What does the chosen one do after he’s defeated the Big Bad and saved the day? He searches for love of course. He quickly discovers that defeating a great evil is nothing compared to figuring out who he wants to spend the rest of his life with.
In a great subversion of the usual chosen one story, the novel opens with the long foretold hero, Arek, fulfilling an ancient prophecy and beheading the Vile One. When Arek removes the crown from the head of his deceased nemesis and places it on his own, he ignites a curse that will kill him unless he finds someone to soul bond with. Hilarity ensues as Arek tries and fails to woo some of his allies before realizing his destined love has been right in front of him all along.
This was my first F.T. Lukens novel, but it certainly won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It seamlessly blends the fantasy tropes and character archetypes of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with the coming-of-age drama of a Rainbow Rowell novel. Everything from the worldbuilding to the friendships to the romance works. Each of these elements is pivotal in immersing the reader in this fictional world and makes it difficult to leave once you’ve reached the final page.
Arek is a compelling and hilarious lead. He’s a walking disaster, but in the best way. Lukens masterfully subverts the mistakes many other authors make when writing their Chosen One narratives. Many Chosen Ones are written as infallible and boisterous champions who are never wrong. Arek is a step in the right direction in that he is humanized in a way that is refreshing and realistic. He might be the king and savior of his land, but he’s also oblivious, insecure, and overthinks to the point of frustration. He has real doubts and fears, and it’ll endear him to readers.
His relationship with his wizard companion, Matt, ends up being the most pivotal of the novel. The two care for each other deeply, but both are afraid to admit their feelings. I’m a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and slow burn romances, so that aspect of the novel worked well for me. I also loved Matt’s intelligence and his loyalty to the people he cares about. My only complaint is that we didn’t get any scenes written from Matt’s point of view. Believe me, there are several points in this novel were readers will desperately want to know what’s going on in his head.
The other secondary characters in the novel, such as Bethany, the smooth talking bard; Lila, a rogue with an addiction to stealing shiny objects; and Rion, the fearsome knight with a kind disposition, will win readers over as well. There are such great hints about their respective histories and I’d love to read a sequel or two about these characters.
Finally, the representation in this novel is not only refreshing, but astounding. LGBTQ characters are present and their romances are commonplace. Every type of love should be represented in fiction, and F.T. Lukens has done an excellent job making sure everyone can see their life and their love reflected back. It’s a major strength of the novel and what I hope will become more and more common in the epic fantasy genre.
If you’re a fan of YA fantasy novels with a little less questing, and a little more interpersonal drama and conflict, this novel is perfect for you.
Rating: 5/5
So This Is Ever After will be available in bookstores everywhere March 29th, 2022.
DISCLAIMER: A review copy of So This Is Ever After was provided to me by Simon and Schuster in exchange for a honest review.
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Writer. Video Essayist. Film/TV Critic. Pop Culture Enthusiast.
When he isn’t writing for Geek Vibes Nation or The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found typing away at one of the novels or screenplays he’s been working on forever.
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