Home » blog » Ever the Hunted By Erin Summerill – An Exciting, Romantic and Sweeping Fantasy That Will Keep You Up All Night

Ever the Hunted By Erin Summerill – An Exciting, Romantic and Sweeping Fantasy That Will Keep You Up All Night

Ever the HuntedEver the Hunted Book Review

I should probably admit right away that I decided to read this book after I saw an ad for it on our website. The white cover with gold lettering and elegant green designs swirling around the title really caught my eye. In this one case, I can definitely say I was right to judge this book by its cover. Ever the Hunted, the first book in the Clash of the Kingdoms series, clearly proves that the newbie authors on the scene are coming out with some great material.

If you are a young woman that happens to like fantasy, preferably with a female protagonist (who is strong but can also admit her own weaknesses and accept the help of others) that has to come of age during an adventure across two kingdoms, filled with the kind of old-fashioned romance that makes you feel butterflies in your stomach, a few thrilling fight scenes, and utterly steeped in magic, then this is what you’ve been waiting for all of your life. This fantasy will literally swoop you off your feet and carry you off into the sunset.

Synopsis

When seventeen-year-old Britta Flannery discovers that her father, a legendary bounty hunter for the Kingdom of Malam, was murdered, her life turns upside down. An outcast and alone, she seeks refuge in the Ever Woods. When royal guards catch Britta poaching, the high lord gives her a choice to earn her own freedom back by catching her father’s killer. The fact that her childhood sweetheart, the only friend she’s ever known, and her father’s former apprentice Cohen McKay happens to be accused of being that very killer complicates matters a bit.

RELATED YA Book Review: Enthroned, A New Twist on an Old Tale

When Cohen kidnaps, or “rescues” depending on whom you ask, Britta while she is trailing him with a group of elite royal guards in tow, and then discovers he’s not the real killer, things get even more confusing for this poor girl. And it just gets worse from there. Britta and Cohen embark on a journey to discover who her father’s real killer is. Along the way, she learns secrets about her past and her family that change her forever. Britta discovers just what makes her so different and the immense power inside her that will make her a force to be reckoned with if she can learn how to wield it.

Review

This really is my favorite kind of story. I’m a sucker for girl power with some magic and romance mixed in. The storytelling in Ever the Hunted is truly accomplished. Erin Summerill is amazing at bringing the characters to life. In addition, she creates scenes that smoothly weave in such beautiful details and emotional undercurrents that even a sedate walk through the woods feels enthralling. There were no throwaway scenes. Everything hooked me from the very beginning and kept me enthralled by a book in a way I haven’t been in a while. While this story did have some exciting fight scenes, it certainly didn’t need them. The author beautifully fills every scene with immense detail and life, that even the most sedate scenes felt as exciting as the action scenes.

I also loved the way Summerill portrayed the two main characters, Britta and Cohen, exploring their romance in a very relaxed manner. She takes her time to bring them together, drawing out the most she can from every little gesture. Summerill completely embraces the style of a good old-fashioned romance and all of the wonderful poignant sighs and stolen looks that come with it. At the same time, I don’t just love the romance; I love the characters as individuals. Summerill portrays Britta as a fully fleshed out character with powerful emotions and honest reactions. As I read this novel she was as real to me as any person I’ve ever met on the street. All of Summerill’s characters are enjoyable to read and come across as fully fleshed out human beings. Each had very specific traits and characteristics, bringing them to life in my mind.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, this book is a slam-dunk in my opinion. Erin Summerill is first of all just plain and simple a very talented writer. If you like fantasy mixed in with some adventure and a sweet romance to boot, then you’ll love Ever the Hunted.

Adaptation Recommendation

With this book being the first in a series I think this would make an excellent mini-series. It reminds me of past ones that used to air on ABC like The 10th Kingdom. The adventure and journey style fits very well into the style of the mini-series, giving the story adequate space and time to unfold on screen.

You can buy Ever the Hunted on Amazon.

What did you think of Ever the Hunted? Sound off below…

OVERALL RATING

Five Corset Rating Lower Byte Size

“The stuff that dreams are made of.”

ROMANCE RATING

Five heart rating

“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.

I have loved none but you.”

ARE YOU A ROMANCE FAN? FOLLOW THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW:
Silver Petticoat Review Logo Our romance-themed entertainment site is on a mission to help you find the best period dramas, romance movies, TV shows, and books. Other topics include Jane Austen, Classic Hollywood, TV Couples, Fairy Tales, Romantic Living, Romanticism, and more. We’re damsels not in distress fighting for the all-new optimistic Romantic Revolution. Join us and subscribe. For more information, see our About, Old-Fashioned Romance 101, Modern Romanticism 101, and Romantic Living 101.
Pin this article to read later! And make sure to follow us on Pinterest.

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

By on January 25th, 2017

About Rebecca Lane

Rebecca Lane grew up in the hot desert landscape of Tucson, Arizona where she decided early on she wanted to write, if only to mentally escape her blistering surroundings. She has always been enamored of the arts and literature. As a child she often wrote short stories, and rewrote the endings of novels that she simply could not abide. She received her Undergraduate degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where she was lucky enough to also spend a year studying at Oxford University. While she began her journey dreaming of the day she would sing opera in a large Manhattan theater, she found in the end she could not stand waitressing and simply could not give up books and her hopes of someday writing them. She is currently working as a freelance writer/editor and earning her Masters in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

More posts by this author.