The Left-Handed Librarian

I think that Alix E. Harrow could publish her grocery list and I would still think it to be one of the greatest things I’d ever read. I characterize Harrow’s writing as deep-cutting and gruesome, while at the same time maintaining a hopeful quality that keeps you reading on. I have yet to read anything by Harrow that I would not emphatically recommend, and I am particularly excited for the release of The Everlasting in October 2025. 

The Everlasting masterfully pursues multiple timelines and perspectives without becoming overly complex. Following the story of a legendary knight and a passionate scholar, the novel calls into question truth, morality, and how historical perspective shapes our present understanding. As the lives of Una and Owen repeatedly collide, their faith and loyalty both to their beliefs and to each other are put to the test as they attempt to unravel falsehoods and escape fate. 

Harrow pulls in the nostalgia of Arthurian-style plot devices and imagery to construct a world that is familiar yet unsettling. The imperfect characters are relatable in a realistic way, with the writing refusing to shy away from their faults and begging empathy from the reader. Although macabre and repeatedly tragic, the story stops short of demoralizing and maintains confidence within the reader that the heroes will prevail, but maybe not in the way one would expect. 

The Everlasting revisits the successes of Harrow’s former novels and shapes them into a beautifully terrible new narration. Those who read and enjoyed Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January will find a comparable love in reading The Everlasting as Una and Owen travel through time and plotlines. Fans of Starling House will appreciate the continued lean into gothic literature elements. The Everlasting is captivating and a novel that I am sure to reread upon its release. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of The Everlasting. 

The Everlasting is set to release on October 28th, 2025. You can find more information here on the publisher’s website.  

I can’t wait for this book to be released! I hope you love it as much as I did.

Happy reading!

Kayla