The fourth and final book in J.M. Kearl's bestselling The Elf Queen romantasy series!
Valeen, the goddess of night, fears no one and is never commanded by anyone.
Layala Lightbringer has embraced her goddess side, Valeen, but she has the fight of her life against the Council of the Gods before she can reclaim her throne and immortality.
No longer is she the confused, lost elf afraid of her power. She is a primordial goddess and wife to the god of mischief and magic, Hel. She, Hel, and Thane have a vendetta to settle, and she will rain down the very stars on her enemies to protect those she loves.
But the enemy is ruthless, powerful, and cunning. Everyone she loves is threatened, including her beloved sister Katana, and the existence of Palenor.
The council wants what she has and they’ve hunted her through the ages to get it. But she won’t give up, and she won’t give in. The drums of war steadily beat, but the queen is back and ready to take what’s rightfully hers.
I really loved the first 3 books but I just didn’t love this one the way I did those. Personally, I was really not a fan of the Katana/Thane storyline, and their chapters took up a big chunk of the book. It was very insta-lovey, so there wasn’t really time to develop depth in their relationship. It felt like bringing back Katana was pretty much just a way to make sure Thane didn’t end up alone. On the other hand, I am glad Thane found someone—I just didn’t like how rushed it was. Katana in general wasn’t really my cup of tea, and I felt like every time she had dialogue she was “giggling” or “squealing.” I think I would’ve felt differently if she had her own character development over the course of a couple books. I would’ve also liked to see an actual end for Varlett, since I feel she got off kinda easy? Okay, now the good! JM Kearl created a really cool and unique world, and I was so glad to be back in it. Hel and Val were wonderful together, and I love how they were still their own characters after ending up together. The side characters also really shine in this series, and it’s an excellent found family. I was really glad to see all of those storylines wrap up happily! Overall, this is still a really solid series, and I think this book would’ve been more in the 4-4.5 star range if it weren’t for the Katana/Thane storyline, but that’s totally personal preference because reading is SO subjective!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed this latest installment in The Elf Queen series. Layala/Valeen is still as BA and frustrating as ever. While she has chosen between the two love interests, she still has feelings for the other one. The opening of the portal at the end of the last book has brought her sister into the picture aka the Goddess of Day, Katana. Katana is much softer and less feisty than her sister Valeen, and Thane seems to like that.
Will Thane set aside his love for Valeen, so that he can fall in love with her sister? We will see.
Setting all the love drama aside, the four Gods and Goddesses, Valeen, Hel, Thane, and Katana, have banded together to fight the Council of Gods and get their immortality back. After this fight is over Thane does not wish to return to the land of the gods, but wants to stay and be the High Fae King as he was born to be in this current life.
With all of the rebirths and previous lifes, it can get a little confusing, but I've very much enjoyed reading Valeen, Hel, Katana, and Thane's journey! I can't wait to see what is next from Ms. Kearl.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Love Triangle 🍁Gods & Goddesses & Fae & Humans 🍁Shadow Daddy 🍁Fantasy War 🍁Fated mates 🍁Enemies to Lovers 🍁Major plot twists 🍁Fighting against fate
TW:
✨Violent murder ✨Fighting/training sequences ✨Crass language ✨Spicy content ✨Mention of sexual assault ✨Past lives
Overall, I thought this was a great way to wrap up the series!
There were a lot of loose ends tied up nicely, but with the amount of nail biting that I expect from JM :p The characters, gosh I missed seeing non-mopey Thane! I love that he got a happy ending out of this like Valeen. I really missed these characters and this is definitely one of my favorite series for more character driven, tune out the world for a while stories.
(Spoilers for rest of series mentioned ahead)
I LOVE Hel and Valeen, their dynamic feels so authentic and their relationship feels very dimensional. I completely forgot about Piper and Ronan! I was excited to see Piper and Valeen reconcile and get more of their friendly banter back. They were a great duo earlier in the series and it was relieving to see them become better friends again. I really like the relationship between Ronan and Piper, I don’t like that we didn’t get to see much of it, but that’s okay.
A couple of things I wasn’t a huge fan of; 1) We never learned how Synick got out of the underworld, I really dislike that this wasn’t cleaned up better. He was such a huge villain the the major cliff hanger at the end of the last book was that he reappeared in the House of Night. I feel like there was so much set up for him to be the biggest baddest villain and his page time in this fell flat for me.
2) Why wasn’t there a conversation between Hel and War about War’s immortality getting destroyed? I thought the ending of him staying mortal with katana worked well for their characters but would have liked to see that conversation play out.
I thought it was pretty predictable, but most “we are going to war” plots are. I’m glad Thane got a happy ending even though it was very insta-love. But, either way I would give the overall series 4 stars, with the peak being book 3.
However, I’m a little disappointed Hel, Valeen, and Thane got their revenge on everyone who wronged them with the exception of Varlett. Even if she was turned into a demon princess, Hel and Valeen still gave her promises of death. I kept waiting for her ending that never came. Since she was the primary antagonist who caused most of the problems you’d think she would have the most epic death? Guess not.
Also, where was the conversation about Hel accidentally destroying Thanes immortality???? I assumed he’d be okay with it since Katana was technically moral, but I guess the author forgot to finish that part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Gosh, I loved this series! There was a good mix of romance and action! I felt like everything got tied up nicely and everyone ended up with the characters I wanted 🤣
“Don’t think I’ll ever leave you unsatisfied, love. You can have me whenever and wherever you want. On the dining room table with everyone sat down for dinner if you asked.”
It’s actually over 🥹
I loved how JM Kearl tied off The Elf Queen Series. I feel the entire plot was written so well. Every time I thought things were gonna be okay and we were getting somewhere, shit hit the fan! It made the story that much more enjoyable. The twists that get your heart pumping. And then the desire and devotion between Hel and Val 🥵 Oh and did I mention a new couple that added the cutest touch of sweetness to the story. Thane and Katana’s love arc may be instalove, but I think they needed each other exactly when they found each other.
I definitely laughed, and there’s no denying I cried.
I can’t wait for the audiobook!! Thank you JM Kearl for gifting me a review copy. This series will always be a favorite of mine 🫶🏼
I laughed. I ugly cried. I stress ate oreos. Rinse & repeat.
The final book in the Elf Queen series is wonderful. Some parts had me giggling & kicking my feet, while others had me ugly crying at 2am. It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful story. As much as I will miss these characters, I’m so happy with how everything ended for everyone.
I was nervous about the new characters, but they made the story so much richer. The character arcs in this one single book are also well written.
If you haven’t yet, please jump into this world J.M Kearl has crafted. You won’t regret it!
This was an amazing conclusion to this series. The big battle scene at the end did make me cry, but that is just the sign of an amazing book. I love these characters and this magic system. I wish there were more books in this world because four books just isn't enough for me.
I am so thankful to have received an arc for this book! This was an absolutely thrilling conclusion to one of my favorite series. Review to come soon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This conclusion to the Elf Queen series was everything I wanted it to be and more! Hel is the epitome of a morally grey MMC that will burn the world for her. He is devoted, possessive, and his love knows no bounds! The new POVs for the character revealed at the end of book three provided not only a new love interest (hello tension/flirting) but also the perfect avenue for the storylines to all merge into one beautiful conclusion! The battle scenes were intense, well written and emotional! My favorite sassy gnome always brings amazing humor and I was cracking up multiple times! The character development, not only in this book but across the series, is amazing! This series will forever be a favorite!!!
✨ Elves/gods/dragon shifters ✨ Epic battles ✨ Fated mates ✨ Touch her and die ✨ Found family ✨ Multiple romances
“I’d do it a thousand times and a thousand more after that if it meant I got to be with you even for a moment. Nothing will ever keep you from me.”
“I can’t read with you staring at me like that.” He smirked. “Like what, love? Like you’re the most extraordinary being to ever exist? Like you’re my entire world?”
It was his devotion that made her fall into him, scars and wickedness and all.
They were not fire and ice, always battling for dominance, they were fire and fire, burning hotter, thriving off each other’s flames.
Night Meets the Elf Queen is the highly anticipated, enigmatic conclusion to The Elf Queen Series. It has everything you could want in a conclusion: depth, complexion, heart wrenching plots, twists out of no where, and still leaves you on your knees begging for more.
Synopsis: War, Hel, and Valeen were left reeling after the events of the last book with two new characters unexpectedly emerging from the fully formed alliance. Now, the trio must fight together to save Palenor, free themselves, and break the magical choke-hold Varlett has on Valeen. Oh! Let's not forget their need for Vengeance and to restore the balance that was lost.
What I loved: - Everything. Just literally everything. - The plot conclusions from previous books, bringing in Aunt Evelyn for reasons - Katana's story line was everything I was missing from the other books. It was well thought out and incorporated. Her relationship with the trio and how that blossomed, not to mention finding her own inner strength in the face of adversity was nothing short of a hard won, well-deserved victory. - Though this book tied everything up in a nice little bow, it left room for a sequel series that I really hope is written. I have some plot lines that were kind of ... reserved for another time. It's not that they were plot holes, so don't think that, they were lines that I could tell were conveniently not resolved just in case. You know how you can tell that from a tv series? Yeah, that. But I'm okay with it. I want to see more of the things from the Epilogue. They are immortal(ish) beings after all.
What I didn't like: -Dax and Fennor. - The Varlett plot ending. - What happened to Talon?
For those of you who are coming back for the spicy scenes, the story was very plot forward, so the spice was left to your imagination with fade to black scenes. However, it was done so very tastefully and done to enhance the other plots, that it wasn't even missed (until I realized writing this review).
This story captivated me from the beginning after a Stuff Your Kindle event, had me rushing to get the next book, then the third, and now I have had the amazing opportunity to arc read for the last book of this series. I will be forever grateful to be a part of this journey. Thank you for the opportunity!
Night Meets the Elf Queen was everything I hoped for and more. As the conclusion to one of my favorite fantasy series, I went in with high hopes and high anxiety—especially because I loved both Hel and Thane for Valeen. I didn’t want a “why choose” trope, but I also couldn’t see how my heart would come out of this okay. And somehow…it did. Beautifully.
The action kicked off right from the first page and never let up. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The “touch her and die” trope is STRONG in this one (in the best way), but what I appreciated most was how the protective elements didn’t overshadow the strength and independence of the female characters. The story strikes a rare balance—fierce loyalty and love without taking away their ability to fight their own battles.
I especially loved the recap at the beginning of the book—it was so helpful to jump back into the world—and the pronunciation guide was such a thoughtful touch. The banter was witty, the characters were swoon-worthy, and the emotional depth was handled with so much care. The story doesn’t gloss over trauma; it shows characters working through it in healthy, believable ways. And best of all—no miscommunication trope! Just growth, trust, and love.
I laughed, I cried, and I’m genuinely heartbroken that this is the end of the series. The ending was unexpected, but absolutely perfect. I can’t share my favorite scene or quote without spoiling something major, but just know that Hel’s lines? Breathtaking. He doesn’t just say "I love you"—he makes it poetry.
Themes of revenge, loyalty, found family, deep love, and powerful character development make this a truly unforgettable read. I’d consider the romance closed-door, which made the emotional intimacy shine even brighter.
I would recommend this series to anyone who loves epic fantasy, emotionally rich storytelling, and characters you’ll miss the moment you turn the last page. What a sendoff.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Night Meets the Elf Queen was the perfect finale to a series I’ve loved for years. J.M. Kearl did a phenomenal job keeping me hooked from start to finish. Returning to the lives of these beloved characters: and seeing everything tied together so beautifully; felt like a gift to long-time readers. It was emotional, action-packed, and incredibly well written.
This final book leaned more into action than some of the earlier ones, and I absolutely loved that. The battles and high-stakes moments were gripping and added even more depth to the story. The fantasy lore stayed rich and immersive, but the dynamic between Valeen, Hel, and Thane (War) really stole the show. Now fully stepped into their roles as gods, their banter had me laughing, and their loyalty to each other made me tear up. Their journey wasn’t just wrapped up, it was celebrated.
This series has become a part of me. The shifting plot, deep lore, unforgettable characters (especially Zaurahel), and emotional storytelling made it something truly special. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye, but the ending was everything I hoped for and more. I laughed, cried, and held on tight the whole way through.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy rooted in revenge, found family, loyalty, and an eternal kind of love that’s told through powerful, emotionally rich writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Night Meets the Elf Queen: The Elf Queen Book 4 by J.M. Kearl is a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to a remarkable fantasy series. Having had the privilege of reading an advance copy, I can confidently say that this installment is impossible to put down. It masterfully blends nonstop action, compelling romance, witty banter, and nail-biting suspense into a seamless narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
The journey to this finale has been nothing short of epic, and this book delivers on every promise made by its predecessors. Kearl’s ability to weave intricate plotlines while maintaining deep emotional connections between characters shines brightest here. Fans of slow-burn fantasy romance will find this series—and especially this final volume—an absolute treasure.
What makes this book stand out is not only its gripping pace but also the vivid world-building and the unforgettable characters that feel as real as old friends. Saying goodbye to them is bittersweet, but the satisfaction of a well-rounded ending leaves a lasting impression.
In summary, Night Meets the Elf Queen is a masterpiece in fantasy storytelling, combining all the elements that make for a perfect read: action, romance, humor, and tension. I will deeply miss these characters and the richly imagined world they inhabit. This series is one I will continue to recommend enthusiastically to anyone who loves an immersive, slow-burn fantasy romance.
My opinions are my own, but I believe any fan of the genre will find this conclusion as compelling and rewarding as I did
Please drop what you are doing and read this (and the series for it to make sense) 😍 I was so worried going into this that my heart would not be ok at all once done, but somehow by her writing magic it turned out so perfectly and intricately done that it was just jaw dropping.
Valeen was a total badass and throughout the whole book proved why Hel and her are absolutely PERFECT for each other. I have said since book 3 was done that I loved both Thane and Hel but since it wasn’t a why choose, Thane deserved his own love! The person he ends up with is so absolutely PERFECT for him. The fighting, the ups and downs and the unknown is what made this a perfect ending to the series. The power the Female Characters have is so empowering and uplifting! The entire series is an absolute must for your collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
MY RATING: 🔉🔉🔉🔉🔉 Without giving too much away I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series. I laughed, cried, and spent almost the entire book on the edge of my seat. The ending was worth the wait. If you haven’t read this series and you enjoy a slow burn fantasy with romance give it a read. If you’ve been reading it and have been waiting for the this book you won’t be disappointed.
✨SERIES REVIEW✨- The Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
Series Rating: 🔉🔉🔉🔉🔉 I’m a sucker for a badass powerful FMC who can wield a sword. This series delivers that. Also, there isn’t just one but two morally grey MCs with touch her and die vibes. They aren’t joking either. This series has battles, political intrigues, monsters, dragons, and more. The side characters were awesome and didn’t take away from the story.
UNOFFICIAL SERIES DESCRIPTION Follow Layala as she fulfills a prophecy, fights evil, and protects her loved ones.
✨My Rating System✨ 🔉🔉🔉🔉 🔉- Hit all the vibes 🔉🔉🔉🔉 - Hit some good vibes 🔉🔉🔉 - I vibed 🔉🔉 - The vibes were meh 🔉 - Barely found a vibe DNF - Zero vibes
My rating system does not equate to the quality of the books, therefore, you’re still on your own. It’s legit just about how I vibed with the book at the time.
So, glad to finally get to read the last book of this amazing adventure!
I will admit, the one thing I didn’t like is the multiple POV’s, but that’s standard for me. But I also got the importance of them for this book. So, as much as I didn’t get of our main FMC’s POV as I would like, it made sense why.
This book was a great completion of the story. I felt like it wrapped everything up in a nice bow! The final battle scene was very well done, in my opinion. It wasn’t rushed like a lot of them are, even though we want to see the conclusion. I am glad that J.M. took her time with it and did it justice.
I loved this series as a whole and think it is highly underrated. It has so many twists and turns you don’t see coming. This last book kept me on my toes! I may have yelled a few times about where a certain villain was at times and why we weren’t keeping an eye on them better. Stressed me out! But that is all part of the fun! I very much highly recommend this book and the series as a whole! You won’t be disappointed!
This fourth book in the series exceeded all my expectations. I loved every chapter; switching between the four main characters was done perfectly. I thought I knew what I wanted from the romance going into the book, but I’m absolutely thrilled with how it unfolded.
The action started strong and kept up throughout the entire story. One of my favorite aspects of Kearl's writing has been the depth of the relationships. They feel so genuine and deep-rooted, and I adore the banter among the characters. The "touch her and die" sentiment runs deep in this book, and I’m here for it!
This book made me laugh, cry, and gasp in shock with all the twists and turns Kearl packed into the narrative.
While I still love Valeen and Hel, some of the other couples are phenomenal as well.
I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters, but the epilogue helped ease those feelings.
What an incredible ending to an incredible series 😭
There isn't a lot I can say about this book (& entire series actually) without totally spoiling the best parts because every moment is action-packed and so essential to the plot and sub-plots. Night Meets The Elf Queen has so many incredible heartfelt moments, tons of action, magic, magical creatures, horrible new villians, an absolutely lovely new character with a beautiful story, and enough Touch-Her-And-Die & Who-Did-This-To-You moments to make you swoon and then look at your husband in the eye and ask in all seriousness if he'd kill someone for stabbing you.
I was a bit worried on how J.M. Kearl would tie up the whole love-triangle situation. Jk that's an understatement - I was SCARED. Her resolution wasn't even on my radar before book 4 and thankfully I could not be happier about how it ended.
J.M. Kearl had me INVESTED in these characters from day 1 & I already miss them - would it be super weird to BEG her to write little novellas here and there so we can see what everyone is up to? For the rest of my life?
This was the perfect conclusion to this series. I don’t think I could have wanted anything else for these characters. I felt closure and happiness for them and happy with the glimpse into their future. Lots happened in this book and it gave me Lord of the rings the return of the king vibes. There were epic battles and epic enemies. It was tense and chaotic and I didn’t want to turn the page in case my heart was broke. JM Kearl knows how to write and surround you in the story. Although I wasn’t sure where the series would go after book two and was a little heart broken. I feel healed and happy with how it all played out. Grab this series. You won’t regret it. Book one starts with stabby female rage and book four ends with a strong willed heroine.
I've been waiting literal years for the conclusion of this series and it was so worth the wait. J.M. Kearl has a way of getting you emotionally hooked into these characters and stories, so much so, that I found myself sobbing, laughing, and sobbing some more. This is an epic finale to a truly wonderful romantasy series. Can't wait for what she has planned next 🥰
I adore this series 💕 it's the one that hooked me back into reading after a long hiatus! The history that's unraveled between our main characters is entertaining to say the least. Lots of questions are answered and everyone ends up w who they're meant to it's a very sweet ending, but also we have characters robbed of their immortality and kinda seemed like their s.o.l and lastly Varlett deserved a worse fate 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
You better be prepared for a full-on rollercoaster with this one. I was gasping, giggling, fully on the edge of my seat the entire time! J.M. Kearl just knows how to wreck me in the best way. I’m honestly so sad this series is officially over, but not even a little mad about the ride it took me on. Pure chaos. Pure magic. Pure War on my emotions and Hel of a good time. (wink wink)
Also? The multi-POV was perfection. I usually get lost with too many perspectives (my little pea brain can’t keep up), but this? It all flowed. It made sense. It was SPECTACULAR!
If you’re looking for something action-packed, slow burn, spicy, and completely addictive—this is IT. Always and forever my #1 rec and my all-time favorite series
Book 4 brings it all home. Did it wrap up a little too neatly? Maybe. But after the emotional wreckage these characters endured—they earned every second of peace.
If you love fantasy romance with ancient magic, enemies-to-lovers vibes, and an evolving world full of danger and divine meddling… this one’s for you.
Loved this conclusion to one of my favorite series!
I felt so bad for Thane when all of this began with Hel in Fate Calls the Elf Queen, but watching Valeen and Hel fall in love all over again, and getting glimpses of their past life together, was just too good! Their chemistry is unmatched! I love them so much !
I am so happy that Thane also found his happy ending, he deserved it!
I was devastated at some of the loss in this book, but so happy that we got to meet more of the side characters.
I am excited for the audiobook release so I can enjoy it all over again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
it was the perfect conclusion to this exhilarating series! Turmoil, war, heartbreak, love, enemies, all existing to keep the reader enticed and not ready for the series to end. I absolutely adored this series and recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy
I had high hopes but I just got bored. Potential spoilers ahead.
Did not care AT ALL about Thane and Katana. Main couple became boring. Nothing was happening. Things were dragging. I gave up because I just didn't care enough and I didn't even want to know what would happen next.