Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this subversive, “delightfully original and whimsical” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it…and to stay alive.
Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.
As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.
With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong…until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.
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Blending lighthearted romance with high fantasy and urban mythology, young adult speculative fiction often redefines classic tropes through a queer lens. F. T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author whose stories bring humor, emotional warmth, and LGBTQ+ representation to expansive magical worlds. Known for popular books like So This Is Ever After and Otherworldly, Lukens crafts character-driven adventures that explore what happens after epic quest endings or during unexpected supernatural encounters.
Before gaining widespread acclaim with major publishers like Margaret K. McElderry Books at Simon & Schuster, F. T. Lukens built a foundation in young adult science fiction and fantasy by publishing five YA novels with Interlude Press. Early critical recognition arrived with The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic, which was named a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction, won the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award for YA fiction and the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction, and earned a place on the 2019 ALA Rainbow Book List.
Lukens reached an even broader audience with the release of In Deeper Waters, a Junior Library Guild Selection that appeared on the 2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist. Following this success, So This Is Ever After became a New York Times bestseller, a 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee, and a 2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist selection. Lukens resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats, continuing to expand their bibliography with releases such as Spell Bound (a 2024 ALA Rainbow Booklist title), Love at Second Sight, Otherworldly, and the forthcoming novel The Last Best Quest Ever.
F. T. Lukens specializes in young adult speculative fiction, urban fantasy, and science fiction infused with queer romance, found family dynamics, and witty banter. Rather than focusing heavily on bleak or grim conflict, Lukens emphasizes joy, self-discovery, and comforting romantic subplots where LGBTQ+ protagonists navigate both personal growth and magical chaos.
