Rylee Gray is an Ashlander – the lowest class in the kingdom of Lumathyst. Orphaned years ago and her sister gone missing, she relies on her skills and two best friends to survive. Meanwhile, The Choosing approaches – the ceremony where the four immortal god-princes, the Legends of Chaos, choose one potential mate. Rylee is sure that the answer to her sister’s whereabouts lies in the palace. With the help of her friends, a forged invitation and dress to fit the part, she hopes to accomplish her goal without actually being selected by any of the princes. But then she is, and now she has bigger worries ahead. Because with threats from both outside forces and within their borders, the Legends of Chaos are more desperate than ever to find a mate and complete the process. But besides her social standing, Rylee has an even bigger secret that could ruin everything. The Never List by Jade Presley is a steamy, “why choose” romantasy novel where the four princes and their love interest have more than just their lives on the line if they fail.
Book
The four god-princes have four different magical abilities – granted by their mothers, the goddesses. The Dreamer, Kal, can fly. The Player, Axl, controls water. The Mind, Pierce, can see into peoples’ minds and alter reality. And last but not least, The Nightmare, Jax, can feel everyone’s emotions and manipulate them. Their fathers, the kings, rule four different territories – Ruby Aire, Sapphire Cove, Emerald Wood, and the Obsidian City. If Rylee is successful in making the Legends of Chaos fall in love with her, then she will undergo the process to become immortal and restore the Legends’ abilities to their full power. Several potential mates over the years have tried and failed. So Rylee might be their last hope.
If they don’t succeed, the wards protecting their kingdom may fail – opening up Lumathyst to the threats across the sea. If the stakes weren’t high enough, a rebel group is on the rise, causing chaos and destruction wherever they strike. The princes and their fathers have so far been unable to learn who the group is, their motivations, and how they have weapons that can stand against the Legends and their powers. Rylee insists on helping the Legends address these disturbances. Yet she is still no closer to finding answers about where her sister is and why she’s gone missing. But by putting herself in danger, she risks outing her secrets. And there’s no telling how everyone will react if they find out.
Review
Presley delivers an intense, fun, sexy, and mystical story with The Never List. I loved the world-building and getting to know all of the characters and how their powers influence their personalities (or vise versa). Kal is kind and calm, Axl is playful and adventurous, Pierce is intelligent and analytical, and Jax is dark and moody. And Rylee’s outgoing and protective personality, her ability to read people and situations, and overall survival instincts enable her to endure the challenges ahead.
What I loved most, though, was that the author incorporated a “why choose” storyline that was integral to the plot. The FMC has four love interests not just for the trope’s sake. The magic system and world require that the four princes share one mate. And consent and choice are at the forefront of the situation. The story is steamy but also has layers and parts that all fit together once the reader connects them – such as political powers, oppression, class inequality, and more.
Without giving away spoilers, my gripes about the story is the ending. Some moments were predictable and one of the major twists could have served as the cliffhanger instead of what we get. However, the cliffhanger did its job and I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s next for Rylee and her Legends. I absolutely recommend this book for adult romantasy lovers out there – but beware of content warnings such as sexual assault, poverty, class disparity, violence, and mental/emotional abuse from a parent.
Jade Presley joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about what draws her to fantasy and plans for the sequel. Keep an ear out for the interview and pick up a copy of The Never List, available now.
