So This Is Ever After
by F.T. LukensAlso by this author: In Deeper Waters
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books on March 29, 2022
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, LGBTQ, Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.
As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.
With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong… until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.
Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this subversive, “delightfully original and whimsical” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it… and to stay alive.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Fans of friends-to-lovers trope
- Twists on fairy tales and subverted expectations
- Humor and sarcasm and banter between friends
- Magic (especially magical kingdoms)
- To know what happened to the Chosen One after they finished their quest
- Slow burn, super sweet romance between cinnamon rolls
I’ve been hooked on F.T. Lukens ever since I read and loved In Deeper Waters nigh on forever ago. I’ve been meaning to go back and read more of their work. Honestly, I have. I just kind of got waylaid. By life. Like you do. So the minute life let up just a teensy bit, I jumped headlong back into what I’ve missed, and of course I had to start with this. I mean, what part of this doesn’t sound like me? Dorky, socially awkward Chosen One accidentally becomes king (under duress, mind you) and is forced to find a spouse or die. Yes, please. This book definitely sounded like everything I was looking for at the moment!
So This Is Ever After is a queer fairy-tale-meets-Arthurian-legend that subverts expectations. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the Chosen One’s quest has ended, it turns out it’s accidental kinghood, chaos, lots of pining, drama, and forced betrothal. In other words . . . fun!
The romance is fairly predictable. Going in, it’s obvious who Arek is going to end up with. But that’s not really what I came for. Lukens’ writing is absolutely delightful, and this was exactly the rom-com I needed when I picked it up. The book is a super quick read that flows smoothly from start to end (well, if you don’t count all the explosions, monsters, and regicide attempts, of course). Plus, it’s freaking funny and sweet and just a hecking fun read.
Arek is relatable in his unsureness, awkwardness, and downright unpreparedness when it comes to reigning. Or, you know, pretty much anything else.
Then again, he is a Chosen One, so what did you really expect? Not like he had . . . well . . . any qualifications to get this job. Perks of being the Chosen One. Despite all that, Arek doesn’t let his status get to his head. He’s very determined to finish the task, because it’s the right thing to do, and he does! In chapter one. That’s sort of the point of this book, in fact, is what happens once “they all live happily ever after” starts.
Because he didn’t get his position based on any sort of merit, what ensues is nothing short of chaos. More’s the better, because chaos is obviously entertaining. The key here, of course, is that Arek’s not a bad person. He’s earnest and honest (well, mostly), and is genuinely trying. Just, you know, not always succeeding. If that’s not painfully relatable, I don’t know what is. Kinghood is sort of thrust upon him, through no fault of his own (okay, maybe a little fault of his own), and he’s absolutely rocking it. Mostly. If it doesn’t kill him first.
Things Arek does that are entirely too relatable and prove that he is obviously a precious cinnamon roll that deserves happiness and protection:
- Absolutely shite at wooing. Or flirting. Or relationships in general.
- Sabotages his own well-laid plans. Unintentionally, of course.
- Puts on cursed crowns. I mean, who does that? (
Me. I would do that.) - Genuinely puts the needs of his people first.
- Has a penchant for landing himself in deadly situations. Repeatedly.
- Cracks self-depracating jokes and has a rather dark sense of humor.
- Definitely deserves a better title than Arek the Kind. Even though it technically does suit him.
You know, now that I’ve typed that list out . . . I’m not entirely convinced that Arek and I aren’t the same people. Wait . . . AM I THE CHOSEN ONE?!
“Are you okay?” Sionna nudged me with her elbow.
“Arek the Kind?” I asked, incredulous. “Not the Fearsome? The Chosen One? The Killer of Evil? The Hacker of Heads?”
Lila laughed so hard she snorted. It was a little mean.
Bethany pinched my cheek. “Oh, how cute.”
I squirmed away. “I hate you,” I said, but it had no heat, and she wasn’t offended if the pat to my head was any indication.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from Chosen Ones, it’s that you don’t read the creepy old book, you don’t pick up the possessed sword, and you don’t put the magic bloody crown on your head. Because sometimes it leads to forced marriage.
I promise, this makes perfect sense. In more than the “I have ADHD and I’m about fifteen connections down the road by now” sort of way. Apparently, this kingdom is enlightened and believes in “balance”. You know, if you ignore the fact that a tyrant has ruled for longer than I’ve been alive. Not the point, though. The monarchy has to exist with a Balance Of Power™, which obviously means . . . marriage! Unfortunately for Arek, he has no romantic prospects. Except his best friend. Who obviously doesn’t like him like that. So what’s a semi-doomed, newly-crowned king to do?
I will admit that I never particularly liked forced marriage as a trope in general, but the way Lukens does it here is funny, poignant, and not actually particularly harmful. I mean, to Arek, sure, maybe, but he sort of did ask for it, albeit unintentionally. (Yet another reminder: do not don cursed objects). Arek basically approaches this the way anyone who finds out they need to be married in a very short time: he turns to his friends. Because who wants to be married to a stranger? I assure you this makes perfect sense. Except his friends are none the wiser and Arek is crap at romance (as mentioned before). So, this is obviously a rock solid plan that has been well thought out and what could possibly go wrong.
“We’re aware,” Matt said dryly.
Luckily, Arek isn’t alone in this sudden, chaotic kingship he’s found thrust into his lap. His squad has decided to stand by his side. Also luckily, they are far more qualified for their positions.
Plus, they’re an absolute freaking hoot. Anyone who is familiar with the typical roleplaying squad will recognize the various roles. The mage, of course. The thief. The warrior. The healer. Everyone has a place, and each place is just as important as the next. Some are just scarier than the others.
Arek isn’t the only one trying to figure out what happens next now that the harrowing, life-threatening dirty work is done (well . . . in theory). None of the squad are particularly suited to life in a castle, nor had any of them prepared for it. Not that anyone could really complain about living in a castle. (Okay, that’s not true. Some of them definitely complain). But suddenly having the weight of a kingdom on their shoulders isn’t exactly what they signed up for. Which was, unequivocally, journeying across the kingdom and stabbing someone in the face, and I think we can all agree that’s much easier and more reasonable of a task.
I don’t think I can begin to tell you all how much I absolutely loved this squad. Their personalities are obviously all very different, but they all go together perfectly. After all, what’s a Chosen One without his team of heroes?!
I made a high-pitched noise of affront, but he plowed on.
“None of us are suited for this. Lila stole a dead woman’s diary.”
“To be fair, Lila steals everything. And the princess really didn’t need it.”
“Bethany vomits at the sight of gore.”
“You can’t blame her. It was really gross.”
“Rion is not the sharpest sword in the armory.”
“Well, now you’re just being mean.”
There’s not exactly a fluffy, cuddly sidekick, buuuuut . . . there is Crow, who is obviously better than all those other things. If not entirely qualified to be an animal sidekick.
I’m not saying that books about magical quests need furry sidekicks, buuuuut . . . it doesn’t hurt, either. Lukens gives us something better. Okay, suuuure, everyone thinks of, like, man’s best friend, or maybe a cat, or even a dragon. No one thinks of a crow . . . thing. But why not?! Crow-things are also perfectly acceptable sidekicks. I’m going to be honest, Crow’s addition to the story was delightful, and I want more stories with Crow. Because it’s worth it.
“It’s my pet!” she said cheerily. “I found him locked in a cage in the castle. After a few days of visits and of hand-feeding him raw meat, we became friends. He lives in the stable now.”
Oh my spirits. She’d found the Vile One’s familiar or dismemberment minion or thunderstorm monster and befriended it. This bird demon was her pet. The terrifying vessel to the underworld was her friend. “Lila, I am not sure if Crow is a pet.”
“You’re right.” She touched her finger under his beak and stroked the feathers of his chest. He snapped at her, and she snatched her hand away in a movement so fast, her body blurred. She cooed. If that had been anyone other than her, they would’ve lost a finger. “He’s a companion.”
Bowing my head, I ran my hands over my face. “Oh my spirits.”
Favorite Quotes
This is the part of the review where Sammie can’t possibly choose which quotes to share and which to just privately re-read and giggle and fondly remember. This happens a lot to me with Lukens’ work, as it turns out. As I said, though, this book is so freaking funny that I found myself cracking up the entire time. So if you’re looking for a bit of a laugh or if you need a bit more convincing to pick up this book (despite my obvious glowing review above), then here it is. I present to you exhibit A.
Sionna rubbed her thumb between her eyes. “Yes, we have, despite your jokes.”
“Right, and you didn’t almost stab someone when they entered your room to deliver you lunch yesterday.”
She shrugged. “They should’ve knocked.”
“They did. And announced themselves. And the way they tell it, you leapt at them from the bed, yelling like a banshee, knife raised above your head. They had to use a serving platter in self-defense.”
“I was trying to take a nap.”
Bethany tilted her head. “In the middle of the day?”
“I needed something to do. I’m bored.” A dagger appeared in Lila’s hand, and she used the point of the blade to clean under her nails.
“So you decided to stab someone?” Matt asked, incredulous. “Lila, you do realize that’s the definition of tense.”
“Agree to disagree,” she said.
“We’re not hiring bandits.”
Matt frowned into the goblet. “I think I want you alive rather than dead. So as much as it pains me, I think we might have to hire bandits.”
“Since when am I the responsible one in this friendship?
About F.T. Lukens
F.T. Lukens is the author of four young adult novels published through Interlude Press, and her book Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction, won the ForeWord INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award for YA Fiction, and the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction, and it was also recently named to ALA’s 2019 Rainbow List. F.T. lives in North Carolina with her husband, three kids, three dogs, and three cats. Visit her at FTLukens.com.
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I read In Deeper Waters earlier this year I think and then recently read Spellbound. I need to read this one as well. All of Lukens books so far have been obvious as to who the romantic interest is going to be. But we don’t read these for the surprise love interest, but the road that it takes to get there.
I’ve got a review for Spellbound coming up, too. I just haven’t quite written it yet. But I read it immediately after this. xD I was on a Lukens kick lol. And that’s so true! And oh my gosh, the journey is so worth it. I think you’d enjoy this one. Definitely seems like it’d be your style. 🙂