Never Ever After: Three Short Stories

As this is a book of short stories, I will try to say something about each story... The first story, A Serca Tale, I found myself thinking that everything that needed to happen to move the plot along happened because of some kind of spell. I was upset that this would be the thing to push the plot along. There could have been more to the story of a woman trying to get out of an arranged marriage, but I felt more like this was just the quick throwing together of two people. There was some good story in it, I just wasn't captivated.

The second story, King Orfeigh was very interesting to me. I found it touching that a man would do all he could to find the woman he loved, that he would give up everything in order to be with her again. The journey of how he does this, and why, is the interesting part, so I won't reveal it.

Happily Ever Awhile is literally a Cinderella story, but it is honest and real. What happens after the wedding? How does family and the court and happiness blend together into something that is manageable and all within reach? It's both heartwarming and a heart breaker, which isn't as unbalanced as it sounds. ( )

I'll review the three stories in Never Ever After one-by-one.

A Serca Tale: In a lot of stories, heroes are portrayed as universally likeable. Every woman wants him, and every man wants to be him. But what if there's a woman that doesn't want him, but has been promised to him by people that assume she does? This story is set in an Eriu similar to that of Yseult, so I enjoyed the familiarity. I wish that the heroine hadn't fled one man only to end up with another, but I suppose it's the freedom of choice that matters. I did enjoy the story, though.

King Orfeigh: I really enjoyed this story, which tells of a king who has lost his wife to the faerie king, and has been trying to find her and win her back. It's written in the second person, which I found kind of jarring at first, but got used to pretty quickly. The story is heartfelt and touching.

Happily Ever Awhile: This story explores Cinderella's life after she marries her young Prince Charming and lives "happily ever after." Being married to a prince has its drawbacks – he has to rule a kingdom, and lead its men to war if there is one. Ellie manages to find happiness, though. Happily Ever Awhileis a fun story, and manages to balance the fairy tale and the realistic quite well.

Overall, a great collection of stories!

Originally posted on my blog. ( )

Short fantasy collection with a good longer first story, the other two slight.

Never Ever After : A Serca Tale - Ruth Nestvold
Never Ever After : King Orfeigh - Ruth Nestvold
Never Ever After : Happily Ever Awhile - Ruth Nestvold

Some Irish marriage problems.

3.5 out of 5

Sidhe music.

3 out of 5

Latin not the only thing that is a waste of time.

2.5 out of 5

http://freesf.strandedinoz.com/wordpress/2012/02/never-ever-after-ruth-nestvold/ ( )