get past the inital bit. Things happen but it's not about him, it was never about him, and that is handled very well. A lot of stories feel like the main character is being yanked around by the plot, but Ambrose lets it wash over him then does something about it. He's tired, sure, but he's also angry and stubborn.
There is a cat. Patches is the best. The book is 10/10 just for Patches.
My only real critique is that the shift from animosity to friendship between Ambrose and Lowain felt a bit abrupt, and their relationship felt underdeveloped with Lowain as a character falling to the wayside.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advance copy by the author!!!!
Thanks first of all for the opportunity! I liked this books characters and their struggles, I especially loved the dynamic between Ambrose and Ren.
But I also am very conflicted about the pacing, that another reviewer has already pointed out: it’s slow! Too slow sometimes!😅 would have been good if things were quickened a bit in my opinion. Also English is not my first language, so maybe I am not the most reliable source, but I struggled a week to finish it.
Overall is a very original work that I recommend particularly for those who enjoy a slow burn and rhythm
And curses!!!
Thanks first of all for the opportunity! I liked this books characters and their struggles, I especially loved the dynamic between Ambrose and Ren.
But I also am very conflicted about the pacing, that another reviewer has already pointed out: it’s slow! Too slow sometimes!😅 would have been good if things were quickened a bit in my opinion. Also English is not my first language, so maybe I am not the most reliable source, but I struggled a week to finish it.
Overall is a very original work that I recommend particularly for those who enjoy a slow burn and rhythm
And curses!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate enough to snag an ARC for this cute, fun story.
And boy, I was not expecting the depth and complexity of lore and worldbuilding here. My favorite by far was the magic system and the history of this world, the little tidbits scattered throughout kept me turning pages. The mystery was also really engaging and paced very well -- not too many hints too early, but I didn't end the book going "wait what?" There was actually a twist to it (no spoilers!) that I didn't really see coming, so that was a very pleasant surprise. The characters were all very distinct and the MC himself was relatable. All in all a super enjoyable read.
And boy, I was not expecting the depth and complexity of lore and worldbuilding here. My favorite by far was the magic system and the history of this world, the little tidbits scattered throughout kept me turning pages. The mystery was also really engaging and paced very well -- not too many hints too early, but I didn't end the book going "wait what?" There was actually a twist to it (no spoilers!) that I didn't really see coming, so that was a very pleasant surprise. The characters were all very distinct and the MC himself was relatable. All in all a super enjoyable read.
July 28, 2026
Wonderful story and a good read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When Yesterday Ends is the perfect read for cozy and magical summer nights...with a bit of mean skeleton.
I adored the setting of small town and forest mansion, of lingering magic and potions. The characters all have their own distinct voices (even when I wished Lysan hadn't but oh well) and it's incredibly easy to fall in love with Renwick. It's rare enough to have an actual sweet and good fae lord around, and Renwick definitely is exactly that.
I also enjoyed the slow burn and overall slower pacing. It fits the setting incredibly well, in a way mirroring the town's overall vibe of "It's always been this way and there's no need to change" where Ambrose (and Gwen) are the change that break old traditional ways.
The villain was well written as well, and I despise him. Obsession can lead to so many dangerous actions...
I adored the setting of small town and forest mansion, of lingering magic and potions. The characters all have their own distinct voices (even when I wished Lysan hadn't but oh well) and it's incredibly easy to fall in love with Renwick. It's rare enough to have an actual sweet and good fae lord around, and Renwick definitely is exactly that.
I also enjoyed the slow burn and overall slower pacing. It fits the setting incredibly well, in a way mirroring the town's overall vibe of "It's always been this way and there's no need to change" where Ambrose (and Gwen) are the change that break old traditional ways.
The villain was well written as well, and I despise him. Obsession can lead to so many dangerous actions...
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Many thanks to S. Jean for the chance to read it early!
I loved this so much. WHEN YESTERDAY ENDS is a bittersweet cozy fantasy with memorable characters, really neat magic, and a lovely romantic plot that had me giggling and kicking my feet on one page and weeping on the next. Equal parts heartwarming and kinda devastating, I know this book will stay with me for a while. I can’t recommend it enough if you enjoy a mid-paced low fantasy.
I loved this so much. WHEN YESTERDAY ENDS is a bittersweet cozy fantasy with memorable characters, really neat magic, and a lovely romantic plot that had me giggling and kicking my feet on one page and weeping on the next. Equal parts heartwarming and kinda devastating, I know this book will stay with me for a while. I can’t recommend it enough if you enjoy a mid-paced low fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews