Nothing could have prepared Sebastian and the elementals for what occurred on the beaches of Iona three months ago. In the aftermath of loss and betrayal, they’re left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives, recovering in their separate corners of the world. That is, until the long-lost kingdom invites them back to their shores for a festival of peace.
Isolated to the spirit plane, Isla Vasileia has received a quest from the ancient gods.
Ever since Isla took the magic from the elementals, the balance of nature has been greatly altered. Violent disasters have wreaked havoc across the kingdoms, decimating villages and tearing families apart. To bring the world back into balance, what was taken must somehow be restored.
When Isla finds herself back on the beaches of Iona, she reunites with Bri, Sebastian, and the former elementals, and they are thrust into a world of secrecy, fear, and lies. Danger lurks around every corner, but so does new love and a chance for a happy ending. Isla is once again caught in a game amongst gods, racing against fate and time to save the kingdoms from destruction, forced to make a decision that will change her world forever.
V.B. Lacey is an office manager by day and an avid reader-turned-writer by night. She grew up on stories of magic, love, and sarcasm, and equips her writing with all three. She lives in Texas with her supportive husband and two rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about morally grey characters and far-off kingdoms, you can find her reading (mostly fantasy and contemporary romance), playing board games, or spending time with friends.
"This all started on Iona. I bet you that's where it'll end."
*A huge thank you to Vanessa for allowing me to read an ARC of Forever Reign. All thoughts and comments are my own."
Forever Reign is book 2 in The Elementals of Iona duology. It is a spectacular follow-up to Long Live! It is full of political intrigue, character development, elemental magic, romance, and sacrifice. This duology has to read in order. Proceed with caution, because the following has spoilers for Long Live.
Forever Reign begins months after the events on the beach of Iona. Sebastian is trying to undo the damage done to his kingdom from two years under Celesine's control. The Elementals are learning to live without their magic, and attempting to find their place in society. Isla is missing, along with the Celesine. When everyone is invited back to Iona by the ruling Chamber, a mission in unearthed to stop the natural disasters plaguing the kingdoms.
What a fabulous conclusion to The Elementals of Iona! Forever Reign is more character driven than Long Live. Lacey takes the time to explore how all of the characters have been affected by the events on the beach, and what it means for their future. I loved the time spent with all of the characters, and the focus on several platonic friendships. Jade and Rynn's banter is fantastic, and Annalise's quick wit always made me smile.
Isla and Sebastian's connection is explored slowly, and is a feet kicking, butterfly inducing good time. The peak we got of him in Long Live is nothing compared to the man in Forever Reign. I was grateful to have his POV included. It was an asset in shaping the story. Kai and Aiden continue to be ultimate couple goals. Their love and humor is beautiful to see. Jade and Rynn...what a hilarious pairing. I didn't know I needed their banter and evolving friendship. They were a highlight for sure. What Lacey does so well is craft very distinct relationships (romantic and platonic) that each feel unique and special.
Lacey has created a fantastic duology full of my favorite things! Mystery, elemental magic, romance, humor, and found family. It has a little something for everyone. Highly recommend both books in this series, Long Live and Forever Reign!
"They were so desperate for him to heal. To hope. To live. Perhaps he did not want any of those things."
"Of course, mention her and he shows more signs of life than the last four months combined. Men..."
"Diplomacy went out the window when you spoke ill of those I call mine."
"Save that fire for me, love. I plan to be thoroughly burned by you."
A heartfelt story featuring swoony romance, a found family you’ll wish you were a part of, and the power of overcoming the darkness of your past. I loved seeing our favorite characters—along with some new, equally endearing ones—gather again to uncover corruption and secrets that once again threaten the world. I adored Lacey’s witty banter, the multiple romantic couples, the immersion in a new culture, the political intrigue, and the elemental magic. Lacey weaves an emotional story, one where you fear whether or not all of your beloved characters can possibly get their happy endings. No spoilers here—I’ll just say she does a great job leaving you on the edge of your seat and throwing twists and turns! All in all, this is a magical story and a satisfying conclusion!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), but this is an honest and voluntary review.
Forever Reign is the conclusion to the Elementals of Iona duology by V.B. Lacey. Long Live and Forever Reign follow the journey of Isla, a human, who ends up meeting 4 immortal beings: The Elementals. Each of the elementals has the power of one element: fire, earth, wind, water. I love that they each have such unique personalities that correspond to the element. For instance, Kai is very sweet and bubbly, not unlike the water she wields. Jade on the other hand is very grounded and is often the voice of reason, as the earth elemental.
Isla and the elementals must work together to figure out how this dark force is disturbing the balance of nature. The magic in this world is so beautiful, and I love the elemental aspect. There’s a beautiful sense of found family. There’s beautiful romance, without the spice. There’s some humor and wit. And there’s plenty of character development. No page in this book is wasted, and I was honestly impressed by how much these characters go through, without anything feeling convoluted. These books really have it all.
Forever Reign rounded out this duology so nicely, and I was highly satisfied with the ending. I didn’t want to leave these characters, but I know I’ll be able to revisit this duology again and again.
This book was an excellent follow-up for Long Live. It took us deeper into the realm of Iona and let us peer behind the veil of the enigmatic forgotten country.
The characters, although all flawed in their own way, were able to embark on a journey together, where each of them were able to grow and learn and adapt. The arcs for each individual were well-written and tied together beautifully. My one and only qualm lies in the occasionally abrupt statements of things that should already be apparent to the reader and in no need of explaination; meaning that the author needs to remember to rely a little more on the intelligence of the readers at times rather than stating the obvious. This, however, is a small issue that doesn't detract too much from the compelling story itself.
The journey was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing how things would play out, and I was not at all disappointed with the way it all eventually fell into place.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is that unlike most other books, not only the main character got to shine; each of our party were able to have their own moment in the sun. The multiple POVs allowed for each one to prove themselves, and none of them could have been heroes without the support of the others. It was a truly refreshing take on narrative, which breaks away from your typical stories that too often hinge on just the main character alone. It really cements the found family aspect of the book and shows that the unit holds greater power than the individual.
Overall, a great read with a little room to grow. I would definitely be interested in future books from V.B. Lacey!
(I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I loved this duology! There’s humor, friendship and fantasy. All of these characters are so lovable!! They have such diverse characteristics and personalities, yet all of their POVs are written in endearing and relatable ways. The friendships and relationships were adorable and so fun to read about. All the different character dynamics, and how they intertwined was definitely one of my favorite aspects of these books! I will say, I didn’t find this installment asssss gripping as the first, but it still wrapped it up in a great way, IMO. Despite there being just a ton of minor conflicts going on throughout, the ending was too good. Oh, and Papa reminded me of my sweet dad 🥲 The only thing that would have made this perfect is more Kai and Aidan / Seb and Isla content, a few less side plots lol… maybe we just need more stories from this universe 😂🤷♀️ overall really enjoyed these, and can’t wait to see what Lacey has in store for us next! Don’t wanna say goodbye to Isla and the gang 😭
Bold, sweeping, and heart-wrenchingly romantic, Forever Reign provides a gloriously epic conclusion to what is by far one of my favorite romantic fantasy duologies. Driven by a cast of beautiful, flawed characters and held together by stunning prose, V.B. Lacey has created a world and a story I would be happy to get lost in, again and again.
This is a breathtaking conclusion to a fantastic fantasy duology. Sebastian and the now-mortal elementals are left to pick up the pieces of their lives after the events on Iona, recovering in their separate corners of the world. However, when the long-hidden kingdom requests their presence to iron out details of trade as they emerge into the world, they join forces again. Isla, isolated to the spirit plane, has received a quest from the Primordial gods - find the artifact and save the world. When she took the magic from the elementals, the balance of nature was altered and the world was in danger. Violent disasters have wreaked havoc across the kingdoms, decimating villages and tearing villages apart. To bring the world back into balance, what was taken must somehow be restored.
Lacey masterfully manages to infuse SO MUCH character and relationship growth into this story, which you KNOW that I love. The character and relationship dynamics are expertly woven, and each character is given ample space to grow. Rynn and Sebastian's character arcs, in particular, stand out. The story does justice to all these complex characters, and the ending ties up their narratives beautifully. The world-building and magic system are superb, with a perfect balance of politics.
This is a gorgeous story that I highly recommend to all fantasy enthusiasts. Loved, loved this duology and cannot wait to see what Lacey will do next!
Thanks to the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
You know what, the last time I was so into a found-family group of people with super powers, I was reading Aurora Rising.
This duology deserves so much more hype because not only does it have all the best tropes, it's also a high-quality read. The plot moves at a decent pace, and everything makes sense. Even if you feel a character made a stupid decision, you can be sure that all the other characters are gonna call him out on it. The self-awareness is off the charts 😂
Personally, I loved how each of the characters (and there were A LOT of them) was equally important, superpowered or not. Nothing was glossed over and each important decision was talked about. Also, one more specific thing this book does better than so many others is the "aftermath." Some dramatic things happened in the series, and each time it was heavily talked about how everyone felt about it in the days afterwards, how those decisions affected the people who were involved.
All in all, a very satisfying series that brought all the best feels ♥
I really struggled to get through this book. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. HERE THEY COME. It seemed like the whole plot was to get rid of the elements to appease the order, but it took hundreds of hundreds of pages with very little happening until the very end. Celestine coming back felt inconsequential. The elementals wishing for mortality felt unlikely with the exception of Kai and Aiden. Rynn and Annalise’s relationship felt overly convenient, especially since he has a history of harming woman in his raging state. But who cares about that? Certainly not the friends of the woman he harmed or the friends of the woman he’s now in love with. & I definitely did not love the 30 pages at the end of Isla living at home before deciding she wanted to live with Sebastian. Was that truly necessary? Gahhhhh.
Oh my boy! I am happy with how things happened, I mean, they were dramatic but not overly so and I enjoyed that simplicity of how things were solved, also, am I going to spend the next few days *cough* (months) thinking about Sebastian??????!! well, duh, I will. This dude is sooooooooooooooooo amazing and for some reason, even though things happened fast between him and Isla, I love their relationship. Also, I AM FREAKING HAPPY about Aidan and Kai, also, things with Anna and Rynn seemed a little bit forced but what can I say, I'm happy their happy. And that bonus chapter made my month, I just love this book. AND NO SPICE, that makes me extremely happy. Love this one and can't wait to read the prequel about Kai and Aidan. (fingers crosses to have a glimpse of Seb there)
Forever Reign is the exciting and emotional conclusion to the Elements of Iona duology.
A few months have passed since the events on Iona that left our characters shattered and heartbroken. While the Elementals are figuring out how to live without their elements, Sebastian tries to focus on his kingdom and rebuilding after the devastation wrought while under Celestine's control. Isla has been drifting in the spirit plane when the Primeval gods come to her with a message - recover the Dagger of Volnus to restore the elements and save the world from destruction. The kingdom of Iona is ready to participate in trade again, and invites rulers from the other three kingdoms for a week of deliberations and celebration. Isla believes she can find the dagger on Iona and finally restore balance. What started on Iona will end on Iona, but at what cost?
I absolutely loved this epic conclusion to the Elements of Iona duology. The ending of Long Live left me just as shattered as our characters, so I was eager to revisit this world and find out what happened. I thought this second book was well written and well paced – I could hardly put it down. Being back on Iona, we learn much more about this mysterious land. We also see more from the other monarchs and meet some exciting new characters. This book also had some excellent character development, especially among the Elementals. Being without their elements, they have had to navigate who they are at their core, and what kind of life they want to lead as mortals. Like Book 1, this book is told from multiple POVs, so we really get a sense of each character and their personalities. I especially loved Sebastian’s chapters – I love him and he must be protected at all costs! He had a great character arc, and we really see him shining in this book. Isla is our self-sacrificing heroine, and while this part of her personality did not change, she is learning to accept help and all the love coming her way, and what it means for her to be happy. The romance was also wonderful! This is a no-spice series, but don’t let that sway you – there is still plenty of romance, tension, and longing, and it just makes me kick my feet when reading it.
I just loved this unique fantasy series, and I am quite happy with how book two wrapped things up for all our characters. Thank you so much to V.B. Lacey for an electronic advanced reader copy of this book! I loved it so much!
An epic conclusion to the Elementals of Iona Duology! Forever Reign continues the adventure started in Long Live with a cozier plot line that follows each character through multiple POVs. This story solidifies the found family and tension filled romances from the first novel, with the introduction of some great new characters (Annalise is one of my favorites!) and political intrigue. A beautiful conclusion to an epic fantasy romance duology! V.B. Lacey is now an auto-buy author for me!
Favorite quotes below 👇🏼
“If a dress could kill, he would surely be buried at her feet by now.”
“I know the darkness you fear within yourself, the one that whispers to you when anxiety clouds your mind, telling you you’re not strong to fight. But you are. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
“Her body craved him, her soul dang for him, her heart beat for him.”
“Save that fire for me, love. I plan to be thoroughly burned by you.”
I went back and forth when deciding my rating for this book, because although I liked it, I wasn't head over heels for it.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this story as much as book one. Considering how open the ending was, I expected this story to be faster-paced and filled with more urgency, but it lacked that until the ending. Because of this, I did put this down quite a bit. This duet didn't pan out the way I expected, but it could be your cup of tea.
If you're looking for a simple, easy-to-follow, elemental fantasy duet, then you might want to check out The Elementals of Iona books.
Honestly, it’s a miracle I got through this book. The writing was so boring and weak. Yes the plot line was ok, hence the star, but overall it just fell so flat for me. Too cheesy. As I was reading my brain was just chirping “blah blah blah”. Very predictable. I’m surprised it was a DNF (for me). Happy to hear other people enjoyed it, but definitely not my cup of tea.
***Huge thank you to V.B. Lacey for sending me this eARC***
Did I finish this book in about two days? Yes. Was I freaking out while reading this book? Yes. Did I not want to eat dinner because of the hold this book had on me? Yes. Did I stay up until 2 am to finish this book? Yes.
I could go on and on about the things I did or didn’t do to finish this book. The grip it has in me is just insane. My habit of biting my nails almost came back in full force because I was so nervous of what was going on. I am in love with this book & this duology! Omg so in love with ALL of the characters. There’s not one that I didn’t like. Yes even the villains were so good.
The growth of each of the characters was so well done I was rooting for them all. How can I choose a favorite? I can’t… *cough*it’s Sebastian*cough*. What? So swoony 🫠. I think I also fell more in love with Kai & Aiden in this one. Really though I loved them all. I just want to gather them all up & give them hugs & carry them around with me. I laughed & cried. The tension in this… ugh wonderful!
This has made it into the top of my book list for 2024. Highly, highly recommend you pick up this duology. You will not be disappointed. Perfection. Everything I love about reading & the fantasy genre. 🧑🍳 😘.
In the second and final part of this series we get an answer to what happened to Isla after she had the powers of the Elementals and was stabbed with the dagger. In this part you will find out more political games that are being played. Because why do Ioanans suddenly want to trade and join in with the rest of the world? And is everything there as perfect as it seems? Who's in charge there?
I already liked the characters from the first part but now I love them even more! The reasons they had. The value of life. What if you had so much power and immortality. What do you decide is best for humanity? What a beautiful story. It is a book that will fly you through and keep you captivated. Takes you into a world that searches for balance.
Thankyou V.B. Lacey for being part of the ARC team!
This is the second book in the Elementals of Iona duology, a fantasy romance series. Tropes include elemental magic, a quest, found family, hidden identities, touch him and die and banter. This book is spice free but does include some intimate moments (kissing, touching, holding).
The Lovely: I loved the relationship between the FMC and MMC and that made the ending all the more heartbreaking (don’t worry, there is a HEA eventually). We even got to see my favorite micro-trope - he bathes her. It was a beautiful moment. I also loved the ending “conflict” scene as everything came together. I thought it was a rewarding way to acknowledge the struggles each character had faced.
The Mundane: I would have liked to have seen a little more after the ending - especially how the characters fared long term. I think this is because I fell in love with them - the main characters and the elementals - and I became so invested in their future.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 1/5 Flames
Recommendation: If you’re looking for a spice free fantasy romance that is still focused on relationship and world building, I think you would like this book.
Forever Reign is book 2 of the Elementals of Iona series. I received this as an ARC from the author after reading the book 1. The story continues with Isla on the spirit plain after she took all 5 elements into herself. She's been trapped for months while learning the histories of the world, while the 4 ex-Elementals try to find a place for themselves after losing their elements and gaining their mortality. Some having harder times than others after the beach showdown from Book 1. The beginning was a bit slow, but once all parties were were gathered together again for the week-long invite to the lost-island kingdom of Iona. With dinners and balls, politics and drama, hidden tunnels, secrets, and a powerful Chamber of Iona at the forefront of it all. The story has a happy ending, but not before almost losing a few key players in the game, and the returning evil Celestines big return.
Although it had the slow start, the book was good. I really enjoyed the bond between Isla and the Elements that she carried inside her. How they worked with her throughout their time inside her. I also enjoyed the love connections between Rynn and Annalise, his instant draw to her and her exasperation with everything while trying to do her job. Kai and Aiden had a lovely life that came with a child by the end. Even Jades struggle after losing her connection to her earth and the betrayal of Celestine. Their stories were all interesting in separate ways Just didn't connect with the characters as I would like too when reading. The writing was good, but i found the finale blow to Celestine didn't have the impact it built up for - atleast to me. I guess I had higher hopes for the book, that's not saying the story and writing wasn't good. It's an easy to enjoy and an easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Long Live had me glued to the edge of my seat, and I knew that it would be hard to surpass it. Forever Reign had me absolutely entranced and obsessed, unwilling to put it down for anything.
Isla's journey from where she started at the beginning of Long Live is beautiful. She's learned to set boundaries, when to push herself and when it's okay to just sit and feel. She's learned what she's capable of. Sebastian's growth also amazed me. After what he has been through, he understandably had some mental obstacles to overcome. He became more fleshed-out and more real in my mind. I love him so much and he will forever be on my book boyfriend list.
Kai and Aiden are forever my favorites.
V.B. Lacey explored all of the characters in a heartbreaking but beautiful way. The struggles and fears that the characters go through throughout the course of this book are almost tangible. I absolutely loved getting to see Jade go from being almost jaded (ha) to being open to communication and growing. I adored seeing Rynn learn the errors of his past transgressions and learn to push past the accountability that comes with having to face your own past mistakes.
I love the way that the story was concluded, and the message that came with it that sometimes there's power in being powerless. Sometimes we don't need what we think we do to go on, and sometimes there's strength in depending on others to help us through.
I really loved this duology. I fell in love with each character in a different way and it’s bittersweet the story is over.
I did feel like the first half of the book was super dialogue and internal monologue heavy and not a lot happened. Once the back and forth was over and it was nearing the climax it got really good. The big fight scene is where my attention was really grabbed and I couldn’t put it down.
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is the superb ending to the Elements of Iona duology, and it’s the kind of ending that makes me sleep easier at night. In this romantasy, our sassy FMC returns to kick ass and take names all while wearing some mighty creative dresses. There are evil forces at work that must be defeated again so that everyone can be free to live their lives, but when the work is done as a TEAM, many of our characters are faced with the difficult question of, “What now?” Life looks totally different, but that different is extreme growth and development for many of our characters.
I have so many good things to say about this novel. There’s great mental health rep with characters dealing with anxiety and confessing to suffering past sexual abuse (off screen). Our characters are grieving and learning to accept help in the midst of grief. There’s healthy guy and girl best friendships, which I am ALWAYS skeptical of! But there’s no need for jealousy with these healthy, loving characters. You get to watch all of this from an excellent view as it is written in multi-POV, and we get inside the minds of several characters.
Not only is the book chock full of themes that squeeze your heartstrings, but it has a plot with some twists and turns. There’s some depth and complexity that I didn’t expect with what our FMC has to face on the island of Iona from the townspeople as well as the leadership, and that makes me love this story so much more. We get a beautiful HEA where all the loose ends become closed in one way or another, and I am imagining a world where they’re all still thriving. I already miss them so much!!
Two quotes I loved: -“They were simply two broken people, trying to sew together the pieces on a patchwork of their trauma.”
-“There was strength in leaning on others. There was courage in falling to one’s knees. There was power in humility.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 The ending of the Elementals of Iona duology is absolute PERFECTION!✨I will be recovering from this book simply because I have to let these characters go. But I’m so happy to know they are finally happy and at peace.
This romantasy has so much going for it: a fierce FMC, witty MMC, banter, enemies to lovers, no-spice romance, found family, and unique elemental magic! ✨
What I love most about this book is the raw emotions that I feel with these characters! I was smiling, grieving, hurting, and laughing with them throughout the book, and I think an author who can make a reader do that is truly special. And this is not just with one character, but with multiple! The different struggles that the individual characters experience are so well brought to light and handled, especially their anxiety and grief! The banter between these character is also just the best! Jade and Rynn have the most humorous, bickering friendship now, Aidan and Kai are couple goals, and Annalise is so incredibly sharp. I especially loved seeing Aidan and Kai’s relationship development. And finally, of course, the romantic relationship between Sebastian and Isla is the best slow burn!!!❤️🔥
The action in this book is fantastic! There are twists and turns throughout that kept me on my toes and wanting more. Every time I tried to put the book down, something else happens that I have to keep going! The plot kept me guessing the whole time, and that’s something I love to be a part of!
This series my go to recommendation now. It has everything a romantasy (or non-romantasy) reader could ask for! I can’t wait to see what comes next from V.B. Lacey!!!💜
VB Lacey's 'Forever Reign' is an unforgettable masterpiece that captured my heart with its storytelling brilliance. As the second book in a spellbinding duet, it solidifies Lacey's status as a masterful storyteller. The characters introduced in the first book grow even more endearing here, making them unforgettable. The pacing is perfect, blending riveting plot developments with deep emotional resonance. This duet is a must-read, especially for fans of elemental magic reminiscent of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' charming yet snarky princes and influential female protagonists. I'm eagerly anticipating what VB Lacey will create next!
This is the second book in a duology written by V.B. Lacey. Book 1: Long Live, is a story about a human who falls into league with 4 immortal elementals who wield control over the elements, and together they must put an end to a dark force that threatens the world as they know it. Book 2: Forever Reign, picks up where that story left off, and focuses heavily on the characters, as they find their own ways to navigate life after the life-changing events at the end of book 1.
And y’all, this book was worth the wait! This is only my second duology that I’ve read (the rest being long series), but I honestly feel like Lacey packed the punch of a longer series into these two books and it worked perfectly. 🤌🏼
First of all, I said in my reveiw of book 1 that I was swayed from the dark haired MMC to the light haired villain. And Forever Reign did not make me regret my decision 😍 I loved Sebastian from book 1, and was dying to see more of him, and book 2 delivers! He gets his own POV 🙌🏼 And I just have to say that men who call their women “love” are elite ✨🫠 and even for it being a no-spice romance, it’s swoon worthy! 😍
The political intrigue also steps up in this book, which I always love, but I think my favorite thing about this book (and this duology as a whole), was seeing the dynamic relationships that Lacey has written (both romantically, and platonically). The friendships are really well done, and I love the banter between this group 🖤
To sum it up, Lacey writes beautifully, and she’s created characters, friendships, and romance that will make you want to read this duology over and over again — with a satisfying ending! 🥰 Loved this series!!
Read if you love: ✨ a completed duology ✨ elemental magic ✨ no-spice romance ✨ political intrigue ✨ beautiful magic ✨ found family ✨ witty banter
Wow…. Just wow. Honestly, I’m so sad this duology is over. HOWEVER, I think it’s one of the best executed ones I’ve read. Thank you so much for giving me this gifted ARC. Simply divine.
In this second installment by @vblacey.books, we are back in the beautiful and deeply intricate world she has created following the POVs of the Elementals (Kai, Jade, Aiden, and Rynn), as well as “the dark god” Sebastian, and the FMC Isla. We were left on quite the cliffhanger in Long Live and Forever Reign begins about 2 months after the events on the beach, showing us how their new life is looking.
But it isn’t long before their crew is summoned to Iona for a “peace celebration” and Isla has suddenly returned. The mission she has been given by the Primeval gods has them on a tight timeline that will determine if the world collapses or Isla dies.
I’m trying not to give spoilers, but this book is PERFECTION when it comes to tying up loose ends in a way that brings action, angst, hopelessness into giggles and contentment. The romance between these characters (multiple couples) is so so so good and I loved that we got to know both Rynn and Sebastian more intricately.
This book has everything I needed and more. It has the perfect ending and I’m just so thrilled to have gotten to witness this work fall into place and I’ll recommend it always.
Forever Reign is a no spice but angsty, swoony, slow burn romance fantasy that has found family, elemental magic, panic disorder/ptsd/grief rep, forced proximity, witty banter, high stakes, plot twists and… can I say it? HEA. 🙈
As I sit here dwelling on this series, especially Forever Reign, I find myself entirely satisfied yet wanting more not because it wasn’t finished but because Lacey is just THAT good at making these characters and her words ignite life… and I’ll miss them. Maybe a little “after the HEA” novella, yes? 😉
These books and characters now have such a special place in my heart, I absolutely adored this duo-logy and I am so, so sad about how underrated it is. The lack of fanarts and edits are gonna make my hangover so much more worse. I think a part of why I took 8 whole months to complete this book was because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. And god, Isla and Sebastian were everything I hoped and wished for and more, I love them so much:
‘He couldn’t help the fact that he’d known her for years…had watched her and admired her from the hidden pockets of his mind, even while under Celesine’s control. She’d brought him the smallest amounts of peace in those times, a ray of sunshine breaking through an eternal storm. She felt like home. He didn’t want to let go.’
‘He continued his thought. “I wasn’t trying to imply it was an unwanted visit. You’re welcome”—with me, at all times, whenever you want—“here anytime.” Sebastian cleared his throat. Gods, what was this woman doing to him?’
“I’ve watched you for two years, Isla, and however lost I may have been to her control, you became the only thing I knew better than myself.”
“I want to know you in any life, in any way, Isla Vasileia. And if that means starting over, then that’s what we’ll do.”
‘I took my mother to watch the stars last night and told her about you. It was the first time she’s smiled in months. You bring me new joys every day, without even being here. Forever yours, S. He ended each letter the same way. And each time, her chest tightened.’
“I’ve always been yours, Sebastian,” she said, running her fingers through his hair and kissing his nose, then his cheek. “Then marry me, Isla Vasileia. Be my queen, my wife, my equal in every way.”
I LOVED and I mean absolutely loved this duology. A story of overcoming your past, your darkness, your fears and embracing yourself wholly. An emotional story beginning to end and Lacey writes it SO WELL. I highly enjoyed the witty banter between the characters, the found family (that I wish I could be apart of 🥹), the swoon worthy love. I cried so many tears during the conclusion of this series and definitely didn’t want to say goodbye to my favorite characters I’ve come to love. But the end, *chefs kiss*. So excited for you all to get to read this one soon, but while you’re waiting check out the first book -Long Live! I promise you won’t regret it.
If I’m being honest, I liked Long Live but I LOVED Forever Reign! What an amazing sequel and overall fantastic duology. I loved all the different storylines going on with the multi POV. The found family in this is unmatched and the romance is just *chef’s kiss*. Such a fantastic use of the elemental magic trope. So many plot twists that caught me by surprise. I am obsessed with every part of this book and I could not have imagined a better resolution.
Thank you so much VB Lacey for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!