A Delightfully Chaotic Quest with Heart, Humor, and Dave the Gold Dragon
Book Review of "The Last Best Quest Ever" by F.T. Lukens
I already knew going into this one that I was probably going to have a good time, because F.T. Lukens has quickly become one of my favorite authors for cozy, funny, heartfelt fantasy stories. I’ve read and loved Spell Bound, Otherworldly, and Love at Second Sight, and I’ll be linking my reviews of those books here as well. Lukens has such a gift for writing engaging characters, hilarious scenarios, and storylines that are easy to fall into. The Last Best Quest Ever absolutely delivers on all of those things.
I received a gifted hardcover copy of The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens from Margaret K. McElderry Books. This is not part of a book tour, and all thoughts are my own honest opinions. Scroll down to read my full review and enter the giveaway to win your copy of this fun YA romantasy!
The story follows seventeen-year-old Ellinore, who has the best questing record in the kingdom. She is famous, admired, and celebrated as a legendary hero. The only problem? Every single one of her heroic victories has been fake. The monsters were staged, the treasures were planted, and the danger was never quite what everyone believed it to be. Ellinore has been living inside a carefully maintained lie, and she is tired of it.
So, during a royal feast, she does the unthinkable: she retires.
Unfortunately for Ellinore, a quiet life is not in the cards. Her reckless twin brother, Zig, manages to bet his life on her ability to retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast. The Elder Beast is the kind of creature most people believe is more legend than reality, which means Ellinore has to step back into the role she was so desperate to leave behind. This time, however, the quest might actually be real.
Joining her on this final adventure are Zig, who is eager to prove himself; Aven, the charming and brooding royal who has become Ellinore’s fiercest rival; and a chaotic group of unlikely questers who have big dreams, questionable abilities, and an impressive talent for creating trouble wherever they go.
The plot itself is not necessarily something completely new. We have seen fake heroes, reluctant quests, rivalries, magical creatures, and ragtag adventuring parties before. But honestly, that did not bother me at all. What makes this book work so well is not that it reinvents every piece of the fantasy genre, but that it takes familiar ingredients and makes them feel warm, funny, and full of personality. The story knows exactly what kind of book it wants to be: cozy, subversive, playful, romantic, and full of heart.
For me, the biggest strength of The Last Best Quest Ever is the characters. Ellinore is such a great protagonist because she is messy in a very human way. She is not the perfect hero everyone thinks she is, but she is also not heartless or cruel. She is someone who has been trapped by expectations, reputation, and fear. Watching her wrestle with who she has pretended to be versus who she actually wants to become was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Aven is also a delight. I loved the rivalry between Ellinore and Aven, especially because their dynamic has that perfect blend of irritation, competition, tension, and reluctant admiration. Their romance is sweet, fun, and very easy to root for. It never overwhelms the rest of the story, but it adds such a lovely emotional thread throughout the quest.
That said, Zig completely stole the show for me. His banter, his impulsiveness, and his chaotic little-brother energy made him my favorite human character in the book. He brings so much humor to the story, and every time he was on the page, I knew I was probably going to laugh. I loved the sibling dynamic between him and Ellinore, too. It felt affectionate, frustrating, ridiculous, and very real in the way siblings can be.
And then there is Dave.
Dave the gold dragon is my absolute favorite. I do not want to spoil too much, but I will say that the right dragon improves every fantasy adventure, and Dave is absolutely the right dragon. Funny, memorable, and completely charming, Dave adds so much personality to the story. I adored him.
One thing I also really appreciated was the use of the word “princet,” a non-gendered royal title that combines prince and princess. I know the term has been used before in LGBTQ+ books and literature, but this was my first time encountering it in a story, and I loved how naturally it fit into the world. Lukens always does a wonderful job creating inclusive fantasy spaces that feel welcoming without ever making the representation feel forced or overly explained.
The tone of this book is a big part of its charm. It has laugh-out-loud humor, but it also has real emotional growth. It pokes fun at classic quest narratives while still clearly loving the genre. There is adventure, danger, romance, found-family energy, magical chaos, and plenty of moments that feel perfect for readers who enjoy tabletop gaming or Dungeons & Dragons-inspired stories.
Overall, The Last Best Quest Ever is a fabulous read. It is funny, sweet, cozy, and full of characters I wanted to spend even more time with. The plot may use familiar fantasy elements, but Lukens makes them shine through humor, heart, and a cast that is impossible not to love. Ellinore and Aven are wonderful, Zig is hilarious, and Dave the gold dragon deserves all the praise.
This is a five-star read for me all the way! I truly cannot recommend this one more. Fans of F.T. Lukens, cozy YA romantasy, queer fantasy, chaotic quest parties, and stories that flip traditional hero narratives on their head should absolutely add this to their TBR.
And since the publisher kindly sent me two hardcovers, I’m planning to give one away so another reader can enjoy this delightful adventure too. Scroll to the end to enter the giveaway!
About the book:
Book: The Last Best Quest Ever
Author: F.T. Lukens
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: May 26, 2026
Source: Gifted by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis:
Dungeons and Dragons meets Gwen and Art Are Not In Love in this cozy, subversive YA romantasy that flips the classic quest narrative on its head. Following a fraudulent hero forced into one last high-stakes adventure with a brooding rival prince, the novel blends laugh-out-loud humor, heartfelt character growth, and a delightfully chaotic party dynamic that will resonate strongly with fantasy and tabletop gaming audiences.
Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record in the kingdom. Not even Aven—the infuriatingly charming royal who’s become her fiercest rival—can compete. But every one of Ellinore’s triumphs is a lie. The monsters she’s slain? Staged. The treasures she’s claimed? Planted. Tired of the charade, she shocks the realm by retiring during a royal feast.
Her hopes for a quiet life vanish when her reckless twin brother, Zig, bets his life on her ability to retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast—a creature no one believes is real. To save him, Ellinore must return to the spotlight for one final quest. She’s joined by Zig, eager to prove himself; Aven, determined to finally outshine her; and a ragtag crew of unlikely questers with big dreams, questionable skills, and a knack for trouble.
As the stakes rise, Ellinore must decide who she really wants to be: the fraud the kingdom celebrates, the hero it needs, or someone entirely new.
Meet the Author:
F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction, including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, Love at Second Sight, Otherworldly, and In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), as well as other science fiction and fantasy works. Their contemporary fantasy novel The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction and won the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.
Learn more about F. T. Lukens by visiting their website ft-lukens.com or following them on Instagram @ftlukens.
Book Giveaway:
One hardcover of Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens. U.S.A residents only. Giveaway ends on June 15, 2026, at Midnight EST.