Review: Grim, gritty, GREAT!!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2012
Three short stories of Irish folklore. A fair maiden seeks protection from an arranged marriage among the rulers of the Otherworld. A king abandons his throne and riches to win back his bride from a faerie lord. A young queen (who will be familiar from another famous fairy tale) finds comfort in a traveling minstrel's songs while her husband is off to battle. In the tradition of the Brothers Grimm, these tales are dark and full of real emotion. They are replete with the fantastical magic and wonder of Celtic lore, but also rich with the gritty authenticity of reality. As the title suggests, there is usually no "happily ever after," and when there is, it is at the end of a long and harrowing adversity. All throughout, the timeless values of love, honor, and self-sacrifice ring true, even in the hearts of imperfect, all-too-human characters. An award-winning and critically-acclaimed novelist, Ruth Nestvold brings us three compelling tales of love and loss, all set among the romantic backdrop of ancient, magical Ireland. Expertly crafted with a fresh professionalism, "Never Ever After" earns the distinction of being the first work I have awarded a perfect 5-star score. I anxiously await Nestvold's next installment of Celtic fairy tales, maybe next time with some leprechauns.... please?