Ever Blessed – A Promising, Magic-Soaked Beginning

I went into Ever Blessed by Olivia O’Flynn wanting something immersive but not exhausting—romantasy with momentum, stakes, and enough emotional texture to make me care. And for the most part, that’s exactly what I got.

Between the Covers with Danielle | Literary Sips | Ever Blessed by Ollivia O'Flynn

This is a confident debut that understands its genre. The pacing is brisk, the chapters move cleanly, and the world-building is woven in rather than dumped on the page. The magic system—centred on belief, decay, and divine interference—feels purposeful, not ornamental. There’s a clear sense that power in this world comes with cost, consequence, and politics, which I always appreciate.

At the centre of the story is Elva, a warrior princess forced into a political marriage to end a devastating war. She’s abrasive, impulsive, and deeply physical in the way she approaches problems. I’ll be honest: she didn’t always feel emotionally accessible to me. But she did feel consistent. Elva is someone who has survived by armour and action, and that hardness is part of her construction, not a flaw in the writing.

In contrast, Innes completely won me over. As a healer and witch navigating faith, secrecy, and responsibility, she brings a quieter, more introspective energy to the novel. Her storyline adds emotional balance and depth, and I found myself far more invested in her internal conflicts and choices. The contrast between these two women—how they move through power, belief, and danger—was one of the book’s real strengths.

The political intrigue is present without being overbearing, and the romantic threads are clearly slow-burn rather than instant gratification. This is very much a first book: foundations are laid, alliances are unstable, and not everything resolves neatly. Personally, I’m fine with that. I like a story that trusts me to stay curious rather than tying everything up too quickly.

Is it perfect? No. Some readers may struggle with Elva’s prickliness, and those wanting immediate payoff may find the ending more setup than climax. But as an opening act, it’s engaging, readable, and full of potential.

Overall, Ever Blessed feels like a series finding its feet—and finding them well. I’ll absolutely be continuing, because I want to see how these characters evolve once the pieces finally start to collide.