Book: A Fortnight to Forever by Alycia E. Anderson
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 4.5/5
Releasing right before the holiday season, this book makes so much sense. It’s sweet, it packs an emotional punch, and you’ll still end up smiling by the end. Alycia Anderson created a new fairytale in A Fortnight to Forever with a near-perfect balance between conflict and comfort. Told in dual first-person POV, the main characters are so lovable you just want to hug them and never let go. As I read, I kept thinking of Tangled and Ella Enchanted —it has that same cursed-not-quite-princess energy, where true love is the key. The plot might seem simple at a glance, but the way Anderson fleshed out the world makes it feel uniquely its own while still hitting that warm fairytale familiarity.
The curse on our FMC, Quinn, is that she’s awake for a fortnight (two weeks) and then sleeps for 100 years. Because of the setup, I knew going in that this would lean into instalove, but honestly, it’s executed so well. There’s still a slow-burn feel, the kind you get in a Disney movie where the characters obviously have feelings but are firmly in denial. It’s adorable.
Mav’s POV ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. When we meet him, he’s a shell of a man and an ex-knight who’s very much done with life. He uses sarcasm as a shield, and as the story progresses, we watch that armor crack. His cynical outlook on himself and the world slowly shifts, and he never really believes he’s good enough for Quinn. Seeing him work through that internal turmoil is heartbreaking but so rewarding.
The side characters add so much charm. We’ve got a hedge witch who maybe isn’t the most reliable with her magic, a “retired” cartographer who doubles as a literary scholar, and a talking cat. Yes, there’s a talking cat. If a talking cat doesn’t convince you to read this book, I don’t know what will.
I also want to briefly touch on the villain. I won’t name who, or what, it is, but even when I could see certain beats coming, the execution still had me gripping my Kindle and mentally screaming at them to stay away from my characters. Predictable doesn’t mean boring here; it’s tense and satisfying.
If you’re looking for a whimsical romantasy with just the right amount of tension and a hint of spice, pick up A Fortnight to Forever .
Thank you to Alycia Anderson for this eARC. All opinions are my own.