Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun series conclusion celebrates storytelling, girl power.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Desperate times have come to Never After, and if Filomena (aka Princess Eliana), Jack, Alistair, Gretel, and their many allies don't defeat Olga the ogress and save the last fairy from death, it's going to be THE END OF THE STORY for all the kingdoms. Filomena, who chose the mortal world over Jack in Book 4, has regretted it ever since—especially since Jack dies as a result. She can't let that happen, so she returns to Never After, landing at an earlier point in the timeline, determined to make different choices and keep Jack safe. Which, unfortunately, includes not admitting she loves him and him being very confused.
Is It Any Good?
Misunderstanding, anxiety, time travel, swordplay, peril, plus the occasional betrayal and/or plot twist keep things hopping as Melissa de la Cruz concludes the tale of Filomena, aka Princess Eliana. There's danger and deception, but if you've got worlds to save, it's good to have tried-and-true friends. With a sweet kiss and an epic, cartoonishly gory final battle, this may be The End of the Story, but there are strong hints of more tales to come, since so many characters in Never After have their own tales to tell.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories—like The End of the Story and other books in the Never After series—where kids become participants with their beloved characters in the world of their favorite stories. What's the appeal? What stories do you think deal with this theme well?
Have you ever had to deal with misunderstandings making things weird between you and your friends? What happened, and how did you work things out?
If you could become a character in a story you like, what story would it be, and what character would you become? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : December 3, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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