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The Last Best Quest Ever
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?
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?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
F.T. Lukens
15 books3,854 followersF.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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”It was time to stop trying to be the hero from the tales that i thought everyone wanted me to be. It was time to just be Ellinore.”
what a comforting and cute book, i had so much fun with this one! Ellinore has a reputation for her success on quests, but the kingdom doesn’t know that she’s actually lying about what she does on those quests. we follow her as she discovers that she shouldn’t have to live up to what she thinks the world expects of her.
the friend group / found family really shone through, i loved seeing what Ellinore, Aven, Zig, Ryland and Farrah would get up to on their “last quest.” the rivals to lovers between Ellinore and Aven was gradual, but felt authentic to who they both are. i think it was so sweet how Ellinore wanted so badly to save her twin brother Zig & how he kept her from letting her sit in her panic. then we have the loyal (but grumpy) dragon and i really couldn’t have asked for anything more.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
what a comforting and cute book, i had so much fun with this one! Ellinore has a reputation for her success on quests, but the kingdom doesn’t know that she’s actually lying about what she does on those quests. we follow her as she discovers that she shouldn’t have to live up to what she thinks the world expects of her.
the friend group / found family really shone through, i loved seeing what Ellinore, Aven, Zig, Ryland and Farrah would get up to on their “last quest.” the rivals to lovers between Ellinore and Aven was gradual, but felt authentic to who they both are. i think it was so sweet how Ellinore wanted so badly to save her twin brother Zig & how he kept her from letting her sit in her panic. then we have the loyal (but grumpy) dragon and i really couldn’t have asked for anything more.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
June 19, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 4 stars ✮˚.⋆
⤿ Thank you to Simon Teen for the arc through netgalley and finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
this is an absolutely perfect book to read in summer and pride month! personally, i am someone who usually enjoys darker fantasy stories, but this was lighter in terms of fantasy adventures and i still had so much fun reading it. the plot in this book centers around Elinore, a quester who feels like a fraud as she usually talks her way out of hard situations in quests instead of killing all the creatures she's instructed to kill. surprising the kingdom, she decides to retire as she grows tired of the charade. but she is forced onto her final quest, as her brother barters away his life saying that his sister can get the horn of the Elder Beast. so Elinore and Zig set out on their final best quest ever, picking up a ragtag group on the way and hoping they can beat death.
across the story there's a lot of fun themes that i think are incredibly important for young adults to read, and are delivered very well in this fantasy setting. this story talks about companionship and siblings, and how they can be difficult at times but having people around you who love you is really important. it discusses how the perceptions of other people, don't actually matter at the end of the day, all that matters is the type of person you actually ARE- in the context of Elinore's story being told in a way against her will, but her knowing she is doing the right thing. and one of my favorites, being kind and thoughtful in the face of danger. most of the time, Elinore doesn't just start swinging her sword when faced with beasts as she considers how they were there first. it was really refreshing to read a main character like this- though i didn't love at the end the love interest basically having the "third act breakup" scene with them over this fact. she cannot control how other people tell her own story, she is doing the right thing in my opinion that she isn't just killing everything in her path.
i wish a couple of the side characters had been a bit more fleshed out, the attention was mostly on Elinore and her love interest but that's to be expected. i think they all could have been a little more interesting with some more background, but i still ended up really liking all of them! the romance itself was really cute too! i think the admission on Elinore's end may have happened a little too fast for my tastes, but they had known each other for a very long time so it does make sense!
this was such a fun story, and a very quick read on top of being in a unique world and having some really fun characters! this is literally perfect for pride month and definitely feels like a fantasy that is perfect for summertime!!!
↬ trigger warnings: fire and fire injury, animal death, violence, kidnapping, blood and gore
⤿ Thank you to Simon Teen for the arc through netgalley and finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
this is an absolutely perfect book to read in summer and pride month! personally, i am someone who usually enjoys darker fantasy stories, but this was lighter in terms of fantasy adventures and i still had so much fun reading it. the plot in this book centers around Elinore, a quester who feels like a fraud as she usually talks her way out of hard situations in quests instead of killing all the creatures she's instructed to kill. surprising the kingdom, she decides to retire as she grows tired of the charade. but she is forced onto her final quest, as her brother barters away his life saying that his sister can get the horn of the Elder Beast. so Elinore and Zig set out on their final best quest ever, picking up a ragtag group on the way and hoping they can beat death.
across the story there's a lot of fun themes that i think are incredibly important for young adults to read, and are delivered very well in this fantasy setting. this story talks about companionship and siblings, and how they can be difficult at times but having people around you who love you is really important. it discusses how the perceptions of other people, don't actually matter at the end of the day, all that matters is the type of person you actually ARE- in the context of Elinore's story being told in a way against her will, but her knowing she is doing the right thing. and one of my favorites, being kind and thoughtful in the face of danger. most of the time, Elinore doesn't just start swinging her sword when faced with beasts as she considers how they were there first. it was really refreshing to read a main character like this- though i didn't love at the end the love interest basically having the "third act breakup" scene with them over this fact. she cannot control how other people tell her own story, she is doing the right thing in my opinion that she isn't just killing everything in her path.
i wish a couple of the side characters had been a bit more fleshed out, the attention was mostly on Elinore and her love interest but that's to be expected. i think they all could have been a little more interesting with some more background, but i still ended up really liking all of them! the romance itself was really cute too! i think the admission on Elinore's end may have happened a little too fast for my tastes, but they had known each other for a very long time so it does make sense!
this was such a fun story, and a very quick read on top of being in a unique world and having some really fun characters! this is literally perfect for pride month and definitely feels like a fantasy that is perfect for summertime!!!
↬ trigger warnings: fire and fire injury, animal death, violence, kidnapping, blood and gore
April 18, 2026
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 :)
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 :)
Want to Read
June 13, 2026ooh i didn't realize this was by ft lukens!!! higher expectations for this now
June 20, 2026
You already know, when F.T. Lukens announces a book, I will be one of the very first people in line to read it. I went on a whole Lukens binge read in 2025 and read all of their books. When this one was announced yep, best believe I jumped on it.
As a short little synopsis, in this book we follow seventeen year old Ellinore the Brave, a teenaged quester who has gone throughout the kingdom and hunted down dangerous beasts and fought daring battles. Except…no, she didn’t. She’s a FRAUD. But, that doesn’t matter, because she’s done with the questing, she’s retired. And her rival Princet Aven can finally have the crown they have always wanted.
That is until Ellinore’s twin brother makes a bet that she can complete a near impossible quest which forces her and a group of unlikely people (including her crush/rival Aven) on the last best quest ever.
This book had everything that I love in all of Luken’s books that I’ve read. That found family trope for one, I will always read a book that has found family. We start off with Ellinore and her twin brother Zig, then Princet Aven (we get background on the Princet title in the book), his cousin Farrah and finally Rylan.
Lukens has a beautiful way of making you care about not only the main character, but the side characters as well. I loved each of these characters and honestly if Lukens wanted to write a sequel in this world I’d read it for sure.
Ellinore spends a great majority of this book trying to live up to the lie that is this legacy of Ellinore the Brave. It takes her friend Dave (iykyk), among other things to show her that being just Ellinore is more than enough.
Is she completing the quests that are asked of her, absolutely. Just not in the way that others expected or believed that she was. Ellinore believes herself a liar and a fraud and I suppose if looked at it from another stand point it’s easy to believe that.
The few criticisms I have of this book are pretty minor. There’s something that happens at the end that annoyed me a little bit, which I can’t say cause it’s a spoiler; it does involve her friend Dave and how Aven ‘helps’. Then there is also the third act break up. I felt like it was blown far too out of proportion for it to be believable.
However; this is a YA book, so I’m going to give it a little bit of slack for that. I think Lukens world building is amazing and again their talent for creating characters that are interesting and just fun to read are some of my favorites.
I will always read an F.T. Lukens book and I’m just going to sit here and excitedly awake the next one.
As a short little synopsis, in this book we follow seventeen year old Ellinore the Brave, a teenaged quester who has gone throughout the kingdom and hunted down dangerous beasts and fought daring battles. Except…no, she didn’t. She’s a FRAUD. But, that doesn’t matter, because she’s done with the questing, she’s retired. And her rival Princet Aven can finally have the crown they have always wanted.
That is until Ellinore’s twin brother makes a bet that she can complete a near impossible quest which forces her and a group of unlikely people (including her crush/rival Aven) on the last best quest ever.
This book had everything that I love in all of Luken’s books that I’ve read. That found family trope for one, I will always read a book that has found family. We start off with Ellinore and her twin brother Zig, then Princet Aven (we get background on the Princet title in the book), his cousin Farrah and finally Rylan.
Lukens has a beautiful way of making you care about not only the main character, but the side characters as well. I loved each of these characters and honestly if Lukens wanted to write a sequel in this world I’d read it for sure.
Ellinore spends a great majority of this book trying to live up to the lie that is this legacy of Ellinore the Brave. It takes her friend Dave (iykyk), among other things to show her that being just Ellinore is more than enough.
Is she completing the quests that are asked of her, absolutely. Just not in the way that others expected or believed that she was. Ellinore believes herself a liar and a fraud and I suppose if looked at it from another stand point it’s easy to believe that.
The few criticisms I have of this book are pretty minor. There’s something that happens at the end that annoyed me a little bit, which I can’t say cause it’s a spoiler; it does involve her friend Dave and how Aven ‘helps’. Then there is also the third act break up. I felt like it was blown far too out of proportion for it to be believable.
However; this is a YA book, so I’m going to give it a little bit of slack for that. I think Lukens world building is amazing and again their talent for creating characters that are interesting and just fun to read are some of my favorites.
I will always read an F.T. Lukens book and I’m just going to sit here and excitedly awake the next one.
June 25, 2026
3.5 stars
F.T. Lukens has absolutely mastered the art of the YA queer fantasy adventure, and The Last Best Quest Ever is exactly what I've come to expect from them. It might be a little too chaotic and relentlessly bubbly for its own good at times, but it commits so completely to its own brand of wholesome, queer, magical nonsense that I couldn't help but have a great time with it.
Now, the title of The Last Best Quest Ever honestly says all you need to know about the plot. See, we follow a legendary quester who is secretly a complete fraud as she finally retires at 17, only to get dragged into one last impossible mission with a ragtag group of wannabe questers because her disaster of a twin brother has essentially wagered his life on her success, and then things get crazy. The stakes are high without ever becoming too harrowing, and I honestly had a great time watching these messy characters navigate all their emotional turmoil while dealing with monsters both within and without.
Ellinore honestly very quickly captured my heart, and I loved seeing the dichotomy between the legendary tales of Ellinore the Brave and the reality of the jaded but kind-hearted girl underneath who is running on equal parts impostor syndrome, stubbornness, and stress. The way she completes quests without causing harm to the creatures and world around her was honestly inspiring, and her mix of bravado, sass, and genuine sincerity just made her such a loveable and realistic character to me.
I also really loved how much her motivations are driven by her love for the people around her, and all the character relationships that started to develop were a huge highlight of The Last Best Quest Ever for me. Royal Princet Aven absolutely stole the show every single time they appeared on the page, and I loved how obvious it was that they were down BAD for Ellinore from the start. The rivals to lovers romantic tension was just so adorable, and I was absolutely rooting for them and their happiness. Now, Zig and Farrah honestly charmed and frustrated me in equal measure, and I would not have minded if we had gotten more time with Dave the Golden Dragon instead of them because he is a hoot and a half!
The actual quest plot didn't always grab me as much as the characters did, and there were definitely moments where the dialogue and humour felt a little too juvenile and overly dramatic for my taste, but this book was honestly having such a good time with itself that I found it hard not to get swept along. The Last Best Quest Ever is not my favourite F.T. Lukens book, but I still had a ridiculously fun time reading it and I would absolutely recommend it if you are in the mood for something adventurous, magical, heartfelt, delightfully messy, and extremely queer.
F.T. Lukens has absolutely mastered the art of the YA queer fantasy adventure, and The Last Best Quest Ever is exactly what I've come to expect from them. It might be a little too chaotic and relentlessly bubbly for its own good at times, but it commits so completely to its own brand of wholesome, queer, magical nonsense that I couldn't help but have a great time with it.
Now, the title of The Last Best Quest Ever honestly says all you need to know about the plot. See, we follow a legendary quester who is secretly a complete fraud as she finally retires at 17, only to get dragged into one last impossible mission with a ragtag group of wannabe questers because her disaster of a twin brother has essentially wagered his life on her success, and then things get crazy. The stakes are high without ever becoming too harrowing, and I honestly had a great time watching these messy characters navigate all their emotional turmoil while dealing with monsters both within and without.
Ellinore honestly very quickly captured my heart, and I loved seeing the dichotomy between the legendary tales of Ellinore the Brave and the reality of the jaded but kind-hearted girl underneath who is running on equal parts impostor syndrome, stubbornness, and stress. The way she completes quests without causing harm to the creatures and world around her was honestly inspiring, and her mix of bravado, sass, and genuine sincerity just made her such a loveable and realistic character to me.
I also really loved how much her motivations are driven by her love for the people around her, and all the character relationships that started to develop were a huge highlight of The Last Best Quest Ever for me. Royal Princet Aven absolutely stole the show every single time they appeared on the page, and I loved how obvious it was that they were down BAD for Ellinore from the start. The rivals to lovers romantic tension was just so adorable, and I was absolutely rooting for them and their happiness. Now, Zig and Farrah honestly charmed and frustrated me in equal measure, and I would not have minded if we had gotten more time with Dave the Golden Dragon instead of them because he is a hoot and a half!
The actual quest plot didn't always grab me as much as the characters did, and there were definitely moments where the dialogue and humour felt a little too juvenile and overly dramatic for my taste, but this book was honestly having such a good time with itself that I found it hard not to get swept along. The Last Best Quest Ever is not my favourite F.T. Lukens book, but I still had a ridiculously fun time reading it and I would absolutely recommend it if you are in the mood for something adventurous, magical, heartfelt, delightfully messy, and extremely queer.
April 27, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
first book of may and it was ehhh
December 31, 2025
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!
Thank you to the publishers and edelweiss for allowing me to read an early copy!
June 4, 2026
The Last Best Quest Ever was such a fun and quick story! The magical quest that the characters went on felt like a great D&D session. It was full of adventure, magical beings, found family, a little romance, and a lot of heart.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
May 31, 2026
thank you to margaret k. mcelderry books and simonteen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
the last best quest ever follows ellinore the brave, freshly into retirement, after her twin brother makes a deal with a council of mages: find them the horn of a god or his literal heart is at stake. all should be fine because ellinore is the greatest adventurer this kingdom has ever seen. at only seventeen, ellinore has made a true name for herself, slaying beasts and creatures throughout. the only issues, ellinore has lied about it all. with the help from an infamous dragon, dave, they’ve been working to fake her way through all her past quests. and now she’s worried that she wont be able to pull through and will end up getting her brother killed in just over two weeks. so she sets off on one last adventure with her brother and a royal to save his life.
if you know anything about me, one of my all time favorite shows is bbc merlin. reading last best quest, it gave me the exact same type of vibes and energy as an early season merlin episode. the stakes are life and death, the questing is long and can be trialling, and the humor is the exact same. all around, it’s fun and so camp and i really spent way too much time just smiling and genuinely laughing out loud at these goofs. i loved following ellinore, despite all her flaws, despite the fact that she would consistently make questionable choices just to uphold am image she thought she needed to. she truly got into her own head about upholding “the brave” portion of her famous name, and despite it causing some issues (like the fire salamanders), she eventually realized that she needed to trust her instincts. when she was being truest to herself, that was when their questing group made the best effort forward.
and let’s talk about the group. if there’s one thing i can expect from an ft lukens book, it’s that their will be a found family in it, and you will love all these dumbasses so much. that did not fall short here! of course we have ellinore as the leader and her twin brother zig. zig is known for having incredible sleight of hand, his pick-pocketing abilities (and dramatic flare) come to help them out many times throughout the journey. ellinore and zig’s sibling relationship was so beautiful to see. they’re both so protective of each other and would do anything and everything to help each other. this journey allowed them to heal a lot of their baggage and rekindle their somewhat missing relationship from the last few years of ellinore questing. we also have princet aven, who’s competed against ellinore since she entered the questing field. they bring a different perspective for ellinore to work off of in terms of the quest and the riddles they need to decipher. there’s also farrah, the cousin of aven, a fan of ellinore’s, she’s really good at maps and knows all the kingdom’s shortcuts. and finally there’s ryland, a helpful mage they find along the way. together these five become such a fun dynamic, bringing their skills to band together to save zig.
i truly had the most fun reading about their quest, all the shenanigans (and even danger) that these five got into. and i really really loved to see ellinore and aven’s relationship grow. it is SO obvious that the two of each other like each other from the very first page. but they are both so blissfully ignorant that it takes them faaaaar too long before they realize that their feelings are reciprocated. ellinore the brave as an image truly forced it’s way between the two of them, making them both uphold specific ideas. but once they were able to finally work past those notions, they were able to share and see how they both truly felt about each other and about the crushes they both definitely had for many years. they were just so sweet and tender with each other, i love them so much.
to me, the vibes of last best quest were so immaculate, this may have jumped into the top spot for my favorite of their novels??? at the very least i need a zig and ryland sequel like yesterday please!! just generally, with the way the story ended, i would looove a second book detailing another adventure that they’ll go on, the group’s dynamic was so fun to immerse myself into.
original review
ft lukens’ best book yet??? rtc
June 3, 2026
queer romance, mythical quests, dragons, found family and bardes with horrid songs
June 18, 2026
Fun premise, fun characters, fun story! RTC
June 20, 2026
it was good i liked it a lot but we don’t have to use slang words we don’t know the meaning of
look it up first! or, better yet, refrain entirely xx with love
look it up first! or, better yet, refrain entirely xx with love
June 10, 2026
Well, isn’t this quite the quaint queer quest? Perhaps quite the best last quaint queer quest even???
Sorry. Anyway.
I enjoyed this? Lukens has a niche and they have crafted it well. I don’t have a lot of complaints? This story is as advertised.
I mean, I’ve got a cool lady knight conquering her imposter syndrome, a clever they/them princet with a royally huge crush, a comic relief brother who’s a lovable walking disaster, a hot-tistic map-making baddie who comes in clutch, and a skeptical bard to be who’s just happy to be included. (That’s every queer friend group ever.)
And, they’re on a quest—a last best quest ever. (Or, is it????)
Shenanigans ensue. Nonsense abounds. Secrets are revealed. Love blossoms. They save the day. The lady knight gets the they/them princet. All is well.
What’s not to like about any of that?
So, if any of that sounds good to you, I’d definitely recommend picking up this story—or any of Lukens’ work. It’s always a fun time~
Sorry. Anyway.
I enjoyed this? Lukens has a niche and they have crafted it well. I don’t have a lot of complaints? This story is as advertised.
I mean, I’ve got a cool lady knight conquering her imposter syndrome, a clever they/them princet with a royally huge crush, a comic relief brother who’s a lovable walking disaster, a hot-tistic map-making baddie who comes in clutch, and a skeptical bard to be who’s just happy to be included. (That’s every queer friend group ever.)
And, they’re on a quest—a last best quest ever. (Or, is it????)
Shenanigans ensue. Nonsense abounds. Secrets are revealed. Love blossoms. They save the day. The lady knight gets the they/them princet. All is well.
What’s not to like about any of that?
So, if any of that sounds good to you, I’d definitely recommend picking up this story—or any of Lukens’ work. It’s always a fun time~
May 28, 2026
That Last Best Quest Ever by FT Lukens was a fun queer YA fantasy. I always enjoy Luken's books and this one was no different. Endearing characters , laughs, heart , character growth, and a happy ending always make them successful. This one has a lead that bends the truth , a dragon best friend, an almost impossible quest, a nb love interest, magical beings, and a unlikely crew that surprisingly works well together .
May 26, 2026
This was fine. I liked the core concept a lot but for me the execution dragged a bit. Dave the dragon is top notch though. But a good read for teens looking for a fantasy that's relatively cozy and queer.
June 1, 2026
The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens features love, found family, sibling bonds and a dragon. It was cute. ARC was provided by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy for free and leave this review voluntarily.
May 25, 2026
not my favorite ft lukens, but still full of fun and joy like all their other books!!
June 2, 2026
"I like just Ellinore. She's pretty great."
"She is," I agreed.
And for the first time in a long time, I believed it.
My first F.T. Lukens book and it absolutely did not disappoint. I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one honestly. I just heard great things about the author and saw the cover and said sold! Luckily, it had a lot of things that I absolutely love in a book, especially a cozy one such as this one. Like come on, we got a talking dragon named Dave? I could not stop laughing. It was ridiculous, funny, and perfect. I never felt at any point that the story was dragging, which tends to happen with cozier books, but the pacing and the length of this novel was perfect.
I absolutely loved the nonbinary rep in this book as well. Aven was just a gem, and it was so obvious to everyone that they had the biggest crush on Ellinore (except wasn't obvious to Ellinore because well, she's busy trying to provide for her family and trying to not let her stupid (endearingly) twin brother die). I loved all the additional characters in this story, and how it slowly started turning into it's own found family.
The romance was more of a minor subplot of the story, but I loved it. Aven and Ellinore were so dang cute. I loved their bickering with one another, the playful back and forth was so fun. Ellinore wanted so badly to be a person that everyone wouldn't be disappointed with, especially Aven. But as the story progresses, the more she realizes that she was the only one who had these irrationally high expectations for herself. Everyone else was just happy to be there with her, questing and trying to save her brother.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy time of a book about friendship, self worth, questing with unexpected companions, and a dragon named Dave 😂. Definitely recommend picking this one up, and can't wait to read other books in the future by this author!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the arc! <3
"She is," I agreed.
And for the first time in a long time, I believed it.
My first F.T. Lukens book and it absolutely did not disappoint. I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one honestly. I just heard great things about the author and saw the cover and said sold! Luckily, it had a lot of things that I absolutely love in a book, especially a cozy one such as this one. Like come on, we got a talking dragon named Dave? I could not stop laughing. It was ridiculous, funny, and perfect. I never felt at any point that the story was dragging, which tends to happen with cozier books, but the pacing and the length of this novel was perfect.
I absolutely loved the nonbinary rep in this book as well. Aven was just a gem, and it was so obvious to everyone that they had the biggest crush on Ellinore (except wasn't obvious to Ellinore because well, she's busy trying to provide for her family and trying to not let her stupid (endearingly) twin brother die). I loved all the additional characters in this story, and how it slowly started turning into it's own found family.
The romance was more of a minor subplot of the story, but I loved it. Aven and Ellinore were so dang cute. I loved their bickering with one another, the playful back and forth was so fun. Ellinore wanted so badly to be a person that everyone wouldn't be disappointed with, especially Aven. But as the story progresses, the more she realizes that she was the only one who had these irrationally high expectations for herself. Everyone else was just happy to be there with her, questing and trying to save her brother.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy time of a book about friendship, self worth, questing with unexpected companions, and a dragon named Dave 😂. Definitely recommend picking this one up, and can't wait to read other books in the future by this author!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the arc! <3
June 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 ⭐️)
This was such a fun, high-stakes fantasy adventure that quickly pulls you into its world and refuses to let go. What starts as a reluctant “one last quest” story turns into something much richer—packed with danger, shifting alliances, and emotional tension that steadily builds alongside the journey.
Ellinore is a compelling lead, especially as her carefully constructed reputation starts to unravel. I really enjoyed how her internal struggle never gets overshadowed by the action. She’s forced to confront what it means to be seen as a hero when so much of her past is built on illusion, and that added a layer of depth I wasn’t expecting going in.
The found-family dynamic within the traveling group was another highlight. Each character brings their own agenda and personality, and watching those relationships clash and evolve on the road kept the pacing engaging. The tension between Ellinore and Aven, in particular, added a really strong emotional thread without taking away from the main quest.
The plot itself moves at a solid pace with creative fantasy elements and just enough unpredictability to keep things exciting. There were a few moments where I wished certain beats had a little more room to breathe, but overall it was a very immersive and satisfying journey.
By the end, it really delivers on both the emotional payoff and the fantasy stakes. A strong, character-driven adventure with heart, tension, and just the right amount of chaos.
This was such a fun, high-stakes fantasy adventure that quickly pulls you into its world and refuses to let go. What starts as a reluctant “one last quest” story turns into something much richer—packed with danger, shifting alliances, and emotional tension that steadily builds alongside the journey.
Ellinore is a compelling lead, especially as her carefully constructed reputation starts to unravel. I really enjoyed how her internal struggle never gets overshadowed by the action. She’s forced to confront what it means to be seen as a hero when so much of her past is built on illusion, and that added a layer of depth I wasn’t expecting going in.
The found-family dynamic within the traveling group was another highlight. Each character brings their own agenda and personality, and watching those relationships clash and evolve on the road kept the pacing engaging. The tension between Ellinore and Aven, in particular, added a really strong emotional thread without taking away from the main quest.
The plot itself moves at a solid pace with creative fantasy elements and just enough unpredictability to keep things exciting. There were a few moments where I wished certain beats had a little more room to breathe, but overall it was a very immersive and satisfying journey.
By the end, it really delivers on both the emotional payoff and the fantasy stakes. A strong, character-driven adventure with heart, tension, and just the right amount of chaos.
June 20, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The Last Best Quest Ever is a very solid cozy fantasy I would day, although the stakes may seem really high they're not really, slightly to the books detriment I'm my opinion. Ellionore just manages to always get out of situations just by talking which makes sense in some but others not really. The world was fun with all the creatures we discovered and the group of characters gave off found family. However we didn't really explore most of them besides our main character and Aven our love interest and definitely on of my favourite characters. The switch from bantering colleagues (let's call it that) to love of my life was quite sudden.
And my last criticism is definitely the weird modern slang used throughout the book it just took me out of the story every time.
The Last Best Quest Ever is a very solid cozy fantasy I would day, although the stakes may seem really high they're not really, slightly to the books detriment I'm my opinion. Ellionore just manages to always get out of situations just by talking which makes sense in some but others not really. The world was fun with all the creatures we discovered and the group of characters gave off found family. However we didn't really explore most of them besides our main character and Aven our love interest and definitely on of my favourite characters. The switch from bantering colleagues (let's call it that) to love of my life was quite sudden.
And my last criticism is definitely the weird modern slang used throughout the book it just took me out of the story every time.
June 11, 2026
Thank you so much to Simon Teen and the author for sending me an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh this was a fun one! If you’re looking for a book with a Dungeon & Dragons-esque feel, look no further! This book was super funny and adventurous. I’m obsessed with all of our characters. (Dave the golden dragon was a particular favorite side character.)
This book was equal parts adventure and self discovery. I loved seeing Ellinore realize that the best version of herself was HER authentic self. She didn’t have to be Ellinore the “brave” or anyone else.
The found family and friendships were also a favorite element of mine. I think the author wrote every character so well. Each person added so much to the group. I honestly could read a whole series with these characters. It was such a fun read.
Oh this was a fun one! If you’re looking for a book with a Dungeon & Dragons-esque feel, look no further! This book was super funny and adventurous. I’m obsessed with all of our characters. (Dave the golden dragon was a particular favorite side character.)
This book was equal parts adventure and self discovery. I loved seeing Ellinore realize that the best version of herself was HER authentic self. She didn’t have to be Ellinore the “brave” or anyone else.
The found family and friendships were also a favorite element of mine. I think the author wrote every character so well. Each person added so much to the group. I honestly could read a whole series with these characters. It was such a fun read.
May 20, 2026
The Last Best Quest Ever was such a fun read and wonderful palette cleanser. Getting to witness Ellinore's shenanigans was super amusing and I loved all the little details regarding her prior quests and how she worked around the requirements or completely covered up her fraud. In my opinion, she was never truly a fraud, just a creative problem solver!! Aven was a nice addition to the quest party, they were super levelheaded to everyone else's chaos and was probably my favorite character. The dyanmic between Ellinore and Aven was adorable!! The one-sided bitter rivals (for Ellinore) and lowkey obsession (Aven) was an absolute trip - I was giggling at how obvious it felt Aven was definitely there for Ellinore, NOT to spy or report, but Ellinore was just so desperate to keep her facade in place, she didn't realize until they literally spelled it out for her. Overall, The Last Best Quest Ever was a breath of fresh air and the ideal YA medieval-esque fantasy romance with fun side characters and wholesome character growth that would satisfy anyone.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
June 19, 2026
3.5/5
До того, що це фентезі буде схоже на переказ парті в ДнД, я у цього автора була готова, але головна героїня дуже дратувала, а другорядними якось не перейнялася. Інші книги автора сподобалися більше.
До того, що це фентезі буде схоже на переказ парті в ДнД, я у цього автора була готова, але головна героїня дуже дратувала, а другорядними якось не перейнялася. Інші книги автора сподобалися більше.
June 5, 2026
The Last Best Quest Ever is a queer YA quest fantasy from FT Lukens. Ellinore the Brave is the kingdom’s most celebrated quester. Too bad she’s a fraud who has been faking her accomplishments. Just as she’s preparing to retire at the ripe old age of seventeen, her troublesome twin brother Zig wagers his life that they can retrieve the horn of the mythical primordial Elder Beast. With her royal rival Princet Aven tagging along to report back to the king, Ellinore must maintain her façade while somehow finding a way to complete this final quest and save her brother before time runs out. Along the way, they’re joined by an increasingly chaotic cast of fellow misfits who are determined to help and get in the way.
This is unmistakably an FT Lukens novel, with its young queer cast, found family dynamics, and wholehearted commitment to its premise. What sets it apart from their earlier books is how much it feels like a D&D campaign played by a messy but close-knit group of friends. It’s fun, charming, and consistently entertaining. The stakes are high without ever becoming too harrowing, and there’s never much doubt that things will work out in the end, making it an especially comforting read. I personally loved the use of modern vernacular and expressions, which added to the humor and charm for me, though I can see it being a drawback for some readers.
I went in expecting a male protagonist (I believe this may be Lukens’s first female lead) but Ellinore was fantastic, with just the right mix of bravado, sass, and earnestness. While she definitely held onto her secrets longer than necessary, I understood why she did. I also adored her nonbinary love interest, Princet Aven, who is so obviously hung up on her from the start. Zig initially frustrated me because of how selfish and self-absorbed he seemed, but he eventually grew on me. While I enjoyed the additions of noble adventurer Farrah and mage-bard Rylan, the real scene-stealer was Dave the Golden Dragon. He had a great personality and a wonderfully quirky dynamic with Ellinore that I would have loved to see more of, though I understand why someone so overpowered couldn’t be allowed to participate too much.
The Last Best Quest Ever is a delightful queer fantasy adventure that feels like joining a chaotic D&D campaign with friends.
This is unmistakably an FT Lukens novel, with its young queer cast, found family dynamics, and wholehearted commitment to its premise. What sets it apart from their earlier books is how much it feels like a D&D campaign played by a messy but close-knit group of friends. It’s fun, charming, and consistently entertaining. The stakes are high without ever becoming too harrowing, and there’s never much doubt that things will work out in the end, making it an especially comforting read. I personally loved the use of modern vernacular and expressions, which added to the humor and charm for me, though I can see it being a drawback for some readers.
I went in expecting a male protagonist (I believe this may be Lukens’s first female lead) but Ellinore was fantastic, with just the right mix of bravado, sass, and earnestness. While she definitely held onto her secrets longer than necessary, I understood why she did. I also adored her nonbinary love interest, Princet Aven, who is so obviously hung up on her from the start. Zig initially frustrated me because of how selfish and self-absorbed he seemed, but he eventually grew on me. While I enjoyed the additions of noble adventurer Farrah and mage-bard Rylan, the real scene-stealer was Dave the Golden Dragon. He had a great personality and a wonderfully quirky dynamic with Ellinore that I would have loved to see more of, though I understand why someone so overpowered couldn’t be allowed to participate too much.
The Last Best Quest Ever is a delightful queer fantasy adventure that feels like joining a chaotic D&D campaign with friends.
June 12, 2026
3.5🌟
F.T. Lukens did not lead me astray this year 😭🙏🏼 I feel blessed.
During the first like 50-100pgs, I was scared this was going to be another dud by Lukens. It's no secret that I did not like their release from last year. Love at Second Sight did not work for me at all. In the beginning, this was also looking like I might not enjoy it because I was noticing too much the disconnect between the time period this seemed to be set in and the language the characters were using. The writing was flipflopping between seeming too modern and but also more serious and time accurate. Eventually, I was able to not care about this as I became more invested in the characters.
I really found myself loving Ellinore and Aven. Their dynamic was so cute! Their banter was fun while also not overwhelming the narrative. Although Ellinore was definitely in denial about having any romantic interest in Aven to begin with, it was clear to see as the reader just how much she liked them and enjoyed their company. It was even sweeter getting to see her learn more about Aven and be swept up by how kind and caring they are. As for Aven, it was adorable how from jump it was clear they had a crush on Ellinore. It was such a flimsy cover they used to be able to join Ellinore on her quest, and I love it! I'm here for a smitten love interest 😌 They're my cutie patooties! I want them together forever 💖
Another character I absolutely adored was Dave! I love me a dragon in a fantasy story 🤩 I love them even more when they get along with humans. Just let my man play pranks and eat some wild game in peace, alright? It's his right! He truly was the MVP in this story, and the characters wouldn't have gotten nearly as far without him.
The main reason this doesn't get a higher rating from me is because so much felt awfully convenient--especially at the end of the story. Naturally, to start with things don't go according to plan because otherwise we wouldn't have a story, but then by the end things literally resolve SO easily. Aven quickly realizes the answer to a riddle, they travel to a location without issue thanks to Dave, they find the next clue equally as fast, and then one thing leads to another and finding the Elder Beast wasn't that complicated at all 💀 It felt anticlimactic if I'm honest.
In addition, it seemed absurd that the characters literally never killed anyone in their quest 🤦🏻♀️ The story felt committed to our main characters being "good" in a way that was annoying. I get that the characters weren't actually perfect. A big plot point is that Ellinore is a liar and Zig is a thief...but c'mon. Shit would've been even simpler if they'd just gotten rid of Ethan--especially after he kidnapped them! But oh no! That's compromising moral integrity of our characters too much 🙄 Oh, brother!
Anyway. I still had fun reading the story. I read the bulk of it in two days because I got so wrapped up in it! Doesn't mean I think it's perfect by any means 😂 I was just able to enjoy it regardless.
F.T. Lukens did not lead me astray this year 😭🙏🏼 I feel blessed.
During the first like 50-100pgs, I was scared this was going to be another dud by Lukens. It's no secret that I did not like their release from last year. Love at Second Sight did not work for me at all. In the beginning, this was also looking like I might not enjoy it because I was noticing too much the disconnect between the time period this seemed to be set in and the language the characters were using. The writing was flipflopping between seeming too modern and but also more serious and time accurate. Eventually, I was able to not care about this as I became more invested in the characters.
I really found myself loving Ellinore and Aven. Their dynamic was so cute! Their banter was fun while also not overwhelming the narrative. Although Ellinore was definitely in denial about having any romantic interest in Aven to begin with, it was clear to see as the reader just how much she liked them and enjoyed their company. It was even sweeter getting to see her learn more about Aven and be swept up by how kind and caring they are. As for Aven, it was adorable how from jump it was clear they had a crush on Ellinore. It was such a flimsy cover they used to be able to join Ellinore on her quest, and I love it! I'm here for a smitten love interest 😌 They're my cutie patooties! I want them together forever 💖
Another character I absolutely adored was Dave! I love me a dragon in a fantasy story 🤩 I love them even more when they get along with humans. Just let my man play pranks and eat some wild game in peace, alright? It's his right! He truly was the MVP in this story, and the characters wouldn't have gotten nearly as far without him.
The main reason this doesn't get a higher rating from me is because so much felt awfully convenient--especially at the end of the story. Naturally, to start with things don't go according to plan because otherwise we wouldn't have a story, but then by the end things literally resolve SO easily. Aven quickly realizes the answer to a riddle, they travel to a location without issue thanks to Dave, they find the next clue equally as fast, and then one thing leads to another and finding the Elder Beast wasn't that complicated at all 💀 It felt anticlimactic if I'm honest.
In addition, it seemed absurd that the characters literally never killed anyone in their quest 🤦🏻♀️ The story felt committed to our main characters being "good" in a way that was annoying. I get that the characters weren't actually perfect. A big plot point is that Ellinore is a liar and Zig is a thief...but c'mon. Shit would've been even simpler if they'd just gotten rid of Ethan--especially after he kidnapped them! But oh no! That's compromising moral integrity of our characters too much 🙄 Oh, brother!
Anyway. I still had fun reading the story. I read the bulk of it in two days because I got so wrapped up in it! Doesn't mean I think it's perfect by any means 😂 I was just able to enjoy it regardless.
May 19, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This author is one I have loved several of their books. So I’m always excited to hear about a new one coming out, even with the one or two of their books that did not work for me. The others are always so good! And this one was also one of the really good ones! While it didn’t quite have exactly the same pull that the very first one I read by the author had for me, it was still very good and had a lot of fun adventures and I loved the take on Ellinore the Brave and how she felt like a fraud.
I loved all the different ways each character came into play for the story to move it along. I loved how her brother was a pain, but also in his own way invaluable to the quest to save his own life. The princet, Aven, Ellinore’s love interest, and also rival quester. Aven’s cousin Farrah was a fun bubbly addition to the group when she showed up, and of course Roland the bard. The fact that he had his own doubts about Ellinore’s “brave exploits” gave her a perfect way to feed the truth out to everyone at the end, I loved how that was presented to the queen. After my recent listen to a book about Dungeons and Dragons games, I wondered if this was the type of quest or band of characters that would be something like that.
And then there was the amazing world and all of the creatures. The golden dragon Dave, the fire salamanders, the pixies and faeries. The bad guys were bad, but also amusing in some ways. I love that Ellinore thought to stop and talk and figure out what was causing the issue with creatures and others instead of immediately killing. It made her so much more likeable and of course made the whole story. I was a little upset with Aven for how they took that news, but I guess it was understandable.
Overall another great story by F.T. Lukens that I can’t wait to put in my library for my students!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
I loved all the different ways each character came into play for the story to move it along. I loved how her brother was a pain, but also in his own way invaluable to the quest to save his own life. The princet, Aven, Ellinore’s love interest, and also rival quester. Aven’s cousin Farrah was a fun bubbly addition to the group when she showed up, and of course Roland the bard. The fact that he had his own doubts about Ellinore’s “brave exploits” gave her a perfect way to feed the truth out to everyone at the end, I loved how that was presented to the queen. After my recent listen to a book about Dungeons and Dragons games, I wondered if this was the type of quest or band of characters that would be something like that.
And then there was the amazing world and all of the creatures. The golden dragon Dave, the fire salamanders, the pixies and faeries. The bad guys were bad, but also amusing in some ways. I love that Ellinore thought to stop and talk and figure out what was causing the issue with creatures and others instead of immediately killing. It made her so much more likeable and of course made the whole story. I was a little upset with Aven for how they took that news, but I guess it was understandable.
Overall another great story by F.T. Lukens that I can’t wait to put in my library for my students!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
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