My letter “P” pick for the A to Z reading challenge was THE NEVER LIST, a romantasy by Jade Presley. Let me start this review by stating that this book is straight up ladyporn. It’s a “why choose” story (formerly known as a reverse harem) about a girl named Rylee Gray who lives in a land protected by four sleeping goddesses. These goddesses married four men (the kings) and granted them immortality. They each bore a son (the princes – aka “Lords of Chaos”), then set powerful wards to protect the land, sending the goddesses into hibernation.

The kings are an elitist group who set up a class system that oppresses many, but especially any of those who bear a small amount of god-magic in their blood (the demi). These were confined to a horrible ash-covered wasteland to toil away in the gemstone mines that keep the kings wealthy. Over time, most demi have died out, but the few who remain end up getting put on “The Never List,” a list of undesirables and government-branded “criminals” who get sent on dangerous missions to a threatening enemy country. So far, this country is unable to attack due to the protective wards, but the wards are weakening.

Rylee lives in the Ashlands, and is a demi – as is her older sister, who went missing a year ago. In an effort to find any information on her, Rylee gets her hands on a forged invitation to “The Choosing,” a yearly ceremony in which the four princes choose a prospective mate, who, according to the doctrine of the goddesses will anchor them and enable them to access their full powers and then take the throne. Rylee only planned on sneaking into the royal library, but surprise, surprise, she is chosen by the most dangerous of the brothers who was going on a gut feeling about her. This is problematic, as she needs to lie about her birthplace and magical demi powers. From there, she enjoys (!) time with each brother in turn, meeting their people, and living in their cities. Along the way, there’s a ton of steamy scenes (individually and en masse), attacks by a rebel faction, devious acts by the kings, and a final challenge with dire consequences. All in all it’s a wild ride in just about every way you can think of and ends on a huge cliffhanger. I’m giving 4 1/2 stars because she spent a lot of time building a relationship with prince #1, then the other three are kind of rushed through so when they all fall for her (and she for them) it seems abrupt for all but one. Other than that, I am eagerly awaiting book two.