Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan Summary, Characters and Themes

Long Live Evil is a darkly comedic, self-aware fantasy that places the reader in the shoes of the villain. 

When Rae, a terminally ill woman, is offered the chance to survive by stepping into the world of her favorite fantasy series, she takes it—only to find herself inhabiting the body of the story’s infamous villainess. With her life on the line, Rae must navigate a perilous world of court intrigue, dangerous monsters, and shifting alliances, all while scheming to rewrite the story’s grim fate. Sarah Rees Brennan crafts a witty, heart-wrenching tale of survival, ambition, and second chances.

Summary

Rae (nicknamed “Rae”), a woman in her early twenties, is dying of cancer. With her prognosis grim and her loved ones slipping away, her only comfort is the fantasy series Time of Iron, which she once adored with her younger sister, Alice. One night, a mysterious woman offers Rae a miraculous bargain: enter the world of the series, find a rare flower that grants life, and return within a year. 

Desperate, Rae accepts and awakens in the world of Time of Iron—in the body of its notorious villainess.

Rae soon discovers she is in dire straits. Her new identity is infamous for treachery, and she is mere hours from execution for crimes she didn’t commit. 

Drawing on her partial knowledge of the book’s plot, she talks her way out of her beheading by claiming divine visions, setting the stage for a precarious survival in the cutthroat court of the Emperor-to-be. Her memories of the series are incomplete, leaving her to navigate both immediate threats and long-term dangers largely by wit and improvisation.

Embracing the role of the “villainess,” Rae dives headfirst into the drama and intrigue of the court. She recruits a band of morally gray misfits to her cause, each with their own secrets and motivations. 

Among her allies are Key, a stoic and lethal bodyguard; Marius, a brooding knight whose chivalry masks inner turmoil; Eric, a scandalous and witty spymaster; and Leah, the kingdom’s pure-hearted heroine—who also happens to be Rae’s half-sister in this world. Together, they form an unlikely team of villains and rogues, bound by a shared desire to rewrite their fates.

As Rae alters events, the carefully crafted timeline of Time of Iron begins to unravel. 

The Emperor-to-be, a cunning and ruthless figure destined for tyranny, grows increasingly suspicious of Rae’s mysterious foresight. Meanwhile, Rae’s yearlong quest to locate the life-saving flower becomes ever more urgent as battles rage, betrayals mount, and the body count rises.

Despite her sharp tongue and villainous facade, Rae’s humanity shines through as she grows to care for her allies. Yet her interference in the storyline has unintended consequences. Major events occur out of order, relationships shift, and the Emperor’s rise to power accelerates, throwing the kingdom into chaos. As the clock runs out, a shocking twist threatens to upend everything Rae has fought for, leaving her and her companions in peril.

Balancing humor, emotional depth, and a flair for the dramatic, Long Live Evil explores themes of survival, self-determination, and the thin line between hero and villain. The book ends on a cliffhanger, with Rae’s fate—and her quest for the flower—hanging in the balance.

Characters

Rae

Rae is a young woman in her early twenties who finds herself at death’s door due to terminal cancer. As her life slowly fades in the real world, she is offered a chance at survival in a fantastical realm.

Driven by desperation and the desire for a second chance at life, she enters the world of her favorite fantasy series, Time of Iron, where she inhabits the body of the story’s villainess. Initially, Rae embraces the role of the villainess with a mix of amusement and strategy, using her knowledge of the series to navigate her new life.

She is not inherently cruel but rather uses manipulation and wit to avoid her imminent execution and ensure her survival. Rae’s transition into the world of the fantasy series is marked by a deep awareness of her situation and an unwillingness to play the typical heroine.

Despite her initial self-preservation motives, she grows to care for her allies and begins to genuinely challenge the course of events in the story. Her primary goal is to find a magical flower that can cure her cancer, though the increasingly complex relationships and plots around her make her journey uncertain.

Throughout her journey, Rae is witty, sarcastic, and full of modern-day references, adding humor to the otherwise high-stakes world she finds herself in.

Key 

Key, often described as a stoic and sometimes homicidal figure, becomes one of Rae’s closest companions in her attempt to change her fate. A key figure in the political intrigue and potential romance within the story, Key is the type of character that blends a deep, intense loyalty with the capacity for violence.

He is Rae’s bodyguard, a role that seems fitting given the constant dangers surrounding them both. Rae flirts with him, which sparks some underlying romantic tension, though Key is often depicted as having a strong, silent demeanor.

There is a complex dynamic between Rae and Key, as Rae suspects that Key may be intended for a different character in the story—the heroine, Princess Leah. Despite this, Key’s increasing attraction to Rae is evident, creating a tantalizing layer of romance and rivalry in the plot.

Key’s loyalty to Rae becomes one of his defining characteristics, as he is a central figure in the shifting allegiances and power struggles within the court.

Marius 

Marius, known as the “Last Hope,” is a classic shining knight archetype, but with a brooding, deeper personality that sets him apart from the typical fantasy hero. He is a knight who seems burdened with the weight of the world, and his character is far more nuanced than his title would suggest.

Rae’s relationship with Marius is complicated by their differing views and personal goals. He is a man of honor and conviction, though his relationship with Rae pushes him to examine these traits more critically.

While Marius’s initial role in the story is as a potential foil to Rae’s villainess persona, the romantic and emotional tension between them adds depth to their interactions. His brooding nature, alongside his undying loyalty to his cause, makes him a compelling, yet tragic figure.

Despite their contrasting personalities—Rae’s irreverent and modern sarcasm versus Marius’s noble but serious disposition—the connection between the two grows, although it is not fully resolved in this book. Their dynamic represents a blend of enemies-to-lovers potential, where the emotional complexity of their bond provides much-needed depth to the narrative.

Eric

Eric, also known as the Golden Cobra, is a flirtatious and cunning spymaster who adds both humor and intrigue to the story. He runs a high-end brothel and has a reputation for scandal, which makes him a morally gray character that Rae can manipulate or ally with.

Eric’s charm lies in his witty banter and the sense of mystery surrounding his character. He is both a source of comic relief and an important player in the political games that Rae must navigate.

His interactions with Marius further develop the tension in their relationship, especially when the two characters, despite being opposites, show signs of having a deeper emotional connection. Eric’s role in the story, while often comedic, is crucial in highlighting the blurred lines between good and evil.

His flirtations and the complexity of his character offer both levity and depth, especially when contrasted with Marius’s more serious persona. Rae’s relationship with Eric is one of playful banter, but as the story progresses, there are hints that this lightheartedness might evolve into something more substantial.

Leah

Leah, the princess figure in the Time of Iron world, is depicted as the perfect heroine. Sweet, innocent, and pure, she contrasts sharply with Rae’s villainess persona.

However, Leah’s character is not just a passive player in the narrative; she is also Rae’s half-sister in the fantasy realm, which adds layers of complexity to their interactions. As Rae manipulates the story’s events, she not only disrupts her own fate but also begins to unravel Leah’s perfect world.

Leah’s position as the “official heroine” is challenged by Rae’s antics, and there is an interesting dynamic between the two as they navigate their sibling relationship. Despite Leah’s seeming purity and righteousness, Rae’s schemes force her to confront the realities of power, loyalty, and survival.

While their bond is rooted in family, there are also signs that Leah might not be as perfect as she appears. Rae’s influence begins to change the trajectory of Leah’s character, suggesting that future volumes might explore a deeper, more complex side to the princess.

Themes

A Villain’s Influence on Destiny

One of the central themes of Long Live Evil revolves around the disruption of the natural order. Rae’s decision to step into the world of Time of Iron and adopt the persona of the villainess directly interferes with the pre-established events of the story.

Through her knowledge of the plot and her attempts to rewrite it, Rae continuously alters key moments, ensuring the original fate of the characters and the world itself is drastically changed. By turning the story on its head, she inadvertently sets into motion a series of events that could lead to disastrous consequences.

This theme delves into the idea that, though one might attempt to manipulate fate for personal survival or gain, doing so can lead to unpredictable and dangerous outcomes. Rae’s manipulation of the narrative highlights the uncertainty of altering events that were once considered inevitable and the moral consequences of disrupting established destinies.

Reconciling the Role of Villain and Heroine

Another significant theme is the complexity of identity, particularly in relation to Rae’s transformation into the villainess of the fantasy world. This shift forces Rae to grapple with the tension between her real-world self and the role she must now play.

The story explores the idea that identity is fluid, and that embracing a role—whether it be as a villain, a hero, or something in between—can be a survival mechanism in a world that does not recognize her original self.

Throughout the novel, Rae humorously embraces her villainous persona, reveling in the power, style, and dramatic flair that come with being the antagonist. Yet, beneath her theatrical behavior, Rae’s true identity as a person struggling with terminal illness and seeking a second chance at life remains central to the narrative.

This theme examines how external roles, especially those imposed by others or by circumstance, can sometimes conflict with internal values and desires, forcing a person to navigate the space between what they must appear to be and what they truly are.

The Human Need for Connection Amidst a World of Political Intrigue and Power Struggles

Long Live Evil also delves deeply into the human need for connection, particularly in the face of political intrigue, power struggles, and the ever-present threat of death. Despite the fantasy world being filled with scheming courtiers, monstrous enemies, and looming wars, Rae’s journey is, at its core, about the bonds she forms with her unlikely allies.

The narrative does not shy away from the brutality of the power dynamics at play in the court, where betrayal, manipulation, and violence are part of the daily fabric of life. Yet, even in this world of danger, Rae’s desire for companionship, loyalty, and love emerges as one of the story’s most poignant aspects.

Her relationships with her ragtag group of villains—including Key, Marius, and Eric—reflect the human desire to find a sense of belonging and mutual respect in a world where personal motives often come first.

The story ultimately explores how the need for connection, whether through friendship, loyalty, or love, persists even in the most tumultuous circumstances, offering a counterbalance to the harsh realities of political maneuvering and war.

Surviving Against All Odds in a Fantasy World

A particularly haunting theme running through Long Live Evil is the intersection of life and death, as the protagonist is quite literally fighting for her life. Rae’s real-world condition, her terminal cancer, is a constant reminder of her limited time and the stakes of her actions within the fantasy world.

The quest to find the magical flower is not just an external adventure—it represents her hope to cheat death and rewrite her personal fate. This theme explores the desperate lengths to which a person might go in order to survive, especially when faced with the imminent threat of death.

Rae’s journey, both in the real world and the fantasy realm, is shaped by her understanding that every moment counts. Her interactions with the world and her manipulation of events reflect a deep awareness of mortality, and yet, her determination to survive at any cost pushes her to take risks and make choices that might otherwise seem reckless.

This theme highlights the existential battle between life and death and the moral dilemmas that arise when one is granted a second chance at life, albeit through supernatural means.

The Role of Humor in Alleviating the Tension Between Life’s Harsh Realities and Fantastical Escapism

Humor is a key element in Long Live Evil, acting as a necessary counterpoint to the darker and more intense aspects of the story. Rae’s modern sensibilities, her wit, and her humorous observations about the absurdity of her new life in the fantasy world bring levity to an otherwise high-stakes narrative.

This theme examines how humor functions not only as a survival mechanism in difficult times but also as a way to reconcile the harshness of reality with the allure of escapism. Rae’s self-awareness and her ability to find comedic relief even in life-threatening situations enable her to navigate the complexities of her new role.

By using humor, the novel also allows the reader to see the intersection of the mundane and the fantastical—where modern references and language meet an ancient, courtly world. Humor, in this sense, becomes both a shield against the emotional weight of Rae’s terminal illness and a tool for highlighting the absurdity of her situation.

It reflects the ways in which individuals might use laughter and irony to cope with dire circumstances and also underscores the larger theme of finding moments of joy amid chaos.