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For Ever

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"The Royal Sword is gone."

"Excuse me? Would you mind repeating that? I thought I heard you say you hid our most important heirloom."

A girl meets a dragon, a servant fights for her prince, a traveler with a secret finds a home, a soldier disobeys the rules in order to save the kingdom, and a queen journeys north to find out if she's truly fit to rule.

412 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2019

9 people are currently reading
346 people want to read

About the author

Cindy Paul

18 books93 followers

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5 stars
37 (43%)
4 stars
33 (38%)
3 stars
12 (14%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Nessa [October Tune].
693 reviews80 followers
December 25, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5
CAWPILE: 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 7.5 (6.64)

I had no idea this was actually a short story collection. It still kind of tells one story but through the perspectives of five different characters who all make cameos in the previous stories. I liked it, but I think I might have liked it better if it had been just one story with multiple perspectives perhaps. Loved the illustrations, though. Had to resist the urge to grab some colouring pencils and colour them in.
Profile Image for Rozanne.
36 reviews4 followers
April 11, 2020
This book had everything I love in a story: lgbt characters, fantasy, happy endings and just this lovely magical atmosphere throughout.
It's a collection of stories and the pov-character switches each time, but it's done so incredibly well. Reading from one character's pov provides a completely different view of the world than reading from another.
Really, these stories were like fairy tales. Tales of love and kindness and adventure with morals interwoven in them, all taking place in a world that I escaped into with such pleasure.

(Worth and Raid were my favourites... I will always be a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope haha)
Profile Image for Megan.
121 reviews
June 13, 2020
DFKJDSKLDFJK

This book is literally everything I've ever wanted in a fantasy and I cannot recommend it enough!! Seriously just read it!!
Profile Image for Marga Klaasen Bos.
10 reviews
May 17, 2020
Don’t judge a book by its cover, but you have to admit: this cover is wonderful! The beautiful look and lovely illustrations alone are reasons why I’d want it in my bookcase. I also love the different icons seperating the text in each story.

When I started reading I had to get used to the layout. Some sentences are broken off in the middle of the page, while the sentence isn’t finished, which was distracting. Nevertheless, I loved the book in the end! It’s exciting and compelling. The confusion of one of the characters really got to me. Worth and Raid are just to die for. Their chemistry made me all tingly inside and happy.

In each story we get to know a different character, which is nice and clear. Each story made me wonder what would happen next. It’s an easy to read, gripping adventure about people doing their own thing, doing what they love or what they have to do. There’s no: oh looky how brave she is, just because she’s a woman. Sometimes that emphasize annoys me. This really is a book where the journey counts and not the ending.
Profile Image for Moja.
167 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. I love the fact that the book consists of five different stories which coherent all together as one. The characters are really divers and the different stories give you insight in all of them. It really is a feel good book, with amazing illustrations, which I 100% recommend!
Profile Image for Amy Rijk.
182 reviews7 followers
April 18, 2020
Pretty solid collection of stories that tie together. It did take me a little bit to get into it. I like a lot of the ideas, sometimes the way it's written was a bit much for me, but I also wasn't bothered by it too much. I like a lot of the characters. The world has a lot of used potential with room to possibly expand upon. Eventhough a lot of the world was already shown, it felt like there was more to explore and I like that. The Stranger and the Secret was definitely my favourite with For Ever as a close second.
26 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2019
Love this book! Definitely recommend it!
The book is an easy read with fun short stories that are all in an orginal way connected with each other. I really love each character and I am happy to see some really good representation.

What makes this book stand out though is the way you see the characters develop just by really listening to others and by being open to new people and new experiences. In this way some really important topics are intertwined with the stories without making the book a dramatic or heavy read.
Profile Image for Lars Kuijpers.
42 reviews
June 13, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. It's got an interesting story, good flow and some characters that I'm honestly quite obsessed with at this point. The diverse set of characters, without their diversity being the whole point of the story, is also a breath of fresh air, especially in the fantasy genre. Switching point of view between them really helped this as well, giving you insight into all of them on a much more personal level, while still having enough room for an interesting overarching story to take place.

In short: it was cute, it was funny, it was thrilling, it was really good and I loved it.

Definite recommend :D
Profile Image for Anne-Marie ✨.
41 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2020
All I knew about this book before reading was that it was fantasy and lgbt, and those two things won me over. The book is separated into 5 different sections, with different stories that blend in together at the end. This is definitely a book where I would reread one story just to experience it again. I can't wait to read more from the author (I'm hoping to get her new book at Facts fall).
Profile Image for Emily.
108 reviews22 followers
June 13, 2019
I was very privileged in that I got to see this book at its many different stages of development and I must say that every iteration I've seen of these stories are wonderfully written and beautifully crafted and developed. Each story paints a vignette of a person in living in the kingdom and offers a unique perspective on a beautifully complex and magical world. You will certainly find yourself falling in love with each and every character in this book as you learn their hopes and dreams and fears while also getting lost in the easy and humorous banter between characters. What's more, this book is PACKED with diversity in terms of character personality, gender, sexual orientation, and world views without seeming as if the author is pandering to an audience.

To cut myself off before I write a novel, this book was simply amazing and you will be doing yourself a disservice by passing it up. This is Cindy's first book in what I know will be a long and wonderful career of writing and I, for one, and excited to see what comes next!
Profile Image for Renée Zonneveld.
24 reviews4 followers
June 20, 2019
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! LGBTQ+ characters doing normal fantasy stuff like meeting dragons, saving princes, finding important heirlooms. It is exactly what we all need in our lives! Reading this book just makes me feel happy and warm inside.
I really like the world and the story, but above all I love all the characters. Every single one is truly my baby and I would protect them with my life.

It was an absolute honor Cindy to work with you on this book and design all of the characters you wrote so well! I loved drawing all of them.
Profile Image for Jess.
17 reviews
September 23, 2019
This book was such a wonderful read. It’s extremely clever and every characters’ tale ties together at the end of the story! The characters were funny and relatable, the plot was extremely interesting and the vibe the author created for the story is unique and I loved it! I definitely recommend this book it’s getting its own spot in my Special Books shelf!
Profile Image for Cynthia.
64 reviews
March 8, 2020
This book was absolutely amazing. I haven't read such a heartwarming book in what feels like ages.
The five different story lines that are all connected is a trope I love and it was done great. It made some things a bit predictable, but you'll have that in every book.
The characters are all very diverse, every single one of them goes through their own struggles and character growth. Saga, who has been alone for so long discovered having friends isn't a bad thing (Especially when that friend is a dragon); Pid standing up for the people she loves; Keen, a kind and innocent person having to deal with superstition and racism while also trying to find his own path; Worth, who realizes that the superstition in his town and the way they treat foreigners is wrong and decides to change that(and lets not forget the enemies to lovers trope through fake dating, which are two things I'm weak for); And Ever, sweet, sweet Ever. Struggling with the responsibility of leading a kingdom. Something that was trusted upon her by her twin brother, without any training or her consent. In a short period of time she had to find her voice, her strength and learn to believe in herself.
Of course there were many more amazing and interesting characters with all their own story and debt.

Something that I really liked about this book was the wide variation on LGBTQ+ characters, I haven't read a lot of books yet where these get a decent representation (Except, well, fanfic, but that's different). However, there was one thing that wasn't entirely clear for me. In Pid's story, Ask thinks she is male. I don't know if that was because of an innocent misgendering from Ask's side, or was it because Pid is transgender? In which case it still was an innocent mistake, but I love the idea of Pid being transgender, so she will be in my mind until proven otherwise.

All with all I loved this book, from the world building, to the characters and the plot. Yes, it was a bit childlike and predictable at times- and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of everyone getting together with their love interest- But still, this was a wonderful, feel-good book and I'm glade I bought it at DCC without really thinking it through.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Britta :).
17 reviews
October 12, 2021
This book has an amazing casual lgbtqia+ representation and the stories are like little fairytales, whom all come together in the endstory! I made a list with the things I love the most about this book:

- The genderneutral names for everyone and that when the gender of someone wasn't confirmed yet, they used they/them pronouns
- That all the stories came together, not only at the end but also in the first 4 stories!
- That the stories felt a little like "modern" (not really modern in the story itself though) fairytales to me
-That you can read the title 'For Ever' in 2 different ways after you finish this book
- I loved the short paragraphes and it sometimes made me feel like reading a poem :)
- I loved every character, their personalities were really cool and the friendships/relationships were adorable :D
- That the fact that the characters were LGBTQIA+ wasn't highlighted (like the struggles or coming out stories etc) they were just telling their adventures and more books should have that I think!

And this wasn't a little list at all but that's okay haha :) but I really really loved this book!! I hope you are excited about it now as well hehe!
Profile Image for Maddie.
66 reviews
August 18, 2019
I LOVED this book!! Every character was so different and unique. They all learned some sort of valuable lesson whether it was about themselves or each other... and I absolutely loved how each story was woven together! It's beautifully enchanting and it's hard to not love each character and their adventures.
Profile Image for Thijs.
6 reviews
March 11, 2020
This was very fun to read. I really enjoyed the format of different smaller stories creating one whole in the end. The characters made the story even more enjoyable. They were diverse, bold and sometimes sexy. It was also amazing being able to follow the whole writing journey from original prompt to a filled storage with books and goodies. Keen is my baby!
7 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2020
I read this fairly quick (over a couple of weeks spread because work is demanding all of my free reading time). It took form in a couple of short stories each focused on a character and their path towards a relationship. And the events were all interconnected. I had never read something like that before and I really liked it. Some characters (Keen, Raid, Pid and not to forget the dragon) I absolutely adored and would have loved to see more off. I already read people notice the rain by the same author and I will purchase the other short stories that she has published as well soon. And not to forget the sequel to people notice the rain when that is out.
Profile Image for Nikki colycoffee.
4 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2021
finished this in 2 weeks (just havent been on goodreads in ages....) . its an easy read and the writing is beautiful. the illustrations makes it all complete. beautiful story, everyone should read this :)
Profile Image for Karina Lindhjem.
7 reviews
February 13, 2020
I cried and I laughed and overall this book was so amazing I didn't want to put it down! Definitely one of the best books I have ever read and the beautiful illustrations made it all come to life! Thank you
Profile Image for Laura García-conde fernández.
3 reviews11 followers
November 22, 2019
This was such a lovely book.

Every character was relatable in their own unique way and very easy to love. They walk paths of self-discovery, recognising their flaws and learning from them. Fighting prejudices (even your own) takes central stage in these five stories.

Magic is presented in a very subtle way, always there but never the focus, which was nice and helped keep the stories grounded and real. The world is detailed but simple and believable.

My only objection is not about the book itself but the description I read that made me expect a single story about a girl and a dragon. I was sad to lose Saga and then Pid as main characters, until it was clear it was a collection of stories and I learned to treasure the new perspectives.

Basically: loved the book, would read anything by this author.
2 reviews
January 3, 2020
It was really easy to read and also very entertaining. A great book.
Profile Image for laura.
2 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book! I'm not a big fan of short stories, since I find it hard to really connect with the characters and to dive into the world they live in. This wasn't the case this time! I read it in one day, because the stories were just beautiful and gripping and I couldn't put it down. It is full of strong and unique characters, which you can't help but fall in love with. I really enjoyed getting to know them from different perspectives and to see them grow and become more complex as you join them on their adventures.
I especially loved Pid! She is such a funny and adorable, as well as relatable, character! She made me laugh out loud and cheer for her whenever she struggled.
Profile Image for Valeria.
142 reviews
June 15, 2019
This is simply a wonderful story. I am someone who usually doesn't enjoy books made up of multiple short stories but I enjoyed this one immensely. The stories are all connected and draw you in quickly, making you guess at connections and gasp at reveals. But more than anything this story just has a lot of heart. You fall in love with the characters and the various ways people find each other and themselves. It will make you laugh and sigh and get emotional, and marvel at the beautiful and clever ways Cindy weaves together words and sentences. A lot of thought and careful consideration went into this book and it shows. It's a worthy read for anyone who loves fantasy or LGBTQ+ stories with a lot of amazing representation. It is also illustrated beautifully, adding an extra something and making the story come alive in your hands. You will not regret giving it a chance.
Profile Image for Daniekkaltes.
4 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has a wonderful fairytale-esque atmosphere. It's a collection of five short stories, so each story is a bit simple, but enjoyable and satisfying nonetheless.
The stories feel very closely connected because of the overarching theme, the overlap in the characters, and the fact that each preceding story influences the next.
I found the characters well thought out and distinct from each other, even though you don't get to spend much time with each.
207 reviews2 followers
October 13, 2023
From now on this is one of my favorite books in like ever! I loved the short stories, the poetic sentences, and how it al comes to a whole at the end. I love love loved the diverse characters, the friendships, the couples and ofcourse the ending ❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Susan.
2 reviews
September 6, 2019
Omg it is so good! I love the lgbt+ in this book it was just so cute.
Profile Image for Mus.
71 reviews4 followers
August 4, 2020
Where do I start?

No really, honestly, seriously: where do I start explaining how brilliant this book is? How happy it made me and how much the story sucked me in?
I've got not a clue, but here's to trying!

My journey with this book started on the day I got my hands on it, without knowing where it came from. No one has admitted to ordering this book for me, so I've settled on the explanation that I did it myself and forgot about it (which seems unlikely, but I couldn't tell you what else could've happened).

I started reading this big big book that fit perfectly in my small vintage bag, and I took it with me wherever I went, for about a week, and finished it too quickly for my tastes.
Don't get me wrong: The whole story (beginning, middle and ending) is very complete and I wouldn't change a thing about it, but...I wanted more and more and more. I wanted to keep reading this forever.
I'm starting to realise that's not just because of this particular book/story, but that it's also an effect Cindy Paul seems to have on me. I really 'vibe' with their writing style, and it's a wondrous feeling.

The representation in this book is once again done with such love and care, it always feels like a breath of fresh air. I loved the contrast between the inclusivity and the sometimes ignorant and stubborn way of thinking you encounter in this story.

This book made me really happy, and without a doubt deserves my 5 stars.


So, ready to talk about the actual story after all this rambling? Yea? Great! (I'm doing most of this from memory and I'm dreadful with names, but know that I'm doing my best)

We start our journey with our first person of interest ''Saga''! Saga's narration is a very interesting one, and I was delighted to see her outside of it as well. Even though I needed a bit more time to become smitten with this book, Saga's part kept me intrigued and built a solid foundation to fall deeply in love with they entirety of the story.

The second narrator is Pid. And let me tell you: Pid is the best. Pid kicks ass. And if she doesn't, I'll kick ass for her happiness. Her story and interactions were so important to me (feels a bit strange admitting to that). And can we also just talk about the whole "I might regret this, but I'm going to do it anyway'' thing? I screamed.

3rd up is Keen who is a total sweetheart. You know that fancy word ''Endearing''? I'm pretty sure it was invented to be able to describe what Keen does to people's heartstrings. There's so much development in this narration, and it's heartbreakingly wonderful to see such a positive person run into such ignorant behaviour in a strange new place and have this weight of being a good and dutiful child to their parents whilst wanting to stray from that path altogether.

4th narration goes to the Baker's boy. I was so hoping he'd be in the narration cycle, so I was delighted he was actually a part of it! This one was so beautifully done as well, and, I must admit, quite sexy. I loved that self-reflection was a big theme here and my heart broke for Raid. Worth had some work to do, but I'm pretty sure he came through in the end and at least showed the motivation to look at the world with different eyes.

Then our last one, where so many elements of our other stories start overlapping and coexisting and where the ending knocks you completely off your feet and even folds your socks for you after losing them to this bizarre sensation that's called ''A good book''.

It's so difficult for me to explain how much the story, the characters, the inclusivity, the plot, and not to forget: the writing style really made me love this book. But I tried.

SO: 5 ducking stars to this gentle giant book with all my love <3
Profile Image for Jinte Kastelein.
2 reviews
February 21, 2025
I love that there's a different type of relationship in every story.

Saga and Ever's took time and work. Their personalities also clashed immensely.

Pid is a hopeless romantic and Ask oblivious as hell, LMAO. It was professional at first, but it was very sweet.

Serene acts tough, but he couldn't help but warm up to Keen's charm and class. Their relationship felt very genuine to me. I liked theirs the most. It gave me a 90's vibe with the classy language Keen used.

And then it did a whole 180 with Worth and Raid's enemies to lovers type relationship. Raid being much more of a tease than the other characters created a nice balance and kept it interesting to read about a new love story each time. :)))
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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