The Stolen Crown

The Ever Seas #4

by L.J. Andrews

Love and duty are thrown to the treacherous deep sea in the next Ever Seas book from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews. . .

--

He can hold a grudge. She can charm even the most stoic of people.

Tait Heartwalker may be the cousin of the Ever King, but royally good company he is not. He’s ill-tempered and unapproachable, sharpened by life and loyalty. But to the dismay of Mira Sekundär, princess of the glamour fae, he’s also downright intoxicating. Mira has given up trying to uncover why the broody fae seems to detest her most of all.

Despite doing their best to avoid each other, fate has other plans when an otherworldly storm shipwrecks Tait and Mira far beyond the boundaries of the Ever Kingdom. They are forced to break through the thorny barriers between them, and work together to find their way home.

Yet as their feelings deepen, a new threat rises. One that could seal their new passion. . . or snap the fragile bonds of peace between the fae of the sea and earth for good.

Tropes:

grumpy/sunshine
forced proximity
fae royalty
moody pirates
Norse mythology

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Pirates, Fae, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Dark Romance

497 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

LJ Andrews is a USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy romance. She mystically brings to life worlds of dark Nordic and Viking myths bound by conflicts that bring together impassioned heroes and heroines.

In her non-author moments, she is courageously corralling her four children to the myriad of life activities that involves, along with spending time with her favorite hero, her husband. Add two high maintenance dogs and a sassy conure to the mix and that sums it up. LJ Andrews thrives spending time in the Rocky Mountains where she lives in Utah.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Sophie (lambsbooks)]

NEW RELEASE DATE!!🥳
October 6, 2026

Grumpy Hearttalker and Sunshine-y Mira?

Yes please

[TialyN]

The book is postponed two years after original date? That just doesn’t seem fair towards original fans who's been waiting and looking forward to this book.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4! A storm & a shipwreck. She is the life of the party. He's the villain but also intoxicating to look at. Together, they must find their way home. But there is a threat in the water that is preventing their return.

Full review to follow!!! Lots to comment on!





Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, L.J. Andrews for an early copy!

Publication date: October 6, 2026

[Lauren · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

This pains me. This is one of my top favorite series ever. The first two books I give a million stars… The third book was good, but not as great. This fourth one… Well, I’m not sure what went wrong. I was happy to get Tait and Mira’s story, but there was a lot missing. For over half of the book, it’s ALL Tait and Mira… Where was the dialogue that brought them together? Tait goes from not wanting to be touched to being obsessed with Mira in (what seems like) the blink of an eye. What I loved about the first three books is how totally connected the couples were in every way. I just didn’t feel that with this book which was really disappointing.

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚—𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖—𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔.

Tait and Mira's story brought me to my knees. This delicious story has been brewing for us readers who have been following our characters in the previous books. I will convince you to read this book with one sentence: Tait hates to be touched unless it's HER!!!!!! I'm sorry, but that's AGHHHH OMGGGG 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️ I want to say this is a slow burn until it's not? I think? At least that's how it felt for me. Mira thinks he hates her when, in reality, he is trying to "shield her" from him and his ways. Meanwhile, Tait would protect her with his life but thinks she deserves more. This game of hot potato with their emotions had me investeddddd 🫣

I loved them both, and it was so sweet seeing the patience that Mira had with Tait when it came to intimacy. This book, for me, was a different read. There's so much romantasy out there, but this story is different, and it had a pinch of "real" because not everyone can jump headfirst into intimacy, and idk, I personally loved reading the slow crescendo that happened between them.

I can't forget that besides the romantasy, there's actually a plot, and um, I devoured it: the shipwreck, the mystery behind the island, and we can't forget about our Easter eggs for what may be the next book???? ATE IT ALL. I actually did not expect the few twists LJ Andrews threw at us and I seriously adore the way she writes the plot of her books!

This book I definitely recommend to those who adore the series, first of all!!! And want something different when it comes to two people who may be attracted to each other, but they need to be stranded on an island together to finally share how they feel heheh 🥵 yum.

tropes
💛 forced proximity
💛 the protective hero
💛 she falls first, he falls harder
💛 touch her and you die

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ excuse me but I adore this series and I BEEN WAITING FOR MIRA'S STORYYYY!!!! can't wait

[elsie ۵]

Really looking forward to Tait and Mira’s story! They set sail for the Ever and never arrived. It’s going to be so gooood!!!

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

this series has ILLICIT SUBSTANCES IN IT!! Tait & Mira, you will always be famous!!!

this was all i wanted it to be and more, the story was so true to the characters, the plot was so good and seeing all the other characters i love so much back and better than ever was a TREAT!

Tait was the best mmc, his backstory was heartbreaking and he makes even more sense now. his loyalty, and steadfastness makes him such a loveable love interest!

Mira is the type of woman i will always eat up in a story. witty, intelligent, and just a tad bit flawed. the way she goads Tait was hilarious, and i love her immensely!

this was a bit slow at some points, but other than that, SOOO GOOD!

4.5 stars⭐️

[Demi Winters]

LJ Andrews never misses! The Stolen Crown contains a magical combination of forced proximity and danger-infused action scenes that drive an unlikely duo together in order to survive a shipwrecking. Mira and Tate's slowly unfolding romance had me kicking my feet--they were simultaneously sizzling hot and adorably sweet.

[Matea ☽ [ia]]

update on my mental state
The cover is up and gorgeous, the tropes are exactly my weakness, and I’m not okay. I already know I’ll be crying tonight without this book in my hands.🥲

A few paragraphs in Ever Queen and I’m already addicted. I NEED them like oxygen 😭

[Kelcey | felinebooktrovert ✨️ · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!

Another enjoyable installment to the Ever Seas series.

This series has become quite predictable, but it's in a comforting way. You know what you're signing up for when you read something in this series and there's something to really appreciate in that.

All the characters are great, and it's always so fun to see the previous series' characters too.

This one just fell a little short for me with the relationship between Mira and Tait. They were at each other's throats for half of the book, and then it seemed like a switch was flipped, and now all of a sudden they're both 110% committed. So I missed really seeing some growth there. There was a for a bit. But it would have been more entertaining to see their relationship continue to be challenged and grow as the book progressed.

But again, really love this series and I'm pretty excited for Sander's book ❤️‍🔥

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Beth · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Stranded by Fate, Bound by Hope

The Stolen Crown had a lot of elements that I normally love: a pirate captain, a troubled princess, a shipwreck, and a forced-proximity survival story. Tait Heartwalker and Mira Sekundär both carry the weight of difficult pasts, and their journey offered plenty of opportunities for healing and self-discovery.

While I enjoyed the overall story, I found myself wishing for a deeper emotional connection between the characters. Tait and Mira are interesting individuals, but their relationship never fully clicked for me in the way I had hoped. I wanted more meaningful interactions and stronger chemistry.

The pacing was also slowed at times by lengthy explanations and world-building details. There was a significant amount of information presented, which occasionally pulled me out of the story when I would have preferred to stay immersed in the characters' experiences.

Even so, L.J. Andrews creates an intriguing world, and I appreciated the themes of resilience, survival, and overcoming painful histories. The premise remained engaging, and I was invested enough to keep turning the pages to see where Tait and Mira's story would lead.

Overall, The Stolen Crown was an enjoyable read with a unique setup and plenty of promise. While the romance and character connection didn't fully resonate with me, fans of fantasy adventure, pirates, and richly developed worlds will likely find much to enjoy here.

A special thanks to @Berkley Publishing Group | @Ace and Netgalley for this review opportunity. This opinion is mine alone.

[pages_that_burn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC!

I've been waiting for Tate and Mira's story since the very beginning, and it did NOT disappoint. These two took loyalty to a whole new level, and Tait... /swoon. That's all I'm saying.

The pacing got a little wonky in the middle, but finally getting their story, catching up with familiar faces, and seeing how everything weaves together made this one worth the wait. Each book stands on its own while pulling you deeper into this world, and both MMCs are fantastically twisted in all the best ways.

Bring on Sander and Eeva!

4 🌟
3 🌶️

Enemies to Lovers / Forced Proximity / Fated Mates / Touch Her and ☠️

[ciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“but the truth is i lied. i would fall to my knees in front of you and beg for a single touch if that is all you offered.”

—

okay hello this is officially my new favorite book in the ever seas series. i genuinely didn’t think anything was going to beat the mist thief (i still love u jonas), but this absolutely topped it. like WOW this was so insanely fun that i read it in a little over 24 hours.

i’ve been obsessed with both tait and mira ever since they were introduced. the push and pull between them and slow burn has been so good so i was beyond excited for their book, and it surpassed my expectations.

mira is such a fun and relatable fmc. her insecurities about wanting love, putting herself out there, and fearing rejection was way too real. at the same time, i love that she sticks up for herself and never lets people walk all over her. also, let my girl plan a party!!!

and tait… welcome to my book bf list. the way his touch aversion and past trauma were explored actually made me sob. he’s so incredibly protective of her and i love him so much. also you freak? spectacular give me 14 more spice scenes. (p.s. nearly died at the “show me” scene).

the grumpy/sunshine dynamic absolutely delivered. and one thing about me is forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, so the second i realized they were shipwrecked and stuck together?? i was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. the banter was so good, and the buildup from the last few books absolutely paid off.

i also love how we always get to see everyone reconnect at the end. the found family in this series is so good, and getting little glimpses of all the couples from the previous books is one of my favorite parts.

let me just say… i clocked who book five was going to be about so early on, and i’m so excited that i was right. i genuinely cannot wait for their story hehe.

this series is such a fun summer read. i still haven’t started the broken kingdoms series, but the more i learn about all the parents, the more i want to pick it up. i love interconnected stories, so this whole world is everything.

a huge thank you to berkeley/ace and netgalley for this e-arc! ♥︎

“𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

[Athena 💗 · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you would have told me in the beginning that I would be giving this book 3⭐️ I would not have believed you. The Broken Crown has easily been one of my most anticipated books for almost 2 years now.

Some of my favorite things about LJ Andrew’s writing is how vivid of a picture she is able to create with just her words. The atmosphere is lush and filled with the most interesting creatures. The characters are so well developed that you almost forget they aren’t real and the banter is so lively you forget you’re reading. I feel like the book does start out with these qualities but then they slowly start to slip away as you move through the story.

The opening scene is very reminiscent to the beginning of the first book. I could see where some readers would think it’s recycled but for me I actually really loved that scene. Having the interaction between young Tait and Mira with their personalities towards one another shine through took their love story in a different direction than Erik and Livie’s. I was all in. 🙌🏼

Right off the bat Mira almost seemed like a completely different character. In the other books she is painted as this tough warrior that is constantly frazzling Tait but in this one she came off more like a needy doormat. Don’t get me wrong, I like when an MMC breaks the FMCs heart a little. The ballroom scene where he turns her down for a dance. Oh, I ate that shit up! But instead of finding the right balance that would offer us a window of her vulnerability, the author pushed a little too far in that direction making Mira go from a fearless flirt to… just kinda a pathetic simp. 😕

The writing also didn’t feel quite as magnetic as I remember the other books to be. The fact that it took me 4 days to get through speaks volumes as to how much my mind would wander out of boredom. It got to a point where I even considered rereading the first book to see if maybe I had just placed it on a pedestal or I simply aged out.

The island was fun. I liked how Tait still had pushback towards Mira and it wasn’t insta love the second they get there. Some of the storyline starts to become a little muddled but overall I was still very much enjoying the ride and making excuses for the rest.

When they finally make it back to the Ever Seas is around the time my interest started to fizzle out. By that point the storyline wasn’t making a whole lot of sense. The writing felt more and more generic. Mira’s reaction towards Erik helping Tait felt awkward and weird. Erik calling Livie “Songbird” started to get cringe AF. Ari’s theatrical personality felt over the top and Tait’s proclamations of love really started to give, man written by a woman if ya know what I mean. Sometimes (most times) LESS is more. Andrew’s portrayed this perfectly with the mute MMC from that one book, Souls and Bones or something. Tait went from top tier book boyfriend material to flowery real quick.

The ending was what officially lost me and when I finally had to come to terms with the fact that this book just was not as well written as some of her others. The storyline and setup for the next book was basically a copy and paste of the last book. 😑

Here’s the thing though, will I continue on with the series? Hell yes I will. It is my love for these characters that carried me through this book and made it enjoyable while it was. I still love Mira and Tait even though in no way did this story do them justice. And OF COURSE I am all in for book nerd Sander and his equally book nerd love interest. In my mind Sander has a pair of slutty little glasses and ain’t nobody convincing me otherwise. I think LJ’s exact words were, “expect Sander to be a geek in the streets but a freak in the sheets”. 🤓 Plus, I also remember seeing the writing start to slip in The Mist Thief but then her viking book came out and was pure 🔥🔥🔥🔥 so I am just going to believe that this was a one off and that the next book will come back hitting harder than ever.

As always, a great big thank you to the publishers at Berkley Publishing Group and to the incredibly talented, L.J. Andrews for gifting me an ARC of The Broken Crown. Overall I enjoyed the experience and look forward to continuing on with the Ever Seas series.

You can find this book on shelves October 6!

[Gyula · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

A good addition to the series

4.25⭐️
2.5/5🌶️
Dual/first person POV
Format: paperback
Book 4 in a series of interconnected standalones following a duology

Spoiler free

From the moment Mira started calling Tait Hearttalker in the previous books, I knew their story would be awesome & was super excited. Unfortunately, the indie to trad pipeline delayed this book for 2 years & I can’t say I’m obsessed like I once was for this next installment but it does still deliver in its own way.

Im a firm believer in that when an indie author goes trad, that little something special gets extinguished in some way & that’s definitely the case here. The books had a sort of “magic” to them that’s clearly missing in book 4, in my case. But I’ll always be an LJA stan & have a soft spot for whatever she writes so I did still enjoy it. It’s just that the pacing here was very much off. Also, the plot progression was messy AF & had strange gaps throughout. Its not as “vicious” as the writing is very much attempting to pass this off as.

What this author does phenomenally well is romance with fantasy. The relationship is always at the forefront & is even sweet. I love how utterly down bad her MMC’s are & are not afraid to be barbaric for their ladies. Listen, he’s not Erik or even Jonas but he can have third place for now🤣🤣

I do love being back in the Ever with all the old faces & some super cute new ones too; book 5 is gearing up to be juicy😏😏 Just when the world couldn’t get any bigger, nope. The world continues to expand & introduce us to new lands & people. The themes here are so unexpectedly heavy but are infused into the story so beautifully & touching.

Overall: a comforting romantasy read regardless of the imperfections.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hurts… 🙃 Having one of my most anticipated reads of the year end up being my least favorite book in the series was not on my 2026 bingo card.

I'm genuinely struggling to come to terms with how mid this was. I almost wish I'd never read it because the idea of these two was so much better in my head.

This book had me actively going back to reread parts of The Ever King because I was convinced the problem had to be me. I thought maybe I'd outgrown the series. But the second Erik Bloodsinger showed up, I realized that wasn't the issue at all. That man still gets me all sorts of worked up, and I do still love this world and these characters, which is honestly the only reason I think I didn't DNF.

Yeah. I genuinely considered DNFing one of my MOST ANTICIPATED READS OF THE YEAR. 😅

I feel like the romance heavily relied on readers having a connection to Mira and Tait because I was not feeling the connection between them at all. And what's even crazier is that we've only ever been given crumbs of them throughout the series, so it's not like we had all of this lore to justify what ultimately felt like insta-love.

I'm not sure who disappointed me more. Mira was not what I was expecting at all. Have you ever read a character and felt like they were somehow out of character? That's how this felt. She just wasn't written the way I expected or wanted. And this is absolutely a personal preference, but I hate when the girl is the one chasing the man. Quite literally, he is just a man. Even worse, I fully believe Tait would've lived the rest of his life alone had Mira not relentlessly pursued him. He basically says as much in the book.

Once they got together, Tait just kept dropping bar after bar of love declarations. We were either getting love declarations or spice, or love declarations and spice. None of which felt earned and all of which I did not enjoy.

The pacing was another huge issue. Why did we get what felt like an entire epilogue at 70% to then jump back into the plot afterward? The whole book felt so disjointed. The writing style felt different. The characters felt different. It pains me, but this book actually put me off wanting to read the next one, even though I like the concept of the next couple.

I didn't hate the book (even though I'm sure it sounds like it), but the romance fell so unbelievably flat for me. I can say with my full chest that if I didn't already have a connection to and love this series, this would've been lower than a 3-star read.

[Kate Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tait and Mira’s story will be worth every second of waiting. I’m glad that LJ has the extra time to make sure TSC is everything she wants it to be and more. Sometimes going trad means having to change some timelines around, but if that means the authors I love get to have some room to breathe and their current works get to reach a wider audience, then I’ll wait as long as I have to. We are not entitled to their art, and I think the book community as a whole needs to be reminded that these books are gifts.

[Heather Becht (fantasyromantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.”

AHHH it felt so good to be back in these realms that have consumed me since 2022. Also, thank the gods for a recap. They are life when reading a series continuation!

Okay so I didn’t know how DOWN BAD I would be for Tait Heartwalker, but that man is everything. I absolutely loved his and Mira’s slow burn, the TENSION, the ANGST, the TRAUMA. He can read hearts. She can claim minds. The force of the two is explosive. And does it make me a little unhinged that Tait’s ‘touch her and I’ll sever your head, then present it to her on a platter so she can stab it over and over again’ was so HOT? I loved the healing that these two experienced with each other during their time stranded together. I loved their unhinged and twisted love and acts of love. The found family in this series is probably one of my all time favorite found families.

I absolutely love the muli-realms of these worlds and the different magic systems and similarities. The dark spells and haunted island added so much intrigue, and I loved the game of survival. I loved the introduction to a new kind of magic and cannot wait for Sander’s story (iykyk). AND UGH I MISSED ARI. I loved seeing his protectiveness as a dad. This book felt like coming home and I can’t wait for the next book!

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
🌊 Dark Romantasy
🌊 Snarky Banter
🌊 Enemies to Reluctant Allies to Lovers
🌊 Unique Abilities & Magic
🌊 Opposites Attract
🌊 Fierce Found Family
🌊 Touch Averse MMC
🌊 Grumpy x Sunshine
🌊 He’s Only Soft For Her
🌊 Shipwrecked Together
🌊 Forced Proximity
🌊 Touch Her and ☠️
🌊 Mental Health Rep & Trauma
🌊 The Heartwalker x The Illusionist
🌊 Nicknames

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 [...] 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. [...] 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭.

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been so much fun to read! Who doesn't want to read about morally gray pirates and the ladies that bring them to their knees. I was very excited about Tait and Mira because we had gotten glimpses of their banter from previous books, and it was top notch. We all know there is such a fine line between love and hate, and these two were RIGHT on that line. I do have to say that I was borderline done with how mean Tait was being to Mira BUT when he flipped his tune and his true thoughts came out it ALL made sense. The man had been down bad for Mira from the beginning but was scared of his reaction to her. He was scared that his power would hurt her. He had been through a LOT and had trauma around touch and all of that came out by him pushing her away. I would recommend checking TWs for this one- there are things referenced that were heavier than I expected. I have to say I have not read a book where the MC and FMC get stuck on an island but really enjoyed watching these two be forced to be in each other's space so that they could FINALLY lower their walls. I felt awful for Mira- she kept getting these glimpses of Tait and would get hope that he might actually like her. And then he would be a jerk BUT when she finally realized the truth behind all of his pricklyness, she was SO patient with him. They had been building the foundation of a relationship without being in one. So once they opened up with each other about everything, it all felt natural and was just a matter of time. Tait was a true "I will burn the world for you" man while Mira was a "Who hurt you" woman. These two were a match made in heaven and watching them get their together was PERFECT. Also once the spice hit, it was oh so HOT!!

Mira can't believe she has to continue traveling with Tait, the man who somehow she can't stop thinking about while he oh so clearly hates her. Or he finds her revolting. She doesn't know what is worse. All she knows is how much it bothers her. She has never had someone treat her the way he does. He is dismissive and sometimes downright rude. But that will all come to an end soon because they will go their separate ways. But then after a night on the ship, a storm hits that separates Tait and Mira from the rest of the crew. They find themselves on an island in the middle of nowhere and now have to navigate surviving together. She has got to get through to him. She can't deal with this degree of hate anymore. She gets glimpses of a sweet man inside and then it's like the walls shut down around him. But the logner they are on the island together, the more they ever so slowly start to open up to each other. The more she starts to realize that there is a lot more to Tait than she thought. That he has been through a lot more. That he is scared of his feelings for her and what that could mean for him and for her. That he doesn't want to hurt her. In fact her truly cares for her but he can't hide it anymore. To say that she is shocked is an understatement. And now they are navigating escaping the island and ending up in a new territory with a bond between them. A bond that continues to grow the longer they are together. But there is something weird about the new island they are on- their hosts to be exact. They are almost too friendly. Too welcoming. And when Tait and Mira realize what is going on- they run. They finally reconnect with everyone. But they have let their guard down too soon and Mira realizes that she would do anything to protect Tait. Including give herself up. She just hopes he knows how much she loves him.

Tait can't believe his cousin. He knows that Eric is meddling. That he thinks there is something going on between Tait and Mira. He couldn't be more wrong. The woman gets on his every nerve. How can she possibly be so stunning? How can her power be so awe inspiring? How does he find himself rescuing her regularly. He just has to keep pushing her away. The last thing he wants to do is hurt her but he is terrified of what will actually happen if he lets her in. So he keeps pushing her away. He keeps being mean to her. He keeps watching her light diminish a little when they are together. He hates himself but it is for the best- or at least that is what he tells himself. But then disaster strikes, and he finds himself on an island with Mira without his crew. He realizes how much grit she has. What she is willing to do to survive. He is liking her more and more every day. She doesn't know that yet and that is becoming harder and harder to hide. Finally he snaps- he tells her the truth. How he cares for her. How he wants her but he is terrified that he will hurt her. He tells her how touch has been used against him. And how he never wants to hurt her. And it's like a weight has been lifted. And her patience and understanding is like a soothing balm to his soul. Now that he has dropped his walls, he never wants to raise them again. He is hers and she is his. They finally get off the island and end up with a new group of people. All while navigating this new thing between them. But Tait knows something is off about these people. And once they reconnect with Eric, he still feels like there is more at play than what they can see. What he doesn't expect is Mira to be in the center of everything. All he knows is that he will burn the world for her. Because now that they are together, he doesn't ever want them to not be.

This was a very fun read! It took me a second to get into because of the hate to love aspect. But once we got to know the true Tait, I was a goner. LJ has done such a good job building this world. I feel like there are endless stories in here! I loved seeing the characters from the other books as well and getting glimpses into their lives. I loved the hints about who is next. I really enjoyed the new characters introduced as well. But most of all I enjoyed Tait letting the world know who he really was which was a man DOWN BAD for his woman :) I definitely recommend this book and this series if you like adventure and morally gray men who fall fast and hard for their ladies (even though they try to fight it LOL).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[RedFireLady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
2🌶

The Stolen Crown is the 4th book in The Ever Seas series by L.J. Andrews and it FINALLY gives us Tait and Mira's story 🫠


What's inside:
- Touch Averse MMC
- Bubbly Princess FMC
- Forced Proximity
- Stranded
- Hunted
- Opposites Attract
- Yearning and Tension
- Slow Burn
- Shipwreck
- Captured
- Past Trauma
- Banter
- Touch Her and Die

Tait has been one of my favorite characters in this series and I loved finally getting his story. He's dark and broody and doesn't like to be touched, and has past trauma that still haunts him and it makes it hard for him to trust or show feelings.

Mira is the bright, bubbly and tough princess of their the Ever Kings former enemies, now turned allies. She loves to dance and throw parties and she is very social and bubbly. There has always been a push-pull thing between her and Tait, and when they find themselves stranded together on a deadly island, there is nothing left but to face that tension they both feel.

-- “Always so worried about my neck.” I brushed leaves from my skirt. “One might say you have a great many thoughts about my throat and all the things it might be able to swallow.” --

The banter and pull between them is hot and makes the story so much fun to read. I really loved how Mira makes Tait face his feelings and helps him learn that being touched doesn't have to be a bad thing. She slowly helps him work to overcome some of his trauma and be able to smile and laugh. Even before they give into their feelings Tait is protecting her and delivering the heads of those that hurt her. 🥵

Thank you to Scarlett Press and Netgllet for an eARC of this book! I love this series and truly enjoyed Mira and Taits story.

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone hop aboard because THE EVER SEAS IS SOOO BACK 🏴‍☠️

if you’ve been here for any amount of time, you hopefully know that The Ever Seas is one of my favorite series of all time. the perfect mix of pirate adventure, fae magic, sweeping romance, and stunning fantasy worldbuilding all in one.

The Stolen Crown (book four) follows Tait and Mira, the epitome of grumpy and sunshine, who are forced to work together for survival when a shipwreck casts them away to the Far Seas. *insert insatiable pining and the most delicious push and pull i’ve ever read* As they explore the mysterious island and attempt to escape back to the Ever, they encounter secrets and enemies that may change the kingdom forever. *screams into pillow*

GUYS this might be my new favorite LJ Andrews book. i know i say that every time i read one BUT I MEAN IT THIS TIME☝🏼 tait and mira have such fun banter (rage baiting as flirting is my new favorite thing) and their romance was sooo swoon worthy 😭 when the grumpy violent self-isolating man finally gives in and confesses his love for the sunshine archer girl PLEASEEEEE i love them so much. they’re also the epitome of mutual “touch them and you’ll d*e and slow d*ath” while also being soft for each other and i love that for them.

how LJ Andrews manages to write 5 star after 5 star book i have no idea, but please queen never change 😭 these books ever everything to me and these characters feel like people i really know and love. PLEASE read The Ever Seas if you’ve ever taken a book rec from me & while you’re at it read The Broken Kingdoms too!!

[Tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I AM BEGGING LJ ANDREWS TO NEVER STOP WRITING BOOKS IN THIS UNIVERSE.

Seriously. Please. I will read every single one. 😂 I am so completely obsessed with the entire Ever King universe, and getting to return to this world and spend time with these characters again felt like coming home. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this found family, the high stakes, the incredible relationships, and all these emotionally complicated men who are completely, hopelessly gone for their women.

And this time we get MIRA AND TAIT.

OH MY GOD.

The grumpy x sunshine dynamic here??? PERFECTION. Some of the best banter I've read in a LONG time. Mira is sunshine with a little bit of feral chaos mixed in, and Tait is basically a permanently irritated storm cloud who has absolutely no idea what to do with this woman. And she KNOWS IT. 😂

Their constant back and forth had me laughing so much. Mira lives to get under his skin, and watching Tait try to maintain his grumpy, unbothered attitude while this woman completely dismantles him was giving me so much joy. Like would I do the same in a relationship? You better believe it....

But what made their relationship so special to me was everything underneath that banter.

THE YEARNING.... yummy... THE ANGST... scrumptious... THE VULNERABILITY... give me all of it...

Tait's character development was genuinely one of my favorite parts of this book. And Mira??? I LOVED HER. She's funny, stubborn, fierce, compassionate, and so much more than the sunshine personality everyone sees. She has her own fears and insecurities, and ends up realizing how strong she is either way...

And as always, THE FOUND FAMILY. Getting more Erik, Livia, and the rest of this wonderfully chaotic group was such a treat. There is so much history here. So much loyalty. So much love. And so many people willing to go to war for each other.

Overall, this book was about two people finding their person. Someone who makes the darkness a little less frightening... <3

Things I Loved
✨ GRUMPY X SUNSHINE
✨ YEARNINGGGGG
✨ Enemies to Lovers Energy
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ He Falls HARD
✨ Found Family
✨ Banter for DAYS
✨ Protective MMC
✨ Strong, Feral FMC
✨ Touch Starved MMC
✨ Trauma + Healing
✨ Pirates + Fae
✨ Men Who Are Completely Down Bad
✨ Returning to the Ever King Universe ❤️

Quotes That Got Me

"Gods, he was a beautiful disaster."

"I have not stopped wanting you."

"You are the sunrise I seek in the storms of my soul."

"Woman, you're my damn soul."

Honestly, just give me MORE. More of this world. More of these characters. More of this found family. More emotionally damaged men finding women who absolutely ruin them in the best possible way.

LJ... I am begging you. I am not ready to leave the Ever. EVER. 😂❤️

Thanks to NetGalley, LJ Andrews, and Berkeley Publishing for the eARC and opportunity to share my honest review.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨The Stolen Crown✨

There’s not been a single book by LJ that I haven’t absolutely adored and TSC remains consistent with this opinion. We continue on an interconnected standalone journey with our delightful found family from TEK and dating all the way back to the beginnings, the Broken Kingdoms.

TSC follows characters we’ve known and loved for so long as they finally get their story: Mira and Tait. As Tait’s escort, he must ensure Mira’s safety from one kingdom to the next, but when a mysterious storm sweeps them and their crew off course, the tenuous tension between Tait and Mira blows in as tumultuous as the storm that lost them at sea.

Mira is sunshine and compassion. She is full of empathy and light despite her fears. While Tait faces deeply dark traumas, it is Mira who shows him that perhaps healing isn’t such a dangerous thing. We get deadly islands, cultish pirates and sea witches, so much banter and yearning, a relationship built on loving and fighting for each other’s worth, and the found family that is next to none.

I loved the darkness and depth alongside the gentle love within these pages. Tait has my whole heart and I loved getting to see him find safety in Mira. And I’m so super stoked for what’s coming next! I will always read a book by LJ!

Tropes you may find in TSC are forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, found family, banter, medium spice, tension & yearning, Vikings, unique magics, she saves him, touch him/her and ☠️, burn the world for her, soft only for her, and a HEA.

Thank you, LJ, Berkeley Ace, and Netgalley for this gifted arc. I am sold for LJ.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to even begin…LJ Andrews is one of my favorite authors. I’m obsessed with the Ever King/Ever Queen and this whole series really. She has a gift of world building and developing magic systems that make sense, not just make for a convenient conclusion. LJ is so good at writing love and romance and possessive MCs 😍

Erik & Livia are my FAVORITE couple, so for me, Tait and Mira didn’t QUITE live up to them, but they were wonderful together just the same. The passion and possession I feel from most of her character pairings wasn’t quite to the level I’m used to from LJ with these two, but I respect her ability to make each character feel different from the last. I love a good grumpy sunshine. The balance of sweet romance and traumatic past was nice. We got to see most of our favorite characters, which for me means this book is best read in the order the series was written. I will admit, I was really hoping that Sander’s story was going to be MM, but the last chapter from his POV still has me excited for book 5!!

[pages_that_burn · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC!

I've been waiting for Tate and Mira's story since the very beginning, and it did NOT disappoint. These two took loyalty to a whole new level, and Tait... /swoon. That's all I'm saying.

The pacing got a little wonky in the middle, but finally getting their story, catching up with familiar faces, and seeing how everything weaves together made this one worth the wait. Each book stands on its own while pulling you deeper into this world, and both MMCs are fantastically twisted in all the best ways.

Bring on Sander and Eeva!

4 🌟
3 🌶️

Enemies to Lovers / Forced Proximity / Fated Mates / Touch Her and ☠️

[Joleen Turns Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley Pub for the ARC!

Going back to the Ever Seas genuinely felt like coming home, and I didn’t realize how much I missed this world until I was back in it.

I absolutely LOVED The Stolen Crown. Mira completely stole my heart, and I loved finally getting to see her step into the center of her own story. The romance gave me that delicious tension and yearning I want, but I was just as invested in Mira herself, the choices she had to make, and everything unfolding around her.

And THE CAMEOS. Seeing characters from the previous books again was easily one of my favorite parts. They weren’t just thrown in for nostalgia either—they made the world feel connected and reminded me how much history already exists within the Ever Seas. Every time someone familiar appeared, I was basically sitting there like, “MY PEOPLE!!!” I love when a series lets its characters continue existing beyond the end of their own books.

There’s also something about L.J. Andrews’ combination of romance, danger, politics, secrets, found family, and expansive worldbuilding that just works for me. The story still felt like Mira’s while giving longtime readers those little rewards for being invested in this world from the beginning.

"There you go again, giving me all the power." She leaned in, voice low. "How did you know I love it when men get on their knees and beg me, Hearttalker."

"Gods, Vicious. You're so ready for me, aren't you?" "Tait ..." "Are you begging?" Oh, this beautiful disaster of a man.

This felt like both a new adventure and a reunion with characters I already love, which made the entire reading experience even better.

Five stars. Mira deserved her moment, the Ever Seas still owns me, and apparently I will never get tired of seeing my favorite characters pop back onto the page.

[Aileen Codesal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever grateful to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for the ARC & to LJ Andrews for crafting this magnificent world of the Ever Seas.

I’m still reeling from the journey that Mira and Tait take in “The Stolen Crown” because holy smokes, I didn’t see it coming and that made it even better for me! We’ve all been wringing our hands in anticipation over Mira and Tait because that tension between them has been getting hotter and hotter and it finally hits the boiling point and I’ll let y’all know right now THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT. I’m a slow burn romance lover and this is one of the best I’ve ever read.

Mira is a sunshine girly with a love for parties and her family/friends but on the inside she feels like she can’t live up to her family’s legacy. Tait, on the other hand, is grumpy personified. He cannot stand touch and prefers to live in the shadow of the Ever King. Both Mira and Tait have been dancing along the fine line of flirting and killing each other for the past few books and when a deadly storm forces them to work together, more truths unwind and a reckoning is summoned.

The romance is all sorts of delicious and I ate it UP. But the darker themes and secrets unearthed also brought me to tears. LJ Andrews has always been incredible at handling hard topics with care but she was even more sensitive and caring with this book and I appreciated it even more.

If I could rate this book infinity stars, I would. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to read it before its release because I know we’ve all been waiting a long time for it! But I am now chomping at the bits for the next book because it features one of my fave characters and that’s all I’ll say about that.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Ace for the gifted arc! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—LJ Andrews does not miss!! I’ve been waiting for this book since before the mist thief was indie published (I was an arc reader for that too) and the payoff of Tait x Mira was absolutely worth the wait. This series legitimately contains drugs—I ATE THIS UP.
I loved the dynamic between Tait and Mira—it was very grumpy x sunshine. Tait was simultaneously touch averse and touch starved, and Mira was the fun party girl with so much depth. I found Mira to be such a relatable FMC—her desire to be more, her tendency to over-explain/ramble, and her fears of putting herself out there were all things I identified with heavily. And Tait was the perfect MMC—he’s quiet, loyal, and steadfast. He loves Mira and that’s about it. His backstory was so heartbreaking, but I absolutely loved his healing journey. And their banter and spice?? Swoon.
This series is more romance-heavy than the broken kingdoms, but the plot in this was so good too. I was so unsettled by the islands and was nervously gnawing my nails the whole time. I loved getting to see so many characters I know and love from the other Ever Seas books and the Broken Kingdoms!! I can’t wait for Eeva and Sander’s story—I’m so intrigued by her!!

[Stacey | read.with.stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks PRH audio for the alc + Berkley for the e-arc 🫶

💭: I’ll admit, the first half of this book is slower and really felt more character driven. I did enjoy getting to know both of the main characters, and learning about the MMCs trauma (heartbreaking), and seeing their cautious romance develop. At around the 50% mark, the plot progression and the action starts to pick up and I enjoyed the second half of this book a lot more. I enjoyed learning about some new magic and I like that a new villain was introduced into the story. The story wrapped up well and I am definitely excited for the next book because I have a feeling I’m really going to enjoy the MMC it’s going to follow 🤭.

🎧: This book is narrated by Lucy Rivers and Will Thorne in a dual narration style. I thought the narration was well done overall. There was good pacing and both narrators had a good range of voices and accents.

[Leanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to be back in the Ever Seas world! Tait and Mira had incredible chemistry, and I loved their dynamic and banter. Beneath all the adventure, danger, and romance, this story also explored trauma and PTSD with so much care. Tait’s struggles weren’t magically erased by love, and I appreciated the patience and understanding Mira showed him as their relationship developed. It made every step toward intimacy feel meaningful and earned.

The action kept the story moving, but it was the relationships that made this book special for me for not only the romance, but the friendships and family bonds too. I loved seeing familiar characters again, and Tait and Mira completely stole my heart. Another wonderful addition to a world I never want to leave!