Lancelot Schaubert’s Overmorrow is a vivid and lyrical dive into magical realism that blends childhood imagination with mythic stakes and modern allegory. At its heart, this is a story about memory—how it shapes identity, how it protects us, and how dangerous it is when stolen.

The novel centers on Ellie, a perceptive middle child caught between diplomatic parents and a missing older brother. Her world fractures when she becomes convinced that a being called Oblivion has kidnapped her brother to use him as a sort of human hard drive—a chilling metaphor for the burdens we sometimes force others to carry. Things shift from strange to surreal when Ellie is touched by Overmorrow, an enchanted rain that grants her a seer’s sight, allowing her to see the magic and monsters hidden beneath the mundane skin of New York City.

The beauty of Overmorrow lies in its imagery and depth. Schaubert doesn’t just build a fantasy world; he overlaps it with our own, turning city streets into mythscapes and rain into revelation. The magical rain isn’t just whimsical—it’s a symbol of awareness, a call to remember what we’ve let fade into obscurity. And when Ellie discovers someone has stolen the source of the rain, her quest becomes urgent: without memory, there’s no defense against the monsters that once lived only in our nightmares.

What elevates Overmorrow beyond a simple hero’s journey is Ellie’s failure. She stumbles, over and over, and each setback forces a deeper reckoning with grief, doubt, and responsibility. The novel’s central conceit—that forgetting monsters gives them free rein—is a powerful commentary on denial, trauma, and cultural amnesia. It’s a warning wrapped in metaphor: we must remember even the painful parts of our past, or risk being devoured by them.

This book is not always an easy read; its dreamlike logic and shifting rules may challenge readers looking for clean resolutions. But for those who appreciate layered storytelling, emotional resonance, and a protagonist with equal parts heart and tenacity, Overmorrow is a haunting, rewarding journey.

Verdict:
A richly imagined and emotionally intelligent tale, Overmorrow reminds us that memory is both shield and sword—and that even magic rains can’t wash away what we choose to forget.

Ellie believes that a monster called Oblivion has kidnapped her older brother to use as a back up memory of sorts. She gets the gift of a sort of magical seers sight for. The Overmorrow, a magical rain, and attempts to save her brother against great adversity but discovers that the monsters are trying to make people forget them because people can be easily devoured by the monsters once they forget the monsters exist. All of this adds up to a grand and almost lyrical adventure, a fight between good and evil. It’s a good book, very reminiscent of Narnia or perhaps a Wrinkle in Time in many instances.

I want to start this review by saying this book has so very much promise, but this version is ultimately not for me. I would be willing to read the new version when it comes out later this year. The whimsy is present as is the passion for the story but the presentation is very disjointed. I had a hard time following where we were and how we got there and the children just didn't seem like children. All in all it was full of beautiful ideas but not for me.

I’d like to thank Lancelot Schaubert, Net Galley and Vale Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overmorrow follows Ellie and her two younger siblings-Levi and Annie- on their journey through New York and the magical place of Overmorrow to find their missing older brother. While on the quest to find their brother they learn someone has been stealing the magic rains, and they believe the person involved is also behind Charlie's disappearance.

I would like to start out this review with a note that I received an email saying there will be a republishing of this book in fall of 2025 when edits have been made and I would like to reread it then.

I think there are so many great ideas in this book, I could feel the ideas of whimsy, but sadly I didn't get immersed in them due to the weird style of writing. I can tell the author has a lot of passion for his story and his craft, however I think his thoughts about life and the world are projected into the story through the mouths of his characters in a way where they have no personality. The children do not act their age at all, and they say very strange things, not just weird magical realism things, but simply things a child would not say.

In addition to that, there are characters that pop up out of nowhere, plot devices that are brought up and dropped without a second thought or having ever gone through the entire arc. There were so many things that should have been edited, five times over even. Which is why I say I'm interested to read this after it gets republished, because I can see how amazing this story would be if it had just a bit more structure. It was a lot of tell not show, because many things were overly explained and detailed in a way where you forgot what originally was going on and it made it so hard to follow, I spent most of the book confused.

I also can see the influences and inspirations in this book, and would possibly change a few things up in that sense so it doesn't feel like a copy of those, which in most cases it doesn't but this isn't a retelling of anything it's an original idea and story. I would like the characters to have more personality, because they felt like empty vessels to explain the authors thoughts and feelings of society and how things work. There were also pages and pages of ramblings about unimportant things that had nothing to do with the plot, and dialogue sections that are absolutely not needed.

All this being said, I can tell Schaubert had a great idea and a lot of passion for this story, and maybe didn't have the best follow through, and a lot of it can be fixed with some good editing.

Trigger Warnings I Gathered: kidnapping, addiction, underage drinking, alcoholism, abandonment

So, I was really looking forward to reading this book—the cover and description promised a gripping magical story. But in reality, I had to take a few breaks while reading because it was hard for me to get into the story. There was just too much going on, and it was very easy to get lost in the characters and events. Unfortunately, Overmorrow wasn’t for me.

This book was not for me. The premise sounded interesting: a mystery mixed with magic. I could not connect with the characters. The prose was overly complicated, and the random shifts in POV seemed unnecessary. There were also moments when the author seemed to break the 3rd wall and add in their opinions, which took me out of the narrative. The main goal was not achieved, and it didn't seem like a lot happened to get the heroes closer to their goal. This felt like a lot of exposition and rising action.

I'm sure this is a lovely book, but I just couldn't get past the first chapter. It felt too convoluted for a children's book and did not pull me in a way that I would've liked. Love the cover art though!

OVERMORROW - LANCELOT SCHAUBERT

I read Overmorrow a few weeks ago, and something that still stands out is how inventive and unique this story felt.

There's a lot that I liked about the book. As the synopsis suggests, Overmorrow has our world coexisting with a magical one, one on top of the other. Most people can't see this other world until a magical rain called Overmorrow reveals it, along with the magical beings who live there. I also appreciated the main character Ellie and her instinct to find out what happened to her missing brother.

The writing style, for me, created a barrier that stopped me from fully investing in the narrative. Time and space are loose concepts here, which made me feel disoriented and confused much of the time. Although I get the reasoning behind this choice, as the children would likely feel as discombobulated if they suddenly encountered all these magical beings and events. But it makes for a more challenging read, no matter how good the concept is.

However, there are plenty of people who enjoy this style, which is dreamlike and heavy on exposition. If you love the idea of a crazy, imaginative fantasy world that's written in a similar vein, then Overmorrow is the ideal book for you.

Release date: 2 September 2025

Review score: 3/5

TWs: addiction, injury detail, d*ath, abduction

I read this book back in 2024. I completely forgot i read it. I actually enjoyed reading this i recommend reading it. Its well written.

I was gifted this book by the publishers at NetGalley and as much as I wanted to like this book and was curious about it, I just have an extremely hard time of getting myself to push through reading this book. There is a lot of back and forth, twists, a complicated world. The main character, Ellie, is more of an adult than her own parents, her parents have no idea what is going on, and the rest of the siblings are relying on this girl in hopes to find their older brother in the world of Overmorrow. If you like complex worlds and characters with a mix of magic in the real world, you'd probably like this book!

This book was very confuluted.
It's currently being revised. Will come back after a reread. I can't wait to see the changes

The book was difficult to get through and rather confusing. There was too much going on and I wasn't interested in any of the characters. This story fell a bit flat for me and I had to DNF.

I enjoyed it. There were times when I found that I could not stop myself from reading it. It felt so magical.

This book is currently in the process of being revised and resubmitted here. I will return to provide my feedback when the new version is available!

I really wanted to like this book the premise and the blue sound really interesting. I found that it was really hard to stay focused on the story. Too many things were over explained and it felt very laboring to try and follow what was happening. Just made it so I didn’t feel very connected to the characters or the story. Just writing style is just not for me I think I had to DNF it. Thank you Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This imaginative and thought-provoking story intertwines magical elements with the urban landscape of New York City. The narrative follows Ellie, a determined young girl on a quest to find her missing brother, believed to have been taken by the mystical entity, Oblivion. Her journey leads her to the enchanting phenomenon of Overmorrow—a magical rain that awakens New Yorkers to hidden wonders, granting Ellie the “seer’s sight” to uncover mysteries threatening her family and the world.

The blend of fantasy with a real-world setting is a highlight, though some readers note challenges with dense descriptions and pacing, suggesting room for refinement. As the book is still awaiting its final publication, these aspects may see further development.

Overall, Overmorrow offers an engaging premise for fans of urban fantasy and themes of memory and resilience. I look forward to seeing how the finished version enhances this creative and intriguing narrative.

Overmorrow by Lancelot Schaubert is an imaginative fantasy that blends a vividly magical world with themes of memory, loss, and resilience. The story follows Ellie as she embarks on a perilous quest to find her missing brother, uncovering a greater mystery involving the survival of the magical realm of Overmorrow itself.

The world-building is intricate, introducing a realm where magical creatures coexist alongside the mundane world, hidden just beyond ordinary perception. The narrative is rich with existential and philosophical undertones, exploring themes such as the danger of forgetting and the value of persistence in the face of failure. While the immersive descriptions and inventive concepts make for a unique reading experience, the pacing and heavy exposition felt, att times, quite overwhelming.

Ellie’s journey combines heartfelt coming-of-age moments with thrilling encounters, and the book’s imaginative scope offers plenty to intrigue fans of fantasy. However, the complexity of the world and the lack of consistent character development was challenging and for me, a major drawback inmy reading experience. Despite its flaws, Overmorrow is a magical and thought-provoking tale that invites readers to reflect on the balance between reality and wonder.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read the ARC! I found the book to be quite enjoyable, particularly the journey of the characters as they search for their missing brother. The world created was enchanting and immersive. I did find the beginning to be somewhat repetitive and slow, and I felt a bit confused at first while getting to know the characters and the world-building. However, as I continued reading, everything became clearer. Overall, it was a delightful and engaging read! I also adore the cover! was grateful to have read this early. I apologise for such a late review, I have been struggling with my health so hope you understand. Again thank you for the opportunity!

This book had so much potential and felt so magical. I had to take a break because I found it so hard to get into and follow for the first several chapters and I was completely lost. I loved the descriptions and the details but it was really heavy on that in the beginning that I kept forgetting what was happening in the scene.

Cosa mi ha convinto?
I personaggi e come interagiscono tra di loro. Mi sono piaciuti un sacco, le loro relazioni tengono in piedi la storia e trasmettono l' importanza dei rapporti umani.
Lo stile che risulta abbastanza scorrevole e adatto al tipo di storia.

Cosa invece non mi ha convinto?
Il world Building... Ammetto di averci capito poco, a fine lettura avevo ancora più dubbi... Ho una sensazione di perplessità perché mi rendo conto che mi mancano troppi pezzi. E purtroppo per me è una delle cose più importanti, la lettura ha quindi perso decisamente tanto.