The Last Best Quest Ever

by F.T. Lukens

A fraudulent teen quester must team up with a brooding, royal rival on a perilous adventure to save her brother’s life in this cozy young adult romantasy full of mythical creatures by the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record of anyone in the kingdom’s history. She also has a secret: her fame is built entirely on lies. Tired of the charade, she shocks the kingdom by retiring at a royal feast. But her plans for a quiet life are disrupted when her twin brother Zig bets his life that Ellinore can retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast. To save Zig, she reluctantly sets out on one last, perilous quest.

Accompanying her are Zig, determined to help despite his recklessness; Aven, her envious rival eager to prove their superiority; an ambitious bar maiden turned adventurer; and a young, magic-wielding bard. Together, they face an arduous journey fraught with mythical challenges and shifting alliances. As they search for the Elder Beast, Ellinore grapples with her growing feelings for Aven, her fear of losing Zig, and her identity as a reluctant hero.

With time running out, Ellinore must confront not only the legendary creature but also her own truths. Can she save her brother, embrace her potential, and finally decide her path?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Romance, Fiction, Magic

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming Love at Second Sight (2025) as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.

Reviews

[Penny]

A new F.T. Lukens book LETS GOOOOO!!!!

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how much I should say because this is an arc that doesn’t come out until may, I believe? But this was cute! It had a fun balance between fantasy and kinda modern dialogue but not in an overtly cringy way.

Thank you to the publishers and edelweiss for allowing me to read an early copy!

[Rhi]

Istg, this is gonna be my personal birthday present 🤭 The author couldn’t have chosen a better release date!!!

[Mai H.]

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books

[BookishKB]

⚔️🗺️ The Last Best Quest Ever

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

📅 Pub Date: May 26, 2026

[willow]

hello omg this cover is everything. cozy YA fantasy romance that's got D&D vibes.... u know im IN

[Riley Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

review of advanced copy received from author via goodreads giveaway

5⭐️

this book was just so much fun! i loved the dungeons and dragons vibes and i adore the found family trope. our cast of characters were great, and the writing truly made me feel like i was on the quest with them. lukens strikes again with an awesome new story that leaves you feeling excited (even while wishing the story was longer). everyone who feels the need for an adventure should absolutely pick this up!

[Betaknot · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Best Quest begins with a promising tale of fantasy, questing, and fun-antics. Ellinore is known in her kingdom to have bested ancient beings, tricked magical creatures, and to have slayed horrifying beasts. She's captivated the heart of her people, and the captured the envy and resentment of Princet Aven the royal, who is 'second best'.

When Ellinor's brother tells a pair of mages that he's betting his heart on his sister winning the horn of a mythical beast, Ellinore is forced on a quest she's unprepared for. Because Ellinor's never once told the truth to the kingdom about her accomplishments.

With the help of her secret friend Dave the Dragon, her unpredictable brother, and a some-what reluctant ally Princet Aven, Ellinore is tasked with saving her brother's life while protecting the image she's perfectly crafted in order to retire early and live peacefully with her family.

I would prefer to begin with the positives. Lukens delivers a solid premise about a teen adventurer who has built an image of herself and must carefully maintain that construction or else her self image falls apart. Unfortunately, that's where the positive ends.

On the 28th of March I made the decision to not finish this novel at around 34-40%. I will explain.

The story's prose and narration offers up humor through its introduction of Dave the Dragon and Ellinore The Great. It reminded me of the first time I read the Tales From Verania series by TJ Klune, which I still love and adore to this day, due to its cleverness, humor, and imagination while maintaining a believable plot, a hearty cast of characters you can't help but fall for, and emotional depth.

This novel did not deliver on any of those.

My first critique is that the characters have their style and purpose in the novel, but I didn't find myself attached to them. The author seemed to battle between honing in the craft of the plot, while also developing their characters. Ellinore had a decent structure; a young girl who wants to live happily ever after with her family in his magical kingdom ( vaguely described btw ) by completing odd quests to win fortune and fame. And as the narration so blatantly throws in our face, she's a liar!

It became obvious by the later 20% that this story is not ready for publication at all. I could tell that this novel has been in the works, by my estimation, for several years, and the writing reflects that. Often it seems, paragraphs are strewn together to connect the plot, but the writing itself is fragmented by the fact that pages, chapters and even paragraphs were written in different points of time by the author, and not any of it is consistent.

The dialogue formula, and its age demographic, changes bi-page. It will range from middle grade juvenile ( the kind that isn't well written or edited ) to more adult language and prose, which doesn't fit the characters Lukens introduced. One moment the characters are censored into implying strong adult language, and the next it is explicit.

Another huge gripe I had with this novel was that it was wholly undeveloped and under-written. There is, technically, barely any world building. We have a Kingdom that is hardly described at all save for specific taverns or brothels that are mentioned when necessary. We have a magic system that is haphazardly thrown in with the excuse of "Ellinore had never met mages before, didn't know if they were real or not, and here they were... and she still didn't know if they existed or not" in a magical setting is... disastrous.

It seemed as if this author, Lukens, was being forced to write fantasy against their will. The very notion that the author was, quite frankly, cowardly avoiding describing classes of people in a society they're writing about was frustrating.

There were obvious grammatical and sentence structure issues ( as you see, I'm not a fan of them either ), but for a top 5 publisher to push something to publication that isn't correctly edited, written well or interesting... is a choice. An obvious one.

The beats of the plot were stapled to our foreheads, with no red herrings or intelligent nods. There was no subtlety. The characters simply told you how to feel, what you saw, what they did, without putting in the work. The way this novel is written, you could have just orally told me every task and important beat and I wouldn't have to read it at all, which I would have honestly preferred over reading it in its entirety.

The idea that Ellinore could ever accomplish the goal of her Last Quest is laughable. The romance is particularly overhanded and cheaply done. The author, annoyed at their own character, deletes him from scenes to avoid writing his dialogue or to prevent him pro-longing already long chapters that are already unnecessary.

Another note is that the stakes aren't that very high. Ellinore is supposedly going to either find save her brother, or not, but it doesn't much matter when there are specifically 2-4 scenes in which Ellinore is, vocally and internally, the last person who wants to actually save her brother. In the narration, she implies that being called out for being a liar and saving her brother could be worse than actually saving him. Not that I blame Ellinore due to the way her brother is written, but it's concerning because of its lack of empathy despite implying the whole reason she's on this trip is TO. SAVE. HER. BROTHER. If I'm missing out on a crucial 180 degree development in 20 chapters when Ellinore finally produces an ounce of empathy, well, it's too late.

The author can't seem to find their audience. Nor a tone. Neither of those two elements promises anything.

There's about a million more things I can point out, and honestly, complain about in this novel. I dreaded picking it back up. It was a very bad reading experience for me, which is unfortunate, because I adore queer fantasy.

The queerness of the characters and their normalcy in this world is amazing. But this book is hardly done being written. There is much too wrong about this novel to be published, and I question whether anyone glanced it all before being accepted. This novel is in no way or shape ready to be bought and distributed. And I don't recommend teens or adults picking this up and seeing it as an inspiring or fun reading experience.

I appreciate the author's own-voice, being queer, but that doesn't mean that sympathy for the ongoing plot of evil against real queer people in real life should be prioritized over literature that isn't being seen because of lack of privilege, clout, name, or 'trends'.

Please shelve this novel until it is ready. I am thankful for receiving this early copy as I was looking forward to reading it, but my expectations were not met with reality.

[⋆ forest ˖]

RIVAL BROODING PRINCE BY FT LUKENS? sold.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you love chaotic fantasy quests, rivalries that slowly turn into romance, and a ragtag group of adventurers who slowly become found family, “The Last Best Quest Ever” by F.T. Lukens is a really fun time.

The story follows Ellinore, famously known across the kingdom as Ellinore the Brave, the greatest quester around. The problem? Her reputation is a little exaggerated, to say the least. She didn’t exactly defeat the terrifying Golden Dragon like the songs say (for the record, the dragon named Dave is actually alive and well and kind of her friend). Instead of brute strength, Ellinore relies on strategy, clever deals with magical creatures, and a lot of bending the truth.

After years of keeping up the legend, she’s finally ready to retire. She’s earned enough money to help her family, and she’s tired of living a lie. But of course, that plan falls apart almost immediately when her reckless twin brother Zig makes a terrible deal with some shady mages. Now Ellinore has to complete one last impossible quest: track down the mythical Elder Beast and bring back its horn or Zig loses his heart. Literally.

To make matters even more complicated, her biggest rival Aven is ordered to join the quest, and their competitive tension quickly starts turning into something more confusingly romantic. Along for the ride are Zig, an eager new adventurer hoping to train under Ellinore, and a skeptical bard determined to prove Ellinore’s legendary reputation is fake. The result is a chaotic little party facing magical creatures, strange challenges, and plenty of emotional baggage along the way.

One of the best parts of this book is definitely the characters. The group dynamic is great, and watching them slowly become a found family is really satisfying. The banter, the awkward teamwork, and the growing trust between everyone makes the journey feel lively and fun.

The romance between Ellinore and Aven is also a highlight. It’s a very slow-burn rivals-to-something-more situation, and it stays pretty sweet and subtle throughout the story rather than taking over the plot. The main focus really remains on Ellinore figuring out who she actually wants to be, whether that is as a legendary hero or clever strategist who succeeds in her own way.

Another thing the book does really well is representation. The cast is openly queer, with characters of different identities and backgrounds, and it’s all presented as a normal part of the world rather than something that needs explaining.

That said, the stakes sometimes feel a little predictable. You can guess how certain plot points will resolve, and the story doesn’t necessarily reinvent the fantasy quest genre. But honestly, the charm of the characters and the adventure itself make it easy to overlook that.

Overall, “The Last Best Quest Ever” is a quick, entertaining fantasy that mixes adventure, humor, and heartfelt character moments. If you enjoy quest-style stories, D&D-style adventuring parties, and a little bit of romance sprinkled into your fantasy, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre; it’s just here to take you on a really enjoyable quest.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to the e-ARC for early review purposes.

What immediately drew me to this book was the cover. I was in love with it right away and then I found it was an F.T. Lukens book, and I decided to request it. I have actually only read one other of their works but have had the rest on my TBR for a long time.

I think Luken’s biggest strength is writing characters. I immediately connected with the characters in this book and wanted to learn more about them and see what this quest had in store for them. The little rag-tag team of adventurers was absolutely adorable and really fun to keep up with.

I love how Ellinore uses her brain and kindness to complete quests versus using force and violence. I do think there should have been a bit of a better reaction from the other characters in the book regarding this. I feel like they were upset at first that she “lied” about how she completed her quests, but then forgave her and never really discussed how her way of doing things was actually very smart and should be commended even if the truth was a bit skewed. I would also like to add while I understand this story is not a romance, I really would have enjoyed a little more time with Ellinore and Aven together to truly feel their connection and budding romance.

I would categorize this book as a cozy adventure fantasy. Yes, there are pretty high stakes in this story, but I feel like there wasn’t a ton of action or conflict. The story was more focused on the characters and the end goal than a ton of drama and violence. While I enjoyed this about the book as I love character driven stories, I also feel like a lot of the conflict was too easily resolved. For example, the Elder Beast part of the story was very short and seemingly too easy in my opinion. We spend the entirety of the book waiting for this big showdown with this primordial creature and Ellinore simply talks to it and makes a bargain. Yes, that is what Ellinore is all about, making bargains and deals instead of using violence, which I really respect, BUT the deal made seemed too simple without many consequences or an even trade. The Elder Beast also seemed not to care about their horn at all, which made things a bit anti-climactic. I thought Ellinore would have to sacrifice more in order to “defeat” this being. Also Ellinore and her team being able to steal the horn back right away took away any consequences or drama surrounding what the mages might do with that much power. It was a worry throughout the story that was quickly fixed with little effort.

While it seems from my comments above that I did not fully enjoy this story, that is not entirely true. It was a really enjoyable reading experience, I just think I had high expectations going in and this just barely missed the mark. If going into this story without the goal of writing a critical but fair review, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more. But when looking at this story deeper, I found a lot of little things that I didn’t quite enjoy and did not quite line up. If you enjoy character-driven cozy adventure stories with somewhat low stakes and plot convenience, I think you would enjoy this. If you are looking for a fantasy story with drama and romance, this is not for you.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rule one of reading a book about questing: expect the unexpected. Ellinore the Brave feels like a fraud. She isn’t truly brave, she’s clever. Since accidentally killing a magical creature at twelve and realizing she could profit from completing the Royals’ quests, Ellinore has relied on strategy rather than strength. She follows a strict set of self-created rules and often succeeds by bargaining with the magical creatures she’s meant to slay. The bards sing of her fearless heroics, and she never corrects them. By the start of the novel, she has earned enough gold for her parents to retire and has decided to hang up her sword for good.

That plan falls apart when her twin brother, Zig, makes a disastrous bargain with a group of suspicious mages. To save him, Ellinore must track down an almost godlike magical being and return with his horn. Complicating matters, her biggest rival, Aven, is sent to accompany her, supposedly by order of the crown, and proves to be distracting in a confusingly romantic way. Aven’s cousin Farrah tags along to train under the famous “Ellinore the Brave,” and Rylan the bard joins the party to prove the legendary songs about her can’t possibly be true. Now Ellinore must lead this unlikely crew on a dangerous quest while deciding whether to live up to the rumors, or trust her intellect over her sword and be her authentic self.

The Last Best Quest Ever is a genuinely enjoyable read. The pacing is quick, the magical creatures are interesting, and the ensemble cast is easy to root for. With magic, danger, and a touch of romance, it hits all the right fantasy notes. The book also includes meaningful representation: Aven uses they/them pronouns, all of the main characters are LGBTQ+, and many are described as people of color. These identities are presented as a natural part of the world, normalized without feeling minimized, allowing readers to see themselves reflected in the story while reinforcing the idea that heroism comes in many forms. That’s especially important in YA, where readers are still discovering who they are and how they fit into the world. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SimonTeen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. An epic adventure! Ellinore is know throughout the kingdom as Ellinore the Brave for all the quests she has completed. She’s made a name for herself as being the best quester in the Kingdom much to the chagrin of their rival Princet Aven who always comes up just short. The thing is, all of Ellinore’s quests have been a lie. Not that she didn’t do them just that they don’t happen the way people think. Like her defeat of the Golden Dragon, his name is Dave, and he’s very much alive. Actually he’s probably her best friend. But she’s tired of the lies and wants to retire from questing. That is until her irresponsible twin brother Zig makes a bet with a duo of mages that Ellinore can find the Elder Beast and get his horn, if she doesn’t they get Zig’s heart. Now in order to save her brother she’ll have to complete one last quest and somehow find a way to actually do it. To make things worse Princet Aven insists on coming on the quest as a command from the king. Can she save her brother and keep everyone from finding out that Ellinore the Brave is a fraud? Can she find a being that no one has ever found? And will being close to Princet Aven make her see them in a whole new way? A found family chaotic quest with plenty of adventure, mythological creatures, and rivals to lovers! I love a good fantasy especially when it’s queer! F.T. Lukens is always a favorite, I love their adventures and this one was a fantastic addition!

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy F.T. Lukens' books, but this is by far my favorite. It has everything I want in a YA fantasy novel: great characters, found family, an impossible quest, brains over brawn, an adorable romance, banter, and a story that sucks you in and carries you effortlessly to the end. Oh and a villain you love to hate (who is not the brightest crayon in the box besides).

In F.T. Lukens' previous books, I often really enjoyed them but found them to be missing that extra something that propels books from really good to great and into my favorites list. This one, though, has everything that the previous books lacked.

Ellinore was such a relatable and sympathetic main character as she fought to live up to the "Ellinore the Brave" moniker the bards had forced on her. Princet Aven was a perfect love interest for her and matched her in every way. Zig was an adorable rogue, Farrah just wanted adventure but brought more to the party than anyone suspected, and Ryland rounded out the party with magic that just lacked confidence and a healthy skepticism of the bard's stories about Ellinore.

I also really appreciated Ellinore's method of talking to the magical creatures rather than killing them. If only everyone was willing to try that.

I can definitely see myself rereading this one.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an early copy for review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely incredible book by FT Lukens!! This one might honestly be my favorite out of all of their’s! The writing and plot building was so engaging that I never wanted to put the book down. It truly felt like I was on the quest with the whole gang!

Ellinore! Where to start with this sorta kinda lying quester? She was one of the most well-written, complex yet fully flushed out characters I have ever read. From the beginning, you understand why she takes every single action she does over the years and her bravery shines through with each decision she makes.

AVEN!!! Princet! The PINING, the devotion! They were the perfect love interest for Ellinore and an even more perfect quester for her last quest ever. They were truly a rock throughout the whole story for not only for Ellinore, but also for the whole group of folks that latched themselves to the quest. The story wouldn’t have been anywhere near the level it was without them.

I adored all the other questers who aided in their journey, but Zig had to be my favorite besides Aven and Ellinore (even if he was who got them all into the mess to begin with). He was just so sweet and wanted to be with his twin sister, seeing her in action.

I can’t say anything more than just READ THIS BOOK!! I promise you’ll love it! Non-binary rep! Badass FMC! A DRAGON! Top-tier world building featuring more fantastical beings!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy!

[Katie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved everything FT Lukens writes and this was no exception (it went right to the front of my tbr when I got approved!). This book should be dedicated to all the eldest daughters who had to shoulder all their family’s responsibilities and overcoming that trauma.

I pretty much loved everything about this. A cast full of queer, morally gray characters goes on a dangerous quest to retrieve an impossible item to save one of their lives? I’m in. I wouldn’t classify it as cozy because there’s pretty steep stakes but had a lot of the elements that cozy fantasy has in that it’s not bloody battles and there’s found family and things like that. Cozy fantasy on ‘roids lol. It’s a fairly quick read and great pacing.

True slow burn romance is difficult to nail and this was chef’s kiss. The romance is in the background and very chaste and sweet. I like that this was truly about Ellinore and all her family dynamics and that the romance was able to be the cherry on top and not necessarily the main focus.

If you love their other books, you’ll definitely like this one, or if you like the quest/journey trope with a rag tag bunch you’ll love this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 reads: 70/300

i received review copies (digital and physical) from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.

ellinore the brave, dubbed the kingdom’s best quester, has a big secret: she’s a fraud. tired of the charade, having earned enough to ensure her parents live comfortably, she announces her retirement from questing. these plans are immediately ruined when her twin brother bets his life that she can retrieve the horn of the mythical elder beast. to save her brother’s life, she must embark on one last quest. with unlikely companions—including princet aven, her questing rival—ellinore must keep up the act while dealing with warring feelings.

i’ve enjoyed a couple of f.t. lukens’s other books, so i was very excited to read this one! even though it stresses me out, there’s just something so entertaining about a main character who’s a big ol’ liar. ellinore didn’t initially intend to become a fraud, all those years ago, but now she’s in too deep. she, very reasonably, starts panicking when she’s now not only responsible for her brother’s life, but for doing so in a way ellinore the brave, not ellinore for real, would. so, this quest doubled as her journey to find herself. i also really loved how her romance with aven played out! they were an interesting pair.

i would highly recommend this book to YA fantasy readers. i will on the lookout for more from f.t. lukens and will be reading more of her backlog in the mean time.

[Marlo Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 4.25 ⭐️

What an absolutely fun quest-style book. Following Ellinore, the best of the best at questing, she gets sent on a journey to retrieve a magical horn before time runs out and her brother dies. Through this journey, Ellinore makes new friends, falls into a deeper love with her rival, and discovers her truest self. What a lovely plot!

To be honest, there weren’t many real stakes involved. Spoilers: of course Zig wasn’t going to die, and Aven was never going to really leave, and Dave would be accepted without a doubt. Yet, it was still enjoyable and quite the adventure.

And it is so important that Ellinore realized her self-worth and the importance of being true to yourself.

I would definitely recommend giving this a read, especially if you enjoy DND or any sort of quest centered story. The characters were lovable and the plot was engaging, what else is there to ask for?

I wouldn’t say this narrative did inherently anything new or different, hence my 4 star rating, but it was enjoyable. I will definitely check out his other books!

[angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

I received an ARC from SimonTeen!

This book was so camp! It's a light-hearted (comedic?), cozy story that is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Ellinore and Aven's dynamic and banter was so refreshing!

Ellinore is out heroine, a famous quester who decides to retire. However, she's pulled back into questing after her twin brother Zig gets into some trouble. Aven, a royal and her rival joins her in the quest and the crush that they have on her is so endearing and had me giggling. The development that their relationship goes through was so fun to read!

One of the highlights of this book was that Aven, being non-binary, is a "Princlet." It's *so* good. I love it. And I love how it's a normal term in this world.

[Arimi Reads]

Before notes:
I know nothing about this book other than I'm almost done with the rest of F.T Lukens pretty books and I need this on my shelf in physical form right now. I am so nervous and excited. Even her books I wasn't too sure I'd love - I read from start to finish. Normally when an author has an epilogue I honestly don't care; I've read them over and over. Love at Second Sight was a blast. I've just finished So This is Ever After; and I devoured it.

I need more by this author. I am going to hype this book up until it's release and possibly after. F.T Lukens was introduced to me about a year or so ago. Cosy fantasy with brilliant LGBTQ rep. I need more.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellinore the Brave has just retired from questing. And then her brother makes a bad bargain, forcing her on an impossible quest. Princet Aven, her rival, and her brother insist on accompanying her, making her nervous. She has won most of her quests by talking and negotiating with the creatures instead of killing them, as everyone assumes. Can she keep the reputation of Ellinore the Brave intact without exposing her secrets? And save her brother? And deal with her attraction to Aven?
Another fun YA queer romance by Lukens, this time featuring a female protagonist.

***Read an eARC from NetGalley***

[bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book from SimonTeen and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

FT Lukens has easily become one of my favorite authors and once again they deliver another incredible book! The Last Best Quest Ever is a funny, heartfelt, and fast-paced adventure. I wouldn’t exactly classify it as a cozy fantasy, as it technically involves a life or death quest, but it definitely has cozy and whimsical elements!

It has so many things I love:
- found family
- a life or death quest
- rivals to lovers
- a sweet, slow burn romance
- mythological creatures (there’s a dragon!)
- brains over brawn

I definitely recommend it if you want a fun, charming, queer YA adventure 💚

[fanboyriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a good time reading this. It was such a good book to finish off my reading for 2025. The characters felt well thought out and the fantasy world combined with modern dialogue was a great mix. It was lighthearted and entertaining.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)

📚READ FOR
✓ Happy Ending
✓ Fun Adventure
✓ Rivals to Lovers
✓ Good Friendships
✓ LGBTQIA+ Characters

POV: First Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Ellinore

[Deirdre Megan Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaotic quest? ✔️ Found family? ✔️ Feelings in the middle of danger? Unfortunately yes.
The Last Best Quest Ever is funny, fast-paced, and full of lovable disaster characters making questionable choices.
It’s light, heartfelt, and sneakily emotional in the best way.
Basically: a fantasy sugar rush with feelings. Highly recommend.

[reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought to concept of "faking" quests, or just finding a different way to complete them was really interesting, and I found it very easy to get invested in the story and the characters (special shout out to Dave). I can't wait to see what comes next from F.T Lukens!

thank you netgalley for the arc!!

[Briana Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars! It was a super fun and whimsical young adult read. I could not put this book down and finished it in one day. The Last Best Quest Ever is releasing May 26, 2026. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and F.T. Lukens for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Trips Starlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of Lukens books and I enjoyed this one too! But it didn't quite have as much of a punch as their other novle.s This did keep me entertained while my 6 hour travel day turned into a 12 hour one, so I can say with confidence that this was an entertaining read!

All of the characters were quite entertaining and loveable, even if Zig in particular was quite frustrating at times. Ellinore's struggles will be relatable to many. Even if she didn't want to go on the quest, joining her on her Last Best Quest ever was fun for me as the reader. I do wish this novel had been fleshed out just a little bit more. Every scene was fun, but it also just felt like a set piece rather than part of a living breathing world with dragons and fairies. There is some lore information on how the world works, but I wanted even more! The relationship between Ellinore and Aven is super cute, but I wanted to be killed by cuteness!! I was only at the "eee they're so cute!" but still standing level.

My only real warning with this book is: although the setting is sort of medieval fantasy, there is a lot of anachronistic vernacular. If that is something that bothers you, steer clear! Otherwise, if you're just looking for a fun time, dive in!

[Emma]

No rating, because work book, but I had such a fun time reading this one.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read this book as an arc, it was super cute and a fun read! The characters are enjoyable, and I really enjoyed the relationships they formed throughout the novel.

[Hayley]

This was cute! Fast paced with a good lesson to take away.