Ivy Ever After

by Avalon George

Ivy's life is anything but a fairy tale. Hospitalized again with complications from cystic fibrosis, she's forced to miss her first school dance and the fresh start to middle school she'd been counting on.

When a mysterious nurse offers Ivy a way to make it to the dance, she finds herself transported to the magical kingdom of Hazelbrook. There, she discovers she's the lost princess destined to defeat the dragon terrorizing the realm. If she succeeds, she'll be granted one wish.

But Ivy isn't the only one after the wish, and her "stepsister lungs" make it hard to believe she's any kind of hero, much less a princess. With the help of her friends, both new and old, Ivy must face the dragon before Hazelbrook's happily ever after and the chance to get her own fairy tale ending are lost forever.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

Reviews

[Francesca Cefalù]

@scaffale.nomade on IG

Once upon a time …
That’s the way Ivy’s story begins, but it doesn’t really carry on as one would expect.
After following @avalon.writes' writing journey on Instagram, I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for her debut novel, Ivy Ever After, which is a middle grade fantasy story that explores the complex theme of life with a chronic illness. Her story is full of doubts, fears and many unfulfilled wishes, but is undoubtedly softened by a magical and enchanted world that even adults will grow fond of.
The main character, Ivy, has always lived with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that makes her life difficult compared to the one of her pears. Her only wish? Being a normal girl, being able to go to the school dance with her friends, intending never to return to those four walls of her hospital room.
But nothing goes as Ivy expected and, in a desperate attempt to go to the dance, she embarks on a magical journey into the world of Hazelbrook. In that world, she will discover the whimsical like atmosphere of Alice in Wonderland, courageous companions and an enemy to defeat. Every last one of those characters, even the most “evil” of them all, will be essential for Ivy’s journey, since they embody the protagonist’s fears, as well as her hopes and passions.
I particularly appreciated that the author didn’t force a happily ever after: she didn’t make Ivy’s disorder go away, but rather she gave the reader a more realistic and honest ending to her story. That’s exactly why I hope for this book to be found by many other young readers that are fighting battles like Ivy’s (even if invisible to the eye). I am sure that they will be encouraged by her story!
At their age, I would have surely cherished seeing myself being represented and I would have loved to enter the magical world of Hazelbrook.

[Haley]

Thank you so much to Avalon for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I wish I had had this book as a child. Though I don't have cystic fibrosis, I do have a medical condition that I will definitely be thinking of as a dragon from now on. One that could rear its ugly head at any time and just mess everything up. One that made it hard to feel "normal" as a kid at an age when all you desperately want is to fit in.

I wish I could go back in time and hand that kid this book - she would have felt so seen by every single word on its pages. She would have adored the magic within and maybe seen a little bit of magic in her own story.

This book was a masterpiece of a love (with a dash of hate) letter to chronic illness and how it derails lives. It was a story about finding strength through the mess that is illness - whether that strength is within yourself, your loved ones, or even just in the courage to rest. It was full of uncertainty, fear, joy, courage, and, above all, hope - just like life with chronic illness.

This is a magical book in so many ways, from the found family full of mythical creatures to the healing it so seamlessly did to my chronically ill soul.

[Raquel Minkel]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — if I could rate this higher, I would!

I had the absolute honor of being an ARC reader for this book, and as a medical girlie, there were so many moments where I could see a little bit of myself in Ivy. 🥹

This book was so beautifully written, and I can already picture school-aged kids absolutely LOVING it. Especially kids who are going through something that makes them feel different or left out—but honestly, even if they aren’t, I think there’s something here for everyone.

I especially loved Ivy’s humor early on, including the way she talks about becoming so desensitized to medical questions. It was such a fun and relatable way to bring humor into a story about something much deeper.

This book is magical in so many ways, and I absolutely loved watching Avalon’s journey with it. 💚

Thank you so much, Avalon, for letting me be part of this as an ARC reader. It has been so much fun to watch this book come to life, and I truly cannot recommend it enough.

If you have a kiddo who loves to read, definitely preorder this one!

[Milea Rice]

This is the most whimsical book I have ever read! I love the representation of cystic fibrosis in here. Ivy Ever After is one of those books that will forever stick with you. It feels like it was written for your inner child and learning how to be okay with things you cannot control. While reading I felt vibes of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. There are just so many fun characters that you get to meet. Wallace has to be my favorite character because he is the type of person (or bear) that will always be by your side and help you grow as a person. Everyone needs a Wallace in their life. I also was not expecting the twist near the end haha! But I do love how this book ended, it was very satisfying and made me tear up. Overall, you’re looking for something with whimsey, adventure, chronic illness representation, self reflection, moral themes, feisty mushrooms, dragons, and just a book to make you feel good after reading, then Ivy Ever After is the perfect read.

Thank you Avalon for letting me be an ARC reader. This was my first ever ARC that I’ve received. 💗

[Courtney Strom]

Ivy is a girl whose life is plagued with what-ifs and uncertainty but still allows herself to dream and believe in magic. She’s having yet another hospital stay when she adventures into the world of Hazelbrook, where she discovers that she could be the only one to defeat the dragon whose presence is wreaking havoc upon the citizens of Hazelbrook. Ivy also discovers that through the powers of friendship, great pancakes, and most of all, magic, she is capable of much more than she gave herself credit for.

This story has a magically mysterious quest, fun and unique sidekicks, a relatable main character, and a charm that makes you feel as though you’re the one who dances with fireflies and devours lilac bozaberry pancakes. Perfect for readers of all ages but especially for those who love fantasy and fairy tales.

A very magical and heartfelt thank you to Avalon for the arc and letting me be a beta reader!! It’s one of the greatest honors 💜✨

[Katie Lawliss]

I was selected as an ARC reader and I’m so thrilled I was! I loved this book, it was whimsical and fun while showing what it feels like to be a middle schooler with CF.

Ivy’s thoughts and feelings so perfectly match what I could’ve said myself at her age (as someone with CF). The sadness of missing a dance, overcommitting to things to not be left out, and feeling the strain your health has on your family is a hefty load for a young girl. Add in slaying a dragon and she’s got her hands full!

I loved the entourage she accumulated throughout the story! I think we could also use a little mushroom cheering us on, a teddy bear breaking teddy bear laws, and a wise rock formation!

This book balances the realty of being a middle schooler with CF with the fantasy of storybook villages and dragons- and the surprising overlap between the two.

P.S. I’m still giggling over “TFPs” and keep saying it to my husband hahaha

[Caroline]

Avalon George is a phenomenal writer and her book is one of the best I ever read. I would give this book six stars if I could. She conveys the struggles that surround chronic illness in such a natural way that young and old can understand. The main character Ivy doesn’t cure her illness but finds a way to go through life with it. Just like so many of us with chronic illnesses. Most of us won’t ever find a cure but we can learn to find enjoyment in our life even with our illnesses. This book is great for kids especially if they are dealing with things medically. I highly recommend reading this book. I loved it so much I had to buy a physical copy. It helped give me courage to face my own dragon and navigate my own chronic illness better than I have been lately. It’s a great read if you have an illness or if you want perspective on what it might be like for those who have illnesses.

[Kathy's little bookshelf]

ARC REVIEW (thank you Avalon!)

I wish, wish, wish this had been written when I was a girl! I think my girlhood would have been a little brighter if one of my heroines was Ivy. As a fellow chronically ill woman who has missed out on a fair share of life, dances and all, Ivy's story was just what I needed. A wonderful debut!

RATING: 5 bright stars!
WOULD I RECOMMEND: Absolutely! To old lovers of Emily Rodda's FAIRY REALM series, or anyone who needs a cosy evening with a little bit of magic.

[Amber Leigh]

This was so cute!!! I can just imagine little girls with chronic illness seeing themselves as powerful after reading this and it makes me so happy. It’s Alice in wonderland-esque in the universe. Portal takes the main character to Hazelbrook where she has to defeat the dragon. We meet lots of fun little creatures along the way, rescue her teddy bear and she even has a mushroom sidekick. Super cute. I was just grinning the whole time.

[Jackie]

This is the book I wish that I had growing up as a child with chronic health issues! It brings so much joy, whimsy, and inspiration to such real struggles! I truly enjoyed this book so much and am now craving some fluffy fortune-telling pancakes 🥰 Beautiful imagery, and helps show a different perspective to health fears for children and my own inner child.

[Héloïse Van Gemerden]

This was the cutest, most whimsical book I've ever read. Ivy is such a sweet girl, and realistically written. I loved it and didn't want it to end.
Avalon did such an amazing job at writing this. I'm forever obsessed🧚‍♀️