Though twins, Everly and Hartly Morrow are complete opposites. After their stepfather leaves, their mother reveals that they are fairy-tale princesses, born of a cursed magical apple in a land called Enchantia. After their mother's death, Everly is transported to the kingdom of Airaria, where she is a princess and sorceress d destined to become the evil queen of legend. Though she fights this destiny, she is tempted by the desire to rule over everything, and by the devastatingly handsome Prince Roth. While, as the prologue attests, the story is already written, both Everly and Hartly fight against it, choosing to see their fairy tale less as an inevitable prophecy and more as one option among many. As they learn about their magic and heartbreak, it becomes clear that neither one may truly get a happy ending. Some of the flowery prose may be a bit too much for all but the staunchest romantic; purchase for die-hard fairy tale lovers, or in places where Showalter's other YA novels fly off the shelves.

A new take on "Snow White" in which fairy tales are prophecies.Life in Oklahoma did not prepare 17-year-old Everly Morrow for the truths she comes to discover: that she is a princess from the realm of Enchantia; her stepfather, Nicolas, is an evil sorcerer; and her beloved twin, Hartly, is not actually her sister. Plus, they are all players in a developing prophecy connected to the "Snow White" tale—but none of them knows which part they will play. Everly crosses over to Enchantia to find the truth behind who she is, and there, she meets other potential players, including Prince Roth Charmaine (Prince Charming, perhaps?), with whom she has an insta-connection. This is only the beginning of Everly's journey: With her newfound ability to communicate with mirrors, it seems fairly clear which character Everly is fated to be. The novel's conceit has a lot of potential with its deconstruction of a cherished fairy tale, an interesting take on good and evil as actions rather than fate, and a long cast of characters in ever evolving roles that will leave readers wondering who they are supposed to be. But cringeworthy dialogue and a convoluted, overlong execution let the premise down along with Everly's repetitive am-I-good/am-I-evil internal monologue. Everly is white; some secondary characters are described as having brown skin, and two major secondary characters are lesbians.An intriguing but ultimately disappointing series opener. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

Gr 8 Up--For as long as Everly can remember, she's been the unlikable and feared twin to the beautiful and endearing Hartly. Everly wears her intimidating personality as a badge of honor and uses it to protect her sister, as instructed by their mother. When not protecting Hartly, Everly escapes into a fantastic land where she's the sweet and giving girl that she sees in mirrors, until one day the mirror reveals horrible things that affect her family. Pressuring her mother for answers, Everly learns that she and her sister are princesses from a realm called Enchantia from which their mother escaped. Everly's mother also reveals that Everly is the fabled Evil Queen from the Snow White fairy tale who possess a unique and powerful form of magic. After a family tragedy, Everly returns to Enchantia, where she is hunted by centaurs and royals who wish her dead. At times, the pacing is too quick to fully develop the backstory. Familiar themes including fate, destiny, and fitting in will resonate with readers. VERDICT Recommended for large collections where fractured fairy tales are popular.-Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL