Til Quest Do Us Part

by Ivelisse Housman

Two Former Teen Protagonists Who Saved the World now need to learn how to be adults—with adult feelings—in this witty, warm romantic fantasy.

Princess Elysande Sybilla Aurelion of Estrachia, Voice of the Thousand-Eyed Goddess, impulsively made a vow to her knight, Faron, at eighteen years old, under the secrecy of night and the thousand watchful eyes of her patron deity. To be fair, they expected to perish at the hands of a raging sorceress the next day—but then they didn’t.

Once she took the throne, everything changed. Ely and Faron agreed that they were too young and too important—as the now Queen and Knight Guardian—to be anything more. And with Ely’s responsibility as the new sovereign of her people, it was better to forget the whole thing than risk the kingdom’s newfound peace.

Ten years later, Ely finds herself needing to marry the prince of a neighboring territory for political advantage, and discovers that she is, technically, married to her best friend. And the Goddess won't let her out of her oath that easily. Now, Ely and Faron must work together to seek the deity and break their vows in favor of the greater good—even if they risk rekindling a flame that never truly died.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adult, Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Friends To Lovers

Paperback

Expected publication December 1, 2026

Reviews

[viv · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★

Oh yikes. i'm so conflicted lol. while it was somewhat enjoyable, i still had some problems.
in theory, it promised everything. second chance, cozy romantasy, childhood lovers, queen × knight trope. but unfortunately, this ended up being another case of interesting premise but underwhelming execution.
the writing style was okay-ish imo but i felt like there wasn't any proper structure to the story overall. everything felt too rushed and all over the place. for a standalone fantasy, 23 chapters fell too short, ig? i would've liked it somewhat more had there been proper worldbuilding and magic system? the lack of worldbuilding and comprehensive magic system was one of the reasons i struggled to finish it. i even considered dnfing it but then decided not to.
anywayy
no matter what anyone says, princess and knight trope is one of the most beautiful tropes, if done right. it screams yearning and tension and stolen touches. but nope. this turned out to be another disappointment. i barely felt anything lol. there was no chemistry btw the mc's and they barely had any personality. and the lack of personality was the main reason why i struggled to connect with the characters, or the whole story in general. maybe i would've overlooked the lack of worldbuilding had there been more character development. idkkk. i wanted better character development damnit. i felt like they were just there. and there was no chemistry and no tension.
usually, i enjoy dual timelines but here, the flashbacks came out of nowhere and it was so abrupt and felt a bit jarring imo.
i think this had a great premise but it was not a good idea to try to fit everything in a standalone book. this would've worked better as a duology imo.
that being said, 3 stars isn't necessarily a bad rating. i did enjoy it. at times. but what saddened me the most was the unexplored potential.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ preread ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐

sry guys i've been lowk ia for the last few days. i'm not at fault honestly. reading slump is sucking the life outta me ughhh.
sigh
anyway
the cover lured me in (like damn hullo gorjisss😍)
i found this book on netgalley (available as 'read now' for next 48 hours, ig?)
the premise mhmmm. color me intrigued
wish me luckkk.
please get me out of this horrible slump😔🙏(*me to my reading slump*-begone you uncultured swine no one wants you

expected pub. date-december 1, 2026

── .✦ˋ°•*⁀➷
started- april 28
finished- may 04

[Grace Quan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immersed in the romance from the very first page. So much so that all the fantasy elements practically faded to the background. While of course this speaks to how engaging the romance was, it also emphasizes how much the world building was lacking.

But to start, let's talk romance. First thing you should know is that it absolutely delivered. Ely and Faron's chemistry was off the charts! There were so many sizzling moments of brushing hands, glances across the room, and having to "platonically" share a bed. Strictly being friends for 10 years had so much built up tension and suppressed longing. There was also a little taste of the forbidden in the romance. Ely was the people's Queen and Faron was her Knight. The protector and the protected. So much fun! Also the fact that they were secretly married added a whole other level of greatness. The "my wife" and "my husband" moments were being spoon fed to me and I couldn't get enough of them.

I also loved the second-chance element of the romance. It allowed the rekindling of their relationship to be charged with so much history and tension. You could also feel the weight of everything unsaid in their friendship. All the "I love yous" they never said because they didn't want to cross a line. The tension and the chemistry were the best things about this book, they were so incredibly well done.

Beyond the romance, I ran into several major problems regarding the fantasy elements. First was the lack of any comprehensive world building. With references every other page to different goddesses and gods, I wish there was a more clear explanation to the different religions and how they tie in with the magic system of the world. With religion being a very present theme in the book, the topic needed more context and explanation. I also would have appreciated a clear definition of the magic system. Like who has access to magic? Does it take any skill to master? Are you born with it or is it learned? It was also not clear what magic could do. Ely could heal herself and other people, but beyond that I don't really remember what exactly were the limitations of magic. But again, I wasn't really focused on the fantasy as much as I was on the romance.

Separate from the plot and romance, I would like to talk about the writing. To me, the writing felt juvenile while relying on overly complex vocabulary to seem more mature than it actually was. This was very distracting to the reading process and took away from the writing instead of adding to it. The writing could have also benefited from less metaphors and similes. Again, it made the writing too flowery and distracted from the story.

Ultimately, the romance was more than enough to keep me invested. Although I found the world building and writing style definitely left something to be desired, Ely and Faron's relationship carried the story on their backs and that kept me satisfied. If you're looking for a romantasy book that mainly focuses on romance, I think you'll really enjoy this one.

3 stars. ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

📆 Publication Date: December 1, 2026

[Maeghan 🦋 semi-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!

Til quest do us part was such a romantic story. This author is clearly talented in showing two people who deeply, deeply love each other. The love could be felt from the very beginning and I just wanted them to be together.
The thing with this book was that I think it leaned so much into the romance that the other elements were completely overshadowed. The worldbuilding was minimal and so were the fantasy elements. The inner monologues took up so much space that the story didn’t have the space it needed to breathe. I felt extremely underwhelmed while reading this, even if I was really enchanted by the romance.
I do think this author has a lot of potential though, so I will look forward to what she reads next!

[Selene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really loved the idea of this but personally struggled to get into at times. There not too much going on and the back story, flash backs were really confusing at times. I actually tripled checked it wasn’t a sequel because I really felt like I was missing so much context. I feel like this would have been have been so good if I hadn’t gotten the battle story from 10 yrs prior. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and the happy ending was sweet.

Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc, the opinions are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes romantasy authors try to be Game of Thrones, which is all well and fine, but sometimes all you want is The Princess Bride or Stardust.

Both charming and funny, this was a pretty quick read that kept me delighted the entire time. A cozy little romantasy where the leads are fun and have great chemistry. A bit of spice but it wasn't overly descriptive or graphic, nor did it take up the entire story. It was just super cute!!!

Maybe a little too short to have any real world building or do anything groundbreaking, but it's a nice little treat that's light and filled with fluff. The type of story you want when everything else around you is doom and gloom.

Thank you to netgalley and Berkley for the arc.

[Brend]

Ten years after saving the world, the Queen finds herself needing to marry for political advantage, and discovers that she is, technically, married to her knight best friend since they made vows the night before the big battle thinking they would die anyways

Buzzing.

[Kendra · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

“Dispel the darkness within them, and let their shadows be met with mercy.”

Til quest do us part was full of coziness, charisma, lots of yearning, and a second chance romance that will have you screaming for more!

I thought this was a cute cozy fantasy read showing a great deal of characters that you will grow to love.

Princess Elysande (Ely) and Faron, her knight guardian, had vowed to each other long ago during a quest they didn’t think they would survive from, but they ended up surviving and besides it all, this is Faron’s dream girl, and now that Ely takes the throne, she now must marry someone else. A Prince in order to form an alliance that will be beneficial for both kingdoms.

“It’s just you and me, Ely. If you want something, ask for it. Politely.” 🤭

This is where things start to get complicated as Ely wish she can go back to her life the way it was before. She wants this day to be her day for a marriage that she wants. Not what the kingdom wants.

She wants true dedication love and not something of an obligation.

This story was full of charm, it felt adventurous at times, humor and yearning moments you will crave, especially when it comes to Faron and Ely reconnecting a love that was never lost ✨

I will say this book fell more on the lower stakes and I wished it had more higher stakes to keep you engaged and was a bit slow for some parts. Overall, I thought this was super cute and fun read!

Thank you Ace, Berkley, and Netgalley for the e-galley! 🤍

[BookishKB]

⚔️💍 Til Quest Do Us Part 💍⚔️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Romantasy
• Friends to Lovers
• Secret Marriage
• Quest Adventure
• Royal Politics
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: December 1, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[S {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I found it incredibly boring and dull, even after getting through a third of this book. Both main characters, Ely and Faron, felt seriously lacking in personality. Faron, especially, barely felt like a character at all. He came across more like an insignificant side character who just stood around in the background until he and Ely finally started their journey together. And even then, I still didn't feel much of a personality from him (and her, to be honest).

There was no chemistry between them whatsoever. They felt like complete strangers, or new friends, not just to me as a reader but also to each other. I also didn't find the plot particularly intriguing either. Overall, everything felt underdeveloped and failed to hold my interest. Nothing about the characters, their relationship, or the plot was enough to satisfy me.

[Bre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that just resonates with you? That makes you feel seen? This is that book. It is neurodivergence in the form of fantasy romance. I inhaled every bit of it. Ely and her Knight Guardian, Faron, made a dumb decision when they were teenagers and thought they were about to die saving their kingdom. Now that decision has come back to haunt them. They must sneak away on a new quest to undo their teenage mistake so that Ely can marry, thus securing their safety of her kingdom from war.

It is beautifully written, following the sort of all over the place thought process of Queen Elysande. “That was why the Goddess liked Ely. Because her mind was never particularly tethered to one time or place, she was more open to receiving magic and interpreting her will—at least, she had been, once. In the temple, Ely had passed hours of study in a dreamlike state, tucked in close to the presence of the divine.”

Til Quest Do Us Part, though wonderfully witty and comical, tackles the idea of giving of oneself until there’s nothing left. It explores loss of religion/faith and reconciliation in a very palatable way. This is pure fantasy, but I related so much to the characters and their struggles. Ely is every woman who wants to do what’s best for everyone else. Ely’s fretful and humorous self-talk is a window into anyone’s mind with ADHD. The story is equal parts silly and a soul journey. The misadventures of Ely and Faron kept me invested the entire time.

This is perfect for anyone who wants a cozy fantasy romance that delves deep into self-discovery, has some on the edge of your seat scenes (with dragons!), and some spicy spice. I highly recommend it!

Thank you x100 to Ace for the egalley!!(edited on 10/19 because major typos!)

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Til Quest Do Us Part was a perfectly fine read, just not a memorable one. The pacing kept me turning pages, and I was entertained enough while I was in it, but neither the characters nor the story ever really grabbed me. A few days after finishing, I’m struggling to recall much beyond the general sense that it was enjoyable in the moment. If you’re looking for something light and easy to pass the time, it does the job. If you want characters you’ll think about after the last page, this one probably won’t stick with you.

[zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

for a Romantic Fantasy, this book did not deliver on both aspects in a way that i hoped. i loved the royalty/knight trope, but even when they promised to have all the good things, there's an inherent lack of chemistry and personality that i barely felt anything. the romance didn't move me so i was detached reading their supposed yearning and conflicts. the pacing was FAST, but at the expense of an utterly shallow worldbuilding. it genuinely felt like reading a fanfic being turned into the book with the lack of building in the world, plot, and romance. if you serve this to me as a fanfic of a ship that i already know and love, i would eat this up no question

[louise ʚଓ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

spotify please play stupid song by olivia rodrigo, followed by hozier’s do i wanna know? cover.

full rtc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ace Books/Penguin Random House for the e-ARC!

[Pía · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

First, thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for letting me get an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

2.5/5— stars

Let's begin with the good. The cover It's great! And you could really feel the yearning through the pages.

Now, the bad. I really hate to say this, but there was more bad than good.

My first problem was the pacing. I found it very slow from the beginning, and it just kept getting slower to the point where I considered DNFing. However, as I don't do that unless it's absolutely necessary, I pushed through. Around the 50% mark, I found myself skimming the book.

Then there was the mismatch between what we were told about the characters and how they actually behaved. The narrator would tell us one thing, but the events in the book would show something completely different. For example, Ely was described as a proper, elegant, and regal queen who intimidated people. However, none of the people she encountered during the quest seemed intimidated by her. Instead, she came across as sweet rather than intimidating, and she was constantly falling and getting injured. And this was just one example.

The stakes also felt unimportant to me. And this was a mine pet peeve, but something that really took me out of the book was the references to things from our modern world. For example, when he was cooking risotto in a cave, I was like, what? Not only did it take me out of the story, but it also felt unbelievable and unnecessary.

Nothing really shocked me because I could see everything coming. Overall, the book felt like it could have been a children's book.

This book wasn't for me, and if your taste is anything like mine, it might not be for you either. But I still recommend giving it a try and seeing for yourself.


- Second chance
- Quest
- Queen x knight

[Eternity's Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, a thank you to Ivelisse and Zaffrebooks for the eARC copy of this book. I am leaving this review for free and completely of my own thoughts and opinions.

I was really charmed by this cozy, friends to lovers read. It gave me everything I wanted based on it's premise and the friendship between the two MC's had me smiling the entire time I was reading.

I loved the dynamics in this, both in the relationship between Ely and Faron and the small glimpses we got of their wider friendship circle.

This romance was promised to be a friends to lovers, second chance, story. And it was exactly that. We get some scattered flashbacks to help build that friendship out and see how the characters met, but even beyond that, their care and love for each other stood out perfectly, and how in sync they were was very sweet.

As individual characters we get to see both of their senses of duty, how they wrestle with knowing whats best but what they want conflicting it. It makes the journey quite compelling.

The writing style was a big hit for me to, having moments of levity throughout and decent pacing that managed to keep the general adventure portion of the story interesting.

I would have loved to see more flashbacks to when they were younger to get a better grasp of how they found each other and met their friends but I think us not seeing that has also left the door open for the author to revisit this world and expand upon its history as there was a lot of promise there of backstory we didnt quite get given.

Overall this was a very charming read I would recommend for people wanting a low stakes romantasy with light magic and a compelling friends to lovers dynamic.

[RavenCantRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Til Quest Do Us Part

This was like reading a Y2K medieval/fantasy movie in the best way! If you loved Ella Enchanted or A Knights Tale then chances are you will absolutely adore this book! It doesn’t take itself *too* seriously while still hitting the important emotional beats and without compromising the heart of the story.

Ely and Faronn fell in love and got married in secret 10 years ago, the day before they were supposed to die, except…they survived. Now Queen Elysande is meant to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom to secure an alliance, but the goddess she has dedicated her life to has other plans. Only a quest could make Ely and Faron confront the last 10 years of yearning, but will they finally follow their hearts?

I thought this book was adorable, cozy, fun, romantic and just great vibes all around! The world building is just enough to prevent confusion but doesn’t bog you down with the details, keeps the kingdom/magic very fun and light. Ely and Faron are so obviously obsessed with each other from page one, and everyone around them is just so good and kind.

*spoilers*

The wrap up was so neat and cute and just overall good, which normally I’d probably complain about, except it really fit the overall vibes of the book itself and I love that everyone just gets an uncomplicated happy ending. There are no bad guys, they were all vanquished long ago, and all of our characters just get to exist in peace and fall in love with who they want and man I just loved reading it.

*end spoilers*

If you like whimsy, cozy fantasy, and lovers-to-friends-to-lovers you’ll enjoy this one!

Big thanks to Berkley for the e-arc

[Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was genuinely so touching. My heart is full. 💗

It took me a minute for the storytelling to click, and I honestly thought maybe this was a sequel at first. But then I realized we were doing something totally different, and I really loved that. Instead of focusing on the typical fantasy adventure storyline, this is more about what happens after happily ever after and how love can change and grow as we get older.

This second-chance romance had so much of what I look for. The yearning was so good. The way the FMC knew the MMC’s body language, understood his silences, and knew how to support him when he was anxious was genuinely heartwarming. And the banter!! I was actually laughing out loud at times.

As a neurodivergent reader, the representation meant a lot to me, especially seeing it portrayed so thoughtfully and realistically. I also loved that the story explored the strengths that come from the FMC’s differences, especially how her mind not being tethered to one place or time made her more open to receiving and communing with the divine.

This was such a great mix of cozy and adventurous with a love story that really got me in the feels. Tears were definitely shed.

Thank you to Berkeley, the author, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review! 💗

[Mere · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you to ACE for an e-arc of this book.

Okay, so what happens when two teenagers who are heroes that saved the world make vows to each other?

Well, it comes back to haunt them a decade later, that's what! I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I didn't expect it to have some funny moments right in the beginning. I was thinking it was going to be a more serious book, but while I think it had its moments, there were also moments of fun.

There are a few tropes in this book, so if you like these you'll probably enjoy this book:

forced proximity
friends to lovers
queen x knight

It also has some spice, and some much needed slow-burn yearning.

This was a fun take on what happens to the chosen ones after. This book was a fun questing romp! It definitely leans towards cozy adventure fantasy. (Is there such a thing as that?!)

What a fun, sweet and lovely book! Definitely one you can curl up with and get lost in!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about the “former chosen one” genre just gets to me, and this is no exception. Ely and Faron, along with their friends, saved the kingdom ten years ago. Now, Ely’s about to enter into a political marriage.

A lovely entry into the romantasy genre. The romance and personal arcs of the main characters landed exquisitely, with a wonderful backdrop of magic and world-building. The main plot here is the romance arc, so may not land for those looking for a more epic quest, but I thought the action and magic was still incredibly engaging.

Thanks so much to Ivelisse Housman, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the eARC! This was a delightful read.

[Ella Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of romantasy I love: big on kindness, side quests, a queen quietly dismantling the power of the monarchy, a strong and silent knight who is down so so bad, and horses.

[Sky | Booked and Unbusy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Til Quest Do Us Part was a story I thoroughly enjoyed! For me it started a bit slow, and I found myself taking some time to adjust to the writing style, but I quickly became invested, and the payoff was 100% WORTH IT, and didn’t take long AT ALL!

This book does a phenomenal job at showcasing neurodivergent MC’s and their behavior, as well as how it comes across both internally and externally. As a neurodivergent person myself, I really enjoyed this representation!

Most of the story our FMC Ely struggles with her sense of duty to her kingdom, and doesn’t tend to think of what would make her happy. I can 100% relate to this on a much smaller scale which made her enjoyable and personal to read.

The MMC, Faron, is probably the most lovable character I’ve read in awhile. It is so easy to love him. He is so true to his own character and what he believes in, and it’s incredibly admirable. Being neurodivergent, he shows his love in atypical ways, but it never felt lost on me as the reader.

This was my first ARC read ever, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience this story and these characters, and love them longer! I cannot wait for the BEAUTIFUL physical edition to be on my bookshelf when it comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Ivelisse Housman, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this ARC! Til Quest Do Us Part will be published in December 2026

[Meaghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

** Received an ARC from Netgalley. My views are my own.**

I'm torn about this one. The premise is intriguing - following the two main characters ten years after defeating the Big Bad. I enjoyed the quest to seek how to break a magical binding.

However, Ely was just insufferable. She constantly zoned out during rather important discussions, only to return with a 'shocked pikachu' expression of 'oh I totally blacked out for two hours', which pulled me from the action: she took no part in leading her country; and she seemed numb to everything her people were experiencing. There is one scene where she is shocked *shocked* that they have a food kitchen for the poorer folk of her country. Her poor friend zoned Guardian Faron has to suffer through her 180° personality changes for a whole week, even though he has a magical horse that anticipates his every need.

I made it to the end, where I was rewarded with what amounted to a poor imitation of the ending to Shrek. Perhaps this story may find a happier review from someone else. But not from me.

[Stress Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌌💗 Til Quest Do Us Part 💗🌌 - ARC Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

The pining is mutual. The denial is Olympic-level.

🗓️ Dec 1, 2026

A queen. Her knight and childhood best friend. An old vow that turns out to be a marriage. And a quest to undo it when their feelings may be the one thing they can't untangle.

Thank you to Ivelisse Housman, Berkley, Ace, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this gifted eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

💫 This is a romance first, fantasy second story. If you're a romance reader considering dipping your toes in fantasy, this would be a great one to start with. If you're a seasoned fantasy reader, it may not have the worldbuilding you're looking for and spend more time on the romance than you prefer.


📓 Synopsis

Ten years after saving her kingdom, Queen Elysande discovers that an impulsive vow made to her knight and best friend, Faron, has left them technically married. With a politically advantageous marriage looming, the pair must embark on a quest to persuade their goddess to release them from their vows—all while navigating forced proximity, unresolved feelings, and the possibility that their supposedly forgotten romance isn't so forgotten after all.

A devoted knight + a queen with a kingdom to protect + a magically complicated marriage + years of unresolved feelings + a quest to undo the past = cozy romantasy with second-chance yearning, courtly complications, and best-friends-to-lovers potential.

📜 What’s more dangerous than saving a kingdom? Being forced to confront your feelings for your childhood best friend—the one you married in secret ten years ago—and are, apparently, still married to today.

In Til Quest Do Us Part, Ivelisse Housman delivers a romantasy premise packed with queen-and-knight tension, magical marriage complications, and years of unresolved feelings. Because apparently, saving the world is one thing, but admitting you’re in love with your best friend? Now that’s an impossible quest. With a goddess to find, a marriage to undo, and a whole lot of history between them, Ely and Faron are about to discover that some vows—and some feelings—are harder to escape than others.

Til Quest Do Us Part is for the readers who want to watch two people who've spent the last decade pretending they're over each other when everyone—including the Goddess she's the voice of—knows these two are meant to be. And for the people who've wondered what happens after the heroes have defeated the villain and the happily ever after was supposed to begin. It's a warm, charming blend of swoony romantic tension, cozy adventure, humorous at times, emotionally satisfying, and reflection on growing up after an extraordinary adolescence.

Ely and Faron's chemistry is great, and there were many tongue in cheek funny moments. Its biggest strength is the relationship at the center: a queen and her knight who already know each other intimately but must confront what their old promises mean for the lives they want now.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it wasn't quite perfect for me. I wanted more development of the world, the politics, gods/goddesses, and would've loved to get more about their previous quests. I adored the slow burn, chemistry laden, will-they-won't-they romance, I just wanted everything in the background a little more fleshed out.

At the end of the day, Til Quest Do Us Part asks an irresistible question: what happens when the adventure is over, the kingdom is saved, and the person you’ve spent years trying not to love is still right there beside you? With its charming queen-and-knight premise, romantic yearning, and exploration of the tension between duty and personal happiness, this is a story for readers who want their fantasy served with a generous helping of feelings. While the romance may shine brighter than the worldbuilding and adventure for some readers, those who adore childhood friends-to-lovers, second chances, and characters who need approximately a thousand years to admit the obvious may find plenty to love. Because sometimes the hardest happily-ever-after to achieve is the one you've been standing next to all along.

If you're looking for expansive worldbuilding, more developed secondary characters, or a more tightly structured plot, this may not be a book you'll love.

💫 My recommendation: pick this up for the romance and the yearning, not primarily for the magic system or epic-fantasy adventure.

Tropes:
Second Chance Romance,
Friends to Lovers,
Queen × Knight,
Mutual Pining,
Forbidden Love,
Fated Lovers,
One Bed,
Found Family,
Accidental/Secret Marriage,
Unresolved Feelings,
Political Marriage,
Quest,
One bed

[KazReads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I was so excited for this one, having always wanted to read a story about the aftermath of an epic world saving arc. And despite heavily preferring action packed plots, this cosy romantasy was the most lovely read.

With great world building, an empathetic FMC with a clear voice and a strong but silent MMC, Til Quest Do Us Part manages to tell a fulfilling tale in just one book. I don’t for a moment feel like I need more of the past or the future to be satisfied.

As a massive fan of angst, I’m a huge fan of Ely and Faron’s friendship and relationship. They’re both yearning in secrecy until they can’t be silent anymore. They both way they treat one another makes them feel so sweet and shows how they really are best friends. Even as individuals, they’re both such interesting and unique characters, it’s refreshing.

The world building is so encapsulating. There’s no sense of anything missing with glimpses at the gods, the religion, the locals, the neighbouring kingdom, and the magic. I feel like it’s so rare to feel this way about such a short visit to a world.

It was the perfect cosy fantasy for me, with the angst and yearning, and the fleshed out characters and world. I would definitely recommend this if it sounds like a good time to you.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise really drew me in and felt exactly like something I would love - Queen and her knight on a quest with a second chance romance trope in a standalone fantasy. But everything felt very dull and bland.

The characters felt very uninteresting. I really struggled to find interest in any of them since they all seem to have one personality trait that they stuck with. It didn't help that the book is in Ely's POV and you are constantly in her head with paragraph after paragraph of long exposition. I really struggled to stay present in the story because my eyes would start to glaze over all this internal thought processes.

Also what bothered me is that you feel like you are set down in the middle of a series or a spin off novella from a grander fantasy series. There's these vague references to battles, a sorceress, questing that the characters did with very little to no explanation of these events. I understand it's a standalone but there's no concept of this world except for these hints and it bothered me. Honestly, I wanted a book series that was 10 years prior to this book to get the worldbuilding.

I wish this one worked for me, but it didn't.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

Til Quest Do Us Part was the PERFECT cozy fantasy read! Think Hallmark movie meets fantasy adventure, with just a hint of spice sprinkled in at all the right moments.

It has everything I love about a good fantasy quest without the overwhelming, world ending stakes. There's still plenty of tension, moments where you're wondering if the characters will get caught or if their plans will actually work, and just enough twists to keep you guessing. Every time I thought I knew where things were going, the story managed to surprise me!

But at its heart, this is such a fun, charming, low stakes adventure. It has all the magic, whimsy, and excitement of a fantasy world wrapped up in the comfort of a Hallmark movie.

Sometimes you don't need an epic battle or the fate of the entire kingdom hanging in the balance. Sometimes you just want a little magic, a little romance, and a quest you can get completely swept up in. And this delivered exactly that!

[novelfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the cozy, low stakes romantasy that we all needed! The main characters, Ely and Faron, were once part of a party that quested to defeat a sorceress and are facing a new issue, political alliance. With the lingering tension from ten years past, and promises that are harder to break than they thought, the two journey to find a solution to their predicament.

Til Quest Do Us Part was a brilliant rom com wherein there IS actually a quest! I loved the ease with which these main characters communicated, the plot structure and the fantasy elements. The romance is the more prominent aspect of this story, focusing more on the interpersonal relationship between the main characters. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of Frieren and the Unicorn Hunters as it is a wonderful mashup of both. A single queen faced with a political alliance she does not want, a gang of friends who faced the world's greatest evil, and a romance that sprouted in the most unexpected place.

[Memz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Till Quest Do Us Part”, we explore a side of the story we oftentimes forget — what happens after the happily ever after? What if our main couple has responsibilities greatly than they realized — and must make painful choices in the name of the greater good?

I absolutely lovedddd this story, it was so whimsy and magical and Zelda-coded, I could see every single scene play in the back of my mind as I read. The relationship between Ely and Faron was full to the brim with yearning, laughs, and sighs — and while the conclusion felt a litttle.. “simple”, and I would’ve loved to explore the world a little more, I enjoyed it all the same. And I will be SAT for when the second book comes out (set in the same world! Probably different cast of characters? Who knows)

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!

[Mylynn · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Writing this review with the tear streaks still on my face.

I loved this so much. Knight + Princess is such a great dynamic and WHAT DO YOU MEAN they got married on the eve of huge battle they didn't think they'd survive but then they did survive and then TEN YEARS LATER they have to figure a way to break their vows because she needs to make a political alliance via marriage??? This is the premise my dreams are made of!!

The second chance, yearning of it all was incredible and I loved our main characters. Elysande was such a relatable princess with her knitting and needing to keep her hands busy. She felt very ADHD coded to me which was cool to see in a fantasy setting. I also loved Faron, her sworn protector who's from isles he's never been to and doesn't speak the language of (I loved this detail about him and the way it was brought up in the story).

There's a lot of worldbulding to do in a standalone fantasy, but I think Ivelisse Housman did a great job at developing a world that had just enough details to feel complete but not so much that it felt overwhelming. If you can't tell, I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a swoony, smidge angsty, yearning second chance romance fantasy novel!

Thank you to Berkley/Ace for ARC!