Reviews with content warning for Drug use - So This Is Ever After

This book read like a train. It's so fun and funny. I love every single character. A great cosy fantasy with just a bunch of queer romance. Points off though because the pining erred just too much on the side of miscommunication at several points. But it did have me screaming at these idiots to just kiss already. Always fun lmao.
Yeah this was a fun and easy read. Not too complex without getting boring. The chemistry between the MC and the love interest was really well done. The overarching plot was engaging enough. The side characters were all really fun and had their own things going on that I liked too. I'm glad I bought another book by this author. I'm looking forward to reading that one.

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arlaubscher's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted

5.0

This is a rom-com mixed with a D&D adventure party and it is freaking fantastic. Was it predictable? Yes. Did I enjoy the heck out of it in one sitting? Also yes.

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pagesofnay's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Reading the synopsis, I knew this was going to be a book that I would enjoy. However, I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. This story is marketed as ‘Carry On meets Arthurian legends’ and let me tell you, I love both of those. As much as I love enemies to lovers, friends to lovers holds a special place in my heart. There were misunderstandings, but it wasn’t to the point where it infuriated me (I normally hate miscommunication and misunderstandings, unless it feels somewhat natural).

This character group was chaotic from the beginning. I loved it. Arek, the Chosen One, who is oblivious, very lovable, and responds to tense situations with humor. He is kind and would do anything for his friends. Matt, Arek’s best friend and mage. Lila, the rogue, loves to steal things and is very clever. Rion, the knight, incredibly witty and stoic. Bethany, the bard, clears up the messes everyone made. Sionna, the general and warrior, funny and sometimes stoic. This is not only a love story between Arek and Matt, it is also one of finding a family within a group of friends.

After ending the Vile One’s reign, Arek must take the crown. Being king was not something Arek had in mind, but in order to save the kingdom, he would. However, Arek must now find someone to soul bond with or fade away. Arek begins to plan ways to woo his friends and Matt assists him. These plans were incredibly hilarious and went wrong in every way. The way all these plans ended, it would seem like the universe wanted him with Matt, but they were both so obviously oblivious. I would consider this a very slow burn, but done very well. Normally slow burns feel unnecessarily drawn out, but this felt almost natural.

Overall this book was a fun and easy read. It was fast-paced and had lovely, enjoyable characters. Starting the book with the ending of the quest to end the Vile One’s reign was interesting and I think it worked very well. It left me wondering “So, what happens now?” and did not disappoint. This book is worth reading. Lila and Matt were definitely my favorite characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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betweentheshelves's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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!

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beforeviolets's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don't think I can give this book a star rating.
Because is this book good or well-written? No.
But did I absolutely LOVE it? HELL YES.

Set post-adventure, this book follows Arek and his friends as they learn to rule a kingdom after fulfilling a prophecy. But when he finds out he has to soul-bond (forever!) with someone in order to stay alive, things get very complicated. Especially since he has major feelings for his best friend, who definitely doesn't feel the same way... right?

This book has absolutely no atmosphere, terrible world-building, and its general vibe is horny, which is not an ideal word to describe a book. (Seriously, there were like 5 or 6 boner mentions.) However, I am an absolute sucker for a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance featuring dense idiots with terrible communication skills, and if this book delivered anything, it delivered that! And it delivered it SO WELL!!

If you're expecting a book with strong writing, complex and adventurous plot, or high fantasy worlds, I would pass on this.
But if you're looking for a jaw-achingly cute romance with laugh-along dialogue and the general vibe of playing a D&D side quest with your friends, this book might be for you.

CW: violence, gore, death, murder, decapitation, blood, vomit, parental death (past, offscreen), alcohol, SA (brief mention, past), drugging (truth potion)

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