Love love love love! Just love this series so much, it was a bit like a rapunzel retelling, but with an evilness which I really enjoyed. It has so many lovable characters but also love to hate character that made it such an enjoyable story and an enjoyable read. I love the way Alexandra christo writes, it’s fab and easy and blows you away!

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo

Now, I am a huge fan of retellings. Princess of Souls is thought to be inspired by the Rapunzel fairy tale, which I could see the similarities whilst reading, but I felt it was unique enough that it could stand strong as its own. I’ve heard it is set in the world where To Kill a Kingdom was based, now I haven’t read those books, but I will now, as I was completely taken by Princess of Souls. I found it an easy, addictive read that was thoroughly well written that I hope the author and this book gets the praise it deserves.


If you’re a fan of fantasy with magical elements and an enemy to lover’s plot, then this is the book for you.

I LOVED every second of this book!

Firstly I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!! ❤️❤️

For years Selestra has known her destiny, she is a witch, fated to become the right hand of King Seryth after her mother just has her grandmother was before her. She’s kept locked up away from the world, feared by all thinking that her life is all that it will be.

King Seryth's immorality is cemented by his witch and his people. They bargain themselves and their souls when wish to know what lies ahead in the Festival of Predictions, the only way to save your soul from the king is to outrun your fate but it never gets that far. The king has won for centuries and has ruled for ages. But neither Selestra or the king expect a soldier by the name of Nox Laederic. As Selestra’s first prediction it surprises her to find that their fates are intertwined, she sees her death and has to take action to avoid it. The two make an alliance to save themselves, stop the king and the whole kingdom. When the king and Selestra’s mother realise she has gone they take drastic action to bring her back…

Selestra is a phenomenal MC!! She’s strong and carry’s the story so well 🥰❤️ I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers situation so her and Nox was like a dream for me 🥰😍 Their dynamic is fantastic from the very beginning!! He’s so sassy!! I love a fairy retelling so the basis of this novel really attracted me to it, I love the action and adventure that comes after Selestra ‘escapes her tower’.

The idea of the witches, where they come from and what they do really fascinated me and I found Selestra’s mum super interesting (as well as another character…) The idea of them and their appearance really appealed to me. I’m not sure why, it just hooked me in 😂😅

This book is epic and you should definitely read it!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is so perfect for anyone who likes a twist on a dark fairytale! As a big Rapunzel fan I was so excited for this and it didn’t disappoint. 10/10 recommend

I have loved Alexandra Christo’s work ever since she published To Kill a Kingdom. If you loved that book, you will not be disappointed by Princess of Souls. Loved the magical elements to the book and the dynamic between the main characters worked so well!

I really enjoyed to kill a kingdom so when I spotted this I couldn’t resist,
It’s got everything I could want in a book, fairytale retelling, enemies to lovers, and snarky back and forth,

Selestra has spent years in isolation waiting for her birthright, she is due to take up her mothers mantle as “the kings witch” though nothing is always that simple, and not a lot goes to plan, enter dashing revenge driven Nox and you have a spell for disaster.

I so enjoy Christo’s dark and lush storytelling, like with to kill a kingdom it’s only loosely based on fairytale lore but I love that, it makes it that much more engaging and unique.
I also love snarky witty back and forth between the characters, I felt like the main characters could have had a little more chemistry but I understand why they were aloof.

I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Thank-you NetGalley for an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun story with solid characters. The story was paced well and I liked how we saw our main characters develop as they went about their journeys. It wasn't a retelling in the traditional sense but you could see moments of inspiration from it. And you definitely don't need to have read the other book in this world, To Kill a Kingdom - this book doesn't involve the characters from that book and is set many many years before it. Overall a good read, I recommend it.

Alexandra Christo has done it again!
I just love her storytelling, she's so great at taking fairytales and twisting them so creatively by turning them into something so unique, dark and magical. I just fly through her stories so quickly; she has such an effortless way of writing, and you can't not binge her books.
This is just as good as To Kill A Kingdom, it's such fast-paced book with so much going on, there's plenty of adventure and some great character dynamics. Selestra's a fascinating protagonist and I love her love/hate relationship with Nox, who definitely gave me some 'if Flynn Ryder was a soldier' sort of vibe. I'm all for that. And the side characters had purpose, they were fun, and really added to the story.

A dark and intriguing yet hopeful retelling of Rapunzel - an underrated story and one of my favourites - which I was anticipating so much, and it did not disappoint.
I'll always recommend Alexandra's books. I look forward to seeing what other retellings she does!

The book is set in the same world as To Kill a Kingdom. This was such an easy read which is common with a good YA book. The generic plot and structure was oddly comforting and helped with the easiness of the read. I would recommend.

I loved To Kill a Kingdom so much, but every other one of Alexandra Christo's books have disappointed me. I just can't seem to capture the magic that I had when I first read To Kill a Kingdom. It's a pity because she is genuinely a good writer.

I did like some parts of it very much though. The magic system was my especial favourite. How the way her mother teaches her magic tied up in death and darkness, but then Selestra's journey teaches her a different way to use her magic and how to find balance.

I liked the sassy enemies-to-lovers romance, but it all felt a bit predictable. It's possible I've just read too much enemies to lovers, but it just didn't hit right for me at all.

All in all, I think I liked what this book said in terms of magic and character progression, but the execution felt a bit off for me.

I really quite enjoyed Princess of Souls. I liked the banter between Nox and Selestra as they went from enemies to reluctantly working together, to the realisation that they actually quite liked each other lmao.

I enjoyed the side characters, Micah and Ireyna. However, it seemed like sometimes the author forgot Ireyna/Micah was in a scene with the characters because even though you knew they were there (it never said they left) their name wouldn’t be mentioned for pages. And it’s like where are they? They’re still with you? What are they doing? I didn’t expect a ton of detail but a line or two to acknowledge them in the scene would’ve been good.

This leads in to the next issue I had with the book — while I really did enjoy the characters and their relationships, often things felt rushed between them (even in the friendships). I just feel like a lot of build up & depth was missing, when there could have been so much more.

I thought the plot was incredibly interesting too. I like the magical elements, and watching Selestra as she learned more about herself, her family, and her power. Again, I do feel like some elements were rushed, such as the ‘trials’. I know the book didn’t want to spend too long on them, but they felt too easy, too rushed.

All in all though, I did enjoy the banter between the main characters, the magical elements, and the adventure that our characters went on. I just wish we had a bit more complexity and depth!

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK / Hot Key Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

A fab reentry into this world! Great character building and a fab reimagining of a fairytale. I can't wait to see where Alexandra Christo goes next with this series. Here's hoping the storylines from this book and the first meet.

I did enjoy lots about this dark Rapunzel YA fantasy novel - there's a great deal of thought to the world of the novel and it served as a great backdrop to the overall plotting of story and the characters. There're alternative points of view to help both perspective and pace - this included snarky and provoking dialogue between the leads - Selestra and Nox. This pairing of solider and witch forced into close proximity was entertaining.
'Princess of Souls' fulfills expectations from the blurb, genre and cover - I found it entertaining and provided some Sunday afternoon reading fun.

I loved this book just like I loved the first one! I couldn’t stop reading and finished it in one sitting! Definitely an addition to my bookshelf upon release!
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the early access to this book.

Princess of souls by Alexandra Christo

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to netgalley, hot key books and alexandra christo for the opportunity to read this book.

I'm giving this book 3.5 to 4 stars because that's what I gave to kill a kingdom and I enjoyed them both equally.

I felt that this book did not suffer from the drawn out beginning that to kill a kingdom did. We get right into the plot straight away and that allowed for a brilliant development in the characters and the romance.  The main characters here have strong backstories and you can't help but to root for them. It also fulfilled the enemies to lovers trope really well and their transition from one to the other felt like it made sense.

I will say though that I was disappointed in the lack of connections to the original book to kill a kingdom. Now technically this is my fault for assuming that returning to that world would mean cameos and recognisable setting. We did get some slight mentions of the sirens and places I recognised but nothing major, unless I missed it.

Overall I liked the book and I'd read it again if I was in the mood for a quick enemies to lovers read.

It was the first book I read by this author and found it well written and entertaining. A solid fantasy, set in a complex world and featuring two great MCs.
The world building is fascinating, the enemy-to-lover romance is well developed, and I rooted for the characters enjoying the plot.
I want to read other books by this author as I enjoyed this one.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for supplying me with an arc of this book.
Princess of Souls is a dark Rapunzel retelling set in the same universe as To Kill a Kingdom. It follows Selestra and Nox on their adventure to escape death.
I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of all the buildings and the world we are in.
However, I felt like the pacing was all over the place as there were parts that went very quickly to then fall short of the buildup.

Selestra is a Somniatis witch locked in a tower, awaiting her turn to serve the king. To help him with her visions and her ability to harvest souls as to maintain his immortality. Nox wants vengeance on the crown. A vengeance that starts with killing Selestra. But then her prediction shows they are joined at death. They must now work together to prevent their gruesome fate. Will they?

A lyrical narrative that is sweet as honey and simultaneously tinged with melancholy, so intimate you feel like you can touch the story — a story that flows beautifully. I love how the paragraphs are not long, mostly one or two lines or maybe four. It makes reading so pleasant like you're skipping along with the story to a wonderful rhythm. This does not mean it is wholly carefree, for there is a delicious darkness. Precious Greek flourishes in names for places and etc.

The two POVs that present their character, each in their own light, while delighting you in the discovery of their personalities, intertwine closely, bringing along the intriguing plot and enhancing the fairy tale vibe. And we have an impressive mythology that captivates you in its creativity.

Nox is cheeky and I love his battle of wits with Selestra, delightfully peppered with sarcasm. The one-liners in the book are all the money. Generally there is a lot of wit to be found in this story, the intelligent kind, smile or even chuckle-worthy. Selestra and Nox both share a determination and are braver beyond what they thought, in ways not realized. Power not realized. The forced-to-work-together trope works wondrously here. There are also amazing supporting characters you'll love to love or love to hate.

The glory of life and the inevitability of death are important ingredients here. Also inner strength and realizing your potential. It is about making the world a better place. It is about choice.

With a whisper of known and unknown tales, and sumptuous writing that makes the vibrant images sear across your imagination, this story is far from predictable and gifts us with heart-jolting reveals, building up to an epic conclusion.

After reading and ADORING To Kill A Kingdom whilst on holiday earlier this year, I couldn’t wait for @alexandrachristowrites’s new novel. Princess Of Souls did not disappoint and was just as thrilling as I had hoped! 🐍

In this Rapunzel retelling, we follow Selstra, who is a young witch from a family forced to steal souls for the king. When her fate becomes tied to that of Nox, a soldier hellbent on revenge against the king, she breaks free from her life and discovers so much more than she could ever imagine. 👀

This is a story about self discovery, exploration and power. It is juicy, thrilling and gripping, set in a brilliantly built world and containing characters you can’t help but want to know. I absolutely adored reading this and going along with Selestra and Nox as they discovered truths about their land’s history and king. The action was fantastic and the magic system was unique and exciting! 👏

The romantic themes were also done really well and honestly I’d recommend this to any fantasy lover. It’s such a unique and wonderfully executed concept. 💫

Princess of Souls is a Rapunzel inspired fantasy novel. Selestra is a young Somniatis witch who steals souls for the immortal king. Bound to the Six Isles she has never glimpsed the world beyond the Floating Mountain upon which King Seryth’s castle stands. She meets Nox, a rebellious soldier from the Last Army, to whom her fate becomes tied. This is a really pleasurable read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is only very loosely linked to Rapunzel and therefore I wouldn’t class it as a retelling as such. This is an interesting and intriguing world and magic system, both of which are described in detail by the author. I particularly enjoyed the hot air balloon ride and the descriptions of the Floating Mountain and the city below. It is fast paced, action-packed from the onset and a lot of fun to read.

There are some wonderful friendships within the cast of characters, namely Selestra and Irenya, her apprentice dressmaker and Nox and Micah, his best friend and fellow Last Army soldier. The romance is an enemies-to-lovers one, it’s gentle and kept clean but it’s nevertheless lovely to read about and watch the relationship unfold.

I really liked the fact it’s a standalone, investing masses of time into endlessly long fantasy series can be onerous and daunting and this is a refreshing change. It’s well written and easy to read and a well thought out standalone novel with a happy and conclusive ending.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.