Ever

The following was originally published June 26, 2009 at http://phmsreads.blogspot.com/2009/06/ever-by-gail-carson-levine.html Two characters - Olus and Kezi tell this story. Each chapter is a different character talking. Both are in first person. Until you figure this out, it is very difficult to understand the story. Olus is the Akkan god of the wind. He comes to earth as a mortal and meets Kezi, who worships Admat. Kezi's father has taken an oath that if Admat will heal Kezi's mother, mati, he will sacrifice whoever first congratulates him on her recovery. Aunt Fedo comes to visit and starts to congratulate Senat on his wife's recovery. To save Aunt Fedo, Kezi congratulates her father, so she is the one to be sacrificed. Her father begs for one month's mercy. Olus falls in love with Kezi and takes her to Akka. If she can become immortal, a goddess, she will never die. Both Olus and Kezi must stand trials. Olus must rescue a friend from a well without his powers. Kezi must go to Wadir, the underworld, and take a feather from a warki to return to earth. Both are able to succeed in their trials. Kezi becomes the goddess of awareness and uncertainty. She returns to Hyte, her home village, where she is sacrificed. Because of her immortality, she doesn't die. The people of Hyte consider her disappearance a miracle and promise never to sacrifice anyone again. Olus takes her to Akka where they are married. They have three daughters and three sons. Three became gods and goddesses and three remained mortal. The moral: "Fate may be thwarted. We strive for happy outcomes." This book was very difficult to read. The change in characters with both speaking in first person, the strange names and places, the concepts of various gods. I think middle school students will have trouble reading this book.