Everless #1
by Sara Holland
What they say: In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.
No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.
But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.
Coming Jan 2018 from Harper Teen/Hachett/Orchard
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I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!
What I say: "tempus edax rerum."
I loved *ahem* was terrified of the concept of Everless. Jules lives a in a kingdom queendom called Sempera where time, or rather life-force time, is money. People can bleed themselves aka sell time directly from their blood to make blood-iron. In a very unequal society the poorer civilians are forced to sell years of their lives just to survive the now whilst the rich control the blood-iron coins and extra years.
Jules's father has been secretly selling time to pay rent and is in very poor health. To stop him from selling any more time Jules heads to Everless to work for the Gerlings. She can earn a lot of blood-iron but at great risk.
Jules finds herself plunged headfirst into the Gerling's intrigues and is much closer to the powerful Queen than she ever expected. She is befriended by Caro (the Queen's handmaiden) and her heir Lady Ina. They offer her comfort and a distraction from her affection for her former childhood friend (and Ina's fiancé) Roan. I have to admit I was more intrigued by her old nemesis and childhood tormentor Liam. Don't worry any potential romance takes a backseat to Jules's mission and the situation in Everless.
The world building is complex and interesting, if a little confusing at times. BUT I loved all the details and special insights Sara Holland provides into the mysteriously dark society. Once I got my head round the names and who could do what, I became thoroughly engrossed in Jules's story.
The book ends on one heck of a cliffy so I'm desperate to find out what happens next!
4.5 Stars in my Sky!
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