EDEN’S EVERDARK, by Karen Strong, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Sept. 6, 2022, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
A grieving girl accidentally stumbles into a magical realm ruled by a wicked witch in Karen Strong’s Eden’s Everdark.
Still grieving the loss of her mother, Eden visits Safina Island, her ancestral home, as a healing balm. But when she discovers an old sketchbook that belonged to her mother, she’s haunted by the images she sees drawn there. A creepy mansion covered with roots and leaves. A monstrous dog with dagger-sharp teeth. And a tall woman with wind-blown hair and long, sharp nails who is as beautiful as she is terrifying.
Days later, exploring the island alone, Eden follows a black cat through a rift in the bright day. She stumbles into Everdark, a parallel world where the sun never rises, where spirits linger between death and the afterlife, and where everything from her mother’s drawings is all too real — especially the Witch of Everdark, who wants to make Eden her eternal daughter.
Can Eden find a way to defeat the witch’s magic? Or will she remain trapped in Everdark forever? —Synopsis provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
It’s hard to set yourself apart in the world of middle-grade books, especially when it comes to fantasy. Eden’s Everdark is the third such book with a Black protagonist and gorgeous cover that I’ve read in the past two weeks.
So, what makes it different?
Karen Strong’s prose.
Eden’s Everdark was inspired by the Georgia sea islands and Southern Gothic storytelling, which often features death, dark humor, ghosts, mystery, suspense and magical realism. This book, Strong says, “is dedicated to all who know grief. Always remember in the deepest darkness hope can still bloom.”
Strong’s writing mirrors that sentiment, delivering a read like no other.
Eden’s Everdark sort of feels like two books. There’s the before part where Eden is introduced to her ancestral home and family. This exploration of culture is one of the highlights, but it soon swaps places with the Everdark portion.
Horror fans may be put off by the slow transition to creepy, but Strong does get there, and it’s creepier than readers may be expecting.
Eden comes across as someone readers will want to root for, and her desire to know her mother and family better is at once understandable. Her time with her family could have been more deeply explored, but most readers will be excited to get to the “meat” of the story.
Eden’s Everdark is an atmospheric read that will appeal to paranormal/fantasy fans.
Copyright © 2022 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
