I don’t know what to do with myself now that the story of Erik and Livia is over! I will keep this spoiler free, but the story picks up right where The Ever King ends. Livia embracing her morally grey side is everything! And there is nothing better than a reunion scene after the main characters have been unwillingly separated.

I appreciated the mental health representation in this book, including how Erik, and all the royals, help support Livia through her anxiety. It is also shown how several of the characters are impacted and cope with traumatic situations.

I love King Valen’s fierceness for his daughter, and the begrudging bond he forms with Erik. I need a Mira & Tait book ASAP…the banter is already top tier. However, the epilogue makes it clear who the next book will be about. It was interesting to be introduced to the world of the Elven and their magic, and I can’t wait to learn more!

**𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄**

𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I loved this bonus story of Erik & Livia’s Earth fae vows. We get to revisit some of our favorite characters and have some fun banter between them. I loved Alistair’s snappy comebacks, Rorik’s excitement to be on the seas, and of course the ceremony.

𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥. 𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥. 𝘔𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦.
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦.
𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮, 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭.

Thank you to Berkley/Ace for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m so excited to be a part of LJ’s arc team for the new published editions from Berkley Publishing! Let me start by saying the ending to The Ever Seas duology is perfection! Erik and Livia definitely get the ending they deserve after being separated most of the book. It’s always hard for me to enjoy a book where the main characters are separated, but not this one. The action picked up from the beginning and never slowed down. Between Erik and Valen Ferus having their big reunion (which was amazing) to Livia seeing a new land and a new species??? I mean incredible! So much was happening to keep me invested the entire time.

For me the best part of this book was the character development for Erik and Livia. Erik is a true villain that has had a hard time letting people in. But we slowly see him really begin to trust and show his true feelings in this book. He has a rough time in this book but how he comes away from everything was amazing. Now I’m obsessed with Livia’s development. She truly becomes a queen in this book. She is strong, protective, and gains the confidence in herself that truly leads her to being a fierce queen.

This book was emotional, full of great plot and romance, and introduces us to some amazing new characters. This duology will always be one of my most recommended!

Yesssss!! Million times yes!

I cried way to many times at the beginning of this book (IYKYK)

Livia (MF’n) Ferus came into her own! That was my biggest concern in the first book was with Livia having so much potential but being scared to see how far she could go!

This book, to me, was about her coming into her own just like The Ever King was about Erik realizing he didn’t need to be like his father. There is a lot going on and this book sets us up for most if the couples to come in their own books.

Honestly so good! I loved it and cannot wait to continue with this series!

The author did a great job merging the Earth realm and the Ever kingdom together. We get to see how the characters work together and there are definitely connections that will eventually be explored as the series continues. Part of why I love this series so much is because of how strong the characters are. I love that they take the time to assess the situations and all of them are just so smart and so witty. I was definitely invested in all of the characters and I especially loved how consistent Erik and Livia are. Despite the circumstances in this book, Erik continues to be such a swoony, wicked, and devoted characters and Livia is so strong. It was so endearing to see how everyone worked together and it was very exciting to see how the secrets unraveled. The only thing was I felt like this book moved slower than the first one and there were some consecutive chapters where I felt like Erik and Livia spent too much time in the bedroom. Other than that, I love how this book wrapped up Livia and Erik's story!

The broken kingdoms was amazing and the ever seas did stand along with it!!please read both series if you have not. I enjoyed the conclusion of the serpent and his songbird. I love this couple and their chemistry together. I enjoyed Livia’s growth throughout this book and seeing her step into her own.

LIVIA FERIS!! the queen you are!!! The ever Queen is book two in the Ever seas duology and picks up right where the Ever King left off! LJ Andrews has some of the most magical and poetic and beautiful and absolutely mesmerizing writing ever especially when it comes to Viking inspired fantasy! It’s always so unique and easy to understand. Her world building is spectacular and I was so happy to be back in the Ever Kingdom! I loved Livia so much in this book, I think because LJ has this ability to make her female characters so soft yet so strong and powerful. I loved livias growth with her magic (Fury) and come into her own power, understanding it and using it for both good and a little viciously. Every character in this book was so good! Jonas and Sander and Aleksi, Mira and Tait and the entire crew! The adventures, the passion between Livia and Erik (god he’s so hot and top tier book boyfriend) was so good through the entire book. Rescue scenes are mt favourite and I loved that moment Erik finds his queen. I was kicking and screaming and giggling. I need more pirate fae!!!

While this book picks up right after the Ever King left off, the pacing was much different. The Ever King kept me riveted, and this one took me a very long time to get through. It wasn’t exactly boring — I did finish. But it wasn’t as captivating as the first. There was a lot of confusing moments where things jumped too quickly or scenes weren’t properly set up to convey adequate orientation. I enjoyed Erik and Liv’s story, and will be thrilled to read about Jonas’s, but definitely didn’t devour this one the same way I did the first.

Thank you for this ARC!

Dare I say it?? This book, along with Book 1, The Ever King are better then ACOTAR. Yup, I said it. Of course, you can't compare the 2 book series, but OMG, The Ever King and The Ever Queen absolutely have a chokehold over me. ANNNND... there's going to be a 3rd book?? What? How did I miss that? Yes, please, give me more of this world.
So to begin, if you enjoy fantasy romance with enemies to lovers, Pirates, Fae, Vikings, found families, magic, banter, spice, epic battle scenes, and a love that trumps all love stories.... then read this book (again start with the Ever King first).
This book has a satisfying ending to Erik & Livia's story (or beginning?, maybe?). I was happy in the end and of course there are teasers of characters for the next book. Absolutely fantastic!!
One other note about this story, it takes place in the world of the author's other series, The Broken Kingdoms. You do not have to have read that series to understand this one, but several characters do make an appearance and are a part of these 2 stories.

Rating: 4.5 🌟
Spice: 3 🌶️

Minor spoilers for The Ever King

Tropes/Themes for Book 2:
- DARK fantasy romance
- Fated mates
- Villain gets the girl
- Pirates collide with Vikings
- Fae and Sirens
- FMC goes morally grey
- Touch her and die

Additional tropes for the series: Morally grey MMC, Tortured MMC, Found family, Slowburn romance, Tension, Top-Knotch banter, Forced proximity, Enemies to lovers, Forbidden love.

The Ever King was one of my favorite reads of 2023 and I was so excited to continue Livia and Erik's story in The Ever Queen. This is a DARK fantasy romance. Book 2 contains more potential triggers than Book 1. I strongly recommend researching the content warnings.

Book 2 begins right after the ending of Book 1. Erik and Livia are separated after being betrayed by a former friend. Both characters are trying to find their way back to one another. Erik enlists the help of the Earth Fae Folk, and Livia must rely on her own skills and wits to escape her situation.

I absolutely loved this duology! This story has everything I LOVE in a great fantasy romance series. The author takes common and beloved fantasy romance tropes and puts a spin to them to keep the story fresh and interesting.

The character development for Livia and Erik were done so well. I especially loved seeing each of these character's vulnerabilities, particularly Erik's. We often see male characters in fantasy romance books as tough and emotionally unavailable, but it's not so with Erik. I loved seeing Livia coax out Erik's fears and worries, and express them in healthy ways. In return, Erik helped Livia face her inner demons head-on. You can tell that Livia's confidence grew as the story progressed, and she learned to trust her instincts more. They definitely bring out each other's strengths, and I loved seeing them work together as King and Queen. Seeing a couple actually communicate and talk about what is bothering them was so refreshing! Livia and Erik complement one another perfectly.

The highlight for me for this series were all the characters, especially in Book 2. Not only do we have a continuation of Livia and Erik's story, the supporting characters also shine in here as well. I always get worried that with a large cast of characters, the main couple will be outshined. The author did a perfect job introducing these characters just enough to keep the readers interested in what is coming next. I particularly loved that Valen had a larger role in this story. Fans of LJ Andrew's The Broken Kingdom series will particularly love this installment. Livia's royal friends and families also have a larger role in Book 2, and I'm particularly excited to see more of Jonas's story in Book 3!

The plot was intriguing and engaging. The detailed battle scenes will have readers on the edge of their seats! Overall, the pacing was good, but I did think it got a bit slow in the middle, especially given how action-packed the first third of the book was. However, I do see it being necessary to build up the final scenes towards the end. Livia and Erik get a nice and tidied up conclusion to their story, but there definitely are unresolved plot points that will likely be further explored in future books of the series. I did find the introduction of the Elves and their conflict a bit confusing, and I wished it was explained just a little bit more in this book, especially at the beginning. However, I know this sub-plot will be focused on in Book 3, given how this book ended.

This book also contains more spicy scenes than Book 1. In general, I think the "spice" should fit the natural progression of the couple's story arc. I did feel like 1 or 2 scenes could have been cut out completely, and we would still have the same story/conclusion, BUT each scene is written well and not gratuitous, which I appreciated. The emotional connection is apparent during these scenes, so I did not mind that they were included. (I would have a different opinion if it just felt too "physical", and lacked depth). You can feel just how much Livia and Erik love and care for one other in these scenes, which strengthens the romance aspect of the story. And I am always a sucker for a great romance!

If you are a fantasy romance fan, I highly recommend reading this series! LJ Andrews is definitely an author I will be following closely from now on!

***The newly published version will have bonus content!***

I love the "heart bond" (Sea bonds similar to fated mates). When the older generation talk about their own especially Livia's father, it sounds even more powerful and sweet. The voice powers are a really cool magic but I have a hard time not picturing the little mermaid every time they talk about using their voice.

Eric found family, Livia family and found family were the best parts of these first books in the series.
How they all become alies after being enemies-because of the QUEEN 🥰 ! I love the female empowerment and support.

Elvins are still a bit mysterious to me. Skadi will be a very interesting fmc based on what we find out about her toward the end of this book. I really know who she was to care about her brief situation with Jonas and his brother so I'm going in rooting for her lol

I know there is a prequel series but I think it's 10 books so I didnt read that and think it's possible that would have been helpful. I struggled with the amount of characters, who has what power and what group each belonged to. Wasn't really sure who was a friend or enemy other than the key players.

I was so mad when they returned Avaline to her father. But thank goodness that was short lived and very well explained 🤣

Seawell, Celine, and Gavyn are my favorite characters. I would have loved more to Tait's story too. Really hope he is in the next duology

They took his Queen, his Songbird, and this Serpent will burn his own world down to get her back.

“I so look forward to the moment you realized what sort of monster you’ve unleashed. Erik will destroy you, and, gods, I hope he takes his time.”

Picking up right where The Ever King left off, Erik will not let anyone stand in his way including Livia’s father. Not a defenseless damsel in distress, Livia comes to embrace her own dark side and matches Erik’s ferocity in seeking to find her way back to him. As both fight to reunite, we learn more about Erik’s past, the history of the Ever and even (squeal) Daddy Valen.

From laughing out loud to anxiously turning the page to see what happens next, LJ Andrews’ intriguing characters and exciting world building kept me on the edge of my seat. I love the way the relationship between Valen and Erik develop throughout the course of the book and learning about the other children of the Broken Kingdom’s royals was an added bonus! You can bet I can’t wait to see their own stories unfold and get more Vikings and Sea Fae adventures. And phew! the spice🌶️🌶️🌶️! Erik and Livia’s passion definitely had me fanning myself more than once!

Dedicated to “those whose souls exit their bodies when the villain whispers, “Hello, love. . .”. , The Every Queen will transport you into the world of the Ever and keep you enthralled until the very end!

When I decided to review The Ever King and The Ever Queen I knew I wanted to do it as a joint review. For me, you can’t have one book without the other and I knew after the first few pages of The Ever King that I would be continuing my journey with the next book.

You all know I rate on vibes and this duet had ALL THE VIBES. The Ever King was angst, enemies to lovers, the villain gets the girl, wars between worlds. This book had it all. The Every Queen almost reads like a love letter between the two main characters: A villain who loses the girl and fights to get her back, and the girl who realizes she has a little bit of a villain in her as well.

One of the best things about this duet is that the side characters are priceless and you absolutely fall in love with them just as much as the main characters. You can already see who is (hopefully) going to get their own books.

*minor point: This series is set in the same world of LJ’s Broken Kingdom series. I did not read it first and do not think it is essential to read it before The Ever King. I will be going back to read it though, because I’m loving this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶️🌶️|🖤🖤🖤

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

*Updated Review*
Updated review for the bonus chapter. Thank you, LJ, for giving us this beautiful bonus chapter. We were able to love Erik & Liv a little longer.

“It’s how things are done. Brothers sail with brothers.”

“I would follow you across the skies and seas…”

SWOOOOON. CRYING. UGLY CRYING. MAGICAL.

Original Review:

“King, please.” My voice cracked; I hardly knew what I was saying. “She needs me to find her; she . . . she needs me to remind her to breathe.”

Once again, LJ beautifully wrote another book.
She jumped right in with the Ever King left us.
*thank goodness*
But if you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed book, you won’t find it here. Unfortunately, the Ever Queen pacing was very slow and drawn out.
While I love the relationships that were forged and made during this time, I couldn’t help but skim past some of the drag.
I also disliked Erik’s character change. I loved my alpha, broody, moody, dark cloud of meh Erik. He became a soppy, meek shell of himself. Ew.

The ending and wrap-up to Erik & Liv’s story was nicely done. I’m going to miss them. Although, I’m sure we’ll be seeing them again 💕

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

The Ever Queen

I felt the story was interesting and captivated my attention. I love the bond between Livia and Erik. I think some parts did drag on a bit, but overall I enjoyed the story!

Tropes:
Dual POV
Touch her/him and die
Pirates vs Vikings

3.5 stars

Ahh, Erik Bloodsinger 😍 you can sing my blood any day of the week. @authorljandrews wrote one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends, and I am absolutely feral for cinnamon roll Jonas to enter the chat. The Ever King and The Ever Queen are in my top reads for the year so far, and I'm absolutely going to be adding more to my LJ tbr for the year. Livia really stepped into her role as Queen in this book. It was so cool seeing her go from timid and uncomfortable with commanding people to COMMANDING people, and she did it with grace. And who wouldn't, with the Ever King standing by your side through all of it? I can't wait for more in this world!

This book, this duology has my heart. LJ Andrews has such a beautiful way with words. I absolutely adore Erik and Livia. The serpent and his songbird will forever be with me. I can’t wait to see where the Ever Seas goes next.

All the stars - every freaking one!

This book played on my emotions from the very first page, by the end of chapter 3 I was fighting tears and the roller coaster of the entire book put me through the wringer. If you’ve read book 1, you know our MCs have a journey in this book, and the dual POV allows us to see our characters develop and grow on their own while they are making the best of their evolving situation.

We see Livia grow into the beautifully vicious and confident Queen she was born to be, and we are given the treat of an emotionally growing and healing Erik. The chemistry, devotion, love and passion between these two is unreal, and is only amplified by the events in this book. Their relationship puts them as one of my top ten book couples.

The plot kept me entirely engaged from beginning to end, the side characters all have their own claims on my heart and while I did see the very end coming, it doesn’t make me any less excited for the next book in this incredible world! I didn’t think anything could top The Ever King, but I’m happy to say that this one went above and beyond anything I could have imagined for our Serpent and Songbird.

Andrews crafts a heroine who is far from passive. She's a captive, yes, but she's also a challenger, her spirit unbent and her determination unwavering. The tagline "Captive. Challenger. Queen." perfectly encapsulates her journey, showing a clear arc of growth and resilience. We see her strategic mind at work as she navigates treacherous court politics and uses her perceived weakness to her advantage. Her unwavering love for the "beautiful monster" she calls her king fuels her every action, adding a layer of emotional depth to her fight for freedom.
The king himself is a compelling figure. He's painted as a villain, a monster, but the intense possessiveness and fierce love he holds for the Queen hint at a more complex character. The promise of him tearing through his enemies to reclaim her and decorate her with their bones is deliciously dark and adds a thrilling layer of danger and anticipation. We are left craving to know more about his motivations and the depths of his monstrous nature.
Overall, the writing is engaging and evocative, dripping with a gothic atmosphere and promising a world filled with intrigue and brutal beauty. A story I would definitely recommend if you enjoy fantasy romance with a strong heroine, a possessive hero, and a touch of darkness.

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨

The Ever Queen picks up immediately following the shocking revelations and events of the first book. If you have not yet read The Ever King, note this review will reveal a major plot point (noted in synopsis).

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙡!

We find our Serpent and Songbird worlds apart and desperate to return to each other. Erik and unlikely allies join forces to find and rescue Livia. Thrust into a new kingdom with illusive and cunning opponents, Livia plots her escape while grappling with anxiety and navigating her magic and darkness.

Forged from a cold and unfeeling childhood, Erik explores his traumatic past and vulnerabilities while remaining unrelenting in his quest to reunite with his Queen.

Their hearts call to each other. Will their love be enough to save each other and their kingdoms?

Tropes:
👀 Dual POV
🩶 SHE goes Morally Grey
🫂 Forced proximity
🩶 Villain Gets the Girl
🚫 Touch her/him and 💀
❤️‍🩹 Mental health rep
🏴‍☠️ Pirates vs Vikings
🌶️: open door

Livia accepts every facet of Erik, her beautiful monster. For his brutal strength, brokenness, and darkness, Livia lends her softness, compassion, and light. Erik reminds her to breathe and encourages her to step into her own power. Their unwavering love embodies the devotion and passion you feel deep in your bones to the depths of your soul.

The Ever Queen takes the reader on a gripping journey and revisits familiar characters from The Ever King while introducing new characters. The unfaltering loyalty of this found family is profound and left me so emotional.

This book perfectly concludes Livia and Erik’s love story while paving the way for more stories to be told within this world. I am hopelessly obsessed with this series and cannot wait to read The Mist Thief!

Bristling with adventure, heartstopping action, and soul-stirring romance, The Ever Queen sends the reader through a chasm of emotional riptides into a most satisfying ending. A thousand turns would not be enough 🥹

Huge thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, Ace Books, and NetGalley for the review copy opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review

The Ever Queen is an incredible and engaging sequel to The Ever King.

"She needs me to find her; she... she needs me to remind her to breathe."

Livia is missing, and Erik Bloodsinger - The Ever King - will not rest until his queen is by his side once more. Seeking allies, Erik turns to the one person he never thought he would speak to again. Livia may be their captive, but she is not weak. She will fight until she is reunited with Erik. Gathering information about their enemies, Livia and Erik will do whatever it takes to save their kingdom.

This sequel to The Ever King is everything I wanted and more! Erik and Livia's story is one of my absolute favorites. I am so glad to have read this new edition with some exciting bonus chapters that wrap up this duology perfectly. We pick up right where The Ever King left off - Erik and Livia are trying to get back to each other, and new secrets about the Ever Seas are revealed. The tension in this book is HIGH. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, frantically reading to find out what happened next. This book is an incredible romantic fantasy - the plot is intricately woven and fast paced, while the romance is steamy, and the character development is rich and multifaceted. I also love the anxiety representation with Livia, and how Erik's past trauma is handled. These scenes were emotional and really resonated with me. As someone who suffers from anxiety, the quote I shared above literally brought me to tears - just seeing how well Erik knows and understands Livia and what she needs was so perfectly done. We also see some familiar faces from The Broken Kingdoms series in The Ever Queen as well, and get some intriguing hints at future books in the series. I adore this series so much and cannot wait for more in this new world of the Ever Seas.

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