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4.5/5 โญ๏ธ, 2/5 ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ, 0/5 ๐Ÿ’ง

๐Ÿฅท Arranged Marriage
๐Ÿฅท Political Intrigue
๐Ÿฅท Enemies to Lovers
๐Ÿฅท Found Family
๐Ÿฅท Fae, alvers & elven
๐Ÿฅท Dual POV

Compared to the action packed duology of the Ever King and Queen, the pacing for this one was very different and much slower, almost a slow burn as this arranged marriage warms up.

The magic and culture of the alvers was so impressive and diverse and fascinating. Many of the side characters shined, and I understand they were featured in the Broken Kingdoms (prequel) series. In the Ever King & Queen, I didnโ€™t feel as much of a pull to read the prequel series as I did in the Mist Thief - giving me that fomo feeling.

Jonas was a charming and mischievous mmc who made you laugh and fall in love easily. There were a few book lover moments that felt like an inside joke from the author to reader that I really loved.

With the slower pacing, I sort of wished we dove a little deeper into the past of the characters - which they touched a bit upon and we got the gist but I think we couldโ€™ve just dug in a little more. And actually I was really intrigued and wished I got a little more insight with the villains too - whatโ€™s their story and why are they the way they are?

Just some thoughts I think that wouldโ€™ve added an umph for me but regardless, still a very enjoyable book with some hilarious moments.

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โ€” 5 stars
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

โ€œBe kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way."

๐Ÿ“– ๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐ž ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ: 528 pages
๐Ÿ‘ค ๐š๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ: L.J. Andrews
๐Ÿข ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ž๐ซ: Ace, Berkley
๐Ÿ“… ๐ซ๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž: 14 October 2025

What you can expect:
โ€” Dark Fantasy Romance
โ€” First Person X Dual-POV
โ€” Jonas and Skadi Standalone
โ€” Pirates, Vikings, Sirens, Elves and Fae
โ€” Mental Health Rep
โ€” Enemies-To-Lovers
โ€” Arranged Marriage of Convenience
โ€” Morally Grey Cinnamon Roll MMC X Broken Elven Princess
โ€” "My Wife"
โ€” Found Family
โ€” "Who Did This To You"

๐“๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ž๐ซ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐–๐š๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ: descriptive scenes of torture, emotional & mental abuse, threats of harm, dubious consent (past, not between both main characters), self harm (past, recounted), thoughts of self harm, gore & violence, murder, forced marriage, loss of loved ones, misogynistic behaviour, sexually explicit content.

๐’๐ฒ๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ:
The Mist Thief is the third instalment in The Ever Seas series by author L.J. Andrews. She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife. Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize. To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemyโ€”the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings wonโ€™t come into play. Except her new husband makes not falling in love... challenging. When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.

๐–๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐’๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐š๐ซ๐ฒ:
I don't know what author L.J. Andrews sprinkles into her books but they're literal written crack at this point. I've consumed all twelve interconnecting books within this universe and I remain utterly feral for more. The Mist Thief was a strong addition to The Ever Seas series as we say goodbye to Erik and Livia as our main protagonists, and hello to Jonas and Skadi. Despite its ability to be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading both books in the series prior to this one, as the events in The Mist Thief immediately pick up after the events of The Ever Queen. Despite being a couple standalone within a series, I'm continued to be impressed and in awe of the author's ability to fully flesh out and explore her characters within their allocated time. Would I have loved the opportunity to have been spoiled with one more book featuring Jonas and Skadi? Yes. Is it something that feels necessary? Absolutely not. Everything about this story was an ease to read with its well paced storyline and the return of fan favourite characters from the Broken Kingdoms series. Knowing I have a while to wait for Tait and Mira's story in the fourth instalment in this series is highly upsetting, so I will absolutely be doing a full re-read of all connected books whilst I impatiently patiently wait for future release news.

๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ:
I found myself quickly immersed within the plot of The Mist Thief as I was beyond excited to be returning to the world of Alvers, thieving royals and scheming antics. This book truly felt like coming home with its familiarity from the Broken Kingdoms series. The story immediately kicks off as Skadi attempts a last stance of independence before she prepares to be wed to the man she lost against in battle, the Nightmare Prince Jonas. Jonas intercepts Skadi with the help of his peers and delightfully taunts his bride-to-be with his roguish quips and retorts. I found myself unable to put the book down as the plot left me enraptured from beginning to end as we follow the pair during their rocky enemies to lovers journey... and what a journey it turned out to be. Full of mystery, mayhem, secrets and betrayals; The Mist Thief is a thrilling and adventurous tale that is a must-read for all fans of Romantasy.

๐‚๐ก๐š๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ:
Jonas has been a favourite side character of mine since his appearances as a child in the Broken Kingdoms series and it has been a joy watch him grow into the man that he is now. Known for his reputation as a playful rake and a strong Alver with the power of nightmares alongside his twin brother Sander, Jonas is a formidable opponent and loyal to his core. His trust, loyalty and respect is unparalleled and we often see Jonas go to great lengths in protection of those he cares for. And yet underneath his ruthless abilities and cheerful exterior, Jonas is quietly suffering in silence and it genuinely broke my heart as we are granted an intimate insight into his terrors and fears. Jonas loves deeply and unequivocally. As a result we see him battle his fears of the unknown and the terror of losing his loved ones. Jonas was faced with the harsh truths of what a war can do to a community when he was a young child, and tragically this is the kind of experience that leaves a mark. I was really glad to see Jonas unafraid to lean on his family for support as he tried to learn how to manage his fears before they overtook him entirely. Being in Jonas's perspective was a breath of fresh air after enjoying following the ruthless Erik Bloodsinger in The Ever King and The Ever Queen, and I truly believe my fellow readers will share that sentiment. The sense of family and community is strong within this story, and overall it felt very reminiscent to the story of his parents. The bonds and kinship that are forged are forever, and the found family aspect will always be a highlight for these characters.

Skadi is a character shrouded in mystery and intrigue when we are first introduced in The Ever Queen. As a kind and gentle-natured woman with immense power that many seek to exploit and manipulate, I was constantly left on edge as I waited to see what would come next for her character. At her core, Skadi is a lonely woman with no real family and a lot of love to give. The loss of her parents at an early age has left a fracture in her heart that may never close, and as a result Skadi was desperate to cling to every ounce of affection that was on offer. Unfortunately this results in a tragic and gripping history that is not truly revealed until further into her story, and when the truth was finally revealed I felt true anger and despair on her behalf. Skadi was a wonderful main character as we joyfully watch Jonas slowly chip away her protective layers until the once stoic and emotionless woman flourishes in her new environment. The willingness of the Alvers and the Kryv to welcome Skadi into their royal band of misfits and thieves was a beautiful and heart-warming transition. I enjoyed watching Skadi desperately try and remain detached and aloof, but they're such a special group of people that it's impossible to not soften and warm towards them. Skadi has endured far too much in her young age, and she is nothing but deserving of the love and loyalty that is flung her way. I felt emotionally connected to Skadi's journey and I really hope we get more of her in future instalments.

๐‘๐ž๐ฅ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ƒ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ:
The relationship development between Jonas and Skadi was a ton of fun as both are determined to make it a marriage bound in duty only. After standing on opposites sides of a battle where Jonas's twin brother Sander almost lost his life, Jonas is understandably struggling to set aside his conflicting emotions from that day. The banter between the pair gave exactly what it needed as their quick wit and quips provided Jonas and Skadi with a middle ground to sit on as they worked on settling their differences. Skadi's frustration at Jonas's refusal to allow her the last word in any of their arguments was hilarious, and in all-honestly I commend her on her patience. If it had been me, I would've throttled Jonas (in an undeadly way) out of sheer frustration and exasperation during any one of those encounters. However in true L.J. Andrews fashion... those feelings of contempt quickly turn to attraction and lust. There's no better feeling than when two characters say "fuck it" and finally act upon the attraction and longing that has long been building. The moments that take place after their acts of intimacy are by far my favourite. The moments of silent ease and emotional connection is where I found the true relationship connection to form, and I felt genuine joy as Jonas and Skadi found a home within one another. I'm so impressed with how with the author has fully explored both characters individually and as a couple within a standalone, which I will admit to initally being apprehensive about. Livia and Erik's story was well fleshed out across two books and I could never have imagined them fitting into a standalone, and whilst I would've enjoyed a second book with Jonas and Skadi, it is by no means necessary. Jonas and Skadi carve a journey between two broken people who begin to find the missing pieces of themselves within the other, and it was as tumultuous as it was beautiful.

A relationship I feel the need to expand upon outside of the main love story is the development between Skadi and Kase. If you weren't swooning over Kase within his original trilogy then you are bound to now that we are faced with Daddy Kase. This man is everything and I never realised how much I missed him until I finished The Mist Thief. As a father, Kase stays true to his nature as a stoic and seemingly grumpy man. His very presence inspires fear and intrigue, and yet there is nobody Kase is more loyal to than his family. The sheer love and adoration this man holds towards his wife and sons left me feeling quite emotional. He's not a man that expresses his love with woeful words and declarations. Kase is a man of action, and act he did when it came to welcoming Skadi into the family. After being told all of her life that her magic was something to be fearful and ashamed of, Skadi was desperately in need of guidance and support which Kase was readily available to provide. Not once did he allow Skadi to feel shame or fear over her own power. His willingness to listen to her struggles and help her overcome them just summarises who he is as a father and as a friend, and I truly think Kase's relationship with Skadi played a detrimental role in her character progression. Being able to witness as Skadi finally finds herself a family that love and accept her for who she is and not for what she has to offer tugged on my heartstrings, and I damn near started bawling when she asked Kase if she could call him 'Daj.' Kase one hundred percent went sobbing to Malin afterwards, I'm calling it now.

๐…๐ข๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ:
There's really not much else to say other than author L.J. Andrews can do no wrong and continues to be one of my all-time favourite authors. Everything about her writing resonates with me and stays with me long after I've finished reading... and you can bet I'll be counting down the days until we hear news on book four which will follow Mira and Tait. I already know I'm going to be crying with laughter watching Ari attempting to handle his only daughter falling in love with a pirate. He's for sure going to try and act intimidating... just to fail and have Saga step in on his behalf. I cannot wait.

๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ž๐€๐‘๐‚ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฏ๐ข๐ž๐ฐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž ๐๐š๐ฒ.

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Oh my god Jonas. Such a sweetheart. I loved how supportive and accepting he was of Skadi. I love a marriage of convenience becomes real too!

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โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธThe Mist Thief has stolen my heart๐Ÿ–คThe banter between Skadi and Jonas kept a smile on my face and thoughts of โ€œjust give inโ€ in my mind . The slow burn between these two kept the pages hot. The desires that flowed in their very gazes kept me wanting the next scene and then the next. โ€œSkadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings wonโ€™t come into play.โ€ My heart broke when the agreement vows were read by Skadiโ€™s grandfather. The world that her elven king believed she should live was soul crushing. These vows were not created for love, but to keep war away. As Skadi leaves her home, and enters Jonas,โ€™ there is a new feeling of belonging she has never feltโ€ฆ.Home. Could something beautiful grow from this? Would Skadi and Jonas find their happy ending? Would Arion steal her back? What does fate have planned? The Mist Thief is book three that brings us back to the Ever Seas world where pirates, fae, and elves collide with Vikings. Though this book can be read alone, I would recommend starting with The Ever King and The Ever Queen. Better yet, start with The Broken Kingdom series. Get to know the fated mates, their battles, and families from the start. LJ Andrews has created, and continues to create, this magnificent world that keeps the reader waiting for more. Speaking of waiting for moreโ€ฆ the cliffhanger at the end of The Mist Thief has me wanting/needing the next book.

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Fantastic book. I tried to slow down while reading to make it last, but still finished it in one day. I loved all of the characters in the book. The main characters, Skadi and Jonas, are just so wonderfully written. They are charming, sassy, adorable, and entertaining. And when the smut hits, you will be saying โ€œthank you, may I have another?โ€ The villains are excellent, you want to punch them in their stupid faces. You get cameos from some of your favorite characters from the Ever King and Ever Queen. You can read this book as a standalone, but if you have plans on reading the original duology, you may want to hold off on this book because you will get a few spoilers. Or read this book first, and treat the other two books like prequels. You do you boo. Either way, if you love fantasy and fae, this book is for you. Youโ€™ll end with a HEA but also a mystery that leads into another book in the works.

(Review from previous read of book, I'm sure I'll love any bonus content as well when I revisit)

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Summary

Overall rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ5/5

Spicy rating: ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ 3/5

Fluff rating: ๐Ÿ’– 1/5

๐Ÿ’€ Multiple trauma triggers in this book - sensitive readers check before reading

I didnโ€™t think she could top The ever King & Queen but Iโ€™m happy to be proved wrong by LJ Andrews any day!

She has a gorgeously descriptive and cinematic writing style and her world building is both full of depth but easy to follow at the same time.

We all know I love an enemies to lovers romance and throw in an arranged marriage to a morally grey, burnt cinnamon roll, nightmare wielding MMC and itโ€™s just a recipe for success.

I loved how full of banter and teasing Jonas was, whilst as the same time getting to see his more vulnerable and protective side. And I equally loved Skadi as our FMC sheโ€™s tortured and dark but also just wants to be loved and to feel like she has a place in the world (no of course I donโ€™t relate to thatโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ‘€ not at all! Leave me alone ok!)

Thereโ€™s something so real about the way Andrewโ€™s writes her tender moments between characters, it really feels like youโ€™re there living it. Not to mention the found family is just beautiful I loved the dynamic between them all, especially during the family sparring scene and the constant brotherly teasing between Jonas and Sander. Speaking of Sander Iโ€™m obsessed with his nerdy golden retriever energy and how much he just wants Skadi to adore him (even if she almost killed him first)

If you want a darker fantasy romance, with Fae, Elves and pirates with a decent helping of spice (medium burn) get this book and this series on your radar!

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Dark, intense, and packed with twists, The Mist Thief delivers high-stakes romance and political intrigue in the third book of the Ever Seas series. Skadi and Jonasโ€™s forced marriage sets the stage for a tense, slow-burn romance full of betrayals, shifting allegiances, and simmering passion. LJ Andrewsโ€™ world-building and complex characters keep the pages turning. Some moments feel a bit predictable, but the emotional payoff and action-packed plot make this an addictive read.

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I have enjoyed reading the broken kingdoms series and the ever king series as well so it is fun to follow along with all of the characters I have come to know and love. I wish Jonas and Skadi's story could have been written over 2 books, similar to others in these series but I enjoyed their story and am super excited for the next book in this world!

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This is a solid follow up to the Ever King duology, featuring one of the characters that is prominent in the books. I didnโ€™t enjoy this book as much as the others but I still had a lot of fun with it. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

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The Mist Thief by LJ Andrews!

Letโ€™s talk arranged marriageโ€”because this is how you do it right. Enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, reluctant yearning, and sizzling chemistry that leaps off the page? Yeah, I ate this up and licked the plate clean.

Skadi is a future queen raised on duty and expectation. Jonas is a swoony, sharp-tongued protector who agrees to marry herโ€”not for love, but to contain a dangerous magic. But fate has other plans... namely, them falling hard for each other. ๐Ÿฅน

๐Ÿ’š Jonas is the kind of morally gray, dangerously charming MMC that makes you weak in the kneesโ€”flirty, clever, and a little too good at getting under Skadiโ€™s skin.
๐Ÿ’™ Skadiโ€™s transformation from obedient royal to powerful, fiery queen is everything. Sheโ€™s not here to be savedโ€”sheโ€™s here to reign.

And the banter?? ICONIC. The tension?? IMMACULATE.
The spice?? CHEFโ€™S KISS. ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ

โ€œHusband?โ€
โ€œWife.โ€
โ€œI think you should kiss me again.โ€

Itโ€™s book three in the Ever Seas series, and while you can jump in here, reading the first two makes the emotional payoff so much richer. Youโ€™ll see familiar faces, uncover bigger stakes, and feel like youโ€™re part of this gorgeous, stormy world LJ Andrews has built.

If youโ€™re craving: โœจ Arranged marriage with real emotional depth
โœจ Slow burn that burns
โœจ Enemies-to-lovers perfection
โœจ Fantastical court intrigue and rich worldbuilding
โœจ A queen who refuses to be tamed
Then The Mist Thief needs to be at the top of your TBR.

10/10 would marry Jonas myself. ๐Ÿ‘

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I absolutely loved the transformation of Jonas from playboy to devoted husband! Also, watching shadow daddy Kase give him husband advice was so sweet. I love how Skadi was able to break out of her shell once she got to the eastern kingdom. I was completely transfixed by Jonas teaching Skadi how to actually use her powers and now fear them like she was always taught. So thankful that they got their happily ever after in this book and it wasnโ€™t a two parter! Iโ€™m literally chewing at the bit for the next book in the Ever Seas series!

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โ€œ๐˜ฝ๐™š ๐™ ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™™, ๐™—๐™š ๐™œ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ก๐™š, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™—๐™š ๐™ข๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™จ. ๐™„ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ฌ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฉ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช ๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™ฌ๐™–๐™ฎ.โ€

The Mist Thief by LJ Andrews
4โญ๏ธ | 3๐ŸŒถ๏ธ

-arranged marriage
-enemies to lovers
-fae, Vikings, & elves
-morally grey, cinnamon roll MMC
-found family
-โ€œmy wifeโ€
-โ€œwho did this to you?โ€

I didnโ€™t think anything could compare to Erik and Livia but then I met Jonas & Skadi and I love them just as much. And of course Iโ€™m so happy to continue this series because the world LJ Andrews creates is one a reader never wants to leave.

Skadiโ€™s character feels like itโ€™s stuck in a trauma response and the conditioning of her upbringing. Sheโ€™s grown to believe the lies and criticism her kind cruelly placed up upon her. As much as she tries to play the docile and detached princess, this new found family burrows their way into her heart. Watching her become more accepting and confident of herself is inspiring.

With their story only being one book in the series, the plot is a little simpler than the Ever King and Ever Queen duet but it makes up for it with character development and romance. And man, does Jonas know how to make his wife fall in love with him. The banter and emotion in this had me highlighting every other page. ๐Ÿซ 

โ€œ๐™”๐™ค๐™ช ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ข๐™ž๐™จ๐™š๐™™ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ง๐™–๐™ซ๐™š๐™ก ๐™ข๐™š, ๐™—๐™ช๐™ฉ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช ๐™๐™–๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ฌ๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™จ๐™š๐™ก๐™› ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ข๐™ฎ ๐™จ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ก. ๐™„ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง ๐™ก๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ฌ๐™–๐™ฎ ๐™„ ๐™ก๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช. ๐™„ ๐™–๐™ข ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™ž๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ ๐™๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ง ๐™„ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™–๐™ก๐™ฌ๐™–๐™ฎ๐™จ ๐™›๐™ž๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™ ๐™š๐™š๐™ฅ.โ€

I love this world so much and while I canโ€™t wait to dive into The Broken Kingdoms series and read the parentsโ€™ books, Iโ€™m soooo looking forward to next book for Miraโ€™s story.

Thank you LJ Andrews, NetGalley, and Berkley Pub for the advanced trad copy!

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My oh My oh MYYYY JONAS JONAS JOOOOOONAS!! ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ’‹โค๏ธ honestly I was worried that this book was not going to live up to the duology that were soo Love but I shouldnโ€™t EVER doubt L.J. Andrewโ€™s!! This was probably one of the best installment in this world I have ever read! This book was everything! And itโ€™s official, she canโ€™t write anything I wonโ€™t love! I love that cinnamon roll soooo much ๐Ÿฅนโค๏ธ

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3.5/5
A continuation of the Ever King/Queen books but focusing on the dark and handsome Jonas and the quiet and deadly Skadi. To prevent further war and foster peace, Jonas decides to take Skadi as his wife - an arranged marriage. is resigned to this fate, but feels she deserves no more. However when she goes to her husband's home land, she learns that her whole life was a lie and that maybe she isn't a monster to be feared due to her powerful magic. Jonas, once determined to not care for the princess, quickly realizes there is more than the "ice queen" than he thought. There is political intrigue, fae and elven, foul mouthed fiends and thieves. Great banter between the characters. I find this authors writing to be a little disjointed at times, and the pacing kind of lagging in certain parts. A lot of potential, just slightly misses the mark for me.

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I donโ€™t know how LJ Andrews continues to do it but oh my god this book was so incredible. I am only sad because we wonโ€™t get another book of Jonas and Skadi.

The marriage of convenience vibes were immaculate from the BEGINNING. The story unfolded beautifully, the found family was so heart warming and the way Jonas loved Skadi was kick your feet heartwarming. I loved Skadiโ€™s love of reading and story telling and wowowowowow her character arc??? amazing.

I loved seeing Kase and Malin again (๐Ÿฅต) and it was so much fun to get to know Sander a bit more too.

Canโ€™t believe this was my last LJ Andrews book in this world and I am already losing my mind for stolen crown ๐Ÿ˜ฉ๐Ÿ˜ฉ๐Ÿ˜ฉ

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This was such a fun ride with marriage of convenience, reluctant allies to lovers, and found family. I really had a fun time with this book.

I love Skadi, and felt so much for her as you find out about her backstory. And Jonas isโ€ฆ whoo! I love that man! Jonas is protective, playful, giving, and VERY sensual. I had such a fun time understanding him, and his isle more.

This was not as good to me as the two initial books- I found myself missing Livia and Erik a little too much and got so giddy when they showed up or got brought up, hahahah. This was still an interesting read, but I do wish this story had sped up a bit in the middle. That being said, the love story was still compelling and I enjoyed myself.

I am giving this book 4 stars! Would still 100% recommend, I think it comes down to MMC preference on this.

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Okay this is my favourite book from LJ Andrews (so far). Did you love the funny banter of Tangled? Where Flynn is cocky and annoying but also it makes him really funny when pitted against Rapunzel? Well this had that dynamic for me! But with a lot more death. No way is Jonas ever going to let Skadi get the last word.

Overall the pacing and stakes of this book felt more fluid than the last two, I felt like I was gripped the whole time. Honestly I could have had more heists but thats a me thing. I crave the mischief of this kingdom.

Skadi finds so much love with Jonas that it made my feet kick, the ability to embrace her darkness was so needed, and the ragtag kingdom of darkness was exactly what she needed. For Jonas, I love a reformed rake, he really learned how to step up and fight despite the fear. There were a couple of themes that could have been developed more (like the bleeding that Skadi is convinced to do when younger) and I would have liked to know more about the politics and worlds but honestly there are so many characters that I was a little overwhelmed.

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Give me all the arranged marriages tropes please! LJ does a fantastic job at doing arranged marriage correctly. There was spice, chemistry, and character development right. I love the deeper plot of this book that they need to work together and actually be partners and equals. And the spice in this book? The spice was TOP TIER!

I love how much I loved this book, LJ has changed the game for romantasy, and I cannot wait to read more of her books!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

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