Ever

Starred review from March 31, 2008
Levine’s (Ella Enchanted
) original mythological tale works as romance, adventure and exploration of faith. Kezi is the only daughter of a wealthy, devout family in a vaguely ancient, vaguely Middle Eastern city, where the established religion revolves around one god, Admat. When Kezi’s mother falls deathly ill, her father vows to sacrifice the first person who congratulates him on his wife’s recovery, if only Admat will let her live. Through adroit plotting, this person turns out to be Kezi, who has 30 days before she must be delivered to the sacrificial altar. Meanwhile, Olus, the god of wind from a family of Greek-like deities, has been watching the horror unfold; out of loneliness (the brother closest to him in age is 412 years older), he has disguised himself to mix with mortals and fallen in love with Kezi. Braided throughout the well-paced action are doubts raised by Kezi’s new-found knowledge of Olus and his clan: “How can Admat be the one, the all, if Olus is a god too?” Is her sacrifice without reason? Levine conducts a riveting journey, offering passion and profound pondering along the way. Ages 10-up.

Starred review from June 1, 2008
Gr 5-9-In this masterful fantasy told in two voices, Levine has created a mythology and society as rich and nuanced as the one portrayed in Megan Whalen Turner's "The Thief" (Greenwillow, 1996). Olus is the Akkan god of the winds, but he is hundreds of years younger than any of the other gods and, therefore, very lonely. He visits Hyte, a kingdom of humans, where he is intrigued by the beautiful and talented weaver and dancer named Kezi. Olus witnesses the events leading to her generous but reckless decision to offer up her life so that her father can keep the oath he's sworn to their god, Admat. He follows her, introduces himself in human guise, and the two fall in love. This is where the book deepens, even as the plot intensifies. Can Kezi love a god? Can she love a pantheistic god, even though she was raised to believe only in Admat? The nature of religious conviction and the tensions between different belief systems are questionedbut so deftly that readers are entertained by the arguments. With barely a month until Kezi becomes a human sacrifice, she and Olus search for a way to reconcile the need to honor her father's oath and their desire for one another. To prove themselves "champions," worthy of immortal life together, they each must endure a quest and face their deepest fears. The power of love and courage to overcome seemingly impossible odds and to bridge ostensibly untraversable differences are at the heart of this compelling, intensely satisfying fantasy."Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2008
When Kezis mothers life is threatened, Kezis father bargains with Admat, god of oaths, to spare her, but he is unprepared for the consequences: he must sacrifice Kezi, instead. Kezi finds hope in Olus, the Akkan god of the wind, who loves her and determines to save her. Together, Olus and Kezi face seemingly insurmountable trials, but if both succeed, they will be deemed Champions in the Akkan world and become immortal. Levine has crafted a mythical realm where a gods pottery, thrown in frustration, causes earthquakes; Olus winds herd goats, dictate prophecies, and carry loved ones to safety; and magical potions have the power to change the characters fates. The story is filled with suspense, action, and challenging philosophical questions: Would one truly wish to be immortal? What is the price of following a deitys commands? An action-packed love story set in an elaborate, challenging world, this richly imagined story will engage fantasy and romance readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2008
Olus, seventeen-year-old Akkan god of the winds, goes to neighboring Hyte to study the behavior of mortals and falls in love with Kezi, a gifted rug-weaver. When an ill-favored oath on her father's part makes Kezi's life forfeit to the Hyte god Admat ("the one, the all"), Olus devises a plan: if Kezi travels to the Akkan gods' home and becomes immortal, the priest's knife cannot kill her. However, she can only get there as a heroine, guided by a champion, thus beginning her and Olus's twin quests. The story's vaguely Middle Eastern setting is minimally sketched; far more interesting is the naturally unfolding love story between Kezi and Olus, who alternate the narrative duties. Equally intriguing is the central dilemma of the tale: the god Admat, who is supposedly invisible and everywhere, gives no sign of his existence, leaving the lovers to wonder if the sacrifice is truly necessary. Kezi fails to find a sign of Admat during her pilgrimage to the underworld, and Olus, a god himself, has never heard of him, although he is careful not to run the risk of defying him. Levine leaves it to readers to decide if Admat is a fake or merely hidden -- a fascinating quandary in a story with gods themselves as characters, and one sure to provoke many discussions about the demands of faith.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2008
Seventeen-year-old Olus, god of the winds, falls in love with Kezi, whose father pledged her life in forfeit to the god Admat. Admat gives no sign of his existence, leaving the lovers to wonder if the sacrifice is truly necessary. Levine leaves it to readers to decide if Admat is a fake or merely hidden--a quandary sure to provoke discussions about faith.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)