I finished this story over two weeks ago and it has been resounding in my head ever since, I felt unable to find the correct words to describe how much I loved it.
It was like I was reading someone's diary, someone's personal stash of love letters hidden away not meant for anyone else's eyes or hearts. The love story of Una Everlasting and Owen Mallory is one for the ages.
After being sent on a mission to go back in time and bear witness to the final days of an ancient knight of myth, scholar Owen Mallory finds himself not only falling in love with his charge (the wonderfully written Una Everlasting, who has haunted his dreams his whole life) but also feeling like he has been there before. They repeat this cycle, over and over with the same result every time - Una's death. Owen begins to unravel the story in front of him and find there is more going on than he originally thought.
This story delves straight into themes of wartime propaganda, colonialism, second chances, and what it really means to live forever. But the best part, my most favorite part, was the love story between these two characters. It was profound, deep, heart wrenching love... full of promise and longing.
The ending so perfectly wrapped up their story, I feared I would be left wanting more but it was so impactful that it felt better left to grow as is, in our hearts and under the yew tree.

Alix E. Harrow writes beautifully and this book is no exception. It took a bit for me to get into the story, but it was well-written with an interesting premise. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This started a little slow for me, but around 32% I couldn’t put it down. I that say slow because I wasn’t enjoying it but more that I was invested in digesting all of the intricate details of the storyline and the history of each character. It’s political and thought-provoking and intricate. This is a book. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so that I could tab it!

Sir Una’s perspective was exactly what I needed to fall in love with this story completely because I couldn’t quite figure her out through Owen’s eyes just yet. In my imagining, I see lady Brienne of Tarth and Milo Thatch in a butterfly effect cycle.

I kind of figured out the villain relatively early on, but still was not prepared for the reveal! This book was outside of my normal genres and a five star read for me!

Alix E. Harrow has done it again. The Everlasting is a sweeping, soul-deep novel that stretches across centuries, clinging to the threads of love, fate, and the stories we’re doomed—or destined—to repeat.

At its heart, this is a love story. But not the kind with tidy endings or predictable arcs. This love unspools across time, tangled with memory, magic, and the aching question: What if we’re meant to find each other, over and over again?

Harrow’s prose is nothing short of spellwork—poetic, visceral, and laced with quiet power. Every sentence feels handcrafted. Every chapter, a piece of a much bigger myth. And the magic? Oh, it’s there, alright—subtle, shimmering at the edges, bending time and reality just enough to make you question what’s possible.

A time loop in which a knight and a historian meet over and over again over the course of 1,000 years. This is an adult fantasy novel that succeeds in challenging the usual expectations of heroes and history. This was so so good and I enjoyed every page. I was sucked into the story woven around Owen and Una and was sad to see it end.

I absolutely loved this book. Alix Harrow’s writing is just beautiful. The time travel element was so well done, and the characters were incredibly well written—I felt fully invested in all of them. I really liked the structure of the story, especially the shifts in POV and the way it was sectioned. The ending left me both wanting more and totally satisfied. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC.

Alix E. Harrow remains the GOAT of writing modern-day fairy tales! I could not believe how much I loved this ARC from her. Without spoiling the premise - it's currently left out of the synopsis, and I think the story is that much stronger for going in to it almost blind - THE EVERLASTING delivers on everything I've loved about Harrow's past works. It has an almost lilting tone, where your inner voice takes on the cadence of a story teller as you read. Despite this, you find yourself gripped by the intensity of action scenes, and never left to relax for *too* long. And holy god - the YEARNING. Believe me, you're going to obsess over the yearning, regardless of where it is directed. Oomf. Excuse me now while I go continue to work my way through more of Harrow's past works so I can just ignore reality for a bit longer

Wow. I don't think it's possible for my words to ever adequately describe how incredible this book is, but a simple "wow" is even more unsatisfactory.

A heartfelt thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 is a brilliant, transportive tale about the power of stories and legends - an unforgettable treat for readers who love a romantic fantasy with emotional and intellectual depth.

Harrow's poetic prose gripped my attention with such strength that I lost track of time while between the pages. It was rather fitting to feel so immersed; I found myself asking if I, too, time-traveled through the ancient book to stand beneath the yew beside Owen and Una.

The voice is so unique, and paired with its structure, Harrow's storytelling unfolds with smooth transitions. It reads like a symphony of expert pacing, exploring highs and lows through moments of character suffering, triumph, discovery, and more. It feels fresh and unpredictable.

I adored Owen, the gentle historian traveling thousands of years into the past, and Una, a notorious mideval knight with fearless strength. Their love story is tender and emotional, unfolding through an endless time loop as they are desperate to rewrite their destiny. Una and Owen are incredibly different, and the distance of time and cultural norms doesn't prevent growing feelings and a touching bond.

Most of all, I admire the thought-provoking nature of the tale; Harrow explores the perception and motivation of a storyteller, the individual benefitting from a written history, the impact on a nation and balancing of country-wide interest versus one's own personal story. I'll be ruminating on this message for quite some time!

The cover design is also absolutely stunning! I love everything about this book, and I will be impatiently waiting under the yew for my pre-order copy to arrive...

The Everlasting is a beautiful and poignant tale of love, loss, and the stories that create a nation.

"Because no throne is eld easily, or for long; because a nation is a story we tell ourselves, and stories change, if you let them. Because where is power, someone will oppose it."

Owen Mallory is a historian with an interest in the legend of Sir Una Everlasting, Dominion's greatest knight who died for crown and country. When a mysterious book appears in his office, he is tasked with translating the ancient text of Sir Una's death. But mysteries abound, and Owen finds himself transported centuries back to Una's time, and he must somehow convince her to complete one last quest - the quest that is the foundation of her legend, and the founding of Dominion itself. But doing so will lead to her death, and Owen isn't sure which he values more - Una or her story? Is one life worth an entire country?

"I thought, despairingly, that love didn't make cowards of us, after all; it made heroes, and heroes usually didn't survive."

This book! Oh my goodness, I adored it. Such a richly layered tale told in deeply beautiful prose with a bit of humor, too. We have the story between Owen, who has romanticized and loved the tale of Sir Una since childhood, and Una herself, time loops, and nation building and how stories reinforce the character of a nation. The love story was beautiful, sad, and heart-wrenchingly wonderful. The time travel was repetitive in a way that kept it interesting - you knew what was supposed to happen, but it doesn't always work out the way it was intended, keeping me engaged. My goodness, this book was everything I hoped it would be, and more. This also felt very relevant for our current political climate, which seeks to shift and adjust history and fact to portray certain narratives and erase others. I loved this book so much. Alix E. Harrow is a favorite author of mine, and this book absolutely solidifies that. It is a favorite of mine, and one I will remember and think about for days to come.

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy of this incredible book! All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars. 'The Everlasting' had a slow start for me but in the end it became one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

The writing is lyrical and clever. The plot itself once it gets going is really well paced. The characters are well fleshed out, defying the usual stereotypes you would find in a fantasy with romance.

The beginning felt slightly confusing to me (however, I wouldn't be surprised if that's because I was going in with preconceived notions after reading the original short story) but otherwise I have nothing to critique about this book. I loved it and would highly recommend it to almost anyone.

I really wanted to like this book. I've enjoyed reading other books from the author, but just could not get into this one. I did not feel drawn to the characters or the story. Perhaps, I was trying to read it at the wrong time. Unfortunately, it was a DNF for me.

I ended up loving this book! That being said, it starts off very slow. The story was very interesting concept and the character development was perfection. I was ambivalent about the characters for the first 30 to 40 percent of the book, then I fell in love with them. This was everything and more, that I expected from an Alix E Harrow book!

I consumed this book and it consumed me right back!

It’s a tale about a lady knight and a cowardly scholar who are trapped in a time loop. It’s about war, empire and history. It’s about love and sacrifice. And it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever read!

The characters are flawed and honest. The story is beautiful and heart breaking.

Read this for:
- Lady Knights
- Scholars and academics
- Time travel
- Gender bent standards
- Romance
- A villain whose death is easy to root for

Sadly I have to DNF at 21%.
I tried hard because the concept intrigues me so much.
Unfortunately I HATE stories written in 2nd-person. It always pulls me out of what is happening and this was no exception.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC.

When The Everlasting was announced, I knew that it was going to be a book that was very much For Me in nearly every way. Now that I've read it, I can confirm that's true. As was the case with Alix E. Harrow's short story, The Six Deaths of the Saint, a lady knight protagonist, a time loop, a beautiful romance, and well-executed second-person narration is the perfect combination of story elements for me. (Also, to be clear, despite having similar elements, The Everlasting is not a full-length novel version of The Six Deaths of the Saint. Each of these stories can stand on their own but they do echo quite a bit).

The Everlasting is the brilliantly crafted time loop/time traveling story of a legendary lady knight and a historian. It's a book extremely relevant to the time it was written/published but there's an element of timelessness about it as well—you can't read this without thinking about the repeating cycles of history. It looks at nationalism, empire, and the use of history and storytelling as propaganda. It asks questions about power and examines ideas of what it means to be a hero and what it means to be a coward.

But first and foremost, The Everlasting, is a love story—a beautiful, epic, and heart-wrenching love story. While it's not specifically a romance book in terms of genre, it is a romance all the same. The romance between Owen and Una evoked a lot of the same feelings I had when I read For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale earlier this year (which I consider my favorite romance book of all time). The plots are not at all similar but there enough similar elements that I couldn't help but draw parallels. I also need to say that the love in this book is not just limited to romance. It's also about the love between parents and their children, love between friends, and love for your community. Love is the key to fighting fascist empires.

What a beautiful story. From start to finish, I only wanted the best for Una The Everlasting, each page I just wanted her to be happy. (Was I the only one getting Brienne from GOT vibes?) she’s strong but soft and I love her. Then Mallory, our sweet nerdy historian. You can’t help but root for him too.

The plot is *chef’s kiss*. So unique in the realm of fantasy and romantasy right now and it made me think back to the daydreams of fairytales I used to have as a little girl.

“Wait for me.”—I will be thinking of this book for a long while.

A beautiful love letter to fairy tales, legends, folklore, and, of course, to love itself. Damn, this one made me weep. I want to step inside of Alix Harrow’s mind.

Lady knight. Bespectacled Historian. An unholy groundhog day time loop where they find each other, slay a dragon, save the queen, and the knight dies again and again in the historian’s arms. The Everlasting is a proper tragedy and has the honor of being the first book that’s made me cry this year.
The Everlasting follows Owen Mallory, a historian turned soldier who returned from the war with a hero’s medal and stronger feelings of cowardice and alienation than he ever had before. He’s returned to his work as a historian specializing in the history of Dominion when a book proclaiming to be a firsthand account of the death of Una Everlasting arrives on his desk. Una is possibly the most famous figure in the history of Dominion, having been essential in the crowning of the first queen, the retrieval of the grail, and the slaying of dragons. Una is the reason Dominion exists as it is, but there has never been a firsthand account of the events surrounding her death. When the book is promptly stolen from Owen’s home he goes to the address listed on the business card left in its place. Here begins Owen’s torturous timeloop where he watches Una die over and over again, falling in love with her more each time and retaining memories of each previous encounter.
Una is past her glory days when she first finds Owen Mallory at the yew tree they both grew up playing beneath, so close yet centuries apart. She’s been sent on one last quest to save the queen she’s grown to hate even as that feeling wars with decades of love and loyalty. Owen convinces Una to complete the quest to find the grail and slay the last dragon, promising her that this is the last one and she can rest afterwards. Una exists purely to fulfill the role she has been playing for Dominion since its founding- a piece of propaganda that sends boys to war and crushes convenient enemies beneath the heel of Dominion.
The Everlasting is a tale of love that defies time and the cruel revision of history. It also takes a hard look at national myth being used for modern day propaganda and as an excuse to oppress those who are ‘other’. This is hands down one of my favorite books of the year, mostly for the tangled story of Una and Owen, but I also appreciate the deeper messages and the villainy that brought the pair together in the first place. I do love a good timeloop story and I feel that The Everlasting was executed particularly well, and illustrated how, theoretically, small changes to the past can have unpredictable, rippling effects through time.
This has now secured itself as my favorite of Alix Harrow’s books I’ve read. If you’re wanting a taste of The Everlasting’s vibes before the release date, or hell, even afterward when you have a book hangover, I would highly recommend her short story, The Six Deaths of the Saint. I am living for all the lady knight books this year and The Everlasting is an excellent entry to this fun little niche of the fantasy world. If your TBR is dying for more books like this, check out The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, The Isle and the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri,and The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino.

The lives and love story of Sir Una Everlasting and Owen Mallory captured my heart and soothed my soul.

I frequently read book descriptions that easily describe the first quarter of a book. And I appreciate that the book description leaves much for the reader to discover. While I wasn’t surprised by who the villain is, the plot in the last 40% of the book was wholly unique and surprising.

Further, the book presents a deep and rich exploration of nationalism, national narratives, myths, memory, and fascism.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow is a lyrical wonder of a book. I will be singing the praises of this book to many friends in the coming months. Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, for the ARC.

This meta mashup of Joan of Arc + Arthurian legend + The Edge of Tomorrow is the full-length sibling to Alix E. Harrow's short story, The Six Deaths of the Saint. It's truly breathtaking, a finely layered journey that is equal parts questing and questioning. It's broken into five parts (the five "deaths" of legendary knight, Sir Una Everlasting) and each part is an unraveling of the past and present history of a kingdom called Dominion, as related by a historian named Owen Mallory and Una herself.

The alternating, hybrid first/second-person present perspective style took about five seconds to get used to, but it is highly effective for the time-reset plot device. Speaking of which, whew. I'd think it would be very tricky to execute that device in written form, but Harrow seems to do it with the polished ease of a natural storyteller.

How do I describe the nuance in this novel? A melting pot exploration of forces in perpetuity: legend into propaganda; the pursuit of truth when obfuscated or outright omitted; grand national histories vs simple personal narratives. Add in themes revolving around gender constructs and identity, sacrifice and legacy, politicized tragedy and weaponized trauma, religious order and censorship (among many others) and it amounts to a deeply thought-provoking story. This is the kind of novel that will yield different takeaways upon every re-read.

Although it stops short of romanticizing its themes, it's yet a romantic story—not just in the anticipated ways of a grand romance, but in the metaphors and the imagery of how these characters live, die, love, suffer and learn, persist and resist. It builds and stacks in frantic crescendo, then gently brings you back down, and I had to take several deep breaths after I closed the book. I couldn't be more in love with a reading experience.