The Ever Queen

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but came into this one not sure what to expect (sequels have really disappointed me in the last). But holy heck, this book blew me out of the water!!

This book took all of my favorite things from the first book (The Ever King) -- amazing characters, an engaging plot, and awesome world building -- and then gave me even more.

I was so engaged that I read the whole book in just one day, because I couldn't put it down!

And the side characters are awesome. I genuinely got so engaged in learning more about them, and there were a few couples who seemed to have some really awesome backstories. Imagine how happy I was when I found out that a bunch of them have their own books!!!! (Look for the Broken Kingdoms series, there's 9 books in total!!)

This series is incredible. I actively chose reading this over sleeping... 2 nights in a row. Totally worth it.

This book was slightly better than the last but the spice got a bit extra (for me) at points so I skimmed most of the later scenes. It also held a lot of the plot back, so I was pretty glad to be rid of it.

Can I just say that I love Jonas? He's utterly stupid but was one of my favourite characters from the very beginning, it's just a massive shame that he's really self-sacrificing but it also makes me like him even more.
I genuinely cannot wait for his book!

Definitely serves as a fitting conclusion to its duet, though it doesn't quite stand out in the crowded field of romantic fantasy. The narrative ties up the plot threads from its predecessor neatly, offering closure to the central characters' arcs. However, the story treads familiar ground and lacks the innovation needed to set it apart in a genre brimming with similar tales.

Character development is adequate, with protagonists showing growth and maturity as they face their final challenges. However, the relationships, while central to the plot, sometimes feel forced, lacking the organic progression seen in more compelling romantasy works.

The world-building is solid, if not particularly original, and the magic system is well-defined but doesn't bring anything new to the table. The pacing is consistent, though it occasionally dips into predictability, making some plot twists easy to foresee.

In summary, The Ever Queen is a decent read for those who have followed the duet and are looking for closure. It's competently written and offers a satisfactory conclusion, but those seeking a novel approach to romantasy may find it underwhelming. It's a nice addition to the genre, but not a standout.

Having enjoyed the first book so much, I was disappointed with this one. I found the beginning as Liv explores her surroundings confusing and with Erik and Liv apart the book didn't have the same witty banter and tension. For something that had the potential to be dark it felt almost wholesome which isn't how it was marketed. (Which isn't terrible, just not what I was expecting)

I am so incredibly glad I pushed through this. The ONLY thing making this not a five star is the pacing, the first 40% was nail biting then until the 75% ish mark it felt so incredibly slow and somewhat repetitive. Other than that this book is very obviously perfection. I can't say much as this is the end of the duet within this series but so good. Seeing the stolen moments between Erik and Livia was one of my favorite parts, I'm new to series (or at least sticking with them) so seeing a love that is already developed was new for me. The wrapping up of the book was done to perfection, I am so incredibly excited to continue this series and mark my words, I am going to start the series set prior to time.