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 Jonas’s forced marriage sets the stage for a tense, slow-burn romance full of betrayals, shifting allegiances, and simmering passion. LJ Andrews’ 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.

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!

This is a solid follow up to the Ever King duology, featuring one of the characters that is prominent in the books. I didn’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!

The Mist Thief by LJ Andrews!

Let’s talk arranged marriage—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 her—not for love, but to contain a dangerous magic. But fate has other plans... namely, them falling hard for each other. 🥹

💚 Jonas is the kind of morally gray, dangerously charming MMC that makes you weak in the knees—flirty, clever, and a little too good at getting under Skadi’s skin.
💙 Skadi’s transformation from obedient royal to powerful, fiery queen is everything. She’s not here to be saved—she’s here to reign.

And the banter?? ICONIC. The tension?? IMMACULATE.
The spice?? CHEF’S KISS. 🌶️

“Husband?”
“Wife.”
“I think you should kiss me again.”

It’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. You’ll see familiar faces, uncover bigger stakes, and feel like you’re part of this gorgeous, stormy world LJ Andrews has built.

If you’re craving: ✨ Arranged marriage with real emotional depth
✨ Slow burn that burns
✨ Enemies-to-lovers perfection
✨ Fantastical court intrigue and rich worldbuilding
✨ 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. 👏

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 wasn’t a two parter! I’m literally chewing at the bit for the next book in the Ever Seas series!

“𝘽𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮.”

The Mist Thief by LJ Andrews
4⭐️ | 3🌶️

-arranged marriage
-enemies to lovers
-fae, Vikings, & elves
-morally grey, cinnamon roll MMC
-found family
-“my wife”
-“who did this to you?”

I didn’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 I’m so happy to continue this series because the world LJ Andrews creates is one a reader never wants to leave.

Skadi’s character feels like it’s stuck in a trauma response and the conditioning of her upbringing. She’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. 🫠

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥.”

I love this world so much and while I can’t wait to dive into The Broken Kingdoms series and read the parents’ books, I’m soooo looking forward to next book for Mira’s story.

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

My oh My oh MYYYY JONAS JONAS JOOOOOONAS!! 😮‍💨💋❤️ honestly I was worried that this book was not going to live up to the duology that were soo Love but I shouldn’t EVER doubt L.J. Andrew’s!! This was probably one of the best installment in this world I have ever read! This book was everything! And it’s official, she can’t write anything I won’t love! I love that cinnamon roll soooo much 🥹❤️

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.

I don’t know how LJ Andrews continues to do it but oh my god this book was so incredible. I am only sad because we won’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 Skadi’s love of reading and story telling and wowowowowow her character arc??? amazing.

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

Can’t believe this was my last LJ Andrews book in this world and I am already losing my mind for stolen crown 😩😩😩

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 is… 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.

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.

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!