Book Review: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor Books (October 28, 2025)

Length: 320 pages

Author Information: Website

Obviously, Alix E. Harrow is a writer I admire; I wouldn’t have read so many of her books if I didn’t. But there’s just something about The Everlasting that feels different. Not only is it a huge step forward in both execution and ambition, it’s also on a whole other level for the author.

The story follows Owen Mallory, a former soldier whose recent life choices seem to have only deepened the disappointment of his devoted but demanding father. After returning home from war, Owen decides to try his hand at being a scholar, inspired by his lifelong fascination with the legendary lady knight known as Una Everlasting. It is said that Sir Una’s gallantry and sacrifices helped establish the great nation of Dominion when she fought alongside its founder, Queen Yvanne. Over the centuries, however, these stories have become further ingrained into the country’s culture and mythology, blurring the lines between truth and fiction, thus inspiring Owen to uncover who the true Una was behind the songs and tales.

Out of nowhere, he catches a huge break. A surprise arrives for him in the form of an artifact so rare that its existence is almost mythical, a book called The Death of Una Everlasting, which is supposedly a firsthand account of what happened to the knight in her final days. Then, upon his examination of the book, Owen receives another shock: contained within its pages is a means of sending him back to the distant past, to the time when Una Everlasting still lived. Of course, it’s not every day a man gets to meet his hero, but soon, he discovers there may be more to his role than simply being an observer. History is fluid, and there are forces insisting that it flows a certain way, even once Owen and Una find each other and try time and time again to forge the future that they want for themselves.

Quite simply, The Everlasting is a gorgeous story, displaying a complexity and confidence I hadn’t seen from Harrow until now, and honestly, not from many authors at all. This novel genuinely surprised me, the way it took bold risks with its structure and a unique approach to its themes. Inspired by chivalric lore but also involving time traveling elements, it shines a light on the way readers look at stories themselves. Like, what versions of history survive, and why? And what gets left behind when that is decided?

Of course, the time travel aspect can be disorienting, but then again, time travel almost always is. What makes The Everlasting work despite this dizzying confusion is how unapologetically it embraces it. The repetition and time loops are woven into the shifting POVs, reinforcing the book’s questions about free will and sacrifice. Yes, this story demands patience and, granted, I wasn’t always in the most patient mood, but I’m glad I stuck it out because the payoff is massive as patterns started emerging and earlier scenes took on new meanings.

Also, no review of The Everlasting would be complete without mentioning the phenomenal character work. The love story at the heart of this book wouldn’t be so powerful if our protagonists weren’t written so well. Owen, who begins as a stuffy scholar with an unhealthy obsession, gradually comes into his own, growing into someone capable of real courage and passion with the heart of a hero. Una, meanwhile, transforms from the symbolic and distant figure we know from Owen’s time into a fully realized human being once we meet her in the flesh, complete with hopes and dreams. Already aware of the legend she is destined to be, and struggling under the weight of those expectations, she and the starstruck Owen start off awkwardly at first, but pretty soon that relationship slowly builds toward trust and comfort. Eventually, their bond deepens to the point where their struggle to hold on to one another, even as fate works relentlessly to pull them apart, is what makes the story so gut-wrenchingly emotional.

By the time I reached the final page, it was clear this is Alix E. Harrow’s best work yet. It’s no exaggeration to say this is a novel that stays with you. It is melancholic and touching, exploring the messy relationship between love and difficult choices. It is also a story that feels classic and timeless, both thematically and in tone. In that sense, it reminded me strongly of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, another story that buried me in an avalanche of feels. Suffice it to say, every glowing review you’ve seen for The Everlasting is on to something. This is one I wholeheartedly recommend.