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The Last Heir of Elsewhere

The Last Heir of Elsewhere

by Kate King 2024 426 pages
4.20
2.4K ratings
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Plot Summary

1. Cursed Bloodlines and Bargains

Ancient curses shape every choice

The Everlast family, rulers of Elsewhere, are bound by a curse: true happiness brings death to their bloodline. Lonnie, a human servant with hidden magic, is drawn into their world when she wins the Wilde Hunts and becomes queen. Her fate is tangled with Bael, the dangerous golden prince, and Scion, the brooding heir. The family's misery is legendary, and every relationship is shadowed by the threat of the curse. Lonnie's mother's warnings about magic and the Fae echo in her mind, but as she's swept into court intrigue, she must bargain with ancient monsters and navigate deadly politics. The story's foundation is built on the weight of history, the pain of inheritance, and the desperate hope that someone might finally break the cycle.

2. Shadows, Magic, and Desire

Magic awakens, desire complicates everything

Lonnie's latent magic stirs under Bael's tutelage, but fear and trauma make it difficult to control. Her connection to Bael is electric, both magical and physical, but the Everlast curse means consummating their bond could doom the family. Scion, too, is drawn to Lonnie, creating a fraught triangle of longing, jealousy, and forbidden attraction. The Fae's inability to lie, their games of half-truths, and the ever-present threat of violence make every interaction dangerous. As Lonnie struggles to master her powers, she's forced to confront her own desires and the possibility that she might be more than human. The tension between love, lust, and survival is palpable, and every choice feels like a risk.

3. Rebellion's Aftermath

Rebellion shatters the old order

Ambrose Dullahan, Scion's exiled brother and a powerful seer, leads a rebellion that topples the Everlasts' rule. The obsidian castle falls, scattering the royal family and their allies. Lonnie, Bael, and Scion flee to Inbetwixt, seeking refuge among thieves and outcasts. The trauma of battle, the loss of home, and the uncertainty of the future weigh heavily on them all. Lonnie's magic, unleashed in a moment of grief and rage, draws dangerous creatures and makes her both a weapon and a liability. The group must decide whether to hide, fight, or seek answers in the wild north, where Lonnie's past and the truth about her family may be found.

4. Tangled Loyalties

Alliances shift, trust is fragile

In the thieves' den, old rivalries and new alliances collide. Bael and Scion's relationship is strained by their shared feelings for Lonnie and the ever-present threat of the curse. Lonnie's friend Iola, still recovering from poison, is caught between gratitude and fear. The group debates their next move: some want to join the remaining Everlasts in Overcast, others to seek Lonnie's mother in Aftermath. Ambrose's motives remain mysterious—does he want Lonnie as an ally, a weapon, or a sacrifice? The lines between friend and foe blur, and every decision is haunted by the possibility of betrayal.

5. The Price of Power

Magic's cost is always steep

Lonnie's attempts to use her magic are fraught with danger. Every time she calls on her power, she risks summoning the Afflicted—monstrous echoes of the Fae, drawn to her like moths to flame. Bael's own magic is destructive, and his control is tenuous at best. The Everlasts' abilities are both gifts and curses, and the fear of magical drain—using up one's life force—looms over them all. The Fae's immortality is fragile, threatened by source-forged weapons, Wilde magic, and the curse itself. Lonnie's struggle to master her abilities mirrors her struggle to claim her place in this world, and every lesson is paid for in pain.

6. Escape and Pursuit

Flight from danger, hunted by fate

The group's attempt to leave Inbetwixt is thwarted by rebel forces. In a desperate escape through the city's sewers and docks, Lonnie is wounded by a crossbow bolt and forced to shadow walk—teleport—while injured, a feat most Fae cannot manage. Separated from her allies, she is found and healed by Scion, deepening their complicated bond. The trauma of the chase, the pain of injury, and the ever-present threat of Ambrose's seers make every step perilous. The journey north is not just a physical one, but a test of loyalty, love, and endurance.

7. The Queen's Dilemma

Duty, love, and sacrifice collide

Lonnie is torn between her feelings for Bael and Scion, her responsibility to her friends, and the demands of the crown she never wanted. The Everlast curse means that true happiness with either mate could kill them all, yet the pull between them is irresistible. Ambrose's offer of information about Lonnie's mother tempts her, but his motives are suspect. The group's unity is fragile, and Lonnie's choices will determine not just her own fate, but the future of Elsewhere. The weight of leadership, the pain of love, and the fear of loss threaten to break her.

8. Monsters in the Woods

Ancient creatures, old bargains, new threats

The journey through the Waywoods is haunted by literal and figurative monsters. Lonnie's past bargains with ancient beings—like the serpent in the quarry—come due, and the group must face the consequences of promises made in desperation. The woods are full of spirits, Afflicted, and the echoes of past violence. The line between ally and enemy blurs, and survival depends on wit, courage, and the willingness to make impossible choices. The old magic of Elsewhere is wild and unpredictable, and every step deeper into the woods is a step further from safety.

9. The Bonds That Bind

Love, blood, and magic entwine destinies

The relationships between Lonnie, Bael, and Scion deepen, complicated by magic, mating bonds, and the Everlast curse. Blood-sharing, marking, and the exchange of power create connections that are both intoxicating and dangerous. The trio's intimacy is passionate, fraught, and ultimately transformative. Yet, the threat of the curse means that happiness is always tinged with fear. The possibility of a triad—three mates, as in the legends—emerges, but the risk is immense. The bonds they forge are their greatest strength and their greatest vulnerability.

10. The Rebel King's Game

Ambrose's schemes upend every plan

Ambrose Dullahan, the rebel king, is a master manipulator and seer, orchestrating events from the shadows. He kidnaps Lonnie, drugging her to suppress her magic and taking her aboard his ship. His motives are layered: he claims to want to break the Everlast curse, but his methods are ruthless. Through a series of tense, intimate dinners, he bargains information for Lonnie's secrets, revealing painful truths about her mother, her sister's death, and the nature of prophecy. Ambrose's power is both a blessing and a burden—he can see every possible future, but is blind to his own fate and to Lonnie's, making her his greatest weakness.

11. Underneath's Deadly Court

A kingdom of monsters, a court of lies

Ambrose brings Lonnie to Underneath, the Unseelie realm ruled by King GancanaghBael's father. The court is a den of danger, where magic is suppressed, the king sees and hears all, and every guest is a potential pawn. Lonnie must navigate deadly etiquette, veiled threats, and the king's twisted games. The king's wives are silent, veiled figures, and the castle itself is a labyrinth of secrets. The threat of assassination, betrayal, and exposure is constant, and Lonnie's only allies are her wits and the skills Ambrose has taught her.

12. The Dungeon's Secrets

Rescue, revelation, and betrayal in the dark

With Ambrose's help, Lonnie searches the castle's dungeons for Bael, Scion, and her mother. She finds Bael and Scion imprisoned, broken but alive, and frees them using Bael's royal blood. The reunion is bittersweet—Scion is traumatized, Bael is barely himself, and Lonnie's mother is revealed to be one of the king's veiled queens, driven mad by years of captivity. The escape is chaotic, with Bael unleashing his monstrous lion form and the group barely escaping the collapsing castle. The cost of freedom is high, and the wounds—physical and emotional—run deep.

13. The Lion and the King

Father and son, beast against beast

As the group flees Underneath, they are pursued by King Gancanagh and his monstrous hunting party. In a climactic battle on the shore, Bael and his father face off in their lion forms, a brutal contest of strength, magic, and will. The fight is savage, and the outcome uncertain, but in the end, Bael kills Gancanagh, claiming the title of King of Underneath. The victory is pyrrhic—Bael is gravely wounded, and the trauma of patricide lingers. The group escapes by ship, but the scars of the battle will not heal easily.

14. Sacrifice and Survival

Loss, guilt, and the cost of love

The aftermath of the escape is marked by grief and reckoning. Lonnie is haunted by her mother's madness and the knowledge that her own happiness could doom her mates. Scion and Bael struggle with the trauma of captivity and the violence they've endured and inflicted. Ambrose's secrets threaten to unravel the fragile peace among the group. The rescued prisoner from the dungeon, a mysterious immortal, hints at deeper truths about the crown, the curse, and the nature of power. Survival has come at a terrible price, and the future is uncertain.

15. Reunion and Reckoning

Truths revealed, wounds reopened

On the ship, tensions flare between Ambrose, Bael, and Scion, as old rivalries and new bonds are tested. Lonnie must confront the consequences of her choices—leaving her mates to protect them, trusting Ambrose, and seeking her mother. The group's unity is fragile, and the threat of the curse still looms. The mysterious prisoner seeks a private audience with Ambrose, hinting at secrets that could change everything. The journey home is both a return and a new beginning, as the last heir of Elsewhere must decide what kind of queen she will be.

16. The Last Heir's Choice

A queen's power, a woman's heart

Lonnie stands at a crossroads: she is queen by right, mate to two kings, and the key to breaking the Everlast curse. Her choices will determine the fate of Elsewhere, Underneath, and all those she loves. The lessons of blood, magic, and sacrifice have shaped her, but the future remains unwritten. The story ends with hope and uncertainty entwined—Lonnie, Bael, Scion, and Ambrose sailing home, the curse unbroken but the possibility of happiness within reach. The last heir's journey is far from over, and the kingdom of monsters awaits.

17. A Kingdom of Monsters

New threats, new beginnings, old wounds

The story closes with the promise of more to come. The world of Wilde Fae is changed forever—Bael is king of Underneath, Scion is king of Elsewhere, Ambrose remains the rebel king, and Lonnie is the queen who unites them all. The curse still hangs over them, but the bonds they've forged—of love, loyalty, and shared pain—offer a glimmer of hope. The monsters of the past are not vanquished, and new dangers loom on the horizon, but for the first time, the last heir of Elsewhere is not alone.

Characters

Lonnie Skyeborne

Reluctant queen, survivor, magical anomaly

Lonnie is the heart of the story—a human servant thrust into the deadly world of Fae politics, crowned queen by accident and necessity. Haunted by her mother's warnings, her sister's death, and her own hidden magic, Lonnie is both vulnerable and fiercely resilient. Her relationships with Bael and Scion are passionate, complicated, and fraught with the threat of the Everlast curse. Lonnie's journey is one of self-discovery: learning to wield her power, claim her desires, and make impossible choices. She is defined by her refusal to give up, her capacity for love, and her willingness to sacrifice for those she cares about. Her development is marked by trauma, growth, and the gradual acceptance of her own worth and agency.

Bael Everlast

Golden prince, dangerous lover, monster within

Bael is the wild, magnetic force at Lonnie's side. His magic is destructive, his appetites fierce, and his loyalty absolute. Marked by his Unseelie heritage, Bael is both feared and misunderstood by his family. His love for Lonnie is possessive, protective, and deeply vulnerable—he is willing to risk everything, even his own life, for her. The curse makes true happiness impossible, and Bael's struggle is one of control: over his magic, his monstrous form, and his own heart. His relationship with Scion is brotherly and competitive, but ultimately rooted in deep affection. Bael's journey is one of embracing both his darkness and his capacity for love.

Scion Everlast

Brooding heir, master of pain, haunted by duty

Scion is the prince of nightmares, the executioner, and the reluctant king. His magic is illusion and agony, his demeanor cold and cutting, but beneath the surface lies a deep well of pain and longing. Scion's feelings for Lonnie are intense, conflicted, and ultimately transformative—she is the one person who can reach him, even as he fears that loving her will destroy them both. His rivalry with Bael is both a source of tension and a bond of brotherhood. Scion's development is marked by the struggle to reconcile duty and desire, to accept vulnerability, and to find hope in a world built on misery.

Ambrose Dullahan

Rebel king, seer, architect of fate

Ambrose is the story's great manipulator—a powerful seer who orchestrates events from the shadows, always seeking the greater good as he sees it. His motives are layered: he wants to break the Everlast curse, but his methods are ruthless and his vision often blind to the human cost. Ambrose's relationship with Lonnie is complex—she is the one person he cannot see, his greatest weakness and his greatest hope. His rivalry with Scion is rooted in old wounds, jealousy, and the pain of exile. Ambrose's journey is one of reckoning: with his own power, his family, and the limits of prophecy.

Rhiannon Skyeborne

Lost mother, veiled queen, tragic figure

Rhiannon is Lonnie's mother, a changeling stolen by the Fae and shaped by trauma. Her warnings to Lonnie are both protection and curse, and her absence haunts the story. Revealed to be one of King Gancanagh's silent queens, driven mad by captivity and loss, Rhiannon embodies the cost of survival in a world ruled by monsters. Her relationship with Lonnie is fraught with pain, misunderstanding, and the hope of reconciliation.

King Gancanagh

Unseelie king, monstrous father, embodiment of power

Gancanagh is Bael's father and the ruler of Underneath—a kingdom of monsters, ruled by strength and cunning. He is both alluring and terrifying, a figure of myth and nightmare. His court is a den of danger, his power absolute, and his relationship with Bael is defined by violence and rivalry. Gancanagh's defeat at Bael's hands marks a turning point in the story, but his legacy lingers.

Iola

Loyal friend, survivor, voice of conscience

Iola is Lonnie's friend and former maid, poisoned and traumatized but fiercely loyal. Her presence grounds Lonnie, reminding her of her humanity and the cost of power. Iola's journey is one of recovery, learning to stand on her own, and finding a place in a world that has little mercy for the weak.

Cross

Thief lord, ally, pragmatist

Cross is the leader of the thieves' guild in Inbetwixt, offering refuge and resources to Lonnie and her allies. He is shrewd, loyal to his own, and willing to risk much for the right cause. Cross represents the world outside the courts—a place of survival, cunning, and unexpected kindness.

The Mysterious Prisoner

Ancient immortal, keeper of secrets, catalyst

The prisoner rescued from Underneath's dungeon is a figure of mystery—claiming to have been imprisoned for seven thousand years, he hints at deeper truths about the crown, the curse, and the nature of power. His knowledge and motives are unclear, but his presence signals that the story's roots go deeper than anyone suspects.

Rosey Skyeborne

Beloved sister, seer, martyr

Rosey is Lonnie's twin, whose death haunts the narrative. A seer who joined the rebellion to save Lonnie, Rosey's sacrifice is both a source of guilt and a catalyst for Lonnie's journey. Her presence lingers in dreams, memories, and the choices Lonnie makes.

Plot Devices

Curses, Prophecy, and Fate

Curses and prophecy drive every action

The Everlast curse—that true happiness brings death—shapes every relationship and decision. Prophecy, both as a magical ability and as a narrative device, is central: Ambrose's visions, Rosey's dreams, and the bargains with ancient monsters all hinge on the tension between fate and free will. The inability of the Fae to lie, the power of true names, and the rules of magic create a world where every word and action has weight. The narrative structure weaves together multiple points of view, flashbacks, and dreams, creating a tapestry of interconnected destinies. Foreshadowing is used extensively—early bargains, warnings, and secrets come due in unexpected ways. The story's heart is the question: can love, sacrifice, and courage break the cycle of misery, or are some fates inescapable?

Analysis

A modern fantasy of trauma, agency, and the cost of power

The Last Heir of Elsewhere is a dark, sensual, and emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the nature of power, trauma, and agency. At its core, it is a story about survival—of individuals, families, and kingdoms—when every system is rigged against happiness. The Everlast curse is both literal and metaphorical, representing generational trauma, the weight of expectation, and the fear that joy is always fleeting. Lonnie's journey from servant to queen is marked by pain, loss, and the struggle to claim her own desires in a world that punishes ambition, love, and difference. The relationships—especially the triad of Lonnie, Bael, and Scion—explore the complexities of love, jealousy, and the longing for connection in the face of doom. Ambrose's role as seer and manipulator raises questions about the ethics of leadership, the limits of knowledge, and the price of the greater good. The book's world is lush, dangerous, and deeply immersive, blending court intrigue, monster horror, and erotic romance. Ultimately, the story suggests that breaking cycles of pain requires not just power, but vulnerability, forgiveness, and the courage to choose hope—even when the future is uncertain.

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Review Summary

4.20 out of 5
Average of 2.4K ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

The Last Heir of Elsewhere is the third book in the Wilde Fae series, receiving mostly positive reviews. Readers praise the character development, world-building, and spicy scenes. The story follows Lonnie and her growing harem, introducing a new love interest, Ambrose. While some criticize the increased focus on romance, most enjoy the plot twists and evolving relationships. Fans eagerly anticipate the fourth book, hoping for answers to lingering questions about Lonnie's true identity and the mysterious prophecy.

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About the Author

Kate King is an author from Boston, Massachusetts, who lives in a converted church with her husband and two cats. She is known for writing romance novels, including the Wilde Fae series, as well as YA thrillers with magical elements. King is ambitious, aiming to publish thirty books before turning thirty. Her writing process often involves working in cemeteries, adding a unique touch to her creative routine. As a self-proclaimed coffee addict and avid reader, King brings her passion for storytelling to her work, crafting intricate plots and complex characters that resonate with her readers.

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