It’s like pirate fae and the earth fae. It gives sexy Captain Hook vibes. It’s like if Jack sparrow kidnapped Elizabeth and she falls in love with him 😂.

It has some good 🌶️ scenes. Maybe 2? This is the first in a series and I am so happy that they are all published and I don’t have to wait for the next book.

I think this is a "it's me, not you" situation. The prose was lovely, and I can tell there's a lot to the world -- I'm always a sucker for big, broad worlds. I struggled with the dialogue, admittedly, and feeling engrossed in the storyline. I might pick this up at a later date. As to not contribute to a low rating, I'll leave this sitting at a 4 for now!

I originally read this when it was indie published so reading this again just makes me so sentimental. It was one of the first romantasy series I read as a baby bookstagrammer and I’m so honored I get to read it in a different capacity.

Livia and Erik remain one of my favorite book couples. I absolutely love the way LJ portrays anxiety and PTSD and how Erik’s helping her through the panic. I love love love their dynamic and how he’s only soft for her. He’s vulgar and sexy and everything we want in a morally grey man. 😮‍💨

Let us talk about "The Ever King" by L.J. Andrews.

”Such a beautiful little bird. What a pity it was that her serpent had come to ruin her.”

What a joy this was to read! To dive into the fathoms of this world, where the open sea, pirates, and deep dark secrets lie. Oh to feel the spray of the salt water, and to glimpse into the darkest of chasms of what was a truly fun ride, I so want to do again.

Our FMC, Livia - was strong, fearless, and had no shame in being herself. She was feisty, sarcastic, a treat to behold in her own right. Granted a princess, but this songbird was more than just a whimsical girl. She held her own against our broody MMC, made the crew of the Ever Ship fall in love with her, and held her own.

Erik, our beautiful and achingly traumatic MMC - you could not hate him, only want to take him, wrap your arms around him and take away all his aches, his worries, and his loathing. The serpent who stole the songbird from her home, who wanted to use her to get back what was rightfully his - would eventually fall.

“Hate me, curse me, I cared little, so long as I was the first thought of her day and the last of her night.”

With an exciting backdrop of islands and the open sea, magic that laces throughout the world, and characters that sneak their way into your heart and mind - I want to continue on this journey with Livia and Erik and to take on the high seas with all it's glory.

✨ Pirates
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Found Family
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ He Falls First
✨ Mental Health
✨ Unique Magical System

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🔥🔥

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

I liked this book a lot! I read Of Mischief and Mages by LJ Andrews and loved it so much and wanted to try another book by her. This story with fae and pirates was so fun and even if there was some slightly cheesy dialogue, the character development was amazing and I fell in love with everyone! Cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is something so magical about someone writing a book that transports me out of this world. I love love love learning new magic systems and different species, what divides people in this world and even the physical landscape of somewhere different. Teach me everything!

The Ever King delivered!

Expect 👉🏼 Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Captor and Captive, Royalty of Waring Worlds, Secrets, Spice, Revenge, Morally Grey

Livia has never forgotten the boy her family held captive. He’s been gone for years but suddenly he’s back in her world and ripping her away from family and everything she knows in a plot for revenge and to get back the mantle of his power that he left with her.

I couldn’t stop. This story captured my attention and I couldn’t wait to understand the world and why Erik had no sympathy for Livia. Erik is every shade of grey but watching him fall for Livia was magic. I would catch myself with the most satisfied little grin while I was reading this story.

And holy cannoli… that cliffhanger!! I’m obsessed with these two and I need to know what happens next!

Thank you Berkley for the #gifted arc!

4.5/5

Will I ever get over this book? Nope. I don't think so. And pirates with fae??? with spice??? Sign me up.

The world that LJ brings to us in the story is so beautifully done and the bond between Erik and Livia is perfection. I love that we got enemies to lovers with a back story, I thought that the prologue was a perfect introduction into the dynamic between the two main characters.

HOWEVERRRR, the cliffhanger was not cool and now I have to sprint to read book 2!!! I already miss Erik and Livia and am chomping at the bit for their story to continue!!


Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- "who did this to you?"
- touch her and die
- morally grey MMC
- pirates and fae


Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this fantastic book!!

If you’re looking for a pirate romance, this is the one. It gave Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, large ships, mermaids and romance. The back stories were very interesting but I sometimes found them hard to follow as a lot of the characters from the memories were dead and I had limited context for them. I would definitely continue this series! Please note: this ends on a huge cliffhanger and I would NOT recommend reading it if you’re looking for a standalone read.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“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: 5/5
Spice: 2.5/5

Tropes:
- 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 duology

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I WILL NEVER NOT LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! The Ever King is quite literally the most under hyped fantasy book in the industry. Eric Bloodsinger is the most morally grey and romantic MMC of any fantasy book I’ve read. The creativity needed for the author to create this whole sea fae realm and land fae magic system sets the bar. And the spice? 🥵 But be warned, you will be desperate for book two at the end of this one! I cannot wait to read all LJ Andrews has in store for the Ever Seas!

Thank you Berkley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to preview the new edition of The Ever King that will be traditionally re-published on August 5, 2025. The cover is GORGEOUS! I love how they're being redone in bright colors. The new editions have all new BONUS content in them, so you'll definitely want to collect the newly published editions when they come out!

My Review:
The Songbird and The Serpent

They stole his crown so he stole their daughter! Revenge is all Erik, the King of the Ever Kingdom has thought of… until he kidnaps Livvy and she steals his heart!

Wow!! Earth fae and Sea Fae with a pirates of the Caribbean vibe! This dark fantasy series has such a unique world and magic system, I’m obsessed!!

“Hate me, curse me, I cared little, so long as I was the first thought of her day and the last of her night.”

“I am in your hands, I am at your command, for you have made me love you, and you will be my destruction because of it.”

The romance was beautiful and the bond was so unique and deep! Livvy showed Erik he was worthy of love and Erik would BURN DOWN THE WORLD to protect Livvy! I love the family Livvy found among the Ever Sea crew and the bond Livvy shared with her brother and cousins.

What you’ll find:
Dual POV
Song magic
Blood magic
Sea Witch
Elven
A heart bond
Found family
Who did this to you?!

“Scars paint our stories, they give proof to the battles we’ve survived, the trials we’ve overcome.”

The story ends on a cliffhanger so you'll want to have The Ever Queen ready to binge!!

Romance content: 3-4 Open-door scenes!

Oh gosh where do I begin? I LOVE THIS BOOK/SERIES.
Prior to reading this series I never thought I would have a thing for pirates, but boy was I wrong. This awakened something in me and goshhhhh who knew he could be so hot.
Erik is one of my absolute favorite MMC. He is so morally grey and so hot all at the same time.
Everything about this story is a *chef's kiss.* I love the world, the world building, pirates, the action, the romance?!?! Everything is so so so good.
You'll be reading this on the edge of your seat wanting to know what's next. I could not put this book down and I ate it up.

The cliffhanger will eat you alive and get you running to the store for the next book.

This book had everything I love in a fantasy book.

The dynamic between Livia and Erik was done so incredibly well. I absolutely loved that their story started as kids and even after years, the bond between them never got lost. Erik is such a tortured character and I loved both his brutality and his heart. Livia, on the other hand, definitely knows how to hold her own and she's so fearless when it comes to standing up for what she believes in. I loved their bickering and I loved the tension. The character growth is so good, even with the side characters, and the way the author revealed the characters' backgrounds was so natural, so well-paced. There was definitely a lot of foreshadowing in this book and I think it builds up very well to prepare for the second book. I'm also a big fan of the author's writing. The way the characters speak was emotional, heartbreaking, and just so strong. There were a lot of strong and significant quotes. I think I've found one of my new favorite mmcs after reading this book because his love for Livia was absolutely flawless.

*I re-read this book with the new bonus content and I didn't think I could love this book more. It was so bittersweet and I truly love all of these characters so much.

4 stars

Book review:

A Dark, Addictive Fantasy with Morally Gray Perfection

They stole his crown. So he stole their daughter… And from the very first page, I was hooked.

This book is an absolute whirlwind of vengeance, betrayal, and slow-burning tension. Erik, the scarred and vengeful king of the Ever Kingdom, is everything I love in a morally gray character—ruthless, broken, and willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim what was stolen from him. But when his plans for revenge bring him face-to-face with his enemy’s innocent daughter, the game shifts in ways neither of them expect.

The dynamic between Erik and our main female character is amazing! The push-and-pull tension, the battle of wills, the undeniable chemistry!!! it’s all woven together masterfully. The world-building is immersive, dark, and beautifully written, pulling you into the depths of the Ever Kingdom with every page.

And that cliffhanger? I’m obsessed. I need the next book immediately. If you love stories with morally gray antiheroes, high-stakes revenge plots, and slow-burn tension that keeps you on edge, this is the book for you.


Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book 😘

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

The Ever King by L.J. Andrews is set in the same world as The Broken Kingdom series.

The pacing and world building around Erik and Livias story was perfection. With a blending of Fae Vikings and Pirates there are so many unique characters and crazy adventures there was never a dull moment.

This is Romantasy at its finest and will have you staying up late saying “one more chapter”.

🏴‍☠️Romantacy
🏴‍☠️Enemies to lovers
🏴‍☠️Forced Proximity
🏴‍☠️Spice

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc!

𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙠’𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. “𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”

GASP. I am GAGGED. Why have I been sitting on this book for so long?? I was chomping at the bit looking for every little opportunity to pause what I was doing to pick up this spicy baby and get farther into the heads of Livia and Erik and the brilliant world L.J. has crafted. I knew from the bet-go that I would really enjoy this book (it has all my favorite tropes and concepts), but I did not anticipate how much I would LOVELOVELOVE it - the characters, the magic system, the culture woven into the world-building, the relationships. While I am obsessed with the audiobook and narrators, my only regret is not reading a physical copy of this and annotating it as I go and dedicating a whole color of tabs to Erik being completely unhinged because that shit SLAPPED.

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love it so badly. But it just wasn’t my cup of tea. By the 70% mark I found myself skimming and bored. I see so many 5 star reviews and wonder if it’s just me.
At the start I was so invested and really enjoyed the story but as it progressed my attention dwindled.
I’m not a fan of pirate talk, it just doesn’t do it for me and makes it hard to concentrate on the story itself.
I felt the FMC was kinda dull and not sure what her role really was, other than her marking.
The MC was the type of man I like, I’ll give the story that. I did enjoy him.
The repetition of the nicknames got to me a bit much for me.
I wish we got some insight into her family and what they’re doing to look for her. I forgot the FMC was kidnapped at points.

Overall I just didn’t love this the way I had hoped.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ability to view this as an E ARC

Let me just preface this review by stating that Erik is mine and I’m not a good sharer.

This book made me laugh, cry, gasp, blush, and want to throw my book against the wall!

From the beginning you can tell that these two have had a history and had formed a deep connection. You are going to feel every feeling you possibly can feel as these two figure out their new journey together.

Erik, my love, you are so flawed, but you are perfect to me. The way that you grapple with your humanity and navigate life makes you the perfect morally grey MMC!

Livia, you are so strong willed, but also flawed in so many relatable ways. Your growth brings so much to the table and helps not only you grow, Erik grow, but also all the secondary characters grow.

The twists and turns that come from the secondary characters capture your heart and make you love them just as much as Livia and Erik.

I love the clash of cultures with Pirates vs. Viking-esq(?) worlds. Each world has so much world building it’s easy to picture them in your mind and see why our characters are the way they are.

I am anxiously awaiting the sequel The Ever Queen and hope my favorites stay safe and sound ( looking at you Sewell)! Erik I will gladly comfort you anytime you need!

100% one of my top reads!

4.5 ⭐️

AHHH THIS IS SUCH A STRONG OPENING BOOK FOR THE SERIES.

So I really liked TBK, but this is next level. I always get a little worried about next gen series, but the transition was so smooth with this, and having them introduced in the end of TBK and to start seeing their connection was so good. And I ended up loving the kids more than the parents.

Livia is such a great FMC, she's strong, kickass without the annoying characteristics we sometimes get with romantasy books. She's fiercely loyal and such a sweet, compassionate friend.

Erik is such a complex character who makes the perfect villain. I loved his dark edges, and how cunning and ruthless he could be. But I also love how obsessed and possessive he became of Livia, and his burn the world down energy for her.

Together they make the perfect couple, complementing each other and bringing out another side of themselves they didn't know they had. And the tension and angst that was building between them?? *chef's kiss*.

The found family aspect is so amazing also, the side characters and friendship group is one of my favourite things about this author and again she doesn't disappoint.

The plot itself had me hooked, from a pirate fae's captive, to capturing his heart and becoming his queen - there are so many plot twists and turns here - and talk about a cliffhanger ending!!

The Ever King, Erik Bloodsinger, kidnaps Livia Ferus, princess of the Night Fae. Drawn to one another as children when Erik was a prisoner of her father’s, they find themselves drawn together once again even though Erik has kidnapped her and taken her beneath the sea to his kingdom- The Ever. Livia is able to slowly heal the sickness that has been spreading through The Ever, stealing the kings heart along the way, but also creating enemies.

Really loved the world building in these books. It is absolute perfection. Magic system was super diverse and interesting. Pirates, fae, vikings, loooove to hate the cliffhanger! I really enjoy the story that Andrews creates and how she weaves the world of her previous series into this new one.

The spice adds to the story and isn't distracting or unrelated to the overall storyline. I am absolutely obsessed with every single side character. I cannot wait to get more of their stories as Andrews continues writing for us in this world!