So This Is Ever After

A queer teen navigates happily-ever-after in Lukens’s (In Deeper Waters) tropey medieval romance. Seventeen-year-old Arek did what the prophecy asked of him: assembled a troupe of skilled followers (bard, Fae, knight, mage, and warrior), quested his way to the castle, and beheaded the Vile One, saving the Kingdom of Ere. Now what? He never planned on being king, but since the kingdom’s heiress is dead, he’s stuck; moreover, it turns out that he, as monarch, must soul bond with someone before turning 18 in three months or he’ll wither away. The perfect candidate is Matt, his beloved mage, best friend, and longtime crush (who reads as white, like Arek), but Arek’s afraid Matt would bond out of obligation, not affection. And so begins a comedy of errors, as Arek tries to woo one (then another—and another) of his friends. The pacing can drag as Arek tries to figure out the business of ruling, and the mishaps bringing Arek and Matt together, then apart, continue, but queer love, nonbinary gender identity, and polyamory are all refreshingly accepted in this medieval-esque world in which determining whether love is reciprocated nevertheless remains as difficult as ever. Ages 14–up. Agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary. (Mar.)