A review by kaelielily
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

adventurous dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Long Live Evil immediately caught my attention with its unique premise. Who wouldn’t want to jump into their favorite book series? Despite the fun idea, the book often delves into emotional and dark themes, as the main character, Rae, only gets the chance to enter her favorite book because she’s dying of cancer, and this is her only hope of saving her life. What she didn’t expect was to enter the story as a villain.
I instantly fell in love with the characters surrounding Rae, especially Key. Over time, I grew to love the rest of the characters too, and I enjoyed watching them grapple with moral dilemmas as they unexpectedly found themselves on the side of the villains.
However, the story started out pretty slow. While the world-building was interesting and the characters were great, it took until about two-thirds of the way through for me to really get into it. The plot didn’t progress particularly quickly, and Rae took a frustratingly long time to realize that the characters she was surrounded by were more than just side characters with seemingly expendable lives. Her attitude was often unserious and neglectful.
That said, the ending was action-packed and full of surprising twists that finally grabbed my attention. Now, I’m hooked and excited for the sequel. Here’s hoping my favorite characters survive and realize their feelings for each other!
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