~ Everard – A Review

Image from Just the Write Escape

This last week I had the pleasure of reading Mrs. Havig’s latest book, Everard. I was determined to get a review written on Saturday… Well, we ended up doing a family movie day on Saturday, so I’m doing it tonight instead.

The Author:

Chautona Havig is a contemporary author, living in California. She is married and the mother of nine children and grandmother of three. Everard is one of her many published books. Others include, Princess Paisley and Ready or Not. To learn more about Mrs. Havig and her books, visit her website: Just the Write Escape

Technical Details:

Everard is Mrs. Havig’s most recent book. This second installment of the Not-So-Fairytales series is scheduled to go into print sometime this week, but a Kindle version can be purchased now. The book is thirty-four chapters long, ending with an Epilogue.

The Story:

Everard, the shy prince of Havilund, is finally on his way home. After four years of fighting in Congolia, the Terrible War is over. He isn’t home for long. Seeking permission to propose to the daughter of a milkman, who he met while traveling home, Everard finds himself setting out on dangerous quests with a single companion; a young man named Sevrin. Sevrin isn’t a knight or a soldier. His job is to be around to report if something happens to the heir of Havilunds throne. He’s also a companion for Everard, who would otherwise be traveling completely alone. Bernar, the young woman’s father, seems to think of the most fantastical assignments possible and apparently doesn’t even consider the danger. All this before he’ll even let Everard propose to his daughter. There is a catch, however, that even Bernar isn’t entirely aware of: Everard doesn’t love Roanna. In point of fact, he hardly knows the young milkmaid. He has other reasons for proposing. While entirely honorable, these reasons leave him feeling duty bound to follow Bernar’s demands, no matter how impossible they may seem. From his quest to procure the head of the Dragon of Ironia, to his search for a legendary pearl of enormous size, Everard faces seemingly endless challenges, confronts disappointment, and learns to challenge one of his greatest fears. But is there something deeper and more sinister hidden in the innocent looking town where Roanna lives? Could it be that Havilunds future king is putting himself into more danger than he realizes?

The Writing Style:

Much like the style of Princess Paisley, Mrs. Havig carried the narration in a light and humorous tone. The beginning was slightly slow, but it began to pick up by the time Everard left the castle. By the end, the book was positively adventurous, making it hard to put the book down.

The Characters:

The characters were well crafted and developed. The villains were loathsome and the hero was… well… a hero! Everard didn’t come off as perfect. No, he had his faults. He did, however, work to overcome them. He showed himself brave in the face of danger and anxious to do the right thing, often turning to the LORD when he felt lost or reluctant.

The minor characters were written nearly as well, making the story realistic and interesting.

My favorite character; once again, this is hard. Everard certainly makes it to the top four, along with Sevrin, Roanna, and Sassy, the strange companion Everard and Sevrin pick up on their journey. If I had to choose it would be Everard or Sevrin, but honestly, I don’t think I could choose between them.

Conclusion:

Overall, I really enjoyed Everard. As much as I liked the first book in the Not-So-Fairytales series, I enjoyed this one much more. It was well written, funny, and adventurous. I would certainly recommend it.

To the KING be all the glory!