I don't know about you, but I'm still recovering from that wild and crazy party we had. Thanks again for everyone who stopped by, especially those of you who came back every day!
As a special bonus, here are #8-10 of my favorite Character Playlist songs. (Who does a Top 7 Countdown, after all? Everyone knows they count those in tens, sheesh.)
Congratulations, Mahogany! An email has been sent your way with the details.
Now shoo! Go on, get back to reading Of Enemies and Endings! And when you're finished, you can hit my review video and tell me what you thought about it. (Because I love to hear that kind of stuff. ^_^)
Thanks again for being such a fantastic part of the Blog Party.
Can you believe Of Enemies and Endings hits the shelves tomorrow? Whose already pre-ordered a copy? We're going to bring The Ever Afters finale in right. Today, we're sharing pet theories and predictions of what's going to happen before the end.
Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour. #2 in the Character Playlist Countdown is something you'll want to have on hand when you start reading OEAE. Apres Moi by Regina Spektor comes from Solange's playlist. It's intense, unpredictable, moving, and operatic. It's flamboyant and frightening at the same time, like The Snow Queen herself.
(It's also fun to pair it with Hero
by Regina Spektor, a song on Rory's playlist. Ms. Bach talked about how
much it helped her write the characters for the villain and hero to
have complimentary songs by the same artist.)
Quote of the Day
Of Enemies and Endings Predictions
Some of you know that I've already read and reviewed OEAE, but don't panic. These are predictions I wrote up before then, I just decided to save them for the Blog Party! In other words, they're still spoiler-free.
Hold onto your hats, because these are all...intense.
Solange will attempt to prove once and for all that Rory is just like her. She's already stated as much throughout the series, like in OWAW (pg 352) "I was the direction your life was headed...you would have become me, if you had lived." I suspect this will happen by Solange attempting to draw a final parallel between her and Rory.
This final parallel could be tragic. Possibly involving Chase. Consider this other line from OWAW (pg 50) when Rory finds Sebastian "The stone soldier was looking sidelong, a sad smile forever frozen around his mouth, his shoulders hunched forward -he'd been protecting something when the spell had hit him, something precious. Or maybe someone."
Someone will try to revive Sebastian.
We'll get to find out more about Solange and her Tale and her journey to becoming evil.
So there are some of my predictions for Of Enemies and Endings.
What about your favorite pet theories? Share them now! Haley R:
Sebastian will be unfrozen and will have some part in the Snow Queen's demise.
Hansel will die.
The Snow Queen's heart is in a box and by finding the box, Rory or someone will kill her.
This isn't exactly mine but I agree with it. I think that Adelaide will be using the wishing coin to influence Chase in some way.
Sherah will get legs or something that gives her legs.
Aurora H:
I have a pet theory that I don't think can actually canonically come to pass, but I'll share it anyway.
That
a member of the Canon will give up their golden apple during the war to
a fatally injured person, and then go out on the battlefield and die.
My
top candidate is the Director, going out to confront Solange. Cue the
emotional drama, friendship and betrayal talk, and Mildred gets a blast
of ice to the heart.
Second choice is Hansel, who saves Rory from impending doom, and dies with a remark about her swordwork.
Both
of those would likely turn to dust before being able to confront, but
that would still be feelsy enough, just them giving up their apple. In
my opinion.
So many possibilities!
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party!
giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce
the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.) You can tweet daily for even more chances to win!
So glad you're back! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. It's Day 5, here at The Ever Afters Blog Party!, and the weather is looking sunny with a chance of fangirling. I have something super, super cool for you today, so let's get started!
Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour. It's an unfortunate truth that people in your life are going to judge you, whether they have the right to or not. I was experiencing a situation like this when I first really listened to #3 in the countdown, That's Alright by Laura Mvula from Lena's Playlist. There was a line that reached out and grabbed me.
Who made you the center of the universe?
Who made you judge and jury over me?
Now this is one of my fighting songs. I turn it up when I feel like I'm being judged unfairly or that I'm not meeting the approval of someone whose opinion shouldn't matter to me any way. Plus, it's such a fun and bouncy beat!
Quote of the Day:
What is your Favorite Scene or Moment in the series so far?
I had to pick two:
My first favorite scene is the ending from Of Witches and Wind. The adventure is over, things are getting back to normal, Rory figured out how best to stand up to her homeroom bullies -and then Chase shows up. Given that a good chunk of the story line was focused on Rory's fear that she didn't matter as much to her friends as they did to her, that moment that Chase walks into her homeroom class in the midst of Madison and her KATs makes me giddy. Every. Time. Forget the Chaurora factor; Chase is just an awesome friend.
"So? Good surprise or bad surprise?"
"Good surprise. Definitely good."
-page 386
Of course, I have to say the scene at Titania's ball in Of Sorcery and Snow.
"Rory, your shoes look the least dangerous." Chase grabbed my hand. His palms were hot. "You're with me." -page 108
Chase is so adorable, trying not to be obvious, and Rory's mostly clueless.
It wasn't the enchantment. Chase is what made me like this so much.
page 111
It's just so perfect and awkward and adorable!
I realize these are both basically Chaurora scenes. I didn't think I was quite that obsessed about the pairing, but I know if I were to list my favorite scenes in OGAI and OEAE, they would be centered on Chase and Rory too. Hopefully, the more I read the series, the more favorite moments and characters I'll find. That's the best thing about a series that's still so much fun the fourth or fifth or even fiftieth time -you'll be in a different place in your life, with a different mindset, so you'll always find a new favorite part.
Clare R
My favorite scene/moment is… well, besides Chapter 7… Rory had just
killed Mark, and was really depressed, and then Chase comforted her with
his story and the world turned right again XDXDXD. It was a simple
moment, but revealed a lot about Chase’s character and was just so
Chaurora.
See? It's not just me. Chaurora. ;)
Jon T.
My
favorite scene is when Rory and Chase face off with the dragon in its
cave in Yellowstone. For a novice, and her first encounter with a
dragon, Rory did a kickin job of responding to the dragon's attack and
saving Chase and herself. Way to go Rory. Then George dispatched the
dragon. What a team.
What's better than talking with fellow Characters about your favorite scenes? Hearing what the author's favorite scenes are. ^_^ Shelby Bach stopped by to share a few of her all-time favorite scenes from the series, so sit back and enjoy!
~*~
It’s impossible for me to
pick one all time favorite scene in the series, so instead, I selected a
handful! (Disclaimer: These picks are FULL of spoilers….)
Of Giants and Ice
The scene at the end of
Lena’s Tale, when Jimmy Searcaster climbs on to the beanstalk, trying to catch
the Triumvirate, and helping Chase down, she knows they won’t make it down in
time.
You can click on the image to enlarge it!
This was one of the first
scenes I imagined for the series, and I looked forward to writing it the WHOLEtime I was drafting Of Giants and Ice.
Of
Witches and Wind
The scene in the Glass
Mountain, right after Rory and Chase rescue Ben, when Mia is chasing them.
I can’t read this part
without giggling!
Of Sorcery and Snow
The scene when Chase uses
that wishing coin in the Snow Queen’s dungeon.
This scene was not in the outline. Actually, I didn’t
realize how important it would to be the book—to Chase’s character development
in general—until the idea struck me one Sunday.
I planned to just jot down
some notes on some index cards. I ended up filling eleven with the whole scene.
It didn’t even need much revising in the next few drafts.
Of Enemies and Endings
Ahhh, so many favorites! And
I can’t share any of them in detail, because they are major spoilers. So, I’ll
just have tell you where they are in the book:
The last six pages of Chapter 13: They never fail to make me
emotional.
Lena on pages 361 and 362: Lena
proves—yet again—that she is made of awesome.
The library and courtyard
scenes at the end of Chapter 23: The day after I finished the first draft of OE&E, this scene was still bugging
me. So, I went back and rewrote it, and now, I grin whenever I reread it.
~*~
A big thanks to Ms. Bach for playing along! Now who is UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED to read Of Enemies and Endings?!
Two days.
That's it.
Just TWO. DAYS.
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party!
giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce
the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.) You can tweet daily for even more chances to win!
They were tired out from their adventures, so I used my sly photo-taking skills to get some close-ups of the details. You can see Lena's hair is actually braided and strung with beads; Rory has a tiny patch of the Ever After School crest; Chase even has pockets on his cargo pants; Rory's sweatshirt was made with exacting detail; need I even mention HOW AWESOME LENA'S CONVERSE ARE?! Each doll bears the Lazy Blue Daisy trademark on the back of their foot. ^_^
It's day three already! And do you know what that means? Five days to Of Enemies and Endings! Top 7 Countdown All songs are derived from the Character Playlists featured during an Ever Afters blog tour I participated in last November. #5 comes from Solange's playlist. I fell in love with her songs, because they all had such bursting music, powerful singing, and a quality both gorgeous and haunting. The World is Not Enough by Garbage, in particular, is eerie and stunning. Before you go any further, experience the chill factor and gear up for Solange's final move on June 30th.
Quote of the Day:
Of Witches and Wind, pg 175
This is still one of my favorite Chase lines. He's just like, Gosh, Rory, you found out my big secret a day ago and YOU ALREADY FORGOT?
Favorite Character
So who's your favorite character? Or maybe your top two, if you can't narrow it down. ;)
You might have gotten the hint, but my favorite, hands down, has always been Chase Turnleaf. I first liked him because he's funny and cocky, but even in the beginning of OGAI, you could tell there was a good kid under the jerk side -somewhere. I loved watching his and Rory's friendship develop up the beanstalk; it's still one of my favorite storytelling bits of ALL TIME, seeing them go from enemies to best friends.
As the series develops, I love his fierce devotion to his friends. He might make fun of Lena and Rory sometimes, but he doesn't let anybody else say bad things about them, and he'll defend them from anybody, even his idolized dad. He's not only self-confident, but he's confident about his friends. He pushes them to be better, because he knows what they're capable of, and he builds their own self-confidence. He's half coach, half cheer squad, and he definitely makes Rory a better person (and vice versa). His personal development in OWAW blows me away every time. To see what he was and what he became, to know what he went through to fight for what he wanted. The fact that after all that, he can still laugh and look at the world with so much optimism shows such incredible personal strength. Plus, wings. And magic. And a secret back story. Story magic, right there. And, okay, he's totally sweet with Rory. Do I need to bring up OSAS chapter 7 again? Not only that, he acts as a pillar for Rory. He makes her laugh, he pushes her to be the best she can, but he supports her, too, and he usually knows what to say to make her feel better or make sense of things. He can simultaneously protect her and support her and I love that.
May V. says:
My favourite character is Rory Landon because no matter what challenges
she faces, whether it's in the fairytale world or in the real world, she
does whatever it takes to do the right thing. Sometimes Rory just
freezes and stands there, unsure of what to do, but she always pushes
away her fears in the determination to help others.
I also admire her because I feel that I can relate to her. She used to
feel that the life she was living wasn't actually the life she was
supposed to live. But when she tried something new, her life became more
exciting for her.
I admire Rory for her bravery, selflessness, kindness, understanding,
determination, and strength. Hopefully, one day, I can be like her.
To be like Rory Landon is a good goal indeed! She's got so many fantastic traits and -I have to agree, May- she's easy to relate to. Watching her deal with her fears and insecurities helps me face my own. This is one reason I plan to give this series to all of my niblings (nieces and nephews) because Rory Landon especially, but also so many of the other characters, would be spectacular role models for kids. Plus, they're just darn good books!
And this just in from Brookanna:
My favorite character in the Ever After series is Chase. Putting aside the whole part-fae thing (which is awesome), Chase is a great, relatable character. He wants things that most people want - popularity, a reputation, pretty girls…and while he sometimes loses sight of what's really important, it doesn't take much to remind him that loyalty and heroism are more worthwhile in the long run. As the series continues, he develops into a stronger character with a more accurate moral compass, kind of the way we all hope to develop in our own lives. Another great aspect to Chase's character is the way he wants to distinguish himself after living in his father's shadow. He wants so badly to make his mark, but to a large extent he feels like his destiny is out of his control (a feeling most of us can relate to). Chase doesn't wallow in self-pity - he exercises discipline and develops the skills that he will need when he does get his big chance, so that when his Tale does come, he is ready for it, and ready to make the most of it.
What she said. ^^ Chase Turnleaf for the win!
Ever Afters Dolls Giveaway Don't forget to enter the Blog Party! giveaway. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, and I'll announce the winner the next day. (Giveaway open only to US residents.)
Apparently Chase convinced them to scale the bookshelves using yarn as rope. He didn't realize this form doesn't have wings. Poor Chase. Still not sure how he convinced Rory to climb up...
Welcome to the second day of the glorious festivities! Here's your party hat.
Top 7 Countdown The playlist for Chase Turnleaf is, hands down, my favorite. You'll see a lot of those songs on this countdown. First up, at #6, Kings of Leon with Use Somebody:
Quote of the Day:
Of Giants and Ice, pg 340
For today's fan project, we'll be analyzing the individual books to answer one very specific question. Which one is your favorite so far? I know it's hard. There's so many good parts in all of them!
Personally, my favorite has to be Of Witches and Wind. I still can't get over the reveal of Chase's secret, and the dramatically different side of him we get to see here. This development, and how it pushes and challenges Rory, still blows me away, three rereads later. Plus, they get stuck in Atlantis together and get some more bonding time, which I love. There's also the other side of the story, with Rory and her dad, and how it's so perfectly integrated into the fairy tale side. I've always loved that Rory had to step out of Atlantis and finish part of the quest in Hollywood, and it heaps so much more on to her emotional development to have all that stuff happening at once. I feel like it has a lot more drama with Chase's side of the story, but it still retains all it's fun qualities. Basically, things are starting to get serious, but they're not too serious yet. Add in Chatty, Ben, their awesomely corny jokes, IRON HANS, and my very favorite scene at the end where Chase walks into her homeroom class -yep. OWAW is my favorite. ;)
What's Your Favorite Book?
Aurora H. says
Favorite book is so very difficult. But I'd have to say OWAW. Because
though OSAS was the most heartbreaking emotional rollercoaster OWAW's
character and plot development blows me away every time I read it. 'Nuff
said.
Clare R
My favorite book of the series is Of Sorcery and Snow. The reason: Chaurora. There are other reasons, but that one’s very prominent.
And from Haley R
My favorite book of the series is Of Witches and Wind,
which is funny because for the longest time it was my least favorite
book. It was just that I had figured out the Chatty and Mia thing in
the first few chapters, so I always thought it was blatantly obvious.
It's not, but that always annoyed me a bit. When I've reread it
recently, though, I realized what a masterfully written book it is. So
much happens in the book and it never really even occurred to me. In Of
Giants and Ice, Rory was a strong character, but in Of Witches and Wind
she's even stronger. She is completely integrated in EAS, and it
shows. She is comfortable there, and though she probably doesn't know
as much as Chase, she can find her way around fairly well. It's also
the book where Chase's big secret (one of them anyway) is revealed.
With the information that he's half-Fey in my mind, I'm reading OGAI
and noticing things I never really counted as important, but now it's
obvious that it is actually about his heritage. Another part I found
interesting is that OWAW focuses on Rory's dad and Brie and her
relationship with them. In the first book, the two characters are
mentioned but they don't really have a large role. We get to see the
other side of Rory's family and watch her grapple with the fact that her
dad is engaged and didn't even tell her. Rory also thinks that she's
not strong enough to battle the Snow Queen, but she not faces her fears
and doubts, she beats them.
Another important part of Of Witches and Wind is the
introduction of a sort of gray area. In Of Giants and Ice, everything
is pretty black and white. The Snow Queen is bad, EAS is good. Pretty
simple. In OWAW, though, it becomes a little more complicated than
that. First, Chase and Rory meet Iron Hans. Considered one of the worst
villains, they are surprised to find that he is actually... nice. He
says that he was once friends with Solange, which is why he helped her.
He also has the tale of the White Snake which reminds me of Evan and
the problems he had with his Tale. This lends a bit of familiarization
to him and helps with sympathizing. Then, they learn about the Snow
Queen's past. She was not always the horrible person they now know.
Her sister is Rapunzel, whom Rory is fairly close to and really likes.
Solange's mother died when she was younger, in the French Revolution,
and both of her best friends were taken away when she was sixteen. That
would be enough to make anyone bitter. They begin to realize that
everything isn't always going to be clear-cut and even the people they
thought were terrible might just be perceived that way, or it could be
because of their circumstances
Sorry, that was really long.
No apologies necessary! This is a Blog Party; if we can't fangril here, where could we?
This giveaway will end on the 30th of June and I will announce the lucky winner on the 1st of July. The giveaway is only open to residents of the US.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Rory, Chase, and Lena have been getting a little antsy waiting for the outcome. They've taken to exploring my room when I'm not around. This is how I found them when I got home from work yesterday.
Rory: No, Chase, you can't take the giant sword home. Chase: Finders, keepers, Rory. This'll look awesome hanging on my wall!
Welcome, one and all! It's time to get this party started.
Top 7 Character Songs Countdown
A while back, you might remember the Ever Afters Blog Tour that passed through here. I had the great pleasure of sharing the musical playlists that helped Ms. Bach create her Characters. Let's just say I became slightly addicted. Fittingly, the soundtrack for this Blog Party! will be my Top 7 favorites from these playlists.
So before you go any farther, cue the music!
From the playlist of Rory Landon, here's #7.
Quote of the Day
Of Giants and Ice, pg 136
Today's lineup is FANART. And just look at what magnificent fan art it is! All that time and effort and love! I wish I could draw half this well, but I guess some people are fan artists and some people throw online party bashes to show off all the fan artists' magnificent work. ;)
This is as close as I get to fan art.
First up, we have some shipping magic with the best mermaid couple since Disney's The Little Mermaid. Next to Chaurora, Ben and Chatty are my favorite pair. A lot of that probably has to do with their love of cheesy jokes. I mean, have you seen my Corny Joke of the Week in the sidebar?
I LOVE stylized quotes, and these two from Chase in Of Sorcery and Snow are gorgeous. One for the heart-fluttering 'awwww' factor, and one for the funny bone.
From the drawing board of Hannah C.
I stumbled across this Chase and Rory while Googling and I'm so, so happy it turned out to be one of the contributions! Dancing together at the ball, which is only one of my very favorite moments. *sigh* Aren't they so cute together?
Sorry, is my Chaurora showing?
By that spectacular talent, Jolie J!
Anyone else have chills from this one?
The Tale of Rory Landon, a Haley R. original!
Aren't these absolutely MAGNIFICENT?!
From the upcoming Lazy Blue Daisy
Remember how I said I'm not great with art? Pretty sure that's because
my sister got all the crafty/drawing mojo. She continues to astound me
with her limitless artistic ability, but these dolls really take the
cake. She's already made a Link and Zelda pair (plus chicken) and a 10th
Doctor, but when she asked what I wanted most of all? No contest. Now I have my very own Triumvirate.
Who doesn't love that scene after Rory kills for the first time and Chase comforts her? Now you can see it illustrated.
From the pencil of Clare R.
I was completely blown away by this piece. And then I noticed the reflection in the sword. Equal parts gorgeous, exciting, and chilling. If you weren't excited for the finale yet, you will be now! An-ti-ci-pa-tion...
courtesy of Fiona R.
Last but not least...
This is a picture of Shelby Bach's Reader Art Wall, full of fanart sent in by her readers, and I have to say they're fantastic. Any of the artists here today?
GIVEAWAY!
You didn't think I forgot about this part, did you? Of course not! I've been planning this giveaway for months, and I can't wait to show you.
Drum roll, please!
One set of those freaking fantastic Ever Afters dolls. That's your own personal Chase Turnleaf, Rory Landon, and Lena LaMarelle, right out of the pages!
That's right! These three beauties right here want to come over to your house.
The giveaway ends at midnight on the 30th of June and I'll announce the winner on the 1st of July, amidst the revelry of finally getting your hands on a copy of Of Enemies and Endings. The giveaway is only available to residents of the US.
Thank you all so much for stopping by for the party's kick-off! If you have fanart of your own to share, just put a link in the comments; I'm sure everyone here can't have enough Ever Afters fanart.
Join us tomorrow to talk about yourFavorite Bookin the series.
The final book of my favorite series -The Ever Afters by Shelby Bach- is due out at the end of this month. I've decided to give it a proper send-off. And what better way to welcome in the finale than by celebrating everything we love about the series?
June 23-30, here on my blog, I will be hosting
The Ever Afters Blog Party!
It will be a time for Ever After fans, the self-dubbed Characters, to discuss, reminisce, and anticipate all through the week leading up to the publication of Of Enemies and Endings (June 30). There will be a giveaway, and it's an 'Oh my gumdrops' kind of giveaway, if I do say so myself.
So what I need is some Character participation. In the words of Uncle Sam, "I want you." Yes, YOU.
You can contribute
to as few or as many of the topics as you'd like. Hopefully, all
contributions will be included in the respective blog posts, but it will
depend on the volume of contributions received.
Deadline
for contributions is June 18, but if you miss it, you can stop by the
blog and share your thoughts in the comments. That is, after all, what
comments were made for.
Topics:
Fan art
-Open call for Ever Afters fanart. All selected art will be featured on
the blog, along with the artist's name. Be sure to include the
artist name/handle and link you want listed with the fanart.
Who's Your Favorite Character and Why?
What is Your Favorite
Scene/Moment?
What's Your Favorite Book of the Series?
Who is Your Favorite Character
to Despise and why?
OE&E Predictions -Share your pet theories about anything and everything that might happen in the finale.
Why do you love the
series? What makes it special to you?
Just email me
(toreadandreview[at]gmail[dot]com) with the subject 'OE&E Blog
Party'; indicate the topic/topics and share your thoughts.
This is going to be loads of fun, fellow Characters! Let's bring in the conclusion to The Ever Afters with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves!
(For the sake of clarity, this is not associated with the publisher, author, or series.)
Of Enemies and Endings by Shelby Bach The Ever Afters, bk 4 MG/Fantasy 5+/5 stars
No worries; no spoilers! I don't give anything away, but I do reference events from previous books. Also, this being the last book in my favorite series, I'm entitled to a little fangirling. Or a lot. At least some. Right. Here we go.
So much angst! So
much anxiety! So much fun!
I can't remember the last time I was this invested in a book. You
know those jokes about book hangovers and readers not caring about
reality because they're entirely consumed by a fictional universe?
This is that book. I still haven't recovered. I finished it two weeks
ago and I'm reading a new book and I still just want to think about
this one.
Spoilers for Of Enemies and Endings
will be avoided with this review, but I have to warn you that once
you start this book you really shouldn't put it down. (And definitely
not at chapter 18. ESPECIALLY not at chapter 18. That crushed my soul
for a whole weekend.)
Of Enemies and Endings is the
final book of The Ever Afters series. Everything is coming to a head
and everything has changed for Rory. At the end of the last book, she
finally told her parents about Ever After School and it's fun to see
her family dealing with this. I loved Amy, and it's great
seeing her family adjust not only to this new world, but who Rory is
in this new world. I will admit, I've become increasingly impatient
with Maggie, Rory's mom, as the series progresses but that's a clear
sign of just how well she's portrayed. How do you think an
overprotective mother is going to react to this stuff?
And then there's
Chase. Whose position changed at the end of the last book. You all
know what I'm talking about. I'm just going to say this development
adds substantially to the emotional roller
coaster ride.
Now a warning. Of Enemies and Endings
is a lot more serious than the others. The series has gradually
become so, with higher stakes each book, but this one really takes
the cake. Usually, we have the fun banter of the Characters
-specifically Chase- to keep things more light-hearted and upbeat.
Well. Bach doesn't drop the jokes cold turkey, but as tensions rise
and the deadline for Rory's face-off with the Snow Queen approaches
there are considerably less. Specifically Chase's.
I
must admit that I laughed hysterically at the end of Chapter 8. And I feel
really, really bad about that. Sorry.*
Shelby Bach's
foreshadowing skills continue to astound me. There were things
mentioned in book two that led directly into a major event in the finale
and I didn't even notice the clues. Every detail in every book is so
masterfully and subtly interwoven that I am in awe. Stunned, even. She also has an amazing knack for making her characters so
realistic, doing what they should be doing instead of doing what you
want them to be doing. Which is both frustrating and wonderful at the
same time. Something
I really liked about Of Enemies and Endingsis that it
doesn't follow the traditional format of a Tale and quest. It's so
unpredictable. Which is quite fitting, considering the Tale of Rory
Landon is an Unwritten one. While some
of the plot twists I did see coming, there were some that smacked me
right between the eyes like one of Lena's Baseball Bats of Destruction.
The
real surprise for me in this book was Hansel. We
get to see a side of him here that clashes with the image Rory has
built of him, and I love that. I love seeing new facets of
characters, of looking at them from another perspective. He's my
favorite minor character in this book and definitely worth mention.
This book got me
right in the gut, guys. I mean, I loved the others. But this one.
Right in the gut. I laughed. I cried. I was terrified. I yelled at
characters. A lot. There were parts that
ripped my heart out, parts that almost stitched it back together, and
then parts that wrenched it out and tore it to shreds again. To say
this is an emotional roller coaster ride would be a gross
understatement, but the most important thing you need to know is that
it's worth it. Every single moment -even the heartbreaking ones- are
worth it. This is an amazing piece of storytelling, quite possibly
the best book of the whole series, and while it's full of angst and
emotional turmoil and moments that will make you want to throw it
across the room, it's exactly how the series needs to end.
Gosh,
I feel like I'm spelling out all this gloom and doom for you. Don't
worry! Whatever you do, don't
dread this book. Because it's amazing and wonderful. It's just a lot
more intense than
the others. It's the conclusion. This is where everything comes to a
head -things you didn't even know were things!- and this is where
everyone hits their lowest low, collectively and individually.
There's a lot going
on in this book. Expect a knot of excitement and anxiety in your
stomach the entire time. I think, in part for me, this was from
knowing that this was the end. The End.
I wanted to gobble it whole and put it off and savor it indefinitely
all at once! This book was
spectacular. It was not disappointing. It was everything I wanted it
to be, plus more. I am completely
satisfied with the series. Not to say I wouldn't love to see more if,
perchance, we got some short stories. Or even more books in the same
world (if we were to be really, really lucky). But I have no complaints. This final book is beautiful
and I immediately wanted to read it again.
Of Enemies and Endings gets five
stars from me, while The Ever Afters series collectively receives
twenty, plus:
two thumbs up
a squeal of delight
lifetime devotion
instant recommendation to every single human being who asks
an
immortal place high on my list of all-time favorites
Thank you,
Shelby Bach, for this awesome and amazing adventure. I hate to see it
end, but man, what an ending. Of Enemies and Endings will be
available June 30th and keep an eye on my channel and blog, because
I'll probably have some kind of celebration for it.
Want to check out the rest of my reviews for The Ever Afters series? Here you go! Enjoy!
Don't forget to check out Shelby Bach's blog. She's also giving away two advance copies of this epic conclusion, so don't miss it!
*Comments to be understood after YOU'VE read the book.
