To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Published 6th March 2018 by Hot Key Books
Star Rating - ****.5
Goodreads Challenge - 9/75
I received a copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
Review
What can I say other than I loved this book!! I was really in the mood to read a standalone fantasy and I know these are few and far between but this is exactly what I wanted and more. As I just said this is a YA fantasy standalone that's also a retelling of The Little Mermaid. I haven't read many books based on mermaids but I will definitely be reading more.
The retelling aspect of this story was fantastic. You could pick out the aspects of The Little Mermaid story and see where the author pulled her inspiration from but there was enough difference to make the story interesting and unique. I was completely hooked throughout and I was totally invested in both the plot and the characters.
The authors writing style was brilliant! The story was easy to read, which meant I flew through it, but also had enough detail to hold my attention. The world building was great, not too heavy but again enough to make it interesting. I really want to see more set in this world.
I also loved the characters. They were all completely individual and had their own personalities. I loved Lira's feisty nature and Elian's determination and loyalty. The growth of both characters throughout the story was great they showed real development and you could see just how they got there. I also liked the romance, and it takes a lot for me to enjoy romance. It was quite a slow burn which I liked and it felt genuine.
Overall this was a really enjoyable story with great world building and great characters. I don't know what more to say other than I highly recommend you go out and buy it. I know I will be!
Overall Rating (4.5)
