The Ever King

I started listening to The Ever King expecting another brooding monarch with a chip on his shoulder, but Erik won me over with his raw, rotting grief and the way Andrews makes his rage feel like a living thing—something that curls around your ribs and won’t let go. Lucy Rivers and Will Thorne elevate the experience beyond what I thought possible for an audiobook; Rivers’ delivery of the mysterious heroine, Lyra, is a masterclass in understated power, while Thorne’s Erik could make a grocery list sound like a death threat. The first-person perspective from Lyra’s POV alone is a risk that pays off, forcing you to root for her even when her choices feel reckless, which, let’s be honest, is exactly the kind of heroine I love. That said, the book isn’t without its hiccups. The pacing drags in the middle act when the story meanders between court politics and underwater escapades—it feels like two separate books fighting for dominance. And while Thorne nails Erik’s internal monologue, his performance occasionally slips into melodrama during the more theatrical moments, which jolts you out of the immersion. Still, these are minor quibbles in a story that’s otherwise a masterclass in blending sci-fi worldbuilding with gothic romance. If you love your fantasy with a side of existential dread and a hero who’s equal parts monster and man, this is your tide.