Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really didn't think anything could top Bri's story and well, this did. It was an amazing slow burn romance with a perfect representation of trauma. Neelo's growth is *chef's kiss* and the non-binary representation is done with absolute grace and care. It has been a long time since a book has left me absolutely tongue tied like this. I just need everyone to read it right away!

Another wonderful addition to the High Mountain Court series. This time, it's Neelo and Tal's story. Neelo, the non-binary Heir to the Southern court has a lot on their hands. A mother who is hell bent on smoking herself to death, all the books they want to read, and their desire to not rule in their mother's stead. Oh... and did I mentioned their betrothed, Talhan? The sexy fae warrior that is not going to take no for an answer.

This story drives the story arc from the first three books all the while introducing Neelo's plight. Characters from the previous books come and go, but it's Neelo's story that drives the plot. They've never wanted their destiny, nor have they ever wanted a relationship. But, their mother has other plans for them. Add in all the issues from the previous book now infiltrating their way into the southern court.. and you have an engaging, and refreshing story.

I'll admit that this is my first book with a non-binary main character, but it won't be my last. I can't wait for the next book in the series

I think this is my second favorite book of the series. I thought Neelo’s character growth was amazing, they really came into their own and it was such a joy to read about. Talhan is also such a strong character. I loved how Talhan pushed Neelo to open up and be brave. The violet witch plot was also well done and the cliff hanger at the end has me excited for book five.

The representation in this series is top tier. I appreciate how much love and care is put into these characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC to review.

Evergreen Heir is a well deserved book in this series. It is wildly comforting through the healing through trauma and the friends-to-lovers romance. Neelo and Talhan are your favorite grumpy/sunshine pairing (THE READ TO ME TROPE!!!).

Mulford does a great job at exploring the depth of Neelo and their complexities. Neelo has always been a favorite character of mine as they have always been a well-fleshed out side character. Evergreen Heir just gives them the spotlight. I have not read many books with Nonbinary characters as the lead and rarely as a main in a fantasy book. I am thrilled to have seen the representation Neelo offers, especially through very well crafted sex scenes. I hope this book allows for more normalization of nb/trans romance both in fiction and out.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not even sure where to begin. This series has so much of my heart and this honestly might have been the best book yet. Neelo is one of the most incredible and relatable main characters. Their story is super empowering and I love the non-binary representation, neurodivergent representation and how heartfelt their love story is. Honestly, it was expertly crafted.

From the very beginning I was enthralled. You have Tal, who is the most lovable bundle of sunshine. And then you have Neelo, who is working through their trauma and learning how to feel themselves not just in their body but in their mind. It was so affirming to see such great representation (of many things) in fantasy. Even how their mother battled addiction and the end - just amazing.

Despite each book being about a different couple, the plot carries on perfectly and never leaves you wanting. If anything you get more and more information and are eagerly awaiting the next installment.

This was perfect. That really is the only way to put it.

this book blew me away! I absolutely love the first 3 books and this one did not disappoint! the romance was the perfect slow burn and the plot keeps on thickening. finally being in neelo's head was amazing, leanring about them and watching them grew and find themselves was incredible. tal is amazing and literally perfect. neelo and tal's relationship is probably my favorite in the series. the nonbinary rep was amazing. I love this book with every fiber of my being! please read this series!

The twists and turns in the plot are so unexpected that they had me gasping out loud. I was completely engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down until the very end.

I not sure where to begin........I loved this book!!!!!! This story was amazing and I'm so happy I got to share in Nello and Tal's journey. This just might be my new favorite in this series! I can't wait for more!!!!!!!

Ali does it again! Not only did The Evergreen Heir continue the overarching plot of the Five Crowns series (AND WELL TOO!), but it also delivers its own story... one readers will love.

Seriously, what's not to love about Neelo? Our Evergreen Heir of Saxbridge, voracious bookworm, un-apologetically non-binary MC! They're so complex in character depth and development (and let's be real, they have the best internal development of the series so far, YES THAT INCLUDES RUA'S!) and deserves everything their kind heart desires. And secretly they do desire more than just their books and knowledge.
And Talhan... the other half of our twin golden eagles... Talhan has been 100% true to himself, yet he still grew with Neelo and continued to prove that not only could he be perfect for Neelo, but that Neelo is perfect exactly as they are for Saxbridge. (Not to mention that Neelo was capable of loving him and being loved in return...)
I saw so much of myself in Neelo and even more pieces of myself that I never knew existed.
The book starts slow in action but it's HEAVY in character growth. This book is more character driven then the others, and that's totally okay! Neelo and Talhan deserved a story just like this. It was absolute perfection.


(Also, Harper Collins... THE EVERGREEN HEIR DESERVES A UK HARDBACK EDITION. SHAME ON Y'ALL).

So crazy good. This was so amazing as a follow up and I could not put it down. I loved every second of the story and can not wait for more. If you are a fan of this series then this one will hit all the points!

The Evergreen Heir by AK Mulford is a whimsical and offbeat adventure that ventures into the realm of absurdity with a healthy dose of humor. From the eccentric cast of characters to the unpredictable plot twists, this book takes readers on a wild ride filled with unexpected hilarity. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, those with a taste for quirkiness will find themselves chuckling along the way.

Mulford's writing style is laced with wit and clever wordplay, delivering punchlines that will leave you grinning. The author has a knack for creating bizarre situations and peculiar dialogues that often defy logic but never fail to amuse. The sheer audacity of the narrative will keep you entertained, even if it occasionally veers into the realm of the ridiculous.

That being said, The Evergreen Heir's brand of humor may not resonate with all readers. The relentless quirkiness and outlandish scenarios can become overwhelming at times, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the story. Additionally, some comedic moments may feel forced, detracting from the overall flow of the narrative. While it certainly provides laughs, it falls short of achieving a seamless balance between humor and storytelling.

In the end, The Evergreen Heir offers a zany adventure that appeals to those seeking a lighthearted and unconventional read. While it may not hit the mark consistently, its quirky humor and peculiar characters ensure a unique reading experience. Approach this book with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the absurd, and you're likely to find yourself chuckling at the author's comedic antics.

When I received this ARC, I was not prepared. I loved Remy and Hale, Rua and Renwick, and Bri and Lina. But I *adored* Neelo and Talhan. Neelo is this Neurodivergent Non-binary Introverted Bookworm. They just want to keep being invisible, but their mothers and Tal won't let them. Neelo reluctantly drags Tal around while they try to save their mother and their court.
I loved the peeks into the lives of our other characters as the story progressed. But I especially loved watching Neelo stop hiding from themself and the world and become the best version of themself.
So many twists and turns and surprises! I laughed, I cried. My heart broke and was repaired, somewhat

This read was an ARC, thank you to Netgalley and the author! This book was the first one in the series that I have read s my review was a bit different. This book was extremely well written and super detailed. The intense moments of joy, adventure and passion between all the characters was so enjoyable to read! Even though I didn’t feel as much attachment to the characters since I hadn’t read any other of the books in the series, I still very much enjoyed the authors writing and the unique sexuality of the main character! I’ve never read a book that so perfectly described the fluidity and sexual moments between characters with just the perfect amount of detail. Not sure I would read the rest of the books since this book was not quite my cup of tea, but I would definitely recommend it for readers who enjoys fantasy book with intense adventures and a low level of magic/supernatural events. The focus on this book is on the main characters budding romance and international mission.

The Evergreen Heir is a fun, light read that kept me turning the pages with the tension built around the main characters, and touched upon enough of the setting to make me want to pick up the previous entries in The Five Crowns of Okrith. It stumbles a bit in exploring the premise, but A.K. Mulford's reader representation made this adult fantasy romance a satisfying read for me.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of The Evergreen Heir: A Novel (The Five Crowns of Okrith Book 4) by A.K. Mulford
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This is a fantasy romance novel. 4*; last in the series!

Synopsis: "A court of revelry. A bookish heir. An impending marriage. And a dark new power rising in the world…If allowed, Neelo would never leave the library. Reluctant to take the throne despite their mother’s faltering health, the neurodivergent bookworm craves escape from their arranged marriage to charming fae warrior Talhan. Neelo is astonished when bonding over the written word brings them closer than ever ... But the non-binary heir’s growing affections may be cut short with witch uprisings threatening to topple the entire continent. Can Neelo claim both love and dominion before their court is reduced to ash?."

Things I liked:
1. The MCs
2. The magic/witch system mixed with fae
3. The previous books/cast and tie-ins
4. Found family themes
5. Complete series.

Things I disliked:
1. There was less adventure in this one
2. The relationship tension drug on a bit too long
3. The pace was a bit slower than a few of the past ones, I still liked it, but not as much as some of the others (i.e. books 0.5- 4*, 1-5*, 2-5*, 3-5*, & this one 4* to me)

I was glad to read this one. I love a completed series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and their publisher for this ARC opportunity. I absolutely love this series and this book did not disappoint.

I want to start off by saying I have not had a lot of opportunities to get familiar with using "non-traditional" pronouns and I have a bit of anxiety about it. This book helped me start to retrain my brain into feeling comfortable and natural with the language. So, thank you for that. It did take awhile to get into the book because of it but it had nothing to do with the writing or content.

Neelo and Talhan are adorable and I love them. Anytime a book promotes diversity it makes me a bit weary. Many times I feel like the representation is forced and specifically written to reach "untapped" demographics and it feels icky to be frank. This book, this series, does such an amazing job of bringing these characters to life in a real and natural way IMO. Even the sexual parts of the book felt very respectful and thoughtful to the MC.

You could probably read this as a standalone but I think it's well worth diving into this series and it's subsequent novellas. It has an interesting magic system and each character has a unique way of nuzzling into your heart.

Be forewarned the ending to this book will probably make you want to toss your reading apparatus across the room. It's not a cliffhanger per se but I'm salty about it so you might be too. Just be prepared.

I look forward to this release and will continue to read and reread this series til death do us part.

The non-binary rep in this book is fantastic and not at all exploitative. I loved how it was just a normal thing in this world, and not something to draw attention to unnecessarily. The abusive family dynamics were also really well handled. I really enjoyed seeing a significant other who uplifted and supported but didn't overtake the MC in their struggles against a domineering and manipulative parent. Additionally, the emotional struggle that ensues from having such a parent was exceptionally well done, and felt very grounded in reality.

I struggled a little bit with the prose. Specifically, the dialog often felt a little too on-the-nose for my taste, especially when building the romantic tension.

Overall, I enjoyed this one, and loved seeing the non-binary rep.

I so wanted to love this fantasy embedded story, featuring a neurodivergent main character. I found that the perspective development was lacking, and didn't capture the picture of a very colorful world. I didn't find enthralling decsriptions or moving characters. Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I only made it to the sixth chapter while waiting for the pacing to pick up or the characters to become a little less stale.

Thanks to A.K Mulford and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The Five Crowns of Okrith series is phenomenal, and in the same league as ACOTAR + Blood and Ash + Crowns of Nyaxia. I didn't come in with any expectations, as this is my first novel that I've read with a main character who is non-binary, and written in third person. Neelo wasn't my favorite character in the first three books, but I found that their perspective was intriguing and not something that could've been developed without having a solo book devoted to them (and they deserved it!).

I absolutely adored Talhan and Neelo's romantic journey, and seeing Talhan in a role other than the strong, drunk Golden Eagle. Talhan adores Neelo for who they are, and refuses to abandon Neelo despite them pushing everyone away. And yes, there is spicy scenes. AK does a wonderful job of portraying Neelo experimenting with Talhan. It is written in a way that the biological anatomy Neelo possesses is clear, but it isn't the focus nor super graphic.

The political and magic system is unique, and continues to develop with each book. This could potentially be read as a stand alone, but the first three books are crucial for the little details to make sense. All the relationships are complex and intertwined.

I'm desperately waiting for book five already!

A big thank you to NetGalley and AK Mulford for this eArc!

The Evergreen Heir is everything I wanted it to be and more. It is the fourth book in the Crowns of Okrith series and follows Neelo and Talhan and their experiences in the Southern Court where Neelo is Heir to the throne. This book introduces another aspect of the plot that differentiates this book from the others preceding it. That being said, this book does feel to be more information-rich than the previous books, but I feel that it fits the aesthetic of the main characters well.

For the romance aspect of this novel, it is clear from the first page where it is headed, but that does not take away from how enjoyable it is! Mulford does an excellent job giving context to both characters and their history to show/prove why they are meant for each other.

Overall, this novel has not only made me super excited for the final book in this series while being a super entertaining fantasy romance book in its own right. AK Mulford always does a fantastic job ensuring that each of their books is full of diverse and queer characters which is both phenomenal and important. Can’t recommend enough!