Book Review: Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan
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Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan
ARC Review: Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!
Publication Date: Oct 28, 2025
Series: Never Ever After #1
Genres: Young Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (Glimpses & Kisses)
Quick Thoughts: I usually steer clear of fairytale retellings because nothing can recreate the magic of the originals, but Never Ever After, a dark Cinderella retelling with Chinese folklore woven in, completely changed my mind. The characters are complex, gorgeous prose, slow burn romance, and political intrigue will appeal to both YA and adult readers. This has become a new favorite and I can't wait for the sequel!
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Animal cruelty
Death of parent
Classism
Violence
Injury/Injury detail
Child abuse
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Royal Court Settings
Inter-Kingdom Politics & Political Tension
Love Triangles
Hidden/Secret Identities
Fairytale Retellings
Chinese Folklore
What is Never Ever After about? (Spoiler Free Summary)
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.
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.
Never Ever After Review
I usually steer clear of fairytale retellings because nothing can recreate the magic of the originals, but Never Ever After completely changed my mind. Imagine Cinderella but darker, with Chinese folklore woven in. It has all the classic elements of a good fairytale with a twist—wicked relatives, morally gray men, and a fairy godmother who makes our heroine's dreams come true (well, in this case a fairy god fish). Needless to say, I was absolutely swept away, and I'm bumping up all of Sue Lynn Tan's books on my TBR!
The characters are a standout part of this story. Both Prince Zixin and Jin, the male leads, are morally grey with hidden intentions. Stuck in the middle is Yining, who's thrust onto this chessboard of politics between the different courts. While Yining isn't used to life in the royal court, I appreciated that she's smart and always makes decisions in her best interests, especially with the stakes being so high.
“I’m lucky to be standing here now, the ghosts of my past grazing the shadows of the future, the loss entwined with love—that I can choose whether to move onward or stand still. There is no wrong decision as long as it’s mine.”
The romance ended up being a love triangle, which I wasn't expecting, but it was so well done and woven into the court politics that it didn't feel like a typical love triangle. The romantic tug-of-war added another layer of the power struggle between Jin, Prince Zixin, and their respective courts. The stakes felt real and the romance didn’t feel just thrown in.
“Handsome princes don’t always have hearts of gold, and those who do probably don’t want someone like me.”
This book leans heavily into political intrigue, and the tension between the courts is present in every relationship between the characters, including the romance. While it's marketed as YA, the sophisticated plotting and politics will appeal to adult readers as well. I know I enjoyed trying to puzzle together everyone's schemes, negotiations, and next moves.
Never Ever After has become a new favorite, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel!
So, should you read Never Ever After?
If you love royal court settings and want an enchanting story with a dark twist, definitely pick this book up. The political tension will keep you thinking the entire time you’re reading, so if you want a brain off book, skip this one for now.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Never Ever After FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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No, Never Ever After is the first book in a duology. As of this blog post, the second book has not been announced yet.
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As of the writing of this blog post, the publication date of the second and final book of the Never Ever After duology hasn’t been announced yet.
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Never Ever After is a 1 🌶️, which is glimpses and kisses. There are no spice scenes in this book.