2025: 5+ stars
Updated to include that the new bonus material in the upcoming traditionally published book is fantastic. I'm kicking my feet and grinning like a fool. "My heart bond. My songbird. My wife "

Thank you Berkely Pub for the eARC of the new edition. My thoughts are entirely my own.

2024: 5 stars
Amazing conclusion to the duology with enough left that spinoffs could be made with every other character.

We get to see more of Livia's family from home interact with the sea fae and Erik as he attempts to find and rescue her. They have such strong family loyalty and bonds, that really shines through the most. Really makes me want to read the original series so I can see all the parents in their pre kids days and how they came to be where they are.

That's what makes this series so wonderful. Crazy, rich world building and perfectly imperfect characters.

Some tropes include:
-Fated mates
-Touch her and die
-Pirates vs Vikings
-Fae & Sirens
-Strong family bonds

The Ever Queen, book two of The Ever Seas series, was another 4 star read for me! Book one left off on such a huge cliff hanger that I was rushing to grab this one immediately, and it did not disappoint. I absolutely knew who “the other familiar face” was and I waited the entire book for that (satisfying) conclusion (iykyk). The character growth in our morally grey pirate MMC was heart warming and so fun to read, I felt really immersed in his journey to better understanding himself and the new emotions he was feeling. Oftentimes at war with his own nature, he navigated empathy and protectiveness with a fair amount of balance to his violent tendencies. Our innocent princess, Livia, had her own character arc coming into her own power and independence in this book. It was incredibly empowering to read this woman's story after she was thrust into something so new and so dangerous. She really had to believe in herself to achieve her goals and did so while remaining true to her authentic self. I really enjoyed the world building continuing from book one, it felt well paced and organic while also not being overwhelming as the story developed. I was also SO into little bits of storylines coming forward from some of the side characters, they were crucial to the plot in this book so learning more about them as individuals added depth to the novel while also setting the scene for books to come. LJ Andrews has done it again with an unputdownable story of power, found family, personal growth and political intrigue.

4.5 stars!
The Ever Queen was the perfect conclusion to Erik & Livia’s story and it was full of so much action! We learn so much during this book and there are a lot of obstacles that stand in the Ever’s way. I loved seeing the earth and sea kingdoms combine to battle a greater evil. Seeing Erik step into his emotions and how much he truly loves his queen had my heart swooning. And the heartfelt moments between him and Earthbender were literally everything. And that scene at the end with Rorik barging in….I was DYING of laughter. The littles are some of my favorite side characters!

While we are done seeing these two in the series, I am so ready for The Mist Thief to see what happens next!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Light in the darkness, leading two lost hearts home."

The follow-up to The Ever King did not disappoint. This story spends a good chunk of time with Erik Bloodsinger and Liv trying to find their way back to each other, with the help of some unlikely allies.

We get more vikings, more bloodshed, new friendships, and more secrets to unravel.

I love that Erik remains a truly morally grey character. And we get alot more of Valen, Liv's daj. The Ever Queen wraps up the love story of the Serpent and the Songbird, but there will be subsequent books in the Ever Seas series, following different characters. My fingers are crossed for more of Jonas 🖤

I highly recommend checking out The Ever King - it can standalone from the rest of L.J.'s Broken Kingdoms series and will fill that need for pirates and vikings you didn't know you had.

5 beautiful stars to this duet!

The Ever King was one of my favorite books of 2023, and by favorite I mean I YELLED at people to read it because it is SO god damn good. And this book, this book my friend, is equally as fantastic.

The Ever Queen, is the second installment of the Ever Seas series and it also is the end of Livia and Erik's epic story, BUT fear not, it is not the end of the stories of this world. We will be blessed with side-character turned main character standalone stories which will be set in the same world, so we will still be blessed with our poisonous daddy, dont you worry!

This story resumes with Livia having being kidnapped by the enemy and fighting to survive, and Erik swallowing his pride and aligning with some unlikely allies, fighting to get her back. Both are determined to reunite with one another, no matter the cost.

Erik, may be one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. A Morally Grey pirate who will make you jewelry out of the bones of people who have wronged you, SAY LESS. This love story is so perfect and I want to protect and love every side character. I love them all SO much.

This was such a great conclusion to Erik and Livia's story, but I am SO pumped to read more about some of these side characters and their stories.

All. The. Stars! The number of quotes I saved could fill my character quota for this review and then some.

Livia and Erik are two souls who will stop at nothing to be together. Watching these two be vicious in their fight to get back to each other was glorious! Having the Earth Fae in the Ever was seriously the best of both worlds. The camaraderie, the jests, the way sworn enemies came together was nothing short of magnificent. I will never get enough of this world! Can't wait to see what comes next!

I absolutely loved The Ever Queen! Erik & Livia's story picked up seamlessly from book 1 to book 2. The stakes were still high and the world expanded as well. Can't wait for book 3!

The Ever Queen was probably my favorite book in the Ever Seas series. LJ Andrews does it best. I already loved this book before but the bonus content in this one made it even more special to me!

The Ever Queen picks up right where The Ever King left off, and I was so ready to dive back into this world. I absolutely adored book one—especially Erik and Livia’s chemistry—so I couldn’t wait to see what came next.

This sequel had me absolutely wrecked in the best way. I was stressed, emotional, and deeply concerned for Erik and Livia—but through all the heartache, I knew their love would endure. It got me right in the feels.

While I usually hate when couples are separated (even though I get why it’s important), I stayed completely hooked. The stakes were high, the character growth was strong, and the pacing never let up.

One of my favorite parts was all the Easter eggs referencing the Broken Kingdoms series. I haven’t read those yet, but after learning more about Livia’s parents, they’ve jumped straight to the top of my TBR.

Livia’s growth was phenomenal—watching her step into her power and fully embrace her identity as the Ever Queen was so satisfying. And the introduction of the elves brought a whole new layer to the story. Skadi in particular has so much potential, and I hope we see more of her soon.

The development of side characters like Jonas and Sewell also added a lot of heart, and the final battle? Absolutely epic—I couldn’t tear myself away.

This duology will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to go back and explore the past in Broken Kingdoms and follow Jonas’s story in The Mist Thief. Wherever Queen LJ takes us next, I’m ready.

MY. GOD. THIS. BOOK. WAS. PERFECTION.

I seriously never wanted it to end. I loved every single moment. The GROWTH between both Erik, Livia and their families was immaculate. Livia turned into even more of a badass and the queen she was destined to be in this book. I loved getting to peel back even more layers of Erik and the man he truly is inside.

I also loved the roles that all of the other kids from the Broken Kingdoms came to play! I was seriously eating every moment up and that’s just one of the many reasons I absolutely devoured this book and left no crumbs.

Also…the bonus scene had me SO SOFT. 😭🥹 And!! The epilogue!! It has me SO EXCITED to read Jonas’s story.

This is a great sequel! I loved it just as much as I did the first and I am foaming at the mouth for the third. I love pirates. I love this.

The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶🌶🌶

“Kill me. If I do not find her, I’ll offer my throat for you to slit. What do you not understand? I care nothing for my life if she is not in it.”

🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊

Tropes :
🌊 dark fantasy romance
👑 fae x viking x elves x sirens x sea witches
🌊 fated mates
👑 villain gets the girl
🌊 anxiety representation
👑 touch her and ☠️

“They’ve made our Queen a villain. And I cannot wait for them to realize their mistake.”

🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊

Review :
This is my second time reading this, and just like with The Ever King I enjoyed this so much more after having read The Broken Kingdoms. This picks up immediately where the plot twist and cliffhanger for The Ever King left us. We get so much more details into the past of the Ever and it’s king. We get to see Livia become as vicious and brutal as Erik, and he loved the dark side of her. The final battle in this book is hands down of the best battle scenes I’ve ever read. I loved how all the different pieces from both the Earth Realms and the Ever Kingdom came together to fight for the freedom of the Ever.

I also really enjoy the depictions of anxiety and trauma healing in these books. Livia and Erik both have their struggles from their pasts and together they are able to overcome their fears and being to heal from the things they’ve endured. I love the interactions with Erik and Valen though, they may be some of my favorite scenes in this book. I love the convergence of the found family of both Erik and Livia coming together as one big family too. Just like all the others in the Broken Kingdoms.

We also got a lot more hinting of the romance planned for Tait and Mira, and of course the setup for the next book with Jonas and Skadi - the Mist Thief.

I’ll never get over these stories. LJ has written them in such a way that I am so deeply connected to each character, even the side characters, and each kingdom.

“Since he took you, I’ve felt nothing but chaos. I do not know what it is like for a mortal to drown, but I hear it feels like their lungs are bursting. That was every moment you were gone, love. Only when you were in my arms again did I breathe.”

🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊👑🌊

This bonus content is going to have everyone crying and I cannot wait. I refuse to even give a hint of what it is, but trust me when I say that if you think you could not fall more in love with Erik Bloodsinger you are WRONG. It is the perfect addition to Erik and Livia's story and I cannot wait for everyone to get to read it.

This is the second installment of “The Ever Seas” series. Liv has been betrayed and is missing. Erik will stop at nothing to find her, including risking death to ask for the help of her family.

I love that LJ brings back characters from earlier books making this feel like a bigger series. I love to see Valen and Elise in this book. Valen plays a big part in this story and I love it. Valen’s unwavering devotion to his children is nothing short of admirable. His deepest wish is to keep them safe, loved, and far from harm, yet he understands that shielding Livia from her fate would only stifle the woman she’s meant to become. Though the instinct to protect her is strong, he ultimately respects her strength, knowing she must walk her own path.

The bond between Valen and Livia is one of the most moving aspects of the story. Despite the torment she endures in the first half, the love and sense of family she shares with him remain unshaken. Valen isn’t just her father—he’s her greatest supporter, her fiercest warrior, and the steadfast leader of their people. His presence adds richness to the story, making each moment with him all the more impactful.

Livia herself continues to astound me. I adored her in The Ever King, but The Ever Queen deepened that admiration tenfold. Her loyalty and fire define her, but it’s her capacity for love and forgiveness that make her truly remarkable. She is no delicate, passive figure—she’s a force in her own right, a woman worthy of standing her ground. Watching her growth unfold was exhilarating, I have no doubt that Livia Ferus’s story is far from over. She is a character too powerful, too unforgettable, to fade into the background.

Erik remains as lethal as ever to those who dare defy him, yet beneath that ruthless exterior, a quiet shift begins—an unwilling but undeniable openness to those around him. His journey is deeply emotional, shaped by the realization that he has never truly been alone, that he was wanted and just didn't know it, and that family extends beyond blood ties. He has become part of Livia's family whether he likes it or not.

The intensity of Erik’s first meeting with Valen, where they were forced to make an alliance to ensure Livia’s safe return, was so chilling. The bonds he forges with his crew aboard the Ever Ship reveal a side of him he may not have fully understood before and his relationship with Steig adds another layer to his character. This transformation isn’t about physical strength or battles—it’s about perspective, about learning what it truly means to rule the Ever Kingdom and the responsibilities that come with it. I’m going to miss this cunning, complex, and venomous man immensely. His presence leaves an unforgettable mark, and I can only hope that he continues to appear in future books, keeping us all on edge with his unpredictable, magnetic energy.

I adored how Livia and Erik’s relationship continued to grow and transform throughout the story. Their love wasn’t just about passion—it was about endurance, understanding, and the ability to truly see and accept each other for who they are. Through every challenge, they proved their devotion, standing unwaveringly by each other’s side while still allowing space for individuality and growth.

And the spicy scenes? Absolutely flawless. They weren’t just there for the sake of it—they carried depth, emotion, and a sense of purpose that made every moment feel raw and meaningful. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but what made it truly special was how it mirrored their deeper connection. Every touch, every glance, every unspoken word was laced with feeling, making their love story all the more unforgettable.

When “touch her and die” is combined with a secretly powerful FMC it is a combo for such a fun read! I love Livia’s family dynamic, I could read a whole book of that. I love the desperation to get her back. And the angst awaiting the reunion. The bonus content at the end is so fun!

This is book two in the Ever Seas series and it is absolutely action packed. Book one ended on a jaw dropping cliff hanger that had me scrambling to read book two immediately. I love this story! The Viking, the pirates, the magic, the morally grey burn it all MMC and the strong charismatic FMC. The twists and turns in this story are spectacular and the world building by LJ is nothing like I have ever experienced. I adored every second of this book.
If you love a fantasy story, pirates, slow burn, angst, Spice, incredible magic systems, found family and a truly brilliantly intelligent story then this series is for you.

A huge thank you to Penguin Random house for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An incredible next half of the adventure for our lovely Livia and Erik! LJ Andrews writing is like poetry and I will never not be impressed by the world(s) she's created in her mind and flawlessly executed on paper! I laughed, I cried, I stood up in shock and awe and I honestly just had the time of my life reading this book! Highly Recommend!

I loved this book so much! I loved the characters, I loved the world, and I loved the story. I'm just really sad that Erik and Livia's story is over now. I think they are both such amazing characters and their relationship is amazing. But I'm very excited for Jonas and Skadi's book next! I loved that this book brought so many of the earth fae into the story. It was so nice to have all the connections. It gave the perfect blend of connections to the Broken Kingdoms series and setting up for future books.

I'm so thankful to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book that contained the bonus content that will be added to the books as they're traditionally published. The bonus content was just heart melting. It was such a sweet addition to the story.

Gosh the way L.J. Andrew's writes her worlds I feel like I am smack dab in the middle there living it all. It's so detailed and captivating that my responsibilities take a back seat and this book has my undivided attention! Did I listen to a Spotify list of sea shanties while reading to me fully immersed into my pirate mode. ABSOLUTELY.
This doesn't skip a beat and takes off right where we left off. And if I was in love with Erika Bloodsinger already, his true devotion, promise, and persistence to find Livia had me in an absolute puddle. I am also ready and running to read all of the Broken Kingdoms because I need more. I truly can't pick a favorite character because each one of these holds a special place in my heart. I have fallen even deeper in love with this world and oh my heart at how much growth each character had within it especially our ruthless Ever King. The interactions between King Valen and our Ever King proving that even the greatest enemies can come together for a common love. It honestly might have been my favorite relationship and part of the book I mean other than Livia and Erik's reunion obviously. It's going to be hard getting over this book.

Is this my favourite duology EVER? It’s going to take a lot to top it! This one is book 2 and I hate spoilers so this review will be vague!

This one follows Livia and Erik dealing with the repercussions of the end of The Ever King. Livia is coming into her own, channeling her mother’s badassery. I loved her journey from the unsure terrified captive of the Ever King to a strong woman who stands up for herself. She’s not a Mary Sue, she’s not perfect at everything. But she is cunning, strategic, and capable. Erik is the best book boyfriend because he’s still morally grey but we also get to see an incredibly vulnerable and soft side that only Livia and his love for her could bring out. The quotes from him in this book are many. Erik is my ultimate book boyfriend! I also absolutely loved to hate the bad guys.

I couldn’t pick a favourite of the duet. I loved the enemies to lovers story of book 1, but this book has one of my favourite scenes of any book ever. It was also just so much fun after the setup of book 1 for certain characters to meet and interact. This book made me feel every emotion there is! I will read every book in the series and I truly hope there are many many more!

This will forever be a favourite duology. The Ever Queen picks up straight after the ending of The Ever King and I was instantly pulled in.

Erik travels to Livia’s homeland in search of help from her family after he is betrayed and Livia taken captive he knows full well that he will be captured on sight as an enemy but for her he will go through it all just to find her. I loved seeing the interactions between Erik and Valen and how the dynamics between them worked.

Livia goes through some harrowing moments while being captured but I loved seeing her further character growth in this book, she really stepped into being the queen of the Ever knowing that eventually Erik would find her.

The continued world building is one of my favourite things when reading this authors work, I love that it just keeps being added to and really helps to move the pace and the plot along. I’m excited to see further books surrounding other characters within this world.

Thank you so much to LJ and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.