Ever

by Gail Carson Levine

Overview

Falling in love is never easy, but falling in love with an immortal god while your days on earth are numbered is almost more than a young girl can bear. Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens in Ever.

Kezi knows her days are numbered. But accepting death is hard, especially when her romance with Olus is so new—Olus, the god of wind and loneliness. 

Love brings Kezi the will to fight her fate. Love gives Olus the strength to confront his fears. Together—and apart—they encounter spiders with webs of iron, the cruel lord of the land of the dead, and the tests of the Akkan gods. 

If they succeed, they will be together. If they fail, Olus will have to endure the ultimate loss—and Kezi will have to make the supreme sacrifice. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061229640
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/26/2011
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.58(d)
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Gail Carson Levine's first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Ever, a New York Times bestseller; Fairest, a Best Book of the Year for Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and a New York Times bestseller; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; A Tale of Two Castles; Stolen Magic; The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre; Ogre Enchanted; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink, as well as the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf and Betsy Red Hoodie. Gail Carson Levine and her husband, David, live in a two-centuries-old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Read an Excerpt

Ever
By Gail Levine
HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2008 Gail Levine
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780061229633

Chapter One

Olus

I am huge in my mati's womb, straining her wide tunic. She is Hannu, Akkan goddess of the earth and of pottery. My pado, Arduk, god of agriculture, sits at Hannu's bedside, awaiting my birth.

It is too tight in Hannu's belly! I thread my strong wind into her womb, and my strong wind thrusts me flying out. Fortunately, Arduk catches me in his big, gentle hands.

Although Hannu lies in bed and Arduk stands holding me, we are also floating above the earth. In the air over volcanic Mount Enshi hovers Enshi Rock. From its center the temple rises: our home, a tower of porous white stone mounted on four stout stone legs. Never has there been such a temple!

When my diaper cloth is tied in place, I kick. When I'm lowered into my sleeping basket, I cry. If a blanket is tucked around me, I bellow. I am the god of the winds, and I hate confinement. Shame on me! I fear it.

Hannu and Arduk name me Olus. I call them by their own names, as is the custom.

Soon I can see and hear and smell across great distances and through objects, just as the other Akkan gods can. I hear the prayers of our worshipers, which are like the rattle of pebbles in a pan, too numerous to sort out.

When I am a month old, I smile from my parents' bed at the faces of the other Akkan gods and goddesses as they pass by above me. Meanwhile my merry wind tickles their ankles.

Butwhen Puru, the god of destiny, tilts his head down at me, my merry wind fades away, and I wail. His face is swathed entirely in orange linen, as is the rest of him. I can see through ordinary linen, but not Puru's.

Perhaps he can peer through his linen, or perhaps he smells me or only knows I'm there. When he speaks, no constant breath pushes his words, so he stops after each one. "Olus . . . will—"

"Hush, Puru," Hannu says, frowning.

"He's too young to hear about his fate," Arduk adds.

Puru says, "Olus . . . will . . . have . . . no happiness until he gains what he cannot keep."

Continues...

Excerpted from Ever by Gail Levine Copyright © 2008 by Gail Levine. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Editorial Reviews

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.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Levine’s (Ella Enchanted) original mythological tale works as romance, adventure and exploration of faith. [She] conducts a riveting journey, offering passion and profound pondering along the way. ” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An action-packed love story set in an elaborate, challenging world, this richly imagined story will engage fantasy and romance readers alike.” — Booklist

“The striking beauty of the Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Strong and good. ” — Kirkus Reviews

“Well developed” — KLIATT

From the Publisher

The striking beauty of the Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

An action-packed love story set in an elaborate, challenging world, this richly imagined story will engage fantasy and romance readers alike.

Booklist

Well developed

KLIATT

An action-packed love story set in an elaborate, challenging world, this richly imagined story will engage fantasy and romance readers alike.

Booklist

The striking beauty of the Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The striking beauty of the Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

The striking beauty of the Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

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. (May)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 5-9

In Gail Carson Levine's action-packed fantasy (HarperCollins, 2008), Olus, the Akkan god of the wind, spies Kezi, a mortal girl who is gifted in dancing and weaving, and falls madly in love with her. When Kezi's father decides that her life must be sacrificed to the omnipotent god Admat, Olus tries to save Kezi by making her immortal. Thus begins a harrowing trial of courage and compassion for Olus and a journey to the Underworld for Kezi. This beautifully written tale is told in the alternative voices of Kezi and Olus. Jenna Lamia and Oliver Wyman convincingly portray their emotions, and make the secondary characters easily identifiable. This well-paced, intriguing love story/fantasy is a solid choice for middle school and public libraries.-Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

Kezi, the talented daughter of a palace official, is willing to sacrifice her life to save her beloved aunt from the wrath of the god Admat. Olus, the Akkan god of winds, has come to live among mortals to ease his own loneliness. Deeply in love with one another, Olus's discovery of Kezi's imminent doom causes him to urge her to consider a way out of her predicament: Why not become a goddess instead? Separately these lovers must pursue their own quests-she to the land of the warkis, he to the god of wisdom on Enshi Rock-if they wish to remain together, and soon it becomes clear to Kezi that even immortality doesn't mean knowing all the answers. Levine strikes a somber and more contemplative note with this book than in previous outings, pondering the nature of faith alongside her usual romancing. It makes for a quieter novel than her readers may be used to, but one that will suit those who stop to think about their own mortality once in a while. Strong and good. (Fiction. 12+)

Kirkus Reviews

Good narration pulls listeners into a somewhat muddled story and creates heartfelt, likable characters. Jenna Lamia does an outstanding job with heroine Kezi, giving her a joyful lilt of loosely contained exuberance that has her dancing while others walk. Oliver Wyman, in the role of handsome Olus, god of the winds, is steadfast and strong. This tale will appeal to fans of classic mythology. The same shortcomings that have mystified us amid Greek and Roman shenanigans show up as a father's willingness to sacrifice his own daughter over a rashly made promise to the gods. But listeners will quickly get beyond that to adventure and romance as Kezi and her would-be savior, Olus, set off on their quest. D.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2009 - AudioFile