The Ever King: A Dark Fantasy Romance (The Ever Seas) Paperback – August 29, 2023

I loved the Fae Pirate theme. I love pirates and needed something different in the fantasy world. Seemed all the stories were becoming the same so this was definitely a nice change. Different take on Fated Mates, that was appreciated.I loved Livia’s character. She wasn’t weak but wasn’t overly badass like almost all female fantasy characters seem to be. Her power was much the same, mild, not overly dramatic. Erik was awesome as well. Same, not too dramatic in the possessive, broody male fantasy cliche.Writing was excellent. World and character building was detailed and thorough. You could tell that readers were expected to have read the previous series set in this world, though. There were vague details from the past that I am sure would have made more sense had I read the other series. Grammar was good, though I felt there could have been some breaks in sentences that just didn’t flow correctly and I had to double back and read a couple times to make it make sense.I felt the plot was well planned out. Did leave you on a cliffhanger. I could predict the book for the most part but there was an unpredictable twist in the end and can’t wait to see if I was right about a couple more things. Well planned story with no plot holes.Loved it! Can’t wait to pick up the next book and will definitely be picking up the Broken Kingdoms series to get those little details of the past I felt I was missing out on. 🖤

Definitely my first time reading a swashbuckling fae fantasy but it was a fun read that definitely prioritized the romance over much of a plot. If you’re here for Romantasy instead of complex storytelling then I think this is a fast paced read with plenty of adventure and characters to root for. I will admit that maybe this book could have used a touch more editing but ultimately a good adventure with familiar but beloved tropes and a cliffhanger ending.

Oh my goodness! What can I say about this book that will make any sense after that ending!!This book was everything damn thing I was hoping for! I was absolutely hooked from the very first paragraph. I just simply can’t get enough of the Serpent and his Songbird! I did not want this book to end.This world that LJ has created is so unique and beautifully crafted; full of such vibrant and immersive detail. The magic system is creative and unique, not like anything I’ve read before. The nicknames, the slooow burn, the tension and banter between Livia and Erik…perfection! I mean, Erik Bloodsinger can come kidnap me any day now! And it also has a great cast of side characters that will have you rolling!Fae Pirate King x Viking Princess, true enemies to lovers, found family, slow burn & tension, betrayal, touch her and ☠️, forced proximity, villain gets the girl, morally grey MMC and ROMANTASY to its core!Read 👏🏻 This 👏🏻 Book 👏🏻Bonus content:Okay, just WOW!! The new bonus chapters are epic!! I love Sewell so much! To get a glimpse at how he came to be who and where he is in The Ever is just chilling. My heart is broken for our beautiful Fleshripper.

Great story. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I liked the storyline and most of the characters.The story has depth and substance.I'm not usually a fan of magic and fairies but this was splendidly done.The bond and connection between Livia and Erik was very romantic but also tragic. I love how he made her queen in a place that never had a queen. I love the fact that her magic was able to heal his kingdom when everything else failed.I am anxious to read book 2.

This is a love story. Actually, several love stories wrapped into one. Boy and girl, man and woman, earth fae for land and sea fae for water. It’s about love that defies odds, and love that sees into the dark corners of your heart without flinching. Most of all, it’s not about overlooking another person’s scars, but really, truly seeing them and loving them because they live on the person you love more than anything else.

Loved the story until the un-HEA ticked me off. So abrupt. I know it's a series, but really? There is only PG13 spice, like 11/2 times in 400 pgs, so don't expect this to satisfy a craving for a fantasy with spice book.

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved getting to know all of the prince and princesses all grown up. Not to mention, I love Erik and Livias bond. I read this on my kindle and didn’t realize I was at the end when it hit. THE CLIFFHANGER IS THE CLIFFHANGER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS FROM THE BROKEN KINGDOM SERIES!!! Of course I finished this book well past bed time and now I was to immediately dive into the next one. Why would this book be any different than the others!?

“She was never theirs anyway. Not really. From the moment the songbird tried to appeal to a serpent, she was mine.”Pirates + Vikings + Romantasy + Enemies to Lovers? How can you not??This is such a great book and the start to a great duology. You can absolutely read this as your introduction to this world without having first read the Broken Kingdom series, even the ones that deal with Erik's backstory. (If you do do that, however, definitely go back and read the Broken Kingdom series next! They're great!)I love the intense connection these two have with each other from the start. We definitely delve into the darker shades of morally grey with Erik Bloodsinger and his crew, but never go fully morally black. Livia finds her own morally grey space as she develops as a character, but still stays true to the songbird we meet at the very beginning.Rating: 5/5Spice: 2.5/5Tropes:- Vikings- Kidnapping his enemy's daughter- Fae- Touch her and die- Enemies to lovers- Pirates- Fated mate-esque- Mind speaking- Anxiety rep- Morally grey MMC- Masquerade ball- Found family- Dual POV- First in a completed duologyThank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.