Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Ever the Hunted
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.erinsummerill.com/
CITY:
STATE: UT
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2014079578
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2014079578
HEADING: Summerill, Erin, 1978-
000 00907cz a2200205n 450
001 9575980
005 20160408142223.0
008 140610n| azannaabn |n aaa c
010 __ |a no2014079578
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca09879223
040 __ |a UPB |b eng |e rda |c UPB
046 __ |f 19781229
100 1_ |a Summerill, Erin, |d 1978-
370 __ |a England |e Utah
374 __ |a Authors |a Photographers |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Summerill, Erin. Clickologie, [2014], ©2014: |b ECIP title page (Erin Summerill) ECIP data view (born 29 December 1978)
670 __ |a Ever the hunted, 2016: |b ECIP t.p. (Erin Summerill) data view (Born in England, then after spending years bouncing between Air Force bases in Hawaii, England, and California, her family finally settled down in Utah.)
670 __ |a From goodreads.com, April 8, 2016: |b B.A. in English, professional photographer, debut YA fantasy Ever the hunted
PERSONAL
Born 1978, in England; married; children: four.
EDUCATION:Brigham Young University, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and wedding photographer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Erin Summerill’s debut young adult novel, Ever the Hunted, is the first installment in a proposed fantasy series. The seventeen-year-old protagonist, Britta Flannery, is about to lose her father’s estate. Her father, a bounty hunter for the king of Malam, has been murdered, and Britta is reduced to poaching game in the king’s forest to survive. When she is finally caught, Britta is sentenced to death, but then she gets a second chance. The king wants Britta to find her father’s killer. Britta happily agrees, but then she learns that the prime suspect is her first love, Cohen Mackay. Cohen was her father’s apprentice, so the betrayal cuts deep, but if Cohen really is responsible, Britta will bring him to justice. Her search takes her to the neighboring kingdom of Shaerdan, where Britta finally meets her mother’s side of the family. She also encounters a sect of magic-weavers, and both will help her find Cohen.
Reviews of Ever the Hunted ranged from ambivalent to positive, but in a rare negative assessment, a Pandora’s Books Web site correspondent remarked: “Do I recommend this one? I honestly can’t say. I don’t want to turn anyone away from reading it. . . . I was highly anticipating it and I feel very disappointed now. I’m not sure if I’ll read book two or not. It depends on the plot and if any trusted friends read and enjoy it.” As a Kirkus Reviews critic put it, “though not terribly innovative, still a solid choice for fantasy readers who prefer a large helping of adventure with their romance.” Echoing these sentiments in the online Tales Between the Pages, a reviewer announced: “Ever the Hunted is a formulaic story with good characters and a predictable plot. I’ll read the next book.” An online Bookstacked columnist also offered both pros and cons, asserting: “I found most of the plot to be predictable, but Ever the Hunted still left me intrigued while reading. Erin Summerill’s writing is stunning and I enjoyed how well she built this new world for readers. The characters were all interesting, but were a bit hard to connect with at the beginning. Britta’s strength despite all that she lost in her life was inspiring though, and I enjoyed that about her story.”
Proffering a more positive assessment on the YA Books Central Web site, Kayla King announced: “Summerill knows what she’s doing. . . .The flow was great, the descriptions amazing, and the overall tone was enjoyable to read. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author! . . . With rich characters and world-building, there’s not much to be missed. I was easily hooked and finished the novel quite easily once getting into it.” An online Vampire Book Club writer was also positive, advising that “Summerill did a great job in establishing the connection between Britta and Cohen through Britta’s flashback memories. . . . The magic of the story is a particular aspect I look forward to learning more about in the next book. I think now that Britta’s story has been established, it’ll be interesting to see where things go from here.” According to an online My Friends Are Fiction contributor, “Ever the Hunted was a beautifully written romantic fantasy that played heavily on family loyalty and the feelings the main characters felt for one another (friendship and romantic). I felt that the world was an interesting one and I hope we delve deeper into it as well as learning more about some of the side characters.” As an online A Page with a View reporter put it, “the worldbuilding was solid and there was seriously never a single moment I was bored because the writing flowed so well. I was also pretty impressed with how this story managed to be well-rounded while still setting up a ton of leads for the sequels!”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2016, review of Ever the Hunted.
Publishers Weekly, October 10, 2016, review of Ever the Hunted.
ONLINE
A Page with a View, http://apagewithaview.com/ (December 27, 2016), review of Ever the Hunted.
Bookstacked, http://bookstacked.com/ (December 28, 2016), Kristy Mauna, review of Ever the Hunted.
Erin Summerill Home Page, http://www.erinsummerill.com (July 19, 2017).
My Friends Are Fiction, http://www.myfriendsarefiction.com/ (December 5, 2016), review of Ever the Hunted.
Pandora’s Books, http://www.pandorasbooks.org/ (December 17, 2016), review of Ever the Hunted.
Tales Between the Pages, http://www.talesbetweenthepages.com/ (December 27, 2016), Jessica Workman Holland, review of Ever the Hunted.
Vampire Book Club, http://vampirebookclub.net/ (February 10, 2017), review of Ever the Hunted.
YA Books Central, http://www.yabookscentral.com/ (November 3, 2016), Sage Knightly, review of Ever the Hunted.*
8 Things About Me
I own more pairs of shoes than *Insert name of small country.
Miracles happen daily. I believe this with all my kidney.
I have a love/hate relationship with CrossFit.
Happiness is a choice, and once chosen it's meant to be shared.
Coke Zero and Hot Tamales are my two favorite food groups.
If I'm not writing a book, I'm shooting a bride. (summerillphotography.com)
Hugs are as essential as shoes, food, and toilet paper.
I tend to speak before I think.
After completing a B.A. in English, I had aspirations to knock out the next great American novel. Mom always taught me to dream big. Well writing proved tougher than I first thought. Tougher than chewing on a two-year-old gummi-worm that's been hiding under a car seat. Plans changed. I didn't write the next great American novel. No, I grabbed a Nikon and became a professional wedding photographer. During the day I posed brides and in the evenings I put scenes into action. Word by word. Manuscript by manuscript. I kept on writing.
The scenic detour of photography took me across the United States and even over to Australia and New Zealand, where I picked up world-building inspiration. After seven years, eight failed manuscripts, and a life-altering kidney donation experience, I finally had the vision to draft my debut young adult fantasy, EVER THE HUNTED.
When I'm not writing or shooting, I'm chasing my 4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and 4 chickens around the state of Utah. This is probably why I'm seriously addicted to Coke Zero and Hot Tamales.
Erin Summerill was born in England. After spending years bouncing between Air Force bases in Hawaii, England, and California, her family finally settled down in Utah. Although, the “settle” bug didn’t quite bite Erin. After graduating with a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University, she decided while working on writing and a career in publishing, the best way to spend her time was traveling with her husband. There was no better way to accomplish that goal than as a wedding photographer.
Erin became a professional wedding photographer in 2008. Though she’s based in Utah, she’s traveled coast-to-coast, as well as internationally, to capture images for her clients. Traveling has fed her love for other cultures and inspired her writing career.
When Erin doesn’t have her nose in a book, she’s busy chasing after her four kids, two dogs, one cat, and five chickens. Which could be why she downs massive amounts of Coke Zero and has an unnatural obsession with hot tamales.
Erin Summerill
UK flag
Erin Summerill was born in England. After spending years bouncing between Air Force bases in Hawaii, England, and California, her family settled in Utah, where Erin graduated with a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University. She had aspirations to write the next great American novel, but writing proved tougher than she first thought. So she grabbed a Nikon and became a professional photographer while crafting manuscript after manuscript. The scenic detour of shooting weddings across the United States, as well as internationally, provided world-building inspiration. It gave her the vision to draft her debut YA fantasy, EVER THE HUNTED. Now when she isnt writing, or shooting a wedding, shes chasing her four kids, two dogs, one cat, and five chickens. This could be why she downs massive amounts of Coke Zero and Hot tamales.
Ever the Hunted
Publishers Weekly.
263.41 (Oct. 10, 2016): p82.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Ever the Hunted
Erin Summerill. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-544-66445-6
Not long after the death of her father, a renowned bounty hunter for the king of ' Malam, 17-year-old Britta Flannery is arrested for poaching and
sentenced to death herself. When Britta is offered her life in exchange for tracking down her father's murderer, she accepts but is shocked to learn
that his alleged killer is Cohen Mackay--her father's apprentice, her best friend, and her first love. Britta's quest takes her to the neighboring
kingdom of Shaerdan, home to female magic-weavers known as Channelers, as well as Britta's unknown maternal relatives. Debut author
Summerill makes use of familiar story elements--avenging a parent's death, a potential betrayal by an estranged first love, a main character with
unrealized power--but incorporates them into an richly described world populated by engaging characters. The mystery of who killed Britta's
father is disappointingly transparent, but Britta's grit and tense interactions with Cohen make her journey to find answers gratifying. Plenty of
questions remain in the final pages, setting the stage for the next book in the Clash of Kingdoms series. Ages 12-up. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams
Literary. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Ever the Hunted." Publishers Weekly, 10 Oct. 2016, p. 82. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466616245&it=r&asid=e812518c30c8936fa9090bc2c98c7989. Accessed 20 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466616245
---
6/20/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1498012192668 2/2
Erin Summerill: EVER THE HUNTED
Kirkus Reviews.
(Sept. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Erin Summerill EVER THE HUNTED HMH Books (Adult Fiction) 17.99 12, 27 ISBN: 978-0-544-66445-6
On a quest to save her life by finding her father’s killer, a teen girl discovers conspiracies between kingdoms on the verge of war.Outcast
Britta Flannery, distrusted in Malam because her mother was from neighboring enemy country Shaerdan, has no income source and is about to
lose her father’s land back to the crown after his death. He, the king’s bounty hunter, has been murdered. Caught poaching,
Britta’s given a choice: instead of execution, she can use her tracking skills to bring down her father’s killer, revealed to her as
Cohen Mackay, her father’s former apprentice and her best friend—whom she secretly loves. Devastated, she agrees. Soon,
though, her mission to find her father’s killer takes her over the border into Shaerdan, where she learns a lot more about magic
(forbidden and punishable by death in Malam—Britta herself has a secret ability, telling truths from lies), her family, and the dark power
drawing the two countries into conflict. All characters seem to be white. Archer Britta is a familiar type of heroine, and the majority of the
predictable plot twists happen right on schedule, but the writing quality is good. The strong climax sets up a cliffhanger for the sequel, which will
not be unwelcome. Though not terribly innovative, still a solid choice for fantasy readers who prefer a large helping of adventure with their
romance. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Erin Summerill: EVER THE HUNTED." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA463215947&it=r&asid=7852d19d06388a5f5dc600adcd16401e. Accessed 20 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A463215947
In Erin Summerill’s stunning debut, ‘Ever the Hunted’ sets up an exciting world for readers!
In Erin Summerill’s stunning debut, Ever the Hunted sets up an exciting world for readers. There’s vengeance, clashing kingdoms, and a determined heroine who is willing to do whatever it takes to find her father’s murderer.
The blurb:
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam – that is, until her father is murdered.
Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
Readers first meet Britta after her father has been gone for a while. She’s left to fend for herself since the king will take back her father’s land leaving her completely homeless. After being forced to poach, which is illegal, she’s arrested and taken to the dungeons. Britta only suffers for sometime though because soon a Lord offers her a deal in exchange for her life that she can’t refuse.
Britta is incredibly stubborn which made it hard for me to really like her. Her determination to never give up despite all her losses was inspiring though. Her deal with the Lord sends her on a mission that introduces us to more characters including Cohen, the one being charged as her father’s killer. I enjoyed all of the characters, even the evil ones! I wish we got more from King Aodren, but I’m hoping we’ll see him in future books.
I’ve read a lot of fantasy this year so it’s not surprising that I found a lot of the plot twists to be predictable. So, it felt like the story was going forward without actually moving forward making it a slow read for me. As for the romance, it was sweet and well-balanced throughout the story. Their shared history made it unique, but unfortunately it was too back and forth for my liking. There were moments that were unnecessary to tell the story.
The world continues to expand introducing more magic. I absolutely loved Erin Summerill’s writing because it truly captured this world through stunning descriptions. Honestly it was her writing that saved the first half of the book for me. The setting of these beautiful woods and the simplicity of it all was intriguing. After setting up this new world for readers, the plot grows more interesting by the end. It all began to wrap up nicely until that final scene!
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The characters were all interesting and each played a role in the story. I did end up liking Britta more than I did when we first meet her. Her strength after losing everything in her life made her a great heroine. Erin Summerill sets up so many possibilities for the future of this series, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her! I recommend Ever the Hunted for all the fantasy lovers!
REVIEW: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Plot
Writing
Characters
Theme
Summary
I found most of the plot to be predictable, but Ever the Hunted still left me intrigued while reading. Erin Summerill's writing is stunning and I enjoyed how well she built this new world for readers. The characters were all interesting, but were a bit hard to connect with at the beginning. Britta's strength despite all that she lost in her life was inspiring though, and I enjoyed that about her story.
3.9
User Rating 0 (0 votes)
Featured Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Thursday, 29 December 2016 Kayla King, Blog Manager News & Updates Latest Staff Reviews 600 Hits 0 Comment
Featured Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
About this book:
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer. However, it’s not so simple. The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
*Review Contributed by Sage Knightly, Staff
Reviewer*
Amazing Fantasy Read!
CHARACTERSBritta: She is strong and determined. She has a lot of fight in her for someone who has lost so much. The journey of Britta not only accepting her emotions but also herself and others is a journey you won't soon forget. It rings true and strong, as she fights for what's right even when she knows she must sacrifice something.Cohen: Seemed nice, supportive even. But while he was struggling not to let her know how he felt, he was distant and fairly rude. Especially after their first encounter after so long. He is strong and intelligent, kind and compassionate, but he sure knows how to pay the bad guy.
PLOTIf you had to find the man who murdered your father and found out said man is one you love (but who left you), would you be able to do it? Britta has no choice in the matter, either having to forfeit her life (and her father's everything), or track down Cohen. With her powers of being able to tell truths from lies, she can't fight the accusations against Cohen, not when they ring true. So the hunt begins.I love the twists, the surprises. Even when it was predictable, it was still enjoyable to read.ROMANCEIs sweet and slow. Britta and Cohen already love each other, but neither truly believes the other can be theirs. Not only that, they also don't want to endanger each other. Especially now that both are watched closely, Cohen being the hunted and Britta the hunter. The closer they get on their journey however, warms the heart as they aren't just physically connected, but also mentally and emotionally. The more we see of them together, the more we get to see of how hard they're trying to hold back. Love isn't easy to deny, but when you believe it's for the right reason, such as protecting that person, you have the willpower to deny it. And seeing that unravel is rather brilliant.WORLD-BUILDINGIs fantastic! Everything was vivid in my mind, easily visualized and rich in descriptions. Summeril knows what she's doing.WRITINGThe flow was great, the descriptions amazing, and the overall tone was enjoyable to read. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!OVERALLWith rich characters and world-building, there's not much to be missed. I was easily hooked and finished the novel quite easily once getting into it.
Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
DECEMBER 27, 2016 • REVIEWS • 2 COMMENTS
Ever the Hunted by Erin SummerillEver the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Series: Clash of Kingdoms #1
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on December 27, 2016
Pages: 400
Goodreads | Buy on Amazon
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In Ever the Hunted, the kingdom of Malam is almost at war with its neighbor, Shaerdan. For seventeen-year-old Britta Flannery, this means that she’s an outcast. Her father is a bounty hunter for King Aodren of Malam, who met and married Britta’s mother in Shaerdan. Then the King closed the borders and tensions between the two countries escalated. To those in Malam, Britta is a bastard child. When Britta’s father is murdered, Britta is left in a precarious situation. Unable to inherit her father’s land and home, she’s all but destitute. When she’s caught poaching in the Ever Woods, Lord Jamis, the King’s regent, gives Britta an ultimatum.
life-and-land Cohen, who Britta hasn’t seen in over a year, is accused of murdering her father. And Lord Jamis wants her to find him.
no-one-other-than-me
Britta sets out on a journey that takes her to unexpected places and causes her to reconsider what she knows as truth. She is more powerful than she realizes, and she alone can stop the war between Malam and Shaerdan.
I’m torn about Ever the Hunted. I tore through the story quickly. The magic was fascinating. I adored the supporting characters. I also liked Britta and Cohen. I was totally engaged with the story throughout. So what’s the problem? Good question.
I felt it focused too much on the romantic plot points and not enough on building the kind of rich world you would expect in a fantasy novel like this. It had a blurb from Sarah J. Maas, so I had high expectations in that regard. It feels like a YA contemporary romance disguised as a fantasy novel. The political conflict certainly suffered because of this. Too much was glossed over to be the kind of epic fantasy that it wants to be. Britta is also the kind of character I love to hate. She’s talented in an unconventional way, and she has this annoying habit of thinking that she’s unattractive when it’s pretty clear she isn’t. They’re over-played tropes.
The novel itself was formulaic. Nothing was a surprise, except for the end, which did surprise me a little. I’m still not sure what to think of it other than it sets up the next book pretty well.
You see? Torn. Loved the characters and some of the world building. Other things needed work.
Verdict
Ever the Hunted is a formulaic story with good characters and a predictable plot. I’ll read the next book.
three-stars
Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
December 17, 2016 Meredith Reviews 0 ★★★
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin SummerillEver the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Series: Clash of Kingdoms #1
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on December 27, 2016
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Goodreads
My rating: three-stars
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
This book was a highly anticipated one for me. And I really enjoyed it… until I didn’t. The beginning was slow, but once it picked up, I really fell into the story. And then a little over half-way through the book, the plot and pace come to a screeching halt and it just dragged. AND THEN, 50 pages from the end, something happened and it just pushed me over the edge. It’s a tired trope that I’m sick of seeing in YA. I can’t explain what it is without spoilers, but if you’ve read the book, you’ll know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, you will once you DO (or if you do) read it.
There were a small number of intriguing plot twists, but other than that, there was nothing interesting about this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters, either. And you guys know how character-centric I am, so that was probably the biggest reason I didn’t enjoy this book. I wasn’t feeling the love between the main characters at all. They felt more like just friends and the back and forth with them was ridiculous too. It was frustrating and unnecessary, and seemed like it was only meant to drag things out and add tension where there was none.
There were also a LOT of “duh” moments where something was SO OBVIOUS, it was impossibly to understand how the characters didn’t realize sooner – especially where Britta and her background and “destiny” are involved.
The feel and atmosphere of this book – the woods and the hunting, etc – kind of reminded me of the Grisha trilogy. Even the characters had similarities to the characters in the Grisha trilogy. But the Grisha trilogy is better, IMO. But I guess you MIGHT like this book if you liked the Grisha trilogy… Maybe?
I still gave this 3 stars because I did enjoy the first half of the book and the few plot twists that happened. The author’s writing is gorgeous, as well. But the plot and pacing were slow and drawn out and just not as enjoyable as I’d originally hoped.
Do I recommend this one? I honestly can’t say. I don’t want to turn anyone away from reading it, but this isn’t one I’d ever really suggest if someone asked me for book recommendations. If someone asked me how I enjoyed it, I’d have to be honest and say it wasn’t my cup of tea.
So.. short review was short. But that’s really all I have to say about this one. I was highly anticipating it and I feel very disappointed now. I’m not sure if I’ll read book two or not. It depends on the plot and if any trusted friends read and enjoy it.
Posted by Amy on Feb 10, 2017 in Reviews, Young Adult | 0 comments
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Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill // VBC ReviewEver the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1)
Erin Summerill
Published: Dec. 27, 2016 (HMH Books for Young Readers)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: purchased
Reviewed by: Amy
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
After the murder of her father, Britta Flannery is trying her best to survive on her own. Which is easier said than done. Britta is the child of a union between a Malam man and a Shaerdan woman. Things between the two kingdoms have been tense for years ever since a Shaerdan was accused of using black magic to kill the recent King of Malam. Despite Britta’s mother and father’s union being legal, Britta is still looked upon as an outcast. Coupled with talk of war on the horizon and her father’s absence, Britta has a hard road ahead of her.
But when she’s given the opportunity to help avenge her father’s death, plus keep her homestead running, she takes it. That is, until it comes out that the person accused of Britta’s father’s death is none other than his apprentice Cohen, who also happens to be Britta’s closest and only friend. He’s also the only boy to have broken her heart when he walked away from her a year ago. She can’t believe Cohen would kill her father, but as she tries to prove his innocence, she’ll end up learning far more about herself in the process.
Ever the Hunted doesn’t really cover uncharted territory. I think if you’ve read any number of YA fantasy books, you can probably predict much of what comes about in this story. The thing is: I just plain, thoroughly enjoyed this story. I think sometimes there’s comfort in the predictable, in something that doesn’t challenge us too much, or twist our way of thinking too much in another direction. And it’s this fact that, I believe, allowed me to just read Ever the Hunted with ease and immerse myself fully within the story. I wasn’t reading trying to figure out ulterior motives, or wait for a betrayal to come. I tried. Honestly, I tried to read more into characters’ motivations, tried to interpret the dialogue thinking maybe this person was suddenly going to end up being evil. As soon as I stopped that nonsense, I started to enjoy the book so much more.
I liked the relationship between Britta and Cohen. Yes, there’s a complication thrown in early on, but I knew immediately there was more to the story than meets the eye. Erin Summerill did a great job in establishing the connection between Britta and Cohen through Britta’s flashback memories. Slightly confusing time-wise at first, the memories really mesh together well enough at a certain turning point in the story that you don’t have to question, or worry about, their feeling toward one another.
I would have liked this same ease of understanding in regards to the history between Malam and Shaerdan. While it was a bit foggy, the basic premise was easy to understand: Two warring kingdoms, when you put it like that, easy. I would have liked a bit more upfront clarity in the beginning on what happened to make things go sour. Instead we’re given little crumbs here and there that do eventually form into a cohesive picture, but that takes a little too long to come to fruition.
The magic of the story is a particular aspect I look forward to learning more about in the next book. I think now that Britta’s story has been established, it’ll be interesting to see where things go from here.
Sexual content: kissing
- See more at: http://vampirebookclub.net/review-ever-the-hunted-by-erin-summerill-clash-of-kingdoms-1/#sthash.rLPNEgIX.dpuf
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REVIEW OF EVER THE HUNTED BY ERIN SUMMERILL
December 5, 2016 By Kristen 22 Comments
EvertheHuntedcoverEver the Hunted
By: Erin Summerill
Release Date: December 27th 2016
Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
Format: Print ARC
Source: Publisher
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:
star
Summary:
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
My Thoughts:
I was immediately immersed in Ever the Hunted because of the writing style and my ability to connect to the main character, Britta. Overall, I felt this debut was a successful YA fantasy with enjoyable characters, fast pacing and beautiful writing.
You can see by the summary that this book followed some pretty standard YA themes: strong female lead, mystery surrounding father’s death, unrequited love interest, and the heroine being more than she believed. Regardless of hitting these typical notes the writing made this novel feel fresh and I was able to really feel the emotions Britta felt and be intrigued to learn more about her specific story.
On the romance front- this novel was pretty heavy on the lovey moments. Britta was often drawn to the physical attributes of her best and only friend, Cohen. I felt that there was a bit too much of her swooning over his back muscles but I was still able to feel some chemistry between the two. I’d classify this book as romantic fantasy so if you like a heavy helping of romance with your fantasy world this will be right up your alley.
The side characters were well done for the most part and I think it would be impossible not to have a soft spot for Enat- an old lady that lives in an enchanted forest. She’s bristly but loving and I was delighted with her character. As easy as it was to like many of the characters Summerill was adept at creating characters I loathed. I had trouble finding the good in a couple of them which made them rather one dimensional but it worked for the storyline.
The setting was vividly described which really helped me visualize the story. I liked that I could see the story play out in my mind’s eye and imagine the characters, forest and buildings. The world was richly developed and though questions were left undeveloped I knew enough to understand the struggle the characters faced and I’m certain we’ll learn more of the land’s history as the series continues.
The main mystery of the plot- what happened to Britta’s father- was not overly obvious but I honestly never really cared to try to solve the who done it though I was able to feel the love Britta had for her father. I think a few of the story elements were rather easy to figure out but I was still interested in reading the book to its conclusion.
An aspect I have to mention was that there was a strong family kinship/love element in this novel. Each of the main characters, Cohen and Britta, are driven by the love they feel for their family. I enjoyed their desire to push themselves for their loved ones and especially Cohen’s unwavering desire to protect his brother. I do hope that in the next book was actually get to meet Finn.
Now, for what left me a bit grrr- the ending of this book left open a door that I’m not sure I want open! I wasn’t thrilled with where that ending left us and the wait to find out what will happen will be far too long.
Final Thoughts:
Ever the Hunted was a beautifully written romantic fantasy that played heavily on family loyalty and the feelings the main characters felt for one another (friendship and romantic). I felt that the world was an interesting one and I hope we delve deeper into it as well as learning more about some of the side characters. I fear for where the ending left the story.
EVER THE HUNTED BY ERIN SUMMERILL
ever-the-hunted
Page Count: 400
Release Date: December 27, 2016
My Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads book description:
Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms, #1) Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
My thoughts:
4stars
That was a really fun read! It reminded me of several other YA books I love (like Ruined by Amy Tintera), but was also totally its own story.
I don’t want to say much in terms of summarizing the story, though, because everything seems like a spoiler… even basic plot points don’t get revealed until like 65%. So anyways, here’s some spoiler-free thoughts:
The first half of the story did a great job setting the tone for the series by establishing the war, the two kingdoms, and that one kingdom accepts magic while the other persecutes it. Britta wanders around the wilderness a lot with a hot guy, but there’s no risk of instalove because she already has history with him (such a nice change). Then the second half of the story seriously picks up and starts weaving different storylines together and flipping everything you thought you knew around. Also, I LOVED two of the secondary characters so, so much.
The first half of the book was slower moving, but it never got dull or anything because the writing is so solid. It’s a first person narration that actually works — Britta’s voice isn’t naive, annoying, unrealistic, or anything at all annoying. I really liked her! The guys in her life have been pretty controlling and protected her by leaving her or not telling her anything, so a lot of the story is her learning the truth.
The worldbuilding was solid and there was seriously never a single moment I was bored because the writing flowed so well. I was also pretty impressed with how this story managed to be well-rounded while still setting up a ton of leads for the sequels! The last few sentences were bit of a cliffhanger, but also made the next book way more interesting. I just hope I don’t have to wait 1.5 years for it…
Update from early April: I seriously can’t stop thinking about this book’s setting! Like the aesthetic of the forest scenes apparently stayed with me and I just really liked this world?
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!