Book review of The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

How true are the tales of King Arthur? How vast were the armies of Alexander? Beyond the swords, the monsters and the victories were—possibly, in the case of Arthur—real people. Does the story surpass the person? In Alix E. Harrow’s genre-hopping fantasy time warp The Everlasting, the answer is . . . complicated. One thing is for sure. Legends certainly do die, but what they leave behind is as immortal as a memory.

Owen Mallory, a professor of history, finds a book left on his desk. Of course, this isn’t uncommon at universities, but the problem is that this book doesn’t really exist. Or it shouldn’t, this untranslated copy of stories recounting the lives and deaths of Una Everlasting, The Red Knight, The Drawn Blade of the country of Dominion. How did this book come to him? Following an address found on a small business card, Owen finds himself face-to-face with Vivian Rolfe, the Minister of War, and receives a grave quest. Translate the text and, in so doing, create a beacon of hope for an ailing nation. Owen has loved stories and legends about Una since his childhood, so he readily accepts the mission. Then a letter opener pierces his hand, the blood dribbling over the book. The world tilts and dissolves. Owen awakens in a snowy wood, at the base of a yew tree. At his throat, a brilliant, shining sword. At the end of the sword, a woman. A knight. Someone he’s known forever.

The Everlasting rarely plays out the way you think it will. It fluidly morphs from sci-fi adventure to fantasy romance to something akin to political thriller during its tight 320-page length. Such is Owen’s whiplash as he too jerks across time and space. But the foundational relationship between Owen and Una blossoms solemnly and tenderly, always given the full stage when it deserves it. Though this is not strictly a fantasy romance, fans of love stories will find plenty to like here. Harrow supports the romance with an addictive time loop mechanic that subtly changes our understanding of the characters and their worlds. By the middle of the book, you’ll be rushing to see how Una and Owen’s story has changed based on new choices.

The Everlasting is brimming with soul and longing, especially between the lead characters. Time-travel lovers and romance devourers alike will be swept away. Dominion, an obvious doppelganger of mid-20th-century England, needs saving, and both Owen and Una more than live up to the task. Thankfully, here they are immortal, living and dying again with each flutter of a turning page.