This is a DNF for me at 89%.

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Plot
The plot follows Elva, Captain of the Vettonia Warrior's, as she's marriage off to the son of the leader of their neighbouring kingdom. She's also Ever Blessed, meaning she's touched by the poorly explained magic of this world, a magic that has been banned for sometime.
The premise of this story is wonderful. Two opposing kingdoms being brought together by their over achieving children, with a mix of magic woven in. What's not to like?

Pacing - overall this felt quite slow. There's two POV's in this story - Elva's and Innes (a witch), and both their perspectives meander around a lot. There are pages of fast pace, but also a lot of nothing really happening, which was a shame. The dual POV did a real disservice to the overall plot, and I think this is because the two never really crossed at any point for anything meaningful, it just felt like two entirely separate stories.

World Building - this age old problem unfortunately sat very much in the telling box. I loved all the ideas, and I am still intrigued by the political and spiritual background, but I found the portrayal quite bland. Stuff just wasn't explained as well as it should have been.

The parts that interested me the most in this story was the surprise marriage trials, but even these were poorly explained and quite short. The first trial involves them picking the 'correct' blessed stones, which they manage by what is apparently blind luck. While there was an attempt at explaining where the stones came from, this didn't really make any sense to me as the reader and as soon as it's finished they're shuffled out and the end. No follow up, they just pick the stones and badum, done. I felt the second trial followed the same theme, and unfortunately didn't get to the third.
What I wanted was more trials! More peril, whether that was actual or assumed for both lead characters. This was such a wonderful idea, and I wish this had had more focus in the story.

Characters
FMC
Elva, despite being a decorated warrior, is as flat as a pancake. I did not find a single thing about her interesting; her heritage, her slightly rubbish Blessed power or her forays into the sea. She was boring and I didn't care what happened to her.

MMC
I liked Fyn a bit better. I liked his struggle with his past, particularly around being a good son and heir for his father and what had happened with his mother. I also liked how he dealt with finding out he was also Blessed, which mostly involved a bit of moping, but I felt this was a natural response and I liked him more for it.

The Rest
The witches - I found the witches chapters really hard to read. Nothing happened, why were they even included? I'm sure Innes is lovely and she wants to get to the bottom of this blight business, but I don't care.

The Chemistry
Nada. There is absolutely no chemistry between these two. They spend so little time together, I don't even know how they'd form any.

The Good
Firstly, this cover. It's one of the things that drew me in the first place and it's gorgeous.

The Bad
As above.

The Ugly
No uglies.

The Wrap Up
This is a story with the right characters and lore to be a really great series, full of intrigue and peril. I just couldn't quite find it in this particular book.

Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for letting me get my paws on this ahead of release. I'm sorry it took me so long to actually review it though...

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ever Blessed by Olivia O'Flynn swept me into a beautifully detailed world of gods, magic, and complex destinies—and then gently tugged me back again when the pacing wobbled a bit.

Let’s start with the good stuff: I loved Elva and Fynton’s storyline. Their dynamic had tension, grit, and emotional weight that really pulled me in. Innes and Remi’s storyline, while still engaging (and yes, yay for the LGBTQIA+ representation!), just didn’t grab me quite as tightly. I often found myself eager to flip back to Elva and Fynton’s chapters since I was more drawn to their chaotic storyline.

One little gripe: the “fated mates” trope. It can be a bit of a romance fast pass—suddenly, you’re in love because destiny says so. But I do appreciate that O’Flynn didn’t hand them an easy path: even with fate on their side, Innes and Remi still had actual obstacles and growth to deal with, which kept things interesting.

The worldbuilding deserves its own shout-out: there were so many gods to keep track of, but instead of feeling like I was wading through an ancient mythology textbook, it felt rich and layered. O’Flynn managed to make it immersive without drowning us in exposition—no small feat!

There were moments when the dual POV slowed things down—anticipation built beautifully in one thread only to get slightly lost when the narrative jumped to the other. But overall, the intricate plotlines kept me invested.

In short: despite a few pacing hiccups and my eternal mild annoyance at “fated mates,” I’m definitely in for the sequel. Bring on more gods, more conflict, and more Elva and Fynton, please!

There were times when i struggled to put this book. I enjoyed it so much that i ended up getting the audiobook too so I had it on standby. Strong female leads, the magic within. The history of it all was very interesting to read. Every chapter peaked my interest more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Queendoms, crumbling gods, and a debut that absolutely delivers

Okay, I’m just going to say it: Ever Blessed is one of those debuts that makes you pause and go, “Wait, this is her first book?” Because Olivia O’Flynn came out swinging with this one. It’s rich, layered, emotional, and so unapologetically queer in the best way.

Set in a world where divine magic (called Ever) is slowly failing, we follow two fantastic women—Elva, a warrior princess stuck in a political marriage, and Innes, a witch trying to hide her dangerous bond with the Ever itself. Both of them are caught in crumbling kingdoms, angry gods, and the kind of heavy choices that leave no one unchanged.

Honestly, this book just hit. Here’s why:

Elva and Fynton’s dynamic surprised me, in a good way. It’s not your typical enemies to lovers (thank god). Instead, we get this slow-build relationship based on some tense awkward moments that flows into mutual respect and shared responsibility. Their chemistry felt real, not rushed, and I loved how it unfolded over time rather than being instant sparks. It felt earned, and that made it even better.

The next coupling centers around Innes. Sapphic romance? Yes, please. I was genuinely excited to see this pairing, and the way their story tackled fate, secrecy, and emotional vulnerability made it feel fresh. Their bond isn’t dramatic for the sake of drama.... it’s tender, complicated, and beautifully balanced against the chaos of the world around them.

The magic system? The Ever is such an intriguing concept, magic as both a gift and a burden, and the way it’s woven into every aspect of society and identity feels thoughtful and balanced
.
Plus, I adored that queerness was just naturally part of this world. No fuss, no explanation. Just there. As it should be.

Oh and can we talk about queendom? This was the first time I’ve read a book that used the term so confidently and consistently, and honestly, I was living for it.

Also, a personal shoutout to Avi—Elva’s bodyguard and walking golden retriever. He’s loyal, soft-hearted, and added a much-needed warmth to some of the heavier moments.

Olivia’s writing style is detailed without being dense. There’s a lot of mythology and politics to chew on, but it never drags. I appreciated the dual POVs too, it gave the story more scope and helped explore different parts of the world without feeling overwhelming.

In the end, Ever Blessed is about more than gods and kingdoms. It’s about love in all its forms -messy, complicated, defiant love - and what it means to hold onto that when the world is falling apart.

This is an easy 4.5 star read for me. Honestly, I’m already excited for book two. If you like Penn Cole, Rebecca Yarros, or want a romantasy that actually feels real while still bringing the grit, this one belongs on your shelf.

Wowee what a debut!

The two perspectives of Elva (a warrior princess who has Ever) and Innes (a witch) were so captivating. Both had aspects they needed to hide about themselves but they both found small communities & friends they were able to open up with. Their love interests - Fyn and Remi - were also so endearing and the support they offered to our main characters was truly heartwarming. Even amongst a politically charged conflict on the horizon (to be diverted by an arranged marriage of course) the whole gang managed to grab some seriously hot stolen moments and form lasting bonds. I love that Elva and Remi were connected in various ways even though they never met - next book surely?! LGBTQIA+ rep was wonderful too.

Stakes were pretty high here. The magic of Ever is one hot commodity, all of the people are vulnerable when it comes to the gods and their control over the magic. We got a little taste of who the bad guys are - I'm so curious to learn more about which figures exactly are behind the blight and sucking the Ever out of the people and the land in the next book. Also the subterfuge of pitting two nations against one another for distraction, a classic bad guy move. Not to mention the Danann and their role in the past and the future potentially. So much to look forward to!

The writing was very addictive and that ending really got me - I'm hooked on this series now. And may I just say I love to see an Aussie author on the romantasy scene, especially writing something as unique as this. Go Olivia!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC, what a treat!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
Ever Blessed by Olivia O’Flynn – 4/5 stars
Ever Blessed is an impressive fantasy debut with rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and romantic tension woven into a dual narrative. The story follows Princess Elva, navigating a political alliance, and Innes, a witch trying to save the land from magical decay. The book shines in its mythology and character dynamics, though the pacing may challenge some readers early on.
Highlights:
• Strong dual protagonists with distinct voices
• Deep, original magic system and lore
• Slow-burn romance that avoids clichés often seen in the genre
• LGBTQ+ representation through Innes and Remi
Drawbacks:
• A slow, exposition-heavy start
• Some “tell-not-show” writing in early chapters – lack of emotional connection and depth due to some overly descriptive writing.
Overall, the book offers an engaging and emotionally layered read for fans of romantic fantasy and epic worldbuilding. It is a very promising read for a new author

This was something different, wholely unique and I loved it.

The plot, the characters - they were so beautifully fleshed out and detailed, that I found myself vividly imagining myself within this world. Loved the magic and the mythology involved.

The writing style initially threw me, as this is the first ever book O’Flynn has written, and this her voice as an author is fresh to me as well. It took some getting used to but I found myself enjoying the way O’Flynn writes.

Love me a sapphic romance too. We need more queer fantasy books that are written this well!

A spellbinding new fantasy series with magic and spicy romance from a debut author, perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, AK Mulford and Sarah A Parker.
This was Olivia's debt book and it was beautiful
If you loved FOURTH WING , ACOTAR then this book is for you .
I enjoyed this so much that once it was out for sale I brought the audio book so I can re read it .
what to expect ......
Slow burn
Magic
Enemies to lovers
Dual POV'S

i will be stalking for the chance to read book two early

This was such a solid debut! Loved the dual POVs- Elva’s all sword, strategy, and “I do not need feelings,” while Innes is the quiet, magical chaos trying to save her people. The world feels fresh, queer-norm is the default (yassss!), and the vibes are rich with folklore and slow-burning drama. So refreshing to also read a romantasy by an Australian author; as an Aussie reader.

Some moments felt a bit fast romance-wise, but honestly? I was into it. Magic, danger, emotional tension- that’s what romantasy is all about, and it had me flipping pages. Definitely keeping my eye on this author!

*4.5 stars*

*Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing a digital copy to review*

This book gave me so much joy. From the world-building to the romance, this book had all the things that I love and more.

The mythology in this world is amazing and has elements similar to those of Greek mythology, something I love. I found the concept of Ever so interesting. Magic is a limited resource that is gradually disappearing and can be accessed by the gods, witches, and the odd human. There’s also the concept of ‘twin souls, ’ which is basically fated mates, a trope I adore.

There are two POVs. Captain Elva, a warrior princess, who agrees to an arranged marriage with Fynton to save her people, and Innes, a witch, goes on a journey to find a way to cure the blight. At first, I thought they were going to find each other, but each woman gets her own love story, which is both unexpected and intense.

I loved both sets of couples. I love, once again, how intense their relationships are. Both couples are forcefully thrown together, where they have to confront their feelings towards each other and how it would work in the situations they find themselves in. LGBTQ+ characters and relationships are present and are a normalised part of this world, with both the FMCs having same sex relationships.

The ending left me with so many questions and theories I need answers to, so I can’t wait for the next book!

Ever Blessed is a compelling romantasy debut that blends mythology, magic, and emotional depth.

The book jumps between two female pov’s. Who I will add are in their early 30s - a refreshing change that made their journeys feel all the more grounded and relatable.

Elva and Innes are complex, well-realised characters whose stories unfold with real emotional weight. Their struggles, between duty and desire, survival and sacrifice, are set against a richly imagined world where divine power is both a blessing and a curse. The romantic arcs are slow-burn and layered, complementing the high-stakes plot without overshadowing it.

I was fortunate to attend a night with Olivia at Harry Hartog in Maroochydoore. It was a great night and opportunity to hear more about her writing process and deep dives into the book.

✨3.5 stars ✨
🌶️ 0.5 spice 🌶️

”Truth or lie?”
“Lie,”
“I would never have chosen you.”

First off, thank you to Harper Voyager for allowing me an e-arc of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book is now out everyone!

What to expect in this
* Slow burn romance
* Unique magic system
* Arranged marriage between kingdoms
* Strong female leads
* Two main couples
* A sapphic romance
* Gods
* Witches
* Female Warriors

This was a really interesting book. I found that the unique magic system with the Ever was a really fun and engaging storyline.

The mythology to this book was beautifully done I must say. I found it extremely well written and all the characters were thought out very well.

The FMCs in this. Oh my girl boss. We have Elva, a warrior princess who agreed to an arranged marriage with a rival kingdom to gain hopefully peace.
And on the other side we have, Innes, a witch who is trying to find answers to the blight curse.
Both of these characters were so entertaining. Also massive bonus that both part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Both were so powerful in different ways but both on quests to save their world. I loved the parallels between them but the underlying message being that they were both strong and powerful women.

Now, the romance. Oh my.
The romance between Fynton and Elva brought so much tension and slow yearning. I was a puddle.
And then the romance between Innes and Remi was so strong and almost tragic in a way. I truly had so much fun.

I will say, there was a few moments during the book where I just didn’t have a draw to want to pick it up. That may just be because of busy scheduling and life but there wasn’t that drastic pull to continue reading. However, in saying that. That ending. WILD. I definitely will be reading the next book!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶

It took me a bit of time to get a good grasp of what was happening but when I did, I really loved what I was reading.

Beautifully layered characters, dual POV, excellent world building, political instability and a rich backdrop of mythology, history and ancient magic makes for a really enjoyable debut story.

Ever Blessed is a thunderous, feminist fantasy that pulses with wrath, reverence, and romance. From the very first page, Olivia O’Flynn weaves a tale that is both lyrical and biting—fierce in its anger and soft in its longing.

Told in third person with dual POVs, this story balances two love arcs, and somehow makes both feel equally compelling. I was absolutely rooting for Elva and Fyn the whole way through—Elva is strong and independent, and Fyn? That icy, broody energy had me hooked. Watching their connection melt through shared purpose and sharp banter was a highlight. (Bonus points for a delicious “touch her and die” moment.)

The second arc brings us a sapphic romance that’s tender, fated, and full of longing. While their bond leans more into the instalove trope, it still carried emotional weight and beauty—and offered a gorgeous contrast to the simmering slow-burn of Elva and Fyn. The transitions between storylines are seamless—no tonal whiplash, just a satisfying rhythm that carries you steadily through grief, rage, and renewal.

The final twists? Chef’s kiss. I didn’t see them coming, and they’ve left me feral for book two.

If you love your fantasy poetic, feminist, and emotionally layered—with a splash of divine retribution and romantic tension—Ever Blessed deserves a spot on your altar (or TBR).

This book is very gay, very magical and very compelling.

It was exceptionally well paced. It follows two different perspectives - Elva and Innes - and both felt very balanced. I was never racing to get back to the other, I equally enjoyed being with both Elva and Innes equally.

And the enemies to lovers!!! Finally some good fucking food. Elva and Fyn are true enemies, thrust together against both their wills, and are forced to find common ground with each other. They find it, the chemistry is palpable and had me kicking my feet and grinning like a little girl.

The world is very unique, and well drawn. It was a lot of world building, but I felt it was delivered very well, my understanding built over time as all the pieces were placed, until I was fully engrossed in this world.

This is very gay, and I have learnt that I like my romantasy as gay as possible.

I don't really have any notes for this. I had very high expectations and I loved this book just as much as I thought I would. I think this will work for romantasy lovers, but is also a fantastic first foray into romantasy for people who haven't tried it before, and also people who love high fantasy, as the politics in this world, the magic system are all amazing and so well done.

What a read!

After being in a slump, and taking a WHOLE month to read one little romance book, I was anticipating it being hard to jump into a new book, let alone a fantasy one. However, as soon as I started reading this I could not stop. The main characters were charming, the world was interesting and it was so wonderfully fast paced that I don’t think I could have put it down if I tried.

This world includes, Gods, Witches, Danaan, and the Ever blessed, an interesting concoction that makes for plenty of secrets, mysterious happenings and fascinating politics. There wasn’t a moment I did have questions swirling around in my head about what was happening, and what was going to happen next. I was kept on my toes in the most delightful way.

I was pleasantly surprised when we met the MMC. Coming from the family of the land that our FMC has been at war with, I expected it to have hostile, arch nemesis vibes. However, Fynton was warm, charismatic and mysterious.

At times I did find that we jumped from one moment to the next quite quickly but this did help the pacing, although whilst jarring at points I still really thoroughly enjoyed it.

I truly cannot wait to see where this series goes.

A delightful debut romantasy, written in third person and told through dual, interwoven perspectives.

Featuring two strong female characters - Captain Elva, a human warrior princess, desperate to conceal her connection with the Ever and the kingdom’s last hope for peace. Innes, a talented witch and healer in hiding, on a perilous quest (her Passage) to cure the blight.

Read for:
✨ Political tensions and intrigue
✨ Unique magical system
✨ Rich mythology involving Gods, giants, witches and ancient magic
✨ Fabulous world-building
✨ Multiple swoon-worthy romances
✨ Richly detailed world history
✨ LGBTQ+ representation
✨ Arranged marriage between long-term enemy kingdoms
✨ Fated mates (called twinsouls in this world)
✨ Queer-normative world
✨ Complex loyalties

This is a fantastic and intriguing debut novel, and I am very excited to read what happens next in the Tides of Ever series, from Australian author Olivia O’Flynn!

With many thanks to HarperCollins Publisher Australia and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this fabulous story, in exchange for an honest review.

Ever Blessed was an enjoyable read, though it took me a little time to fully immerse myself in the story and grasp the complex history of the gods and the events that shaped their world.

The story is told through dual POVs: Innes, a witch, and Elva, a human whom is ever blessed. Both are on parallel journeys to protect their loved ones and save the world from the blight. Their storylines offer a different kind of romantic story - one a slow burn, the other an instant connection- giving you the experience of both dynamics.
The worldbuilding is visual and immersive, making it easy to visualize the locations they take place in and there is a wide variety of characters.
You will come to learn very quickly who the villains are in this story who you will feel a strong disliking for whilst you will get to know and like others.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the 2nd installment!

This debut from Olivia is so freaking good! ✨

Ever Blessed is a dual POV story following Elva, a Vettonian warrior captain secretly hiding her spark of magic (called Ever), and Innes, a witch in hiding and trying to make sense of why the Ever is fading.

I loved the dual POV and watching their stories progress! The side characters were amazing and I’m excited to learn and read more about them!
Fynton is the sexy, mysteriously aloof prince 😍 (we love) and Avi and Oriann made me laugh. Remi and the rest of the warrior women were strong and fearless.

Tropes/themes:
💙 arranged marriage
💛 fated couple
💙 forced proximity
💛 trials of faith
💙 LGBTQIA+ rep
💛 war between magical races

Ever Blessed has all the ingredients of an epic fantasy romance: mythology, warrior princesses, witches, and an enemies-to-lovers arranged marriage. It makes for an exciting premise and while it didn’t fully land for me, there were still aspects I appreciated.
The story unfolds through two POVs: Elva, the captain of the Warriors in Vettona who is betrothed to the heir of a neighbouring kingdom to help end a long-standing war; and Innes, a witch on a mission to cure the mysterious 'blight'. I initially enjoyed both perspectives, though as the story progressed, I found myself more drawn to Elva’s chapters. As a result, Innes’s POVs fell flat for me and at times felt disconnected from the central plot.
The world O’Flynn has created is vivid and imaginative, and she does a good job with descriptions that make the setting easy to visualise. However, I did find the lore and world-building somewhat dense and 'info-dumpy' which occasionally left me rereading passages to piece things together. That said, it all came together more clearly by the end.
The romantic threads were enjoyable—one centered on an arranged marriage and the other on the fated mates trope. I also appreciated the queer-normative world the story was set in.
While Ever Blessed didn’t fully click for me, it lays a solid foundation for the rest of the series, and I’m curious to see how the story and characters develop in the future.