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The Ever Seas #3
The Mist Thief
She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife.
Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize.
To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play.
Except her new husband makes not falling in love . . . challenging.
When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.
Welcome to another installment in the Ever Seas world where pirates, fae, and elves collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a morally gray cinnamon roll and the broken princess who steals his heart.
*This book is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA, and can be read before The Ever King/Queen, but to see the full impact of their story, it’s recommended to read that duet first. This series is set in the same world as the bestselling Broken Kingdoms series, but can be read independently, and readers are encouraged to read the list of triggers inside.*
Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize.
To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play.
Except her new husband makes not falling in love . . . challenging.
When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.
Welcome to another installment in the Ever Seas world where pirates, fae, and elves collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a morally gray cinnamon roll and the broken princess who steals his heart.
*This book is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA, and can be read before The Ever King/Queen, but to see the full impact of their story, it’s recommended to read that duet first. This series is set in the same world as the bestselling Broken Kingdoms series, but can be read independently, and readers are encouraged to read the list of triggers inside.*
452 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2024
3670 people are currently reading
57399 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Andrews
68 books6,836 followersWriting is a beautiful thing.
I consider myself blessed I'm able to do this for a living. I live for fantasy books as a reader and author. I adore books like An Ember in the Ashes, The Night Angel Trilogy, Harry Potter, The Great Library series...I could go on.
Before I write I have four young humans I keep alive and love them to the stars and back again. I live in Utah with my sexy husband, the kiddos, two paranoid dogs, and a sinister cat. Between finishing a second degree, running a business, and eating too much chocolate, I love writing early in the morning when no one is awake. If you can't tell, I basically function on caffeine.
I consider myself blessed I'm able to do this for a living. I live for fantasy books as a reader and author. I adore books like An Ember in the Ashes, The Night Angel Trilogy, Harry Potter, The Great Library series...I could go on.
Before I write I have four young humans I keep alive and love them to the stars and back again. I live in Utah with my sexy husband, the kiddos, two paranoid dogs, and a sinister cat. Between finishing a second degree, running a business, and eating too much chocolate, I love writing early in the morning when no one is awake. If you can't tell, I basically function on caffeine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,510 reviews
November 22, 2024
“𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏, 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖.” 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅. “𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕.”
ARRANGE 👏 MARRIAGE 👏 DONE 👏 RIGHT👏
"𝑯𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅?"
"𝑾𝒊𝒇𝒆?"
"𝑰 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏."
I love, love, LOVE arranged marriage tropes, and this book proves once again why it's my favorite especially in fantasy! I devoured this book. Yes, it’s #3 in the Ever Seas series, and while I do recommend reading the first two to really understand the main characters, honestly, you could jump into this one without them.
The story follows Jonas, who must marry Skadi to keep her magic from becoming a danger to the other kingdoms. Jonas, ever loyal to his vow to protect the kingdom at all costs, sees this as the best solution...little did he know he’d end up falling in love with her 🥹
First of all, Jonas is the ultimate flirtatious mmc with a reputation for being experienced, while Skadi has spent her life "living to comply," knowing what was expected of her as the future heir to her kingdom. Unfortunately for her, Jonas isn’t interested in compliance he wants fire, and he’ll do whatever it takes to bring it out of her. 🔥 Let's not forget their banter, it's so so good!!!
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒔.”
Beyond the marriage, there’s a deeper plot that forces Jonas and Skadi to join forces. Watching their relationship develop both as husband and wife and as partners in their mission is what makes this book so freaking amazing 😍 Their journey isn’t just about love it’s about growth, and seeing them become better versions of themselves is EVERYTHING
OH and the spice is SPICIN’. 🌶️
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ buddy reading this with my girl Alexia♡ I loved the first two so i can't wait for this one!!
ARRANGE 👏 MARRIAGE 👏 DONE 👏 RIGHT👏
"𝑯𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅?"
"𝑾𝒊𝒇𝒆?"
"𝑰 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏."
I love, love, LOVE arranged marriage tropes, and this book proves once again why it's my favorite especially in fantasy! I devoured this book. Yes, it’s #3 in the Ever Seas series, and while I do recommend reading the first two to really understand the main characters, honestly, you could jump into this one without them.
The story follows Jonas, who must marry Skadi to keep her magic from becoming a danger to the other kingdoms. Jonas, ever loyal to his vow to protect the kingdom at all costs, sees this as the best solution...little did he know he’d end up falling in love with her 🥹
First of all, Jonas is the ultimate flirtatious mmc with a reputation for being experienced, while Skadi has spent her life "living to comply," knowing what was expected of her as the future heir to her kingdom. Unfortunately for her, Jonas isn’t interested in compliance he wants fire, and he’ll do whatever it takes to bring it out of her. 🔥 Let's not forget their banter, it's so so good!!!
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒔.”
Beyond the marriage, there’s a deeper plot that forces Jonas and Skadi to join forces. Watching their relationship develop both as husband and wife and as partners in their mission is what makes this book so freaking amazing 😍 Their journey isn’t just about love it’s about growth, and seeing them become better versions of themselves is EVERYTHING
OH and the spice is SPICIN’. 🌶️
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ buddy reading this with my girl Alexia♡ I loved the first two so i can't wait for this one!!
Want to read
July 1, 2024HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!
AND IT'S FINALLY MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
AND IT'S FINALLY MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
July 5, 2024
☆4 Home Sweet Feral Kingdom.
➳❦ Jonas chuckled and kissed the top of my head again. “You are all soft inside.” “Not a monster?” Jonas stilled for a breath, then leaned forward, drawing his cheek alongside mine. “Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way.”
This man…so much highlighting…swooning couch… 📚🫠📚
➳❦ “They can kiss my ass, Fire,” he whispered from the corner of his mouth. “You’ll walk with me where you belong.” A bloom of heat filled my chest. “As you say, Nightmare.”
This adult fairy tale romance is first and foremost about acceptance and unconditional love from one’s partner, one’s chosen family, and oneself, and there's strong mental health rep. Jonas maneuvers himself into an arranged marriage in order to ally recently warring factions, providing Skadi with a sudden rescue from her hellish existence. She is used to being equated with her supposedly vicious, evil powers and manipulated or silenced by whichever man claims authority over her. She's understandably withdrawn and guarded, though we don't fully grasp why until much, much later.
➳❦ But in this—a vow I believed was wretched—I managed to slip into a realm where the darkest edges of folk were accepted, where fear was a constant, where folk loved fiercely through every shadow of their own villainous power.
➳❦ His palm cupped the side of my face, his body pressed me into the post of the bed. “Trust me, be you, Skadi—just you—and that will be enough.” 🥰
Jonas and his wild, wonderful, ride-or-die extended family provide that soft place to land for Skadi so she can begin healing from so many years of internalized abuse and depression. In Skadi, Jonas finds intimate acceptance and support for his own anxiety/panic attacks around fear for his loved ones. There are tons of beloved character cameos; I especially loved the dynamic between Skadi and her gruff, mischievous, amazing new father-in-law.
➳❦ “Look, girl, when words and fear are pushed into your mind over and over, it becomes a truth. Magic might even shift to fit the words. Sometimes it causes our true selves to retreat to some dark place inside us.” “You sound like you speak from experience.”
One of my favorite aspects of the whole book is the early tension and banter between our MCs; it's just delectable.
➳❦ “I wasn’t certain how fiercely you might wish to murder me, so I thought you might prefer your own space.” A strange, natural grin tugged at my lips. How long had it been since I smiled in earnest? “Probably wise. You are irksome and I do like to murder irksome things.” Chin lifted, I strode past the prince. “Noted, Wife.” 🤭
➳❦ If only she knew she was a poison in my veins and I wanted to drown in it.
➳❦ "I would be delighted to make you come under my hands, my tongue, or on my cock.” Horrid, vicious, awful man. “Says every overly ambitious fool.” He jabbed a finger toward me. “The corridors of this palace will be filled with cries of my name from your lips.” Bleeding gods. “Wonderful.” I tossed my hands up. “Something to look forward to.” “Can’t wait,” he snapped. “Good.” “Upon your word, Wife.” 🤣
And then there was the steam. Cheers, Ms. Andrews. 🔥🍻
➳❦ If he had not proven his gentle hands and words time and again, I might shudder in fear at the way Jonas looked at me, the way he hovered over me, like he had every plan to destroy me before sunrise. Gods, I hoped he did. 🥵
Btw I’m not sure why this story’s been labeled “dark fantasy.” I found it cozy as hell for the most part.☺️ I mean the H and his buddies build her a damn library for her beloved fairy tales, and she gets adopted by the greatest family of royally devious nutcases ever. There be pirates, fae, elves AND Vikings just chillin'.
➳❦ It was a girlish dream, to see the hero storming the castle to rescue his beloved. In every dream where my life might unravel like the romantic fae tales of my books, I never anticipated my hero would be blood-soaked and murderous without a hint of honorable intentions on his features. He was my sweetest nightmare. ❤️🩹
Ok so I’ve been vacillating between 4-4.5 every five minutes because of how close the climax is to the end of the book. IT'STHISCLOSE. Everything I’d been waiting for to be named and confronted and held accountable gets rushed over--it was so odd. The story wants to call out truly despicable evil as a different kind of monster, so I was irked by these missed opportunities to finally give the reader (and Skadi) complete clarity and closure (WTF Grandpa Whiplash, who even are you?). I wanted a more conscious reckoning.
That said, I enjoyed the majority of the book a lot and will absolutely be reading Mira and Heartwalker’s hate-to-love-you grumpy-sunshine bodyguard thing whenever it comes along. Those two seem ripe for battle. 🔥🧨
~~~~~
I’ll be overjoyed if this is as good as Book 1 🙏
But honestly who wouldn’t want to be handed over as enemy war spoils to a guy everyone calls the Prince of Nightmares? 😱 Not sure what the problem is, Skadi. 😂 ⚔️ 🩶
➳❦ Jonas chuckled and kissed the top of my head again. “You are all soft inside.” “Not a monster?” Jonas stilled for a breath, then leaned forward, drawing his cheek alongside mine. “Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way.”
This man…so much highlighting…swooning couch… 📚🫠📚
➳❦ “They can kiss my ass, Fire,” he whispered from the corner of his mouth. “You’ll walk with me where you belong.” A bloom of heat filled my chest. “As you say, Nightmare.”
This adult fairy tale romance is first and foremost about acceptance and unconditional love from one’s partner, one’s chosen family, and oneself, and there's strong mental health rep. Jonas maneuvers himself into an arranged marriage in order to ally recently warring factions, providing Skadi with a sudden rescue from her hellish existence. She is used to being equated with her supposedly vicious, evil powers and manipulated or silenced by whichever man claims authority over her. She's understandably withdrawn and guarded, though we don't fully grasp why until much, much later.
➳❦ But in this—a vow I believed was wretched—I managed to slip into a realm where the darkest edges of folk were accepted, where fear was a constant, where folk loved fiercely through every shadow of their own villainous power.
➳❦ His palm cupped the side of my face, his body pressed me into the post of the bed. “Trust me, be you, Skadi—just you—and that will be enough.” 🥰
Jonas and his wild, wonderful, ride-or-die extended family provide that soft place to land for Skadi so she can begin healing from so many years of internalized abuse and depression. In Skadi, Jonas finds intimate acceptance and support for his own anxiety/panic attacks around fear for his loved ones. There are tons of beloved character cameos; I especially loved the dynamic between Skadi and her gruff, mischievous, amazing new father-in-law.
➳❦ “Look, girl, when words and fear are pushed into your mind over and over, it becomes a truth. Magic might even shift to fit the words. Sometimes it causes our true selves to retreat to some dark place inside us.” “You sound like you speak from experience.”
One of my favorite aspects of the whole book is the early tension and banter between our MCs; it's just delectable.
➳❦ “I wasn’t certain how fiercely you might wish to murder me, so I thought you might prefer your own space.” A strange, natural grin tugged at my lips. How long had it been since I smiled in earnest? “Probably wise. You are irksome and I do like to murder irksome things.” Chin lifted, I strode past the prince. “Noted, Wife.” 🤭
➳❦ If only she knew she was a poison in my veins and I wanted to drown in it.
➳❦ "I would be delighted to make you come under my hands, my tongue, or on my cock.” Horrid, vicious, awful man. “Says every overly ambitious fool.” He jabbed a finger toward me. “The corridors of this palace will be filled with cries of my name from your lips.” Bleeding gods. “Wonderful.” I tossed my hands up. “Something to look forward to.” “Can’t wait,” he snapped. “Good.” “Upon your word, Wife.” 🤣
And then there was the steam. Cheers, Ms. Andrews. 🔥🍻
➳❦ If he had not proven his gentle hands and words time and again, I might shudder in fear at the way Jonas looked at me, the way he hovered over me, like he had every plan to destroy me before sunrise. Gods, I hoped he did. 🥵
Btw I’m not sure why this story’s been labeled “dark fantasy.” I found it cozy as hell for the most part.☺️ I mean the H and his buddies build her a damn library for her beloved fairy tales, and she gets adopted by the greatest family of royally devious nutcases ever. There be pirates, fae, elves AND Vikings just chillin'.
➳❦ It was a girlish dream, to see the hero storming the castle to rescue his beloved. In every dream where my life might unravel like the romantic fae tales of my books, I never anticipated my hero would be blood-soaked and murderous without a hint of honorable intentions on his features. He was my sweetest nightmare. ❤️🩹
Ok so I’ve been vacillating between 4-4.5 every five minutes because of how close the climax is to the end of the book. IT'STHISCLOSE. Everything I’d been waiting for to be named and confronted and held accountable gets rushed over--it was so odd. The story wants to call out truly despicable evil as a different kind of monster, so I was irked by these missed opportunities to finally give the reader (and Skadi) complete clarity and closure (WTF Grandpa Whiplash, who even are you?). I wanted a more conscious reckoning.
That said, I enjoyed the majority of the book a lot and will absolutely be reading Mira and Heartwalker’s hate-to-love-you grumpy-sunshine bodyguard thing whenever it comes along. Those two seem ripe for battle. 🔥🧨
~~~~~
I’ll be overjoyed if this is as good as Book 1 🙏
But honestly who wouldn’t want to be handed over as enemy war spoils to a guy everyone calls the Prince of Nightmares? 😱 Not sure what the problem is, Skadi. 😂 ⚔️ 🩶
July 14, 2024
Rated 4.5/5 stars
July 11, 2024
3.5 ✨️ read for me.
Normally, I devour books within one or two days, but it took me several days to get through this book. It felt like 90% of the dialogue was one of the MC's talking to other side characters, and then 10% of the dialog it was actually the MC's talking. The first 100 pages were all political talks about the marriage of convenience, and I just felt like after 100 pages, it dragged on too long.
There were way too many other people in this story I couldn't keep everyone straight in my head. I was constantly stopping to try and figure out who was related to who, etc. It genuinely felt like I had to keep 30 people straight, and I just wanted more on page time with the two MC's.
I'll still recommend this book, but I'm absolutely dying for Mira and "hearttalker"(lol iykyk) in the next book. I can already tell they will probably be characters that I connect more to. I just struggled with this one a little, which caught me off guard because I absolutely loved the Ever King & the Ever Queen.
Normally, I devour books within one or two days, but it took me several days to get through this book. It felt like 90% of the dialogue was one of the MC's talking to other side characters, and then 10% of the dialog it was actually the MC's talking. The first 100 pages were all political talks about the marriage of convenience, and I just felt like after 100 pages, it dragged on too long.
There were way too many other people in this story I couldn't keep everyone straight in my head. I was constantly stopping to try and figure out who was related to who, etc. It genuinely felt like I had to keep 30 people straight, and I just wanted more on page time with the two MC's.
I'll still recommend this book, but I'm absolutely dying for Mira and "hearttalker"(lol iykyk) in the next book. I can already tell they will probably be characters that I connect more to. I just struggled with this one a little, which caught me off guard because I absolutely loved the Ever King & the Ever Queen.
December 13, 2025
4.5 stars
I almost gave this a full 5 stars simply because Kase said Skadi can call him Daj 😭
This was probably one of the best installments in this entire universe of books. Jonas was such a great MMC, very similar in character to Ari, who was another favorite of mine. And Skadi was the badass FMC I've been waiting for in this series. Finally, a woman who is a warrior who is actually depicted as a warrior.
There were a couple things in this one that were just too ridiculous for my tastes, but this series continues to provide ❤️
I almost gave this a full 5 stars simply because Kase said Skadi can call him Daj 😭
This was probably one of the best installments in this entire universe of books. Jonas was such a great MMC, very similar in character to Ari, who was another favorite of mine. And Skadi was the badass FMC I've been waiting for in this series. Finally, a woman who is a warrior who is actually depicted as a warrior.
There were a couple things in this one that were just too ridiculous for my tastes, but this series continues to provide ❤️
June 29, 2024
But what the princess never expected was the touch of an enemy thawing the ice in her heart, a kingdom of cutthroats becoming home, and a prince of nightmares loving the monster in the mists.
4.5 stars
How to snare a husband – threaten to kill him.
While I haven’t read The Broken Kingdoms series yet, it’s on my want to buy list and this book just made me wish I’d win the lottery so I could just buy them all and binge them! Soon, wallet, soon you will cry.
“Mistake my wife for yours again and I’ll kill you. Understand?”
The Mist Thief is a spin-off of The Ever Seas duology, which I’ve read, and is in turn a spin-off of The Broken Kingdom series. So if you’re looking for a binge worthy set, this is 12 books you can read straight through lmao
“I have no thoughts.” My voice was low, a soft rasp. “What would be the point?”
The Mist Thief
Skadi was such a sad creature! Like, she was incredibly strong but the shit she’s been through, not fair. She was so hesitant of her powers and people and I love how the fae brought her out of her shell and her head – allowed her to actually live.
“That fae did not touch you, but I saw your eyes, your reaction. Someone has touched you and not kindly.” I tugged on her bottom lip with my thumb. “I’ll be needing a name…If he is still breathing, I would like to change that, Wife.”
The Nightmare
Jonas. The Nightmare Prince. I love him. I love how quickly obsessed he becomes of Skadi, and how much he did for her, helped her, how much he cared about his family and kingdom.
Here, darkness was beautiful.
Here, we schemed.
Here, family didn’t mean blood.
Here, was home.
The found family aspect for Skadi was so beautiful 😭 Watching her realize that how she grew up wasn’t normal, wasn’t right or nurturing or loving but wrong. Seeing the interactions between all of them was so heart warming. The birthday heist!! That was so cute!! I was creepily grinning the entire time.
She wanted her fire to remain doused, little did she know her husband had plans to fan the flames until we were both set ablaze.
Thank you to the author for sending me a PR box with a physical ARC! You can find my unboxing post here!
___________
Update who-the-fuck-knows-what's-happening:
So, the PR package was dropped off by a neighbour 😅 This was a rollercoaster 😂 but YAY!!!
Update 2:
The post office lost my PR package and I’m so upset 😭 The author sent me an eARC so I can still read it but, man, of all the packages for this to happen to 😭😭
Update:
The author is sending me a physical ARC *dies*
____
Arranged marriage you say?🥹
4.5 stars
How to snare a husband – threaten to kill him.
While I haven’t read The Broken Kingdoms series yet, it’s on my want to buy list and this book just made me wish I’d win the lottery so I could just buy them all and binge them! Soon, wallet, soon you will cry.
“Mistake my wife for yours again and I’ll kill you. Understand?”
The Mist Thief is a spin-off of The Ever Seas duology, which I’ve read, and is in turn a spin-off of The Broken Kingdom series. So if you’re looking for a binge worthy set, this is 12 books you can read straight through lmao
“I have no thoughts.” My voice was low, a soft rasp. “What would be the point?”
The Mist Thief
Skadi was such a sad creature! Like, she was incredibly strong but the shit she’s been through, not fair. She was so hesitant of her powers and people and I love how the fae brought her out of her shell and her head – allowed her to actually live.
“That fae did not touch you, but I saw your eyes, your reaction. Someone has touched you and not kindly.” I tugged on her bottom lip with my thumb. “I’ll be needing a name…If he is still breathing, I would like to change that, Wife.”
The Nightmare
Jonas. The Nightmare Prince. I love him. I love how quickly obsessed he becomes of Skadi, and how much he did for her, helped her, how much he cared about his family and kingdom.
Here, darkness was beautiful.
Here, we schemed.
Here, family didn’t mean blood.
Here, was home.
The found family aspect for Skadi was so beautiful 😭 Watching her realize that how she grew up wasn’t normal, wasn’t right or nurturing or loving but wrong. Seeing the interactions between all of them was so heart warming. The birthday heist!! That was so cute!! I was creepily grinning the entire time.
She wanted her fire to remain doused, little did she know her husband had plans to fan the flames until we were both set ablaze.
Thank you to the author for sending me a PR box with a physical ARC! You can find my unboxing post here!
___________
Update who-the-fuck-knows-what's-happening:
So, the PR package was dropped off by a neighbour 😅 This was a rollercoaster 😂 but YAY!!!
Update 2:
The post office lost my PR package and I’m so upset 😭 The author sent me an eARC so I can still read it but, man, of all the packages for this to happen to 😭😭
Update:
The author is sending me a physical ARC *dies*
____
Arranged marriage you say?🥹
July 10, 2024
I loved the Ever King and Queen and was so eager for this book to release. I absolutely hated it. Skadi was incredible in the other books and she is just whiny and weak and lets simple things trap her while being the “most powerful monster”. But always a damsel in distress. She is not funny, kind or smart in the book.
The first 400 pages were the same thought or concept repeated AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I am a fan of LJ Andrew’s but this read like a really bad fanfic. Plot is paper thin and in 500 pages, barely anything happens. I began skimming and skipping pages after the halfway mark. I just don’t understand the high rating for this book.
The first 400 pages were the same thought or concept repeated AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I am a fan of LJ Andrew’s but this read like a really bad fanfic. Plot is paper thin and in 500 pages, barely anything happens. I began skimming and skipping pages after the halfway mark. I just don’t understand the high rating for this book.
October 14, 2025
☆ 4.5 stars
“Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way."
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 506 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: L.J. Andrews
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 30 June 2024
What you can expect:
— Dark Fantasy Romance
— First Person X Dual-POV
— Jonas and Skadi Standalone
— Pirates, Vikings, Sirens, Elves and Fae
— Mental Health Rep
— Enemies-To-Lovers
— Arranged Marriage of Convenience
— Morally Grey Cinnamon Roll MMC X Broken Elven Princess
— "My Wife"
— Found Family
— "Who Did This To You"
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: descriptive scenes of torture, emotional & mental abuse, threats of harm, dubious consent (past, not between both main characters), self harm (past, recounted), thoughts of self harm, gore & violence, murder, forced marriage, loss of loved ones, misogynistic behaviour, sexually explicit content.
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
The Mist Thief is the third instalment in The Ever Seas series by author L.J. Andrews. She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife. Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize. To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play. Except her new husband makes not falling in love... challenging. When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
I don't know what author L.J. Andrews sprinkles into her books but they're literal written crack at this point. I've consumed all twelve interconnecting books within this series and I remain utterly feral for more. The Mist Thief was a strong addition to The Ever Seas series as we say goodbye to Erik and Livia as our main protagonists, and hello to Jonas and Skadi. Despite its ability to be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading both books in the series prior to this one, as the events in The Mist Thief immediately pick up after the events of The Ever Queen. Despite being a couple standalone within a series, I'm continued to be impressed and in awe of the author's ability to fully flesh out and explore her characters within their allocated time. Would I have loved the opportunity to have been spoiled with one more book featuring Jonas and Skadi? Yes. Is it something that feels necessary? Absolutely not. Everything about this story was an ease to read with its well paced storyline and the return of fan favourite characters from the Broken Kingdoms series. Knowing I have a while to wait for Tait and Mira's story in the fourth instalment in this series is highly upsetting, so I will absolutely be doing a full re-read of all connected books whilst Iimpatiently patiently wait for future release news.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
I found myself quickly immersed within the plot of The Mist Thief as I was beyond excited to be returning to the world of Alvers, thieving royals and scheming antics. This book truly felt like coming home with its familiarity from the Broken Kingdoms series. The story immediately kicks off as Skadi attempts a last stance of independence before she prepares to be wed to the man she lost against in battle, the Nightmare Prince Jonas. Jonas intercepts Skadi with the help of his peers and delightfully taunts his bride-to-be with his roguish quips and retorts. I found myself unable to put the book down as the plot left me enraptured from beginning to end as we follow the pair during their rocky enemies to lovers journey... and what a journey it turned out to be. Full of mystery, mayhem, secrets and betrayals; The Mist Thief is a thrilling and adventurous tale that is a must-read for all fans of Romantasy.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Jonas has been a favourite side character of mine since his appearances as a child in the Broken Kingdoms series and it has been a joy watch him grow into the man that he is now. Known for his reputation as a playful rake and a strong Alver with the power of nightmares alongside his twin brother Sander, Jonas is a formidable opponent and loyal to his core. His trust, loyalty and respect is unparalleled and we often see Jonas go to great lengths in protection of those he cares for. And yet underneath his ruthless abilities and cheerful exterior, Jonas is quietly suffering in silence and it genuinely broke my heart as we are granted an intimate insight into his terrors and fears. Jonas loves deeply and unequivocally. As a result we see him battle his fears of the unknown and the terror of losing his loved ones. Jonas was faced with the harsh truths of what a war can do to a community when he was a young child, and tragically this is the kind of experience that leaves a mark. I was really glad to see Jonas unafraid to lean on his family for support as he tried to learn how to manage his fears before they overtook him entirely. Being in Jonas's perspective was a breath of fresh air after enjoying following the ruthless Erik Bloodsinger in The Ever King and The Ever Queen, and I truly believe my fellow readers will share that sentiment. The sense of family and community is strong within this story, and overall it felt very reminiscent to the story of his parents. The bonds and kinship that are forged are forever, and the found family aspect will always be a highlight for these characters.
Skadi is a character shrouded in mystery and intrigue when we are first introduced in The Ever Queen. As a kind and gentle-natured woman with immense power that many seek to exploit and manipulate, I was constantly left on edge as I waited to see what would come next for her character. At her core, Skadi is a lonely woman with no real family and a lot of love to give. The loss of her parents at an early age has left a fracture in her heart that may never close, and as a result Skadi was desperate to cling to every ounce of affection that was on offer. Unfortunately this results in a tragic and gripping history that is not truly revealed until further into her story, and when the truth was finally revealed I felt true anger and despair on her behalf. Skadi was a wonderful main character as we joyfully watch Jonas slowly chip away her protective layers until the once stoic and emotionless woman flourishes in her new environment. The willingness of the Alvers and the Kryv to welcome Skadi into their royal band of misfits and thieves was a beautiful and heart-warming transition. I enjoyed watching Skadi desperately try and remain detached and aloof, but they're such a special group of people that it's impossible to not soften and warm towards them. Skadi has endured far too much in her young age, and she is nothing but deserving of the love and loyalty that is flung her way. I felt emotionally connected to Skadi's journey and I really hope we get more of her in future instalments.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The relationship development between Jonas and Skadi was a ton of fun as both are determined to make it a marriage bound in duty only. After standing on opposites sides of a battle where Jonas's twin brother Sander almost lost his life, Jonas is understandably struggling to set aside his conflicting emotions from that day. The banter between the pair gave exactly what it needed as their quick wit and quips provided Jonas and Skadi with a middle ground to sit on as they worked on settling their differences. Skadi's frustration at Jonas's refusal to allow her the last word in any of their arguments was hilarious, and in all-honestly I commend her on her patience. If it had been me, I would've throttled Jonas(in an undeadly way) out of sheer frustration and exasperation during any one of those encounters. However in true L.J. Andrews fashion... those feelings of contempt quickly turn to attraction and lust. There's no better feeling than when two characters say "fuck it" and finally act upon the attraction and longing that has long been building. The moments that take place after their acts of intimacy are by far my favourite. The moments of silent ease and emotional connection is where I found the true relationship connection to form, and I felt genuine joy as Jonas and Skadi found a home within one another. I'm so impressed with how with the author has fully explored both characters individually and as a couple within a standalone, which I will admit to initally being apprehensive about. Livia and Erik's story was well fleshed out across two books and I could never have imagined them fitting into a standalone, and whilst I would've enjoyed a second book with Jonas and Skadi, it is by no means necessary. Jonas and Skadi carve a journey between two broken people who begin to find the missing pieces of themselves within the other, and it was as tumultuous as it was beautiful.
A relationship I feel the need to expand upon outside of the main love story is the development between Skadi and Kase. If you weren't swooning over Kase within his original trilogy then you are bound to now that we are faced with Daddy Kase. This man is everything and I never realised how much I missed him until I finished The Mist Thief. As a father, Kase stays true to his nature as a stoic and seemingly grumpy man. His very presence inspires fear and intrigue, and yet there is nobody Kase is more loyal to than his family. The sheer love and adoration this man holds towards his wife and sons left me feeling quite emotional. He's not a man that expresses his love with woeful words and declarations. Kase is a man of action, and act he did when it came to welcoming Skadi into the family. After being told all of her life that her magic was something to be fearful and ashamed of, Skadi was desperately in need of guidance and support which Kase was readily available to provide. Not once did he allow Skadi to feel shame or fear over her own power. His willingness to listen to her struggles and help her overcome them just summarises who he is as a father and as a friend, and I truly think Kase's relationship with Skadi played a detrimental role in her character progression. Being able to witness as Skadi finally finds herself a family that love and accept her for who she is and not for what she has to offer tugged on my heartstrings, and I damn near started bawling when she asked Kase if she could call him 'Daj.' Kase one hundred percent went sobbing to Malin afterwards, I'm calling it now.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
There's really not much else to say other than author L.J. Andrews can do no wrong and continues to be one of my all-time favourite authors. Everything about her writing resonates with me and stays with me long after I've finished reading... and you can bet I'll be counting down the days until we hear news on book four which will follow Mira and Tait. I already know I'm going to be crying with laughter watching Ari attempting to handle his only daughter falling in love with a pirate. He's for sure going to try and act intimidating... just to fail and have Saga step in on his behalf. I cannot wait.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
The 'Ever Seas' series:
1. The Ever King - 5 stars
2. The Ever Queen - 5 stars
3. The Mist Thief - 4 stars
“Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way."
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 506 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: L.J. Andrews
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 30 June 2024
What you can expect:
— Dark Fantasy Romance
— First Person X Dual-POV
— Jonas and Skadi Standalone
— Pirates, Vikings, Sirens, Elves and Fae
— Mental Health Rep
— Enemies-To-Lovers
— Arranged Marriage of Convenience
— Morally Grey Cinnamon Roll MMC X Broken Elven Princess
— "My Wife"
— Found Family
— "Who Did This To You"
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: descriptive scenes of torture, emotional & mental abuse, threats of harm, dubious consent (past, not between both main characters), self harm (past, recounted), thoughts of self harm, gore & violence, murder, forced marriage, loss of loved ones, misogynistic behaviour, sexually explicit content.
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
The Mist Thief is the third instalment in The Ever Seas series by author L.J. Andrews. She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife. Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize. To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play. Except her new husband makes not falling in love... challenging. When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
I don't know what author L.J. Andrews sprinkles into her books but they're literal written crack at this point. I've consumed all twelve interconnecting books within this series and I remain utterly feral for more. The Mist Thief was a strong addition to The Ever Seas series as we say goodbye to Erik and Livia as our main protagonists, and hello to Jonas and Skadi. Despite its ability to be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading both books in the series prior to this one, as the events in The Mist Thief immediately pick up after the events of The Ever Queen. Despite being a couple standalone within a series, I'm continued to be impressed and in awe of the author's ability to fully flesh out and explore her characters within their allocated time. Would I have loved the opportunity to have been spoiled with one more book featuring Jonas and Skadi? Yes. Is it something that feels necessary? Absolutely not. Everything about this story was an ease to read with its well paced storyline and the return of fan favourite characters from the Broken Kingdoms series. Knowing I have a while to wait for Tait and Mira's story in the fourth instalment in this series is highly upsetting, so I will absolutely be doing a full re-read of all connected books whilst I
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
I found myself quickly immersed within the plot of The Mist Thief as I was beyond excited to be returning to the world of Alvers, thieving royals and scheming antics. This book truly felt like coming home with its familiarity from the Broken Kingdoms series. The story immediately kicks off as Skadi attempts a last stance of independence before she prepares to be wed to the man she lost against in battle, the Nightmare Prince Jonas. Jonas intercepts Skadi with the help of his peers and delightfully taunts his bride-to-be with his roguish quips and retorts. I found myself unable to put the book down as the plot left me enraptured from beginning to end as we follow the pair during their rocky enemies to lovers journey... and what a journey it turned out to be. Full of mystery, mayhem, secrets and betrayals; The Mist Thief is a thrilling and adventurous tale that is a must-read for all fans of Romantasy.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Jonas has been a favourite side character of mine since his appearances as a child in the Broken Kingdoms series and it has been a joy watch him grow into the man that he is now. Known for his reputation as a playful rake and a strong Alver with the power of nightmares alongside his twin brother Sander, Jonas is a formidable opponent and loyal to his core. His trust, loyalty and respect is unparalleled and we often see Jonas go to great lengths in protection of those he cares for. And yet underneath his ruthless abilities and cheerful exterior, Jonas is quietly suffering in silence and it genuinely broke my heart as we are granted an intimate insight into his terrors and fears. Jonas loves deeply and unequivocally. As a result we see him battle his fears of the unknown and the terror of losing his loved ones. Jonas was faced with the harsh truths of what a war can do to a community when he was a young child, and tragically this is the kind of experience that leaves a mark. I was really glad to see Jonas unafraid to lean on his family for support as he tried to learn how to manage his fears before they overtook him entirely. Being in Jonas's perspective was a breath of fresh air after enjoying following the ruthless Erik Bloodsinger in The Ever King and The Ever Queen, and I truly believe my fellow readers will share that sentiment. The sense of family and community is strong within this story, and overall it felt very reminiscent to the story of his parents. The bonds and kinship that are forged are forever, and the found family aspect will always be a highlight for these characters.
Skadi is a character shrouded in mystery and intrigue when we are first introduced in The Ever Queen. As a kind and gentle-natured woman with immense power that many seek to exploit and manipulate, I was constantly left on edge as I waited to see what would come next for her character. At her core, Skadi is a lonely woman with no real family and a lot of love to give. The loss of her parents at an early age has left a fracture in her heart that may never close, and as a result Skadi was desperate to cling to every ounce of affection that was on offer. Unfortunately this results in a tragic and gripping history that is not truly revealed until further into her story, and when the truth was finally revealed I felt true anger and despair on her behalf. Skadi was a wonderful main character as we joyfully watch Jonas slowly chip away her protective layers until the once stoic and emotionless woman flourishes in her new environment. The willingness of the Alvers and the Kryv to welcome Skadi into their royal band of misfits and thieves was a beautiful and heart-warming transition. I enjoyed watching Skadi desperately try and remain detached and aloof, but they're such a special group of people that it's impossible to not soften and warm towards them. Skadi has endured far too much in her young age, and she is nothing but deserving of the love and loyalty that is flung her way. I felt emotionally connected to Skadi's journey and I really hope we get more of her in future instalments.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The relationship development between Jonas and Skadi was a ton of fun as both are determined to make it a marriage bound in duty only. After standing on opposites sides of a battle where Jonas's twin brother Sander almost lost his life, Jonas is understandably struggling to set aside his conflicting emotions from that day. The banter between the pair gave exactly what it needed as their quick wit and quips provided Jonas and Skadi with a middle ground to sit on as they worked on settling their differences. Skadi's frustration at Jonas's refusal to allow her the last word in any of their arguments was hilarious, and in all-honestly I commend her on her patience. If it had been me, I would've throttled Jonas
A relationship I feel the need to expand upon outside of the main love story is the development between Skadi and Kase. If you weren't swooning over Kase within his original trilogy then you are bound to now that we are faced with Daddy Kase. This man is everything and I never realised how much I missed him until I finished The Mist Thief. As a father, Kase stays true to his nature as a stoic and seemingly grumpy man. His very presence inspires fear and intrigue, and yet there is nobody Kase is more loyal to than his family. The sheer love and adoration this man holds towards his wife and sons left me feeling quite emotional. He's not a man that expresses his love with woeful words and declarations. Kase is a man of action, and act he did when it came to welcoming Skadi into the family. After being told all of her life that her magic was something to be fearful and ashamed of, Skadi was desperately in need of guidance and support which Kase was readily available to provide. Not once did he allow Skadi to feel shame or fear over her own power. His willingness to listen to her struggles and help her overcome them just summarises who he is as a father and as a friend, and I truly think Kase's relationship with Skadi played a detrimental role in her character progression. Being able to witness as Skadi finally finds herself a family that love and accept her for who she is and not for what she has to offer tugged on my heartstrings, and I damn near started bawling when she asked Kase if she could call him 'Daj.' Kase one hundred percent went sobbing to Malin afterwards, I'm calling it now.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
There's really not much else to say other than author L.J. Andrews can do no wrong and continues to be one of my all-time favourite authors. Everything about her writing resonates with me and stays with me long after I've finished reading... and you can bet I'll be counting down the days until we hear news on book four which will follow Mira and Tait. I already know I'm going to be crying with laughter watching Ari attempting to handle his only daughter falling in love with a pirate. He's for sure going to try and act intimidating... just to fail and have Saga step in on his behalf. I cannot wait.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
The 'Ever Seas' series:
1. The Ever King - 5 stars
2. The Ever Queen - 5 stars
3. The Mist Thief - 4 stars
July 7, 2024
Jonas and Skadi in an arranged marriage? Hell yesss!! 🥳 June 30th cannot come soon enough!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 I loved their story. Can’t wait for book four in the series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 I loved their story. Can’t wait for book four in the series!
June 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️The Mist Thief 🌫️
Was sadly a little bored with this book. I just didn’t really care about the characters in this book. They seemed a little one dimensional. The story is quite simple which is not a bad thing - it made it an easy read and it was pretty much confined to the marriage of convenience trope. Lots of declarations of undying love that felt a little bit done. I still prefer Livia and Erik’s dynamic better and felt like there was more happening with their story.
Was sadly a little bored with this book. I just didn’t really care about the characters in this book. They seemed a little one dimensional. The story is quite simple which is not a bad thing - it made it an easy read and it was pretty much confined to the marriage of convenience trope. Lots of declarations of undying love that felt a little bit done. I still prefer Livia and Erik’s dynamic better and felt like there was more happening with their story.
July 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a review copy of this book.
"Look at me. Stay here, with me." 🥹
This story broke my heart and then healed it again. The treatment of Skadi was just... horrible. Absolutely awful. That was a twist I absolutely did not see coming. She was taught to hate her power, just like many women are taught to hate things about themselves. The way Jonas got justice for Skadi gave me pure joy. Even though it was pretty brutal, it was deserved a million times over. Jonas was incredibly kind. He came from a land of thieves but was raised and loved so well by his parents. The found family was some of the best I've read. I can't wait to read the next book. 😊
"Look at me. Stay here, with me." 🥹
This story broke my heart and then healed it again. The treatment of Skadi was just... horrible. Absolutely awful. That was a twist I absolutely did not see coming. She was taught to hate her power, just like many women are taught to hate things about themselves. The way Jonas got justice for Skadi gave me pure joy. Even though it was pretty brutal, it was deserved a million times over. Jonas was incredibly kind. He came from a land of thieves but was raised and loved so well by his parents. The found family was some of the best I've read. I can't wait to read the next book. 😊
December 15, 2024
Okay, Jonas! I see you.
This was such a fun ride with marriage of convenience, reluctant allies to lovers, and found family. I really had a fun time with this book.
I love Skadi, and felt so much for her as you find out about her backstory. And Jonas is… whoo! I love that man! Jonas is protective, playful, giving, and VERY sensual. I had such a fun time understanding him, and his isle more.
This was not as good to me as the two initial books- I found myself missing Livia and Erik a little too much and got so giddy when they showed up or got brought up, hahahah. This was still an interesting read, but I do wish this story had sped up a bit in the middle. That being said, the love story was still compelling and I enjoyed myself.
I am giving this book 4 stars! Would still 100% recommend, I think it comes down to MMC preference on this.
This was such a fun ride with marriage of convenience, reluctant allies to lovers, and found family. I really had a fun time with this book.
I love Skadi, and felt so much for her as you find out about her backstory. And Jonas is… whoo! I love that man! Jonas is protective, playful, giving, and VERY sensual. I had such a fun time understanding him, and his isle more.
This was not as good to me as the two initial books- I found myself missing Livia and Erik a little too much and got so giddy when they showed up or got brought up, hahahah. This was still an interesting read, but I do wish this story had sped up a bit in the middle. That being said, the love story was still compelling and I enjoyed myself.
I am giving this book 4 stars! Would still 100% recommend, I think it comes down to MMC preference on this.
October 1, 2025
I am REALLY enjoying this series!! This was a solid 4.5 stars for me. I am so glad that we got Jonas's book after Livia and Erik. The glimpses we got of Jonas intrigued me. I also liked the premise- to save everyone he cares about from an evil magic he offers to marry the woman who almost killed his brother. A woman with terrible magic. Watching the relationship between Jonas and Skadi evolve was PERFECT! This was almost golden retriever x black cat vibes to me. Here was a woman with immens power who had been abused and basically convinced that no one would ever love her for anything but her power which was dark. And then you had Jonas who was the nightmare prince. Who was morally gray. Who didn't question decisions made if they affected the people he loved. I loved watching them navigate being strangers to more. Skadi had some HIGH walls up which was completely understandable. And at first Jonas thought they could be married and he could do what he had been doing- sleeping around and not being invested. But he quickly realized there was something about Skadi that drew him in. Something about her that held his attention. That made him want to treat her like the queen she was. When Skadi realized that Jonas was being real. That she wanted more with him. These two were a formidable force.
Skadi has once again found herself in a position that she had no say in. She is marrying the Prince of Nightmares- a fae while she is an elf. And not only that but this is the man whose brother she almost killed. And now they are to be wed. She recognizes that this will be a marriage on paper. That she will never be loved or feel that way about anyone because everyone is so terrified of her power. But the more time she spends around Jonas and the more she pushes him away, the more she finds herself missing him and the way he makes her feel. The more she wants to maybe explore this spark between them. But she is so scared of being used. Of being hurt. And once she voices her concerns to Jonas, she knows she has made the right choice. He surprises her. He takes care of her. He worships her. He lets her be herself. He doesn't judge her or this power she has. In fact she feels more at home in his kingdom than her own. And the chemistry she feels and experiences with him is unlike what she has felt before. But just when they start opening up to each other, her past comes back to haunt her. She finds herself a pawn in a long game of chess among the Elves to get more land and power. And now more than ever she realizes that her heart belongs to Jonas and she will do everything in her power to get back to him.
Jonas made a decision to protect his people. A decision that his family is questioning but in his heart of hearts he knows is the right one. He offered up his hand in marriage to an Elven princess. The one with the dark magic that everyone seems to fear. The woman who tried to kill his brother to save her own family. He thought going into this that it would be a marriage on paper which he was ok with. But the more Skadi pushes him away the more she intrigues him. The more he realizes he doesn't want to be an on paper husband. He wants this to be a friendship at the very least. But there is a spark between them. A connection. They both have darker magic, and when he starts to show her his true nature her walls start to shed slowly but surely. He starts to see the woman behind the mask and is even more intrigued. He has never been one to woo someone before but he wants to woo her. He wants to make her smile. He wants to make her happy. He wants to BE with her. And now that they are there and he is getting to experience her it is unlike anything he has ever felt. It is perfect. She is perfect. But now they found out that their marriage was a power move and her past has come back to collect. Jonas becomes the all encompassing darkness of his power and he will stay that way until he gets his wife back. Because though they may have started as strangers, she is now EVERYTHING to him.
What is there not to like about this series!? We have magic. We have chemistry. We have WONDERFUL characters. We have great world building. The possibilities on where this could go are almost endless. I realllly liked Jonas and Skadi. I can't put my finger on why it wasn't a full 5 stars for me but I can say that I liked it slightly better than books 1 and 2. I liked their chemistry and vulnerability with each other. I liked how Jonas treated Skadi with his gifts and that he thought of them even when she wasn't really talking to him. I liked the tease we got for the next book- I am MOST exited about Mira and Tait and WHY he is so resistant to her! If you haven't started this series, I definitely recommend it for a fast paced adventure with great characters and spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Skadi has once again found herself in a position that she had no say in. She is marrying the Prince of Nightmares- a fae while she is an elf. And not only that but this is the man whose brother she almost killed. And now they are to be wed. She recognizes that this will be a marriage on paper. That she will never be loved or feel that way about anyone because everyone is so terrified of her power. But the more time she spends around Jonas and the more she pushes him away, the more she finds herself missing him and the way he makes her feel. The more she wants to maybe explore this spark between them. But she is so scared of being used. Of being hurt. And once she voices her concerns to Jonas, she knows she has made the right choice. He surprises her. He takes care of her. He worships her. He lets her be herself. He doesn't judge her or this power she has. In fact she feels more at home in his kingdom than her own. And the chemistry she feels and experiences with him is unlike what she has felt before. But just when they start opening up to each other, her past comes back to haunt her. She finds herself a pawn in a long game of chess among the Elves to get more land and power. And now more than ever she realizes that her heart belongs to Jonas and she will do everything in her power to get back to him.
Jonas made a decision to protect his people. A decision that his family is questioning but in his heart of hearts he knows is the right one. He offered up his hand in marriage to an Elven princess. The one with the dark magic that everyone seems to fear. The woman who tried to kill his brother to save her own family. He thought going into this that it would be a marriage on paper which he was ok with. But the more Skadi pushes him away the more she intrigues him. The more he realizes he doesn't want to be an on paper husband. He wants this to be a friendship at the very least. But there is a spark between them. A connection. They both have darker magic, and when he starts to show her his true nature her walls start to shed slowly but surely. He starts to see the woman behind the mask and is even more intrigued. He has never been one to woo someone before but he wants to woo her. He wants to make her smile. He wants to make her happy. He wants to BE with her. And now that they are there and he is getting to experience her it is unlike anything he has ever felt. It is perfect. She is perfect. But now they found out that their marriage was a power move and her past has come back to collect. Jonas becomes the all encompassing darkness of his power and he will stay that way until he gets his wife back. Because though they may have started as strangers, she is now EVERYTHING to him.
What is there not to like about this series!? We have magic. We have chemistry. We have WONDERFUL characters. We have great world building. The possibilities on where this could go are almost endless. I realllly liked Jonas and Skadi. I can't put my finger on why it wasn't a full 5 stars for me but I can say that I liked it slightly better than books 1 and 2. I liked their chemistry and vulnerability with each other. I liked how Jonas treated Skadi with his gifts and that he thought of them even when she wasn't really talking to him. I liked the tease we got for the next book- I am MOST exited about Mira and Tait and WHY he is so resistant to her! If you haven't started this series, I definitely recommend it for a fast paced adventure with great characters and spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 12, 2024
yeah i’m gonna have to process this before i write a review, this was EPIC
Update: OK. LETS GET INTO IT.
First, huge thanks to The Nerd Fam & LJ Andrews for the arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
This world LJ has crafted is so immersive and, one that, while I KNOW I would die immediately, I still want to go there! She is also a master of knowing when to wrap things up. The Ever King duology was excellent, and Skadi & Jonas’s book was perfectly paced! It didn’t feel dragged out or rushed honestly. And even though you know going in this is an arranged marriage situation, I found there were some fun twists I wasn’t expecting! The romance in this is off the charts, I was swooned and giggling practically every other page. We also, of course, get the smutty goodness that you come to expect with LJ’s books. Overall, I’m eating this series up and can’t wait to see where it goes from here, because that ending has me very excited!!
Update: OK. LETS GET INTO IT.
First, huge thanks to The Nerd Fam & LJ Andrews for the arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
This world LJ has crafted is so immersive and, one that, while I KNOW I would die immediately, I still want to go there! She is also a master of knowing when to wrap things up. The Ever King duology was excellent, and Skadi & Jonas’s book was perfectly paced! It didn’t feel dragged out or rushed honestly. And even though you know going in this is an arranged marriage situation, I found there were some fun twists I wasn’t expecting! The romance in this is off the charts, I was swooned and giggling practically every other page. We also, of course, get the smutty goodness that you come to expect with LJ’s books. Overall, I’m eating this series up and can’t wait to see where it goes from here, because that ending has me very excited!!
January 17, 2025
My oh My Jonas Jonas Jonas 😮💨❤️ When I started this book I actually thought it would be boring then boom!! I loved it because it went straight to the point!!!! They both weren't afraid of showing they loved one another although there was a little bit of hesitancy in the beginning!!!❤️
October 14, 2025
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Format: 🎧 & 📱
I was intrigued by Jonas and Skadi (individually) while reading The Ever Seas duology, and now experiencing them together? Perfection. I didn’t think there was a couple who could compete with Erik & Livia, but I was clearly mistaken (though they’re still so so amazing!!).
“It was a girlish dream, to see the hero storming the castle to rescue his beloved. In every dream where my life might unravel like the romantic fae tales of my books, I never anticipated my hero would be blood-soaked and murderous without a hint of honorable intentions on his features. He was my sweetest nightmare.”
Jonas, while once a playboy prince, sacrifices his future happiness and love (he thinks 😏) to do his duty and take vows with the Dokkalfar heir to unite their folk in an alliance. He falls, and he falls HARD. If he’s not more obsessed than Erik is about Livia, he’s just as obsessed with Skadi.
Skadi, made to believe her whole life that her magic (dark mists able to steal things into another dimension) was dangerous and a curse, does her duty and agrees to an arranged marriage with the Prince of Nightmares. Burdened with a lifetime of emotional abuse and the traumatic death of her parents, Skadi must slowly learn to embrace who she truly is and what she is capable of in defense of those whom she truly loves. It took moving to the Kingdom of Nightmares to find her true home.
I loved their banter and the slow, gentle way that Jonas and Skadi fell in love. He built her a LIBRARY (which is a huge deal since Skadi’s former one true love was books).
The Birthday Heist was probably the cutest scene in the book, giving us some Kase & Malin shenanigans for the new generation and perhaps giving us some insight into family dynamics down the road (can you imagine Grandpa Kase getting the Littles involved in heists???)
I’m so ready for The Stolen Crown! Bring on Tait & Mira!
Tropes & Themes ——
⚔️ Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Found Family
⚔️ Shadow Mommy
🔥 Nicknames for each other (“Fire” and “Nightmare”)
⚔️ Touch her & 💀/ “My Wife”
🔥 Thieves & Heists
⚔️ Forced Proximity
🔥 He builds her a Library (😩🫠)
⚔️ Reformed Rake MMC/Black Cat FMC
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Format: 🎧 & 📱
I was intrigued by Jonas and Skadi (individually) while reading The Ever Seas duology, and now experiencing them together? Perfection. I didn’t think there was a couple who could compete with Erik & Livia, but I was clearly mistaken (though they’re still so so amazing!!).
“It was a girlish dream, to see the hero storming the castle to rescue his beloved. In every dream where my life might unravel like the romantic fae tales of my books, I never anticipated my hero would be blood-soaked and murderous without a hint of honorable intentions on his features. He was my sweetest nightmare.”
Jonas, while once a playboy prince, sacrifices his future happiness and love (he thinks 😏) to do his duty and take vows with the Dokkalfar heir to unite their folk in an alliance. He falls, and he falls HARD. If he’s not more obsessed than Erik is about Livia, he’s just as obsessed with Skadi.
Skadi, made to believe her whole life that her magic (dark mists able to steal things into another dimension) was dangerous and a curse, does her duty and agrees to an arranged marriage with the Prince of Nightmares. Burdened with a lifetime of emotional abuse and the traumatic death of her parents, Skadi must slowly learn to embrace who she truly is and what she is capable of in defense of those whom she truly loves. It took moving to the Kingdom of Nightmares to find her true home.
I loved their banter and the slow, gentle way that Jonas and Skadi fell in love. He built her a LIBRARY (which is a huge deal since Skadi’s former one true love was books).
The Birthday Heist was probably the cutest scene in the book, giving us some Kase & Malin shenanigans for the new generation and perhaps giving us some insight into family dynamics down the road (can you imagine Grandpa Kase getting the Littles involved in heists???)
I’m so ready for The Stolen Crown! Bring on Tait & Mira!
Tropes & Themes ——
⚔️ Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Found Family
⚔️ Shadow Mommy
🔥 Nicknames for each other (“Fire” and “Nightmare”)
⚔️ Touch her & 💀/ “My Wife”
🔥 Thieves & Heists
⚔️ Forced Proximity
🔥 He builds her a Library (😩🫠)
⚔️ Reformed Rake MMC/Black Cat FMC
January 18, 2026
|★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 stars|
“You terrify me but I doubt it is in the way you think.”
“Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way.”
The Mist Thief picks up where the The Ever Queen left off. Skadi is granted sanctuary by the Ever King. However, he is wary of the elven clans and their intentions. To protect the kingdom, an alliance is forged between the Ever Kingdom and the elven clans through an arranged marriage between Jonas, Prince of House Eriksson (pledged to the Ever King), and Skadi, princess of the House of Dokkalfar.
After the wedding, Jonas brings Skadi to her new home in Klockglas. Klockglas is the realm of heists, a lawless kingdom. The people are skilled in schemes, thievery and smuggling. For them, it is not simply a way of life but a source of pride. The setting is so fun and it feels like a very different world from the first 2 books.
Genre: Dark fantasy romance
Tropes:
Rake hero, tortured heroine, political enemies to lovers, arranged marriage/marriage of convenience, slow burn, found family
Characters:
Jonas: (AKA The Nightmare prince, Prince of the house Eriksson)
He is sweet and charming. Though once a playboy, Jonas is incredibly patient and gentle with Skadi. He’s known as the mischievous twin and delights in being a little scandalous. He loves pushing the boundaries of propriety, especially when there’s an audience.
“I’m sure I will,” Jonas said. “But I certainly will be sleeping with my wife. In fact, I’ll help with her gown. Dressing her is my favorite thing to do.”
I was nearly trembling against the exertion not to crumble in laughter in front of Cara’s horrified expression.
“Well, that is wildly improper.”
“For a man to assist his wife with a gown?” Jonas arched a brow. “All respect, lady, but I fear I’ve exposed Skadi to sights vastly more improper.”
I couldn’t keep it in any longer. The laugh rattled through my chest. Cara looked upon me like a changeling had robbed me of my face.”
Skadi: (AKA Fire, Mist thief)
Skadi is kind and reserved. She loves reading and telling stories. She is deeply unsure of herself, constantly making herself smaller to accommodate others and avoid being a burden. She even goes as far as describing her own existence as a form of barter. She believes using her powers risks turning her into a cold-hearted monster. I couldn’t wait for her to finally grow into herself and embrace what she’s capable of.
The first thirty-six chapters focus on the development of Skadi and Jonas’s relationship, as well as Skadi’s adjustment to her new life in Klockglas. Their chemistry is electric and I love the way Jonas teases and riles her up. For me, their interactions are pure gold because their banter never turns venomous.
Jonas’s family is warm, lively, and genuinely welcoming. They accept Skadi exactly as she is and show her, again and again, that she is deserving of love. One of the sweetest moments is when Jonas’s father helps Skadi enjoy her powers without fear by letting her in on the birth heist.
There’s noticeably less violence in this book. The story leans more toward political maneuvering and intrigue and it is more of a slow burn compared to the last two books. Thankfully, there’s no intentional third-act breakup.
I can’t wait for Tait and Mira’s story next!
“You terrify me but I doubt it is in the way you think.”
“Be kind, be gentle, and be monstrous. I will want you every way.”
The Mist Thief picks up where the The Ever Queen left off. Skadi is granted sanctuary by the Ever King. However, he is wary of the elven clans and their intentions. To protect the kingdom, an alliance is forged between the Ever Kingdom and the elven clans through an arranged marriage between Jonas, Prince of House Eriksson (pledged to the Ever King), and Skadi, princess of the House of Dokkalfar.
After the wedding, Jonas brings Skadi to her new home in Klockglas. Klockglas is the realm of heists, a lawless kingdom. The people are skilled in schemes, thievery and smuggling. For them, it is not simply a way of life but a source of pride. The setting is so fun and it feels like a very different world from the first 2 books.
Genre: Dark fantasy romance
Tropes:
Rake hero, tortured heroine, political enemies to lovers, arranged marriage/marriage of convenience, slow burn, found family
Characters:
Jonas: (AKA The Nightmare prince, Prince of the house Eriksson)
He is sweet and charming. Though once a playboy, Jonas is incredibly patient and gentle with Skadi. He’s known as the mischievous twin and delights in being a little scandalous. He loves pushing the boundaries of propriety, especially when there’s an audience.
“I’m sure I will,” Jonas said. “But I certainly will be sleeping with my wife. In fact, I’ll help with her gown. Dressing her is my favorite thing to do.”
I was nearly trembling against the exertion not to crumble in laughter in front of Cara’s horrified expression.
“Well, that is wildly improper.”
“For a man to assist his wife with a gown?” Jonas arched a brow. “All respect, lady, but I fear I’ve exposed Skadi to sights vastly more improper.”
I couldn’t keep it in any longer. The laugh rattled through my chest. Cara looked upon me like a changeling had robbed me of my face.”
Skadi: (AKA Fire, Mist thief)
Skadi is kind and reserved. She loves reading and telling stories. She is deeply unsure of herself, constantly making herself smaller to accommodate others and avoid being a burden. She even goes as far as describing her own existence as a form of barter. She believes using her powers risks turning her into a cold-hearted monster. I couldn’t wait for her to finally grow into herself and embrace what she’s capable of.
The first thirty-six chapters focus on the development of Skadi and Jonas’s relationship, as well as Skadi’s adjustment to her new life in Klockglas. Their chemistry is electric and I love the way Jonas teases and riles her up. For me, their interactions are pure gold because their banter never turns venomous.
Jonas’s family is warm, lively, and genuinely welcoming. They accept Skadi exactly as she is and show her, again and again, that she is deserving of love. One of the sweetest moments is when Jonas’s father helps Skadi enjoy her powers without fear by letting her in on the birth heist.
There’s noticeably less violence in this book. The story leans more toward political maneuvering and intrigue and it is more of a slow burn compared to the last two books. Thankfully, there’s no intentional third-act breakup.
I can’t wait for Tait and Mira’s story next!
March 10, 2025
I love all the characters in this world. Jonas and Skadi were adorable. The enemies to lovers here was quite mild and short lived but it’s fine. I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. Definitely some spice. Loved the banter. Looking forward to Mira and hearttalker’s story..🤪
October 14, 2025
re-read of the trad pub eARC 😍
ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Where mists meet nightmares, kingdoms fall and love rises.
A princess of shadows. A prince of nightmares. A destiny written in blood and mist.
You can't outrun your shadows when they fall in love with someone else's shadows.
💬 Elven Princess Skadi was born of misty shadows and crowned in in fear. Jonas, Prince of Nightmares, was raised to embrace the darkness within. Bound by a marriage arranged to guarantee her deadly magic can never again hurt him or his people, they'll either destroy one another or burn the world together.
✨ The first time I read this over a year ago, I gave it 4 ⭐ - this read of the trad pub edition gets a 4.5. I enjoyed this reading a bit more than my first reading. I love the world LJ crafted and the characters! Character focused readers will love these emotionally deep characters.
Since I previously reviewed, I'm focusing this review more so on the deeper meaning than the parts I reviewed previously.
📖 There's this arc of both internal transformation (identity, fear, belonging, acceptance) and external conflict (politics, war, betrayal) that I adore.
Skadi's dangerous mist magic as a metaphor for emotional "otherness" or trauma - when others perceive a person's differences as dangerous, the person tends to become "cold" (emotionally shut down). They shut down to protect themselves from further harm, trauma. The journey Skadi goes on to integrate that power as part of her identity, not a curse to be hidden and not her entire identity.
"Then be monsterous, Wife. If that is what you are, that it what I want you to be."
We tend to view people as binary (in many ways, but I'm focusing on this aspect), either light = good or dark = bad. Jonas was raised to embrace the darkness within him and his magic, and wholly accepts Skadi - darkness included. He challenges the idea that her darkness is "bad" or shameful, encourages her to accept and embrace it. Him repeatedly telling her these things results in her internalizing his message over time.
As a condition of their arranged marriage, Skadi is now in foreign land, surrounded by nothing and no one familiar. She feels adrift, lost at sea. Jonas builds her a place (no spoilers but this part is swoon worthy, in my opinion) that's all her own - a sanctuary she can escape to. Jonas bridges their worlds as well as a metaphor for learning, understanding and giving Skadi a place without conditions.
This next part definitely could be me overthinking it, which I'm prone to (but if I overthink my books, I'm not overthinking my personal life - W for me, L for anyone who might try to slog through this review 😂).
Anywho, I noticed recurring sensory motifs (mist, coldness, shadow, darkness, light, etc). Skadi's power often evokes cold, in contrast, warmth light, and flame imagery appears in moments of hope and/or connection.
The cold in Skadi is emotional detachment, self-protection. Whereas warmth is connection, vulnerability, and for some of us, scary. The juxtaposition is a reminder to us that light and darkness are interrelated, and that shadows can both shelter and conceal.
Also, Skadi's birth place being a mist cloaked island with the ability to teleport mirrors her emotional journey.
✍🏼 Rich, vivid descriptions while staying accessible, LJ writes fluidly and clearly.
⏳The pacing is good, but I did feel the tiniest bit of romance slowing the plot in a couple places. If you love the romance part of fantasy romance, you'll appreciate that. If you're here exclusively for the fantasy aspect, this aspect may annoy you a smidge.
🗺️ Enriched from previous books, this world is dangerously fun to imagine. This would be one of my top choices for a screen adaptation, possibly my # 1 choice @netflix please!!! 🙏🏼
🔮 Enriched from previous - I love LJ's take on mesmer/magic. It's fun and has a unique twist.
👥 The characters and their emotional development is my favorite part of this book. If you like emotionally driven characters, read this (check TW/CW first). Character focused readers will enjoy this book for the focus on characters and emotional arcs.
✨ I love an emotionally mature leading male character, and we get that with LJ's books, including this one. I also love that Jonas is happy to sit back and let Skadi do her thing, and just be there to support her, if she wants/needs him. This also goes for the other leading men in LJ's works that I've read.
🎙️LJ excels at banter, in my opinion. With both the leading couple and their found family, this part is just SO good.
💖 Skadi and Jonas - I want nothing but peace, love, and happiness for these two.
🌶️ 2.5 is probably most accurate. LJ writes spice well, keeping it real and packed with emotions. It's well timed, feels earned, and placed and serves the plot.
📚 If you liked: Daughter of No Worlds (Carissa Broadbent), The Foxglove King (Hannah Whitten), A Court of Mist and Fury (Sarah J. Maas), or Throne of the Fallen (Kerri Maniscalco) then I think you should try The Mist Thief.
Thank you to @authorljandrews @acebookspub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
---
A dark, fantastical journey of acceptance and unconditional love filled with magic, magical creatures, spice, and witty banter and loaded with great rep for mental health and diversity.
I went into this expecting a heist to be the main central plot throughout due to the title. I'm sad to say I was disappointed that wasn't the case, and that's probably why I didn't love this one quite as much as 'The Ever King' and 'The Ever Queen.' That being said, I did enjoy it enough to give it 4⭐️ and 3🌶.
Jonas, The Nightmare Prince, and Skadi, The Mist Thief, are near-strangers to one another and enter into a marriage to procure peace between their groups. Skadi was adopted at a young age and has never really known unconditional love or acceptance. They vow to one another that their hearts aren't and won't ever be involved in their treaty marriage.
The plot was good. The prose was great (Andrews' excels with banter, IMO), but the pacing felt a bit slow in the beginning, then rushed in the end. The pacing is most of why this wasn't a 5⭐️ read for me.
Characters were great! I love them all. The characters are diverse in looks as well as sexualities and I love that. I especially love that it's normative in its representation. We need more of this in the world. Great mental health rep for anxiety and panic attacks, as well.
World building and magic were great, although being this is the 3rd book in a series, there wasn't a ton of it in this book because it was in the previous books. Andrews writes great, pretty realistic spice scenes, and this was no exception.
I can't wait for the 4th installment of this series.
TW list taken from book: descriptive scenes of torture, talk of past manipulation, emotional/mental abuse, threats of harm, past dubious consent, self-harm, thoughts of self-harm, explicit sexual content, gore, violence, dark themes, murder, forced marriage, past loss of loved ones, misogynistic behavior
ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Where mists meet nightmares, kingdoms fall and love rises.
A princess of shadows. A prince of nightmares. A destiny written in blood and mist.
You can't outrun your shadows when they fall in love with someone else's shadows.
💬 Elven Princess Skadi was born of misty shadows and crowned in in fear. Jonas, Prince of Nightmares, was raised to embrace the darkness within. Bound by a marriage arranged to guarantee her deadly magic can never again hurt him or his people, they'll either destroy one another or burn the world together.
✨ The first time I read this over a year ago, I gave it 4 ⭐ - this read of the trad pub edition gets a 4.5. I enjoyed this reading a bit more than my first reading. I love the world LJ crafted and the characters! Character focused readers will love these emotionally deep characters.
Since I previously reviewed, I'm focusing this review more so on the deeper meaning than the parts I reviewed previously.
📖 There's this arc of both internal transformation (identity, fear, belonging, acceptance) and external conflict (politics, war, betrayal) that I adore.
Skadi's dangerous mist magic as a metaphor for emotional "otherness" or trauma - when others perceive a person's differences as dangerous, the person tends to become "cold" (emotionally shut down). They shut down to protect themselves from further harm, trauma. The journey Skadi goes on to integrate that power as part of her identity, not a curse to be hidden and not her entire identity.
"Then be monsterous, Wife. If that is what you are, that it what I want you to be."
We tend to view people as binary (in many ways, but I'm focusing on this aspect), either light = good or dark = bad. Jonas was raised to embrace the darkness within him and his magic, and wholly accepts Skadi - darkness included. He challenges the idea that her darkness is "bad" or shameful, encourages her to accept and embrace it. Him repeatedly telling her these things results in her internalizing his message over time.
As a condition of their arranged marriage, Skadi is now in foreign land, surrounded by nothing and no one familiar. She feels adrift, lost at sea. Jonas builds her a place (no spoilers but this part is swoon worthy, in my opinion) that's all her own - a sanctuary she can escape to. Jonas bridges their worlds as well as a metaphor for learning, understanding and giving Skadi a place without conditions.
This next part definitely could be me overthinking it, which I'm prone to (but if I overthink my books, I'm not overthinking my personal life - W for me, L for anyone who might try to slog through this review 😂).
Anywho, I noticed recurring sensory motifs (mist, coldness, shadow, darkness, light, etc). Skadi's power often evokes cold, in contrast, warmth light, and flame imagery appears in moments of hope and/or connection.
The cold in Skadi is emotional detachment, self-protection. Whereas warmth is connection, vulnerability, and for some of us, scary. The juxtaposition is a reminder to us that light and darkness are interrelated, and that shadows can both shelter and conceal.
Also, Skadi's birth place being a mist cloaked island with the ability to teleport mirrors her emotional journey.
✍🏼 Rich, vivid descriptions while staying accessible, LJ writes fluidly and clearly.
⏳The pacing is good, but I did feel the tiniest bit of romance slowing the plot in a couple places. If you love the romance part of fantasy romance, you'll appreciate that. If you're here exclusively for the fantasy aspect, this aspect may annoy you a smidge.
🗺️ Enriched from previous books, this world is dangerously fun to imagine. This would be one of my top choices for a screen adaptation, possibly my # 1 choice @netflix please!!! 🙏🏼
🔮 Enriched from previous - I love LJ's take on mesmer/magic. It's fun and has a unique twist.
👥 The characters and their emotional development is my favorite part of this book. If you like emotionally driven characters, read this (check TW/CW first). Character focused readers will enjoy this book for the focus on characters and emotional arcs.
✨ I love an emotionally mature leading male character, and we get that with LJ's books, including this one. I also love that Jonas is happy to sit back and let Skadi do her thing, and just be there to support her, if she wants/needs him. This also goes for the other leading men in LJ's works that I've read.
🎙️LJ excels at banter, in my opinion. With both the leading couple and their found family, this part is just SO good.
💖 Skadi and Jonas - I want nothing but peace, love, and happiness for these two.
🌶️ 2.5 is probably most accurate. LJ writes spice well, keeping it real and packed with emotions. It's well timed, feels earned, and placed and serves the plot.
📚 If you liked: Daughter of No Worlds (Carissa Broadbent), The Foxglove King (Hannah Whitten), A Court of Mist and Fury (Sarah J. Maas), or Throne of the Fallen (Kerri Maniscalco) then I think you should try The Mist Thief.
Thank you to @authorljandrews @acebookspub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
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A dark, fantastical journey of acceptance and unconditional love filled with magic, magical creatures, spice, and witty banter and loaded with great rep for mental health and diversity.
I went into this expecting a heist to be the main central plot throughout due to the title. I'm sad to say I was disappointed that wasn't the case, and that's probably why I didn't love this one quite as much as 'The Ever King' and 'The Ever Queen.' That being said, I did enjoy it enough to give it 4⭐️ and 3🌶.
Jonas, The Nightmare Prince, and Skadi, The Mist Thief, are near-strangers to one another and enter into a marriage to procure peace between their groups. Skadi was adopted at a young age and has never really known unconditional love or acceptance. They vow to one another that their hearts aren't and won't ever be involved in their treaty marriage.
The plot was good. The prose was great (Andrews' excels with banter, IMO), but the pacing felt a bit slow in the beginning, then rushed in the end. The pacing is most of why this wasn't a 5⭐️ read for me.
Characters were great! I love them all. The characters are diverse in looks as well as sexualities and I love that. I especially love that it's normative in its representation. We need more of this in the world. Great mental health rep for anxiety and panic attacks, as well.
World building and magic were great, although being this is the 3rd book in a series, there wasn't a ton of it in this book because it was in the previous books. Andrews writes great, pretty realistic spice scenes, and this was no exception.
I can't wait for the 4th installment of this series.
TW list taken from book: descriptive scenes of torture, talk of past manipulation, emotional/mental abuse, threats of harm, past dubious consent, self-harm, thoughts of self-harm, explicit sexual content, gore, violence, dark themes, murder, forced marriage, past loss of loved ones, misogynistic behavior
July 10, 2024
Oooookay… I just spent the past 13 hours devouring the ARC of this baby and let me just say - it did not disappoint! At all. I’m going to try VERY HARD not to give any spoilers, because I know the ARC’s just went out, and I truly don’t want to ruin it for anyone.
Let me start off by saying, I have been with these characters and their parents since Book 1 of The Broken Kingdoms. I’m invested okay and I’m not ashamed lol. That being said, I didn’t think I could love anyone more than I loved Mal & Kase because they are my Roman Empire. They are want ENDGAME truly looks like for me. That was until I loved Livia & Erik, because holy shit. They were AMAZING…. then, I was sure I couldn’t love anyone more than I loved Livia & Erik. Guess what, turns out, you guessed it, I was wrong yet again! I absolutely loved Jonas & Skadi!
The banter and the chemistry and the attraction between Jonas and Skadi was *chef’s kiss*!!! Getting to spend so much time with the alvers!! Soooo good! There’s action and “Oh no they didn’t” moments and the spice; well it spicy! There’s arranged marriage, Touch Her/Him and ☠️, Pirates and battles and debauchery… it has all the things!
This book was amazing and true to LJ fashion, of course it ends on a damn cliffhanger, but ya know what?! I’m not even mad about it. That’s how good this book was. I may lose more than the one night of sleep over it, but will I be impatiently awaiting my next dose of magic like an addict waiting for their dealer to get them what they need? Yes! Yes, I certainly will!
Let me start off by saying, I have been with these characters and their parents since Book 1 of The Broken Kingdoms. I’m invested okay and I’m not ashamed lol. That being said, I didn’t think I could love anyone more than I loved Mal & Kase because they are my Roman Empire. They are want ENDGAME truly looks like for me. That was until I loved Livia & Erik, because holy shit. They were AMAZING…. then, I was sure I couldn’t love anyone more than I loved Livia & Erik. Guess what, turns out, you guessed it, I was wrong yet again! I absolutely loved Jonas & Skadi!
The banter and the chemistry and the attraction between Jonas and Skadi was *chef’s kiss*!!! Getting to spend so much time with the alvers!! Soooo good! There’s action and “Oh no they didn’t” moments and the spice; well it spicy! There’s arranged marriage, Touch Her/Him and ☠️, Pirates and battles and debauchery… it has all the things!
This book was amazing and true to LJ fashion, of course it ends on a damn cliffhanger, but ya know what?! I’m not even mad about it. That’s how good this book was. I may lose more than the one night of sleep over it, but will I be impatiently awaiting my next dose of magic like an addict waiting for their dealer to get them what they need? Yes! Yes, I certainly will!
November 26, 2024
Oh dear. I’m not sure if this is my fault or if it’s the books fault, but this one kind of bored me. This felt like a whole lot of nothing until it was (kind of?) something.
Honestly, this could be my own fault for overindulging in this series over the last 3 weeks. I read the first 10 books so quickly and seemed to grind to a stop on this final one. Did I slow down because I didn’t want to finish the series? Did I simply feel over the series after sooo many books? Or was this book actually not as gripping?We will never know.
This isn’t to say I didn’t love the characters and absolutely adored being back with our favourite gang of thieves.
Will I read book number 12 when it’s released? Heeelllll yeah! How long do I need to wait?
Honestly, this could be my own fault for overindulging in this series over the last 3 weeks. I read the first 10 books so quickly and seemed to grind to a stop on this final one. Did I slow down because I didn’t want to finish the series? Did I simply feel over the series after sooo many books? Or was this book actually not as gripping?We will never know.
This isn’t to say I didn’t love the characters and absolutely adored being back with our favourite gang of thieves.
Will I read book number 12 when it’s released? Heeelllll yeah! How long do I need to wait?
July 1, 2025
this was a delightfully sweet tale of adventure, heartbreak, falling in love, and learning to not fear oneself. many, many, many of the exact same themes that are found in the ever king repeat throughout this story. i enjoyed skadi and thought jonas was hilarious and cute.
thank you to netgalley and the author for this arc!
thank you to netgalley and the author for this arc!
June 30, 2024
I have just been LOVING this series. Earlier in June I flew through the Ever King and Queen with baited breath. I knew I would be reading The Mist Thief and I wanted to properly catch up in time. While this book is a standalone within the series and the author kindly includes a "previously on" type catch up in the beginning, I know I wanted to experience it myself.
Skadi and Jonas were poised for this forced marriage after the events of the Ever Queen and I knew it was going to be a good time. Skadi may be dead to most of her emotions due to her power being misused by an evil fae, but I knew she still had fire hidden underneath. Jonas is the perfect man to draw it out. Though he has reason to hate her, she did try to kill his brother after all, but there is something compelling about her that the Nightmare Prince just can't ignore.
As they struggle through their arrangement in the beginning, we see Jonas' family and people slowly envelope Skadi in love and understanding. Her power which was once feared and looked at with suspicious? Well, in this land, she's just another royal with a cool ability. Obviously she IS very powerful, but everyone here has something that makes them different. They tend to find her curious and her power awe-inspiring. Not something to fear and look away from. It was beautiful to watch her blossom.
I really loved watch Skadi find a home. Her marriage may start as just another way to use her as a pawn on a chess board of power, but with Jonas, she walks away a Queen. Literally. They are so sweet together and I loved watching their love catch fire. There were some delightfully spicy scenes along with the romantic ones. But some of the family scenes still moved me the most.
I am well and truly hooked by LJ Andrews writing. This series is captivating and enjoyable. I haven't read her first series yet, but I plan to go back to it while waiting for the next book in The Ever Seas.
4.5 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: Self Harm, abusive relationships, death of loved ones
*Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this title.*
Skadi and Jonas were poised for this forced marriage after the events of the Ever Queen and I knew it was going to be a good time. Skadi may be dead to most of her emotions due to her power being misused by an evil fae, but I knew she still had fire hidden underneath. Jonas is the perfect man to draw it out. Though he has reason to hate her, she did try to kill his brother after all, but there is something compelling about her that the Nightmare Prince just can't ignore.
As they struggle through their arrangement in the beginning, we see Jonas' family and people slowly envelope Skadi in love and understanding. Her power which was once feared and looked at with suspicious? Well, in this land, she's just another royal with a cool ability. Obviously she IS very powerful, but everyone here has something that makes them different. They tend to find her curious and her power awe-inspiring. Not something to fear and look away from. It was beautiful to watch her blossom.
I really loved watch Skadi find a home. Her marriage may start as just another way to use her as a pawn on a chess board of power, but with Jonas, she walks away a Queen. Literally. They are so sweet together and I loved watching their love catch fire. There were some delightfully spicy scenes along with the romantic ones. But some of the family scenes still moved me the most.
I am well and truly hooked by LJ Andrews writing. This series is captivating and enjoyable. I haven't read her first series yet, but I plan to go back to it while waiting for the next book in The Ever Seas.
4.5 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: Self Harm, abusive relationships, death of loved ones
*Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this title.*
August 15, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
OOOOOF. Elves and fae and merfolk and a marriage of convenience??? The chemistry and banter between Skadi and Jonas was literally off the charts and I was obsessed with them from the start (lets be honest, it started in TEK/TEQ). The way these two fought their own demons and then fought each other’s demons AND enemies??? I honestly think this series is going to be a roman empire for me. Worth the hype. Under hyped. Needs more hype.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
OOOOOF. Elves and fae and merfolk and a marriage of convenience??? The chemistry and banter between Skadi and Jonas was literally off the charts and I was obsessed with them from the start (lets be honest, it started in TEK/TEQ). The way these two fought their own demons and then fought each other’s demons AND enemies??? I honestly think this series is going to be a roman empire for me. Worth the hype. Under hyped. Needs more hype.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
July 12, 2025
Audiobook. Damn that was good. And I will fully admit I was worried going into it because I loved The Ever King + Queen duet so much, but I had nothing to fear. Jonas + Skadi were marriage of convenience amazingness that served us so many great “my wife” moments. If you’ve been on the fence about this one, please proceed forward + enjoy the ride!
September 25, 2024
RTC. LOVED THIS MORE THAN THE EVER KING & QUEEN
July 26, 2024
SO freaking GOOD!!! Just hooked to it from the beginning, the ending was similar to the second book but it was still amazing absolutely love Jonas and Skadi. The tensions were 🔥
I would LOVE a book written of the King Kas and Queen Mallie’s past!!! You hear so many little snippets of them before they came to be it would be lovely to get the whole story.
And I am DYING knowing the next book is of Tait and Mira!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait!
I would LOVE a book written of the King Kas and Queen Mallie’s past!!! You hear so many little snippets of them before they came to be it would be lovely to get the whole story.
And I am DYING knowing the next book is of Tait and Mira!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait!
June 1, 2024
I am deceased. This book was everything. Jonas might have even moved up to number 2 in the LJ Andrews book boyfriends list (Ari is always #1, it can’t be helped).
I will preface this by saying, I got the ARC and I’m soooo happy to be able to read and review this. From the first chapter of Ever King, I knew I loved Jonas. I have a type, and it is always sarcastic, naughty rakish princes.
Read this book. Read all of LJ’s books. You cannot/will not/better not be disappointed!!! I loved the grown up Ash and Von moments. Because I love this universe. This book is definitely more of a romance than an action packed book but it works because Jonas is a big lovable teddy bear angel cutie. And Skadi deserves the world. I’m so glad she fit in with the Alvers aghhh. And Kase and Malin were just the best in-laws. When she calls the Nightrender, Daj 😭😭
Sander was a big part of the book so now I need his book ASAP. But obviously NEED MIRA AND TAIT’s BOOK!!!! Frothing at the mouth for their love story.
The love, the banter, THE SMUT, just perfection. Xoxoxo
I will preface this by saying, I got the ARC and I’m soooo happy to be able to read and review this. From the first chapter of Ever King, I knew I loved Jonas. I have a type, and it is always sarcastic, naughty rakish princes.
Read this book. Read all of LJ’s books. You cannot/will not/better not be disappointed!!! I loved the grown up Ash and Von moments. Because I love this universe. This book is definitely more of a romance than an action packed book but it works because Jonas is a big lovable teddy bear angel cutie. And Skadi deserves the world. I’m so glad she fit in with the Alvers aghhh. And Kase and Malin were just the best in-laws. When she calls the Nightrender, Daj 😭😭
Sander was a big part of the book so now I need his book ASAP. But obviously NEED MIRA AND TAIT’s BOOK!!!! Frothing at the mouth for their love story.
The love, the banter, THE SMUT, just perfection. Xoxoxo
July 1, 2024
What if… instead of reviewing this book… I just read it to you cover to cover? Because I literally want to quote every. Single. Page.
I’ve heard people say that a book can be so good, when you finish it you are PUT into a reading slump… It’s so good, you can’t move on. Nothing will compare to what you just read. And now… I finally believe it.
I literally. Truly. Never thought any book or couple could compare to Erik and Livia in The Ever King. And then Jonas and Skadi walked in and they said hold our ale….
The Ever King is one of my favorite books of all time. Explain to me… how THIS BOOK… was EVEN BETTER.
First of all. There is literally a detailed recap at the beginning of the book. A recap, a map… LJ Andrews is absolutely setting her readers up for 100% success. We love to see it.
This Story follows Jonas and Skadi.
They have been brought together in a marriage of convenience to keep the peace between Elven and Fae lands.
There’s just a little problem… right before this arranged marriage, they met on the battlefield… where Skadi almost unalived Jonas….
So let’s just say… tensions are… high.
I feel like Stefon from Saturday Night Live but I can’t not say it…
This book has everything, nicknames, a first kiss that will make you weak in the knees, a bath scene that’s so delicious you’ll need to take a bath yourself… a cold one… Dirty talk that will have you BLUSHING, vulnerable nightmares that will bring tears to your eyes, found family and acceptance that’s so kind, and tender, it will heal parts of you you didn’t even know were broken, rescue missions that will leave you breathless, evil villains that will make you want to throw hot sauce in their eyes, and a where’s my wife moment that is so potent with rage you will feel yourself silently shaking with a lust for vengeance right along side Jonas.
This story deals with trauma. Who do you trust? Who do you open your heart to? It’s scary being vulnerable. Opening yourself up and seeing who will embrace your monstrous side, revel in your darkness, and stick by you when the nightmares claim you.
“Be gentle, be kind, be nightmarish. I will want you every way.”
The declarations of love and devotion and passion in this story will consume you. It was so beautiful and passionate I felt like I was floating. This book has an intensity to it that is unmatched.
I love every single character in these books, and it has me even more excited and absolutely delighted to start The Broken Kingdom’s series… which technically takes place before the Ever Seas series!
Oh and also… at the end of this book you find out who the next book is going to focus on… let’s just say I will politely and considerately be camping myself out on LJ Andrew’s front lawn until she can hand it to me…
Just kidding… sort of…
I’ve heard people say that a book can be so good, when you finish it you are PUT into a reading slump… It’s so good, you can’t move on. Nothing will compare to what you just read. And now… I finally believe it.
I literally. Truly. Never thought any book or couple could compare to Erik and Livia in The Ever King. And then Jonas and Skadi walked in and they said hold our ale….
The Ever King is one of my favorite books of all time. Explain to me… how THIS BOOK… was EVEN BETTER.
First of all. There is literally a detailed recap at the beginning of the book. A recap, a map… LJ Andrews is absolutely setting her readers up for 100% success. We love to see it.
This Story follows Jonas and Skadi.
They have been brought together in a marriage of convenience to keep the peace between Elven and Fae lands.
There’s just a little problem… right before this arranged marriage, they met on the battlefield… where Skadi almost unalived Jonas….
So let’s just say… tensions are… high.
I feel like Stefon from Saturday Night Live but I can’t not say it…
This book has everything, nicknames, a first kiss that will make you weak in the knees, a bath scene that’s so delicious you’ll need to take a bath yourself… a cold one… Dirty talk that will have you BLUSHING, vulnerable nightmares that will bring tears to your eyes, found family and acceptance that’s so kind, and tender, it will heal parts of you you didn’t even know were broken, rescue missions that will leave you breathless, evil villains that will make you want to throw hot sauce in their eyes, and a where’s my wife moment that is so potent with rage you will feel yourself silently shaking with a lust for vengeance right along side Jonas.
This story deals with trauma. Who do you trust? Who do you open your heart to? It’s scary being vulnerable. Opening yourself up and seeing who will embrace your monstrous side, revel in your darkness, and stick by you when the nightmares claim you.
“Be gentle, be kind, be nightmarish. I will want you every way.”
The declarations of love and devotion and passion in this story will consume you. It was so beautiful and passionate I felt like I was floating. This book has an intensity to it that is unmatched.
I love every single character in these books, and it has me even more excited and absolutely delighted to start The Broken Kingdom’s series… which technically takes place before the Ever Seas series!
Oh and also… at the end of this book you find out who the next book is going to focus on… let’s just say I will politely and considerately be camping myself out on LJ Andrew’s front lawn until she can hand it to me…
Just kidding… sort of…
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