This review lives on my Goodreads already, but I will also plan to post on my Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/weekendcoffeereads/) on 8/1 ahead of its publish date!

This book scratched a pirate fantasy itch I didn’t know I needed scratched! I loved the setting and this world that’s focused on the sea and on sailing. It feels viking-ish, which was really enjoyable for me, and unlike anything I’ve read. And the pirates. THE PIRATES. YES PLEASE. If you like Pirates of the Caribbean, then this one will be for you. It feels so similar, with a possessive romance thrown in for good measure.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the characters in this book was Livia’s anxiety and the representation of that. It felt really accurate. I also adored how Erik responded to it. That alone made me fall in love with him as a male character. There were also some really lovely side characters too. Sewell, my love🥺 When this book is traditionally published in September, there will be some bonus chapters about him, and trust me, they’re worth the read💔

I was hooked on this book the whole way through. For me, it felt like the pacing was perfect. It was also really beautifully written. There were so many amazing lines (I was highlighting A LOT). The romance was top tier!!! I usually am not a spice person, but this spice felt easier for me to handle. I think the build-up was done so well that it didn’t feel rushed to me in any way, and that’s why I liked it!

It left on such an incredible cliffhanger!! I am itching to get into the next book ASAP. And I CANNOT wait to see Erik in an absolute unhinged rage.

All in all, I LOVED this one. 5/5⭐️s for me, without a doubt!

LJ is always a top read for me and an immediate pickup!

I devoured this book and cannot wait for more! I absolutely LOVED the characters and the world as always. I love that this can easily be a standalone series but ties in to all the other series and characters across generations. This might be my favorite story yet!!!

I absolutely loved watching their story unfold and watching the world develop!

I absolutely adored The Broken Kingdoms and I’m desperate for more of the characters’ stories. So, naturally, I HAD to read The Ever King.

Note: I recommend reading all of LJ’s The Broken Kingdoms series before starting The Ever King/Queen. I think without it you’ll be pretty confused and not invested in the characters. All of the characters outside of The Ever are the main characters of The Broken Kingdoms series and this book starts ten years after the first series ends, picking up with the children from the first and their lives now. We also get glimpses and updates on the adults’ lives too!

This is a true enemy to lovers story. It has fated mates, touch her and die, fae/sea folk and magic, found family, and a semi-slow burn.

Spice level is higher than The Broken Kingdoms, in my opinion. I’d say like 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5ish.

LJ is a master of world and character building and The Ever King gives us a dual POV so we can better invest in the two main characters. These characters met as children and formed an unlikely bond. Now, they’re from enemy groups.

LJ is really good at disclosing her trigger warnings at the beginning of each book, so be sure to check that out. Most of her characters have ensured some sort of tortured or cursed past, but end up being the best kind of morally gray.

If you haven’t read any of LJ’s work, I highly recommend you start The Broken Kingdoms NOW so you can read The Ever King shortly after!

When someone asks me for the best Romantasy book I’ve ever read, I don’t even hesitate … this is the one I shout from the rooftops every single time. It’s pure perfection: a story woven with heart, drenched in every emotion you crave, with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you aching. Every page is a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, stay-up-all-night kind of experience. And Erik Bloodsinger? He’ll snatch your dark little heart before you even realize it … and trust me, he’s never giving it back.

I have truly fallen in love with a Pirate King!! The Ever King was a beautifully written tale of enemies to lovers. Erik Bloodsinger and Livia have stolen my heart and thrown it to the Ever.

What starts off as a simple story of a pirate king taking a princess to get back at her father turns into so much more. Livia seems to pull Erik from his darkness and brings him back to the light. But she also cherishes his dark ways, loving all of him. Erik in turn protects her and teaches her their history. They were always meant to be.

Spoilers ahead!!! When Livia and Erik are betrayed at the end, and he decides to head to her homeland, my heart literally stuttered. He is going back to her father to ask for help for her rescue!!! I am both excited and terrified for The Ever Queen!

Thank you for the arc of this traditionally published version of The Ever King. I absolutely love the additional bonus chapters at the end of Sewell, Gavyn & Celine. I’ve always wanted to know more about their history and the events that led to their current circumstances.

This book is incredible! One of my all time favourites! Pirates, Fae, epic love, amazing side characters with rich history/backstory, it’s just amazing!!! I love Erik and Livia, Erik is one of my absolute favourite MMC’s. I’ve read The Broken Kingdoms and I really recommend reading that first to give the background but this is an incredible story in itself and can definitely be read without it.

2025: 5+ stars
Updated to add the bonus material on the new traditionally published version is so good! Love seeing some more back story to Sewell and Gavyn!

Thank you to BerkelyPub for the eARC of the new edition. My thoughts are entirely my own.

2024: 5 stars
Absolutely loved this book! Couldn't put it down for any stretch of time. The writing had me hooked. So many favorite quotes.

Erik and Livia were such great characters with a lot of growth. He's definitely super dark and murdery and would be a horrible red flag in real life, but in this Pirate/Viking fantasy? LOVED IT. Livia starts off as a little tame and then really expands and figures out what she wants and, spoiler alert, it's the murdery King.

There's a problem they work together to solve and such a depth of emotion and tension before they finally give in.

What a cliffhanger at the ending and so looking forward to book 2!

Wow. Andrews did it again. Another 5-star adventure that gripped me from the first page. I read the Broken Kingdoms series prior to reading the Ever King, and the emotional impact that made was insane!
This book has it all- enemies to lovers, found family, “who did this to you”, touch her and die, and the sloooowest of slow burns. I LOVE the way there were so many little intricacies tied in from the prequel series. It added such a wonderful spark for me throughout this book! Although I still would’ve been entirely gripped by this book even if i hadn’t read broken kingdoms.
LJ Andrews has a way of completing consuming her readers with her writing. It’s just absolutely incredible. This was a 5/5 star read for me. It has so many of my favorite tropes, witty banter, perfect adventure, and a cliffhanger ending that will leave your jaw in the floor. Absolutely wonderful. I cannot wait to start the next book!!

4⭐️

Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as a ARC!

This was such a fun, dramatic, and totally addictive read. The Ever King gives all the L J Andrews classic fantasy romance vibes—dark magic, a fierce heroine, a broody, morally grey king, and the kind of slow-burn tension that keeps you up way too late, without feeling like a step backwards into the broken kingdoms series.

The world is super immersive without being overwhelming, and the emotional payoff is so satisfying. It’s the kind of book that feels like a whirlwind in the best way—angst, power plays, high-stakes choices, and just enough softness beneath the armor.

I loved it so much, I’ll be considering making special editions of this series to sell. If you’re into romance with bite, power struggles, and that addictive fantasy drama, definitely pick this one up.

Stayed up late absolutely devouring The Ever King and so excited to read The Ever Queen next. I didn’t know when I picked this Duology up that I was being sucked into a 13 book universe but now I have to fully commit. I really enjoyed how different this book was from other fae fantasy books. Each character has different magical abilities and this book mainly focuses on a long time rivalry against the Earth and Sea Faes. It included mystical creatures such as sirens and elves and prophecies with plenty of action and the romance/spice did not disappoint. The banter between the MMC Erik & FMC Livia was enjoyable and had just the right amount of slow burn. I would highly recommend this Duology to anyone who loves Pirates of The Caribbean, Metal Slinger, The Bridge Kingdom, Peter Pan.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Tropes:
-Enemies to Lovers ⚔️
-You’re Mine x I’m Yours
-Touch her & die
-Morally Grey MMC
-He’ll burn the world for her ❤️‍🔥
-Fated/Bonded Mates
-Pirates x Fae 🏴‍☠️

Spoiler(ish) Free Summary: Erik Bloodsinger, The Ever King kidnaps Livia, a Princess of the Earth Fae Kingdom after 10 years of waiting for his revenge against her father & seeking a magical mantle in order to cure his kingdoms poisoned lands. Erik & Livia become undeniably drawn to one another, as they travel back to his kingdom of The Ever. Throughout the story, Livia begins to uncover her powers full potential and falls deeper in love with The Ever King the more he reveals his darkness to her. The Ever and its people call to Livia and Erik begins to realize that the ways he’s known to rule and the solution to healing his kingdom may be through her. Together they must change the ways of their people and unite their kingdoms.

*This book does end on a cliffhanger so I highly recommend having the 2nd book The Ever Queen available. The audiobook is also great to follow along with as it’s Dual Narration.
*I did not read any of L.J. Andrew’s other books that are set in the same world as The Ever King however I enjoyed it and understood it regardless as this can be read without diving into her other series.

Thank you Berkley for the traditionally published book!
I read this originally when it was indie and absolutely loved it and love it even more now! The bonus content is a definite plus. Erik and Livias story is so good. Livia is the daughter of Elise and Valen who are from the Broken Kingdoms series but you do NOT have to read that series first! I love Erik and Livias character growth in this book as well as how natural their relationship grows. All of the side characters both Livias family and friends and Erik’s are hilarious. The banter and sass we get from Livia is A+. And Erik is the ultimate morally grey MMC.
If you love pirates, fae, a stolen princess, and a protective MMC you’ll love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for allowing me to read this arc before it is re published traditionally.

This story follows Erik Bloodsinger, a bloodthirsty (no pun intended) sea fae/pirate who has been banned from entering the earth fae realm for a decade. However, one day the chasm is mysteriously opened and he kidnaps the king’s daughter as collateral damage and because he believes she has something important he needs to break a curse.

Livia has been fold her whole life about the atrocities of the war and how Erik Bloodsinger ruined her world, but upon being kidnapped by him, she realizes there may be more to him than meets the eye. As she spends time aboard his ship and in his world with his crew, she starts to see the cracks in his facade.

This was my first pirate fantasy and I really enjoyed it! There were twists I did not guess at allllll and I really enjoyed the found family aspect!

I wish we got more of her family looking for her/ action around that but it was otherwise very good! The ending was a crazy cliffhanger and I am looking forward to reading the Ever Queen!

I really like this story so far! It’s fun, full of morally grey characters, and the idea of embracing your darkness. The relationship has a fated mates vibe to it for sure, but Andrews manages to have them go through enough to make it still feel like it has development and rather than instalove. I absolutely love the fact that we get a peak at Sewell’s history because he is one of my absolute favorite characters so far!
And we get a preview of Broken Souls and Bones too? Absolutely amazing. I’m even more excited for that to release, and to finish the Ever Seas after this!
Thank you so much to Berkley for this opportunity! 🫶🏻

4.5⭐️.
I was absolutely hooked on this book from the beginning!! I do think it could be seen as starting off slow with world building, but I do love that it is set in the same world as the Broken Kingdom series and having read those books, a lot of aspects weren’t unfamiliar to me.

I am an actual simp for Erik and love him despite his troubled past/present. And I also love how he’s so possessive and also wanting to change things for the better. I love that he finds his Songbird and admire how strong she is when fighting for herself and what is right.

That cliffhanger at the end has me immediately jumping into the next book!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Ever King is a story about a serpent and a songbird, whose fates become intertwined as children.

The Songbird, Livia, is a land fae and heir to the Night Folk kingdom.

The Serpent, aka Erik Bloodsinger, is a sea fae and king of the Ever. He is known and feared for his brutality, has poisonous blood, and seeks to avenge his father's death at the hands of Livia's father.

When Erik gets the chance to kidnap Livia to use her as leverage against her father, we get thrown into the world of the sea fae. Livia has to figure out a way to stop an impending war while fighting with herself not to fall for the sexy pirate at the helm of his grotesque ship (I get it, girl. That head scarf and tricorn hat can make your bits dance).

I love the world of magic, politics and mysteries that L.J. has built.

We get:
* Pirates and Vikings
* Dual POVs
* Found family
* Frenemies > friends-with-benefits > lovers
* A loveable, wonky cook
* Magic through song
* A few gory scenes (I mean, it's pirates)
* Secret identities

The story slowed down a bit in the middle, but picked back up in the last 20% and ended on a big cliffhanger.

thank you to netgalley & the author for an arc of this indie-to-published book!!

this is still a four star book for me, but i definitely felt it was polished up from the indie version. no crazy changes, pacing was still inconsistent, but i think the “serpent” “songbird” was toned back a bit and overall i really enjoyed the reread! i’ll be excited to dive into the arc of the ever queen and see how it is in comparison! 🙌🏼

"Dont regret me Songbird," " I never will Serpent,"

This may be one of my absolute favorite books of the year - I am completely blown away. I mean it has everything :
- Pirates
- Cool Magic System
- Fae
- Spice
- Enemies to Lover
- Political Intrigue
- Mental Health
- Forced proximity

I devoured this book in 2 sittings, and only because I had no choice but to work and sleep. Set in the same world as her Broken Kingdom series, you can read this without having read any of her previous books (but it will make you want to read all of them). This book is brutal, epic, magical and deeply romantic - the perfect pirate romantasy book.

What a brutal man Erik Bloodsinger "The Serpent" is, yet what I wouldn't do for him. He is this completely unhinged fae pirate king that has a black heart, until he reunites with Livia Ferus "The Songbird," a childhood memory and the daughter of the King of the Night Fae. After taking her captive as revenge for Erik's fathers death, they quickly realize that while they may be on opposing sides, but they want the similar things.

The enemies to lovers was PERFECT, and I mean perfect. The banter and the tension between the two characters was divine, and how he worships Livia, I mean good god - this is what book boyfriends are MADE of.

"Crown or no crown, I will always belong to you"

Epic storytelling, fantastic character development, creative magic systems and unbelievable world building, LJ Andrews is a master of her craft. The twist at the end will leave you completley flustered, and begging for book two. I AM COUNTING THE DAYS. Thanks for the new hyperfixation.

Also I died when Livia said this, and now I will say this to all my friends.

"We breasts have to stick together"

4 ⭐️

This is such a fun spin on the typical fantasy book! This is giving pirates of the Caribbean meets acotar- but in the best way! This is enemies to lovers, second chance romance and hidden secrets! This is a fun, quick read and I am excited to see where the second book takes us!

I love all of the plot twists and the story- I did have a some-what difficult time keeping track of characters and because of this the main plot twist didn’t have the shock value it should have but the last lil one we got was so wonderful and the cliffhangers!!!???

Gods! I love this book! Pirates, fae, magic, romance, and epic banter! All of my favorite things rolled into one unforgettable story! A war between earth and sea fae has resulted in the sea fae being cut off from the rest of the world. But when the king of the Ever feels a break in the ward keeping him locked away, he raced for it. He sneaks in and steals the earth kings daughter and takes her back to the Ever with him, knowing they can't cross the chasm to get her back. But he wasn't expecting Livia Ferus to be such a sarcastically wretched little hostage. She broke through all of his defenses and made herself invaluable to the Ever king. I can't wait for the next book!

And that bonus chapter 😏 I can't get enough of this world!

Going into it I had a small idea of what it would be based on the description. I wanted to like this more. I was hoping there would be more pirate action or more tension between the two characters. It started as “enemies to lovers” but almost turned into insta love too quickly. I wish both main characters had more development, but I enjoyed the side characters much more, they were giving me treasure planet vibes. The plot twist at the end I actually didn’t see coming, I truly thought it was going to be her father being deceitful and betraying his daughter. I hope to see more of her cousins and her friends work with Erik.