The Never List by Jade Presley
18+ Contains Adult Content
The Never List is a why-choose, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy romance that follows Rylee, who is an Ashlander and a Demi, 2 things hated by the Kings. After Rylee’s sister goes missing, Rylee and her friends decide to attend the choosing ceremony with a forged invitation. The choosing ceremony is for the 4 princes known as the legends of chaos to find their mate, the one woman who can tether them when they come into their full powers. Rylee is only there to see if her sister’s name is on the never list; she certainly isn’t there to be chosen, but when Jax calls her number, she has no choice but to go and make them fall in love with her in hopes that when they find out she is a Demi from Ashlander, they won’t kill her.
The imbalance of power became a catalyst for betrayal by their people, so the goddesses wanted to ensure their sons, their only heirs, would never suffer the same fate. They used their magic to call forth for their sons only one mate who would connect them all, to act as their tether to the people of Lumathyst and ground them if their hunger for power ever grew too large.
•Why-choose •Enemies-to-lovers •Fated mates •Who hurt you •Dark romance •Touch her and die •Touch them and die
•Sexually explicit scenes with one or multiple consenting adults •Themes of poverty •Sexual harassment •Death of family members off page •Disappearance of a loved one •Death •Torture •Violence
Rylee is a demi from the Ashlands, a poverty-stricken area of Lumathyst. It is illegal for Rylee to cross the borders into the other territories, and if she were to be caught by an enforcer, it could land her in the dungeons, and if she were found out to be a demi, it could land her on the never list. “The Demis – descendants of those blessed by the goddesses” Demis were soon known for their bloodshed & greed, said to be corrupted by their goddess-granted powers. Most of the demis were killed, others were given the option to live, but their ancestral name was placed on the never list, ensuring their family line never rose to a high status again. Being on the never list means that if you are called upon, you are required to complete missions over the border, where there is no protection from the Goddess’s wards. Some demis live openly as they are, but they find that they are arrested for the smallest fraction. Rylee and her friends, Layce and Ivy, keep their demi mark hidden along with their powers.
Rylee’s sister Erin is also a demi and has been missing for a year. This isn’t like Erin and Rylee fears her sister has been caught and placed on the never list, and sent on a mission or to the dungeons. There is only one way to find out, sneak into the choosing ball and into the royal library to check the list. Rylee chooses to exchange her invite for a pin with a number. If the legends of chaos like the look of her, they will call her number, and she will be their potential mate. Rylee plans on sticking to the shadows and away from the legends; she will be able to sell the pin afterwards to afford food. Rylee happens to be rather outspoken and feisty, something that attracts Jax towards her, especially after he finds her in the library. Jax felt a pull towards Rylee, and since it was his year to pick, he called her number: 13.
You think I chose you because I wanted to?” He shakes his head, that laugh sliding like warm whiskey over my bare skin. “I had to choose you. I needed to choose you. There was no stopping it. And the second the words came out of my mouth, I knew I’d damned us.”
Rylee believes that if the legends find out she is a demi and an ashlander, she will be killed or placed in the dungeons. She has to keep this a secret and make them fall in love with her in hopes of surviving. Rylee has to spend a month with each legend in their territory, and at the end of the four months, she is to face the Athanry, where, if she is their true mate, she will unlock their full powers, and she will become immortal.
The legends of chaos are the 4 princes. There is Kal Erhart, the Prince of the Ruby Aire. He is known as the Dreamer. He is always optimistic, thus the dreamer. Kal’s power is speed & flight. Axl Dawson, the Prince of Sapphire Cove, is known as the player; he is always in a good mood and is very competitive. Axl has the power of water. Pierce Bertrand, the Prince of the EmeraldWood, is known as the mind; he is able to get into people’s minds and see what they are thinking and their memories. He is also able to make them see anything he wants. Jax Lavine, the Prince of the Obsidian City, known as the Nightmare; he can feel everyone’s emotions and manipulate them. Jax can feel when someone lies; he can make you feel fear you have never felt before, hence his nickname of the Nightmare. Rylee has the power of wind; she is able to take the air from your lungs and blast you with air.
Not because of what you’re hiding from me, butterfly,” he chides, and my eyes flare. “But because what I’ll do for you if you’re really mine.”
To begin with, Rylee is trying to survive, but what she doesn’t expect is to bond with the legends, to care for them. She sees that they are nothing like their fathers; the Kings are not very nice, especially Jax’s father, Baydel. Each legend falls for Rylee, even Jax, who tries not to because he knows she is lying about something. In the end, their bond is so tight that they can feel one another. So surely the Anthanry will go fine? I shall not spoil this.
I really enjoyed this book. I love me a why-choose. I liked Rylee, she said what she thought, even though it could get her in trouble, she is strong, loyal and caring. I also loved each of the legends; they were all different in their own ways, but complemented each other, and Rylee was the perfect person to keep them grounded. I liked the plot, and almost cried at the cliffhanger because I don’t have book two. Luckily for me, it is releasing in a few days. I will 100% be reading book two! I loved the spice, but kinda wish we got a scene with all 4 at once, hopefully in book 2 😉 I liked the magic, and the goddesses. I also liked the mystery of who the rebel group is and how they have weapons that are able to harm the legends.
This book was recommended to me by one of my favourite authors, Kinsley Kincaid, and I am so glad I asked her for a recommendation because I can’t stop thinking about this book. I knew Kins would give me a good one. I recommend this book to those who like romance fantasy; it is definitely romance-based. It is not high or epic fantasy. If you liked ACOTAR, Powerless, and Blood of Hercules, then you will most likely enjoy this book.
I choose you to be my mates. As long as my heart is beating, my soul is yours.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
