Title: So This Is Ever After
Author: F.T. Lukens
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: March 29, 2022
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Summary
Nobody really thinks about what happens after you kill the evil king. When Arek and his friends complete their quest and rid their realm of the Vile One, they’re at a bit of a stand still. So, it’s decided that Arek will wear the crown until they find one suitable to rule the realm. The only problem? The heir to the throne is also dead.
Now, Arek finds himself ruling a kingdom when he knows nothing about it. And there’s one catch. There’s a magic spell that says that the king must find his true love before his 18th birthday or he will disappear forever. Arek’s 18th birthday is in just 3 months. Now, he and his friends must finish a new quest before it’s too late. Even if his true love might be right in front of him.
Review: So This Is Ever After
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of this to review! FT Lukens’ In Deeper Waters was such a fun book, I couldn’t wait to read this one. And I’m happy to say it’s just as entertaining and fun as In Deeper Waters!
So This Is Ever After takes a lot of the fantasy tropes you might know and love and turns them into an absolutely fun and entertaining story. Where most fantasy novels end after the great evil is defeated, we get to see Arek and his friends struggling with what to do now that the king is dead. None of them are from royal backgrounds, so seeing them try to figure out how to rule a kingdom was definitely a riot.
While a lot of the plot elements are a bit predictable, the characters make up for it. Their interactions and just general meandering in the world makes for fun reading. I loved the way things developed between Arek and Matt, because you are absolutely rooting for them throughout the entire novel. Arek’s escapades in finding someone to be his soulmate are endearing and funny. And the whole group’s interactions with the people of the kingdom add a little breath of fresh air to what you normally might think about fantasy royalty.
All in all, if you’re a fan of D&D and love quest novels with a great cast of characters, this book is definitely for you!
4/5 stars
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