4.5⭐️ This one very much gives Pirates of the Caribbean but with fae!!!! I absolutely loved it!

The plot immediately had me hooked from the beginning! I loved the dynamic between the FMC (Livia) and MMC (Erik) from the start, and their development individually and together was great too! Their banter and tension had me flying through the book. I always love a rival kingdom, enemies to lovers sort of situation, and this gave exactly that (though the “enemies” aspect didn’t last super long). I also ended up really liking some of the side characters in this one, which I always love when that happens! There was a good balance between the romance, the main plot, and side plots which made the read pretty evenly paced. There was a bit of a slow part in the middle for me, but that’s not atypical I find.

This book does have some darker elements to it, maybe a bit more gruesome or violent, but nothing too much - But it’s definitely something to make note of.

Overall, this was really great and the ending left me NEEDING to read book two - I cannot wait!!! Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this as an e-arc ahead of re-publication in exchange for an honest review!

—

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 ↴
Star: 4.5⭐️/5
Spice: 2🌶️/5
Emotion: 2.5💧/5

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ↴
🩵 Dual POV
💚 Romantasy
🩵 Pirates of the Caribbean vibes
💚 Found Family
🩵 Earth & Sea Fae
💚 Rival Kingdoms
🩵 Forced Proximity
💚 Touch Her and D*e
🩵 Anxiety Rep.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-arc
I liked this book a lot. I really liked the magic system in the book. And I really liked the Ever Kingdom's way of classifying their magic. I though that the romance was good as well. It made sense which is normally the reason it doesn't work! I thought the characters were pretty well thought out as well. Excited to read the next book!

Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 3⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 2⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 2⭐️
Overall rating: 3/5⭐️
Spice 3/5 🌶️

Spicy pirate fae romantasy. Rivals to lovers. Captor/captive. Dual POV. Morally grey MMC.

I found the FMC to be bland and boring. The MMC though, Erik Bloodsinger, is ruthless in his pursuit of revenge.

The plot took a good minute to pick up for me. This is mostly a romance driven fantasy book. Very little slow burn or tension.
The world building and magic system was minimal. You have the sea fea and earth fae who have been at war for years. Erik is the king of the sea fae and his blood is poisonous but if he sings it cures the poison. He has been trapped for years beneath the sea imprisoned. Livia, the FMC, is an earth fae princess whose magic can heal the land.

ERIK BLOOD SLINGER If I can only leave that as my review, I would. I am not one to read about pirates but this had me in a chokehold. The storyline, characters and romance was perfectly seamless throughout. I enjoyed a lot of the plot holes as it set up the for the second book! The way this world was created to not over power or choose power as the main course of action was beautifully done. It was provocative and carefully detailed to perfect the growth of Erik and Liv's bond as well as the future for the Ever. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!

LJ Andrews' ‘The Ever King’ is a masterful blend of dark fantasy and passionate romance that transcends the typical boundaries of its genre. Stepping into the richly imagined world of the Ever Kingdom, readers encounter Erik, the scarred and vengeful king, and Livia, the innocent yet resilient princess who becomes an unintended player in his quest for retribution. Their journey is set against a backdrop filled with pirates, sirens, fae, and a hint of Viking lore, creating a world of intrigue and danger.

Andrews' writing prowess shines brightly in her ability to weave a tale that is both intricate and compelling. The character development is a standout feature; Erik, with his complex persona of a tortured soul seeking vengeance, captivates the reader with his depth and vulnerability. Livia, in contrast, is the epitome of strength and compassion, her growth throughout the story reflecting the resilience of the human spirit.

The romance between Erik and Livia is a fiery dance of intensity and tenderness. Andrews skillfully portrays their evolution from enemies to lovers, making their connection feel both inevitable and forbidden. This tension is the heart of the novel, driving the narrative forward and keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The world-building in ‘The Ever King’ is nothing short of magnificent. Andrews creates a universe that feels both familiar and fresh, weaving elements of mythology and fantasy to create a setting that is as enchanting as it is dangerous. The integration of unique powers and the vivid description of the Ever Kingdom immerse the reader in a world that is both fantastical and believable.

What truly sets this novel apart is Andrews' ability to balance the darker elements of the story with moments of light and hope. The themes of revenge, loss, and love are explored with a deft hand, creating a narrative that is emotionally resonant and deeply satisfying.

‘The Ever King’ is a triumph of dark fantasy romance. LJ Andrews has crafted a world that is as brutal as it is beautiful, populated by characters that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. This book is a must-read for fans of the genre and a testament to Andrews' skill as a storyteller.

This was really really good... I'm eager to continue the series because that cliffhanger... I thought I had a little more left before the book ended but there were previews of LJ Andrews' other books. I was upset! LMAO we get a lot of world building in chunks throughout the book. I love the magic system and how it's different for all of the characters. The FMC's powers still have a little more to them, I think. We get to see some of what she can do but I feel like there is a little more to see in future books.

If you are into romantasy, I recommend this one. There's pirates, magic, angst, yearning, love and spice. Plus, it's just getting started.

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

Wow. What a ride! I devoured this book in two days and can't wait to start reading the next book The Ever Queen. This book is set in the same world as the Broken Kingdom series, which I haven't read, but can be read without having read that series first. I, however, will be adding that series onto my TBR immediately. This book was first published in 2023 but somehow I missed it. It was just re-released on August 5, 2025 in hardcover format with exclusive bonus content.

The book is inspired by Norse mythology and is set in a world that pitches earth fae against sea fae. The various houses in the fae kingdom each have their own unique magical abilities and the author did a great job by including the worldbuilding throughout the book so you didn't have to slog through a 50 or more page info-dump just to get to the characters and storyline. The more I learned about the ruthlessness of the various faes, their abilities, and the brutalness of the world, the more I realized I would never want to get captured by a rival house.

Livia is an earth fae whose magic can heal the land and create life in it. She's a princess and heir to her father's throne. Her family is happy and loving and she's surrounded by a supportive extended family and friends. She's a bit sheltered and naive, but that doesn't make her weak. She's fierce, brave, and independent - qualities she will need in abundance when she meets Erik, King of the Ever Kingdom. He's the young boy she connected with while he was held captive in her kingdom during the last war. He's all grown up and looking for vengeance for his father's death since being trapped in his kingdom by a great chasm at the end of the war.

Erik comes from the opposite happy loving family as Livia. He's been brutalized by enemies and family alike. He's scarred. He's ruthless. His blood is poison, and he's desperate to find a way to heal the rot that is overtaking the Ever Kingdom. If he can win back the mantle keeping his full power at bay, he knows he can heal his land. All he needs to do is challenge Livia's father for it and defeat him. When Livia unintentionally breaks the chasm keeping the kingdoms apart, Erik seizes the chance to reclaim what is rightfully his. Who knew it could also include her?

Erik makes the perfect antihero. He's cunning, ruthless, decisive - but also noble, devoted to his kingdom, and secretly kind. Despite having no parents or siblings, he's created a found family of loyal supportive crew members that would die for him. He kidnaps Livia as a pawn to reaching her father, but there's no denying the attraction they both feel toward the other. They fight their feelings because it makes no sense to feel that way toward the enemy, but once in awhile we see glimpses of the young girl and boy they used to be and the bond they formed. Before long, their teasing words and embraces turn passionate until they can't ignore their feelings.

You can imagine how "popular" Erik attaching himself to Livia is with his people and the nobles, so it's no surprise that treachery, deceit, assassins, and traitors wait around every corner. The fighting is fierce and you should definitely check the trigger warnings if you're squeamish. The author does a great job of doling out secrets and keeping the reader off-balance and guessing about what is going to happen next. You KNOW something bad is going to happen, you just can't figure out WHAT and by WHOM. The cliffhanger will have you racing to get your hands on the next book - which is exactly what I did. Come join me. That water's just fine.

I received a complimentary e-copy from NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.

“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 Ever King quickly became one of my favorite romantasy reads—it’s the perfect blend of enemies-to-lovers tension, courtly scheming, unique magic, and high-stakes, fantastical battles.

Set in the next generation of L.J. Andrews’ richly woven world, it builds beautifully on the foundation of The Broken Kingdoms series. Fans of the BK series will love the deeper connections, while new readers can dive into The Ever King without needing to commit to all nine books from the original series.

The Norse-, Fae-, and pirate-inspired characters each bring their own vivid personalities to the story, creating rich, found-family dynamics that deepen Erik and Livia’s tangled past and present.

Erik Bloodsinger is the epitome of a morally gray king—ruthless, protective, and hopelessly obsessed with the one person he shouldn't want. And yes, the punishment scenes? Brutal… but in a way some of us might call romantic (iykyk).

Erik was the king of the Ever Kingdom, trapped beneath the waves and a prisoner in his own realm. When his enemy's daughter accidentally broke the enchantment, he seized her for revenge. He plans to take back what was stolen from him, but she might steal his heart.

Inspired by Viking history and lore, this fantasy novel deals with warring clans of fae. The earth clans banded together against the sea fae and used their magic along with Erik's blood to create a barrier he can't cross. Livia has a mark on her arm from the Ever itself, which led to her touch weakening that barrier. Erik Bloodsinger is the King of Ever and acts like a pirate. Taking Livia is at once revenge against the earth fae and fulfilling a promise he made as an imprisoned child. The captive/captor dynamic keeps the two in close proximity and challenges the beliefs Livia had grown up with. The attraction between them is present and grows over the course of the novel.

We see that there's more to Erik than the savage reputation he cultivated. This helps to see what Livia sees in him, other than aesthetic, when she's been kidnapped and threatened. The land of Ever has a curse on it, leading to poor harvests and starvation for Erik's people. We see the true concern he has for them, his crew, and the future of his kingdom, as well as the misbeliefs he had growing up. Livia sees for herself what kind of person he is, and discovers what she's capable of. There are challenges to the pair, as well as a cliffhanger ending, since this is the first book in a trilogy. I really hate that kind of ending, but some people might have a higher tolerance for it than I do.

The Ever King was everything I could have ever wanted in a romantasy book. It had magic, fae, Vikings, pirates, sirens, court politics, a broody, morally grey anti-hero on a quest for revenge, and an all-consuming, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance that could tear the world apart. It gave us a lush world that was brutal, violent, and filled with mysteries, secrets, high stakes, and plenty of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. I adored every second of it.

Erik Bloodsinger is the villain I’ve been waiting for. He’s scarred, dangerous, ruthless, and will do anything to save his kingdom. He lives for vengeance, and will remove anyone who stands in his way. He’s vicious to everyone except for Livia, and their relationship was absolute perfection. He helps her with her anxiety, gives her supplies to paint with, supports her, helps her find her own strength, and doesn’t allow anyone to disrespect her. I’m fully in love with him. I need to pick up The Ever Queen asap because I need to know what happens! Go read this immediately!

Thank you so much LJ Andrews and The Realm Studios for the PR box of my dreams and hardcover of The Ever King. Thank you to Ace, Berkley, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔The Ever King
✏️ LJ Andrews
📆 August 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🏴‍☠️ fae & magic
🏴‍☠️ vikings vs pirates
🏴‍☠️ enemies-to-lovers
🏴‍☠️ villain gets the girl
🏴‍☠️ forced proximity
🏴‍☠️ he falls first
🏴‍☠️ touch her and 💀
🏴‍☠️ anxiety rep
🏴‍☠️ dual POV

3.5ish

Livia was a young girl during the war between the earth and sea kingdoms. Near the end of the war, Liv finds a young boy in her father’s cells and befriends him, reading to him nightly a story of the songbird and the serpent. When her father, ruler of the Earth fae, defeats and kills the Ever King, ruler of the seas, in battle, he banishes the child and all other sea fae to their home in the Ever Kingdom and seals the portal between their worlds, but not before the young boy tells Liv about the important talisman in her father’s possession and makes her promise to keep it safe. Now ten years after the Great War, Liv is celebrating the Crimson Festival with her friends and family when she accidentally opens the Chasm wall sealing the realms from one another. With the tides now open, that young prisoner is coming to collect on his promise and won’t stop until he has the talisman, and Liv, in his possession.

This book is pirates meets fae meets sea witches with some enemies to lovers, fated mates tension that is also a bit of a second chance romance all wrapped into one! It is told in dual POV, and I loved seeing the tension playing out between Liv and Erik from both of their perspectives. It is a slow burn romance, with enemies to lovers angst but with an initial attraction that complicates everything. Erik is a very morally grey MMC - he’s a pirate and ruler of the Earth Kingdom now, who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to get his way. He kidnaps Liv to try to use her against her father, but quickly finds that she is what he needed all along.

This is the first in the series, so did a lot of ground work with setting up the world and overall political plot. With is being dual POV, it really laid out how differently they viewed the events of the war and who was ‘good’ and ‘bad’. I liked how this all was exposed over time and how the story and characters evolved with it! It did start to get a little slow at times for me and felt like it was dragging a bit in the middle, but it picked up again at the end and gave us a really rude cliffhanger that makes you want to dive into book two!

There are a lot of good side characters in this as well, between Livia’s family and friends and Erik’s crew! I thought they were well developed and really added to the story.

I thought this did a good job in setting up that first book of a series and I have a feeling the rest of the series is really going to pick up now that we have the stage set and the twist has been revealed. I’m very interested to see what happens next!

Thank you Berkley for the copy of the book!

This was a solid read. I thought the world & magic were super interesting and it had a decent plot line. I will say that it does take a little bit to get into and in some ways is just very similar to other romantasy books. I do think there’s still some uniqueness to it and really enjoyed the pirate vibes. I would definitely like to point out that there’s no “Vikings” in this book. The characters are interesting and likable. I definitely think I will be continuing the series!

Thanks Berkley for the eARC!

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 “𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚” 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒔.
This story has all the elements: enemies-to-lovers, the chemistry, the tension, the angst, THE SPICE. Also the grand fantastical adventure is present! Fae pirates, kidnapping, magically-imbued ship to traverse the high seas, mysteries to unravel, fighting, torture, revenge, chases, TRUE LOVE!

Erik Bloodsinger, The Ever King, Her Serpent. Ohmygod, this man. He’s possessive, jealous, morally dark, but he’s got the soft spots, he has the vulnerabilities, he has the traumas that break a man! Love a man who knows what he wants & goes for it. A man who protects what’s his with ferocity, be it his kingdom, his found family or queen.

“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.”

Livia Ferus, The Ever Queen, His Songbird. Livia really resonated with me. She has anxiety & panic attacks, but she is strong & vocalizes that she wants more for herself & meets every challenge & obstacle thrown at her head on. Her growth is spectacular.

“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴.”

And oh, they were so horny for each other. Their banter & declarations are something for the history books. I don’t have enough characters to talk about how much I love them.

Thank you to @berkleypub for the E-Arc & invitation to join the blog tour!

WOW! This story is insanely addicting. It screams Pirates of the Caribbean! Say less. Erik Bloodsinger is the ruthless Ever King. He’s been through unimaginable torture. Livia is so sweet and innocent. They form a deep bond as children. Years later, to spite his enemy, Erik kidnaps Livia.

I loved Livia so much. She is extremely mature. She has such a positive outlook and is caring, compassionate, and patient. She is so eager to know Erik and understand who is truly is.

This is dark. Definitely some morally grey vibes. They are each other’s Serpent 🐍 and Songbird 🐦 and I’m so obsessed with how fate came together for these two!! It does leave off on a cliff hanger though! Can’t wait to dive into The Ever Queen and see what happens next for Erik and Livia 💓💓

If you’re interested in….
✨ Fae
🧜‍♀️ Siren
🏴‍☠️ Pirate
😡 Enemies to lovers
💕 Fated mates
🪄 Magic
👩‍❤️‍👨 Dual POV
….. then run and grab this one!!

🎧 I mostly did audio and Lucy Rivers and Will Thorne CRUSHED IT. Their accents were so good and made the whole story that much more captivating 😮

👑 “Is that what we are, princess? A serpent and a songbird?”
👑 “I shouldn’t want you, but I do. When I look at you, I see the scars, I see your story written in every beautiful mark.”
👑 “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.”
👑 “You’re not my hero, Bloodsinger. You’re my beautiful monster.”

<strong>W O W</strong>

Listen, I don’t even like dark fantasy, dark romance, etc. but THIS BOOK. This book is the one that will thrust me into the Dark Side with absolutely no ragerts.

Thanks so much to LJ Andrews for my review copy but my opinions are all my own.

First, we have the prologue where we find little Livia and Erik creating the scene of their own little Romeo and Juliet situation (pls don’t let their ending be the same though, LJ) just pages before we’re thrust into the unforgiving world of the Ever.

The Ever Sea sounds like my kind of place to live. I loved how utterly beautiful it was, how brutal and loyal its people are, and of course, the Ever King. Erik Bloodsinger is a beautiful man with the blackest heart and the most tortured past (literally). His ability to thrive despite it all is inspiring, and I loved how Livia was able to make him see that as a strength and not a weakness. I am always enamored with the narrative that scars can show others just how strong we are; that they don’t define us, but rather they are reminders of how strong we are

I loved Livia and Erik’s relationship. From page one, we see their hearts unfold for each other and the viciousness that both hold dear. I’m so glad this was told in a dual POV because Erik’s thoughts added so much more depth to the story than we would’ve had with just Livia. We get to see them both as true enemies, turned reluctant allies, turned lovers. HOW FUN. HOW HOT. For real, I think I need a fan.

More than anything else, I love the way this story tackled mental health. What a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the depiction of panic attacks/anxiety in Livia’s head and how people, especially Erik, helped her realize that she could feel those penetrating thoughts but still survive them and thrive despite their existence.

<b>But strength did not mean there was no fear. I could stand tall, I could defy my enemies, and I could still be afraid.</b>

<b>Don’t you go feeling no shame, but don’t you forget you own that mind of yours, it’s not to own you.</b>

<b>“This fear takes your thoughts, and I won’t tell you not to let it; things are never so simple. But I will remind you of who you are, for you are a formidable foe.”</b>

And Erik’s increasingly vulgar titles for Livia had me positively cackling by end.

Speaking of, I am so unwell by the end events I can barely think of it. THE BETRAYAL o m g I really didn’t see it coming until that snake started speaking and I thought “no no no this is so sus” and I HAVE to know who else was on that ship because I will riot right alongside the Ever. I am plotting right alongside Livia because WHO COULD IT BE and what could it mean for the fate of the Ever!!

Anyway, you didn’t need another five star review of this masterpiece but you got one anyway. I hope you enjoyed it, now go read this book.

4⭐️
2.5🌶️

I’ll start by saying I’m definitely not a romantasy fan. In fact, I tend to avoid the genre altogether. But for some reason, I keep coming back to these stories to test my limits and this one surprised me in a good way.

Imagine Beauty and the Beast meets Pirates of the Caribbean. That vibe had me hooked from the start.

The plot was pretty straightforward and predictable but I appreciated that the author did not throw in unnecessary twists just for shock value. Everything felt intentional with clear foreshadowing from the very first chapter.

The magic system was a bit underdeveloped and sometimes confusing but I was willing to overlook that because the characters were genuinely entertaining and brought the story to life.

I am actually looking forward to book two which says a lot about how invested I got in this world.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and NetGalley!

This book somehow rubbed me the wrong way but also kept me reading. Out of sheer annoyance maybe? The dialogue was so awkward and I felt myself drawn out of the book on several occasions just bc the writing was so clunky. Erik and Livia were clearly made for each other bc they were both obnoxiously in love with each other but determined to be stubborn butts to each other. I don’t know if I’ll red the sequel or not.

Thank you to Ace Books for the free book. These opinions are my own.

I am brand new to this author and this series. And I am so glad I had the chance to read it. This is a phenomenal fantasy world, and I am going to need to read L. J. Andrews' other series set in the same world, too. I especially loved the map that helped me orient to the world and served to make the gorgeous hardcover even prettier.

When Erik was a prisoner at the end of war, Livia went to read to him. Now they're both adults, and he's out for revenge against her family. And so he takes her across the Chasm to the Ever Kingdom.

I loved reading about every character. Each one on both sides of the Chasm was so well constructed and complete. And I love knowing that we will get more from them as the series continues. Of course, Erik and Livia are especially amazing. They are complex and dynamic. And their love for each other is the constant undercurrent that makes this book work so well.

The pirates and mythology all made absolute sense for the way the world was established. And the different secrets and twists revealed were so good. I did find some scenes a bit on the gory side. I kind of skimmed with my eyes half open to get to the next page.

But overwhelmingly, I enjoyed myself. I could not believe when it ended, and I need to start reading The Ever Queen immediately.

I’m late to the party, but I finally read The Ever King and overall I enjoyed it! The characters are well made and the world-building is immersive.

That said—the FMC was kinda dense at times. Like, seriously, what the hell are you doing, lady? I live for the MMC’s vulgarity and ruthless edge though—I'm absolutely here for it, and I loved every salty word.

If you like dark fantasy with a morally black villainous hero who doesn’t hold back, this is your vibe. Definitely excited to see where the next book takes this messy, passionate story.

This was my first book by LJ Andrews, and it immediately sparked an obsession with her writing. This book is set in the same world as The Broken Kingdom series, but you do not need to read that series first to have an understanding of the characters, the magic system, and the world itself.

Erik and Livia were childhood “friends” by circumstances of war and destined to be enemies as they grew up. Erik wants to use that knowledge to his advantage as he seeks revenge and retribution when he kidnaps Livia from her home and brings her to The Ever.

Along the way, these the tension between these two ignites as they not only embrace their past, but the possibilities of the future, not only for themselves, but for their people as well. The banter between these two is so, so good, and when the spice hits, it’s so beautifully done that you cannot help but root for the villain to get the girl!!

The found family aspect is huge as we are introduced to characters that will play a pivotal role in the series as a whole. And with the traditional release of The Ever King, we are blessed with insight into Sewell and how he became who he is today.

We’re left with a monster cliffhanger in book 1, so prepare your hearts now!! Cannot wait to see what comes next for these two!