The Ever King by L.J. Andrews

The Serpent and the Songbird. A dark fantasy romance filled with pirates, sirens, fae, magic, fated love, and spice.

A King stole his crown and banished him from the lands, so he stole the most precious thing the King had. His princess...

Captured as a boy defending his father's crown, Erik Bloodsinger was a young prince who was secretly visited by the young princess Livia who was called to him by a mysterious pull. At night, she would sneak to his cell and tell him the story of The Serpent and the Songbird. On his last night in her land, before he was banished back to the sea, she gave him a gift. A silver bird charm to wear about his neck to remember her always. He asks her to promise to keep something safe for him until he sees her again. She agrees, but as soon as she does, the promise is broken when she falls and breaks it and leaves a permanent scar on her skin. A scar that matches her serpent prince, in the same place.

Now grown, Erik King of the Ever Kingdom has come back to claim what is his. Riddled with scars and filled with vengeance for the man who killed his father making him King but trapping him under the waves as a prisoner in his own Kingdom. He has a debt unpaid, and they have something of his that he will get back by any means. With a bit of luck, he comes across his Songbird princess while the king is away. Drawn to her like flowers are to the sun.

A mascarade party is held at the castle and everyone has a mask hiding their face. This allowed Erik to attend hiding his face so no one knew the evil Bloodsinger was within their walls. Coincidently, Livia's mask had feathers on it.

"A perplexing kind of darkness took hold in the deep sinews of my chest. It was cruel, wicked, and greedy. Never had I desired something so fiercely. I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t try. The draw to her was like a crawl for water after being lost in the blaze of the sun.
What a beautiful little bird. What a pity it was that her serpent had come to ruin her."

Their attraction is electric and although he is mysterious and doesn't know who this masked stranger is, she is drawn to him. With luck, he can intrigue Livia and get her alone. He ignites a fire in her and she wants more. Until he reveals himself as the prince she made a promise to and her nightmare has come to life. He is back looking for his precious item and she claims to not know where it is, so he whisks her away to his ship and kidnaps her believing that the King will do anything to get her back. He wants what is his, and he will use her as leverage. The ship is scary, and the pirate crew is wicked. They escape in the night and his dark pirate crew chant to the sea.

“A man he’s not…we work we rot.
No sleep until it’s through.
A sailor’s grave…is all we crave.
We are the Ever King’s crew.”

This morally grey serpent King seems cruel with his threats of harm, and he is well known to be dangerous. His name The Blood Singer comes from his deadly blood. When it is mixed with another it will boil a person alive unless he spares them with his song. If not, their death is quick yet painful. His actions and treatment of her however do not follow that of a wicked pirate King. His "touch her and die" attitude seems more possessive than a mere captive. Her safety and comfort does not go unnoticed. Why should he give her a room with a cozy bed and be among kind people rather than locked behind a dirty cell with bars? He makes idle threats, but his actions do not match. Why does his presence make her feel safe and why does hers seem to calm him?

Fate brought them together as children, and now they are together again. Like calls to like. Why does she feel at home in his lands and why is she so drawn to him? The songbird gives him peace, the serpent makes her feel safe. Her magic not only heals his lands, but also his cold heart and he is her beautiful monster.

Needless to say, I liked this story. The magic, banter, burning desire, spice, and their fates collide and I was just along for the enjoyable ride.

The Ever King - Likewise Book Reviews

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