Review--Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

Miss Layla Starling, the young, beautiful, and extremely wealthy heiress, is the talk of London. Until now, she's managed to evade the marriage noose. Despite the fact that she is unfortunately American, she's received a staggering number of offers. And turned down every one.

St. John Evernight does not want to admit the relief he feels every time he hears that she has rejected one of her suitors. Which is unfair of him. Layla deserves to be happy. But he can not offer her happiness. He will never be normal, never be anything but a freak in her world. So St. John resolves to keep his distance, until he is recruited by the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals to guard Layla. For she is in grave danger, and he is about to learn the full extent of his powers.

It was a bittersweet moment to begin the finale Darkest London book by Kirsten Callihan. The author who introduced to me what I call Historical Paranormal Romance! Lol! Truly it’s labeled Historical Romance, but come on, werewolves, demons, angels…this is paranormal people! Forevermore is Sin’s story as well as Layla’s. Sin was the brother to the initial three, Miranda, Daisy, and Poppy. He had a rough go in life and lost touch with his family, but it was the paranormal problems that they deal with in London that brought them all together again.

Layla and Sin were once the best of friends in their youth, and only drifted apart when Layla was forced to move with her guardian. Years later they are reunited when Augustus, Layla’s guardian wants Sin’s help in protecting her. Layla is very special you see, and there are evil forces who will try to hurt her and make her theirs. He initially wanted Sin to marry her, but Sin refused that idea and instead decides to play bodyguard while she tries to find herself a husband at her guardian’s request, but you can imagine how that will turn out.

I positively adored Layla and Sin! I swear every time I read one of these Darkest London books, my favorite couple changed to whoever was the current one! LOL! What touched me the most about Layla and Sin was that they had a past friendship as children. And sentimental that I am, that hit home to me in some ways, but sadly I never got to see my childhood friends again after a move happened. Layla makes her lingering feelings for Sin clear, but Sin’s darkened past keeps him from seeking happiness. What he endured under Mab’s hand broke him in many ways, but he still can’t seem to let Layla go even if he isn’t so willing to have her as his.

It felt like a proper sendoff to the series to see most of the couples returning. We had all of Sin’s sisters returning as well as Mary and Jack. Though I did miss seeing the remaining two couples, just to have that feeling of full circle and whatnot, but then it would also feel like trying to be over-pleasing. It works out well in the end with seeing the amount of characters that we do. As we know from all the past novels, they are in their happy endings. Though the current problems may be trying wreak havoc on them and disrupt that happiness.

We also get a few extra points of view in this one other than Sin and Layla. Augustus, Layla’s guardian—and Final Judgment, I figured we’ve seen him previously, but obviously can’t remember that! LOL!, Archer, and Lena who is Layla’s mother. It was quite interesting this time around because we essentially get two couples aiming for a happy ending but there are dark forces constantly at play trying to prevent that from happening.

What I truly enjoyed the most was watching Sin and Layla fall in love. Sin has his issues to work through and a bit of self-acceptance that needs to happen, but with Layla all that becomes possible. And as per usual I was a swoony mess watching these two and their interactions. Some were quite comical too, as Layla is one of those head-strong heroines who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants or says what’s on her mind!

The ending was once again, bittersweet! Knowing that this is the absolute final book of the series put a tear in my heart, but I truly loved how this one ended. Since each book stands alone you expect there to be resolution, but we got a little bit more added to this one. And with any series that ends, I am left with the happy thought that these characters are done with their adventures just because they aren’t being written about. It truly was a most perfect kind of ending! And if Kristen should ever decide to come back to this world I will be more than eager to return!

If you have not yet read this incredibly amazing series, I highly recommend it! It’s Historical Paranormal Romance people! A genre that we definitely need more of! While you can read these in any order, there are always some details that will come about that are better understood if you read in numerical order. But that’s always been my way of reading series anyway! Forevermore was a delight from start to finish and I would absolutely recommend this series if you are a fan of any of the above mentioned genres!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars