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Strange and Ever After
Summary
Discover a “roaring-and addictive-gothic world” (Publishers Weekly) in the explosive conclusion of the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard.
It has been a tumultuous time for Eleanor Fitt since life as she knew it in Philadelphia came to an abrupt end. Although the Spirit-Hunters—Joseph, Jie, and Daniel—have helped her survive, Eleanor has lost almost everything.
Now, Jie has been taken by the evil necromancer Marcus. Eleanor is determined not only to get Jie back, but to finally end this nightmare. To do so, she must navigate the hot desert streets of 19th-century Egypt amid the rising Dead, her unresolved feelings for Daniel, and her volatile relationships with Joseph and with Oliver, her demon.
But it won't be easy. Because Allison, her friend from Philadelphia, has tagged along, becoming strangely entangled in Eleanor's mission.
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Reviews
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.THIS is how you end a trilogy, my friends. Like a freaking BAMF. Seriously, I had my doubts going in after a favorite trilogy went down in a fiery mess of plotberg, but Dennard’s ending is more than I could have dreamed. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and sassy and perfection. Also, Dennard is a recap queen. I’m going to be honest and say that I didn’t remember book two super well, but Dennard got me up to speed in no time and I was rolling. All of this is to say that you should run, not shamble, to read this book because it’s freaking amazing.I’ll admit that I struggled a bit with A Darkness Strange and Lovely. Eleanor hid so much for so little reason and I was endlessly frustrated with that. In Strange and Ever After, Dennard addresses this and Eleanor has to look at the choices she’s been making and why. Eleanor really has to face her demons, figurative and literal. I realize too that part of why I was so frustrated with Eleanor in book two is that we have so much in common, which is why it hurt to see her pushing away the people who care about her; I hate it because I know it’s something I would do too. In Strange and Ever After Eleanor does a lot of growing. She has an amazing character arc and the part of this book that most makes me want to cry is how far she’s come by the end.The big problem in a lot of trilogies is that the stakes are high and terrifying but that the author goes too hard for that HEA. Everything needs to wrap up in a big shiny bow at the end, so the plot ends up resolving really conveniently in such a way as to leave all the people the reader cares about alive and the romance happily afloat. There are no lasting consequences and the suffering is limited in scope. Personally, I don’t like this. Defeating a great evil is not going to be easy. In Strange and Ever After, it’s not. I won’t tell you what does happen, but I will say that the group works hard for every single bit of it.Obviously, romance is important to me, but it wasn’t my primary focus in this particular book. The plot really took the front seat and it was so badass. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that I really love the way it was handled, though some may not. The ending’s definitely bittersweet, but it’s lovely and dark and strange and precisely what it needed to be. I’ll actually be really interested to see what people make of this ending.There’s also action galore. There are fights against all sorts of zombies, of course. Then there’s the Indiana Jones style jaunts through the pyramids. The pacing is fast fast fast. Though Strange and Ever After is long, it’s a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. How many times can I tell you guys that you need to read this series? A LOT OF TIMES. It’s dark and funny and a bit romantic and full of action and magic. WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?Guys, I have mad respect for the way that Dennard ended this trilogy. Just so much respect. A lot of people are going to weep, though I didn’t. On a reread, I might even cry. AND THERE WILL BE REREADS. I give this trilogy my highest series recommendation. Go forth and read.
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing access to this book.
This was such a fun series. It has magic and zombies and Egyptian deities and romance and and and . . . I really enjoyed it, and I know there are a lot of others who will like it too.
I was a bit surprised by how everything worked out with Eleanor and Daniel and Oliver. It's not the perfect happy ending, but it works as a more realistic (realistic as being more of how things really happen in our lives)ending.
Overall, I felt this was a consistently strong series, with all books being equally good.
This was such a fun series. It has magic and zombies and Egyptian deities and romance and and and . . . I really enjoyed it, and I know there are a lot of others who will like it too.
I was a bit surprised by how everything worked out with Eleanor and Daniel and Oliver. It's not the perfect happy ending, but it works as a more realistic (realistic as being more of how things really happen in our lives)ending.
Overall, I felt this was a consistently strong series, with all books being equally good.
I feel like the author ripped out my soul with the ending of this book.
Eleanor Fitt is reeling from the many losses she has experienced because of an evil necromancer named Marcus who inhabits her dead brother's body. She and her band of misfit spirit hunters follow him to France only to find a huge horde of the undead and her friend Jie compelled by a spell. They then travel to Egypt to find the Old Man who is they key to raising a powerful creature who endows eternal life and untold magic onto its controller. Eleanor has to put aside her differences with her group and her unresolved drama with Daniel and Allison in order to work together and beat Marcus. She also has to come to terms with her dangerous powers and choose wisely when to use them.This is one of my favorite zombie series and I'm happy to finally find out what happens, but sad that it's ending. Eleanor is the character I love to root for despite all her flaws. Her temper gets the best of her and she pushes her close friends away despite them being the ones who can best help her. Her temper wouldn't be so bad if she didn't also control very powerful necromancy that can lead to some really rash decisions. Eleanor has to learn that her power isn't the answer to everything and to listen to her friends with cooler heads. She made some decisions I didn't agree with, but learned from her mistakes and grew as a person. Even her most rash decisions stem from her drive to protect the people she loves. She gets very vengeful at a point and loses sight of the big picture, but it's understandable. She's lost almost everything and her grief, anger, and frustration build up. She's only human and I related to her completely.I loved the journey to Egypt and the setting there. It gave this book a flavor so different from the other books that took place in the United States or Europe. Ancient Egypt has always been a fascination of mine and this book melds it with the Victorian era, zombies, and magic. This amalgamation makes the book come alive. The action is amazing and has more than the first to books combined. Marcus appears in the most unexpected places and they have skirmishes all over. The final battle is amazing. It took my breath away. So much power comes from both sides that I was seriously doubting which side would be victorious. I loved the ending and appreciated that despite the magic that flows throughout these books, death is final.The only part I didn't really like was how hot and cold Daniel was throughout the novel. One minute he would be compassionate and understanding and then the next he would be super angry for very little reason. Other than that, I wish the series would go on, but the ending is satisfying even though it's sad. I am excited for whatever Susan Dennard writes next.
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Amazing finish to a phenomenal series! While I didn’t love the bittersweet ending, I did enjoy the story overall and would highly recommend this to any YA paranormal fans!Opening Sentence: I was not supposed to be here.The Review:Eleanor Fitts has lost everything; her brother, her mother, and now her best friend, Jie. The person responsible for all her loss is the evil necromancer, Marcus. Now Eleanor is out for revenge and she will stop at nothing until Marcus pays for all that he has done. She will have to travel to the beautiful country of Egypt and search for the Old Man in the pyramid to find the answers she need to defeat her enemy. The Spirit Hunters always seem to be one step behind, but will they come out ahead in the final showdown?Eleanor’s own powers continue to grow, but the more she deals in black magic the closer she is to losing herself. She will need her magic if she expects to beat Marcus, but what will the price be? The epic final battle is coming and everyone is going to feel the effects of the outcome — weather good or bad! Will Eleanor be able to protect everyone she loves and finally get to live her strange and ever after?Eleanor has many flaws but I still completely adore her. With her independent spirit, sweet demeanor, and big heart what’s not to love. She doesn’t always make the best decisions but she always tries to protect the people she cares about. I was so glad she opened up more to everyone and actually let people in. It was frustrating at times to see her so closed off in previous books, but luckily that wasn’t the case in this one. She is constantly growing as a character and it is impossible not to love her. I also like that she is smart and she uses her brain to get her out of tough situations. She knows how to take care of herself, but she is also willing to accept help from others which shows her more humble side.Daniel is just as charming as ever. He is a consistent person that you can always rely on to be there for you. Out of all the characters he is the one that has the purest heart and I find that very sexy. Of course he also has great looks, an adorable accent, and a brilliant mind that makes him irresistible. His relationship with Eleanor continues to develop and I loved them together. They are so perfect for each other and watching them fall in love was beautiful. Daniel was a swoon worthy love interest that I will never forget.Strange and Ever After is an action packed story filled with passion, heartache, revenge, and adventure. This picks up right after the events that took place in the previous book and there is never a dull moment. It is very fast paced and it kept me interested the whole way through. The romance was beautifully done and all the characters were amazing. I was so glad I got to read all their stories. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t love the ending. I’m not going to go into any detail because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I was a little disappointed. I don’t think that everyone will feel this way, but that’s the beauty of having an opinion. I thought that Dennard did a wonderful job wrapping up all the loose ends and I do think that the ending worked for the series, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. Did I still enjoy the book? Absolutely! Would I still recommend this series? Without a doubt! Whenever an author ends a series they are never going to please everyone, but I still think that this was very well written and I truly enjoyed reading this wonderful story.Notable Scene:The hatch in the cargo hold was open, and Daniel stood on the edge. He glanced back only once, and his eyes met mine.“No!” I launched myself after him. But I was too slow, too far away.Daniel jumped.And that was when I realized—in a half-formed thought that flitted through my mind before I’d gone two steps: he had no parachute.And I could not let him die.I skittered back, yanked a parachute off the hook, and then sprinted. Each kick of my legs brought me closer to the open hatch—and just before I reached it, I swung the parachute on.Then I jumped too.FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Strange and Ever After. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
I got an eGalley of this book to review through NetGalley. I really loved the first book in this series, but thought the second book was a bit slow. I am glad I stuck with the series though, this third book was absolutely wonderful.Marcus has taken Eleanor’s friend Jie and Eleanor will stop at nothing to defeat Marcus once and for all. Eleanor, David, Joseph, and Oliver end up on an airship to Egypt to unravel the mystery behind Marcus and put an end to him once and for all. Eleanor and Oliver (her demon) have a very tense relationship going on after the events in the second book. Things are also tense between Eleanor and David and Joseph, because David and Joseph both disapprove of Eleanor’s increasing use of her necromancy powers.This was a wonderful conclusion to this series. It was much more fast-paced and action packed than the second book in this series. We see a lot more of El's magic and necromancy, as well as a lot more of Oliver and David. I really enjoyed this book and found it very hard to put down.Eleanor is trying to learn how to use her magic without becoming addicted to it and this is a very fine line for her to walk. At times she is letting revenge cloud her vision and pushing away the very people who love her and want to help.Oliver is becoming more and more human, yet he is still driven by his promise to El’s brother. We learn a lot more about where Oliver came from and his past.David was in the story a lot more than in the second book, which was awesome. We see a lot more of his fantastic steampunk contraptions and tinkerings. He is a wonderful character.I loved the exotic locations, we spend most of the book in Egypt and the author does an excellent job describing the surroundings. There is a lot about Egyptian mythology in here too which is another topic I really enjoy reading about. The magic/necromancy theme was a lot stronger than the steampunk theme, but there were still a number of steampunk elements in here.There is so much that happens in this book and so much of it is absolutely awesome. There is one event in the end of the story that kind of broke my heart, but it fit the story really well...so I ended up not being too upset. I am keeping all of this vague in hopes of preventing spoilers.Overall an absolutely fantastic ending to this series. So much happens. The locations are awesome, the magic is incredible, the characters are very engaging, there is action and an awesome world. Really I just don’t think Dennard could have done a more perfect job of wrapping up this series. I am so eager to see what she is working on next. This whole series is recommended if you are a fan of zombies, steampunk, and some kick butt necromancy!
Well that was the end of the series. No more Eleanor, no more Daniel, no more Jie, no more Oliver, no more Joseph, no more magic, no more petticoats, no more adventure…Believe it or not, I don’t finish many series, so when I actually mustered the courage to finish this one… well I’m completely heartbroken. Because it wasn’t a happy ending, it was a satisfying one.In this book we’re taken to Egypt on a new adventure, and it’s every bit as fun and thrilling as the book before. This book is without a doubt the one with the fastest pace, the one with the most romance, the one with the most feels, and the one with the most twists. I loved every second of reading it, and while it was not at all what I expected at the end, it was a very very great ending to the series.
Love the ending to this trilogy. So many feels as the fight to stop Marcus continues.
Eleanor definitely grows up in this novel. She’s had to endure so many hardships, and faces more battles ahead. Her friendships and feelings are tested to the max. Her need for revenge overshadows everything else at times. She is one of the strongest characters I’ve read, and proves that it’s okay to be odd.
There is a ton of action. It seems like the Spirit-Hunters are always a step behind Marcus. They have to fight with everything they have at every turn. Marcus is a true monster, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
There are so many great things that take place amid the horrible events in this book. I couldn’t stop reading.
Eleanor definitely grows up in this novel. She’s had to endure so many hardships, and faces more battles ahead. Her friendships and feelings are tested to the max. Her need for revenge overshadows everything else at times. She is one of the strongest characters I’ve read, and proves that it’s okay to be odd.
There is a ton of action. It seems like the Spirit-Hunters are always a step behind Marcus. They have to fight with everything they have at every turn. Marcus is a true monster, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
There are so many great things that take place amid the horrible events in this book. I couldn’t stop reading.
Well I finish the book. But not without tears. Yes, the author made me cry.Plot: The plot follows where the last book left off so if you have not read this series go and read it. It is awesome. Eleanor is dealing with what her brother started. It gets even more dangerous and with every chapter, Eleanor loses more of what she loves. Throughout this story Eleanor, is doing her best to save everyone. With much drama occurring in-between, its hard for Eleanor to trust anyone. The plot moves at a fast pace. There is much going on so the reader doesn’t ever feel bored or lost.Action/Places: One thing I really enjoyed in this story is Eleanor’s travels. She goes to places and of course they are always on the run from someone or something. The description of the places as well as Eleanor’s epic battles totally captures me in the book.Ending: I don’t want to say much to ruin anything but gosh the author made me cry!! I just could not believe it. So much struggle with emotions and the loss hit me hard. I wanted to fight for Eleanor. It just wasn’t fair. But I understood. *TEARS*Strange and Ever After gives the reader an epic ending! Flowing with much action and drama, the story carries the reader through the last pages heartbroken yet happy.