NOVL Nation Pink Ribbon Winner: Never Ever After
The NOVL Nation has spoken! Fans are loving Never Ever After for its gorgeous prose and the world-building, balanced with amazing romance and a propulsive plot. The writing makes this book feel timeless while the plotting will keep you on your toes making this book impossible to put down! But don’t just listen to us, hear it from readers themselves!
“Sue Lynn Tan’s books are dangerous in the best way: once I start, I can’t put them down. Never Ever After isn’t just a Cinderella retelling: it’s a fierce, gorgeously written reinvention steeped in Chinese folklore, brimming with magic, court politics and lyrical prose that practically begs you to live inside it.”
– Jennifer, @williams_readalong
“Sue Lynn Tan is one of those authors that will never let me down. She always crafts such whimsical and magical settings and you feel like you could be right there. This was such a beautifully written story that I could not put down from the moment I started it. The political intrigue was great and I was left constantly second guessing everything I thought was happening.”
– Brooke, @bookishbrookish_
“Once I started Never Ever After I couldn’t put the book down. I just had to know where the story would take us and what a ride it was. From a competition, to several betrayals, to rescuing a princess trapped in a tower by a witch, to an open ending that will make you wish you had the second book, this is a sweeping fantasy you won’t want to put down.”
–Vanessa, A Bookish Archive
“Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan had me hooked from page one. It’s dark, magical, and lowkey heartbreaking in the best way. The world-building is so dreamy but the stakes feel real, and the romance? Painfully good.”
– Divya, @areadersalley
“Complete with a thief, a prince, and a mysterious ring, this is the fantasy that you need if you love royal backstabbing and family obligations. Perfect for these new chilly days if you’re looking for something cozy but not fall-coded!”
– Briana, Briana’s Book Nook
“This book truly kept me on my toes, and I never knew what to expect next! Def pick this up if you enjoy love triangles, rivals to lovers, betrayals, fairytale retellings, and unique magic systems!”
–Leanne, @lennylovesbooks3
“The writing is so whimsical and felt timeless… This story brought me back to my childhood, but with fresh eyes. “
–AJ, @maybebetweenpages
“The world building was so enchanting, the characters were well written, the story kept me on my toes, and I just can’t wait for the sequel!!”
–Jada, @JadaDaDonDada
“Sue Lynn Tan is magic. Every written word of hers feels like a bewitching spell, and I’m ready to fall for that poetic charm each and every time. Never Ever After has me falling under its enthralling spell, and I am beyond captivated!”
–Stephanie, @stephdaydreams
“This was a surprising action/adventure read with a lot of twists and turns. The plot moves quickly with danger/peril and intrigue around every corner.”
–Olivia, @onemused
“Inspired by the Chinese fairytale Yeh-Shen, Tan’s prose transports you to a lush palace of secrets, lies, and ambitious royals. Yining balances on a knife’s edge trying to fight her way out while protecting her heart.”
–Michaela, @thatbibliobabe
Not all fairy tales end happily ever after in this dark and fierce reimagining of Cinderella by the bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess—for fans of Holly Black, Tahereh Mafi, and Stephanie Garber.
Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.
Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.
Order now and receive the SPECIAL FIRST EDITION while supplies last—featuring a designed case cover under the jacket and illustrated endpapers, in addition to shiny foil and embossing. This must-have special edition is only available in the limited first printing.
After the explosive events of Never Ever After, Yining flees the Iron Mountains with her unlikely allies, seeking the truth about her newfound powers amid the secrets surrounding her ancestral home. But with a traitorous queen ruling the Three Kingdoms from a stolen throne, nowhere is truly safe, and Yining must decide whom to trust to keep her family—and her heart—from harm.
Praise for Never Ever After:
“Rich and layered and deliciously transportive.” —Renée Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn
“Tan has crafted a jewel of a fairy-tale retelling and each prism is lustrous with sinister wonder.” —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of the Gilded Wolves Trilogy
“A lush and effervescent, masterfully crafted fantasy.” —Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes
“I absolutely adored it and cannot wait for the sequel!” —Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Starlight