The debut novel by this author, and one that is definitely worth a read if you are into witches, ancient curses, and supernatural powers. As the heroine, Stella approaches her eighteenth birthday, she has no idea of the curse on the women in her family that is about to be activated. Nor does she realise that no one in her strange, extended family is quite what they seem, or that even her best friends have been keeping secrets from her.
The novel kicks off with quite a jump – literally – and the reader is plunged instantly into the world of Stella as she tries to make sense of an ever-confusing world. The character of Stella is believable and relatable in that she is so “teenager”. She is at times incredibly mature for her years and capable of making sensible decisions. Then at other times, she behaves in such a rash and reckless manner that I was left rolling my eyes about idiot teenagers who didn’t think their actions through.
The hero, or should that be anti-hero, Alaric, is everything you want a hero to be. Drop-dead gorgeous, brooding, rich, powerful, immortal, and, of course, a supernatural being of awesome power, dubious ethics, and questionable motives.
So far, so predictable. But then nothing is quite as it appears in this novel, and characters refuse to be cliched or put into boxes. Those you believe evil turn out to have softer sides and moral codes, and those you assume to be on the side of good, turn out to have hidden agendas and dark souls.
All in all, EverWish is a fun and engrossing read. The pages turn easily, and the story draws you in right until the last page. There are some touching moments, and one truly shocking plot twist in the middle that had me rereading the page in disbelief. Very well formatted and presented, the writing is lovely and flows nicely. I will certainly be keen to read the next book in the series as soon as it is published.