Review by stress_reader - The Ever Queen

stress_reader 's review for:

The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

🖤💀💙 The Ever Queen ARC Review💙💀🖤

2026 Trad pub re-read

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Book 2 in The Ever Seas by @ljandrews

⚠️ Spoilers for The Ever King below

💬 The Ever Queen is the tempest that opens a deep chasm in your heart, only to fill it with your newly found family of earth and sea fae. With action and emotion, these characters steal your heart. You also get excellent anxiety rep that I deeply appreciate.

⏮️ Previously on The Ever King:

Childhood friends on opposite sides of a war between realms, split by a chasm - one of the sea (Erik), one of land (Livie). After the war, the chasm is created separating the realms ending the children's budding friendship and catapulting that friendship into enemies.

Livie is the daughter of characters from LJ's Broken Kingdoms series that are similar to Vikings, but with magic. Erik is the king of the Ever - sea fae.

'They stole his crown, so he stole their daughter.'

For the last 10 years, Erik has been a prisoner in his own land. Until Livie unintentionally and unknowingly breaks the bars keeping Erik from crossing between realms. Erik seizes the perfect opportunity to catch the sea fae unaware and steals Princess Livie. As children they may have been on friendly terms, but now they're true enemies. As secrets and mysteries are revealed, they begin to see one another differently and the tension between them flips from anger to sexual. While searching for the cure to what ails the Ever, they also find a deep love for one another. An uncommon heart bond.

▶️ The Ever Queen:

Enemies steal Livie from Erik (oh the irony 😆). They think she's weak, just a pretty face. They don't know she's 'born of warriors, a daughter of earth fury, and heart bonded to the Ever King. She is not powerless.'

Meanwhile, Erik will leave leave no stone unturned and never stop looking for her. No risk is too high in this high stakes, spicy fantasy romance. And anyone who has touched the first Queen of the Ever will pay, dearly. 💀

❓ What book do you wish had a sequel? Or what's your CR?

❕Songlight by Moira Buffini is the first that comes to mind for me.

💭 I originally read this and The Ever King last summer, both books in the same 24hr period because I was firmly ensorcelled. 😆 I'm thrilled to say that I loved this book as much this read as the initial read, possibly a little more since I already love the characters. I stumbled into TEK on KU, it sounded interesting so I gave it a read. And thus began my love and obsession with this world.

I usually have a bit of initial hesitancy in re-reading books I previously loved. I worry that it won't hit as hard, I won't love it as much, and feat that will taint my love for the book/series/world. I'm so happy to report my love is only changed in that it's more, it's deeper, upon re-read.

📖 The irony of what was stolenby one being stolen again by another tickles and intrigues my brain, in a good way. I found the plot to exciting and had me interested immediately. Even on re-read, this book had me in a chokehold. Especially after the way TEK ended.

I love that this book (and series) can be read and taken as face value. Or, the reader can choose to think more on the deeper themes LJ opens for discussion. Topics like racism and sexism, for example.

I'm not always mentally in a place where I can handle thinking deeply about polarizing issues. Real life in the US being what it is currently and sometimes I need to stop thinking about those things. This book gives readers the choice.

I also love the juxtaposition of land/sea, Vikings/fae.

✍🏼 I find LJ's writing to be accessible and lush - a joy to read. I'm stolen into her world and cease to exist in earth when I'm reading her books. With intentional, thoughtful word choices the words flow seamlessly.

🗺️ The bulk of the world-building is in TEK, with TEQ expanding and enriching it. Rich descriptions give this book an enchanting, lush atmosphere.

🔮 This area is also expansion and enrichment, since the magic system was developed mostly on TEK. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy their sea voices being the carrier for their magic. I just find that so interesting and fun. I would absolutely love for this to be an adaptation, so I can hear their magic.

⏳Pacing felt excellent to me, without pointless meandering but proving bits of reprieve from the intense scenes to not be overwhelmed. I couldn't put this book down.

🧠 As someone who deals with overwhelming anxiety, I greatly appreciate LJ's representation of it in this series. It feels authentic and isn't portrayed as a character flaw or weakness. As someone who also deals with physical disabilities due to past injuries, I also appreciate how LJ shows and handles a character dealing with past injuries that have created lifelong issues.

👥 These characters are real to me and no one can convince me otherwise. They exist in a land I can't afford to visit, or maybe hadn't been discovered yet, is all. 😂 They're real in that they aren't perfect. They have nuance and depth, and their personalities shine. Even the couple of characters who shall not be named that I love to hate feel real to me.

I love that we get some time with characters from Broken Kingdoms, as well as some page time with characters we'll see again in the future (The Mist Thief 😍).

The found family aspect really comes into play in this one and I loved that. It's there in TEK, but takes a more prominent role in TEQ.

🎙️ Dialogue was another love area for me. Excellent banter (I particularly loved the 💀 as well as joking).

💖 These two have my whole heart. I love that while Erik has a LOT of childhood trauma, he is an emotionally intelligent man.

🌶️ Noticably spicier than TEK, while still keeping the spice from overtaking or becoming the plot. Spice is well timed and placed, fitting the characters and story. Those scenes read as realistic and flow well. Fans of a dirty talking MMC will likely be haply. 🥵

⚠️ TW/CW - please check author's site for more info but here's a quick glimpse:

violence; attempted SA (not between MCs); gore; explicit 🌶️ content; 💀 of family members; dark themes; isolation; ab use, physical and emotional; kid napping; and threats of violence against women.

📚 If you like Curse of Shadows and Thorns (LJ Andrews), Crowns of Nyaxia (Carissa Broadbent), Reign & Ruin (J.D. Evans), Trial of the Sun Queen (Nisha J. Tuli), Bride (Ali Hazelwood), or Heartless Hunter (Kristen Ciccarelli), then I think you'd enjoy The Ever Queen.

Thank you to @ljandrews @acebookspub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

Content Warnings