Sinful Ever After

The Royal Gold Keepers #2

by Lacey Carter Andersen

The heat is building in Paradise Falls…

Everything is changing between Callum and I. Yes, he’s still my enemy and my greatest competition. And, I sure as hell don’t know if I can trust him.

But the connection between us is irresistible.

Not that anyone can know. In Paradise Falls it’s expected that we hate each other, and with enemies all around us, we can’t risk them believing any differently. Even if every time I see him with another woman, I feel sick. And, apparently, every time he sees me with another guy he loses his mind.

Still, we don’t have to always play these parts. Not in Neverwood. There, we’re just us.

Even if we’re always in danger.

We’ll have to depend on each other to survive in Neverwood or that magical world will destroy us. Because as we explore deeper, taking the roads of our fathers, we’ll find more than just trolls, ogres, and dangerous storms… we’ll find the reason for their disappearance.

And in doing so, change our lives forever.

SINFUL EVER AFTER is book two in The Royal Gold Keepers series. It is a steamy MF enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with mystery, magic, and love.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2024

About the author

Lacey Carter Andersen loves reading, writing, and drinking excessive amounts of coffee. She spends her days taking care of her husband, three kids, and three cats. But at night, everything changes! Her imagination runs wild with strong-willed characters, unique worlds, and exciting plots that she enthusiastically puts into stories.

Lacey has dozens of tales: science fiction romances, paranormal romances, short romances, reverse harem romances, and more. So, please feel free to dive into any of her worlds; she loves to have the company!

And you're welcome to reach out to her; she really enjoys hearing from her readers.

You can find her at:
Email: laceycarterandersen@gmail.com

Mailing List: www.eepurl.com/cVwDNP

Website: https://laceycarterandersen.net/

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Lacey-Carter-Anderse...

Reviews

[sophie . ݁₊ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️

THIS WAS KINDA BAD😱😱this book was literally exactly the sane as the first book but like worse. all it had differently was that main guy was an overprotective ass and it had wayyy to many sex scenes LIKE I DONT WANT THAT WHERE IS THE PLOT WHERE IS THE SLOW BURN WHERE IS THE TENSION 😔 so freaking mid

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very juvenile writing, nowhere near up to the standard of the first book

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinful Ever After
The Royal Gold Keepers book two
Lacey Carter Anderson
Stars:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Time to read: 3 hours
Cliffhanger
My review may contain spoilers
Read Trigger Warnings

Tropes:
Enem1es to l0vers
F0rced Proximity
Forbidden
Sunshine/grumpy
Fairy tale

Elora Walker, 20s, Walker Gold Keeper heir
Callum Runefall, 20s, Runefall Gold Keeper heir

Plot: Going back into Neverwood, with the lines blurred and tension high between the two, Callum and Elora must now choose to listen to their fathers journals and rely on each other or go their own ways. When Callum once again finds himself hurt in Neverwood, he seeks out Elora, whom by the way is a complete b@dass for taking care of him pretty much the entirety of book one. Facing new dangers, more mystery revealed, and trying to piece together the puzzle pieces left by their fathers and a mysterious stranger, this book is filled with action and adventure.

My thoughts: Wow! This book reminds me of why I love reading so much and why fantasy is by far my favorite trope type! Lacy Carter Anderson has created a completely unique world and plot. It is truly hard to write books that feel like they haven’t already been written, but this one is truly unique. I will absolutely be continuing the series.

This was a voluntary arc review

[Brittany Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We find ourselves in the Neverwood constantly learning and constantly getting surprised from all the new stuff thrown our way. There are several new ecosystems brought into play and even more secrets are hidden. What did happen to their dads, were they really friends, what is the council playing at? As we are reading we are learning about all the new things along with the two MCs and it creates such a unique POV for us.

The characters are continuing to grow and develop, though they are learning to trust each other- or at least rely on each other- a little more as the story goes along. Great descriptions, the writing flows really well, and you are on the edge of your seat. All in all, a very enjoyable read- and I can’t wait to see what else comes our way after that last chapter!!

I look forward to getting more answers from the next book!

[Rachel Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this even more than cursed ever after. The 🌶️ scenes gave me tingles, move over ‘only one bed in the inn’, ‘only one tent’ is my new favourite forced proximity trope 👏🏼
It’s a really quick easy read and it’s nice that it’s a completely different story to any other romantasy book I’ve read.
Now I’ve just got to wait until January 2025 for the next (final?) one 🙀

[Mona Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my

Another trip into the unknown. Another reason to try and trust someone else you just aren't sure about, and yet need to survive...love this world and all that is going on.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like our 2 MCs, we learn more in this book. They learn more about their relationship with each other and how that is going to correlate between when they are in Paradise Falls and then when they are in Nerverwood. They also are going further into Neverwood then they anticipated and for multiple reasons.

The council seems to be using up goldarium at a very quick rate and needing it more and more - thus our two MCs need to bring back this precious resource in order to help their town. All the while, the Elora starts to get a sense that the Council really doesn't have their best interests at heart and that they may in fact be covering up bad things. This essentially leaves Elora with living a dangerous life in both her home town and in Neverwood. Callum on the other hand is so infuriating throughout this book. He is great while in Neverwood - but as soon as they come back to Paradise Falls, he's a totally different person and I really feel for Elora (especially after this last visit into Neverwood). True enemy to lover vibe thanks to Callum lol.

On the much longer adventure into Neverwood, we see a lot of new things and even come across humanoid beings - which was a shock for our MCs. It's obvious that our MC's fathers were not telling them everything as they did not know about the Mist Ecosystem nor about the Ash ecosystem that we have yet to experience (next book?) or even about working together. Luckily, our MC's have already taken to working with each other while in Neverwood and are on the same page of wanting to save their fathers.

The end of the book gives us a small chapter into the POV of an unknown character - this person has pledged to stay in the dark and stay safe but it appears that they will probably have to make a move in order to save Callum and Elora because they are giving the enemy the tools they need to destroy themselves.

Cliffhanger is a doozy - but oh so good!

[Kayli | spookybookgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this book was amazing! we finally go deeper into neverwood. elora & callum finally (!!!) get together & we get some good spicy scenes, but obviously shit has to be difficult. i feel like this book could have been longer for world-building purposes. i can’t believe i gotta wait til january for book 3😫

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book enough to read the second; I'm not usually big on fantasy, this did not leave up to the enjoyment of the first book. It was 195 pages and I just felt meh about it. The steam was nice but the rest was just sorta meh. The winged man was my favourite character in the whole book.

[Mik · Rating 3 out of 5]

how was the the longest book i’ve read this year? In all honesty if this book went to any longer i would have put it in the dnf pile.

it was 196 pages of complaining and no actual story progression.

[Leslie L. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second book in the series. Elora and Callum travel further into the world of Neverwood than ever before. Both nearly die and if they hadn't defied the Council of Paradise Falls and begun working together instead of remaining enemies, they'd have both undoubtedly died. They make it back to Paradise Falls after meeting more enemies and making one friend, Xerex, who I found highly amusing and an uplifting secondary character to the story in a dark time for our heroes. The Council is ecstatic about the amount of goldarium Elora and Callum brought back (the substance is what the Council uses to power Paradise Falls, provide healthcare and create building materials as its quite magical and versatile) but Elora has begun to dig deeper into the mystery of her mother's death and it hasn't escaped her notice the Council is engaged with every shady deal in town. They were there when Elora's mother was killed (although her memories say otherwise, her dreams repeat a story of her mother's death that doesn't fit), they were there when Elora's father and Callem's father escaped into Neverwood without returning, they're there when people disappear, etc. As they dig deeper, misunderstandings crop up between our heroes and they stop working together but they pine for one another and are both about to lose their best friends to college. Loneliness starts eating away at them both.

While I feel some choices were made with the plot to gloss over things for which I'd have appreciated some explanation, the overall storyline was well plotted, has lively action and plays for effect in service to the mysteries our two heroes are investigating in between trips of pants-wetting terror in Neverwood. The second book ends on another hard cliffhanger, but the good news is the third book is written already and you won't have to wait to *finally* get some answers about the multiple mysteries and lies of both the Gold Keepers, their loved ones, what the Council is hiding, where the people of Paradise Falls came from and why only the two families may cross into Neverwood.

There are much spicier scenes in the second book, so I'd limit my children to reading this one until they're 17+. There's also some gay couples as secondary characters that are deep in the closet so as to hide from Council laws against such relationships. There are some dark themes in this series so if you're sensitive to that, I'd check with the author or her website. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinful Ever After finds us going deeper into the Neverwood. We meet new creatures, there are more dangers and even more mystery.


I liked Elora in the first book but she annoyed me a little more in this one. One, at times she's still struggling about the truth of her society. She has this good girl mentality that is hard to shake but she's heading in the right direction. Two, while I like her curious nature she's starting to make stupid (and deadly) mistakes, I thought she was smarter than that.


At least she has Callum by her side. My opinion of Cal changed fairly quickly in this one. I like him a lot better, he's comforting and considerate, and I enjoyed seeing the softer side of him. It may have something to do with him and El connecting more and the tension between them finally boils over, at least in one way. It just kills me that they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Things aren't easy for them and it looks like they aren't getting any easier anytime soon.


Will the Neverwood ever stop surprising me? Probably not. Lacey has created a beautiful world that gets even deadlier as we go. I loved the details and the feeling of danger as I read, it certainly gives a thrill. It's an adventure and mystery wrapped up in one and I have no clue where it's going to lead.


What an explosive final chapter! I have so many more questions. The mystery of Paradise Falls just seems to be getting bigger at every turn. Sinful Ever After was a great read but it went by too quickly. How many more books are in this series? I don't know but I want answers sooner than later. We're heading towards a tipping point, the question is who is going to fall?

[Daniele Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been anticipating this book since I finished book 1 and I can say it was worth the wait. We come back to Elora and Callum. Still having to pretend that they are enemies in their home town but are secretly working together in Everwood as their dads left messages for them that it was safer if they did. Elora is fighting her feelings not sure if she should be feeling how she does for Callum since she doesn’t know how he feels and that they can never have a relationship outside of Neverwood. We see them on their second journey into the world and discover the vast expanse of it by exploring a new ecosystem called the Mist. It’s a completely different experience for them and they have to figure out how to survive in a new environment with what little info their dads have left. Through this new adventure we see them growing closer to each other and feeling like they might eventually be able to have something together but when it’s time to go back things just start falling apart again. Along the way Elora is questioning what she knows about the council and her mothers death and is starting to feel more and more like things are not right in her home town. This second book builds on the mystery of what’s going on and is keeping me guessing as to possible culprits and outcomes. I also feel bad for Elora as she she has all these feelings for Callum but isn’t able to have him fully. I’m hoping to see in the next installment that they finally get to move past this and maybe learn more about what the council and her mother and maybe find the dads alive and well.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "SINFUL EVER AFTER" WOW!!! more gets revealed thing's happen that aren't so good for the town, danger, intrigue, action, deceit, steam, angst, suspense, mystery, twists that keeps you turning the pages.
Elora & Callum the two gold gate keepers of Paradise Falls the Council keeps a watch on them they need to appear to be enemies, but when they go to Neverwood to collect the Goldarium they are different with each other working together, finding more journals from their fathers but one entry has them asking questions.
Elora thinks the Council doesn't have the towns best interest at heart they seem to be using more & more Goldarium, she has alot of questions like what happened to her mom & their dads could they still be alive, meeting new people, the difference in Callum when in Neverwood to when he's in Paradise Falls line he's two different people how he treat Elora, you want to smack him.
I definitely recommend to get this book Callum & Elora take you quite the adventure so much happens, the Council is always watching their up to something, who is the unknown in the shadows helping them, will they find out what happens to their dad's & her mother, Callum hates that Ferone trys to pursue Elora, but nothing he can do about that when in Paradise Falls they can't be together doesn't mean he has to like it, what's going on with Council will they figure it out something us coming.
I so need "BONDED EVER AFTER" especially after that cliffhanger it can't gone soon enough.
AWESOME INTRIGUING INTENSE MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE I LOVED IT 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to go back and reread the last 2 chapters of book 1 to get a feel for this book. I love this story. I hate the wait though. I tend to read and shortly forget, not because I don't like the story, but because I read entirely too many books in a year.
We learn that things are not what they seem in this "perfect" town more so than the last time. Something is not right and I fear for our MFC and MMC. Something bad is coming, something very very bad and they might just not survive it. What happened to Elora's mom? What is happening with their dads? Are they still alive? Are they dead? Why didn't they add more helpful stuff to the journals for the kids?
The new "ecosystem" is interesting. Those Elves are bad, very bad. The whole place is covered in almost like a cloud. That is the best I've got there. They meet new people, have new interactions with the world, people, gods. This is an insane story. Callum is amazing in Neverwood but whew, back in Paradise Falls, I could do without him. He is so just grr. The connection between him and Elora is on fire. I don't know how Callum can treat her so callously, while at the same time loving her. I understand it is extremely dangerous but surely they could have a better way to handle this whole thing.
The council is up to something. 4 weeks off and a physical? The next book will hopefully give us a ton of answers.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Perhaps it’s because the MCs didn’t wait so long to act on their attraction, which means the slow burn is more about the two of them slowly learning to open up to each other and trust one another, and I find that arc infinitely more satisfying than the initial will-they-or-won’t-they stage.

When the MMC asks “what are we” and the FMC says “I don’t know” and you’re just screaming inside at the two knuckleheads who are too scared to admit they’re falling in love even as they’re tearing each other’s clothes off… AAAAAH! It drives me crazy in the best way.

The FMC is sort-of entertaining the idea that she’ll have to marry and produce kids at some point in the future, and the MMC is torn between his jealousy over seeing her with other guys and his understanding that they cannot be in a public relationship with each other. It’s heartbreaking! But I know these crazy kids will work it out.

This book also gave a lot more answers about Neverwood and clues about what’s next, laying off the more obvious hints about something hinky going down in Paradise Falls while still leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that isn’t too distracting from the main plot. I’m thinking book 3 will be more Paradise Falls-centric since they’re keeping them home for four weeks and doing… hmm , checkups? Sus AF, lol

Looking forward to book 3!

[Taylor Loewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice: 3/5 - slow burn but it fits the characters and the plot

I feel like this series has major The Giver mixed with Alice in Wonderland vibes. Sounds crazy and it is but it totally works. I love how the author drops bread crumbs about how sheltered “Paradise” Falls is without outright stating it. That would’ve ruined the authenticity of the story.

This book may be shorted than book 1, but I honestly feel like I’ve learned so much more about the relationships between characters, the actual plot line, Neverwood and what it’s like in their world.

WHO IS ANONYMOUS AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DADS!!! Ahhh we didn’t end on a cliffhanger per say but I feel like I have hints and clues about what’s going to be happening and that ending has me screaming into a pillow because I’m desperate to know if I’m right or way off base!

Obsessed with Callam, but I think Elora and him need to have an honest to God talk! Like obviously in love but pretending not to because it’d never be allowed and it makes me want to punch them in the faces. It not their faults but I feel like setting their world on fire and being like here! It’s a whole new world for you to be together in! Like geez their town wouldn’t survive without them, so just run away together. Who needs that crappy town anyway.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! I need more!

This second book in the Royal Gold Keepers series was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Elora and Callum have survived their first journey to Neverwood, and now are about to make their second journey. This time they know they need to stay together. Callum can’t stand that Ferone has been trying to pursue Elora, but since they cant be together, there isn’t anything he can do except love Elora from a distance.

Except they finally break down on their journey and share their feelings and things “develop” … Their journey is so much more difficult since they have gone further than they had before, and they don’t know what creatures they can trust. But a couple of unlikely allies pop up just in time to save Elora from death a couple of times. And at every cabin they find, more and more journal entries from their fathers do nothing but confuse them more about what to expect ahead.

When they return to Paradise Falls with more Goldarium than ever before, the council is thrilled. But Elora and Callum both know that there is something more insidious going on with them…

I am going to be biting my nails until book 3 comes out!!! Can’t wait to read more of this series!

I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you eager for more of the Royal Gold Keepers? Well, book two has finally arrived with the next installment – Sinful Ever After. Get ready to go even deeper into Neverwood and discover more of its secrets.
Elora and Callum are back. Book two doesn’t pick up where book one left off, but after reading a few pages (especially if you don’t fully recall what was going on from book one) things begin to click back into place. Elora is treading on dangerous ground with her investigation into her mother’s death, but doing the Council’s bidding comes first...going into Neverwood and bringing back more goldarium.
The author takes readers deeper into Neverwood and further explores the “forbidden” relationship between Elora and Callum. The places that they explore are so engaging that you’ll be pulled to the edge of your seat. The majority of the story takes place in Neverwood, but it ends back in Paradise Falls. You’ll be left with questions, but be eager for what comes next.
The steamy scenes? Oh la la! Yummy! Give me more! LOL! More steamy and a touch less of overly jealous Callum. It’s fine to an extent, but then it goes a step too far for this reader.
All in all...4.5 out of 5 stars

[Helen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be my favourite ongoing series at the moment! Elora and Callum are about to travel back to Neverwood to collect more Goldarium to power Paradise Falls. The majority of this book is about that journey as they enter a new part of Neverwood that they didn't know existed - The mist ecosystem. The world building as in the first book is amazing as we learn all about this new world, and Elora and Callum meet more dangers and a couple of possible allies. Through the journals they learn more about their fathers previous journeys although some helpful information is too little too late in some instances. My favourite part of the story is Elora and Callums deepening relationship. Callum is really jealous of Elora's budding relationship with Ferone but it looks like what happens in Neverwood stays in Neverwood ...if he can handle it! They look out for each other, saving each others lives and although it is obvious they are starting to care deeply for each other all that will change when they return home to Paradise Falls. We finish the book again with a chapter from the mysterious Unknown. Who is this person and what exactly do they know? I am itching to find out and looking forward to the next part of this story

[Paula Sabol (Never Choose Fantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinful Ever After: The Royal Gold Keepers Book 2 by Lacey Carter Andersen is a fantasy M/F romance.  This book continues where book 1 left off.  Elora and Callum feel something between them but must hide it in Paradise Falls.  After the warnings from their fathers they find themselves trusting the council even less.  As they continue their roles as gold keepers, can they keep their relationship secret and figure out what is really going on in Paradise Falls before it's too late?

     We continue to learn more about Paradise Falls and the negative side.  Callum and Elora open up a little more and their relationship heats up.  They travel further into Neverwood and discover much that their fathers kept hidden.  However, it's becoming harder to return home and keep their secrets.

     I rated this 5 put of 5 stars.  The world-building continues and is amazing. I find myself as excited as Elora and Callum as they discover new things in Neverwood and meet intelligent life they never expected.  However the excitement increases along with the danger.  There are more hints that Paradise Falls isn't what they are told.

If you enjoy fantasy romance with enemies to lovers theme with lots of secrets and spice you will love Sinful Ever After!

[Mrs R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in this series and you need to have read book 1 first.

I'm really enjoying the world-building in this series, reminds me of the bizarre world in Alice in Wonderland. The way Paradise Fals has isolated itself from the outside world, seemingly holding back so much information from its population and limiting contact - I can't wait until the bubble bursts (I hope) and chaos erupts.

Elora and Callum are in a sticky situation, having to stay enemies at home but then so much more in Neverwood. Their relationship really builds in this book and we find an extremely jealous Callum. Elora is very sheltered and she is finding that her eyes are starting to open and see things she never saw before. Most of the book is of them collecting Goldarium and venturing further than they ever have before, but still find journal entries that hint at something huge but never telling them much, which is frustrating.

This is M/F and started slow burn in book 1 but certainly heats up in book 2.

There is another cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to finding out more about Neverland and the secrets that the Paradise Falls Council have been

[Angela Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

LCA did it to me again! I gobbled up this continuing story like a starved woman at an all you can eat buffet. She puts so much thought and description into her worlds you feel like part of it sometimes. Even with the books being a year apart, I fell right back into her trap!

Elora and Cullum find themselves back in Neverwood facing the life threatening dangers to collect Goldarium to keep Paradis Falls lights on (literally). Their investigation continues as they learn more about the strange world of Neverwood. What is the counsel up to? (I have my thoughts on this but don’t want to ruin it for the rest of you.) why and how do they have so much control over this the town? I worry about those leaving for university because they never come back; I wonder if they ever really leave? I think the counselor does nefarious things and no one ever really leaves except the gold keepers and only to Neverwood. So many thought! Can’t wait to read book 3 and hopefully learn if my thoughts were on the mark and who this person in the shadows is?

[Miss E · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complicated relationship between the two gold keepers of Paradise Falls is challenged above and beyond in this second book. While they are in Paradise Falls, Elora and Callum must remain enemies. Things must continue as they always have - The Council is always watching.
But when they travel to Neverwood, to collect Goldarium, they fall back into helping eachother and wanting more - so much more. They follow the combined path and encounter more journals from their fathers and one entry raises more questions than the previous.
I love the two main characters, even when I want to smack them over the head from time to time. Besides them, I hope we get to meet the tree fellow again in the next book.
Each book has ended with a chapter from “Unknown”. I can’t wait to find out who is helping them from the shadows. There are so many questions we need answers to and I’m completely hooked (even without an actuall cliffhanger) for book 3.
An awesome and action filled series, with a slowburn romance.

[Samantha Silensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get to see so much more to Neverwood than I thought we would, and it’s so much bigger than I expected it to be. I know they discussed how long their fathers were in Neverwood on some trips, but i never imagined it would have different parts the way it does. It actually makes me love it a little more. It seems the deeper into Neverwood we go, the more dangerous it gets. Which means there’s never any lack of action and danger.
The intensity Callum has towards Elora tells me the feelings they’ve explored in Neverwood were there long before they were going by themselves. And Elora definitely has noticed how attracted to Him she is back home, even if she was in denial. I do think Callums intensity is part of the reason Elora is struggling so much when they come back home and he’s distant and cold again. I’m interested when it will finally explode back home and who will witness it.
The deeper they go the more they realize they’ll encounter both friend and foe. And the tricky part will be figuring out just who is which and who to trust when they need help.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely in love with this series. I am in love with the characters. I am in love with the fantastical world Lacey Carter Andersen has created.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Sinful Ever After is book two in the Royal Gold Keepers Series. Book one, Cursed Ever After, must be read before continuing onto book two.

Sinful Ever After is so well written. The characters are well developed. The struggle between Elora and Callum balancing life in Neverwood and Paradise Falls is angsty and so well done.

The plot is full of mysterious turns and adventures. I love the world that has been crafted in Neverwood as well as the scheming going on in Paradise Falls. I couldn’t put this book down. I stayed up late into the night reading.

I fully recommend this book. I can’t wait to read the third book, Bonded Ever After. I also can’t wait to check out other works by Lacey Carter Andersen. If you haven’t read book one, you need too. This series is amazing!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinful Ever After by Lacey Carter Andersen is book two in The Royal Gold Keepers Series. After reading the first book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands/eyes on this. Just like the one before I was absolutely entranced with the story. I read the book in a matter of hours; it was on the shorter side. The writing and worldbuilding was just as great. I was still able to picture everything clearly as I was reading. Callum and Elora still had fantastic dynamics between them and I really enjoyed reading more about them. I will say there were times I wanted to reach through my kindle to shake some sense into them. Avoiding doesn’t solve anything! Ahh! The story is getting more and more interesting. That cliffhanger though, I need book three!!! You so need to read the books in order as they’re not standalones. I wholeheartedly can’t wait to read more from this series and author. This is a definite recommendation.

Final review:
4 out of 5 stars

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This must be read in order to understand better but it's a good fantasy, this time we discover more about Neverwood and its differents realms with new dangers and creatures Elora and Callum must stick together even more than before if they hope to survive but is neverwood the dangerous place or their " home " could be the real danger for them.
If they get more linked in their adventures, while at home they must keep the charade of being competitors if not ennemies but it's becoming harder and harder

i really loved to discover more creatures but the part at Paradise falls is very frustrating i mean it's becoming a wonder why they simply don't stay in neverwood and let the city falls, some allies may leave but some new one could appears but knowing who to trust is difficult.


it's a good fantasy for young adults but this instalment has a lot of steamy scenes

[Lumie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens and Lacey Carter Anderson for the ARC.

Plot 3.5/5
Characters 3.5/5
Ending 3.5/5
Interest 3.75/5

Overall 3.5/5

-I was under the impression that this was a duology so I was getting worried that the plot wasn’t really going anywhere. There was a lot of smut for little intrigue which was unfortunate because I feel like there’s quite a lot of potential. I enjoy the magical forbidden and dangerous realm but it wasn’t used to its full potential in this book. It was very short and felt a little unnecessary to the story itself just a way to advance in the relationship.

-Speaking of the relationship, to much list for not enough love. I get that they’re attracted to each other but are technically forbidden but I still don’t understand why. Is it because they have to have different heirs? I don’t get it. Because of all this, I kind of got fed up with the characters themselves at some point.

-The ending was the same as everything else. I thought much more would happen and some stuff did eventually happen to advance in the story but I didn’t feel like the book overall was necessary and wished that it was longer and had more content plot wise. Now would I continue? I have to admit I am invested in the story so I would like to if given the opportunity.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, this series, is a wonderful mix of twisted faerie tale and political intrigue - I know that sounds like it shouldn't mix, but it works!

The book starts and ends in Paradise Falls, with the bulk looking at Elora and Callum's later trip to Neverwood. The world building in each place is well done, creating two conflicting worlds. In both cases, I want to see what happens next, and how they're going to inevitably crash into each other!

The main characters and engaging, and their relationship is believable, and a little heart-breaking, too.

There are so many questions still to be answered, and I hope they finally get their happy every after! I'm loving the whole universe, though.