📖 Bookish Thoughts:
This was such a ride! Think Sea Pirates + Fae Fantasy, with the energy of Vikings and the romantic flair of Bridgerton. The worldbuilding was rich without feeling overwhelming, and the magic system was cool.

Our FMC, Livia, was my favorite! I related hard to her anxiety and panic attacks and just wanted to give her a hug. 🥺 Her fierce loyalty and friendships with Celine and Sewell made me love her even more.
I struggled a bit to connect with Erik early on. His trauma made his coldness understandable. Because what happened to him as a child was absolutely heartbreaking! The adults failed him! I did enjoy watching his bond with Livia grow over time. Also yes, it ends on a cliffhanger (not my fave), but I’m definitely continuing the series!

🖤 Read if you love:
• Morally grey x sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Anxiety Rep
• Enemies to Lovers
• Fated Mates
• Touch her and die

✨ Favorite Quote:
“Mind's a powerful thing, dearie. Don't you go feeling no shame, but don't you forget you own that mind of yours, it's not to own you.”

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I'm not a fan of pirates in a story unless it's Peter Pan. While the characters are fae, it still gave me pirate vibes. It's just not my thing. HOWEVER, I could NOT put this book down. I loved how defined the characters were. The pacing was perfection. I'm definitely reading the next one.

What an incredible read! Being back in this world after reading the Broken Kingdoms series felt like coming home. This world feels so nostalgic and I absolutely adored being thrown back into it. The story felt fresh and new still despite being in an already familiar world and I’m genuinely not sure how she does it. I had a blast with this book, and the ending was so exciting and has me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series! Every time I read a new LJ Andrews book I’m impressed by how her writing continues to improve. Her characters feel full and fleshed out. The plot never fell flat for me, I was engaged and excited for the entirety of the story. Thank you NetGalley for an early copy before the rerelease of The Ever King.

The Ever King is an action-packed and exciting tale, with ruthless pirates, mysterious magic, and breathtaking romance.

"Is that what we are, princess? A serpent and a songbird?"

Erik Bloodsinger wants revenge. As the Ever King, he wants nothing more than to destroy the man who killed his father and trapped him and his people in their realm. When the daughter of his enemy appears and upends his plans, he decides to strike where it will hurt the most - by taking his daughter captive and hiding her in the Ever. Livia may hate Erik, but she feels drawn to him. The two are mysteriously bound, and while they may can't stand other, they cannot deny that Livia's powers seem to be healing the land of the Ever Seas. As reluctant allies, Erik and Liva must work together to restore the realm.

I ADORE this book so much! It is an absolute favorite of mine, and this series already has my whole heart. I loved Erik and Livia's story so much. I read this book before as an indie book, and I am so happy to see that Berkely Ace picked it up. The bonus chapters for this new version are fantastic, and give us more insight and background into a beloved character. This book has everything that I love in a romantasy - unique magic, rich worldbuilding, steamy romance, and amazing characters. Erik and Livia's tale begins in the Broken Kingdoms series, and this new series - The Ever Seas - tells the story of this younger generation. We meet some new characters and expand the world of the Broken Kingdoms to the Ever Seas. I was drawn into the story immediately - I had not yet read the Broken Kingdoms, and while there are some minor spoilers for that series, these books were designed to be read independently and can be read before the Broken Kingdoms series. The writing is superb, the pacing kept me engaged on the edge of my seat, and the story is immaculate. Definitely a new favorite book and a series I will look forward to reading again and again!

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, NetGalley, and Berkley Ace for the advanced copy of this incredible book! All opinions are my own.

Oh my. My heart STILL can’t handle The Ever King.

This was a re-read of the traditionally publish version of The Ever King and just like my first read, it was utterly perfect. It was a book you wish you could read again for the first time but even this second read was amazing.

Do you need to read The Broken Kingdom series before reading The Ever King? Not necessarily. Andrews does a great job at providing little recaps and summaries of the war and events that lead up to this storyline. Do I recommend that you read The Broken Kingdom series 1st? Absolutely! I think that it gives so much more depth to the premise of this book and you have a much deeper feeling and connection to the characters based on that connection you had to their parents in the broken kingdom series.

Experiencing The Ever King it’s like watching your child grow up. We saw these young characters being born in the broken kingdom series and now they’re teenagers and adults making hard choices, living with choices of their and really just trying to do right by themselves and their families.

Livia is King Valen and Queen Elise’s daughter, Princess of the Night Folk in the Northern Realm. Erik, the Bloodsinger is the King of The Ever. They are the definition of Enemies. Valen Killed Erik’s father and during the wars Erik was held prisoner by the “land folk.” Livia and Erik where born with the notion that they were supposed to hate each other but Livia and Erik have such a deep connection that was forged as children and despite years apart that connection brought them back together

Erik has grown up thinking love is a weakness that brutality is the only way to gain respect and hold command but Livia teaches him that love is strength.

Andrews wrote the beginning of an epic story and I am captivated and drawn in and can not wait for the next book to come out.

I love this book so much. I highly enjoy Livia aka "Songbird" and Erik aka The Ever King Aka The Serpent. The side characters are just as amazing as the main characters as well. I love how Erik takes what is his and how he expresses his love and devotion to Livia.

The Ever King totally blew me away. A story focused on vikings, pirates in a romantasy setting? Say no more. I loved every minute of it and fell in love with the FMC and MMC. Go read it!

Excuse me with that cliffhanger!!!!

The Ever King had me hooked from the beginning - this is my first LJ Andrews book and the world building brought me right in without having read The Broken Kingdoms series. Immediately I loved Livia and all of her friends, yet I also trusted Erik from the get-go (that morally grey looks really good on him, what can I say!).

Do I wish Livia held her ground just a little bit longer and worried a little bit more about her family and what her Earth Fae were doing to try to get her back? Sure, but all along she said she felt like she belonged in the Ever.
Erik had the strongest "touch her and die" vibes and the more we got to know him and his dark heart, the more I loved him and Livia together.
I need to know more about their connection and the healing of the land! I didn't need the book to end the way it did! Need The Ever Queen immediately!

Thank you Berkley/Ace for the ARC!!

Admittedly, this was a very slow start for me and I wasn't sure it was going to live up to the expectations, but the pace eventually did pick up and when the romance aspect finally got interesting, this book came alive!

Pirates and Vikings? Say no more! This follows Livia, an earth fae, and Erik, a sea fae, who have an unforgettable meeting as young children but are soon separated. Erik, now the Ever King, returns to Livia's kingdom to avenge his father's death and takes her as prisoner. I won't get into anything further so the story isn't spoiled, but the last 25% of this book especially is incredible! Cannot wait for the second book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book now that it's being traditionally published in exchange for my honest review.

just finished The Ever King and i’m OBSESSED 😭🔥

listen. it’s got pirates. it’s got sirens. it’s got a SCARRED, VENGEFUL VIKING KING who’s been cursed underwater for YEARS and finally breaks free when the enemy’s sweet, innocent daughter shows up and accidentally unchains him??? yeah i’m eating that UP.

it’s giving villain x sunshine. he kidnaps her. she softens him. he’s like “i’m only using you for revenge” and then falls HARD. like sir. be serious. we know you’re in love.

dark, spicy, and lowkey feral in the best way.

4.5⭐ Great way to end the month! This is another one I slept on and should have read sooner!

I got the earc from netgalley but I had also bought the paperback and audio.

Highly recommend the immersive experience. While I didn't love Lucy's narrator, 🐍 more than made up for it!

I noticed some minor changes with the text which I actually appreciated.

Erik is the perfect villainous MMC. I love when he wants to hate her but just can't.

Livy is a great FMC. Not too innocent, she had a little bit of an edge and a will to survive.

So good!

LJ Andrews has done it again—The Ever King is a breathtaking masterpiece and a stunning addition to a series that just keeps getting better. From the moment you dive into the world of the Ever Kingdom, you're swept away in a tide of vengeance, heartache, magic, and slow-burning romance that grips you and never lets go.

Erik, the scarred and brooding king, is the kind of morally grey character I live for—haunted, driven, and deeply complex. His thirst for revenge makes him dangerous, but it’s the unexpected vulnerability he shows toward the princess that absolutely shattered me. The tension, the stakes, the emotional unraveling... it’s all so exquisitely written.

And the worldbuilding? Absolutely spellbinding. Vikings, pirates, fae, and sirens all collide in a dark, beautifully woven tapestry of lore and longing. It’s a world you feel—salty wind in your hair, danger in every shadow, and a love story that burns like wildfire beneath the surface.

If you’re a fan of villain/innocent tropes, dark fantasy romance, and stories that feel both fierce and deeply romantic, The Ever King is not to be missed. I’m completely obsessed with this series, and I can’t wait for what’s next.

Oh. My. HECK. The love I have for this book!! Pirates and Vikings?! The romance and tension! Perfection!

So many romantasy books these days say they have morally grey characters, but this book truly does. Erik Bloodsinger is everything I want in a morally grey MMC. The love he has for Liv and desire to protect her, but simultaneously isn't afraid of what it takes to do so. *chef's kiss*

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC of The Ever King! I can't wait to dive into the rest of LJ Andrews' backlist!

I’m so thankful to have been gifted this ARC and just finished reading The Ever King and to say I’m hooked would be a MASSIVE understatement! I fell in love with The Broken Kingdoms so when I heard she was doing a spin off series within the same world but new magic, kingdoms and characters I was immediately excited. This story is a little darker, and grittier. Erik is everything and I wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time. Livia is a badass and the emphasis on mental health with her was fantastic! Their banter is so good annnnnd his blood is poison and she likes to bite 👀👀 I also loved the small nods to The Broken Kingdoms but I didn’t feel like I needed to understand those books to live fully in The Ever Kingdom. The magic in The Ever is unique and has the ability to be truly terrifying and the world itself is somewhere I’d love to escape to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🐍 Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🐍 Vikings x Pirates
🗡️ Dark Fantasy
🐍 Possessive and aggressive MMC
🗡️ Villain gets the girl
🐍 Spicy
🗡️ Dual POV

“Such venom.” With one knuckle, I stroked her cheek. “Careful with your threats of my untimely death, love, or you might end up stealing my heart.”
✨
✨
Eric, king of the Ever kingdom, is seeking vengeance against the king who locked him in his own realm. Livia is the daughter of the man Eric wants to get revenge against and becomes his tool for vengeance when he takes her to the Ever kingdom. Livia should hate Eric and the kingdom he’s dragged her too; however it’s not that simple. She has been drawn to Eric since they were children, and there’s something about the Ever kingdom that calls to her. Desires and vengeance will collide but will betrayal unite Eric and Livia or cement them on opposite sides?
✨
✨
This is my first book by Andrews, so I have not read the Broken Kingdoms series. I did not feel hampered in anyway or like I was missing anything by jumping into The Ever King. However, based on how thoroughly I enjoyed The Ever King, I will be going back to read Andrews other series. Eric and Livia are everything in this book. The banter had me begging to know what was going to happened next between them. I also really enjoyed Livia’s character development throughout the story and how she came to terms with what she wanted. The supporting characters in this book were top notch. I particularly enjoyed Celine, Sewell, and Aleksi. The plot pacing was sufficiently fast paced where I didn’t feel like the story drug on in any way. I highly enjoyed the world building as well as the magic system development. I highly recommend checking this out if you enjoy forced proximity, enemies to lovers/villain gets the girl, slow burn, interesting magic systems, touch her and ☠️, and found family vibes. Fair warning, though, this story ends on a cliffhanger, and it’s brutal. Be sure to check TW before diving in.

It was fine?

This felt like just another romantasy read. There is literally nothing really special about it other than the fact that we are on a boat. The main characters were tolerable, the romance was fine, and the plot was basic. I never felt a pull to any of the characters in this book.

Yeah, it was fine.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

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…all 🤌🏻💋 I mean, Erik Bloodsinger can come kidnap 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.

A gigantic thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advance copy of the upcoming traditionally published book.

Such an immersive world if you read the parents books! I love the blend of piracy and fae fantasy. The Male main character’s journey from unassuming beginnings to a leader facing insurmountable odds kept me hooked, while the found family theme added depth and warmth to the tale. Each twist and new character layered beautifully into a story that felt epic yet deeply personal. Everything you would want from enemies to lovers and that ending. Woah!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶️🌶️|🖤🖤🖤

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group|Ace Books, NetGalley & LJ for the ARC.

Updated Review:
Updated review for the bonus chapters.
The bonus chapters: LOVE
After reading now The Ever Queen & the Mist Thief. I’m more familiar with certain characters and I ate these chapters up. I also enjoyed that these chapters gave some additional insight on certain characters. Much needed back stories! 💕

Original Review:

“Is that what we are, princess? A serpent and a songbird?”

3.5, rounding to a 4⭐️

Enemies to lovers, found family, banter, AND pirate fae romance, yes please!

*please hold my cup while I swoon over Erik*

LJ wrote this book beautifully. The world building and magic system was perfect. The story had exciting and entertaining. I didn’t read LJ’s previous books so I was confused here and there but it didn’t make this book any less enjoyable.

While I loved Erik, Liv was a little harder to like. While I understood her sheltered made here naive and lacked some street smarts, her character really didn’t development. I hope we she her grow in book two.

The pet names became annoying too 😑

Overall, I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the second book.

*disclaimer: my darkness and spice rating might not be the same for you. Please do your own research before reading*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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!