Not all fairy tales end happily ever after in this Cinderella-inspired fantasy by the bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess—for fans of Renée Ahdieh, Tahereh Mafi, and Stephanie Garber.
Never Ever After: Book 1 by Sue Lynn Tan
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; October 28, 2025
Genres: Fantasy | Young Adult | Romance | Retelling
Pages: 368 pages, Hardcover
Format: Kindle epub
Source: NetGalley
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Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse, mental abuse, violence, blood, torture, very minor “spice”
Rated: YA and up
★★★★★ | 5 / 5
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.
This sweeping fantasy romance inspired by Cinderella and a Chinese fairy tale is the first in a breathtaking new series by the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
I received an eArc copy, thanks to Netgalley.
Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favourite authors to date. Her Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology holds a special dear place in my heart. Ever since, I have bought everything she has published and read them all.
When I found out she was debuting a new series, I needed to jump on it. Look at this gorgeous limited edition! I ran as fast as I could to place an order on the physical copy.
As I await the delivery of this beautiful edition, I dove right in to my eArc copy.
Sue Lynn Tan – you did not disappoint.
I was blown away by the story, and clever details sprinkled throughout. It brought me back to how I felt when I read Daughter of the Mood Goddess and it’s second novel, Heart of the Sun Warrior.
The dynamic between the female main character, Yining, and our two male leads Prince Zixin and Jin had me rolling over in frustration with the love triangle. I do not want to spoil the story, but I was pulling my hair out because of the tense the moments. Who is she ultimately going to fall for? Who is the real ally and who is the enemy? What are their true motives, regardless of how they appear on the surface?
The world building was fascinating, and I had no trouble visualizing every detail. It is the perfect blend of mythology and fantasy set with an Asian backdrop. Think of Cinderella crossed over with Beauty and the Beast and old fairy tales.
And the plot twist ending? I did not see that coming.
It may be a while before the second book comes out. I am eager to find out what happens in the future of this story. In the meantime, I will wait until publication day to admire my physical copy.
★★★★★ | 5 / 5
