Thoughts and Themes: Once I finished reading In Deeper Waters, I knew I had to get my hands on this book so I pre-ordered it. Thankfully I winded up getting the chance to read an advanced reader’s copy through Netgalley because I didn’t want to have to wait for this book.

This book does have a slow start because they have to introduce the characters to you, the world, and the magic that is involved. This being said the slow start was perfectly fine with me as I loved learning about these characters, their magic, and the new kingdom that they are tasked with running.

The book does pick up around the 50% mark as you get to see a lot more action happening with fighting scenes and also scenes where the team is introduced to new people. I enjoyed reading the scenes in which the team was in danger as this made me want to continue reading to see if they got themselves out this time and how they managed to do this. I liked getting a chance to see them all in action as a team and see how their strengths work with each other to defeat anything/anyone they come across.

Something I really enjoyed about this book was the theme of found family, I just think that the book captured the feelings of this quite well. I really enjoyed seeing each of the character’s relationships with each other and how supportive they are of one another. I also really liked how they all felt like a family and it felt like they had known each other their whole lives.

I really enjoyed getting to learn about the magic that was involved in this new kingdom and how the magic affected the king. I liked learning alongside each of the characters because the reader’s reaction sometimes mirrors Arek’s reactions as he finds out more about what he got himself into.

Characters: In this book, you are introduced to several characters as they are the team that is working with King Arek to run this kingdom. You get to meet his best friend Matt, Sionna, Rion, Lila, and Bethany, each of which I winded up loving from the moment that you meet them. It’s really easy to see why King Arek keeps these people around and why he is so scared to lose them.

I loved all of the characters and their relationships with each other. I liked getting to see how Arek interacted with each of the people on his team and to see him stumble through trying to woo anyone. I really enjoyed getting a chance to see each of the characters on their own to see their traits, characteristics, and abilities shine on their own. I thought it was great to have moments in which each of them was able to provide Arek with something that another person wouldn’t be able to provide.

Something else I enjoyed about the characters was the number of Queer characters that were included in this book. I don’t believe any sexualities were ever named but you see who each of the characters end up dating and/or who they attempt to have relationships with.

Writing Style: This story is written in the first person through the perspective of King Arek which I thought was great. I really liked getting to see everything through his perspective even if there were times that I wanted to know what others thought about certain things that were happening. I really would’ve liked to see some of the stories unfold through Matt’s perspective but I think if that was included certain scenes wouldn’t have been as impactful to the reader.

I didn't vibe with the writing style. The premise was interesting to me, and the cover is GORGEOUS, but the writing felt too fanfiction-y for me.

This book immediately pulled me in by the cover and premise. LGBTQIA Arthurian legend, what more could one need? However, as I began reading, the book felt like a middle-grade fantasy. This would have been fine had there not been sexual content and swearing that felt out of place. I feel like this book is unsure of what it is trying to do and what audience it was trying to serve. I do think it has a lot of potential to do well with a certain audience after some editing and reworking.

3.5!
This is my second book by FT Lukens. I liked In Deeper Waters a lot, and this one is cute too. STIEA reminds me of a dungeons and dragons session that goes awry, in the best way possible. It's the story of what happens when the quest is over and what the heroes do once a prophecy is fulfilled. The main characters are a cute found family with a mage, a rogue, a bard etc. The biggest downfall for me was that it is the miscommunication trope, but the two main characters are at least lovable oblivious doofuses.

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I adored Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On, and I’ve been a fan of Arthurian legend since childhood, so it was a no-brainer to request this book.

Arek, Matt, and the rest of their quest companions are loveable, quirky, and hilarious, but trust me when I say it’s a miracle they removed the Vile One from the throne. They’re not exactly a strategic bunch, but do share a strong found family bond. After finishing a heavy dark fantasy, this novel was a delight to read, and I snickered and laughed from beginning to end.

After Arek finds himself bound by magic to the throne of Ere in the realm of Chickpea, he learns he must marry (create a soul bond) before his eighteenth birthday – only three months away – or he dies. Figuring he’d rather entwine his soul with someone he knows rather than a stranger, he begins very awkward attempts at wooing his friends. It’s clear to their friends that Arek and Matt, BFFs since childhood, are in love with each other but both are completely oblivious to that fact. Throughout the story they teeter on the edge of revealing their true feelings for each other, but are either misunderstood, petrified, or interrupted every time. It’s both painful and highly amusing to watch.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted, feel-good, comedic read, look no further. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and although it seems to be a standalone, I’d love to see what happens next with these characters. Surely there’s another prophecy in store for them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love love loved this book.
A truly delightful mix of a classic Dungeons & Dragons campaign, mixed with the sweetest romance sitcom nonsense that had me smiling from cover to cover. A mix of all my favorite things!
Coming fresh off their victory of defeating 'the vile one', we follow Arek, a classic loveable prophecy following chosen one, and his rag tag campaign group as they figure out what the heck comes after the prophecy is fulfilled. This truly felt cheesy in all the best ways, predictable without being boring, and fun without feeling overly silly. Basically, everything I wanted from this story and a little bit more.
I love when the main character has a group of friends that aren't afraid to call each other on their bullshit. Especially when the main character is sarcastic and a pain in the ass like Arek is. I could have done without the classic 'everyone pairs off at the end'. It felt forced and unnecessary. Especially at the end of a stand alone, I didn't have enough time to build a deep relationship with the side characters to care that they got together. I couldn't write a Neville + Luna fanfic in my head about their potential relationship dynamics, so I don't know why I was supposed to be invested in their budding relationships.

This was so campy and entertaining! I read it really quickly both because I was incredibly entertained and because it was very, very simple. There was essentially no worldbuilding and the only characters with any depth were Arek and Matt. I got a bit bored with the repetitiveness of Arek trying to "woo" his friends especially because everyone's true feelings were so obvious. I also feel like I deserved a little bit more cute couple scenes at the end after all of that second-hand embarrassment and tension.

It was cute, it was fluffy, it was snarky and I'm glad I read it. But this will not stick in my mind after reading it.

Enjoyable story that takes place where most books end--after the quest has been completed. What happens next? Will there be a new quest?

Arek and his group have fulfilled the prophecy and killed the Vile One. Arek agrees to be the temporary king until the the righful heir is found. Bu there is strong magic involved, thwarting his vague plans for the future.

Random observations: The original quest was very much like a D&D campaign. Book is set in a world where queer relationshops are not stigmatized at all. Very refreshing. Although most of the main characters are in their late teens, there is a lot of swearing.

I loved this book almost from the moment I picked it up. The wit and humor had me laughing and giggling from the first chapter, which happens to have one of the most hilarious descriptions of a beheading I've ever read. The entire book felt like it was word-vomited out of the head of the impulsive, disaster bisexual main character, and that's a perspective I always enjoy reading. It reminded me a lot of the writing in TJ Klune's The Extraordinaries, which I also loved.

This book was exactly what you would expect from reading the synopsis except for the comp to Arthurian legend. There were some superficial similarities to Arthurian characters, but the plot was not even remotely related to the legend. There weren't really any other surprises, though, and the story was a pretty predictable best friends to lovers romance. The entire plot hinged on the miscommunication trope, which I normally don't enjoy. However, I actually liked it here because the trope was used to deliver some pretty funny moments that kept me laughing even if all I wanted to do was scream at the characters for being so dense.

As for the fantasy elements, they were largely fun and whimsical in nature, and it definitely didn't seem like the book took itself too seriously. The kingdom was called Chickpea for goodness sake. So, you won't find any hardcore world-building or complicated magic systems in this book. It read more like a fairy tale than a fantasy tome, and I never believed any of the characters were in any danger, even though a few of the situations were pretty gnarly. There was just enough world-building to create the background needed for the romance, but nothing more. I enjoyed this because it didn't add a ton of complexity when it wasn't necessary. Although, I wouldn't have been mad at seeing Arek do a little more ruling/governing because I love stories that explore the transition of chosen one to ruler, especially when they are as reluctant to take on the role as Arek was.

The characters and their interactions were a joy to read despite being mostly one dimensional. The only characters that felt somewhat realistic were Matt and Arek. The rest served their purpose as the backdrop for their fairy tale romance, but they all contributed something unique to the group and the overall found family feel of the story, as well. The interactions while Arek tried to woo each of them were funny, and the little moments he had with each of his friends made me like them a lot even if though they weren't super deep or complex characters. I also really appreciated all the queer rep (there was a lot!) amongst the characters and loved that the world was one where queer people were simply accepted.

Overall, this was definitely a comfort read for me. It wasn't too complicated and had a great sense of humor. If you are looking for a queer fantasy romance that doesn't take itself too seriously, you might love this book. I know I did despite it having elements I don't typically love (It is probably because Arek related to my own inner disaster bisexual. lol). Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Let me start off by saying this book was really adorable. Was it predictable? Yes, at almost every step, but in a way that was comforting. A tropey kind of predictable that hugged my brain like a blanket. Great friends to lovers, with a soooort of "saving you from Mr Wrong" vibe, but reversed?
Also the cover art is absolute fire. This was my first F.T. Lukens book and I'll definitely be reading more!

This story begins where most fantasies end—with the chosen one defeating their nemesis (the Vile One, in this case) and asking “what comes next?” In this case, what comes next is Arek, our protagonist, recklessly declaring himself king and thus magically binding himself to the throne. If that wasn’t enough, he has to find someone to marry by his 18th birthday or the magic will kill him.

I thought the choice to start with defeating the Vile One was a great choice. The characters were funny and Arek was an absolutely disaster…I’m impressed he made it to the throne room, to be honest. I personally don’t like the oblivious lovers trope, so that plot point wasn’t my favorite. However, I will say that this was a light, fluffy, fun read and I did enjoy reading it in about a day. And the cover is gorgeous!

So This Is Ever After is the most fun book I’ve read in a long time. It’s Dungeons & Dragons meets Merlin but with the most kind, beautiful (but sometimes clueless) teenagers as heroes. Author F.T. Lukens hooked me from page one and I devoured the book in one sitting. It’s a fast-paced, original, funny tale with a whole lot of heart.

What happens after you defeat the big bad? Well, that’s where our story begins. Arek and his band of adventurers defeat the Vile One in a fight scene that goes hilariously wrong (magical swords evidently don’t come pre-sharpened). After that, Arek is crowned interim king so that no one can claim the throne while they rescue the real heir to the throne. Except it turns out she’s dead…which means Arek is now king permanently. Going from peasant to prophesied hero to king in less than a year is more than enough to throw off the seventeen-year-old, but then he finds out that he has to soul bond with someone before he turns eighteen or he’ll die. Great. Arek has three months to find a soul mate, but the person he loves, his best friend and mage, Matt, doesn’t feel the same way…or does he?

Arek has a good heart, but that doesn’t mean he’s perfect. He has his blind spots but does his best nonetheless. After taking the throne, he does his very best to take care of everyone around him. His fellow adventurers, the bard Bethany, the rogue Lila, the knight Rion, and the warrior Sionna, are all well-crafted, endearing characters in their own right. Each has a distinct personality and they fit together as a made family like a dream. They never expected to become leaders, but they rise to the challenge, each using their own strengths to bring a scarred kingdom back to life. I loved their interactions with one another. Arek trying to secretly woo each of them was a comedy of errors, but I loved that it deepened the bonds between them and made them all more open with one another. And then there’s Matt. Matt is Arek’s best friend and the love of his life. Arek dreams of confessing his love to Matt but believes that his mage doesn’t feel the same. Of course, Lukens makes it clear from the start that these two are meant to be, but the course of true love never does run smooth. This is a best friends-to-lovers tale that earns the happily ever after.

So This Is Ever After is a gem. It’s sweet and funny and earnest; just thinking about the book makes me smile. The fantasy kingdom of Ere and its inhabitants were delightful, but it’s the core six characters that really make the book sing. And of course, the romance that made me smile and sigh. I adored this book from beginning to end and I cannot wait to read more of F.T. Lukens’s work!

If you need a lighthearted read that will make you laugh, tug on your heartstrings a bit, and give you butterflies, pining, and romance without being explicit—go grab a copy of this book! This was my first read from this author and it took me a bit to get used to their voice and, since the group was already together when the book started, I felt a bit like I missed out on my favorite part of the found family trope but I ended up really enjoying it! The banter and the friendships were great and the wooing was funny and endearing. Overall I would absolutely recommend it!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It was absolutely hilarious and had so much banter! Arek is literally on of the best characters ever written. The book was wrapped-up perfectly.

Much like Lukens' earlier cryptid series, "The Rules", this new book was fun and quirky, and let's face it, a little weird, too, so it was right up my alley. 😁

The book began at the very end of what we're told was an exciting and arduous campaign to fulfill a prophecy, with the Vile One's head freshly separated from his body.

I really liked how the entirety of this story was the answer to the question, "Okaaaaaay, but NOW what?", instead of quickly getting to "And they lived happily ever after" and the book ending.

That change flipped the typical dynamic on its head, which I greatly enjoyed, as I'm not sure I've ever seen that approach in a romance before, so that fresh take was kind of cool.

But when prophecy-fulfilling Arek was dared to remove the bloody crown from the lopped-off head and put it on, he had no idea of the magical, permanent requirement that he'd be required to fulfill. Or die. And soon.

The dynamic of Arek's young group of kingdom rescuers was pretty awesome and diverse, ranging from Arek's mostly unserious flippancy to his best friend and mage Matt's more earnest approach to the problems that they faced while trying to save Arek's life, while trying their damndest to run an entire country in the process.

One aspect of the story that struck me was how Arek and his friends were all around 17, so *technically* I supposed the book would be Young Adult; however, in spite of a good amount of humor and silliness, those characters felt more New Adult, so there wasn't any vast abundance of immaturity to be found, at least in my opinion.

The more of the book that I read, the more that I loved it, with my only real complaint being how next-level oblivious that the two MC's were in regards to seeing how the other felt, with one of them running away when anyone with half a brain would've clued in, and they were truly needed the most. That part felt like a forced plot point, when the remainder of the book had felt entirely organic up to that point.

As the story was YA, other than kissing, all of the steam was strictly fade-to-black, and I'm happy to report that the angst was kept to both manageable and believable levels.

Overall, I'd rate the book at around 4.5 stars and highly recommend it, mainly because it kept me smiling or laughing the entire time, so I found it to be pretty damn delightful and I count that as a big win this time out for Lukens.

This was a sweet read. I was immediately drawn to this friend group. They were such a ragtag bunch.

This is the chosen one trope… but after he has completely his prophesied task. This is the adventure afterward. You’d think that there would be glory and a feeling of overall calm after the chosen one slays the big bad and saves the day… but not for Arek (which btw is my name spelled backwards - love that for me). Instead, he must technically take the throne as they search for the remaining heir… Just kidding, she’s dead…

Now he is not only stuck with the crown and throne, but must marry in order to keep himself from literally wasting away. Seems easy right?? Not when the one he wants is the one who doesn’t want him.

This book was all kinds of adorable! I loved the world building. I loved the characters. I love how this crazy story played out. It was whimsical and funny and so full of sweetness.

I absolutely loved So This is Ever After. It’s a story of finding love and being true to yourself. The writing style was so distinctly Arek’s voice that I felt like I really knew him and related to him.

Matt and Arek are both so stupid but in an endearing way, that I don’t know if I want to throttle them or hug them. The whole main cast of characters were so charming and likable and I wish only good things would happen to them for the rest of their lives.

The world is so unquestionably queer and accepting and it makes my heart so happy. I just love when queer relationships are just everywhere and no one questions or judges them.

So This is Ever After is a fun emotional roller coaster that takes you for a ride and leaves you wanting for more.

This was so cute and funny! I love how F. T. Lukens takes the chosen one trope and just plays with it and turns it on its head. You have the chaotic group of questers (chosen one, mage, bard, knight, rogue, guard), but instead of beginning as they are setting out on a quest, the story begins at the end, immediately after the quest has been completed. The moment where everyone looks around at each other and goes, "Now what?"

In some ways, this is a found family story of a reluctant king and his loyal friends getting on their feet and fumbling their way into figuring out how to rule the kingdom they took back from the evil wizard. In many ways, this is a book about pining. Arek is quite obviously pining for his best friend Matt. Matt is pining for Arek. It's quite obvious from the first pages. Since they're both oblivious idiots, however, it takes them rather a while to figure things out.

The writing was clever and funny, and it was easy to just let myself flow along with the story and enjoy it. It's fun. I recommend it when you need to laugh and find yourself craving oblivious idiots pining for each other over hundreds of pages. (What, just me?)

*Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an e-arc for review.

This is a story about leadership and love.  Arek, a young man from a small village that is part of an empire ruled by an evil king, is visited by a wizard.  The wizard tells Arek that a prophecy predicts that he is the one to save the kingdom from the evil king by deposing him.  What it does not say is what happens if the prophecy is successfully completed.  After Arek slays the evil king, he ends up assuming the throne and is confronted with figuring out how to rule a kingdom when he's never led anything larger than the ragtag group of friends who joined him on his quest.  At the same time, it is soon revealed that magic law requires Arek to find a spouse by his eighteenth birthday, a few months away, or he will wither away into nothing.

Only his best friend and magical counselor, Matt, knows of this magical requirement for Arek to stay king and, more importantly, survive.  This adds another level of complexity as Arek has long been in love with Matt and would want nothing more than to marry him.  But Arek does not want to pressure Matt into being his partner when he does not believe Matt feels the same way, so he embarks on an ill-fated effort to find a spouse among his friends all while attempting to rebuild a kingdom after years of the evil king's rule.  As Arek's eighteenth birthday gets ever closer, he seems to be getting the hang of being a king but no closer to finding a spouse -- threatening not just his future but that of the kingdom itself. 

I really enjoyed this book.  I was a big fan of the author's previous book, In Deeper Waters, so I was excited to read this modern fairy tale.  It exceeded my high expectations.  Arek was such a fun character to spend time with, and his relationship with Matt had just the right amount of tension.  Each of the main characters felt multi-dimensional, with clear strengths and clear flaws.  The book also served as a great lesson on leadership.  Although Arek often joked or was dismissive of how he approached being king, the book shows how his collaborative approach to leadership that puts kindness and empathy first actually is an incredibly effective approach to leading.

Definitely recommended!

This was cute, but I feel like the characters could have been more fleshed out and the world building was lacking.

TW: Gore, violence, vomit, parent death (off-page), alcohol consumption