Sue Lynn Tan
Little, Brown Books
23 September 2025
368
eBook - EPUB
YA Romantasy
ARC via Edelweiss
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.
Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan was a book with a lot of plus points and only a few small negatives ones. Firstly, on the positive side I loved the combination of what felt like a classic Western fairytale with Chinese/Asian elements. The juxtaposition worked well and gave a fresh take to what might otherwise have felt too familiar to hold interest. There are plenty of tropes at work here too, ticking a lot of boxes for fans of the genre. On the negative side for me were the romance elements because I found them a little unbelievable, the heroine falling in lust/love with whichever of the two men was in her view at the time, and all the men miraculously falling instantly in lust/love with her. Still, although the relationships didn't work for me, I still enjoyed the overall story and adventures of the characters and would be interested to read on to see what happens next. I am giving this book 4 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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