I am absolutely OBSESSED with Erik Bloodsinger.
I’m so sad I waited so long to read this incredible piece of work. But it was worth the wait because I couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to read the next!

The Ever King is romantasy at its finest. Pirates and vikings and make them fae. Count me in. Erik Bloodsinger is the king of the Ever Seas, and he has a debt to pay to the rival kingdom. When he decides to kidnap the opposing king's daughter as revenge, his plans quickly go awry.

Erik is truly morally grey, and he's only soft for her. Livia is strong willed and sees the best in everyone, most notably Erik.

One of my favorite things about LJ Andrews' writing is that she expertly balances a big cast of characters. While this story is about Erik and Livia, I was constantly curious about the side characters. This aspect makes me very excited to see more from this series as we get more of their stories.

I highly suggest picking up this trad release because the bonus content at the end is incredible. I love seeing more from these characters, and this was perfect.

Ohhh I liked this one a lot. It’s definitely a fave fantasy this year for sure. The pirates, fae sirens plot in a romantasy is not something I read a lot of and it made it a more unique story. I liked the fmc who is this princess that is captured by the Ever King. The Ever King is the mmc and he’s a pirate with an earring and he’s hot. I liked the morally grey kidnapping part and how that came about. I liked all the lore and world building between the 2 main characters family. I liked all the time that was on a boat and on sea. The romance from the jump was banter and chemistry filled, even when they disliked each other they still has chemistry. It gets steamy and I loved the progression of the relationship, how they grew, secrets that were uncovered and learning more about the lore. The ending was a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next book. Thanks to Ace books for the arc for an honest review.

Oh my GOD. Erik had me literally drooling and passing away from his arrogance and swagger. The man was FIRE. This entire story was FIRE. It gives Pirates of the Caribbean with magic, and what more could you ask for?! This story had me sucked in from start to finish. Honestly, I have been sucked in since the little teaser we get of Livia and Erik in the last book of The Broken Kingdom series. I just knewwww this was going to be a good one, and IT WAS. Watching Erik absolutely melt around his Songbird made my heart soar. We also love when a fantasy man has the "touch her and you die" vibes, and Erik has that tenfold. I am absolutely obsessed with this story and these characters, just like I was with the other series!!

It’s like pirate fae and the earth fae. It gives sexy Captain Hook vibes. It’s like if Jack sparrow kidnapped Elizabeth and she falls in love with him 😂.

It has some good 🌶️ scenes. Maybe 2? This is the first in a series and I am so happy that they are all published and I don’t have to wait for the next book.

I think this is a "it's me, not you" situation. The prose was lovely, and I can tell there's a lot to the world -- I'm always a sucker for big, broad worlds. I struggled with the dialogue, admittedly, and feeling engrossed in the storyline. I might pick this up at a later date. As to not contribute to a low rating, I'll leave this sitting at a 4 for now!

I originally read this when it was indie published so reading this again just makes me so sentimental. It was one of the first romantasy series I read as a baby bookstagrammer and I’m so honored I get to read it in a different capacity.

Livia and Erik remain one of my favorite book couples. I absolutely love the way LJ portrays anxiety and PTSD and how Erik’s helping her through the panic. I love love love their dynamic and how he’s only soft for her. He’s vulgar and sexy and everything we want in a morally grey man. 😮‍💨

Let us talk about "The Ever King" by L.J. Andrews.

”Such a beautiful little bird. What a pity it was that her serpent had come to ruin her.”

What a joy this was to read! To dive into the fathoms of this world, where the open sea, pirates, and deep dark secrets lie. Oh to feel the spray of the salt water, and to glimpse into the darkest of chasms of what was a truly fun ride, I so want to do again.

Our FMC, Livia - was strong, fearless, and had no shame in being herself. She was feisty, sarcastic, a treat to behold in her own right. Granted a princess, but this songbird was more than just a whimsical girl. She held her own against our broody MMC, made the crew of the Ever Ship fall in love with her, and held her own.

Erik, our beautiful and achingly traumatic MMC - you could not hate him, only want to take him, wrap your arms around him and take away all his aches, his worries, and his loathing. The serpent who stole the songbird from her home, who wanted to use her to get back what was rightfully his - would eventually fall.

“Hate me, curse me, I cared little, so long as I was the first thought of her day and the last of her night.”

With an exciting backdrop of islands and the open sea, magic that laces throughout the world, and characters that sneak their way into your heart and mind - I want to continue on this journey with Livia and Erik and to take on the high seas with all it's glory.

✨ Pirates
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Found Family
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ He Falls First
✨ Mental Health
✨ Unique Magical System

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🔥🔥

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

I liked this book a lot! I read Of Mischief and Mages by LJ Andrews and loved it so much and wanted to try another book by her. This story with fae and pirates was so fun and even if there was some slightly cheesy dialogue, the character development was amazing and I fell in love with everyone! Cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is something so magical about someone writing a book that transports me out of this world. I love love love learning new magic systems and different species, what divides people in this world and even the physical landscape of somewhere different. Teach me everything!

The Ever King delivered!

Expect 👉🏼 Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Captor and Captive, Royalty of Waring Worlds, Secrets, Spice, Revenge, Morally Grey

Livia has never forgotten the boy her family held captive. He’s been gone for years but suddenly he’s back in her world and ripping her away from family and everything she knows in a plot for revenge and to get back the mantle of his power that he left with her.

I couldn’t stop. This story captured my attention and I couldn’t wait to understand the world and why Erik had no sympathy for Livia. Erik is every shade of grey but watching him fall for Livia was magic. I would catch myself with the most satisfied little grin while I was reading this story.

And holy cannoli… that cliffhanger!! I’m obsessed with these two and I need to know what happens next!

Thank you Berkley for the #gifted arc!

4.5/5

Will I ever get over this book? Nope. I don't think so. And pirates with fae??? with spice??? Sign me up.

The world that LJ brings to us in the story is so beautifully done and the bond between Erik and Livia is perfection. I love that we got enemies to lovers with a back story, I thought that the prologue was a perfect introduction into the dynamic between the two main characters.

HOWEVERRRR, the cliffhanger was not cool and now I have to sprint to read book 2!!! I already miss Erik and Livia and am chomping at the bit for their story to continue!!


Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- "who did this to you?"
- touch her and die
- morally grey MMC
- pirates and fae


Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this fantastic book!!

If you’re looking for a pirate romance, this is the one. It gave Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, large ships, mermaids and romance. The back stories were very interesting but I sometimes found them hard to follow as a lot of the characters from the memories were dead and I had limited context for them. I would definitely continue this series! Please note: this ends on a huge cliffhanger and I would NOT recommend reading it if you’re looking for a standalone read.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“She was never theirs anyway. Not really. From the moment the songbird tried to appeal to a serpent, she was mine.”

Pirates + Vikings + Romantasy + Enemies to Lovers? How can you not??

This is such a great book and the start to a great duology. You can absolutely read this as your introduction to this world without having first read the Broken Kingdom series, even the ones that deal with Erik's backstory. (If you do do that, however, definitely go back and read the Broken Kingdom series next! They're great!)

I love the intense connection these two have with each other from the start. We definitely delve into the darker shades of morally grey with Erik Bloodsinger and his crew, but never go fully morally black. Livia finds her own morally grey space as she develops as a character, but still stays true to the songbird we meet at the very beginning.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2.5/5

Tropes:
- Vikings
- Kidnapping his enemy's daughter
- Fae
- Touch her and die
- Enemies to lovers
- Pirates
- Fated mate-esque
- Mind speaking
- Anxiety rep
- Morally grey MMC
- Masquerade ball
- Found family
- Dual POV
- First in a completed duology

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I WILL NEVER NOT LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! The Ever King is quite literally the most under hyped fantasy book in the industry. Eric Bloodsinger is the most morally grey and romantic MMC of any fantasy book I’ve read. The creativity needed for the author to create this whole sea fae realm and land fae magic system sets the bar. And the spice? 🥵 But be warned, you will be desperate for book two at the end of this one! I cannot wait to read all LJ Andrews has in store for the Ever Seas!

Thank you Berkley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to preview the new edition of The Ever King that will be traditionally re-published on August 5, 2025. The cover is GORGEOUS! I love how they're being redone in bright colors. The new editions have all new BONUS content in them, so you'll definitely want to collect the newly published editions when they come out!

My Review:
The Songbird and The Serpent

They stole his crown so he stole their daughter! Revenge is all Erik, the King of the Ever Kingdom has thought of… until he kidnaps Livvy and she steals his heart!

Wow!! Earth fae and Sea Fae with a pirates of the Caribbean vibe! This dark fantasy series has such a unique world and magic system, I’m obsessed!!

“Hate me, curse me, I cared little, so long as I was the first thought of her day and the last of her night.”

“I am in your hands, I am at your command, for you have made me love you, and you will be my destruction because of it.”

The romance was beautiful and the bond was so unique and deep! Livvy showed Erik he was worthy of love and Erik would BURN DOWN THE WORLD to protect Livvy! I love the family Livvy found among the Ever Sea crew and the bond Livvy shared with her brother and cousins.

What you’ll find:
Dual POV
Song magic
Blood magic
Sea Witch
Elven
A heart bond
Found family
Who did this to you?!

“Scars paint our stories, they give proof to the battles we’ve survived, the trials we’ve overcome.”

The story ends on a cliffhanger so you'll want to have The Ever Queen ready to binge!!

Romance content: 3-4 Open-door scenes!

Oh gosh where do I begin? I LOVE THIS BOOK/SERIES.
Prior to reading this series I never thought I would have a thing for pirates, but boy was I wrong. This awakened something in me and goshhhhh who knew he could be so hot.
Erik is one of my absolute favorite MMC. He is so morally grey and so hot all at the same time.
Everything about this story is a *chef's kiss.* I love the world, the world building, pirates, the action, the romance?!?! Everything is so so so good.
You'll be reading this on the edge of your seat wanting to know what's next. I could not put this book down and I ate it up.

The cliffhanger will eat you alive and get you running to the store for the next book.

This book had everything I love in a fantasy book.

The dynamic between Livia and Erik was done so incredibly well. I absolutely loved that their story started as kids and even after years, the bond between them never got lost. Erik is such a tortured character and I loved both his brutality and his heart. Livia, on the other hand, definitely knows how to hold her own and she's so fearless when it comes to standing up for what she believes in. I loved their bickering and I loved the tension. The character growth is so good, even with the side characters, and the way the author revealed the characters' backgrounds was so natural, so well-paced. There was definitely a lot of foreshadowing in this book and I think it builds up very well to prepare for the second book. I'm also a big fan of the author's writing. The way the characters speak was emotional, heartbreaking, and just so strong. There were a lot of strong and significant quotes. I think I've found one of my new favorite mmcs after reading this book because his love for Livia was absolutely flawless.

*I re-read this book with the new bonus content and I didn't think I could love this book more. It was so bittersweet and I truly love all of these characters so much.

4 stars

Book review:

A Dark, Addictive Fantasy with Morally Gray Perfection

They stole his crown. So he stole their daughter… And from the very first page, I was hooked.

This book is an absolute whirlwind of vengeance, betrayal, and slow-burning tension. Erik, the scarred and vengeful king of the Ever Kingdom, is everything I love in a morally gray character—ruthless, broken, and willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim what was stolen from him. But when his plans for revenge bring him face-to-face with his enemy’s innocent daughter, the game shifts in ways neither of them expect.

The dynamic between Erik and our main female character is amazing! The push-and-pull tension, the battle of wills, the undeniable chemistry!!! it’s all woven together masterfully. The world-building is immersive, dark, and beautifully written, pulling you into the depths of the Ever Kingdom with every page.

And that cliffhanger? I’m obsessed. I need the next book immediately. If you love stories with morally gray antiheroes, high-stakes revenge plots, and slow-burn tension that keeps you on edge, this is the book for you.


Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book 😘

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

The Ever King by L.J. Andrews is set in the same world as The Broken Kingdom series.

The pacing and world building around Erik and Livias story was perfection. With a blending of Fae Vikings and Pirates there are so many unique characters and crazy adventures there was never a dull moment.

This is Romantasy at its finest and will have you staying up late saying “one more chapter”.

🏴‍☠️Romantacy
🏴‍☠️Enemies to lovers
🏴‍☠️Forced Proximity
🏴‍☠️Spice

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc!

𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙠’𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. “𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”

GASP. I am GAGGED. Why have I been sitting on this book for so long?? I was chomping at the bit looking for every little opportunity to pause what I was doing to pick up this spicy baby and get farther into the heads of Livia and Erik and the brilliant world L.J. has crafted. I knew from the bet-go that I would really enjoy this book (it has all my favorite tropes and concepts), but I did not anticipate how much I would LOVELOVELOVE it - the characters, the magic system, the culture woven into the world-building, the relationships. While I am obsessed with the audiobook and narrators, my only regret is not reading a physical copy of this and annotating it as I go and dedicating a whole color of tabs to Erik being completely unhinged because that shit SLAPPED.