The Stolen Crown by LJ Andrews

The Ever Seas keeps getting better with every book.

The Stolen Crown was absolutely worth the wait. Tait and Mira have been dancing around each other for a while, and I loved finally getting their story. As the fourth book in one of my favorite series, it has that feeling of coming home. I never want to leave this world or its cast of characters.

Tait and Mira are both shaped by what they’ve survived. I loved getting to see the pieces of them that stay hidden around everyone else. Tait carries the scars of his past and the weight of his responsibilities. Mira’s brightness and sharp edges make her such a great match for him. I especially loved the way Tait calls her Vicious and somehow manages to turn “severed heads for her revenge” into an expression of affection.

Stranded, But Never Really Alone

Stranding them far from the Ever Kingdom works so well for this story. Being forced to rely on each other puts them in some seriously precarious situations. It also gives them the space to see each other differently. As they learn more about what the other has endured, watching them realize just how important they had become to each other was one of my favorite parts of the book.

There’s a darkness to Tait that comes from being the survivor of a monster, and that trauma shapes his relationship with Mira, at least at first. His aversion to touch, paired with an affinity that lets him feel other people’s hearts, makes vulnerability especially complicated for him. Watching him slowly let Mira in despite that was one of the most impactful parts of the book. “You are the sunrise I seek in the storms of my soul” captures their dynamic perfectly. That light-and-shadow theme runs throughout their story and makes their romance feel even more meaningful.

A World Worth Returning To

I also enjoyed seeing the larger Ever Seas cast again. Erik, Livia, Jonas, and Skadi all brought that familiar sense of connection to the story, while the history from the Broken Kingdoms series is woven in so naturally. The recap at the beginning was especially welcome after three previous books, and it made it easy to slip back into this world. The author’s note and content warnings were a thoughtful touch as well.

The Stolen Crown gave me everything I’ve come to love about the Ever Seas series: immersive fantasy, high stakes, characters with complicated histories, and a romance that feels deeply connected to the larger story. Tait and Mira were worth the wait, and now I’m even more impatient for Sander’s book.

I never want to leave the Ever Seas.

If The Stolen Crown sounds like your kind of book, you can preorder a copy HERE or request it from your local library.