4.5 stars

This book had me hooked from the first page. The writing is absolutely beautiful—one of the reasons I’ll continue to read anything this author puts out. The characters are incredibly complex; I found myself rooting for them one moment and questioning everything the next, which made the story all the more compelling.

While I found the FMC winning the tourney a little hard to believe, and her quick acceptance of a certain family member felt a bit rushed, those moments didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the journey.

I need the second book immediately.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

The Important Highlights
This a Cinderella‑inspired YA fantasy romance dipped in Chinese fairy‑tale elements and political intrigue. The tropes featured are morally grey everybody, rags to riches, and hidden identities, with a slow burn love triangle (ish).

My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
Okay, so, one of the first things I need to talk about is how there was a portion of this that reminded me of another of my favourite books. Madam Lau is introduced to give our FMC lessons on court etiquette. It reminds me of Mameha and Chiyo from Memoirs of a Geisha. I am aware that Memoirs of a Geisha and Never Ever After are different cultures, but finding that similarity warms my heart. The story is gripping from the first chapter, with no slow periods (in my opinion). The pacing is excellent. I will say though, both men are toxic AF. So I am curious what will happen there! As with all SLT books, you can expect beautifully written words with a ton of inspiring messages scattered throughout. While my first SLT book was Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which will always hold a special place in my heart, this might be my favourite. I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment of this series!

This is my first book by Sue and not my last!
It's amazing and Ive leearned a ton of different culture pieces and it ends off by wraping you up in a warm hug.

I loved it. I loved the Chinese Mythology. I also loved the romance between the Prince and Yining. I really lilke the Cinderella aspect of the book. I loved how diverse the characters are. I can't wait to read the sequel. I think that this is one of my favorites of Sue Lynn Tan's books. I also loved how Sue's writing style flow within the story. I loved how it was a mix of plot and strong character development towards the end. I also loved were the book left off. I can tell that the world is going to get bigger and that we are going be introduced to more characters with the rest of the series. Overall, it was a really great read.

I have read every single one of Sue Lynn Tan’s books and have yet to be disappointed. Never, Ever After is a Cinderella retelling with a darker tone to it. Yining has had a hard childhood full of abuse thanks to her evil step aunt. When her step aunt steals the one thing that promises a better life, her enchanted ring, she finds herself at the royal ball trying to get it back. While there she catches the eye of the prince who promises her pretty things and a comfortable life. But not everything is as it seems and Yining has to try and uncover her mysterious past while also fighting for a future that is enthralling and terrifying.

The way Sue Lynn Tan writes is always so captivating to me with her beautiful words and addicting plots. This book is face paced with something always happening. There are such fun & endearing magical creatures. A mystery that is addicting to want to solve. Plenty of twists that had my jaw on the floor. You never know who you should be trusting. A romance that you’re rooting for. And the way this ends has me HOPING that we will get more.

Never Ever After derives some inspiration from Cinderella, primarily in the beginning of the story as part of the set-up for the events to come. As the plot progresses, it diverges into its own fairytale story, with political intrigue, an interesting magic system, and well-developed characters (some likeable and some not).

The writing was exceptional, as to be expected from Sue Lynn Tan. The pacing was also great - the beginning is a little slower as the story is set up, but the pacing steadily increases as the stakes intensify and secrets are revealed. There were a few reveals that I predicted, but also some that I didn't see coming!

The characters were well-developed and each had interesting motivations and their own character arcs. I appreciated that there was nuance to each of the characters and that their actions and decisions made sense for them as people and based on their motives. Yining was a complex main character that I couldn't help but root for!

Other than one specific plot choice that felt a little forced, the plot moved forward in a way that felt natural based on the characters' motivations.

The romance in the story is definitely slow-burn, and I would consider it to be more of a sub-plot to the overall story. I do appreciate the way that it was handled in this book, but hope that book 2 will provide a bit more time to the romance.

I was also very happy that the book did not end on a cliff-hanger. Instead, the ending wraps up the story nicely, while still leaving enough intrigue for the story to continue and expand.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this story and read it in less than a day! Looking forward to the next book in the series!


4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you NetGalley (Read Now option) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Sue Lynn Tan does it again! I absolutely loved the Celestial Kingdom duology and was so excited to see that this book was available to read early. The pacing was incredibly fast since it was a shorter book, which I think helped avoid the risk of the slower sections being too monotonous. Yining was a great character and I really appreciate that she was a an iconic liar and not a typical FMC. I also really liked the magic system and thought it was well-planned and well-developed. This is 100% a must-read book!

I always get sucked in so easily with Sue Lynn Tan’s writing and this book was no different. Absolutely gorgeous writing and such a magical reading experience. I did not see the plot twists at the end coming at all and cannot wait to see what happens in the sequel. It’s incredible how each one of her books is so good! I loved Yining in this story and how she was yearning for freedom in life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc!

Never ever after was one of my most anticipated and it did not disappoint! Sue has got to be my most favorite author around!
Beautiful writing and vivid imagery

“There is no wrong decision as long as it’s mine.”

Sue Lynn Tan is an auto-read author for me and her YA debut, Never Ever After, did not disappoint! This had all of the lush, atmospheric writing I expect from Sue Lynn Tann but despite the similarities to her other works, this one definitely stood apart.

Never Ever After is a loose Cinderella retelling - you have your evil stepmother, fairy god-carp, special slippers, a prince, and a ball. However, it is at the ball that things wildly diverge. When Yining, our “Cinderella”, becomes embroiled in treacherous political plots, an unwanted proposal, and a magical history, she creates a unique opportunity to escape the palace and achieve her goals on her own terms. Though the direction of the story was initially unexpected based on the synopsis, it was an incredibly enjoyable journey. The pacing felt solid throughout without a pre-50% lull where the story is building up. The writing also flows very well, lending itself to thorough descriptions of environments, politics, and events without overwhelming the reader. The world is so incredibly full and beautiful; the wonder this world inspires creates a dramatic contrast with some darker events in the palace, all of which work to create a very captivating story.

However, the most compelling part of this story for me were the characters. Yining was a surprise - she isn’t content to be the princess to a prince, she wants control of her life, her fate, and is unwilling to box herself up to fit someone else’s idea of what she should be. Yining is quite a bit different from the other heroines in Sue Lynn Tann’s other novels but I enjoyed her much more for her “selfishness”. She’s struggled in life and she’s sharper, stronger, and all the more determined for it. She puts herself first, but always keeps her promises.

The love interests of the story are equally fascinating. Prince Zixin, the prince of the ball, is charming, but he’s also ruthless, vicious, and cunning. He’s charming, sometimes, but it’s wrapped up in a very morally gray package. Meanwhile, Jin, an advisor from another nation is sweet and seeks to support Yining, yet has secretive motives. Both love interests desire Yining yet seek to manipulate her or use her for their goals - something Yining has no tolerance for. Though she’s attracted to them, she doesn’t let that prevent her from fighting, or even betraying the love interests when she has to. I deeply enjoyed seeing her interactions with them and how deeply entwined both men are to the greater plot.

My only critique for this story is how quickly Yining became attached to a long-lost family member, despite previously distrusting them. It felt very anti-Yining, enough to pull me out of the narrative for quite a bit. Otherwise, this story is fantastic and I’d highly recommend it.

✨ 4.5 stars! ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing an ARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I always love Sue Lynn Tan's writing style, and I'm happy to see a YA book from her! This has her signature romance and partial love triangle? I was a bit frustrated with how quickly her ring was taken from her, and then how long it took to get it back. The magic aspects were very intriguing, and the ending has me excited for book 2. If you like Apothecary Diaries I highly recommend this one.

Sue Lynn Tan simply cannot miss! This is a very loose Cinderella retelling. If you're looking for a step by step retelling, this is not it - but to me that's a GREAT thing. This book has so many fun narrative twists. Even by the end of this book, I wasn't sure how to feel about certain characters, and I LOVE that. Sue does such a great job making us think about the character motivations, and shying away from the cackling villain stereotypes. I genuinely cannot wait for Book 2.

“Never Ever After” by Sue Lynn Tan is a beautifully written retelling of Cinderella with Chinese- mythology. Tan writes the most swoon-worthy men. Besides the amazing romance, there is excellent world building, and amazing character development. If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Immortal, then add this to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess and especially Immortal. And was so excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. Sue Lynn Tan has just such a beautiful way of writing, and intertwining Asian mythology into her stories. The characters were unique and well displayed. The political aspect of the plot appealed to me a lot especially the world building I’m excited for the second book!

Wow, I absolutely loved Never Ever After! This story is so much more than a fairytale retelling- although it borrows a few elements, the unique storyline stands on its own.

The story centers around Yining, a young woman who does what she can to survive in her impoverished life- mainly by stealing at the insistence of her guardian. One day, her life takes a turn when a magical being gives her a gift from her deceased mother. This opens a new world, where she becomes involved in life in the palace and in the complicated dynamics between three kingdoms- one with magic. Yining is an interesting protagonist, without a lot of the flaws you typically see in similar literature.

I really loved this one and can’t wait for the next in the series! I was really drawn into their world and can’t wait to know what happens next!

This is a very Sue Lynn Tan.

If you're familiar with her other pieces of work, than this is the book for you.

Tan continues with the poetic nature of her writing and creates in depth characters that keep the audience entertained.

Definitely will pick up the physical copy when it's published.

I love it when authors use fairy tales as a jumping-off point for a completely new story (that incorporates some familiar elements), rather than a more straightforward retelling. Beautifully written and fast-paced, with great characters!

SO much happened in this book and I seriously cannot wait to read more about this story and what happens next.

NEVER EVER AFTER is a Cinderella reimagining, but it’s truly so much more than that. Yining is cunning and cutthroat, forged by a lifetime of suffering and dreams left unanswered. some parts of this story were so dark, reminiscent of old fairytales that were grim and a little gruesome, but it was such a delicate weaving of different natures of fairytales and the various ways they tell stories.

the characters in this book are so intriguing, and i feel we only just barely scratched the surface on getting to know them (and the trouble they might get up to). my chest is literally full of so many emotions about all the characters and trying to pin down exactly what i think about them—which to me just shows how complex and well-written they are. the world building feels so simple at the start of the book, but becomes so intricate and immersive.

I enjoyed this for the most part. I read the first third in one sitting. I do feel it dragged a little at the halfway mark, although that absolutely could have been my own mindset. I'll definitely be recommending this to our YA librarian and I'll be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
4 stars, up from 3.5.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to preview this ARC read. This book had me intrigued the entire time. It starts off running and doesn't stop giving you unpredictable twists and turns.

Never, Ever, After....it is just as it seems. Yining a clever mind reader has scammed the wrong person. When guards are alerted of her and her aunts thievery Yining is faced with a choice to run and have help of a mysterious stranger promising to repay the dept or be seized and put to work in the mines. Since wprkomg in the mines is a death sentance a bargan with a stranger named Jin seems like a no brainer. However, using her scamming skills is just what Yining has planned to avoid repaying her debt.
On her way home after making her deal she is presented with a ring that will seal her fate. If she takes the ring she is promised things she has only heard of in fairy tales to refuse the ring means she will continue to live life as she has scamming others and with an abusive guardian. With one impulsive decision her fate is sealed. With the ring comes a grand turn of events presenting Yining with opportunities she never dreamed of having. Yining grows to learn the truth of her past but has a hard time letting go. While some of her choices have made her a captive in ways to a destiny she is not interested in living she is reunited with her stranger, Jin. While Yining is living a new cush life her and Jin strike yet another deal. Jin needs her to obtain a special treasure and she needs him to escape a life she is not intersted in living. Nothing will stand in the way of Yining and her freedom. Come along while Yining and Jin while they work together to save thier kingdoms and change thier fate.