Title: Long Live Evil
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Fantasy/Romantasy

Sarah Rees Brennan’s "Long Live Evil" ventures into the realm of fantasy with an intriguing premise, but its execution leaves room for improvement.

The novel is written in third-person limited narration, a choice that typically allows readers to closely follow the protagonist’s thoughts and experiences. However, in "Long Live Evil," this narrative style sometimes falls short of its potential. The distance created by third-person narration can make it difficult for readers to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist's inner world.

The characters, unfortunately, are rather clichéd and lack the depth necessary to establish a strong connection with the reader. Their motivations and actions are often predictable, making it challenging to relate to or invest in their journeys.

One potential improvement for "Long Live Evil" would be a shift to first-person narration. This change could provide a more intimate and relatable perspective, allowing readers to delve deeper into the protagonist’s thoughts and emotions. A first-person viewpoint might lend authenticity and nuance to the characters, making their experiences more engaging and believable.

In summary, while "Long Live Evil" presents an interesting concept and a unique narrative style, it falls short in character development and reader engagement. A revision to first-person narration and a focus on creating more complex, relatable characters could significantly enhance the storytelling experience.

“My lady. You can’t do this.”
“Watch me. This is my villain origin story.”

I really wanted to love this book, and based on the premise I should have, but unfortunately I just didn't.

I can recognise that this was a good book. It was well written and well plotted. The chance to go into the world of a fantasy book series? Sign me up. The opportunity to be an infamous villainess? I'm there for it.

I didn't like Rae (the FMC), and I think she's almost the entire reason I had trouble with this book? We did not vibe. She used a lot of modern language, which is understandable as she's from the modern world, but it was like she made no effort to assimilate, and it felt really over the top (like a boomer trying to speak like the youngin's).

I did enjoy the humour, though it made the book feel very unserious. Which I think was intentional? There were some great comedic lines, such as one of my favourites: "Books often described kisses as ‘searing’ which made Rae think of salmon, but characters seemed to enjoy the seared-salmon kisses." I

The ending was good and surprised me.

I think my problems with this are personal, and I don't think this is a bad book. It just wasn't for me 😌

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

I absolutely loved this. It’s completely over the top, it’s riotously funny, it’s incredibly dark, and it’s one of the most entertaining books I’ve read for a very long time.

When Rae, a young woman dying of cancer, is offered a chance to live by a mysterious stranger who appears by her hospital bed, she figures she has nothing to lose. All she has to do is walk through a door and step into the fictional world of her favourite fantasy book series and obtain the Flower of Life and Death, which only blooms once a year. The catch? She’s cast as the evil stepsister and arrives in the world on the eve of her gruesome execution. To make matters worse, she can’t quite remember the plot of the first book. Rae decides to just go with it and embrace evil because, after all, she’s the villain and none of this is real… or is it?

The author plays with tropes in fun and interesting ways, and Rae finds that figuring out the rules of fantasy fiction isn’t as easy as it looks when you’re suddenly a main character. Is the guard from the slums whom she initially dismissed as a minor side character important after all because he is suspiciously tall, dark and handsome? Are favourite characters all you imagined them to be when faced with them? And what do good and evil mean, really?

The only other book by Sarah Rees Brennan I’ve read previously is In Other Lands. In both, she skilfully writes characters who, in theory, should be utterly unlikeable but are instead compelling and sympathetic in the most heartbreaking ways. She discusses her own late-stage cancer journey in the acknowledgements at the end, and this has poured into Rae’s story with the kind of poignant clarity that can only come from lived experience.

Long Live Evil is truly something special and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

The captivating title and cover of "Long Live Evil" initially drew me in, and the intriguing blurb promised a thrilling adventure. Although I only reached 24% of the book, I appreciate the author's creativity and dedication to storytelling. While the writing style didn't fully resonate with me, I acknowledge the potential for others to find enjoyment in the story. Remember, every reader is unique, and what didn't click for me might be someone else's favorite read.

"Long Live Evil" by Sarah Rees Brennan is a delightful and entertaining fantasy novel that deftly combines humor and intrigue. Set in a richly imagined world where villains take center stage, Brennan's clever storytelling and sharp wit make for a compelling read. The characters are vibrant and multifaceted, adding depth to a narrative that balances lighthearted banter with darker, more sinister undertones. While the plot occasionally meanders, the book's charm and originality keep readers engaged. Overall, "Long Live Evil" is a highly enjoyable romp that earns its 4 out of 5 stars with its unique take on the fantasy genre.

This.
Was.
Amazing.

Truly. Not only was it hilarious and engaging, it was incredibly clever. It made fun of fantasy tropes (one dimensional heroes, sexy evil woman, etc), but it also analysed the very nature of storytelling. It was a meta mind trip and I loved it.

"Being nice was nice. Being nasty got shit done."

This book is brilliant! I couldn't put it down; I just wanted to immerse myself in all the evil schemes.

Sarah is so clever in her writing and the premise of the story. Rae is considered a terminally ill patient and feels like everyone has abandoned her. One night, she has the opportunity to save herself and goes through a portal into the world of Time of Iron, a book series she read with her sister while sick in the hospital.
When she enters the portal, she finds herself on the other side as the villain of the story.

Then, that's when all the schemes begin.

Who hasn't thought about, for some mystical reason, ending up as a character in your favourite book series? I have. The idea is brilliant, and I love how Sarah captures the moments so brilliantly in the dialogue.

The storyline is also brilliant. Because of Rae's knowledge of the book, we are supposed to know where the story is headed at each turn, but there are so many surprises that I was as confused but excited as the characters.

Another epic quote that doesn't give much away:

"Oh. The oh is italicised to suggest a revelation." the Cobra told him sternly. "I don't know what 'italicised' means," Marius muttered...

I held my breath a few times while reading. The suspense was excellent. If you're looking for romance to be a large part of the plot. You might be disappointed. It is definitely a factor but not necessarily the book's driving force. (which was refreshing, to say the least.) Did I mention this book also has ghouls and a manticore?

If you love a fantasy story that is fun, not too serious but has enough drama and tension to make you crave more. This is the book for you.

Long Live Evil by @sarahreesbrennan what can I say? What a book.
We all know how I feel about campy books and this one had it all- a book portal world, zombies, evil and the belly laughs. A character you shouldn’t love but do, characters who think they are the hero’s but aren’t and characters who think they are the villains, well are they? Nothing is off limits and everything is incredible.
I loved it so much I even forgave some very descriptive prose (I usually hate that but I could spend forever in this world looking at everything) and will be putting it on my list for best books of the year.

A difficult title to review. While the writing was okay (though definitely not as strong as previous books by this author), the story pushed so hard on its idea of the bad guys being the unsung heroes that it didn’t feel like it progressed in a natural fashion. Too much going on, with characters so extreme that none of them were likeable - including the mc. This might have worked if the author’s usual humour had been more evident.

I did finish this book, but I don’t know if I’ll read the next.

This book was super campy and the pacing was a bit off but I think the author did this deliberately, getting the pacing right on a book within a book would be hard, so it makes since that it would make the pacing super awkward. Despite that the weird pacing, I really enjoyed the book I thought it was a super fun read and I am super excited for the next one!

Rae in her early 20s has cancer and life is limited. One night, a mysterious woman offers a second chance, to enter the world of ‘Time of Iron, Rae and her sisters Alice’s favourite fantasy series. The woman tells Rae she can only return if she secures a flower that is blooms once a year. Given her current state, Rae figures why not but wonders why she is given this opportunity. The woman says for love. Rae accepts and quickly finds herself thrust into the action. Cast as the evil temptress, the beauty dipped in blood, with mighty big bosoms, who is about to be executed. Saving her life to live another day becomes Rae’s first priority, then form a gang of like-minded evil doers to create havoc, have some wicked fun and get that flower to go home to her sister. However, not everything goes to plan.
The novel begins with you quite simply scratching your head as you are thrown an overlong character introduction. It is fair to be thinking what is actually going on here, and then as you continue, the cleverness and humour of it all becomes apparent. From here on in you are hooked.
Rae as the central character is a complex mess, cancer has denied her so many experiences, her friendship list is dwindling and she is angry about it all. The lynch pin is her relationship with her sister Alice and their enjoyment of ‘Time of Iron’. Alice is the bigger fan, but Rae comes to love the stories as Alice reads them to her. Rae is sassy, is happy to call out bullshit “Being nice was nice. Being nasty got shit done.” It is hard to not like Rae, as she gives a middle finger to societal norms but is also fiercely protective of those she loves. I enjoyed how Rae embraces her situation ‘Let’s embrace the evil aesthetic like it’s a lover I’m about to poison. I want lips as red as blood, eyeliner black as my heart.”
The supporting characters, well there are a few, and they are all well-crafted. The Golden Cobra is an absolute hoot, flamboyant, mysterious and a romantic. Key is the ultimate in psychopath and for me was like the male version of Villanelle from Killing Eve. Even the do-good Princess Lady Lia has a wonderful twist.
Then there is the humour, look out for Victoria Broccoli, some clever little insights ‘Books often described kisses as ‘searing’ which made Rae think of salmon, but characters seemed to enjoy the seared-salmon kisses.’
This is just one fun, insane ride where every element of fantasy is turn inside out. Every character whilst initially cast as the hero or villain becomes a shade of grey and it is ever so refreshing. It has been some time since I have wanted the next instalment of a series to arrive, but I can not wait. As Brennan is a master at taking every single trope and twisting the bejesus out of it.

The concept is something straight out of a fanfic. A real life human gets pulled into a fantasy book and has to survive there with all the book knowledge and 21st century awareness they have. The main character Rae is dying of cancer, but if she stays alive in her sister’s favourite book series, she could live. The problem is that she gets put in the body of a villain. It’s fun, it’s camp and wants to be exactly that.

This is both the book’s greatest strength and a weakness.
I loved that Rae was snappy, self aware and cynical. She knows what is happening and fully embraces the role she got assigned, toying with familiar story tropes as they appear.
That also made the book a bit confusing. I am told what the original story is at the same time as I follow Rae mess it up. To me, it made the book feel a bit random, with events, characters and lore appearing as the plot demanded. I had no prior knowledge of this fantasy world, so I wasn’t sure at times what was happening and why something was wrong or subversive.

Rae is highly entertaining, and the self aware narration made me laugh multiple times.
A guard sees a known villain pass but doesn’t comment because it’s above his paygrade, as it happens. Rae proudly says: “The point is, I’m totally evil and I want you to be my evil minions.” Or the following exchange: <i>Key raised his hand. “I’m evil? I think.” Rae applauded. “That’s awesome!”</i> And that’s just from the first quarter of the book alone.

If you’re looking for a serious and epic high fantasy, this is probably not the book. It’s more of an affectionate parody and I liked it a lot. The ending made me excited for the sequel as well.

Long Live Evil was a fun, fast-paced take on the fantasy romance genre, that I believe is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas.

As an avid reader I found the idea of being transported into your favourite novel fascinating. I think that nearly every booklover has imagined what would happen if they were sucked into a novel, and I thought it was very clever how the novel changed around Rae as she spends time in the fantasy world. I also really liked Brennan's character work. I found all the characters deeply compelling, and thought that Rae was a great protagonist (or antagonist) to root for. I also thought it was very interesting and a lot of fun watching Rae, a kind hearted soul attempting to portray herself as a villain. Where I have found that many books in the romantasy genre I've read recently have intended to blend together, Long live Evil has stayed fresh in my mind, and I think it is a innovative, fresh take on the genre.

I did find that at times the plot became a bit convoluted, and I occasionally lost track of what the characters were actually trying to achieve, especially during the middle of the book. I thought that the plot came together at the end, and I am looking forward to the sequel. I can't wait to see how Brennan continues to expand the world, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Rae's journey takes her.

I would like to thank Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy, and I am looking forward to recommending this title when it releases later this year.

Long Live Evil was a fun read from start to finish. Quirky and meta, it pokes fun at the fantasy genre in a way that reveals deep love for it (much like Forbidden Broadway does for musicals). It was amusing to follow Rae's exploits as she attempted to twist the familiar story to suit her needs and aid her return home, and you could definitely see her evolution along the way. Most of the twists I did see coming, including the big one at the end, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment, and I would certainly been keen to read on to book two and find out how everything will end. I am giving this book 4 stars.

Thankyou netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of long live evil in exchange for my honest review:

This book is super different from any other book I've read! The premise of a young woman (fmc-Rae) who is dying in her world and gets an opportunity to save herself travelling through a magical portal/door to end up in one of her favourite books!

The first few chapters of this book took me a while to read. As in my opinion the beginning of the story felt disjointed, which made it hard for me to really get into. Though once I reached approximately the 10% mark I got into a rhythm and the pages were starting to fly by.

The things I loved the most about this book were:
✨️all of the characters and their different quirks
✨️story and premise of being set inside a book
✨️originality
✨️villain romance ❤️

Overall I did like this book and will read more from this author in the future

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Thank you to NetGalley, Hatchette Australia & the author for the opportunity to review this title and provide my own unbiased opinion as a review.

‘Being nice was nice. Being nasty got shit done.’

There is so much to like about this book, especially for any reader who has dreamt about entering the pages of their favourite story. Some of my favourite literary characters are villains and I leapt at the chance to review a story with the villain as the lead. The MC, Rae, is dying of cancer when she is offered the chance to save her own life by entering her favourite book series and stealing the Flower of Life and Death from the King. However, things don’t go according to plan when Rae discovers she is now the Villainess of the story and needs to save herself from execution. But Rae’s actions have consequences and the ripples she creates lead to disaster.

Long Live Evil is a look into reading culture today with book fandoms, the perspective difference between ‘good’ and ‘morally gray’ characters and ‘shipping’ book relationships. I freaking loved the chapter headings, and the mix of contemporary dialogue and internal monologue from Rae is hilarious when paired with the medieval setting of the ‘book’.
Written with irreverent humour and tongue-in-cheek wit, there were parts that had me laughing out loud as well as a gripping plot and excellent pacing. Combine that with LGBT representation, a musical number, Monty Python references and a snake named Victoria Broccoli, and you’ve got a fantastic read!

This book is for everyone who ever day-dreamed self-insert-fic, and didn't really think through the consequences. (How distracting would I really have been to Biggles and Algie and Ginger? I don't care about Bertie.) It's also for those people who connect with the line "always rooting for the anti-hero" (omg turns out I like a Taylor Swift song??).

This book is amazing and wonderful and didn't do what I expected except insofar as I was, indeed, constantly surprised by events and personalities. Surprised and delighted and absorbed and, not going to lie, a bit stressed out.

At 20, Rae is dying from cancer. Her sister keeps sharing their favourite books with her, to keep her company and to have some joy in her life. Rae didn't pay much attention to the first book, but then things got interesting in the second. Why does that matter? Because when Rae finds herself in the world of those books, early in the timeline of the first book - in the body of a significant character - trying to figure out what's going on, and how to fit herself in, is going to be crucial. And, well. As you can probably expect, it doesn't entirely go to plan. Oops?

Brennan is doing A LOT here. Rae's experience with cancer - the disease and other people's reactions, and everything else lost because of it - reads very, very real (turns out Brennan has had very serious cancer recently; I am highly averse to reading authorial experience into books, but sometimes it's real). So there's that. And when Rae wakes up in her new body, she needs to figure out what she's meant to know (and not know), and how she's meant to act. The decision to embrace the (supposed) villainy of the character she's inhabiting is a fascinating one with all sorts of consequences, and allows Brennan to comment on all of those Villain Tropes - and especially Lady Villain Tropes - that authors and films have loved to rely on. My particular favourites are the critiques about gravity and balance if you've got the boobs of the Classic Evil Seductress.

Sure, it's got a character dying of cancer, and the fictional world she spends most of her time in is actually not a very pleasant place at all with deeply problematic characters and a dreadful social structure; people die needlessly, and the class structure is appalling. However, it's Sarah Rees Brennan: this book is also FUN. It's fast-paced, it loves life, it gets into tricky situations and tries to talk its way out of them, it has people trying to introduce house music where it really doesn't belong. I consumed this novel and now I'm pining for the sequel and I don't even know when it will be released.

Highly, highly recommended.

“Your father resembles his father, and his father’s father. The same face with slight variations, to imprint the memory of danger through generations.”

To say this book exceeded my expectations is a very difficult thing to say. Because it didn’t simply exceed it, it took my expectations and ran head first into the glass ceiling I had created in my own head. This book not only became my favourite read of 2024, I know it won’t be bumped off because I’m pretty sure this book has launched itself into my Top 10 books in my mind!
I had presumed this to be a fun little romp about a villain doing villainous things. And while that was correct, there was also a quiet elegance to the book that really got into my head. And a thank you to Netgalley for my Advance Readers Copy. My opinions are completely honest and my own.

“Morality was all about shading: in a kingdom of petty blond antagonists, heroines stayed gold.”

Let’s start with the base concept of the story. The main character, Rae, is a young woman dying of cancer. She’s in hospital and she’s not doing well health-wise. In comes an option to save her own life, where if she goes into a story both her and her sister love and steals a flower, she can be healed of her illness. Of course, she jumps at this opportunity.
Only, she finds herself in the body of one of the villains.

“So this is my noble steed, Google Maps?”

The humour in this book was top notch. It borders on campy (actually, goes full blast into campy) and creates a humorous setting after having such a delicate entrance. It creates a lush new world where the protagonist not only knows she comes from another place, but also knows the story and what’s going to happen next.
We meet really thrilling characters like Key, a guard at the Palace who dreams of bigger things (in a stabby, bloody kind of way), Emer, the Iron Maid who has a future of stabby things but seems to be open to change, the Cobra, my personal favourite and someone who holds a familiar secret, Marius, The Last Hope who has a black and white view on what’s right and wrong, and the Emperor, a man who has been foretold to do many great things. There’s also plenty of other characters and plot points that really pushes this book into the high fantasy realm, while the humour and laid back approach keeps it open to all readers.

“Sometimes women writers got discussed as if they ran a fictional vampire dating agency, while clearly men writing green bare-breasted tree women burned with pure literary inspiration.”

I loved that this book had some super serious moments, many of which poked fun at the publishing industry and its audience. It wasn’t jarring or out of place, as the whole world Rae is in it built from a fantasy novel in the ‘real world’.
I liked the moments of clarity and the friendly reminders that often certain groups of people don’t have the same opportunities or are often seen as creating art that is ‘less than’ when it’s the same. Or, in this case, I’m sure this book will be seen as a romcom and ignore the actual story – all because it’s written by a woman.
Yes, I’ve seen bookstores who have moved books from Young Adult to Adult or Fantasy all because they found out the author was a man. And I’ve seen the opposite when the author is a woman.

“Sorry, but the old Rahela can’t come to the phone right now.”

The pop culture references in this were great. I think the author chose well – they weren’t something that was going to age quickly, but it’s still relevant to today’s readers. The Taylor Swift quote will definitely still be valid for years to come (and probably be done and redone by other artists) and even things like calling a horse ‘Google Maps’ (you have to read the book because that made me snort) isn’t likely to dry up soon.
Usually I’m a little iffy about pop culture references as they tend to date a book, but this was done really well.

“Lord Marius is a man too. Men have needs? Spare me. Men have need of food, sleep and shelter. Calling anything else a need is frankly embarrassing. Carnal extravagance is not a necessity to resent but a luxury I enjoy.”

Listen, because I have an ARC, I’m not about to spoil anything. I would love to go deeper but I want you to read it and let me know what you think.
For me, this is the best book of 2024.

I didn't really care for this book. It was a chore to get through this from beginning to end, the final chapter kinda makes it worthwhile but... at what cost?

This was a wild ride of a read. We have Rae, who is dying of cancer and gets a second chance at life by entering the world of her favourite book series and ends up being a villain in the story. She decides to embrace her wicked ways and of course chaos ensues. I really enjoyed this story which puts a spotlight on what makes a hero or a villain but I think there was a lot about perspective too. There were a few scenes where the same events were taken in completely different ways, depending on the characters perspective which I found interesting. Also I am shipping two particular characters so hard that if they don't get together in the next book, I will riot!

This was an amusing books with plenty of feels and plot twists - sign me up for book 2!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette for the ARC.