What do you think?
Rate this book
Ever
Falling in love is never easy, but falling in love with an immortal god while your days on earth are numbered is almost more than a young girl can bear.
Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens in this spellbinding story of Kezi, a girl confronted with a terrible destiny. Attempting to thwart her fate, Kezi and her love, Olus—the god of wind and loneliness—embark on a series of dangerous and seemingly impossible quests.
Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens in this spellbinding story of Kezi, a girl confronted with a terrible destiny. Attempting to thwart her fate, Kezi and her love, Olus—the god of wind and loneliness—embark on a series of dangerous and seemingly impossible quests.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2008
About the author
Gail Carson Levine
56 books9,296 followersJust letting you all know: I'm only going to review books I love. There's enough negative criticism without me piling on. A book is too hard to write.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,832 reviews
June 11, 2008
I bought this book with great anticipation. I loved the author's previous works, and I was looking forward to a nice enjoyable read. I found something quite different.
First, I found the characters to be flat, one demensional, and simplistic. Perhaps Levine was trying to catch the simplicity of the setting, ancient times, with her tale, but I found it lacking her usual magic.
Second, and most importantly to me, I found her presentation of the female's god hitting too close to home. Though she probably didn't mean to liken that deity to the God of the Bible, she did. Perhaps she did intend to given her reference to a passage in the Old Testament in the beginning of the book to a story that she paralleled in the book. Either way, I found it uncomfortable to have the Almighty possibly presented in a way that made Him appear uncaring, powerless, and apparently ineffective in communicating His will clearly or having a personal relationship with his people. All of which is not true of the true and living God of the Bible.
First, I found the characters to be flat, one demensional, and simplistic. Perhaps Levine was trying to catch the simplicity of the setting, ancient times, with her tale, but I found it lacking her usual magic.
Second, and most importantly to me, I found her presentation of the female's god hitting too close to home. Though she probably didn't mean to liken that deity to the God of the Bible, she did. Perhaps she did intend to given her reference to a passage in the Old Testament in the beginning of the book to a story that she paralleled in the book. Either way, I found it uncomfortable to have the Almighty possibly presented in a way that made Him appear uncaring, powerless, and apparently ineffective in communicating His will clearly or having a personal relationship with his people. All of which is not true of the true and living God of the Bible.
February 27, 2013
A lot of people reviewing this book are complaining about the writing style and seemingly flat characterizations in the story. The writing style used in this book is an intentional imitation of ancient Mesopotamian texts and story telling techniques, which was a quirk that I really enjoyed, perhaps because I knew where it was coming from and what she was doing. However, I can understand why others who don't know where this is coming from are having problems with it. This imitation also impacts her characterizations, which are complex when the motives of the characters are examined, but appear flat since the author doesn't make any of these motivations explicit, exactly as was common in most Mesopotamian texts. Again, I liked this, but I admit to not being the average reader. I minored in Ancient Near Eastern History, and even spent a few months trying to learn Sumerian once upon a time, (hint, if you ever go crazy and for some strange reason think of trying to learn Sumerian, don't... Sumerian is HARD).
The plot also has many parallels to ancient Mesopotamian stories, including Ishtar's descent to the underworld, which is specifically referenced in the introduction, along with Judges 11:34. If you are interested in reading some of these stories, then I recommend getting a copy of Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement by James Bennett Pritchard.
The themes of faith, doubt, sacrifice, and the search for a seemingly absent God in this story are fascinating, and well worth considering. As is the evaluation of whether we should be willing to do something truly awful in the name of an "almighty" deity.
The book is short, and a very quick read, but is very enjoyable. Although the book is primarily for children, I thought that the complexities of the themes explored made it well worth reading for adults as well.
I highly recommend this book.
The plot also has many parallels to ancient Mesopotamian stories, including Ishtar's descent to the underworld, which is specifically referenced in the introduction, along with Judges 11:34. If you are interested in reading some of these stories, then I recommend getting a copy of Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement by James Bennett Pritchard.
The themes of faith, doubt, sacrifice, and the search for a seemingly absent God in this story are fascinating, and well worth considering. As is the evaluation of whether we should be willing to do something truly awful in the name of an "almighty" deity.
The book is short, and a very quick read, but is very enjoyable. Although the book is primarily for children, I thought that the complexities of the themes explored made it well worth reading for adults as well.
I highly recommend this book.
July 16, 2021
Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest
Gail Carson Levine was one of my favorite authors growing up and I still have my original copies of THE PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE and ELLA ENCHANTED, two of my all-time favorite young adult fantasy novels (in fact, it may be time for a reread). I've also read FAIREST and THE WISH, which I was less enthusiastic about but still enjoyed.
I was really interested in reading EVER because it has so many reviews from people saying it was anti-religious. Seeing as how I am not religious at all, I was kind of curious about that. The premise seemed so innocent, kind of like KETURAH AND LORD DEATH. Kezi, a young girl in a Mesopotamian-like society, is a dancer who lives with her parents. When her mother takes ill, her father makes a promise to their god, Admat, that he will sacrifice the first person who congratulates her return to good health. When that person is nearly her aunt, Kezi breaks in and congratulates her father to save her.
Olus, the other narrator, is the god of wind and loneliness. He comes from a polytheistic society that appears to be vaguely Greek in terms of the pantheon (although unlike Greek gods, they're actually quite nice and not catty bitches). He falls for Kezi because she's pretty and kind of does the whole creep-a-deep Edward Cullen thing, but unlike Eddie-C, he's actually quite nice too (even if there is some bedroom peeping action) and he wants to help her break the curse.
I do not think that EVER is an anti-god or even anti-religious book. Instead, it seems to be a critique against blind faith and old traditions. Kezi is staunchly religious but begins to question some of the tenets, and she dares to challenge her fate to save herself. Likewise, Olus goes from believing that Admat doesn't exist to maybe thinking that he might. It's carefully ambiguous and if the book is anything, it is an homage to agnosticism, and that the only certainty in life is being uncertain.
I personally really liked the message of this book but I'm agnostic so there you go. I think there are different interpretations of this book depending on how you read it but I really don't see the anti-religious motifs people are upset about unless you think that religion necessitates absolutism. The reason I'm giving it a three and not a higher rating is because it has insta-love, that old enemy of mine, and because the writing in here just wasn't quite as good as it was in my two faves. It's not a bad story, though, and I had a good time reading it, and I think encourages skepticism in a healthy, positive way.
3 to 3.5 stars
May 14, 2010
I normally love anything by Levine.
Normally.
But this was book....different. I wasn't expecting much, gotta love goodreads reviews, but I was expecting something!! Someone pointed out the characters were flat, another said the writing was simplistic. Its all that but more. I felt no sympathy for the main characters, not the mortal girl or her supposed god of the wind.
The writing wasn't as magical, its almost impossible to imagine, or care, what happens next.
Mostly though, I was disgusted the "gods" and particularly Admat. One excellent reviewer pointed out that, perhaps without meaning to, it almost mocks the Christian God. An all-seeing being who is everywhere, but aparently no-where. Though I don't think this is Levine's first time at attempting to touch on religion, I was disgusted.
So, my final thoughts? For those of you who normally enjoy her books, don't bother. Please! It is a major waste of time. As temting as it is to try out a favorite author, some things just aren't worth it.
Normally.
But this was book....different. I wasn't expecting much, gotta love goodreads reviews, but I was expecting something!! Someone pointed out the characters were flat, another said the writing was simplistic. Its all that but more. I felt no sympathy for the main characters, not the mortal girl or her supposed god of the wind.
The writing wasn't as magical, its almost impossible to imagine, or care, what happens next.
Mostly though, I was disgusted the "gods" and particularly Admat. One excellent reviewer pointed out that, perhaps without meaning to, it almost mocks the Christian God. An all-seeing being who is everywhere, but aparently no-where. Though I don't think this is Levine's first time at attempting to touch on religion, I was disgusted.
So, my final thoughts? For those of you who normally enjoy her books, don't bother. Please! It is a major waste of time. As temting as it is to try out a favorite author, some things just aren't worth it.
June 4, 2008
From http://rowijo.void-star.net
The title of this post is my favorite quote from Ever, the new novel by Gail Carson Levine. Y’know, she wrote Ella Enchanted? And then some other books that weren’t as good in my personal opinion? Anyway, this one is amazingly good to the point of being ridiculous. It’s so good, it’s almost like eating chocolate. Unless you don’t like chocolate, in which case you probably aren’t allowed to read in the insane asylum you are in.
The story is told in alternating (short) chapters by Olus, the Akkan God of the Winds, and Kezi, a girl living in Hyte. Olus has decided to do what no god has ever done before and live among humans in Hyte, the country bordering Akka. Kezi, along with the rest of Hyte, has never heard of Akka or their gods, and worships Admat, the One and the All. There are two problems with this. The first is that Admat has “declared” that Kezi must be sacrificed in a month and she has fallen in love with Olus. The second is that Admat doesn’t exist. What ensues is a breathtaking ride full of enchantment, romance, adventure, excitement, and wonderful storytelling.
The plot is well paced, not too fast or too slow, with just the right amount of twists. The ending, while partially predictable, is fulfilling and satisfying, with a sadness mixed into the happiness. The short, alternating chapters allow the reader to see through both characters’ eyes without alienating them from one character for too long. It also allows both characters to comment on the same event. Also of note is that at the top of each chapter, the number is written in either Akkan or Hyte-an. I don’t know which.
The cover is remarkable. Perfect. Flawless. Go google a bigger image and fawn over its intricacies. The two people on the cover look like they are real and drawings at the same time, and though they are looking at the reader, it didn’t unnerve me like this usually does. The models are also both pleasing to look at and accurately portray the two characters.
This book is appropriate for fantasy, romance, or Norse and Greek mythology lovers. The prose is set in such a way that the story is accessible to younger readers while being substantial enough for older ones. Exquisite, it will remain in my memory for Ever.
5Q, 4P
The title of this post is my favorite quote from Ever, the new novel by Gail Carson Levine. Y’know, she wrote Ella Enchanted? And then some other books that weren’t as good in my personal opinion? Anyway, this one is amazingly good to the point of being ridiculous. It’s so good, it’s almost like eating chocolate. Unless you don’t like chocolate, in which case you probably aren’t allowed to read in the insane asylum you are in.
The story is told in alternating (short) chapters by Olus, the Akkan God of the Winds, and Kezi, a girl living in Hyte. Olus has decided to do what no god has ever done before and live among humans in Hyte, the country bordering Akka. Kezi, along with the rest of Hyte, has never heard of Akka or their gods, and worships Admat, the One and the All. There are two problems with this. The first is that Admat has “declared” that Kezi must be sacrificed in a month and she has fallen in love with Olus. The second is that Admat doesn’t exist. What ensues is a breathtaking ride full of enchantment, romance, adventure, excitement, and wonderful storytelling.
The plot is well paced, not too fast or too slow, with just the right amount of twists. The ending, while partially predictable, is fulfilling and satisfying, with a sadness mixed into the happiness. The short, alternating chapters allow the reader to see through both characters’ eyes without alienating them from one character for too long. It also allows both characters to comment on the same event. Also of note is that at the top of each chapter, the number is written in either Akkan or Hyte-an. I don’t know which.
The cover is remarkable. Perfect. Flawless. Go google a bigger image and fawn over its intricacies. The two people on the cover look like they are real and drawings at the same time, and though they are looking at the reader, it didn’t unnerve me like this usually does. The models are also both pleasing to look at and accurately portray the two characters.
This book is appropriate for fantasy, romance, or Norse and Greek mythology lovers. The prose is set in such a way that the story is accessible to younger readers while being substantial enough for older ones. Exquisite, it will remain in my memory for Ever.
5Q, 4P
June 25, 2021
I really enjoyed Ella Enchanted by this author so I was really excited to read this and I was doubly excited because I bought this book on sale.
It starts out decently but soon I started to lose interest as I didn't like any of the characters or the writing for that matter. The characters as pointed out by other reviewers, felt one-dimensional and plain boring and flat. I couldn't care about any of them and I definitely tried and I didn't DNF this book even though I wanted to so many times. I won't recommend it to anyone.
1 star
It starts out decently but soon I started to lose interest as I didn't like any of the characters or the writing for that matter. The characters as pointed out by other reviewers, felt one-dimensional and plain boring and flat. I couldn't care about any of them and I definitely tried and I didn't DNF this book even though I wanted to so many times. I won't recommend it to anyone.
1 star
July 13, 2008
I wanted to like this because I like so many other books by this author...but it was utterly impossible. The very first chapter starts out stupid -- strange-and-hard-to-remember-names, odd notions about gods etc., and absurdly short sentences. Why is it that when certain authors are trying to write from the perspective of someone from long ago he/she assume the characters don't speak their language very well? It's almost as if Levine was trying to imitate a weak translation into English. She also switches points of view between the main characters every chapter, without letting the reader know she's doing it. It's obviously easy enough to catch on, but when I've seen other authors employ this writing style they usually change the font or heading or something. And lastly, even to a young reader (which I realize this is geared to), the characters are not particularly likable or well-developed. All in all, this was a huge disappointment.
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com
Olus, the young god of the wind, prefers to live with humans rather than his divine companions, all of whom are hundreds of years older than he is. In his travels he can't help noticing and falling in love with the beautiful and talented Kezi. At first he forces himself to be content merely watching, but then Kezi's father makes a deadly oath, and Kezi has only a month left to live. Unwilling to let her die, Olus reveals himself and offers Kezi a chance at life.
But before Olus and Kezi can defy fate and make a new life for her, they must survive the most frightening tests of their lives -- alone. Can they prove themselves worthy in the gods' eyes, and their own?
EVER is a touching novel about the power of love in overcoming fear, and the many different types of faith. The myth-like story takes place in a unique setting, more like India than the traditional medieval backdrop of most fantasies, and which makes for a fascinating world to explore. Olus and Kezi make for sympathetic narrators, passionate but wiser than their years would suggest.
Readers may wish that their adventures lasted longer. What adventure there is will have them turning the pages, eager to find out whether Kezi will survive, and what she may have to give up in the process. An excellent novel for older children and teens, especially those interested in other cultures and questions of faith.
Olus, the young god of the wind, prefers to live with humans rather than his divine companions, all of whom are hundreds of years older than he is. In his travels he can't help noticing and falling in love with the beautiful and talented Kezi. At first he forces himself to be content merely watching, but then Kezi's father makes a deadly oath, and Kezi has only a month left to live. Unwilling to let her die, Olus reveals himself and offers Kezi a chance at life.
But before Olus and Kezi can defy fate and make a new life for her, they must survive the most frightening tests of their lives -- alone. Can they prove themselves worthy in the gods' eyes, and their own?
EVER is a touching novel about the power of love in overcoming fear, and the many different types of faith. The myth-like story takes place in a unique setting, more like India than the traditional medieval backdrop of most fantasies, and which makes for a fascinating world to explore. Olus and Kezi make for sympathetic narrators, passionate but wiser than their years would suggest.
Readers may wish that their adventures lasted longer. What adventure there is will have them turning the pages, eager to find out whether Kezi will survive, and what she may have to give up in the process. An excellent novel for older children and teens, especially those interested in other cultures and questions of faith.
April 15, 2021
this was better when i was twelve
March 16, 2008
I was a bit baffled by this book at first. I couldn’t figure out if I liked it because it is by Gail Carson Levine who I highly admire or because I actually enjoyed the book. I certainly like Fairest and Ella Enchanted more, but Ever is still really good.
Kezi lives with her Mati and Pado under her God, Admat. Her Mati gets sick very suddenly, and her Pado promises to Admat to sacrifice the first person to congratulate him if her Mati gets better. Kezi is already nearly 16, the age at which girls are married. She has an eye out for a certain boy, until she meets Olus.
Even though she knows that she will die in thirty days, Kezi can’t help but fall in love with Olus. She’s very offended by Olus’s confession that he is the Akkan god of winds. He is immortal, while her death approaches rapidly. Olus thinks he has a way to save Kezi, but it will take a lot of work, and a good amount of chance as well. Kezi must say goodbye to her Mati and Pado in order to survive. She questions her God Admat and doubts her existence thus far.
I generally enjoyed this book. It seems that Levine has stepped out of normal fairy-tale retellings such as Fairest and Ella Enchanted. I think that it might be a sort of compilation of Greek myths. The idea of many Gods and a scene at the end certainly led me to believe that. Except in Greek Myths, there were many Gods of winds, one for each direction. I’ll be interested to ask Ms. Levine this when I go to one of her signings in May.
This book was written differently than other books she wrote, in that each chapter switches between Kezi and Olus. Half of me likes this, because it enhances the romance between them. On the other hand, I don’t think that I would have liked Olus that much if it had been narrated just by Kezi. Their romance seemed a little quick, and I only felt that Olus really loved Kezi, and Kezi said she loved him. By the end, of course, I saw that Kezi really did love Olus, but it wasn’t apparent at all times.
I must say that the cover really bothers me. Olus describes Kezi as…
She is lovely. Her skin is bronzed, a little oily, so she seems to shine. Her eyebrows, her lashes and her hair match the amber beads at her sash’s fringe. Her eyes are the golden brown of autumn oak leaves. Her nose bulges a little at the end- an olive nose, Hannu would call it.
The girl on the cover has very pale skin and very dark hair. Her nose does not bulge at the end at all. Kezi comes from a rich family, but the girl on the cover is wearing a tunic that looks rather poor to me.
Overall, Ever impressed me. I enjoyed the plot, and Olus’s voice. It’s not my favorite of Levine’s books, but probably third best.
Comes out May 6, 2008.
Kezi lives with her Mati and Pado under her God, Admat. Her Mati gets sick very suddenly, and her Pado promises to Admat to sacrifice the first person to congratulate him if her Mati gets better. Kezi is already nearly 16, the age at which girls are married. She has an eye out for a certain boy, until she meets Olus.
Even though she knows that she will die in thirty days, Kezi can’t help but fall in love with Olus. She’s very offended by Olus’s confession that he is the Akkan god of winds. He is immortal, while her death approaches rapidly. Olus thinks he has a way to save Kezi, but it will take a lot of work, and a good amount of chance as well. Kezi must say goodbye to her Mati and Pado in order to survive. She questions her God Admat and doubts her existence thus far.
I generally enjoyed this book. It seems that Levine has stepped out of normal fairy-tale retellings such as Fairest and Ella Enchanted. I think that it might be a sort of compilation of Greek myths. The idea of many Gods and a scene at the end certainly led me to believe that. Except in Greek Myths, there were many Gods of winds, one for each direction. I’ll be interested to ask Ms. Levine this when I go to one of her signings in May.
This book was written differently than other books she wrote, in that each chapter switches between Kezi and Olus. Half of me likes this, because it enhances the romance between them. On the other hand, I don’t think that I would have liked Olus that much if it had been narrated just by Kezi. Their romance seemed a little quick, and I only felt that Olus really loved Kezi, and Kezi said she loved him. By the end, of course, I saw that Kezi really did love Olus, but it wasn’t apparent at all times.
I must say that the cover really bothers me. Olus describes Kezi as…
She is lovely. Her skin is bronzed, a little oily, so she seems to shine. Her eyebrows, her lashes and her hair match the amber beads at her sash’s fringe. Her eyes are the golden brown of autumn oak leaves. Her nose bulges a little at the end- an olive nose, Hannu would call it.
The girl on the cover has very pale skin and very dark hair. Her nose does not bulge at the end at all. Kezi comes from a rich family, but the girl on the cover is wearing a tunic that looks rather poor to me.
Overall, Ever impressed me. I enjoyed the plot, and Olus’s voice. It’s not my favorite of Levine’s books, but probably third best.
Comes out May 6, 2008.
May 26, 2010
Jadi gini critanya:
Seorang anak dewa nih, namanya Olus. Olus ini dewa angin. Diramalkan bahwa nanti Olus tidak akan bahagia sampai dia bisa mendapatkan apa yang seharusnya dia tidak boleh dapatkan *bingung? silahkaaann...* :p
Trus ada lagi seorang anak manusia, dia ini cantik dan suka menganyam. Namanya Kezi. Kezi ini anak gadis normal lah, seperti halnya gadis-gadis lainnya, ingin memiliki pacar yang ganteng (dan udah punya inceran), ingin hidup bahagia, de el el.
Nah, bagaimana keduanya bisa bertemu? Apakah ramalan tentang Olus berhubungan dengan Kezi?
Ya iyalaahhh!!! dari sini aja udah ketebak ya? hehehe...
Oke, lanjut... jadi nih, Olus ceritanya pengen ngerasain hidup seperti manusia biasa. Dia ingin berempati lah gitu sama manusia. Kedua orang tuanya sih menentang, tapi secara Olus kesepian di rumahnya yang di atas awan itu, akhirnya teteup pergi juga, dan dia memilih sebuah tempat yang jauh dari rumahnya, yang ternyata sesembahan mereka pun dewa yang berbeda.
Olus nyewa tempat ke bokapnya Kezi, dia menjadi penggembala kambing gitu deh. Naahh.. untuk mengobservasi kehidupan manusia, Olus memilih utk mengamati kehidupan keluarga Kezi ini. Dan lama kelamaan kok ya keknya ada sesuatu yang menarik hati Olus dari diri Kezi.
TAPI!!!! Olus kan gak kenal ama Kezi, begitu juga sebaliknya. Naahhh gimana tuh caranya mereka bisa ketemu? Ya udah deh, dibaca aja sendiri kali ye? Dari pada panjang-panjang trus isinya spoiler semua. Lagian juga lagi males nulis panjang. Pokoknya cluenya: sumpah, petualangan, immortality. Buat gw sih kurang asik karena banyak ngelindurnya ni buku.
Pokoke intinya: Love will conquer all *tau deh bener apa nggak spellingnya* xixixi... males kan baca review ini?
Seorang anak dewa nih, namanya Olus. Olus ini dewa angin. Diramalkan bahwa nanti Olus tidak akan bahagia sampai dia bisa mendapatkan apa yang seharusnya dia tidak boleh dapatkan *bingung? silahkaaann...* :p
Trus ada lagi seorang anak manusia, dia ini cantik dan suka menganyam. Namanya Kezi. Kezi ini anak gadis normal lah, seperti halnya gadis-gadis lainnya, ingin memiliki pacar yang ganteng (dan udah punya inceran), ingin hidup bahagia, de el el.
Nah, bagaimana keduanya bisa bertemu? Apakah ramalan tentang Olus berhubungan dengan Kezi?
Ya iyalaahhh!!! dari sini aja udah ketebak ya? hehehe...
Oke, lanjut... jadi nih, Olus ceritanya pengen ngerasain hidup seperti manusia biasa. Dia ingin berempati lah gitu sama manusia. Kedua orang tuanya sih menentang, tapi secara Olus kesepian di rumahnya yang di atas awan itu, akhirnya teteup pergi juga, dan dia memilih sebuah tempat yang jauh dari rumahnya, yang ternyata sesembahan mereka pun dewa yang berbeda.
Olus nyewa tempat ke bokapnya Kezi, dia menjadi penggembala kambing gitu deh. Naahh.. untuk mengobservasi kehidupan manusia, Olus memilih utk mengamati kehidupan keluarga Kezi ini. Dan lama kelamaan kok ya keknya ada sesuatu yang menarik hati Olus dari diri Kezi.
TAPI!!!! Olus kan gak kenal ama Kezi, begitu juga sebaliknya. Naahhh gimana tuh caranya mereka bisa ketemu? Ya udah deh, dibaca aja sendiri kali ye? Dari pada panjang-panjang trus isinya spoiler semua. Lagian juga lagi males nulis panjang. Pokoknya cluenya: sumpah, petualangan, immortality. Buat gw sih kurang asik karena banyak ngelindurnya ni buku.
Pokoke intinya: Love will conquer all *tau deh bener apa nggak spellingnya* xixixi... males kan baca review ini?
![Profile Image for Dann [Hiatus].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1706531120i/75605765._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 17, 2023DNF @10%
Nope.
Nope.
August 1, 2010
I almost didn't read this because of the horrible reviews it received, and now I wish I hadn't, because I should've been doing laundry, cleaning, errands, paying attention to my daughter, etc. I didn't get anything done because reading this book was like having a plate full of warm chocolate chip cookies in front of me. I can't eat just one, I have to eat the whole plateful and then sit around and hate myself. Well, I don't hate myself, but I definitely couldn't put this book down. I absolutely loved it.
June 1, 2008
I wasn't expecting much, and didn't get much out of this book. Gail Carson Levine just hasn't written as good a fairytale since "Ella Enchanted".
Besides the fact that I thought the whole storyline was rather *ahem* stupid, I thought it was weak, the characters were weak...it just lacked the special "something", I thought. I didn't care about the characters, didn't care what dangers they went through, or whether or not they'd make it in the end. It won't be one I'll read again...
Besides the fact that I thought the whole storyline was rather *ahem* stupid, I thought it was weak, the characters were weak...it just lacked the special "something", I thought. I didn't care about the characters, didn't care what dangers they went through, or whether or not they'd make it in the end. It won't be one I'll read again...
August 13, 2009
Neat! Set in a world not unlike Mesopotamia, young Kezi is devout in her prayers to the god Admat. But what happens if you pray to one god, and another answers? And what if the god that answers is . . . well, young and attractive?
July 7, 2008
All over, I enjoyed this book much more than Ella Enchanted and Fairest (to this day, I still don't really like Ella Enchanted, but Fairest is high on my list of favorites). Olus and Kezi are star-crossed lovers in a desert world, and they meet at a wedding only to fall in love immediately.
Ever is fantasically funny at times, and also heart-wrenchingly sappy. There are indeed its moments of cliche, but it's all-over well done. Imagination takes over, with only a few details to give the setting structure, and it has a beautiful, non-cliched ending.
I love how Ms. Levine has a romance as the central plot in Ever, unlike Fairest or Ella Enchanted, where romance is in the side-plot. It's a breath of fresh air to me, having been romance-deprived for the past months. Olus and Kezi have fresh views on the world, and would seem like ordinary people to me, had Olus not been a god and so on.
I reccomend it to anyone.
Ever is fantasically funny at times, and also heart-wrenchingly sappy. There are indeed its moments of cliche, but it's all-over well done. Imagination takes over, with only a few details to give the setting structure, and it has a beautiful, non-cliched ending.
I love how Ms. Levine has a romance as the central plot in Ever, unlike Fairest or Ella Enchanted, where romance is in the side-plot. It's a breath of fresh air to me, having been romance-deprived for the past months. Olus and Kezi have fresh views on the world, and would seem like ordinary people to me, had Olus not been a god and so on.
I reccomend it to anyone.
September 27, 2018
I normally love this author, but this book just felt... dead. The characters were flat, the writing was boring, the romance was dull, the dialogue was unbelievable. Everything fell short. And I REALLY didn't like the theological implications. No thank you. I'm actually probably getting rid of this book, and it takes a lot for me to get rid of a book by an author I love. Not recommended at all - try one of her other books instead.
May 31, 2019
2.5 stars - This was a tough one for me to rate. It read really fast, and I didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but I didn't really enjoy my reading experience. The relationship was very instalove, and because the whole plot depends on their love rising above the odds, that made it hard for me to feel invested.
October 30, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, but I just didn't - at all.
I thought this book had a lot of potential because I'm always interested in cultures that explore other gods. And I liked how the characters are supposed to perform certain tasks and lessons in order to become a champion or heroine.
However, I found that I did not like the characters. Olus was kind of a ridiculous character. We never find out why he wanted to leave other than he was lonely. But he leaves to become a sheep herder, technically to be by himself (that is until he met Kezie). He instantly grows fond of her, but we don't really know why except the instalove and the way he likes how she dances, I guess. And his tasks were kind of silly. I can see how the well sort of fits into it, but I think it just kind of lacked the deep, life-altering epiphany, you know?
And Kezie was just a flat character to me. I think her character had so much potential as far as believing in Admat being the all, to realizing there are other gods to changing her beliefs. It just seems like the whole story was too light for something that meaningful. And her relationship with Olus is just strange. It wasn't love at first sight, though he did catch her attention. She didn't really know him that well and almost immediately after they left home, she felt she loved him. There wasn't anything to lead into that realization just it slipped from her mouth and viola, amour.
I was also disappointed with the end because this god that was supposed to be her all turned out not to be. Does he really exist at all? Who knows. But the way her fate was played out at the end just seemed quick and easy.
So what message was Levine trying to convey about fate and beliefs? This book had potential to explore deep, thought-provoking questions through its characters. But all it ended up being was a light story with surface emotions in a folklore what that didn't teach any symbolic lessons.
I thought this book had a lot of potential because I'm always interested in cultures that explore other gods. And I liked how the characters are supposed to perform certain tasks and lessons in order to become a champion or heroine.
However, I found that I did not like the characters. Olus was kind of a ridiculous character. We never find out why he wanted to leave other than he was lonely. But he leaves to become a sheep herder, technically to be by himself (that is until he met Kezie). He instantly grows fond of her, but we don't really know why except the instalove and the way he likes how she dances, I guess. And his tasks were kind of silly. I can see how the well sort of fits into it, but I think it just kind of lacked the deep, life-altering epiphany, you know?
And Kezie was just a flat character to me. I think her character had so much potential as far as believing in Admat being the all, to realizing there are other gods to changing her beliefs. It just seems like the whole story was too light for something that meaningful. And her relationship with Olus is just strange. It wasn't love at first sight, though he did catch her attention. She didn't really know him that well and almost immediately after they left home, she felt she loved him. There wasn't anything to lead into that realization just it slipped from her mouth and viola, amour.
I was also disappointed with the end because this god that was supposed to be her all turned out not to be. Does he really exist at all? Who knows. But the way her fate was played out at the end just seemed quick and easy.
So what message was Levine trying to convey about fate and beliefs? This book had potential to explore deep, thought-provoking questions through its characters. But all it ended up being was a light story with surface emotions in a folklore what that didn't teach any symbolic lessons.
May 9, 2008
I love Gail Carson Levine. She has a classic style that I love, which is also easy to read. That being said, this newest novel of hers was nothing like the Gail I knew! I did enjoy this one, quite a bit in fact, but it was definitely not you average princess story!
So, if you are going to read this novel, I have 3 bits of advise. First, just keep moving past the beginning. You are going to read the first two pages and go "hmmmmmmm...." but keep going! Second, get used to having two narrators and switching between them chapter to chapter. If you forget who's talking, it can be very confusing for a minute. Third, beware the name game going on in this book. This is set in a middle eastern country, so names for Mom and Dad are different than ours. Also, these parents, or whoever else is involved also have first names. This gets really confusing when you are trying to remember that the character Mati can also be Merem or Hannu, depending on which chapter it is and who's speaking. Really, you'll get used to it, but it can send you back to previous pages quite a few times! Good luck and enjoy!
So, if you are going to read this novel, I have 3 bits of advise. First, just keep moving past the beginning. You are going to read the first two pages and go "hmmmmmmm...." but keep going! Second, get used to having two narrators and switching between them chapter to chapter. If you forget who's talking, it can be very confusing for a minute. Third, beware the name game going on in this book. This is set in a middle eastern country, so names for Mom and Dad are different than ours. Also, these parents, or whoever else is involved also have first names. This gets really confusing when you are trying to remember that the character Mati can also be Merem or Hannu, depending on which chapter it is and who's speaking. Really, you'll get used to it, but it can send you back to previous pages quite a few times! Good luck and enjoy!
February 6, 2019
Nope.
Do I really have to explain? A god and a human? *fake laughter* Not even gonna start. I picked the book up without fully comprehending what it was about. My mistake.
Do I really have to explain? A god and a human? *fake laughter* Not even gonna start. I picked the book up without fully comprehending what it was about. My mistake.
November 21, 2017
In a world much like historical ancient Sumer, there exist two nearby kingdoms, one monotheistic, the other polytheistic. The gods of the polytheistic kingdom are temperamental, but ultimately have the best interests of their worshippers at heart. The one god of the other city-state, Admat, is jealous and bloodthirsty. The other gods appear in the flesh among their people on festival days; Admat’s omens are ambiguous and his face is hidden.
Atop the magic-shrouded mountain outside the polytheistic kingdom, Olus the wind god is born. As a child, he attempts to befriend a human boy, but his efforts only get the boy in trouble. Guilty, Olus withdraws from the society of mortals.
Until he walks in the city of Admat and meets a lovely girl named Kezi. Kezi is an accomplished dancer and weaver, and she is marked for death. Her mother was gravely ill, her father prayed to Admat, and promised the god that he would offer the first person who congratulated him on his wife’s recovery as a sacrifice.
Kezi has a month to live, but she will never die if Olus has anything to say about it. In order to make her a goddess, he must bring her to the threshold of the Underworld and let her harrow it. Meanwhile he too will be tested. In the Land of the Dead, she almost loses her memory for good, and seeks for proof of Admat’s existence but does not find it.
The more time I’ve had to mull over this book, the more anti-Judeo-Christian it comes across. It could not be clearer who Admat really is—the epigraph from the Book of Judges should make that clear literally from the first page. While Admat is portrayed as perpetually angry and paranoid, Olus and his family are the sweetest little gang of deities you’ll ever meet. Granted, Olus’ mother causes earthquakes when she’s angry, and the god of prophecy (who should have been a much bigger character) is delightfully eerie. But any ancient pantheon, especially Near Eastern, should be far more severe and (for some individuals) grotesque than those shown here.
Like The Two Princesses of Bamarre and Fairest , Levine introduces fascinating concepts halfway through, but runs out of either space, momentum, or ideas, and the best parts of the book are abruptly abandoned in favor of more sweet-but-bloodless teen romance.
Three stars for a cool subject. I give Levine props for tackling these themes: Cupid and Psyche, ancient Mesopotamia, and Old Testament human sacrifice.
However, the book is too short to develop the rich undercurrents beyond a minimum level of analysis. It poses deep theological questions that it can't answer, given the short span of pages, and Levine would rather spend those pages on tender teenage romance. Note, though, that The Queen of Attolia was not much longer and had a great balance of mysticism, romance, political skullduggery, and war (the last two of which don't even figure into Ever at all).
The prose is convincingly ancient in its simplicity (although I do wish Levine wouldn't use the phrase "Adam's apple" which makes no sense in this pre-Judeo-Christian world). The characters are not complex, but likable and sweet anyway - especially Olus the adorable boy-god. The insta-love is less cloying than usual in this mythological context - it comes with the territory here, although few gods were as gentle as Olus, and few mortal girls were as willing as Kezi.
Based on this and Two Princesses, which is probably due a reread, I think Levine's books are good, but could be great given a hundred or so more pages to expand the themes, raise the stakes, and give a little grit to the male leads. Hey HarperCollins editors, would it kill you to let her write a four-hundred-page book?
The content is technically appropriate for upper middle school kids: all the violence takes place off-page, there is no sexual content beyond the chaste but frequent kisses between the young lovebirds, and there’s no four-letter words or substance abuse. There are frightening images but nothing worse than what you’d find in Lord of the Rings or Narnia—a good deal milder than those, in fact.
My only caveat is the anti-religious subtext. Once you see it, you can’t not see it.
Atop the magic-shrouded mountain outside the polytheistic kingdom, Olus the wind god is born. As a child, he attempts to befriend a human boy, but his efforts only get the boy in trouble. Guilty, Olus withdraws from the society of mortals.
Until he walks in the city of Admat and meets a lovely girl named Kezi. Kezi is an accomplished dancer and weaver, and she is marked for death. Her mother was gravely ill, her father prayed to Admat, and promised the god that he would offer the first person who congratulated him on his wife’s recovery as a sacrifice.
Kezi has a month to live, but she will never die if Olus has anything to say about it. In order to make her a goddess, he must bring her to the threshold of the Underworld and let her harrow it. Meanwhile he too will be tested. In the Land of the Dead, she almost loses her memory for good, and seeks for proof of Admat’s existence but does not find it.
The more time I’ve had to mull over this book, the more anti-Judeo-Christian it comes across. It could not be clearer who Admat really is—the epigraph from the Book of Judges should make that clear literally from the first page. While Admat is portrayed as perpetually angry and paranoid, Olus and his family are the sweetest little gang of deities you’ll ever meet. Granted, Olus’ mother causes earthquakes when she’s angry, and the god of prophecy (who should have been a much bigger character) is delightfully eerie. But any ancient pantheon, especially Near Eastern, should be far more severe and (for some individuals) grotesque than those shown here.
Like The Two Princesses of Bamarre and Fairest , Levine introduces fascinating concepts halfway through, but runs out of either space, momentum, or ideas, and the best parts of the book are abruptly abandoned in favor of more sweet-but-bloodless teen romance.
Three stars for a cool subject. I give Levine props for tackling these themes: Cupid and Psyche, ancient Mesopotamia, and Old Testament human sacrifice.
However, the book is too short to develop the rich undercurrents beyond a minimum level of analysis. It poses deep theological questions that it can't answer, given the short span of pages, and Levine would rather spend those pages on tender teenage romance. Note, though, that The Queen of Attolia was not much longer and had a great balance of mysticism, romance, political skullduggery, and war (the last two of which don't even figure into Ever at all).
The prose is convincingly ancient in its simplicity (although I do wish Levine wouldn't use the phrase "Adam's apple" which makes no sense in this pre-Judeo-Christian world). The characters are not complex, but likable and sweet anyway - especially Olus the adorable boy-god. The insta-love is less cloying than usual in this mythological context - it comes with the territory here, although few gods were as gentle as Olus, and few mortal girls were as willing as Kezi.
Based on this and Two Princesses, which is probably due a reread, I think Levine's books are good, but could be great given a hundred or so more pages to expand the themes, raise the stakes, and give a little grit to the male leads. Hey HarperCollins editors, would it kill you to let her write a four-hundred-page book?
The content is technically appropriate for upper middle school kids: all the violence takes place off-page, there is no sexual content beyond the chaste but frequent kisses between the young lovebirds, and there’s no four-letter words or substance abuse. There are frightening images but nothing worse than what you’d find in Lord of the Rings or Narnia—a good deal milder than those, in fact.
My only caveat is the anti-religious subtext. Once you see it, you can’t not see it.
June 25, 2008
A great fast read, this book had part Norse, part Mesopotamian myth incorporated its story lines. I of course I snatched up this book immediately when I saw Gail Carson Levine had published a new one, but even if she wasn't one of my favorite Juvie/YA authors, the first few lines on the back cover would have captured me:
He is watching me.
He is flawless, without a blemish. Majestic... Muscular.
Our hero, Olus, an Akkan God, is lonely in the heavens; the only child amongst immortals. He decides to live among the mortals~ soap bubbles, as his mother calls them. There he discovers Kezi, the daughter of the man whose sheep he shepherds for. She is beautiful, but more than that- she dances her feelings, and is the most talented knotted rug weaver in the town, and Olus falls in love with her almost instantly. Kezi, on her part doesn't know Olus has been watching her, but when he does make himself known to her, she is swept up by his unusual character, but is frightened by his command of the winds and believes he is her guardian. Even though Kezi must fulfill a death oath sworn by her father, Kezi loves this immortal and follows him to his home on Enshi Rock to try to thwart her own fate and strive for a happier outcome...
He is watching me.
He is flawless, without a blemish. Majestic... Muscular.
Our hero, Olus, an Akkan God, is lonely in the heavens; the only child amongst immortals. He decides to live among the mortals~ soap bubbles, as his mother calls them. There he discovers Kezi, the daughter of the man whose sheep he shepherds for. She is beautiful, but more than that- she dances her feelings, and is the most talented knotted rug weaver in the town, and Olus falls in love with her almost instantly. Kezi, on her part doesn't know Olus has been watching her, but when he does make himself known to her, she is swept up by his unusual character, but is frightened by his command of the winds and believes he is her guardian. Even though Kezi must fulfill a death oath sworn by her father, Kezi loves this immortal and follows him to his home on Enshi Rock to try to thwart her own fate and strive for a happier outcome...
January 16, 2009
I love this book!!! It's so creative and amazing. The plot is so well-developed and complex, as are the characters. It's so fast-paced and exciting; the book captivated me from the first page to last, and I literally couldn't put it down- I finished it in a day, and only took breaks when I had to. I love Levine's writing style; it is really unique...it's poetic and musical and feels like a song. And something about it is so mesmerizing; her style has me hypnotized.
This is even better than Fairest, in my opinion. I love how this has a hint of another fairy tale- this time I think it was Sleeping Beauty, although I'm not sure, because it's so different. I loved trying to figure out what fairy tale it was a twist on, and then uncovering all the events that were like the fairy tale! Except, this one didn't have as much similarity to Sleeping Beauty as Fairest had to Snow White; but I like that better. It makes the book more mysterious and full of depth.
This book was sooooo good!!!! ;D
This is even better than Fairest, in my opinion. I love how this has a hint of another fairy tale- this time I think it was Sleeping Beauty, although I'm not sure, because it's so different. I loved trying to figure out what fairy tale it was a twist on, and then uncovering all the events that were like the fairy tale! Except, this one didn't have as much similarity to Sleeping Beauty as Fairest had to Snow White; but I like that better. It makes the book more mysterious and full of depth.
This book was sooooo good!!!! ;D
February 22, 2018
I surprised myself by finishing this book in one day! I really enjoyed Ever, and I will definitely read Gail Carson Levine’s other books!
Here are the stats:
-Romance: nothing bad or too descriptive, a good deal of kissing.
-Violence: hmm... I wouldn’t say there is violence, but there is a lot of talk of making human sacrifices.
-Language: nothing bad in this area! I appreciated reading a book that’s clean.
What I didn’t like..
-Kezi and Olus fell in love WAY too quickly and were kissing before I got halfway through the book! I feel like there needed to be some more time for them to get to know each other.
-All the talk about gods: the story is all about gods and people making sacrifices to them... of course I know this is all made up, but I’m not too crazy about stories like this! It did not, however, make the story bad in any way.
-Human Sacrifice: Kezi was supposed to be a human sacrifice, (SPOILER:)which she was, though she survived.
The romance was sweet, and the whole storyline was really intriguing. I would give this a fair 4 star rating!
Give this book a shot!
Here are the stats:
-Romance: nothing bad or too descriptive, a good deal of kissing.
-Violence: hmm... I wouldn’t say there is violence, but there is a lot of talk of making human sacrifices.
-Language: nothing bad in this area! I appreciated reading a book that’s clean.
What I didn’t like..
-Kezi and Olus fell in love WAY too quickly and were kissing before I got halfway through the book! I feel like there needed to be some more time for them to get to know each other.
-All the talk about gods: the story is all about gods and people making sacrifices to them... of course I know this is all made up, but I’m not too crazy about stories like this! It did not, however, make the story bad in any way.
-Human Sacrifice: Kezi was supposed to be a human sacrifice, (SPOILER:)which she was, though she survived.
The romance was sweet, and the whole storyline was really intriguing. I would give this a fair 4 star rating!
Give this book a shot!
August 13, 2008
This is the first time I've been disappointed in one of Levine's books. It is very atheist and anti-christian. It makes anyone who has "faith" look dumb and superstitious. And it makes god-like figures faulted, mean, and petty. It wasn't even written that well, and seems mostly the platform for a politically correct agenda. Not a good read.
March 3, 2008
Huh. Well, if it's based on a fairy tale, I'm not sure what it was. This is certainly one of Levine's more quiet and contemplative novels. Not many children's books ask "Is there a God?" so this is probably one of the few.
Ages 10-18
Ages 10-18
May 13, 2021
I would have liked this better if Levine had adhered to her original plan of targeting an older demographic. The premise is solid and has the potential to be a truly thought-provoking and haunting story. Unfortunately, in order to fully reach that potential, it would have needed to dig even more deeply into themes that are too mature and complex to be packaged into a 200-page book for middle-grade children.
That being the case, the overly simplistic, elementary-level writing style bothered me. I read one Goodreads reviewer claim that this was an intentional mimicry of ancient Mesopotamian storytelling techniques -- which I would buy were it not for the fact that this is exactly how Levine has written certain others of her books. (Ella Enchanted and Fairest remain classic and beloved exceptions to this complaint. 💛)
The novel improves somewhat as it goes (the ending is particularly strong); I just wish that Levine's overall execution had been different.
{2.5 stars}
That being the case, the overly simplistic, elementary-level writing style bothered me. I read one Goodreads reviewer claim that this was an intentional mimicry of ancient Mesopotamian storytelling techniques -- which I would buy were it not for the fact that this is exactly how Levine has written certain others of her books. (Ella Enchanted and Fairest remain classic and beloved exceptions to this complaint. 💛)
The novel improves somewhat as it goes (the ending is particularly strong); I just wish that Levine's overall execution had been different.
{2.5 stars}
July 29, 2022
Sadly disappointing. I bought this book in anticipation because I adore Levine's previous novels, but this one fell so flat. At first I thought it was because there was no nostalgia factor, but that's not the case (Ella Enchanted still holds up to this day). The characters are flat, and Olus and Kezi failed to impress me (Levine does friends to lovers EXCELLENTLY, idk why she opted for immediate love for this book). The plot was meh, I didn't like the portrayal of the gods (Admat especially), and the writing style was incredibly poor and badly structured. Kezi didn't have any of the spunk or virtues or flaws her other heroines have had, and Olus didn't have any of the boyish charm that her heroes are loved for.
All in all, incredibly disappointing, I expected better from one of my favourite childhood authors.
All in all, incredibly disappointing, I expected better from one of my favourite childhood authors.
November 19, 2023
I have never really cared for mythology. It’s just not my thing. Other people love it! My daughter loves all kinds of mythology. My daddy taught mythology at the college level.
This novel is sad and left me feeling down. I feel so sorry for so many of the characters. 😢
This won’t mean anything to anyone who hasn’t read the book, but it simply brings a smile to my face. “You’re the…You pile dishes and unpile them” (74). 🥰
This novel is sad and left me feeling down. I feel so sorry for so many of the characters. 😢
This won’t mean anything to anyone who hasn’t read the book, but it simply brings a smile to my face. “You’re the…You pile dishes and unpile them” (74). 🥰
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,832 reviews