A review by raikowlreads
Evergreen by Devin Greenlee

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

I'm giving Evergreen by Devin Greenlee a 4/5 stars rating, and I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an early copy.

Netgalley describes this book as a Secret Garden retelling, while the author suggests it's more of a Rapunzel retelling. In my opinion, it embraces elements of both, though I wish the execution had been better.

Quill, the first male dryad ever born, captured my heart as a character. His upbringing involved homeschooling and being confined to his house with his mother and their garden. The introduction of a new family, including the human boy Liam, adds a layer of intrigue to Quill's sheltered life. The desire to explore the outside world grows in Quill, coinciding with Liam's curiosity about him.

The initial 60% of the book is undeniably cute and enjoyable to read. However, the plot takes a backseat until the very end, which was a bit disappointing. Despite this, the charm and two-thirds of the love story between Quill and Liam make the narrative quite endearing. While the plot may be lacking, the strong character development makes it deserving of a high rating.