Synopsis:
Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this funny, subversive 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. 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.
Review:
This is Ever After was a super fun alternative for fans of Carry On and Harry Potter-esque stories that explores what happens after the hero kills the villain and saves the world. This story criticizes the bizarre elements of the generic fantasy book (why are the heroes literally children!!??), shows the effects of PTSD that reside in the hero's after their journey, and features a fun friends-to-lovers quest. If you're looking for a politics-heavy novel, you won't find it here; the political aspects of the main characters rule as king are pretty barebones, and the book is much more a romance. However, if you come into this book with the right expectations, you'll love it! I wasn't a fan of this authors previous book, In Deeper Waters, which I DNF'd so this was a very pleasant surprise! I wished for more communication and less of the romantic plot walking itself into circles, but I still enjoyed!
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