The Last Best Quest Ever

by F.T. Lukens

A fraudulent teen quester must team up with a brooding, royal rival on a perilous adventure to save her brother’s life in this cozy young adult romantasy full of mythical creatures by the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record of anyone in the kingdom’s history. She also has a secret: her fame is built entirely on lies. Tired of the charade, she shocks the kingdom by retiring at a royal feast. But her plans for a quiet life are disrupted when her twin brother Zig bets his life that Ellinore can retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast. To save Zig, she reluctantly sets out on one last, perilous quest.

Accompanying her are Zig, determined to help despite his recklessness; Aven, her envious rival eager to prove their superiority; an ambitious bar maiden turned adventurer; and a young, magic-wielding bard. Together, they face an arduous journey fraught with mythical challenges and shifting alliances. As they search for the Elder Beast, Ellinore grapples with her growing feelings for Aven, her fear of losing Zig, and her identity as a reluctant hero.

With time running out, Ellinore must confront not only the legendary creature but also her own truths. Can she save her brother, embrace her potential, and finally decide her path?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming Love at Second Sight (2025) as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.

Reviews

[Seri ❤ · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐
The stakes were exciting. The adventuring was meh. The dialogue was CRINGE.

The stakes:
Ellinore, the FMC, is forced out of retirement and on this epic quest to find the mythical Elder Beast after her twin brother makes a bet with mages offering his heart as collateral if they don't succeed.

It's a shame that with a premise THAT interesting, the final results proved so lackluster.

The adventuring:
Honestly, the questing group faced off against tons of magical creatures and visited intricate fantasy locations. But! The payoff for these creatures/locations didn't deliver. 95% of the time, Ellinore talked her way out of things without any resistance… For instance, she encounters a man-eating faery, but with one look at a token from her dragon friend, the faery not only doesn't behave maliciously but also gives Ellinore a helpful tip for her quest.

Now, imagine what I described above with a slight variation of it every single time the FMC faced a foe/setback. This book reads as too childish for anyone actually interested in the high stakes promised by this "dangerous quest."

The dialogue:
Also, tell me why there were lines like "What's your beef?" and mentions of "clocking them" in a fantasy novel?!! The modern slang was so abrupt and out of place that it KILLED all immersion I had while reading. Even ignoring the random Gen Z lingo, the dialogue as a whole between characters DID NOT feel natural.

*Honestly, there was a HUGE missed opportunity when marketing this book. Had they aged down the characters to 12-13, this book would've made for a REALLY SOLID middle grade adventure novel. As the characters are all 17, but given how they act, they could've just as easily been much younger and going on this quest—with little change to the actual story itself! Frankly, it would've suited the maturity/writing level of the rest of the book MUCH better.
As a YA, with 17-year-old main characters, it read as overly childish with really cringey dialogue.

Unfortunately, by my rating, it's obvious that I didn't enjoy this novel. But I do want to shoutout the non-binary love interest! A gender nonconforming main character highlights a minority not often featured in novels. I applaud the inclusivity! 🩵

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Frank Socha (franksforeword) · Rating 5 out of 5]

F.T. Lukens really said “what if we took a D&D party, cranked the sass to 11, and made you so emotionally attached to the characters that you'd think about them regularly??” and I, for one, am forever changed.

Found family? More like found emotional support gremlins (this is a good thing). This book delivers peak “we didn’t choose each other but now I’d fight a hydra for you” energy. The squad forms that perfect messy, ride-or-die dynamic where everyone is a little unhinged but deeply loyal. With A LOT of character development (also a good thing) to make this little tiny family click. You don’t just watch them bond. You feel yourself getting adopted into the group whether you consent or not.

Every time a new creature showed up I got giddy, elated, and a little terrified for our disaster children. The world feels like a chaotic fantasy grab bag in the best way! Nothing is off-limits and everything adds to the sense that this adventure could spiral at any moment (and often does). One singular objective and a PLETHORA of mythical creature realness that could end everything right then and there. Including a dragon named Dave. WHOM I LOVE WITH MY WHOLE HEART.

The dialogue is doing Olympic-level gymnastics. Every interaction is sharp, funny, and just a little bit feral. I laughed out loud multiple times, and also had moments where I had to pause and go “okay but why is that line actually emotionally devastating???” Lukens really said you can have humor and feelings and honestly, rude.

Under all the chaos and comedy, there’s this really strong message about being comfortable in your own skin instead of trying to live up to what others expect. It hits in that sneaky way where you’re having a great time and then suddenly you’re so in your feels because yeah...you're a bad bitch no matter what boo boo do your thang! It’s empowering, heartfelt, and never feels preachy.

This book is like if a fantasy quest, a therapy session, and a group chat full of chaotic besties had a baby. I loved every second. Would absolutely join this disaster party again.

Thanks so much to the publisher for the advanced reading copy :)

[Penny]

A new F.T. Lukens book LETS GOOOOO!!!!

[ishraq ✿ (semi-ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

first book of may and it was ehhh

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how much I should say because this is an arc that doesn’t come out until may, I believe? But this was cute! It had a fun balance between fantasy and kinda modern dialogue but not in an overtly cringy way.

Thank you to the publishers and edelweiss for allowing me to read an early copy!

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, can we hear a little commotion for the cover. This is actually the best thing I’ve ever laid eyes upon.
 
So This is Ever After is one of my favorite F.T. Luken’s books, and The Last Best Quest Ever is basically it’s fraternal twin. We once again have the most unexpected rag tag group of adventurers being faced with the most unconventional challenges. And again we have our protagonist who really complicates the hero narrative. Ellinore, known throughout the kingdom as Ellinore the Brave, is a fraud. For years she has been fulfilling challenges put forth by the crown, beating out other questers and her longtime rival Princet Aven. But after her latest conquest, she publicly announces her retirement. Tired from hiding her longtime secret— all those mythical creatures the bards sing about her vanquishing, she never did. Now Ellinore is hoping to live a quiet life in the countryside with her secrets buried. But this plan is immediately derailed when her twin brother boasts that she can obtain the horn of a legendary beast- and bets his own heart on it. One last time, Ellinore must pick up her sword to save her twin. And along the way must rely on an unexpected group of adventurous to succeed.
 
This was so much fun! I really enjoyed Ellinore as our main character. I think her honor code was really intriguing and admirable. Even though her persona is known best for her brawn, we learn that her true success is largely due to her empathy. She actually isn’t the best sword fighter, and mostly relies on her wit. And we see how Ellinore views this discrepancy between her reputation and actuality as fraud. She doesn’t feel like a true champion, despite us seeing the contrary. Her unconventional approaches to quests showcase her skill. She is a resourceful problem solver, and the frustration she feels struggling to solve her brother’s predicament really highlights this.

I liked Zig as a character as well. I enjoyed seeing how his downfalls turned into useful skills on the quest. He might get himself into a lot of unsavory situations in town, but his abilities as a charmer and a pickpocket come in handy often on the road. I thought it was cute how both Zig and Ellinore are “frauds” in their own way. They’re two sides of the same coin and it really showcases how perception matters.

The romance was cute. Aven’s deep admiration for Ellinore, and subsequent feeling of betrayal when her deceit is revealed, made for a very interesting dynamic in their relationship. I do wish Aven was given more of a chance to shine during the quest. It often felt like they were just Ellinore’s sidekick. I wanted to learn more about their motivations and the influences in their life. Considering they’re basically the second best quester in the kingdom after Ellinore, I thought there would be more background to their arc concerning why they want to be a champion. And I just wanted them to be given more opportunities to show they’re a skilled adventurer.

A fun adventure with a lot of action, humor, and romance. And a cast of characters that you can’t help but want to be friends with.

Thank you Simon Teen for the physical ARC!

[labibliofille · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Best Quest gripped me from page one. I love these characters, the quest was a wild ride, and the found family/band of misfits vibes were immaculate. I do think some of the plot needed a bit *more* (what precisely, I do not know, but it felt like things were a bit shallow or convenient at parts to get to the next plot point), so I've settled on a 4-star rating. I am so excited to read more from F.T. Lukens!

[Mai H.]

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books

[willow]

hello omg this cover is everything. cozy YA fantasy romance that's got D&D vibes.... u know im IN

[Riley Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

review of advanced copy received from author via goodreads giveaway

5⭐️

this book was just so much fun! i loved the dungeons and dragons vibes and i adore the found family trope. our cast of characters were great, and the writing truly made me feel like i was on the quest with them. lukens strikes again with an awesome new story that leaves you feeling excited (even while wishing the story was longer). everyone who feels the need for an adventure should absolutely pick this up!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡️🏰 The Last Best Quest Ever 🏰🗡️

This was such a cozy queer romantasy 🫶🏽

Ellinore the Brave is a baddie with some serious imposter syndrome. She may not have completed her quests the way the kingdom thinks she did, but she still got the job done and honestly… in a smarter way.

I loved the dynamic between Ellinore and Aven. Their rivalry and banter was top tier. Aven ended up being such a softie underneath it all 🥹

The whole crew really made this story. They were funny, a lot chaotic, and brought so much heart to the journey. It had that warm, found family feel.

📜What to Expect
• YA romantasy
• Rival questers
• Royal rival
• One last quest
• Mythical creatures
• Found family
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Betaknot · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Best Quest begins with a promising tale of fantasy, questing, and fun-antics. Ellinore is known in her kingdom to have bested ancient beings, tricked magical creatures, and to have slayed horrifying beasts. She's captivated the heart of her people, and the captured the envy and resentment of Princet Aven the royal, who is 'second best'.

When Ellinor's brother tells a pair of mages that he's betting his heart on his sister winning the horn of a mythical beast, Ellinore is forced on a quest she's unprepared for. Because Ellinor's never once told the truth to the kingdom about her accomplishments.

With the help of her secret friend Dave the Dragon, her unpredictable brother, and a some-what reluctant ally Princet Aven, Ellinore is tasked with saving her brother's life while protecting the image she's perfectly crafted in order to retire early and live peacefully with her family.

I would prefer to begin with the positives. Lukens delivers a solid premise about a teen adventurer who has built an image of herself and must carefully maintain that construction or else her self image falls apart. Unfortunately, that's where the positive ends.

On the 28th of March I made the decision to not finish this novel at around 34-40%. I will explain.

The story's prose and narration offers up humor through its introduction of Dave the Dragon and Ellinore The Great. It reminded me of the first time I read the Tales From Verania series by TJ Klune, which I still love and adore to this day, due to its cleverness, humor, and imagination while maintaining a believable plot, a hearty cast of characters you can't help but fall for, and emotional depth.

This novel did not deliver on any of those.

My first critique is that the characters have their style and purpose in the novel, but I didn't find myself attached to them. The author seemed to battle between honing in the craft of the plot, while also developing their characters. Ellinore had a decent structure; a young girl who wants to live happily ever after with her family in his magical kingdom ( vaguely described btw ) by completing odd quests to win fortune and fame. And as the narration so blatantly throws in our face, she's a liar!

It became obvious by the later 20% that this story is not ready for publication at all. I could tell that this novel has been in the works, by my estimation, for several years. And the writing reflects that. Often it seems, paragraphs are strewn together to connect the plot, but the writing itself is fragmented by the fact that pages, chapters and even paragraphs were written in different points of time by the author, and not any of it is consistent.

The dialogue formula, and its age demographic, changes bi-page. It will range from middle grade juvenile ( the kind that isn't well written or edited ) to more adult language and prose, which doesn't fit the characters Lukens introduced. One moment the characters are censored into implying strong adult language, and the next it is explicit.

Another huge gripe I had with this novel was that it was wholly undeveloped and under-written. There is, technically, barely any world building. We have a Kingdom that is hardly described at all save for specific taverns or brothels that are mentioned when necessary. We have a magic system that is haphazardly thrown in with the excuse of "Ellinore had never met mages before, didn't know if they were real or not, and here they were... and she still didn't know if they existed or not" in a magical setting is... disastrous.

It seemed as if this author, Lukens, was being forced to write fantasy against their will. The very notion that the author was, quite frankly, cowardly avoiding describing classes of people in a society they're writing about was frustrating.

There were obvious grammatical and sentence structure issues ( as you see, I'm not a fan of them either ), but for a top 5 publisher to push something to publication that isn't correctly edited, written well or interesting... is a choice. An obvious one.

The beats of the plot were stapled to our foreheads, with no red herrings or intelligent nods. There was no subtlety. The characters simply told you how to feel, what you saw, what they did, without putting in the work. The way this novel is written, you could have just orally told me every task and important beat and I wouldn't have to read it at all, which I would have honestly preferred over reading it in its entirety.

The idea that Ellinore could ever accomplish the goal of her Last Quest is laughable. The romance is particularly overhanded and cheaply done. The author, annoyed at their own character, deletes him from scenes to avoid writing his dialogue or to prevent him pro-longing already long chapters that are already unnecessary.

Another note is that the stakes aren't that very high. Ellinore is supposedly going to either find save her brother, or not, but it doesn't much matter when there are specifically 2-4 scenes in which Ellinore is, vocally and internally, the last person who wants to actually save her brother. In the narration, she implies that being called out for being a liar and saving her brother could be worse than actually saving him. Not that I blame Ellinore due to the way her brother is written, but it's concerning because of its lack of empathy despite implying the whole reason she's on this trip is TO. SAVE. HER. BROTHER. If I'm missing out on a crucial 180 degree development in 20 chapters when Ellinore finally produces an ounce of empathy, well, it's too late.

The author can't seem to find their audience. Nor a tone. Neither of those two elements promises anything.

There's about a million more things I can point out, and honestly, complain about in this novel. I dreaded picking it back up. It was a very bad reading experience for me, which is unfortunate, because I adore queer fantasy.

The queerness of the characters and their normalcy in this world is amazing. But this book is hardly done being written. There is much too wrong about this novel to be published, and I question whether anyone glanced it all before being accepted. This novel is in no way or shape ready to be bought and distributed. And I don't recommend teens or adults picking this up and seeing it as an inspiring or fun reading experience.

Please shelve this novel until it is ready. I am thankful for receiving this early copy as I was looking forward to reading it, but my expectations were not met with reality.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m gonna be real honest: I think the cover of this one led me a little astray. I went into The Last Best Quest Ever expecting an exciting, enemies-to-maybe-something-more quest, but got, well, not really that, but kind of that. A watered-down version. That’s not to say that the book was bad, because it wasn’t. I just didn’t have as great a time as I thought I would.

Everything about this book could be described as surface-level. The characters, their relationships, the world-building, the plot, the ending. It’s all there, and I didn’t dislike it, but nothing ever felt like it got the attention it needed. If you asked me to describe a light-hearted, cozy adventure, it would be this book, but if you also wanted something with complex relationships, deep characters, and a lush world, this wouldn’t be my choice. Again, that’s not a bad thing, and I never felt bored, but nothing was bringing me back to the story or making me excited to read it.

The kingdom we’re in is one giant, unified kingdom. There are other kingdoms across the sea, but we won’t worry about those because they don’t matter. But they’re there, promise. Anyway, this kingdom is ruled by a King and Queen who apparently do nothing other than host parties and send out people on quests. As far as I could tell, the only questers are Ellinore, Aven, and Lord Ethan. If there were others, well, I must have skipped over the single sentence that mentioned them, because I didn’t see anyone else. Why two teenagers and an older guy are the only people doing these supposedly very dangerous quests, I have no idea, but there you are. So, other than that, and the fact that this world has fantastical beings, I don’t really know anything else. The explanation that I got was “everything has been lost to time,” which is fair, I guess, but not very satisfying.

The characters were just as unsatisfying. Ellinore and Aven felt like the only ones with real personality, and even then, I didn’t feel a real connection to them. By the end, their relationship reads more like a friendship than a romance because much of it felt like it happened off the page. Either that, or what was on the page wasn’t enough to convince me of romance. The others were little more than their roles (bubbly sidekick, charming thief, mage for the sake of a mage who also happens to be a bard, bad guy because there has to be a bad guy), and the secondary romance that happened practically came out of nowhere. Romance didn’t seem like a main plot point of the story, which is completely fine, but since it was there, I wish there had been a little more buildup to it, if that makes sense. Not saying it needed to be focused on more, just saying that since it’s there, I would have liked more depth beyond, “oh yeah, so, we like each other now.” (Since I put it in there, I should also mention that I believe the word “oh” was used 647 times. Okay, probably not that many, but it was in there a lot. Excessively so. “Oh” as a sentence. Some “oh no’s.” Some “oh nooooooo’s” as well. Other uses that I can’t recall at this moment. They were everywhere. It was distracting.)

As for the plot, I get that things need to move along and we need to get where we’re going. But holy cow, the convenience of it all left me sighing a bit. Even when things went “wrong,” the problem was still solved in the process, which really lowered the stakes. Now, I know that, by the end, we’re very likely to have a happy ending in which all our problems are solved anyway. I know. However, the setbacks never felt like setbacks. I love it when something huge happens, and my heart starts racing, and I have no idea how the characters are going to get out of the mess. I know they will, but it’s how they will that has me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, again, in The Last Best Quest Ever, my heart never raced because, amid these supposed setbacks, the problem was solved every time, which leaves me writing this review, repeatedly using the word unsatisfied.

The Last Best Quest Ever was okay. As I mentioned before, if you’re looking for a light-hearted, cozy YA adventure, I would recommend this book. However, it wasn’t my favorite.

I received an advanced copy of The Last Best Quest Ever from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[elixir.beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Best Quest Ever Book Review

2 Stars

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC!

I really wanted to enjoy this one because the premise had so much potential. A fantasy quest with found family elements, dragons, and a cozy fantasy atmosphere sounded exactly like my type of read. One thing I did genuinely appreciate was the adventurous quest aspect of the story. Fantasy lately feels oversaturated with tournaments and trials, so it was refreshing to read something centered around an actual journey. The overall vibe also reminded me a lot of Dungeons & Dragons with its party dynamics and adventure structure, which I thought was fun. The found family elements were probably one of the stronger parts of the novel, and honestly, Dave the golden dragon deserved better than this rating. I also think this story would work much better as a graphic novel or webtoon because the dialogue and scenes felt far more visual than literary at times.

Unfortunately, the execution just did not work for me overall. One of my biggest issues was the dialogue because certain words and phrases like “fine,” “okay,” and “whatever” were repeated constantly throughout conversations. After a while, the banter started blending together and felt repetitive rather than natural. The pacing was another problem for me because the story frequently drifted away from the main plot and dragged on unnecessarily. There were multiple moments where I felt like the narrative lost focus entirely, and it made the book feel much longer than it actually was.

The romance was probably my biggest frustration. It constantly overtook the actual fantasy plot to the point where it became exhausting. There were serious stakes happening throughout the story, yet the focus would immediately shift back to crushes, relationship drama, or miscommunication. At one point I genuinely wanted to yell, “Girl, your brother is dying — PLEASE focus.” I just didn’t find the romance effective or believable enough to justify how much attention it received. It felt forced most of the time, and the repeated drama surrounding secrets and lies about the quests felt thrown in purely for extra tension rather than genuine emotional impact. I was also frustrated by how often other characters seemed obsessed with discussing the romance when readers were already hearing about it every other sentence.

The FMC was another major struggle for me personally. I found her very difficult to like because she often came across as overly stubborn, self-centered, and unwilling to take direction from anyone else. At times she honestly reminded me of Korra because of how defensive and overly confident she could be despite constantly creating problems around her. The repeated “I’m Ellinore” speeches also became exhausting after a while and made her character feel more frustrating than empowering.

Another thing that pulled me out of the story was the tone of the writing itself. Despite this being a medieval fantasy, a lot of the dialogue and narration felt very modernized, which made the world feel less immersive for me. Ironically, Chapter 39 ended up being my favorite chapter because it finally felt emotionally engaging and focused in a way the rest of the book struggled to maintain.

Overall, this wasn’t a terrible book, but it was definitely a frustrating read for me. There were elements here with real potential, especially the questing aspect, found family dynamics, and cozy fantasy atmosphere. However, the overwhelming focus on romance, repetitive dialogue, pacing issues, and an unlikeable main character ultimately made this a miss for me personally.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you love chaotic fantasy quests, rivalries that slowly turn into romance, and a ragtag group of adventurers who slowly become found family, “The Last Best Quest Ever” by F.T. Lukens is a really fun time.

The story follows Ellinore, famously known across the kingdom as Ellinore the Brave, the greatest quester around. The problem? Her reputation is a little exaggerated, to say the least. She didn’t exactly defeat the terrifying Golden Dragon like the songs say (for the record, the dragon named Dave is actually alive and well and kind of her friend). Instead of brute strength, Ellinore relies on strategy, clever deals with magical creatures, and a lot of bending the truth.

After years of keeping up the legend, she’s finally ready to retire. She’s earned enough money to help her family, and she’s tired of living a lie. But of course, that plan falls apart almost immediately when her reckless twin brother Zig makes a terrible deal with some shady mages. Now Ellinore has to complete one last impossible quest: track down the mythical Elder Beast and bring back its horn or Zig loses his heart. Literally.

To make matters even more complicated, her biggest rival Aven is ordered to join the quest, and their competitive tension quickly starts turning into something more confusingly romantic. Along for the ride are Zig, an eager new adventurer hoping to train under Ellinore, and a skeptical bard determined to prove Ellinore’s legendary reputation is fake. The result is a chaotic little party facing magical creatures, strange challenges, and plenty of emotional baggage along the way.

One of the best parts of this book is definitely the characters. The group dynamic is great, and watching them slowly become a found family is really satisfying. The banter, the awkward teamwork, and the growing trust between everyone makes the journey feel lively and fun.

The romance between Ellinore and Aven is also a highlight. It’s a very slow-burn rivals-to-something-more situation, and it stays pretty sweet and subtle throughout the story rather than taking over the plot. The main focus really remains on Ellinore figuring out who she actually wants to be, whether that is as a legendary hero or clever strategist who succeeds in her own way.

Another thing the book does really well is representation. The cast is openly queer, with characters of different identities and backgrounds, and it’s all presented as a normal part of the world rather than something that needs explaining.

That said, the stakes sometimes feel a little predictable. You can guess how certain plot points will resolve, and the story doesn’t necessarily reinvent the fantasy quest genre. But honestly, the charm of the characters and the adventure itself make it easy to overlook that.

Overall, “The Last Best Quest Ever” is a quick, entertaining fantasy that mixes adventure, humor, and heartfelt character moments. If you enjoy quest-style stories, D&D-style adventuring parties, and a little bit of romance sprinkled into your fantasy, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre; it’s just here to take you on a really enjoyable quest.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to the e-ARC for early review purposes.

What immediately drew me to this book was the cover. I was in love with it right away and then I found it was an F.T. Lukens book, and I decided to request it. I have actually only read one other of their works but have had the rest on my TBR for a long time.

I think Luken’s biggest strength is writing characters. I immediately connected with the characters in this book and wanted to learn more about them and see what this quest had in store for them. The little rag-tag team of adventurers was absolutely adorable and really fun to keep up with.

I love how Ellinore uses her brain and kindness to complete quests versus using force and violence. I do think there should have been a bit of a better reaction from the other characters in the book regarding this. I feel like they were upset at first that she “lied” about how she completed her quests, but then forgave her and never really discussed how her way of doing things was actually very smart and should be commended even if the truth was a bit skewed. I would also like to add while I understand this story is not a romance, I really would have enjoyed a little more time with Ellinore and Aven together to truly feel their connection and budding romance.

I would categorize this book as a cozy adventure fantasy. Yes, there are pretty high stakes in this story, but I feel like there wasn’t a ton of action or conflict. The story was more focused on the characters and the end goal than a ton of drama and violence. While I enjoyed this about the book as I love character driven stories, I also feel like a lot of the conflict was too easily resolved. For example, the Elder Beast part of the story was very short and seemingly too easy in my opinion. We spend the entirety of the book waiting for this big showdown with this primordial creature and Ellinore simply talks to it and makes a bargain. Yes, that is what Ellinore is all about, making bargains and deals instead of using violence, which I really respect, BUT the deal made seemed too simple without many consequences or an even trade. The Elder Beast also seemed not to care about their horn at all, which made things a bit anti-climactic. I thought Ellinore would have to sacrifice more in order to “defeat” this being. Also Ellinore and her team being able to steal the horn back right away took away any consequences or drama surrounding what the mages might do with that much power. It was a worry throughout the story that was quickly fixed with little effort.

While it seems from my comments above that I did not fully enjoy this story, that is not entirely true. It was a really enjoyable reading experience, I just think I had high expectations going in and this just barely missed the mark. If going into this story without the goal of writing a critical but fair review, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more. But when looking at this story deeper, I found a lot of little things that I didn’t quite enjoy and did not quite line up. If you enjoy character-driven cozy adventure stories with somewhat low stakes and plot convenience, I think you would enjoy this. If you are looking for a fantasy story with drama and romance, this is not for you.

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy fantasies are some of my favourites to read, especially when crafted in a rich storyworld, and that’s exactly what I got with The Last Best Quest Ever. Ellinore aka Ellinore the Brave, our main character, has the unequivocal record as the best quester in all of the kingdom at just seventeen, much to the chagrin of her rivals and enemies who cannot contest it—but Ellinore has a secret: she’s a liar. None of her quests were true, each carefully crafted to create an image of herself that was unbeatable. And it’s worked, for some time, but now she’s exhausted of the constant lie, and wants to reclaim a bit of normalcy for herself, announcing her shock retirement in front of an audience, including rival Princet Aven.

But retirement is quite short-lived, non-existent when her twin brother Zig decides to get himself into a whole lot of trouble. Chaotic to the core, he’s only gone and bet his life on Ellinore’s questing abilities, that she could capture the horn of a mythical being—one that no one quite believes actually exists—the Elder Beast. Having Zig’s life on the line entails reclaiming her fame as the best quester, one she was hoping to let die with the lie, but now faced with a real quest that has grave consequences should she not be victorious, means Ellinore has to step up her game. Partnering up with Zig and entering a very reluctant partnership with competitor Aven, who is driven to overshadow her, proves challenging for all involved in the group-effort quest as tag-a-longs form. Ellinore was so sure she knew what she wanted, but this real quest propels new futures and relationships into her orbit that she didn’t anticipate. Can she redeem herself through honest actions this time, or is she forever bound to the fictional story she created?

I was reminded whilst reading The Last Best Quest Ever how much I adore books like this, similar to Gwen and Art Are Not In Love, and how enveloping it feels to fully steep myself in the storyworld. There’s a thumping heartbeat of found family throughout the entire tale, giving it that cosy, feel-good vibe whilst having this alter-ego of whimsy, well-crafted banter and adventure. This is my first book by F. T. Lukens, and I just absolutely fell in love with their style of writing and how well the modern touches blends with the traditional, lore-rich enchantment throughout. Ellinore and Aven (who is non-binary, and I loved the rep in this story!) have this swords-drawn rivalry that turns into something wholesome and romantic, the thing that initially pushed them apart, questing, now bringing them together in ways never thought before. As a romance lover, the way they interacted on their journey was my favourite thing that had me turning pages fast, but I also adored the lovably chaotic Zig, and the merry troupe of friends along for the ride. I read this over two nights and the story’s charismatic chaos and banter truly had me under it’s spell from page one. I couldn’t help but root for the joyous mayhem and every enchanting beat of this novel, perfect for Dungeons & Dragons fans (who might just get a dragon in this story, too…)

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*

This was a fun adventure! With somewhat high stakes, since the premise is that the main character’s brother will die if they don’t succeed at this quest. So it did get serious at times, but never dark.

Something that I’ve thought about in other books sometimes is how the characters will kill magical creatures or animals just because they’re dangerous or in the way, but those creatures were just trying to live their lives and were only even a problem because people were invading their homes or using them. And it was interesting how much this book focused on that. More so than I’ve ever seen before. The main character actively went out of her way to help the scary magical creatures because they were becoming endangered. It was such an interesting twist on the usual fantasy quest trope.

The cast of characters was ragtag and fun. Ellinore was easy to root for, putting on a tough, cool persona for the public, but actually hating the attention and feeling like a fraud (even though I thought the lying thing was overblown and agreed with Dave that she still completed the quests, just in a different way), just wanting to help her family, and failing miserably at pretty much everything else she tried. Aven was so polished and respectful and also easy to like but with their own insecurities and so obviously pining. Zig was one of those people I think I’d really want to strangle but also couldn’t help but love, getting them all into trouble as often as he got them out of it. The other two were less developed but were imperfect and likeable.

As for the romance, it’s not as antagonistic as the cover/description makes it seem. If you go into this expecting enemies-to-lovers or a ton of banter, I think you’ll be disappointed. It’s more competitors with a mutual respect for each other, feelings that are obvious to everyone but each other, and a touch of angst from one of them believing they could never actually be together. I also wouldn’t say it wasn’t the main focus of the book (which is fine, it wasn’t marketed as such). But it was still cute.

Another nice thing was the casual queer rep (including a nonbinary love interest) and a world that was accepting of it.

Overall, this was a fairly light and straightforward sort of book, despite the somewhat high stakes for the characters, with adventure, action, magical creatures, a bit of romance, and sweet found family!

*Rating: 3.5 or 4 Stars // Read Date: 2026 // Format: Ebook / Print ARC*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA, fantasy quests, likeable characters, ragtag groups, a touch of romance, and found family.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And from now on, it’s just Ellinore.”

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore “The Brave” is known as the best record-winning quester in her kingdom, hunting dangerous mythical creatures to protect the land. However, she holds a dirty secret no one can ever know: she is a fraud. Not only is her sword fighting average, but she never slaughtered the creatures the kingdom has praised her for. With plans to finally retire and take her secret to her grave, she is surprised when her twin brother, Zig, decides to bet his own life that his sister has the potential to defeat and retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast. To save Zig, she agrees to go on one last quest. She’s accompanied by Zig, her rival Princet Aven, a bar maiden-turned-adventurer, and a magic-wielding bard. On this journey, Ellinore must tackle her feelings for Aven, saving her brother, and her identity as a fraud-turned-hero.

I was super excited to get my hands on this book since I have read F.T. Lukens before, for my first review at Pine Reads Review. I loved Love At Second Sight, and The Last Best Quest Ever is no different. I am a huge fan of fantastical medieval-esque quest stories and this one is definitely an adventure. I loved the focus on identity and Ellinore’s journey as a fraud-turned-brave and empathetic hero. I absolutely adored the friend group and its casual queerness featuring POC and characters with different identities, including the love interest, Aven, who is non-binary. The found family in this story provided a comedic and warm atmosphere that complimented the cozy vibes of the world. I especially liked Zig; I admired his chaotic nature and he reminded me of my own brother. The rivals-to-lovers romance did not take up the majority of the story, which I enjoyed since I got to focus more on Ellinore, but her and Aven’s competitive natures provided the perfect build-up for tension, banter, and an electric romance. I liked the adventure aspect of this story, though I did feel at times that the stakes weren’t quite high enough, and I didn’t feel much adrenaline while reading. Overall, I enjoyed it, and as I said last time, I look forward to reading more of F.T. Lukens. If you like road trip stories, heartwarming friendships, queerness all around, and D&D-style adventures, you will fall in love with this book!

The Last Best Quest Ever releases on May 26th, 2026.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rule one of reading a book about questing: expect the unexpected. Ellinore the Brave feels like a fraud. She isn’t truly brave, she’s clever. Since accidentally killing a magical creature at twelve and realizing she could profit from completing the Royals’ quests, Ellinore has relied on strategy rather than strength. She follows a strict set of self-created rules and often succeeds by bargaining with the magical creatures she’s meant to slay. The bards sing of her fearless heroics, and she never corrects them. By the start of the novel, she has earned enough gold for her parents to retire and has decided to hang up her sword for good.

That plan falls apart when her twin brother, Zig, makes a disastrous bargain with a group of suspicious mages. To save him, Ellinore must track down an almost godlike magical being and return with his horn. Complicating matters, her biggest rival, Aven, is sent to accompany her, supposedly by order of the crown, and proves to be distracting in a confusingly romantic way. Aven’s cousin Farrah tags along to train under the famous “Ellinore the Brave,” and Rylan the bard joins the party to prove the legendary songs about her can’t possibly be true. Now Ellinore must lead this unlikely crew on a dangerous quest while deciding whether to live up to the rumors, or trust her intellect over her sword and be her authentic self.

The Last Best Quest Ever is a genuinely enjoyable read. The pacing is quick, the magical creatures are interesting, and the ensemble cast is easy to root for. With magic, danger, and a touch of romance, it hits all the right fantasy notes. The book also includes meaningful representation: Aven uses they/them pronouns, all of the main characters are LGBTQ+, and many are described as people of color. These identities are presented as a natural part of the world, normalized without feeling minimized, allowing readers to see themselves reflected in the story while reinforcing the idea that heroism comes in many forms. That’s especially important in YA, where readers are still discovering who they are and how they fit into the world. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Indra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Best Quest Ever
by F.T. Lukens

Thank you Simon Teen for the ARC 💛🐉

⭐ 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was exactly what I wanted it to be: chaotic, cozy, a little ridiculous in the best way, and full of heart.

Ellinore is famous across the kingdom as a legendary quester… except most of that reputation is built on clever tricks, half-truths, and a very flexible relationship with storytelling. When she finally decides to retire and leave the whole thing behind, her brother immediately ruins everything by betting his life on her completing one last impossible quest. Of course.

From there, we get a classic quest setup, but it feels fresh because of the characters. The party is messy, funny, and slowly becomes something like a found family. The banter is great, the dynamics feel natural, and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with them 🗡️

The rivals-to-romance element between Ellinore and Aven was one of my favorite parts. There is tension, a little bit of jealousy, and that soft shift from competition to something more. It stays sweet and doesn’t overpower the story, which I appreciated 💛

I also loved how the book plays with the idea of what it means to be a “hero.” Ellinore isn’t the strongest or most traditionally brave, but she is smart, resourceful, and adaptable. Watching her figure out who she actually wants to be, outside of the legend, felt like the emotional core of the story.

That said, the plot itself is fairly predictable. You can see where things are going, and it doesn’t really try to reinvent the fantasy quest structure. But honestly, the charm carries it.

What I Loved
• Fun, chaotic quest energy with a lovable group 🗡️
• Strong found family vibes
• Sweet, slow-burn rivals-to-romance 💛
• A clever, nontraditional heroine

What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
• Plot beats are a bit predictable
• Stakes feel lighter than expected at times

This is cozy romantasy at its best. It knows exactly what it is and leans into it. If you want a fun adventure with queer characters, soft romance, and a lot of heart, this one is an easy recommendation 🐉📖✨

[Jessie Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first F. T. Lukens and it was so much fun! An absolute romp through fantasy and fairy tale tropes with a queer twist.

I loved Ellinore's journey of discovering who she is beyond the persona of Ellinore the Brave. I think everyone, especially teenagers, can relate to feeling a gap between our true selves and the selves we present to the world because we think that's what people expect or want from us. I'm also a big fan of heroes who solve problems with brains instead of brawn and who start the story pointedly working alone but by the end realize the importance of teamwork and friendship. Ellinore is both of these in spades, although her particular gift of solving problems with empathy instead of a sword felt extra special.

The secondary characters are charming as well. I especially loved Dave the dragon, Ellinore's lovably roguish brother Zig, and the overeager but well-meaning Farrah. Listen, I too would probably get myself in trouble on a quest because I tried to pet an adorable baby creature that is actually incredibly dangerous. I can't fault Farrah for that. The world-building isn't super detailed, but it gives you enough to understand the stakes of the quest and for the world to feel real and lived-in.

The highlight for me, though, was the romance with Aven. First of all, more enby characters in fantasy! Also shoutout to there not being a single reference to Aven's assigned gender at birth; it was simply not relevant, and we love to see that. Ellinore and Aven are pretty clearly making heart eyes at each other (as Zig--accurately--puts it) from chapter one, but their established relationship as questing rivals, as well as Aven's royal status and Ellinore's ongoing deception of the royal family, provide enough of an obstacle to make their romance satisfying when they finally confess their feelings to one another. I loved also that one of things that makes Aven so attractive to Ellinore is that their hair always looks perfect. That's so real.

A simply delightful read from start to finish. I will definitely be seeking out more F. T. Lukens books in the future!

[Lindsay Attrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed aspects of this book but as a whole it just wasn’t the book for me, but I know it will be a well loved book by so many others! FT Lukens is a new author to me that I’ve heard amazing things about and blurb for this book had my attention immediately! It sounded like such a fun read, and the cover is absolutely stunning 👌🏻 there was a good balance of whimsical fantasy with modern elements.

The plot has many solid aspects, and hits as a very lighthearted, comical YA Romantasy. While she was a fun character to read, I did struggle a bit to relate to Ellinore, and I wish the other characters either had less building or more - they were in an almost limbo stage of development where you know they are important and bring so much to the plot but they either weren’t given enough page time to actually hit, or the book needed to be a bit more in depth to really flesh them out and build the story. There were some things (namely the romance) where I didn’t really see much actual on page build through banter or interaction, but we are assured that it was happening as the plot progresses. As a result, I didn’t really have any emotional attachment to that relationship, which is pretty important to the type of reader I am.

Despite the lightness of the plot there was high stakes and emotions involved as well, and I did feel for Ellinore and her internal battle of maintaining the image that she has created for herself while also trying to remain true to herself. I found the climax of the book/quest to be a bit anticlimactic, but the journey was fun and engaging. Again, I wish the book had been fleshed out just a bit more.

I’m glad to have read this and will be checking out Lukens other books as the writing in this one was very promising as an author I’d enjoy! With a bit more detail, character growth and maybe a touch more maturity given the ages of the characters being later teens, I might have enjoyed this book a bit more, it is one I would recommend to the right audience!

Thank you so much Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy!

[Colin Welden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Best Quest Ever- 5 stars
FT Lukens does it again! This was my first ARC giveaway through Goodreads, and I’m so glad that I got to read a book from one of my favorite authors early! This book is so much fun from start to finish. Ellinore the Brave is ready to be done with questing, but after her brother makes a foolhardy deal, she embarks on a quest with four others she would not have chosen if she could, but I would choose them! All four of her questmates are so fun for different reasons, and the found family built between them was engaging and well-earned. Through the quest, we get to see so much of the kingdom and learn about all kinds of different magical creatures (and I really liked the worldbuilding there, with different levels of magical creatures), and none of the “sidequests” felt wasted. The romances that developed throughout the book also worked really well for me, especially the time it takes for the main two to admit their feelings – it made the payoff all the more satisfying. To avoid spoilers, I won’t say what the “moral” of the story is here, but it was one of my favorite parts of the story, and it made sense to me why Ellinore tries to keep it secret and has such difficulty opening up about it. This didn’t feel like the overwrought “misunderstanding because I didn’t want to tell you something” trope, but instead a conflict that requires growth from all the characters to resolve. I really liked the ending and how it resolved that thread, and I would absolutely read a second book about what they did after this. Overall, this book is a very good time, with wonderful found family, cool magical creatures, and a sassy dragon, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read it early!

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SimonTeen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. An epic adventure! Ellinore is know throughout the kingdom as Ellinore the Brave for all the quests she has completed. She’s made a name for herself as being the best quester in the Kingdom much to the chagrin of their rival Princet Aven who always comes up just short. The thing is, all of Ellinore’s quests have been a lie. Not that she didn’t do them just that they don’t happen the way people think. Like her defeat of the Golden Dragon, his name is Dave, and he’s very much alive. Actually he’s probably her best friend. But she’s tired of the lies and wants to retire from questing. That is until her irresponsible twin brother Zig makes a bet with a duo of mages that Ellinore can find the Elder Beast and get his horn, if she doesn’t they get Zig’s heart. Now in order to save her brother she’ll have to complete one last quest and somehow find a way to actually do it. To make things worse Princet Aven insists on coming on the quest as a command from the king. Can she save her brother and keep everyone from finding out that Ellinore the Brave is a fraud? Can she find a being that no one has ever found? And will being close to Princet Aven make her see them in a whole new way? A found family chaotic quest with plenty of adventure, mythological creatures, and rivals to lovers! I love a good fantasy especially when it’s queer! F.T. Lukens is always a favorite, I love their adventures and this one was a fantastic addition!

[Meagan McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review!

I was in love with it right away when I saw the cover and then I saw it was written by F.T. Lukens, I couldn't help but request it.

I really enjoyed the banter between the twins, Zig and Ellinore, it is very fitting. I immediately connected with the characters right away, their personalities were all so unique it was fun to read. I love how Ellinore uses her brain and kindness to complete quests versus using force and violence. It's not what the kingdom expects but I really like it! She works smarter not harder.

This kingdom is ruled by a King and Queen who host parties and send people out on quests. For fun, im assuming. As far as I could tell, the only questers are Ellinore, Aven, and Lord Ethan. I was expecting more, but maybe I missed it somewhere in the beginning.

As for the plot, I understand that the story needs to move along and we need to get where we’re going to save Zig. But, the convenience of it all left me sighing a bit, sadly. Even when things went “wrong,” the problem was still solved in the process, which really lowered the stakes. It felt like a lot of the conflict was too easily resolved.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced, I could easily follow along, and I love a good road trip/on a journey story. I was rooting for the love birds since the beginning!! This was such a fun cozy read, and I am obsessed with that golden dragon.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy F.T. Lukens' books, but this is by far my favorite. It has everything I want in a YA fantasy novel: great characters, found family, an impossible quest, brains over brawn, an adorable romance, banter, and a story that sucks you in and carries you effortlessly to the end. Oh and a villain you love to hate (who is not the brightest crayon in the box besides).

In F.T. Lukens' previous books, I often really enjoyed them but found them to be missing that extra something that propels books from really good to great and into my favorites list. This one, though, has everything that the previous books lacked.

Ellinore was such a relatable and sympathetic main character as she fought to live up to the "Ellinore the Brave" moniker the bards had forced on her. Princet Aven was a perfect love interest for her and matched her in every way. Zig was an adorable rogue, Farrah just wanted adventure but brought more to the party than anyone suspected, and Ryland rounded out the party with magic that just lacked confidence and a healthy skepticism of the bard's stories about Ellinore.

I also really appreciated Ellinore's method of talking to the magical creatures rather than killing them. If only everyone was willing to try that.

I can definitely see myself rereading this one.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an early copy for review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely incredible book by FT Lukens!! This one might honestly be my favorite out of all of their’s! The writing and plot building was so engaging that I never wanted to put the book down. It truly felt like I was on the quest with the whole gang!

Ellinore! Where to start with this sorta kinda lying quester? She was one of the most well-written, complex yet fully flushed out characters I have ever read. From the beginning, you understand why she takes every single action she does over the years and her bravery shines through with each decision she makes.

AVEN!!! Princet! The PINING, the devotion! They were the perfect love interest for Ellinore and an even more perfect quester for her last quest ever. They were truly a rock throughout the whole story for not only for Ellinore, but also for the whole group of folks that latched themselves to the quest. The story wouldn’t have been anywhere near the level it was without them.

I adored all the other questers who aided in their journey, but Zig had to be my favorite besides Aven and Ellinore (even if he was who got them all into the mess to begin with). He was just so sweet and wanted to be with his twin sister, seeing her in action.

I can’t say anything more than just READ THIS BOOK!! I promise you’ll love it! Non-binary rep! Badass FMC! A DRAGON! Top-tier world building featuring more fantastical beings!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy!

[Indus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read FT Lukens' The Last Best Quest Ever.

So first, i have to do a special shoutout to the publisher Booths at SDCC because without them, I don't think I'd have picked up this book. But the sales person made me interested in this author and I'm so glad they did!

And there are two things I want to begin with because I feel like people pick up this book not realizing what it is, and may review accordingly. It's YA. And because this book is marketed for YA, it will not be explicit. So if you're looking for spicy, don't read it. This is a romance, there is kissing and there are some feelings, but nothing beyond PG at most, and the bonds between family and friends are just as important.

Second, this is queer lit. If you want your characters binary and only read romances between a man and a woman, don't read it. There are enough books that fit your description so there's no need to read and condemn something so sweet.

Now that's out of the way, i loved this book. I like that this is found family, that we get a sibling who disappoints and infuriates but is still loved and not unsympathetic. We get friends who are sometimes annoying but are always there. And we get a very sweet pairing where issues like rivalries, insecurity, and trust are managed with love, communication, and empathy.

This book is fantasy in more ways than one, and an absolute delight!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
This book was so fun! The quests! The group of friends brought together! The action! The romance! The stakes and tension! All of that was top notch and I couldn't stop reading. And as great as it all was, I think all in all my favourite thing about this book was the sibling relationship between Ellinore and Zig. It felt like the heart of the story to me, and seeing their interactions and care they have for each other shown sincerely and through bickering made me smile. I also loved Ellinore's character journey. How she'd built up a reputation for herself that she felt guilty about and how it ate away at her until she discovered who she really is and what she wants. I loved that. And also Ellinore and Aven's rivalry romance dynamic was so sweet and swoon! There were a couple really really adorable moments regarding Aven's feelings for Ellinore and it made me smile. I did have a few quibbles with the plot though, and mainly that it got frustrating for a while when every single thing was seeming to go wrong in the story! Also I didn't think we got enough of the other quest characters - namely Farrah and Rylan. I want to know if anything happened with Rylan and Zig! Also I felt that upon the third act reveal, Aven's initial reaction seemed too strong, but it wasn't that big of a deal because they came around to help again right away.
I loved the book, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!