To Kill a Kingdom was not a book that grabbed me from the beginning. The concept was great, but for some reason I could not get into it until the final quarter, which I actually really enjoyed. 

The idea behind this Little Mermaid retelling was brilliant. It tells the story of the daughter of the Siren Queen, who is turned into a human as punishment for disobeying her mother. The only way Lira can be restored to her former glory is to do what she does best - steal the heart of a prince from his chest. Only this time, she must do it without her siren song.

For the most part the book was a 2 star read for me. I think it's very much an 'it's not you, it's me' situation, because I wanted to like this book and there wasn't anything it was really doing wrong. My problems probably started with the opening chapter which had too much exposition. It stated all the facts but it felt a little robotic, like it was trying to get all the backstory out of the way. The writing got over this within a couple of chapters but by that point I couldn't get into the flow of the story. Normally I can get over a rough start, but this time it just wasn't happening for me. 

This disengagement stuck with me for most of the book and I had to work to keep getting through it. I liked the execution of the concept but the plot felt a little slow.

To Kill a Kingdom would have stayed a solid 2 star read for me had it not been for the final chapters. The climax and battle scenes were exciting and I sped through them at twice the speed that I'd read the first 75%. It redeemed a lot of the book for me and made me want to give it an extra star.

All in all this was not a bad book, but the writing did not click with me. If vicious siren princesses and honourable pirate princes are your thing, then I'd still recommend it despite its flaws.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Warnings: blood, violence, murder, drowing, gore, mention of past slavery

This is a refreshing retelling of The Little Mermaid. From the opening sentence, I was hooked by the world of the sirens, the hunt for hearts, the intense politics, Lira's heartwrenching character development, the quest for a powerful object (hunted by all), and the tension between Lira and Elian, enemies turn to lovers turn to enemies to...the book is definitely a page turner.

While I do love that the majority of the characters are poc, I did feel...annoyed that a lot of them have blue eyes or features that are rare for a poc. I also didn't like that Sakura/Yukiko is a foil to Lira. If anything, I wish there was more women bonding with each other. Sakura/Yukiko also seems to be queer like Galina, a queen, but it's just mentioned in passing and not seen. I wish this was expanded and not thrown into the story.

Overall, the book is an enjoyable read that would sweep you off your feet or fin.

To Kill a Kingdom has an enemies-to-lovers story without focusing on the romance. It is about a siren and a siren hunter, both killers, who start to unlearn the hatred they have for the other. Lira, a siren who has been killing princes every year on her birthday, and has earned the name of Prince's Bane has been cursed by her mother, the tyrannical Sea Queen (who is sort of like Ursula, but more evil and definitely not winning any Mother of the Year awards) to become human and snag the heart (literally - not like romantically) of the golden prince of Midas, Elian, who is also a siren hunter/pirate in his free time. Elian, unwittingly lets his own target onto his crew, while hunting for a mythical artifact that would take down the Sea Queen.

The plot hinges on the nurture/nature narrative for Lira - she has been brought up as a killer from her childhood and her mother regularly tries to remove any trace of empathy from her. Lira feels a bit conflicted about it, but she also revels in the power she has from the fear. To say she is feral is an understatement. So, when Elian saves her from drowning, she is less thankful and more attack-ful. Elian, for his part, doesn't trust her fully, but he also requires her knowledge to get to the artifact he is searching for. Slowly, however the animosity between them erodes to a mutual respect for the other, and then ultimately into affection. It is a slow-slow-burn romance, ya'll, and that is only because romance does play a part in the climactic scene. Otherwise, the main story is all about them re-evaluating their life choices while having a pirate adventure on the seas.

While the story is told from an alternating dual perspective, the voice is not distinct enough to make sense of which character is speaking unless there are contextual clues. It becomes doubly confusing when they are both in the scene. There is a commonality in their circumstances, as they are both royals with the burden of royal duties to bear, only that Lira actually wants to rule and Elian prefers having adventures on the seas instead. The build-up is slow, and the plot devotes time to developing their characters from beyond blood-thirsty siren and self-righteous prince, and the mirroring of their natures. The story mostly is devoid of action, until the climactic scene, which I felt was too drawn out - it could have been shortened/edited for better flow with the rest of the plot.

The relationships between the characters is a highlight of the book, though, and it places an equal importance on other kinds of love, not just romantic. For Elian, his crew is his family, and his love for them is what drives his decisions at some points. For Lira, the love she has for her cousin, is what keeps her from becoming another version of her mother. But it's not all deeply emotional - it also shows a lighter side to their relationships. Elian and his crew frequently tease each other, and though he is their prince, they still have a more casual relationship. He and Lira also trade insults, but after reading Daughter of the Pirate King, it is as fun, or as enough.

Overall, a good retelling of the Little Mermaid, with various nods given to the original and creative twists of the thematic elements. But more importantly, an exploration of blood feuds and forging a path to peace.

I enjoyed this book but I seem to be very much in a minority because I didn't LOVE it. I don't know, I guess mermaids might not really be my thing? Pirates are my thing though, and I was promised pirates. The problem is they're not very piratical pirates, not in my book. Pirates in name only - Captain Hook certainly won't be losing any sleep!

So that was one issue I had. The world building didn't really do it for me either. It all started out feeling very typical fantasy-world-pre-industrial but then all of a sudden there was sonar, and then air ships?! There are mythological creatures in the sea, but how about on land - are there dragons, unicorns and fairies? Do some people have magic? I didn't really get a proper sense of how it all works.

Also I didn't really feel the romance. I could see where it was heading, but I didn't really feel any real attraction between the two main characters, just a sense of inevitability about the whole thing. It possibly suffered from comparisons to Sarah J Maas - she might stumble a little bit when her characters finally hook up, but man, she writes a slow burn attraction like nobody else!

All that said though, I did really enjoy it - it was a fun read that just swept me along with it.

First and foremost, I have a huge soft spot for books revolving around the ocean, whether it involves pirates, mermaids, sirens, sea creatures, or any mix of those things. When I first heard about this story, I knew that I had to request it, and I was ecstatic that it appeared in my library.

Lira is probably my favourite character out of all the books I’ve read this year (so far). She wasn’t some soft, sweet young girl on the inside: she is unapologetically vicious and coldhearted, which we quickly see is the end result of a lifetime of abuse from her mother. she’s feisty, angry, mean, and conniving, without ever going overboard enough to become genuinely unlikeable.

You might’ve guessed, but this book seems to be based a lot on ‘The Little Mermaid’ story. I’m not sure if it’s been officially confirmed, but there are a lot of parallels. This story is so much more than just a retelling or something inspired by something else: it takes an idea, chews it up, spits it out, and makes it something new. The backstory for the Sea Queen explains that the power of becoming Queen turns sirens into these terrifying creatures that are more tentacles than human but are incredibly powerful and magical. She wields her power with pure brutality – even against her own family – and it’s an exciting twist on a classic tale that also pulls in other stories and folklore, like Midas.

Elian’s crew is everything. This story emphasises the importance of found families as blood is truly nothing more than blood. The people who choose to love, support, and protect you unconditionally are your family. The story depicts beautifully how important it is for you to choose who is worthy of your time and love. The romance in this story isn’t an insta-love at all. It’s slow burn and full of good, witty banter and back-and-forth chatter between Lira and Elian that was just so fun and sharp to read. It also has an enemies-to-lovers trope that doesn’t fall into abuse territory or power imbalance that so many other books are prone to falling into. I was rooting so hard for both of them the entire time.

The world building is crafted and presented seamlessly – the entire story’s imagery is impressive, and there are so many scenes that are visually breath-taking. The sirens aren’t portrayed as these frail, beautiful creatures, no: they may be gorgeous, but they’re these powerful and wild and merciless things that can wipe out grown men with a single blow. The mermaids are inhuman, grotesque creatures that are completely different to the sirens, but they’re creepy and dark and I loved every part of the book where they were on the page.

This book had me captivated from the very first page, and I can easily imagine myself picking up over and over again.

Thank you to the lovely publisher Hot Key Books for the review copy. This book was so good that as soon as I finished reading it I ordered a hardback for my collection. I could read it all over again less than 24 hours later as it was a perfect standalone. Loosely inspired by The Little Mermaid, the story begins with the ruthless Princess Lira, a siren and daughter of the Sea Witch. Known as the Princes' Bane, Lira must quickly learn to adapt when she's transformed into a human as punishment. Lira's character has been formed by the cruelty of her mother in a society where murder is mandatory and humanity is seen as a disease to be eradicated. I loved how Lira became physically weaker and had to learn a new kind of moral and emotional strength in order to survive.

Alternating with Lira's point of view is that of Elian, a human prince and siren hunter who has vowed to kill the Princes' Bane. The similarities between Lira and Elian lead to a growing connection as each is intrigued and captivated by the other but any chance of a happy ending seems impossible. I loved how most of the action was set on the Saad, Elian's ship. His loyal crew share a deep bond and I particularly liked Elian's friendship with Kye, Madrid and Torik. Madrid was one of my favourite characters with a backstory I'd be eager to read more about one day. The moments of humour between Elian and his crew, and Lira and Elian really made me fall in love with all of these characters. 

The world-building was amazing, especially for a standalone. It reached a level of complexity that seemed impossible for such a short book. I can imagine it's a world that the author could easily revisit in future books as each kingdom differed so completely. The engaging writing style and evocative language ensure the reader falls under the story's spell. I couldn't put the book down as it seemed like any sort of resolution was impossible. Yet as I finished it, I was completely satisfied with the ending and honestly could have gone back to the first page to read it again. To Kill a Kingdom is definitely one of the best YA fantasy I've ever read and a new favourite.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.

I REALLY enjoyed this book, think Little Mermaid with less Disneyfication (I am trademarking that word 😜).

I thought that the characters were well developed and their motives throughout were clear and made sense. I also love that the love story was not a fall in love in a minute affair because that’s a pet peeve of mine.

I loved the world that Alexandra Christo created and I would actually not mind a spin off that explores the other worlds more.

I thought that the banter between the characters was great and very like true life friends would be, especially my friends if I could get them all on a boat together!

Overall, I would recommend this to others, it was an enjoyable read that I can see me re-reading again and again.

I can't tell you how much I loved this book. It exceeded my expectations and more! Definitely a book I can read over and over again.

First off, the characters are fantastic. Elian is everything you want in a dashing (pirate) Prince charming, a bit rough around the edges, full of wit and sark. Love it. Lira is ruthless and has a right to be so, I love her attitude, her girth, her banter. Kye and Madrid are so cool I can't deal. Every. Single. Character. They are just all so vivid and stand out completely. ASDFGHJKL.

Pirates, Princes, sirens, mer-people, sea Queen's, kingdoms. What the heck more can you ask for? The characters are everything, the plot is everything, the world-building is everything. And to do this all successfully in a standalone novel. Just yes. Everything is right.

Following two first person perspectives as well between both the male and female protagonists really gives you a good scope, and not everyone can do that well. I've read books that have done that and the voices blend into one another but both Elian and Lira have their differing voices that don't clash at all.

Annnnd the romance is not insta-love! Can I get a yay? Because yay. It's slow burn and done so well and it's just so real and true and magnetic. And no love triangle either. Double yay!

I have to say that I got The Little Mermaid feels from this, and it's one of my fave Disney movies ever. Of course it's got tiny themes but it's a story in an entirety of its own. It's brutal, dark and just so great.

I'm just throwing a whole bunch of love for this out there and for the author who is one to watch out for! (And shares my love for K-drama) *crying* What a brilliant debut.

I really enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo. I was so looking forward to this.
One of My daughters favourite Disney movies growing up was the little mermaid and although this was about vicious Sirens and not cute princess like mermaids I was clapping my hands together in glee so excited to start this.
Stealing a prince's heart has a whole new meaning when it is literally ripped out of your chest.
This book is a vicious tale of Killer Sirens, An evil sea witch of a mother, and a whole ship of sirens hunters led by a royal prince, Prince Elian who has made it his mission in life to rid the seas of these killers and in particular the Prince's Bane, None other than Princess Lira herself along with her sea witch of a mother.
So after Princess Lira is punished by being made mortal and sent into the mortal world with the task of bringing her mother the Prince's heart by her birthday it's a whole new world with new experiences and emotions she finds herself feeling.
And after Prince Elian saves a strange girl in the ocean from drowning and brings her aboard his ship this Prince and Siren's journey are ready to collide for an altogether better future for all.
So, this is aimed at the YA community in general and as I said earlier is a completely engrossing read.
And although a romance between Lira and Elian is anticipated the story here is more action based than romance based and is also completely clean in nature.
But be aware this is definitely not a sweet Disney story, There is actually a fair bit of violence involved here.
To "Kill A Kingdom" actually reminded me a whole lot of an Old Sinbad movie in as much as there on a quest they need to fulfil and that there are beasts beneath the ocean that are common knowledge to all, as is the magic that rebounds in this world.
I adored all the magical kingdom lore we got to experience here.
There were no great plot twists, but they weren't really needed.
There was plenty of imagination and visual pictures portrayed by this author that I found this didn't need any fancy twists at all.
Also, I would like to say I loved the cover image for this story it was so beautiful I'd have picked this up for that reason alone.
so, Yeh, this is a thumbs up from me, a great new imaginative YA novel which gives a whole new twist to an old favourite.
I was provided with an ARC of "To Kill A Kingdom" By Netgalley of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was my most anticipated novel of 2018, and I was so lucky to receive an ARC.

From the characters to the description, this book was absolutely amazing. It was dark and utterly beautiful, that I couldn't put it down! I will definitely be purchasing a copy for myself since I want to re-read this and relive the magical and dark re-telling of A Little Mermaid!

I highly recommend for anyone and everyone to pick this up!

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.

Okay so I absolutely loved this book. I generally like to see anything that is not about Vampire and Werewolves (don't get me wrong I love a good werewolf and vampire novel) but reading about Sirens was so refreshing.

The fact that romance was not the cause of anything and instead was more of a secondary or third plot line was also so refreshing.

I thought the characters were amazing and so intense and complicated that they were perfect for the setting of the novel. (also badass female pirate? so down for that!)

The plot was so well written - I can often find myself getting confused when dual perspectives are used but I found that I enjoyed going between the two characters and seeing the world from both the siren point of view and the human. I also enjoyed being able to see how their plans coincided.

Having what would be classed as a Villan as the main protagonist was fun - the level of sarcasm was easy to relate too.

I would highly recommend this book to any Fantasy lovers or anyone looking for a new and refreshing read

Thank you to NetGalley and Hot Key Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise and the setup of To Kill A Kingdom. It's always exciting to see YA characters that are morally ambiguous, and the book had a very strong and intriguing start. Lira and Elain both felt relatable, whole characters, especially when battling with concepts of nature vs. nurture and familial expectations. I also loved the crew of the Saad and their relationship with their captain. It meant that at times it had an ensemble cast feel, but you never quite got to know them enough for this to be fully realised. The description and the creation of the world under the ocean also felt very well written and developed, and I loved the distinction between mermaids and sirens and the originality of the concept, especially as I don't see a lot of YA novels about mermaids or sirens.

However, I started to lose interest about halfway through the book. After a while, it was obvious where the plot was going and I already predicted the romance element. While it was very slow burn and not really that prevalent, I could feel it building throughout the novel. At first I enjoyed Lira and Elian's banter and snarky relationship but after a while it felt predictable and they both seemed to lose something of their character. I love books about morally grey or dubious characters developing themselves, but far too often they fall into the trap of 'romance cures all'. While this may be some people's cup of tea, I'm a little tired of it now and I would have loved more focus on the importance of friendships, especially with such a great crew of side characters. Additionally, the plot was very complex but I felt like it lagged a little in the middle and a lot seemed to happen in the last 20% of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed To Kill A Kingdom's premise and tone, and I think Lira and Elian's characters were refreshingly original and the world-building a vivid and really unique blend of myths and folklore. I loved the darker tone and how it highlighted the affect of nature vs nurture and societal pressure, and also that it was a standalone. However, the predictable romance really dragged the book down for me, and also felt a little too forced to be believable. I would really like a spinoff book involving the crew of the Saad though (especially Madrid and Kye).

Such an action packed book full of pirates, princes, sirens and mermaids, what else could you want?
It had me on my toes from page to page, and made me want to jump in the pages myself. I do always love a twisted tale, and this is something I'd describe as a darker, twisted version of the Little Mermaid - so if you're a fan of that this is a book for you.
Definitely an amazing book, and one I'll be recommending.

ARC kindly supplied by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lira is a siren, born to the lethal, ruthless Sea Queen, and destined to take her place when she comes of age. To prove her worth, she must be just as vicious, stealing the hearts of human princes under the guise of the Prince’s Bane. With the hearts of seventeen in her collection, she is both feared and revered in every corner of the world. At least, until she sets her sights on her next target: Prince Elian, heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. But after Lira kills a mermaid trying to steal her prize, the Sea Queen punishes her in the most brutal way she can think of– by turning Lira into a weak, defenceless human. Lira has only one option open to her– steal Prince Elian’s heart or remain a human forever.

Prince Elian is not entirely comfortable in his role of heir. He’d rather be on his pirate ship, the Saad, hunting down the vicious sirens who kill his people. When he rescues a girl floating in the middle of the sea, with no wreckage around her, and no sign of a ship, he can’t help but wonder at her origins. She offers to help him track down an ancient key which will destroy the sirens and the Sea Queen for good, but he begins to think he might be out of hid depth. Everything comes at a cost, even trust, and saving his kingdom might turn out to cost even more than a prince can pay.

Mermaids and sea tales are fast becoming a YA trend. There are several books coming out this year with a focus on the ocean, including Daughter of the Siren Queen, The Wicked Deep and Sea Witch. To Kill a Kingdom is not only riding that wave [pardon the pun] but wonderfully surfing it.

“Could it really be such a bad thing, to become a story whispered to children in the dead of night? A song they sing to one another while they play?”

It’s not often that a book hooks you from the first few pages, but that’s what happened this time around. I was nestled into my cosy reading spot with a bit of chocolate and a cup of coffee and then all of a sudden I was being hauled along by the first few chapters, so intrigued that the coffee went cold and the chocolate sat forgotten for a little while longer. There’s a special kind of magic to Christo’s writing, a sort of lyricism that doesn’t sound too different to that entrancing melody the sirens are equipped with. The presence of fairy tales is never too far away, and perhaps that’s what kept me turning pages so rapidly; although it isn’t The Little Mermaid retold [and if that’s what you’re looking for, this book will not be your cup of tea] there are elements of that story woven into the depiction of the characters and the world. Lira, the supposedly ruthless siren known as the Prince’s Bane, is the daughter of royalty, and her beautiful red hair is whispered about in taverns the world over. There are also clear resemblances between the Sea Queen and Ursula, with her tentacles and manipulation. But really, this isn’t a retelling. Which is quite refreshing, since as much as I love them, I think we have quite enough of those to be getting along with for now.

What is To Kill a Kingdom then, you might ask? Magic, as I’ve already said, and a relentless pace that will keep you awake at night with that reader’s curse known as just-one-more-chapter. The world building is gorgeous and intricate, with mountains and seas and pirate ships and underwater cities. Very rarely, did I forget where I was geographically in the novel, since the descriptions of each scene were so well woven into each chapter and page. Plot-wise too, it was a winner, with the characters hurtling from desperate situation to desperate situation, sometimes pausing long enough to joke, or to wonder who is going to try and kill them next. And that was really the clincher for me, although I put it down in the sad face of performing adult duties such as cooking and doing work, I was very reluctant to leave it, bringing it with me into the kitchen while my boyfriend made dinner and mumbling replies as I devoured the story. It felt consistent, and although the pace was really quite reckless, I never felt as though there was a lull in my anticipation. Perhaps the only negative I could say about the plot [if we were going to be nit-picky] was that I preferred the dramatic tension surrounding Lira being a siren in human form on the pirate ship of a prince who wanted her dead, much more interesting than the actual plot of them going to try and find the ultimate weapon against the sirens. I know the two go hand in hand, but I just felt like it was a book that was more character-driven than plot driven.

“The Prince of Midas wears the clothes of royalty in a way that seems neglectful. His shirtsleeves are rolled up to the elbows and the buttons of his collar are undone so the wind can reach his heart. He doesn’t look much older than I do, yet his eyes are hard and weathered. They’re eyes of lost innocence, greener than seaweed and constantly searching. Even the empty ocean is prey to him, and he regards it with a mix of suspicion and wonder.”

Yes, it’s the characters who really stand out here for me, and they leap out from the page in such intricate and startling detail. Both of the protagonists, who switch POV throughout the novel, are incredibly three dimensional, with so many habits and quirks and feelings that you really just want to wrap them up in a warm blanket and hug them. Or y’know, sometimes you also want to kill them. I haven’t actually made up my mind yet, but I think it says a lot that Christo has made them so lifelike that I’m this conflicted. I haven’t felt this invested in characters since I read Six of Crows and The Raven Cycle, so awesome were the inner-workings of Lira and Elian. Elian is interesting because he seems to be the typical knight-in-shining-armour prince. Though he clearly feels uncomfortable at the thought of inheriting the crown, since it means giving up his wonderful pirate life, he meets the inevitable duties with honour and dignity, proving himself loyal to his country and his people before anything else. He’s also the kind that rescues random stray girls from the middle of the sea and then throws them in a cell belowdecks until he feels he can trust them. Clearly, he’s not the idiotic Disney Prince type that crops up every now and again, for which I can only applaud. Instead, he’s equal parts charming and roguish, witty and reckless. He’s similar to almost a dozen YA heroes I can name off the top of my head, and yet he’s just different enough to pass as interesting. He’s got his own hopes and dreams, and I loved seeing him interact with both Lira and his loyal pirate crew, who spend all their time being sarcastic and drinking rum, in typical pirate fashion. You’ve really got to love it.

And then there’s Lira. She’s another amazingly detailed character, with the potential to come across as hugely unsympathetic and yet she’s definitely relate-able. Kudos to Christo for being able to walk such a narrow line and give readers a kick-ass female protagonist who is sure to win people over with her merciless humour and ever-churning thoughts. I suspected all along where her loyalty was going to eventually lie, and I wasn’t disappointed, but I thought it was great to see that development along the way. Lira initially comes across as something of a monster, ripping out the hearts of princes to appease her mother, but very early on we see a glimpse of a more tender side to her, as she struggles to protect her cousin from the Sea Queen’s wrath. That strange mix of wonder, hope and ruthlessness is transferred to her human form too, with Lira trying to decide if she should follow her mother’s wishes and kill Elian, or if she should explore the possibilities of life as part of the Saad’s crew. She’s described in wonderful detail, and I had a very strong image of her throughout To Kill a Kingdom, as some wild, untamed creature, with a constant smirk and eyes the same colour as the ocean she hails from. Christo paints quite a picture, and stroke by stroke, she’s created a minor masterpiece I’ll be delighted to return to. For those who aren’t too keen on sequels, fear not with this book. The ending could potentially lead to a second novel, but it wraps up in a way that is satisfying even as a standalone.

All in all, I’m happy to award To Kill a Kingdom a rare 10/10.

This was a struggle for me.
I just couldn't keep interested in the story.
The world felt so big but didn't develop enough for me.
But I am going to give it another go at some point hoping it was just my mood.

I have to be honest here, my expectations for To Kill A Kingdom weren't very high. It wasn't like I was expecting it to be bad, but I read Siren by Kiera Cass about 1,5 years ago and, unfortunately, it was quite a bit of a disappointment. I don't usually like to compare books, but it sort of just happened, I guess. I was so excited, though, when I realised how amazing this book actually was. I was a little weary at first, knowing it could go downhill any moment, but it didn't! It started strong and I really think it finished even stronger. It's a story of sirens, royals, pirates and it's full of deception, betrayal, schemes and so much more. It was dark and even a bit twisted at times and I absolutely loved it.

To Kill A Kingdom has a very interesting cast of characters. There's Lira; who's siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. She's turned into a human against her will and - obviously - she hates it. I loved her development throughout the story. She's really her mother's daughter at first, but that all changes towards the end and I just loved her entire journey. Then there's Elian, crown prince and siren-killing pirate. He's realistic and a bit sarcastic and, above all, adventurous. He doesn't actually want to inherit the throne, but does all he can to save his people anyway and I really admire that about him. The crew of his ship is one to give the Inner Circle from the ACOTAR series a run for their money, if I'm honest (and you all know how much I love that series!) And since it's a reimagining of The Little Mermaid, obviously there's a romance. It's so slow burn that you barely even notice it until something finally happens and it's easily one of the best things about this book.

I loved the mythology of the sirens, mermaids and mermen. Siren's aren't just gorgeous woman luring humans to their deaths. They look more like fish with their fins and gills, I hadn't excepted that at all! Also, they have their rituals and they steal hearts and it's so dark! Mermaids definitely aren't creatures out of a Disney movie. They're probably even more wicked than the sirens! The merman were the most interesting part of the mythology, since they're more like a mixture of predatory fish than anything else. They're dangerous creatures! I loved how much care went into describing the mythology of the sea creatures and their rituals, it was easy to understand while never being too plain or simple.

The world building in To Kill A Kingdom was phenomenal. There's this entire hidden sea where with the kingdom of Keto, home of the sirens is. I felt like we didn't see all that much of it but it made sense as the story is never really set there. Also, the rest of the settings of the book made it entirely unimportant. Elian lives in a kingdom I felt was similar to Egypt. They're on a journey to the highest, coldest point on earth and they stop in all kinds of incredible places in the meantime. All the while, they speak of the hundred other kingdoms in their world, including a technologically advanced one! Being the tech geek that I am, that one would probably be my favourite.

To Kill A Kingdom is quite a quick and action-packed read, but the pacing was perfect. It was never boring but it also never went so fast you missed important details. The plot is always interesting and above all, it makes sense! It wasn't predictable to me, either. To be honest, I was always so caught up in the story I didn't even think about what would happen later on.

To Kill A Kingdom will probably end up on the list of all time favourite books. It's a perfect book to sit down with on a day and just read for start to finish. It has a strong start, but an even stronger finish. The wonderful characters, the interesting mythology, phenomenal world building and the action-packed plot make To Kill A Kingdom an amazing read I'd recommend to everyone who's into The Little Mermaid and sirens.

This book is a darker re-telling of the Little Mermaid and it had lots to offer. To Kill a Kingdom has all the elements of a really good dark fantasy, there's mermaids and pirates, siren's ripping out hearts, a Sea Queen reminiscent of Ursula and a hate to love romance. The story was nicely paced and I think it does an excellent job of taking The Little Mermaid and making it darker and grittier than the film we all know and love.

This book held such promise for me but in the end it didn't quite deliver. For me this book was a little too perfect, every twist and turn wasn't a surprise, I felt like I was on a road I had travelled before. I didn't really have any doubt in my mind at where this book was going or how it would end. Everything ended up being a bit too convenient, I could see what the author wanted to achieve, so all the character growth needed to get there felt a bit forced.

In the end Lira and Elian didn't learn to look past their differences, they were moulded into being the same. I say this particularly for Lira who starts out as this blood-thirsty Siren, but this initial characterisation is proclaimed as false as you get further into the book and it ends up that Lira didn't want to be that way she felt forced by her mother. For me good characterisation would be if they had both learnt to change, not the reader learning that they aren't the way initially presented. It was all just a little too neat but this might be because it was a standalone.  

There was a few plot issues, namely Lira's familiarity with all things human despite being from the sea, she recognised things like the smell of peppermint and honey. Are these common in the ocean? I also had issues with the ending, who goes through the trouble of hiding something as far away from the ocean as you can but then decides to built a moat around/through it? Wasn't the whole point to be that it was away from water?

This book is by no means boring and for a ya dark fantasy it's pretty decent. There were just several issues for me that stopped me completely enjoying the book, I didn't find the banter that witty and there was a lot of it and I felt like the plot was often advanced by people overlooking the glaringly obvious. I know lots of people are going to love this book but I ended up being one of those who only liked it.

As a child, "The Little Mermaid" was my favourite film. And yes, I still know all the words to the songs and sneakily sing along when my 8-year old stepdaughter is watching it (at my insistence). I’m sure I’m not the only one.

This book is nothing like that film. It is no fairy tale. What it is, is a dark, brutal and starkly honest version of a similar story. Perhaps this is why I loved it so much, but I think it goes beyond that as the book was very well written and the characters were so well developed I could picture them clearly.

The plot follows the stories of Elian and Lira. Elian is a prince of the Kingdom of Midas. However, he is happier being the Captain of his ship than living the boring life of a royal. He is also famed as a siren killer. Lira is a siren, and daughter of the Sea Queen. Every year, on her birthday, she takes the heart of a prince, and has earner a fearsome reputation as the ruthless Prince’s Bane. They are each aware of the legend surrounding the other, and the story tells of what happens when the two collide.

The book is divided into chapters told from the points of view of Elian and Lira. Both characters are very well written, and they each have their own deep history and emotional baggage. Honestly, I could not decide whose side I was on because I liked both characters so much. I think this was the author’s intention as it helps to build the tension throughout the book. I could never take sides with either one of them - somehow I wanted them both to win. Sadly this seemed impossible and so I was constantly on edge and biting my nails to see who would come out of the other side of this epic battle of wills and worlds.

The plot and world created by the author was very well written. It was easy to imagine the different kingdoms, people and situations encountered within the pages of the book.

I was completely taken in by this book and its two main characters, Elian and Lira. So much so that I finished most of it in one day - I just did not want to put it down. I honestly can’t think of a single criticism. I even loved the cover.

I would highly recommend this to fantasy fans and anyone who feels a little disillusioned with the classic love story, but is still a little princess at heart.

A clever, powerful, retelling of a popular story.

It seems 2018 is set to be the year of the mermaid in fiction, with an abundance of new stories and retellings being published. But Alexandra Christo has nothing to worry about in this fierce, inventive, updated version of The Little Mermaid.

In her world, the mermaids are creepy, fishy creatures, who like nothing more than to thwart sirens - and it's the sirens who embody the beautiful part fish, part women of legend. But the only time the sirens want to be where the people are is when they have chance to rip out their still-beating hearts. A murderous war has raged between the folk of the sea, and the land-dwellers ever since the land-dwellers killed the sirens' goddess, Keto. The Sea Queen - tentacled, monstrous and menacing, - wants them to pay in blood. And her daughter, Lira, known as Prince's Bane for her penchant of collecting the very literal hearts of princes, supports this goal completely.

Until her mother forces her to do two things that make her afraid for herself and her people. Her mother, sensing her burgeoning disobedience, curses her into human form, with only one way back to her old form: Kill the Midasian prince. Unfortunately for Lira, he's grown tired of her slaughtering his royal friends, and wants to kill her right back.

The story takes all the best bits of the original tale: the terrifying sea queen, the curse, the handsome prince, but twists them in the fiercest, funnest way. Instead of being a lovelorn mute, Lira is an irrepressible character; mouthy, obnoxious, cunning, and yet endearing despite it. Prince Elian is everything a prince should be, with an added sprinkling of vagabond pirate, and the supporting characters are fleshed out enough to be satisfying, though none shine as brightly as the two leads. The world is vast, and deftly used, and the pace moves like the waves, from quiet, intimate lull, to dramatic crest. Alexandra Christo has created something truly unique in this tale, and I enjoyed it immensely.