This book has been on my tbr for a minute now and imagine my surprise when I see it on netgalley and see that it’s being re-published with bonus content. I obviously requested it immediately 🙂‍↕️ cause it was THE most in your face sign for me to read it.

And girl this was so much fun! This was such an addicting read, I seriously went to sleep each night around midnight cause I couldn’t put it down (which sucked for next day me at work) but I was kicking and giggling my feet too much for me to stop. I truly thought this was just a pirate romance when I first requested, so when I found out that they were FAE pirates I was seated. Who knew a morally grey pirate MMC who wears a scarf around his head and earrings would do it for me? (I mean we all did but let’s pretend to be shocked) and our FMC, Livia, is such a cinnamon roll urgh I love her.

Now I need to go and read the next book because I’m too invested now.

Thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Why did I wait so long to read The Ever King!!! I’m completely obsessed with this book and it’ll definitely a new favourite. There’s fae, pirates, and a romance between the Ever King and the daughter of his enemies who he kidnaps.
Livia and Erik stole my heart!! Their chemistry is undeniable and they are truly perfect together. Livia is so sweet but she also has a dark side that she’s learning to embrace.
Erik Bloodsinger! 🥵🫠 He’s amazingly vicious and I love it! I wouldn’t call him a good guy but he does care about his people and is willing to do anything for Livia. There is bone jewelry, which shouldn’t be swoon worthy but totally is.
I also adore the Ever Crew and what their characters add to this incredible story. Now after that cliffhanger of an ending I’m so happy I can go straight into the sequel!

In this book you’ll find:
- pirates & vikings
- fae & sirens
- enemies to lovers
- major touch her & ☠️ vibes
- villain gets the girl

I devoured this book. LJ Andrews does such an amazing job with world building and character development. This was my first ever pirate romance but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the fact that there were fae as well. The combination made things super interesting.

Erik is on a revenge mission and he plans on using Livia as leverage to get what he wants. Of course they both have preconceived notions as to what type of person the other is. But, the more time they spend together the more they realize just how wrong they were. The angst, the tension, the slow burn and the mouth on Erik are top notch.

Ahoy, mateys! Prepare to set sail on a thrilling voyage as I recount my exhilarating return to L.J. Andrews’s The Ever King, part of The Ever Seas series. When news broke that this beloved series was being re-released on NetGalley with bonus content, I practically leaped for joy! Having devoured it in June 2024, before my review-writing days, I seized the chance to revisit this epic tale, and what an honor it has been to dive back into its treacherous waters.
While you can brave the world of The Ever Seas as a standalone adventure, I implore you, fellow voyager, to first embark on The Broken Kingdoms series. Trust me, it’s not just a recommendation; it’s a vital prelude! Without it, you’ll miss the true might of the Earth Fae’s earth-bending abilities and the rich, intricate magical history of the other parental figures who shape the characters in The Ever Seas. Dive into The Broken Kingdoms first—you absolutely won’t regret it!

If a morally gray and deliciously vicious Male Main Character sets your heart a-thumpin’, then King Erik is your man. This king is possessive to his core, and to Livia’s surprise, she finds herself matching his intensity. Witness Livia’s slow, captivating crawl to self-discovery as she grapples with feelings she believes she should despise. Instead, she finds herself thrilled, embracing the very violence and gore that initially frightens her. This darker side, though unsettling, she secretly relishes. As Livia accepts her own shadows, she begins to fall for the darkness within Erik, recognizing him as her beautiful monster.

This is a Masterpiece of World-Building and Heart-Pounding Action. From the first page to the last, The Ever King is an absolute thrill ride. L.J. Andrews is a master weaver of worlds and creator of characters so real, you’ll feel the salty spray of the Ever Seas on your face and the grit of the earth beneath your boots. Once you step into the Ever, escaping its grasp is a battle you’ll gladly lose.

And oh, the bonus content! It’s everything we clamored for, a deep dive into the backgrounds of Sewell (Fleshripper), Gavyn, and Celine. This alone is worth the price of admission, a true treasure that will not disappoint. Whether you’re experiencing The Ever King for the first time or revisiting it as if it’s new, prepare to be swept away by joy, excitement, tragedy, and heartache. This is undeniably a 5-star read!
Trigger Warnings: Be advised, this book contains significant trigger warnings, including: dark themes, kidnap, torture, family abandonment, explicit sex, gore, violence, mutilation, bullying, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, murder, and TBI from torture.
Have you embarked on your own journey into The Ever Seas, or are you ready to set sail?

+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++

I want to thank #authorljandrews #Netgalley and #berkleypublishing group for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.

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This book is an incredible start to the series. Dramatic, sexy and suspenseful in terms of what would happen with the romance. It is easy to see why it has been so popular. Definitely will recommend to romantasy readers!

4.5⭐️ 4🌶️ this took me a bit to finish with apollycon prep and then the amazing event that was apollycon but i did really love this! it felt like a really unique way to write fae and their magic system was super interesting. i love this world already and i have only read one other pirate romantasy and this one topped that for sure. i get the hype for this, i can see why everyone loves it. our fmc Livia is actually super badass but also soft when she needed to be. our mmc Erik is a morally black smoke show 🥵 but ALSO soft for his girl and i loooooove that micro trope. this was epic and romantic and i can’t wait to continue the series!

This book was addicting and fast paced. I love that Erik and Livia had a connection before he kidnaps her. The way their relationship develops is just perfect and I can't wait to pick up this sequel (I'm so happy I already have an ARC for the sequel too). Erik is the perfect tortured MMC who will burn the world for his girl. I'm also really interested in the fact that magic in the Ever is connected to singing!

This is a great read! And like the description says, you don't have to have read Broken Kingdoms to pick up on what's going on. I haven't read that yet, but I might after I finish these books!

“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.”

“You were never supposed to matter, but you do. You ruined everything, and I don’t care. Ruin me. Destroy me. As long as I have you.”

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the new traditionally published edition of The Ever King, having previously read the indie edition a few times! It was so exciting to read the new bonus material!!

This book has all the Pirates of the Caribbean and Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time vibes that you are looking for!

This story starts with Erik, the Ever King, stealing away Livia, the daughter of the man who killed his father, only for them both to realize that conflict between their two kingdoms is more complicated than they realized. Livia is one of my all-time favorite characters! She is so full of both compassion and spark, it's no wonder that she captured the heart of the king who captured her! And Erik holds the title of my #1 book boyfriend. His love for Livia is unmatched and you definitely don't want to disrespect her. It won't end well for you (bone jewelry👀). He has one of the most unique magic powers that I've read, his blood having the power to both kill, or heal if he sings. Erik and Livia’s relationship is so special because they share their vulnerabilities with each other in a way they can't with anyone else. He is a hard, vicious, and ruthless pirate king, but with her so soft, kind, and open. On the flip side, Livia is a kind and loving princess, who is able to embrace her inner darkness with Erik.

One thing that is really special about this new traditional release is the bonus material! At the end are six chapters from the perspectives of Sewell and Gavyn covering the events that forced their family into hiding! My heart broke reading this bonus story, but it added some wonderful additional context to the world of the Ever.

The ending to this book is pretty wild, so make sure to have The Ever Queen ready!

This series takes place after The Broken Kingdoms, and between that series and this one, LJ Andrews absolutely wows me with her vast world building of multiple cultures, peoples, and magic systems, all of which are well developed!

This book has been on my TBR forever. So many people have recommended it to me and I knew it would be good. My only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner.
The first 20% was a little slow, but that’s to be expected since you’re building a new world by 50%, I was absolutely hooked and positive I would be reading the next book and reading other books by LJ Andrews.
In the beginning, I thought I was just picking up a silly little pirate romance book. Turns out they aren’t really pirates at all they are sea fae. She is earth fae. The world is full of questions and betrayal. So of course you get your healthy dose of enemies to lovers / fated mates.
I’m starting book 2 immediately! I definitely recommend!

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️5/5 🌶️3/5
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: 1st Person Dual POV, Enemies to Lovers, Pirates & Fae, Touch Her & Die, Slow Burn, Morally Grey MMC, Found Family, Vikings Vibes, Unique Magic System
𝗧𝗪𝘀: Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Torture, Family Abandonment, PTSD, Violence

I am obsessed. I want more sexy pirates please! The Ever Seas world that L.J. created is so immersive with a very unique magic system that I was absolutely captivated. I always say that the supporting characters make a huge impact to the plot and I was so intrigued by everyone - I couldn’t get enough. This had everything I wanted in a romantasy - a beautiful plot that doesn’t give away too much, it had amazing wit and banter, we get morally grey and sexy with just the perfect amount of sizzle and spice that it makes you wish it just had a tad bit more. The slow burn was delicious! The found family trope is a favorite of mine and of course, the push and pull between the MCs.

Erik Bloodsinger just reignited my love for sexy pirates. His character is a perfect example that you can be morally grey and alluring without having to be degrading to the FMC. I loved seeing the torment within him and learning about how he became who he was. He is unapologetically himself and I loved that despite being a King, he felt unruly, obnoxious, and different. The contrast between him and Livia was so apparent that the chemistry just sizzled. Livia for me brought out the best sides of all the characters - she had that pull where you couldn’t help but be drawn to her beauty, innocence and kindness. She was strong in the most subtle ways and I adored that about her.

Let’s talk about that cliffhanger of an ending!! WHAT?! This book may very well throw my TBR out the window because I’m not sure im going to be able to hold off very long before jumping into The Ever Queen. This series has so much to offer and I cannot wait to see what’s next!

Book Review 📚
Title: The Ever King
Series: The Ever Seas: Book 1
Author: L.J. Andrews
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
🐦‍⬛ Enemies to Lovers
🐍 Possessive MMC
🐦‍⬛ He Falls First
🐍 Touch Her and Die
🐦‍⬛ Fae and Pirates
🐍 Captive / Captor

🫶🏼Dual POV

Review:
The Ever King is the first book in The Ever Seas Series by LJ Andrews. This series takes place after The Broken Kingdoms Series. I am so happy I read The Broken Kingdoms series first - It gave me so much more insight to the characters. I stayed up until 1am to finish this book because I was absolutely loving it! The characters, world building, tension and spice are all on point!

The Ever King follows Erik and Livia. Not only did I fall in love with Erik and Livia, but also with all the side characters. Every character has such an interesting story and I loved learning about them. Erik and Livia gave us top tier banter, slow burn romance and all the spice. After hearing more of Erik’s backstory, I understand the choices he made when he was younger. I love how he softened for Livia. His reminders for her to breathe through her anxiety were so sweet. They each seemed to always know what the other needed. I absolutely devoured this book and immediately started The Ever Queen as soon as I woke up this morning. If you haven’t read these books yet, I highly recommend them!

Favorite Quotes:
“She was never theirs anyway. Not really. From the moment the songbird tried to appeal to a serpent, she was mine.”

“You ruined everything, and I don’t care. Ruin me. Destroy me. As long as I have you.”

“You took me,” I whispered. “I should hate you for it, but you showed me your darkness. Turns out I’d cross the skies—or seas, in our case—searching for your kind of darkness, Bloodsinger.”

This is the first book in the Ever Seas series, a new adult fantasy romance about fae and pirates. This series is based on the world established in the author’s Broken Kingdoms series and includes a few characters from that series. While you don’t need to have read The Broken Kingdoms to understand this series, this first book would spoil some pretty major plot lines from that original series. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author and ACE/Berkley for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:
✨Pirates and fae
✨Found family
✨Touch him/her and die
✨Who did this to you?
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Forbidden love
✨Hurt/comfort
✨Slowburn
✨Forced proximity
✨Mental health representation (anxiety/panic disorder)

Rating: 5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames
Nicknames: Love, Songbird, Serpent

The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationships. All, even the secondary characters, came across as so multifaceted and conflicted. I loved experiencing their journeys with them and learning their backstories. The relationship between the FMC and the MMC is beautiful, sweet and sometimes tragic.

Also Lovely: I enjoyed the plot and the tension all the way through the book. Something was always at play and someone (usually the MMC) was always scheming. The first time reading I totally did not see the betrayal at the end coming. Warning - the ending is a pretty big cliffhanger!

Recommendation: I think I loved this book even more than the Broken Kingdoms series, and I never thought that would be possible. This is definitely darker and more mature than that series, which I enjoyed. If you like fantasy romance with amazing characters and plot, and a focus on relationships, I think you would like this book.

This was a fun read! I loved the setting and pirates & fae?? SOLD! I didn’t realize it was a spin off from another series so i definitely need to read that. Magic system was a bit confusing.

thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing a copy for review purposes! I will admit going into this book, I did not have high hopes due to the sudden whiplash of having to learn so many people so quickly. It did take me a moment to get into it. But I must admit that once I was into the story, I fell in love with these characters and this world. The story to me is so unique.

We meet our main characters in the prologue when they are children and how they are enemies but wish it wouldn’t have to be this way. In the end they separate, and their kingdoms are cut off from one another. As time goes on we learn that the MMC, Erik, is known to be the king of the sea fae while our FMC, Livia, is a princess of the earth fae. But what happens if all of their separation suddenly ends and they come face to face again and Erik kidnaps Livia for vengeance against her father? This story gripped me so much. I will never forget it.

Definitely a story on how a monster isn’t born, a monster is made. I can’t wait to continue this series and fall more in love with these characters.

Review: The Ever King by LJ Andrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars!!

The Ever King completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, this book had its hooks in me and never let go. The pacing was spot on, with no drag or filler in the middle (which is rare for romantasy). Every scene pushed the story forward, and I found myself flying through the pages, eager to see what twist or betrayal would come next.

If you’re into dark fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, this is it. You’ve got brooding, sexy pirates. Found family dynamics that hit you right in the heart. A forbidden romance that simmers with tension. And a rich fantasy world filled with fae, sirens, and Viking-esque mythology that makes the stakes feel truly epic.

This book is everything I want in a romantasy series: danger, devotion, world-shattering choices, and characters you want to root for (and maybe fight alongside). I finished the first book and binged the rest of the series in less than a week. It’s that good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and LJ Andrews for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

This book got me out of a bad reading slump where I could not finish a few chapters of a book without wanting to slam it back down! I believe this was my first pirate fae book, and I was blown away! The author's writing was chef’s kiss! I understand this series is a spin-off of earlier works, but did not know this before reading (my fault), so I did feel a little lost at times, but the author does a great job at catching the readers up on everything. I loved getting to read about the lore behind the world-building and magic system, and I find both quite unique compared to other popular books currently. I loved the aspect of the magic system and how everyone had different terms they used to refer to their powers. Also the captor-captive trope!!!! I am always down for a well-written captor-captive / enemies to lovers trope.

Livia is such an amazing FMC and I loved reading about her. She is brave, thoughtful, kind, and stubborn at times, which I find all amazing in a character. Erik is morally grey, but can’t help himself around Livia. He has become one of my favorite MMCs. I loved reading their interactions, as well as Livia’s interactions with the entire Ever Ship crew! Erik and Livia’s chemistry was off the charts to me!! The tension and banter was amazing and they balance one another so well.

Super excited to continue this series and dive more into LJ Andrews’ work because I fell in love with the writing style!

Alluring as a siren’s song, The Ever King takes you on an action-packed sea adventure, you won’t want to miss. Full of magic, morally grey characters, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance, you’ll find it hard to close the book!

The Ever King is set in the same world as the author’s Broken Kingdoms series. However, you can pick this book up without ever having read the other series. The author does a great job explaining what you need to know. I was never confused.

Wow. I loved this book! The Ever King was an addicting read. I fell in love with Livia and Erik instantly. LJ Andrews did a phenomenal job creating their characters and executing their arcs throughout this book. Livia has lived a rather sheltered life and fears she hasn’t taken enough risks, meanwhile, Erik’s life has been the exact opposite. He was exposed to violence and brutality at a young age and knew he would never be allowed to show weakness if he was to be his father’s heir. Now that he is the Ever King, Erik’s sole mission is to win back his father’s mantle and save his people. What he doesn’t plan on happening is finding Livia instead of the mantle. Ever resourceful, he kidnaps Livia in order to get her father’s attention. Livia is terrified for her family, but she can’t stop her interest in Erik and his people. Though these two characters come from vastly different backgrounds, they have more in common than what meets the eye.

This book is perfect for fans of romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, pirate fans, and The Bridge Kingdom series!

I’m impatiently waiting for the second book!

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

In this epic start of a romantasy series, childhood connections reconvene as enemy kingdoms collide. Erik has been banished to the sea of the Ever Kingdom after being horribly mistreated by Livia’s family. He returns years later to kidnap her and takes her captive beneath the sea on his ship.

Although this world is loosely connected to another series that I haven’t read, I didn’t feel that I was unable to keep up with this storyline. It is so perfectly made for summer reading with pirate fae and the Ever kingdom setting, it really is the ideal fantasy beach bag read!

Read this book if you enjoy:
Enemies to lovers
Captive/captor
Pirates of the Caribbean
Morally Gray Hero with a tragic past
Dualing kingdoms
Cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting book two!

Book:The Ever King
Author: LJ Andrews
Series: The Evers Seas
Length:408 Pages
Publisher: Ace/Berkley
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5 Stars

This book had me hooked right from the start: King Erik Bloodsinger is out for revenge and he wanted to take his former captor but since he wasn’t available to his displeasure. Now King Erik is in for a big surprise…Um, yes it in the name of revenge! As he just took Livia his enemies daughter in the name of revenge. He doesn’t realize a roller coaster ride has only just begun!

Eric wanted revenge on his former captor but what’s even better is he got his beautiful daughter instead. The magic system is absolutely brilliant, the banter is magnificent and the spice is delicious. If you love your heroes with pointed ears and spice then you're in the right place.

I rarely read books a second time but I definitely will be reading this book again, as I absolutely devoured this book in one setting! LJ Andrews is a phenomenal writer. Netflix should grab this story. It would be breathtaking on the screen.

There is a reason LJ Andrews is one of my top favorite dark fantasy authors! She can turn a riveting fae pirate story into an epic masterpiece. The Ever King was no different as this riveting, dark Fantasy fiction was absolutely extraordinary! I loved it so much! All I can say is run and hurry and grab this exhilarating book now! I can’t wait for the next book, The Ever Queen. I can’t wait to read it!

I rarely read books a second time but I definitely will be reading this book as I absolutely devoured this book! LJ Andrews is a phenomenal writer. Netflix should put this book on

Thank you to Berkley/Ace publishing and Netgalley for this advance readers copy. All words, thoughts and ideas are my own. I also bought the audio book as I love reading while listening.

🖤Viking Princess ✔️
🖤Enemies to lovers✔️
🖤Grey MMC ✔️
🖤Betrayal✔️
🖤Slow burn✔️
🖤Pirate Fae✔️
🖤Viking Fae✔️
🖤Enemies daughter ✔️
🖤Fated Mates✔️
🖤World Building✔️
🖤Found Family✔️
🖤Exhilarating Banter✔️
🖤MMC & FMC POV ✔️
🖤Spice✔️
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-ever-king-by-lj-andrews?source=link_share🖤Magic System✔️
🖤Awe-Inspiring ✔️

4.5 stars rounded up!

I really enjoyed this one. I loved the writing style and the dynamic here. This was a reread for me as I had already read the indie published version and it was just as good as I remembered it!

This is a true villain gets the girl. Erik was such a wonderful character that had so many aspects to him and I can't wait to read more about him. I loved him and Livia's story so much. I also loved that things weren't exactly as either of them thought. There is some spice but this book is a true slow burn. I can't wait to read book 2!

I am so excited that more people are going to get to experience this amazing story and this amazing world that LJ has created!