I tend to sit on the fence a lot when it comes to fairy-tale retellings, as most of them tend to start off fresh and intriguing but gradually become more boring after the halfway mark. While I thought this book was no exception, the story was saved by a fantastic climax that drew together brilliant characters.

TO KILL A KINGDOM is about a not-so-typical-princess: a deadly siren who murders a heart every year for her birthday. When her latest victim is taken two weeks before due, her terrifying mother (the nefarious Sea Queen) punishes her by turning her into a human, and commands her to go after a prince who would rather continue being a pirate than overseeing his kingdom's security (ironically we see very little of his kingdom). Drama and romance brews in the typical way, and while the story didn't particularly surprise me, it was definitely an enjoyable read and one of the better fairy-tale retellings I've read.

Also featuring: angst, drama, royalty, pirates, subtle references to the original Little Mermaid, revenge, murder...

The strongest part for me was the strength of our two main leads. Lira doesn't care for being pretty or falling in love, she doesn't pity herself or drown in her own vanity. She's strong and determined, she's a ruthless killer, but still has her own loyalties. She's brave and defiant, and her romantic banter with Prince Elian marks the start of an interesting relationship.

Elian is just as strong-minded - he'll do anything to keep his life of adventure even if it means bartering off the future of his kingdom. Both characters are undeniably strong and just as flawed, they balance off each other perfectly and there's a lot of chemistry built up over the course of the novel. However, the slow-burn romance turns out, to my annoyance, to erupt into a faster pace for seemingly no reason. The story is told from both perspectives so it gets increasingly frustrating when both characters abandon their internal edgy epicness and divert to being in love against their better instincts. I would have preferred more deliberation from both parties, but I having said that, at seventy percent through the story the romance did need to pick up fast to allow future scenes to make more sense.

In terms of side characters, I had literally no interest in Madrid and the other crew members on Elian's ship. I thought perhaps one of them might become more interesting by being a traitor or dying heroically/dramatically, but they seemed to only serve the purpose of taking things down from the angst between the main romance. However, the side characters from Lira's side of the story are far more intriguing and I wish we could have read more from them: her cousin, the Sea Queen, Flesh-Eater, even the cameo of some confusing prophetic mermaids was more fascinating than random humans flirting on Elian's ship.

From this alone I would have placed the story at a decent three star read, but I feel guilty for undermining the writing style which drew the narrative to the next level. The description alone, woven in lyrical mythos, is worth an extra star. Alexandra Christo has certainly placed so much effort in her writing and it really does show. I am very much looking forward to her next novel.

I was very lucky to have been given a version of this author’s debut to read on NetGalley, but unfortunately I hit a reading slump halfway through this book. It had nothing to do with not enjoying the book, in fact, I really enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom and its refreshing take on sirens, mermaids and pirates. It isn’t very often that I read standalone novels (most books can’t do the character development justice in just one) but the character arcs in this book were incredible, especially Lira’s.

Princess Lira is well known among the seas and the lands, stealing the hearts of princes that sail the waves. She is feared by all, but her weapon, her voice, is taken away from her when she is punished by her mother. The Sea Queen took away what was most important to Lira and turned her into the one thing she despises – a human. The only way to return to her natural form is to take the heart of a Prince, who is also a pirate. Prince Elian runs away from his duties, dreaming of seeing all the kingdoms and spending his life on the sea. He hunts sirens along the way, ridding them so that people may board ships without being afraid. When he crosses paths with a strange woman in the waters, they embark on a journey that will lead them to the key to destroy all the sirens. But can she be trusted?

The world building in To Kill a Kingdom was wonderful and so magical, with amazingly vivid descriptions of what was happening under the sea, as well as on the surface and land. There are some great fighting scenes in this book that weren’t too detailed that you didn’t understand what was going on, but they had enough that you could picture it all in your mind. I’m going to say this now, the end of the book is amazing with incredibly descriptive scenes that were action packed. It was so good.

I can’t forget to mention the fact that the writing in this book was great, the dialogue was incredibly funny and witty at times (the banter between Elian’s crew was top notch). The dual POV really helps to give different perspectives, switching between Lira and Elian, and it was great to have flash backs to their pasts, seeing what their lives were like before they met. You really feel for these characters and want the best for them, especially when you see them being treating cruelly.

Lira was brutal, deadly, but at the same time she was thoughtful and caring. She is a very dynamic character, and she has some incredible lines when speaking to Elian. They had me smiling as I read their interactions which were so genuine. Nothing seemed forced at all and there was a lot of chemistry between the two of them. It was great to see Elian be more than just a Prince. He doesn’t let anyone do the heavy lifting for him and takes an active role in their mission to extinguish the world of sirens. He is more than just a handsome face, he’s a badass and it shows with how he talks and acts.

To Kill a Kingdom was very entertaining and it had everything I love in a YA novel. The fast pace matched the story perfectly, guiding us towards an incredible finale and an ending that left me smiling as I read the last page. It was perfect for me and it more than deserves the 4.5 stars I’m going to give it.

I've shocked myself. It's kind of unsettling to admit this, but I kid you not when I say it's been years since I rated a book five stars. Who has been a reviewer for as long as me perhaps can get the personal struggle to find that little more, the unexpected, or just a particular something that makes you say a book is perfect. Well, I'm pleased to say I found my treasure.

This debut novel is absolutely brilliant! From the moment I read the very first line, I was captivated and honestly wasn't able to put the book down. Made no mistake though, it's not "The Little Mermaid" re-telling you would expect, it's far more than that. In fact, it's a completely different and darker twisted tale. I.Love.That. The plot is original, the world building is done skilfully—major kudos especially since it's a stand-alone novel—the characters are witty and interesting, and the romance is... not a typical romance. But then, Lira is not a classic siren and Elian is more of a pirate than a prince, so they are always on guard, and with a slow building trust going on the reader gets to connect with both. Also, one of the most fascinating things to me? I had 'My Jolly Sailor Bold' song from "Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides" playing in my head during the whole read. THAT made the whole story creepier and, if possible, even more magical.

With mesmerizing legends and lethal creatures invading your mind, and a strong desire To Kill a Kingdom pumping your heart hard and fast, this is a read you don't wanna miss. Alexandra Christo managed remarkably well to turn a fairy-tale into a nightmare, and then a nightmare into a dream.

“In my heart, I’m as wild as the ocean that raised me.”

Princess Lira is a lethal siren who has the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection – one for every year she has been alive – but finds herself transformed into a human and outcast by her mother, the Sea Queen, unless she can bring her the heart of Elian, the prince of Midas. Lira thinks her task will be easy, she’s a ruthless killer who hates human, but she finds herself delaying Elian’s death, initially because her human body is weak, and then because a tentative friendship begins to form between her and Elian (and his crew), and we all know how that plays out…

“…I let it all fall away. My mission, my kingdom. The world. They exist somewhere other than in this moment, and now there is only this. Me, my ship, and a girl with oceans in her eyes.”

Yes, the storyline is predictable. The romance even more so. But, To Kill a Kingdom is such good fun, and the writing so lovely, that it really doesn’t matter. Killer sirens that physically rip hearts from a human’s chest, siren-hunting princes that are more like pirates, actual pirates, magic, ancient powers, the might and cruelty of the sea…it all makes for one hell of a novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Lira and Elian, and Elian’s crew on the Saad.

“They celebrate love as though it's power, even though it has killed far more humans than I ever have.”

Predictability aside, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved Lira and her unapologetic fierceness, I loved Elian when the arrogant prince demeanour fell away, and I loved Elian’s crew (Kye, Madrid, and Torik are as precious as murderous pirates can be). There were some surprises in the plot throughout, but the real draw for me was the beautiful writing – I was there every moment with Lira and Elian, soaking up that salty sea air – and the characters, who I think Christo has crafted magnificently. They are so believable in every way and the way they trust and love one other is so lovely to read; no character felt flat or unnecessary. This really is an astounding debut – the story has depth without being difficult to read or understand, and the characters feel so real. I can’t wait to see what Christo writes next.

“In the pits of our souls - if I amuse myself with the notion that I have a soul - Elian and I aren't so different. Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother's murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing.”

Oh wow. I need more Little Mermaid retellings in my life. And sirens and mermaids and seriously stunning standalone fantasy universes.

I love that both Lira and Elian were not your typical royalty. Elian was reluctant. And a pirate! But Lira? First in dealing with her family, I love that we get to see how hard she tries and a little into her logic there, but also to have a vicious and conniving princess really floated my boat. (Sorry I couldn’t help myself!)

I’d have liked to have seen more into the Sea Queen and why Lira was never enough, there was something there that I was almost expecting and didn’t happen, and so I was left with questions.

I did however love what we did see of her, and how much we got to know about siren lore. And the kingdoms on the land, with their different cultures and myths and royalties. It was detailed and it was glorious.

In the arc I had, there was no way of telling who was narrating each chapter, which made it a little hard for me to follow a couple of times, though this was honestly nothing major.

The storytelling and universe honestly deserve five stars. The only reason I am giving it four is that some of the side characters are a little un-fleshed out – for example, we spend a reasonable amount of time with the ships crew but don’t know lots about them. Also, I am unsure on the romance. I love the element I saw coming towards the end. And I love that neither of them change for the other and they appreciate each other’s flaws. Plus snark. But it still somehow felt a little forced. And certainly the resolution of it was pretty sudden, even if there was a lot of build up.

However all in, I definitely recommend this book! It’s dark and vicious and full of my favourite type of fantasy – a world you wish you had built because you’ve not seen anything quite like it anywhere else. Also I now need more sirens in my books.

So, let me tell you that I didn't know this was a retelling of The Little Mermaid and when I found out I almost decided not to read it because I don't like reading about mermaids. BUT! This isn't about mermaids but sirens. I also know close to nothing about the original story or the Disney version because I never read or watched it. (And I found it surprising when two of my friends said that they haven't watched Mulan. How dare they! How dare I!) I know the basics.

Anyway, after reading the synopsis I decided to read the book anyway and this is maybe the best decision I've made in March because I fell in love with the book!

Now, don't get me wrong, it's a 4-star read for a reason. It took me days (days!) to get into it. I couldn't move past the first 30% and if I hadn't been patient (thanks to The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt) I would have probably DNFed it.

It's just that in this book I found two of my pet peeves and I couldn't believe my luck because they are maybe my most hated ones- the book is written in present tense (which to me just screams rookie! unprofessional!), and there are two different points of view (POVs) which wouldn't have been too bad if they weren't written in the first person. On top of that, there was no order to them and I had to guess almost every time whose POV I was reading from because the name wasn't mentioned beforehand (which is a nice thing to do in a book written this way). Aside from all of this, I totally loved it.

Once Lira and Elian met, I started enjoying the book very, very much. The Evil Queen was a believable character and Lira and Elian are such sweethearts! They fight, they are strong, they know what they want, but the most important thing of all- they went through a major character development and I am so glad I decided to read this book!


(There was also quite the detailed world-building which I didn't expect and is another reason I loved this book!)

This book was amazing! The writing style, the characters, the feels! I absolutely loved it. I had not read this author before but she is definitely on my 'authors to look out for' list. This book has everything i could have asked for in this book, i just could not put it down. If you're looking for a book that captures myth, magic and emotion then this is the book for you.

What can I say, I loved this book from the very first sentence. The writing is flawless, the characters are amazing, and the story is unique in its own way. This is a type of retelling of the little mermaid, but a whole lot darker. Lira is a princess and a killer. She only takes the heart of princes though. Her mother is the sea queen and a vile, evil, monster. When her mother turns her human we really get to see Lira’s character come to life and I have to admit I really liked her.

Prince Elian is a pirate who doesn’t like the idea of becoming king. He spends his time at sea with his crew only going home when he has to. He is a great character, well-formed and well thought out. His crew are great too and the sarcastic witty banter that goes on between them is fantastic.

Elian rescues Lira from the sea after her mother turns her to human and here begins this amazing tale. The dialogue between Elian and Lira is great and so funny at times. I could almost hear them arguing in my head as I read. When Elian learns of an ancient object that has the power to destroy the Sea queen and all the sirens, he sets out to find it. With Lira on board his ship, disguised as a human, they set out to find the second piece of the eye of Keto and a means to rid the world of sirens.

Alexandra Christo has created a magnificent world with believable characters and a great plot. Her writing is delightful and the story is packed full of action. It dark and twisting and each page brings something new to light. It’s definitely a book I will be buying in paperback to add to my collection and one I will be recommending to everyone.

I loved the world of Lira and Elian. They are great characters with as many similarities as they have differences. Both are reluctant heirs to their kingdom's throne and both feel like they cannot live up to their parents' expectations. But while Elian has made it his life's mission to rid his world of the threat of the Sirens, Lira spends her life killing princes and stealing their hearts, earning the title Prince's Bane.
To say this is a Little Mermaid retelling is to sell it short. Though it has a vague similarity in that a mermaid (or siren in this case) loses her song, it is far more than that.
I found it intriguing realising that the Siren language Psariin is actually Greek and many of the place names have hidden meanings.

Murderous mermaids and pirate princes abound in this wonderful debut by Alexandra Christo. The writing was beautiful and engaging. Christo is a masterful writer and the world she built was crafted seamlessly and splendidly and the imagery is so impressive. The plot unfolded naturally, the characters were multi-faceted and complex and engaging and my favourite romance trope of all was handled beautifully - honestly such an entertaining relationship. The sea lore was also one of my favourite things about this book, such vivid and well done, creepy and fascinating in equal parts. This is on my list of most liked books of 2018 and I'm so glad I had a chance to read it.

I've honestly never been a fan of Little Mermaid but I do LOVE retellings. (More like obsessed with it actually.) And dammit To Kill A Kingdom... Nailed. It.

I love every bit of this book's brurality and savagery. I have a newfound obsession for sirens and pirates and I'm not even sorry. This book was so good, I don't know what to say. I was so captivated by the majestic, magical and bloody world the author created. The writing was so incredibly engrossing I was dreading the ending. I was planning on re-reading this when I was about halfway through and you bet I'm gonna go do just that once it's officially released.

I have never met two people more swoonworthy than Lira and Elian. Their first meeting wasn't exactly screaming romance but their chemistry was palpable in every jab and "insult" they throw at each other. The romance was super slow burn and I. Loved. It. Honestly I didn't think my heart could take any more of Elian and Lira being perfect for each other.

I'm not actually a huge fan of standalones. And although To Kill A Kingdom had as perfect an ending as you can get for a book about ruthless sirens, killer pirates and a siren-killing wily prince, I wouldn't complain if the author decided she wanted to continue Elian and Lira's story. (I think Madrid and Kye too would have a very interesting and exciting story to tell. On second thought I think the whole crew of the Saad deserves stories of their own.)

I fell in love with this book from start to finish. Such an amazing debut! Must-read!

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. I heard a lot about it in the book community and knew that I had to read it. I liked all the different characters and seeing that there were many sides to them and that they weren't just cruel. This was told in two different first person perspectives,Elian and Lira,I found it sometimes to be confusing on who was narrating,not because the characters were very similar but because there was no indication that the point of view had changed.I don't know if this is the case in the physical books.Though, It was easy to distinguish after the first two sentences and didn't take away from the story. I also really enjoyed the romance in this book and found it refreshing not to be the main focus. It was a really good slow-burn romance.I really liked the world that they were living in and the different kingdoms and how they interact with each other. Another thing I liked was how the sirens looked.They weren't necessarily the most beautiful and some had tentacles but you could still like them.It's what on the inside that counts,which is a very good message. One thing I disliked was that it  took a lot of time to actually get to the main plot,which made me take a bit longer to read and be not as interested in it but once the main plot was estabished,I was flying through it.Another thing is that it's a stand-alone fantasy!  No waiting for another book to come out,although I think there might be potential for another book,i'm very happy with the ending,which doesn't leave a lot unanswered.

"And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing."

Meet Lira, daughter of the sea queen, siren princess, and the Prince's Bane. Her whole life she's been hunting princes, tearing their hearts out and storing them under her bed. She's feared all over the world, by both humans and sirens alike. And soon, she will be queen.

But when Lira does something that upsets her evil mother, she's cursed to live among the humans as punishment, opening her eyes to the world she thought she knew.



Alexandra's retelling of the Little Mermaid story we all know and love, was brilliant. Her ability to put her own unique twist on the characters and the plot line really made a difference to the standard retellings we see. Lira was a feisty, independent character who's sarcasm and dry sense of humour made her likeable, and her slice of humanity is what made her easier to relate to in comparison to her mother, who was nothing but pure evil. The slight change from mermaid to siren had virtually no impact of the way in which the story could be told, and actually made it more preferable.

When we think of mermaids, we think beautiful half-human, half-fish, with no intent to harm, but with sirens, who are essentially the same thing, we think death and hypnotic songs. This alteration made the story more interesting, as instead of losing her voice, as in the original fairytale, she simply loses her song, the main way in which she can cause death.

The prince of the story, Elian, was probably my favourite character. Doomed to become king, but longing for the life of a pirate, his story is one of difficulty. He has all the charm of a prince, with all the savviness of a pirate lord, and the loyalty of some of the most fearsome people you'll ever meet. The crew dynamic worked much like that of a family, and despite the hint of romance between a couple of his shipmates, this wasn't the main focus, instead relying on their personalities and passions, making them almost breathe life from the page.

What I loved about Alex's characters was the sheer amount of diversity, with one of the main characters being a character of colour, something I feel is very rarely seen in fantasy, and especially retellings (although if you want to argue that Winter is a character of colour, as are many of the characters in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, then I would urge you to consider other retellings and come back to me then. This is not the Lunar Chronicles and shouldn't be compared as such.) But whereas in previous fantasy books, or even in other young adult novels in general, the author likes to remind you that this character is of a certain ethnicity, Alex doesn't, instead choosing the simply continue with the story.

Her writing is fluid and captivating, and at times I didn't want to put the book down. Everything was described beautifully, and it felt like the towns and cities she had created were real, and right there in my mind. From cities on the land, to cities in the sea, each and every setting was so vivid and realistic, and I found myself wanting to fall right into the pages and explore each and every one. In addition to her beautiful prose, I adored her ability to blend together some of the best loved Hans Christian Andersen tales, with references to things such as the snow queen, in the frozen wastelands in the north. These additions made the story much more enjoyable, and interlinked worlds so many people have loved over the years.

But of course, there are always some negatives, and for me it was the sheer predictability of the story. Nothing really surprised me. Of course, you kind of expect that with a retelling. Some things have to remain the same, the little mermaid will lose her voice, Cinderella will lose her shoe/foot/some lower appendage, and Rapunzel will always have long hair in the beginning. But despite the general story being the same, I wasn't surprised by the little twists the story took. Sure, Alex made it unique, and I loved her writing and the overall story, but nothing shocked me, and that's the only reason I had to deduct a star. If the characters had done something I never would have expected, or the story took a turn in a different direction, I would probably have loved this even more.

Saying that, for a debut novel, this really is a beautiful story, with a classic tale at it's core, and you should definitely give it a go. With beautiful prose, and a fantastic set of characters you'll love from page one, this is perfect for any Disney fan, or a fan of good old fashioned fairytales, and I will definitely be picking up Christo's next book.

I HAVE A HEART for every year I’ve been alive. There are seventeen hidden in the sand of my bedroom. Every so often, I claw through the shingle, just to check they’re still there. Buried deep and bloody. I count each of them, so I can be sure none were stolen in the night. It’s not such an odd fear to have. Hearts are power, and if there’s one thing my kind craves more than the ocean, it’s power.

Kahlia breaks into a wild smile. “It’s been an age since your last kill, Lira,” she teases. “Are you sure you’re not out of practice?”“A year is hardly an age.”“It depends who’s counting.” I sigh. “Then tell me who that is so I can kill them and be done with this conversation.” Kahlia’s grin is ungodly . The kind reserved for moments when I am at my most dreadful, because that’s the trait sirens are supposed to value most. Our awfulness is treasured. Friendship and kinship taught to be as foreign as land. Loyalty reserved only for the Sea Queen.

As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to read it.

Here are my reasons:

Fantasy is always my happy place so I am always interested in new releases.
Fairy tale inspired/ retelling = bound to be a favourite. I LOVE folklore and fairy tales, the darker the better!
Two main characters seem set up to hate each other and I do like a bit of the 'enemies to friends/lovers' trope. Admit it, you do too!
Standalone - I love a good standalone. Series are great, but sometimes I just want a book that is complete in itself so I don't have to wait for ages for the next book...
Been hearing a lot of good things about this in the book-blogger community already.
AND - - bonus - - the cover is beautiful!

I am happy to report that this book fulfilled and exceeded my expectations. There was enough world-building to really give you a feel for the city states above water (reminded me of Ancient Greece) and some for the underwater kingdom, ruled by the Sea Witch. I did find myself wanting to know more about the underwater world because the majority of the story takes place above the sea - far above actually, when the characters end up climbing an impossibly-tall mountain!

I liked the politics and the fraught friendships between the royals as well as the intrigue being fermented between kingdoms.

Elian and Lira were both flawed, realistic characters and I was really glad that their mutual hatred took a long time to even remotely change into anything else. They both had motivation for their actions and didn't change themselves because of their changing feelings.

A fantastically dark and twisted fairytale re-imagining that deserves a spot on any fantasy-lover's bookshelf!

Maybe the weight Elian carries is born from the shackles of a royal life and a kingdom that is unwanted but needed all the same. It’s something I can understand. Another similarity between us that I’d be blind not to note. In the pits of our souls – if I amuse myself with the notion that I have a soul – Elian and I aren’t so different. Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother’s murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing.

Reflections of each other in a different kingdom and a different life. Broken pieces from the same mirror. There are worlds between us, but that seems more like semantics than tangible evidence of how dissimilar we are.

What I liked: Dark and creative - this is how fairytale retellings should be done. I liked the relationship between Lira and her cousin. I liked Elian's crew and their banter. I also found it interesting how the romance developed - no insta-love here - and how the story ended.

Even better if: I would have liked even more of Lira and Elian's snippy conversations - they were really fun to read! I would have liked to find out more about the world of the sirens and mermaids and other underwater creatures.

How you could use it in your classroom: This would be a good recommendation for secondary pupils, particularly those who have already enjoyed alternative or 'fractured' fairy tales.

Thank you to netgalley and Hot Key Books for allowing me to read an early copy of this book because I loved it. This book follows Lira who is known by a different name, ‘the Prince’s Bane’ she is a siren and royalty. Her mother, the sea queen, becomes so disappointed in her and decides to punish her in the way that would see her despised by her subjects, and makes her a human. To get back into the queen’s good graces, she must hand over the human prince’s heart but instead becomes infatuated with him but the downside is that he wants to kill all of her race. Slight downside to this relationship, I would say.

This story was so good and intriguing. I’m so glad I picked this up. This was such an anticipated read for me and I’m pleased that it did not let me down.

5 out of 5 stars.

The premise of To Kill A Kingdom was really nice. It was not the most interesting idea, as there are many fantasy stories around mermaids, sirens and the likes, Yet, I thought it could be exciting and epic if it was written well. However, I found the writing style really simplistic. Although it's a stand alone, the set up took one fifth of the book. I really couldn't find the male lead smart to be able to claim 'pirate prince' and kill the sirens. The book only got really exciting at the very end. Until then, it was a really steady pace. Also, there were too many unnecessary conversation on the ship among the staff of the ship. I couldn't understand why give so much space to this.
All in all, the epic fantasy story was not delivered. That's why I didn't find this book to my taste. Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler alert …. I absolutely adored this book. To kill a Kingdom is unlike anything I have ever read. It has sirens and Princes who just want to be pirates! Alexandra Christo you are amazing!

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
I struggled to put this book down because it was that darn good. If you love The Little Mermaid and fantasy fiction then this book is definitely for you. I cannot stress how much you will fall in love with this unique retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Lira, our main character was my absolute favorite. She's an interesting character who I fell in love with immediately. Lira, who is Siren royalty, kills and takes the hearts from human princes every year to please her evil mother, the Sea Queen. You seriously do not want to mess with her. Similar to my like of Alice in The Hazel Wood, Lira is a character that I did not expect to like but did. She's charismatic, vicious and a cinnamon bun all rolled into one. She's a super badass female who can kick butt in the sea or land and has some awesome sassy dialogue that will make you laugh.

Another awesome character to mention is, none other than Prince Elian. My opinion of him at first was that he would become the ultimate lovey-dovey prince, falling in love with Lira almost immediately. Alas, this did not happen which I was incredible happy about. Elian is in no way our normal kind of prince, his heart belongs with the sea and on board his ship, the Saad. If anything he is more pirate than prince. Elian keeps his cards close to his chest, especially when he first meets Lira. Oh, he really does not trust her at all.

The world building in this book is strong as Alexandra develops the world beautifully with her captivating words. I could imagine myself swimming in the ocean with Lira, hunting out our next victim while swaying on board the Saad, perhaps having a swig of rum to calm my nerves before the next hunt.

To Kill a Kingdom never felt boring, this story is one massive adventure that leaves you wanting to know more. It's a page turner without a doubt.

I would like to thank Feiwel & Friends and Alexandra Christo for sending me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

* Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

GUYS. This was EVERYTHING! I mean, I went in with high expectations, when I heard it was a re-telling of The Little Mermaid I was like okay I want to read this, I need this in my life. Normally when I go in with some form of expectations I’m pretty let down, but this honestly exceeded anything I could of hoped and wanted for.

So a quick overview of the book is that our female protagonist Lira is a Siren, and a deadly one at that, who is nicknamed the Princes’ Bane because she takes the hearts of a prince once a year on her birthday. The Sea Queen (major Ursula vibes) her mother has drilled this into her since a young age and any sign of a “human emotion” is discouraged and frowned upon. So from a young age, she’s forced to become a killer and not the nicest person. The backstory of how she becomes who she is when we meet her is so heartbreaking and you empathise with her because it’s through “nurture” she’s the way she is. Then we have Elian a Prince who lives for the sea and is a Pirate with a crew who is so devoted to him and would go to the ends of the earth for/with him. We see how “human” he is with his actions. However Elian isn’t any Prince… he’s a Siren killer. A good one at that! The two come to meet in a way I won’t explain because spoilers… and then the story carries on, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!

Characters

We have the siren princess <b>Lira</b> my god. I adored her. She was strong and powerful, and even when she wasn’t at her fullest she was adaptable and tried to turn things around. There was so much depth to her character and we see how she transfers from who she was to who she becomes. I love how fiercely loyal she is, and the fact that we see her develop. I loved that she was no form of damsel in distress who needed to be saved, GAH. I just love her.

Do I have another leading man in my life in the form of Elian. Hell Yes. He was sarcastic, but SO kind. There was no arrogance in him which I loved and appreciated so much. He was smart with his words and his plans (most of the time). I loved the small and special things linked in with his character that made him so appealing. I could happily have a series dedicated to Elian and it still wouldn’t be enough!

What I loved?
- The romance was so well done! I’m honestly not a fan of insta love. It’s the complete opposite in fact. They just fit together so well, they bring out what’s best in each other, it was a slow burn and at every opportunity I was just like MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW!
- The Crew! I loved the loyalty and protectiveness towards their captain. Not only that but there was a female pirate who was one of the best in the crew! Not only that but Madrid and Lira accepted each other instead of the nonsense of girls not getting along. I am here for it, and I am living.

What I liked?
- All of the little references to The Little Mermaid, some were subtle, and others not so much, but I loved it!
- We got so much representation! I was like YASSSSSS
- If the first line in the book wasn’t gripping enough, my god.
- Elians compass and sword…
- That battle. BOY was it intense
- THE WORLD BUILDING
- My heart couldn’t take little moments such as; the training with the sword, star gazing, the protectiveness. Ahhhhhh

What I didn’t like?
Not one thing. This book is now precious to my little heart.

Overall, I adored this book. I can’t wait to see Alexandra Christo does next! If you like the Little Mermaid, Fantasy, dark twists… then this is for you!

3.5 stars ⭐️

Received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I did really like it. It’s very fast paced! But that’s because there is so much to cover in one book.
I was never one for fairy tales and disney princesses but I’m finding myself leaning toward more fairy tale retellings and this was a bit dark and it was a bit brutal in places.
Only 3.5 because - some of it seemed very young (yes I know it’s YA but it felt really young)
And also I thought Elian was a bit thick - seriously all the warning signs were there that she wasn’t entirely human but hey that’s not bad for my only gripe with the the book!