Real life and fairy tales collide in Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy, book one in the new middle-grade Never After series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz. Nothing ever happens in Filomena Jefferson-Cho’s sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her … perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there’s no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Filomena is walking home on her own, something strange happens.
Filomena is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent–he’s real, the stories are real, and Filomena must come with him at once!
Soon, Filomena is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Filomena must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.
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Filomena is so excited for the release of the thirteenth and final book in her favorite book series, Never After. For the first time her overprotective parents have let her walk to the bookstore after school to go get it. Upon arriving at the bookstore she discovers that the book is not being released…ever. While walking home she notices she is being followed by a hooded figure. Who just happens to be Jack Stalker the main character of her favorite book series! Filomena is thrown into a world of fairytales and magic.
This book is a great middle grade story. I loved the reimagined fairytales and the lyrical storytelling. The Thirteenth Fairy is perfect for middle school aged readers who love fantasy, magic, adventures, and fairytales.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out!
Thank you BookishFirst for the free copy.
I loved this book!!! It was witty, exciting, and everything a middle-grade book should be!
First, I wanted to make sure I pointed out how funny this book was! I think that’s what initially caught my attention from page one. The author uses jokes that can be appealing to both adults and children and make the book enjoyable for all. There were multiple times were I laughed out loud so now I’m going to have to read more de la Cruz books to experience her humor once more.
Also, the voice of Filomena, the main character, is strong and unique. She has already experienced some hardship in her life (a lot of bullying), but she carries herself so well. She’s kind, thoughtful, a bit adventurous, and ever curious. I’m eager to learn more about her in the coming books in the series.
As I briefly mentioned above, this book covers the topic of bullying a little bit. It doesn’t focus on it too much, but it’s a large enough theme to help those who may have previously or may currently be struggling with this issue. The bullies in this book are dealt with in a humorous and justified way, but I suspect this topic will return in later books.
We get to meet so many fun and interesting characters in this book as we follow Filomena on her journey to discover the world of Never After. By the end, we have a whole posse of friends that I can’t wait to go on more adventures with. They all add something different to the group, be it humor, strength, knowledge, fashion (I’m looking right at you Gretel), etc.
For so many reasons, only a few of which are mentioned above, this book is a 5/5 for me. It was a great beginning to a new series and I can’t wait to get more of it!! I’m officially a STAN of Melissa de la Cruz.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is such a great start to a new series. It is geared mainly towards middle school, but written so well that young adult and adults that enjoy fantasy/action novels would easily enjoy as well.
It has a nice blend of action, fantasy, fairy tales, contemporary characters, suspense, mystery, and positive messages. All these themes come together nicely to give this book a nice flow and pace.
I loved the main character, Filomena Jefferson-Cho. She is realistic, likable, smart, respectful, and learning her way in life. She is thrust into the role for saving the day by chance and teams up with characters from her favorite books to help save the day…as it all is not what it seems.
I enjoyed the ending as while it was satisfying, it left us with the ability to carry on with subsequent installments to find out what happens next.
Thank you to Square Fish/Roaring Book Press and BookishFirst for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, and B&N accounts immediately. Publication date 10/26/21.
#FirstLine – Once upon a time in the days of old, eleven fairies gathered at court before a child to hold.
I loved this book so much. I loved the nod to so many beloved characters from nursery rhymes and other stories I adore from childhood. I loved the adventure and fantasy. I loved the story with so many important themes for young readers; being proud of who you are and where you come from, being brave and taking on challenges, the importance of reading, the fact that friendship is earned not blindly given, that things are not always as they appear and so much more. I am really hoping that another book is being written for this series, as the ending seemed to leave it open. I truly want more. This would be a great book to read together as a family because everyone from young reader to adults will love it. I highly recommend this book!!!
Filomena Jefferson-Cho is a middle-grade student living in North Pasadena with her over-protective parents, who have warned her over and over of the perils of modern-day living. On the day of the publication of the last book in a series that she absolutely totally loves, her parents relent on their strict rule that she is not allowed to walk any where alone lest she get kidnapped. After school, she rushes to the bookstore to get her copy of the book only to find there is no book. The publisher hasn’t published it yet. Her disappointment is palpable, and she heads home, but realizes she’s being followed by a boy. The boy introduces himself, Jack Stalker – the name of the main character in the series – after a series of lightning strikes fall far too close to them. Filomena becomes exasperated when the boy continues to pretend he is Jack and leaves him behind. Soon thereafter she is drawn into Jack’s world and finds the world she so loved in the books is very real.
This book has everything a middle-school reader and even adults could want in a fantasy novel – fairy tales, magic, danger, friendship, adventure, and fun. It is well written with fully developed and complex characters, and a plot that while busy doesn’t lose the reader.
If you have a middle school student in your life, this book would make a great gift. If you’re a fan of fantasy, gift yourself with this book. It deserves to be at the top of your to-be-read-list.
My thanks to Macmillan and Edelweiss for an eARC.