From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.

Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters―but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.

Centuries later, Owen Mallory―failed soldier, struggling scholar―falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives―and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.

But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend―if they want to tell a different story–they’ll have to rewrite history itself.

I received a free audiobook of this title courtesy of the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

I read Starling House by this author a couple of years ago and loved the author’s style, so when this book came out, I jumped on it without hesitation. A time-twisting story about love, legacy, and rewriting history sounded like something I’d devour. And while I didn’t dislike it, I can’t say I fell head over heels for it either. For me, this was one of those middle-of-the-road reading experiences: gorgeous writing, great concept, but emotionally distant. I admired it more than I connected with it.

The story follows Sir Una Everlasting, a legendary knight whose heroic life built the foundation of the Dominion. Una is the brave orphan who became a soldier and eventually a national symbol. She’s a legend whom all admire. But the truth of the woman behind the legend has been lost to history. Enter Owen Mallory, a failed soldier and historian who becomes obsessed with Una’s story and eventually realizes he is an actual part of her story. His fascination leads him (literally) into the past, where he meets the real Una and finds himself trapped in a cycle of dying, rebirth, and endless repetition.

It’s an intriguing premise, and Harrow leans fully into it. The book is part fantasy love story, part historical epic, and part meditation on storytelling itself. It takes a look at how myths are shaped, who gets to write them, and how truth gets rewritten over time. It’s ambitious and beautifully written.

But what lost me was the second-person narration that runs through sections of the book. I understand it’s meant to feel intimate, like the story is speaking directly to the reader, but for me, it had the opposite effect. Instead of pulling me in, it kept me at arm’s length. This always happens to me when second-person is used, so it’s not a dig at the author. It’s really a personal problem of mine.

The repetition baked into the story’s structure also wore me down a little. Thematically, it makes sense; it’s about breaking cycles and rewriting fate. But as a reader, it started to feel like Groundhog’s Day. I appreciated what Harrow was going for, even if the experience didn’t quite click for me.

That said, the characters themselves are fantastic. Una is fierce, complicated, and full of quiet strength. She’s everything you’d want in a mythic heroine. Owen is a great counterbalance: flawed, vulnerable, and hopelessly in love with a woman who might not even exist in the way he thinks she does. Their dynamic gives the story its emotional weight.

The audiobook deserves its own praise. Moira Quirk and Sig Sager do an incredible job of bringing the world and characters to life. The audio production kept me engaged even when my attention might’ve drifted on the page.

Honestly, I have to really be in the mood for a fantasy story, and I don’t think I was completely there when I picked this one up. This feels like one of those books where timing matters. I think if I’d read this during a stronger fantasy phase, I might have fallen for it a little more. Right now, it just didn’t hit that spark for me. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good read; it just wasn’t quite what I was craving.

If you love mythic storytelling, fated lovers, intricate worldbuilding, and prose that flows beautifully, this will likely be a five-star experience for you. For me, it was a beautifully written novel that didn’t quite resonate emotionally. Still, I’m glad I picked it up, and I’ll definitely check out whatever Alix E. Harrow writes next.

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