Back in the world of To Kill a Kingdom and my heart could not be happier! This book hooked me from the get go, I was so excited to see Christo had returned to this world and it was just as exceptional as I thought it would be. Thank you for letting me read this, I am so very grateful.

For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.

Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.

Return to the world of To kill a kingdom. So this isn’t a sequel but is from the same world, so you don’t have to have read To kill a kingdom, which was great as I read it years ago and couldn’t remember much about it.

From the first page I was hooked. The writing is incredible. The story is based around Selestra, a witch bound by her ancestral magic to serve an immortal evil king. Her mother the reigning witch, feeds the immortal king souls, but when Selestra‘a fate becomes untwined with a rebellious young soldier out for revenge, she begins to see a way out of the centuries old curse and a way to live her life on her own terms.

I honestly fell in love with the characters. It actually gave me Throne of glass vibes so perfect for fans of that series.

Definitely recommend pre ordering this book now.

Selestra and Nox are the perfect pair. She’s a witch’s heir locked in a tower and he’s the charming soldier coming to save her. I loved their interactions and the way the story weaved through the past to connect them in the future.
I really enjoyed the world building and the magic. Great story overall 💕

Selestra has been locked up in a tower for most of her life, as the heir to her mother’s powers and position of the Kings Witch. It’s not a job she really wants, particularly as she only gets it when her mother dies, and what few powers she will get until then only emerge on her 18th birthday.
When her future accidentally becomes connected to that of a Last Army soldier, Nox, she begins to see that there’s more to the world than just the castle she’s lived in. And she finds she wants, and needs, more.

This is a really fast moving, enjoyable, magical read. It is very dark, with the stealing of souls to keep a greedy king immortal, but it also gives you hope that good could, and should, win over evil every time. The characters of Selestra and Nox, as well as Micah and Irenya, are endearing and likeable. I love that Nox is shown as an equal to Selestra, who in turn is a very capable and caring young woman, despite her upbringing. Excellent world building, and enjoyable fantasy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I absolutely loved To Kill a Kingdom so naturally had to request this one on Netgalley.

The book reminds me of a cross between Tangled and Scooby Doo the movie, now I don’t know if that’s what the author was going for but they worked so good together! Selestra has been locked in a tower all her life as heir to the King’s Witch. For years her family has been bound to the king, predicting death for his people as they enter a trial of death. If you survive you win a wish and the potential to become the next ruler, if you die you forfeit your soul. Nox isn’t like the desperate people who enter the trial and when Selestra is asked to read his future she finds her fate entwined with his. As truths are uncovered they both have to find a way to survive the King after their souls.

First of all, I absolutely love the writing style, as I did with the first book. It’s just so easy to read and makes the book flow so well. The plot was really interesting, but it did feel the author tried to cram too much into the book. This caused certain scenes to feel rushed and lack depth, I think the scenes on the island could have been developed a little bit better and the bonds that were formed there.

The characters were well written and I liked the fact Selestra wasn’t completely naïve. Nox was a great male lead and I liked the fact he was an equal to Selestra. The book was funny at times and sad at others, making the book at overall amazing read.

Overall, the book is an amazing edition to the world Alexandra created in To Kill a Kingdom and I can’t wait to find out what other kingdoms there are.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I got sent this book as an ARC through NetGalley however this will not affect my review and I will be completely honest about my thoughts!

I was super excited when I saw that Alexandra Christi was bring out a new book set in the same world as To Kill A Kingdom as I really enjoyed that book and I was even more excited when I got approved for an early copy!!

Princess of Souls follows a young witch named Selestra who has been groomed to eventually take over from her mother as the immortal King’s witch who can foretell death.

There is a festival of predictions every year where people from the kingdom can come and offer their souls and receive a prediction for the witch about how they will die. If they can escape death then they are rewarded with a wish and an opportunity to steal the King’s immortality, however this has never been done.

This year, Nox, a soldier in the King’s army comes to take part in the festival, motivated by his want for revenge he plans to steal the king’s immortality and kill his court, including Selestra. When Selestra gives him his death prediction, she also see her self dying alongside Nox and realises that they are intertwined in their fates and in their deaths.

Now they must, reluctantly, work together to keep each other and themselves from dying.

This has enemies to lovers, it has a good friendship group with nice dynamics.

It has good character development considering it is a fairly short stand alone fantasy book. This book does have very similar themes and relationships to the authors other book and whilst this was a little disappointing there was a reason her fist book did so well and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it.

I would say this book got into the action a lot quicker and kept me hooked until the final page. It was an easy read and had all the things I enjoy in a fantasy without the really heavy world building or so many characters that you forget whose who.

I think the author has really stepped up her game in this book and I would definitely recommend this especially if you enjoyed ‘To Kill A Kingdom’ and you should 100% keep an eye of for this when it comes out in October 2022.

The story is loosely based on Rapunzel, and whilst reading I noticed a few similarities, but they were very subtle, from scenes mirroring the tangled movie, to some character traits in Nox and Selestra.

At the beginning, Nox is very deceitful but also charming, which makes it easy to grow fond of him as a reader. He is witty, in an annoyingly lovable way. The chemistry between him and Selestra was good, but felt it was a little rushed. I would have liked to see more focus on the side character's (Micah and Irenya) as I feel they were undeveloped, despite being in a lot of the story. The few moments they did communicate with Nox and Selestra were always very light and humorous, which broke up a lot of tension.

The world building was one of my favourite parts of the story, it was vivid and easy to imagine everything. The creatures that appeared in the story and the areas they travelled to were all very detailed, especially the scenes set outside in the forests.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but felt that there were moments that were rushed and brushed over to get to the conclusion and so would love to read more about the king, the mythology and the other parts of the world, whether that be another book or a book set in the same world.

Princess of Souls is a loosely based (very loose) fantasy retelling of Rapunzel, starring Selestra, a witch whose visions allow her to witness the deaths of anyone she touches. When she touches Nox, she intertwines their destinies and sets off a chain of events that will change their Kingdom forever.

I loved this book! My only qualms were that the ending felt a bit rushed and the side characters were not explored fully. I would happily have read another 200 pages for this to be fleshed out a bit more. Also, with that ending, I feel there is definitely the opportunity for a second book or even a spin-off set in the same world again. I know this was set in the same world as To Kill a Kingdom, but I didn't notice any overlap apart from the mention of sirenas. (Though it has been a while since I read TKaK so I may have missed some).

The world building was excellent and I loved the unique magic systems. The description and imagery was lush, especially of the magic forest. The plot was engaging and the whole book was easy to read, I read it in one day. I loved the refreshing take on Rapunzel. There are a few explicit comparisons, like locked in a tower, long hair, overbearing mother etc, but it was a very different story compared to the original fairytale.

I thought Selestra and Nox were well written and the King and Theola too, but I would have liked more background for Micah and Irenya. I loved the vibes between the four friends and I'd have liked to see more interactions between the four of them. All in all it is a very enjoyable book, I would love to see more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hot Key Books for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I rate this book 4.25 stars. It was a fun story, inspired by the tell of Rapunzel, mixed in with amazing magical system about witches.
Princess of Souls was a book I enjoyed a lot. The magic system and the world (which is the same as in To Kill A Kingdom, how cool is that?) are explained beautifully. It is a different take on the tipical witch story. The witches in this book have the unique tallent to see how someone will die and it was quite a refreshing take. I also loved the fact that the main character Selestra and the other witches have green hair and snake-like eyes! It was a fun choice and I, as a person who loves creativity in how people present themselves, was glad to see it. We sure need more fantasy heroins with unique atributes.
I loved the characters, though I feel like we need more to fully connect with each of them. As much as I loved Selestra and Nox and their relationship, I barely felt any connection to the more important side charachters that were the MCs best friends. Considering this is a standalone, it's understandable. I still wish for just some more interaction between the main characters and the side characters.
Overall, this book was so so good. It's always fun and nostalgic to read a classic YA fantasy book - and I mean classic in the way it makes the reader feel. It's hopeful and lighthearted and inspiring.
Also worth mentioning, I like this book even m0re than To Kill a Kingdom, which was also great. I also think it's funny that both books have a big conflict between mother-daughter. That is definitely one thing I'd want to see different in another book by Alexandra Christo.

This is a voluntary review! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.

Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.

“Princess of Souls” by Alexandra Christo is a hugely enjoyable tale of fantasy. It is the first book I’ve read from this author but I’m always on the lookout for new fantasy authors and I’m keen to read the author’s other novels now. I guess you could label this Young Adult but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. I’m a huge fan of all things fantasy and I thoroughly enjoy all approaches to the genre, whether it be high, epic, grim dark and contemporary. All I ask for is that the tales draw me in and transport me to another place, allowing me to get caught up in the story and this book did that very well. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys fantasy, regardless of sub genre.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

★★★★★ 4.5/5

Sixteen year old Selestra is heir to the king's witch. Upon turning eighteen, she, like her mother and their ancestors before will be bound to the king, forced to take part in the Festival of Predictions each year. The festival is managed by the king and his witch, Selestra's mother, who as the king's witch gives predictions to those taking part, foretelling the participant's deaths. The aim is to avoid your fate and receive a wish, and if the participant so chooses and they make it to the end of the month, an opportunity to take the king's immortality for your own. Few have succeeded and lived long enough to earn a wish, but no one has ever come close to taking immortality for themselves, and defeating death. 

For Selestra, who has spent most of her time trapped in her tower upon the floating mountain is resigned to her fate, knowing that any other outcome is impossible due to her ancestor's vow. She, like her mother, belongs to the king, and just like her mother, Selestra will become cold and heartless when she takes her place as the king's witch. 

For Nox, a soldier in the Last Army, the Festival is a chance to not only seek revenge, but a chance to finally depose the king and his witches. Yet when Nox steps forward to receive his prediction, so begins the challenge of outrunning not just the king, but death. With his fate suddenly tied with Selestra's, both Nox and Selestra see a way to survive and free them both, but it means working together and trusting that both are on the same side. 

As a massive fan of To Kill a Kingdom, I was more than ready to jump back into the world with new characters and a new adventure. And, whilst this is set in the same world as To Kill a Kingdom, there's no pressure to read it as Princess of Souls is a story all its own, and both novels are standalones, with everything wrapped up by the end. This makes the book perfect for anyone just discovering Alexandra Christo, and it also gives them a brief glimpse into what to expect from To Kill a Kingdom, if they choose to read it. 

Princess of Souls is easily in my ever growing list of favourite books this year. It had everything I want in a novel, from beautiful world building, to in-depth main characters, there wasn't a single flaw or area I thought needed a little more to it. It's full of magic and adventure, and each chapter alternates between Nox and Selestra's POV, giving insight into both characters and allowing them to grow and reveal more of themselves to the reader. 

The pace is perfect. There's never a dull moment, and there's no long passages of lore in the first few chapters that you're expected to remember as you read, as for me it's often a deal breaker when reading.  There's nothing worse than having to constantly flip back to the beginning to familiarise yourself with the world because it's all shoved into the beginning. (The only thing I'm happy to flip back to the beginning for is a map, and everyone loves a map.) 

As a loosely based Rapunzel retelling, there are some similarities, but they're subtle and it's not a main factor into the plot, so don't let that put you off. It's a great book with an enemies-lovers romance and a desire to right the wrongs of ancestors past. 

Did I like the book? Yes

Did I love it? Yes! It had everything I wanted and more. Magic and adventure, predictions and fate.

Would I recommend it? Definitely. Even if you haven't read To Kill a Kingdom, Princess of Souls is a novel that will suck you in immediately and refuse to let go until the very last page.

I loved To Kill a Kingdom, so when I saw that there was another book set in the same world, I went insane. This book did not disappoint; I found myself devouring it in a single day.

This bewitching, loose re-telling of Rapunzel, focuses on Selestra; a witch whom has been trapped in a castle for years, stealing souls to feed the King. Selestra can predict the deaths of those whose souls she plans to take, so when she for-sees her own death alongside Nox (a solider in the Kings army), she realises their fates are entwined and she must save him to save herself. This begins our journey into this beautiful fantasy world. Alexandra Christo does a wonderful job of describing this dark, twisted fairytale world, weaving in elements of magic and romance throughout. I particularly enjoyed the enemies to lovers between Selestra and Nox, especially their witty banter.

This was such an easy read and quick to get in to; dare I say I liked it better than To Kill a Kingdom?? Perhaps. This was easily a 5 star read, and I highly recommend this to fairy tale retelling fans.

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliantly written book!
It was gripping worldly and I didn't want it to end.
I can't wait to see what's next from author.
The fight scenes were well done! It had non stop action an easy book to sink into.

Nox blinks. “Are you flirting with me?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m threatening to kill you.”
A lazy smile spreads across his lips. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference with you.”

Selestra Somniatis is the only heir to her mother’s magic; a magic that can foretell a person’s death by touch and harvest souls, but which is sworn by the blood oath of her ancestors to serve the corrupt king of the Six Isles once she turns eighteen. She is kept in a castle tower, forced to wear gloves and avoid human contact, but when Selestra crosses paths with the roguish Nox, a talented soldier in the Last Army on a mission for vengeance after the death of his father, she realises she must escape the prison she has been kept in by both her mother and the king, and follow her own path towards her destiny.

I absolutely loved this book. I knew I would as I loved To Kill a Kingdom, which is set in the same universe, but Alexandra Christo really knows how to deliver a gripping first line and it was no different with this book! Princess of Souls is a YA tale of identity, family, power and betrayal, and the snarky back and forth dialogue between Nox and Selestra was just *chef’s kiss*. I would whole heartedly recommend this to lovers of YA fantasy, enemies to lovers and found family tropes, and AC has definitely become an autobuy author for me.

Q: If you were Rapunzel and you were stuck in a tower, how would you spend your days?
-
For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death. A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra. Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.
-
Did I read this book in about a day? Yea. Yeah I did. Did I also stay up until 1 in the morning to finish it? Yes. Yes I did. I absolutely adored this book!! I read To Kill A Kingdom last year and absolutely loved it so when I got approved for this arc (thank you hotkeybooks) I was so excited to dive back in to Christo’s writing as well as the fantasy world. This book was such an easy read and it was so perfectly crafted. I loved everything about it, from the protagonists to the antagonists to the side characters and to the world building! Christo has perfectly written what i think is bound to be one of the best YA fantasy books of the year. I have so many favourite moments but Nox being cute at the 64% mark really did something to me. Selestra and Nox individually are amazing and strong and fierce but together they are unstoppable. And do you know what else is good? She doesn’t lose powers because of a man. That’s always a win in fantasy books!! Princess of Souls is out on October 11th! And you should definitely pre-order your copy now! I definitely will be doing so when I get paid!!

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. I have loved previous books from this author so I was really excited when I got an arc of this one, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved everything about this from to characters to the plot and how it developed, and I can’t wait to see what this author produces next. Because of this it is an easy 5/5 stars for me.

Thank you so much Bonnier Books Uk + Netgalley for providing me with this E-ARC I am eternally grateful. I feel extremely lucky that I got to read this book before it is released and it was AMAZING. This was just the perfect fantasy book and now i’m sad that it’s over because I loved it so much. This carried out the Rapunzel re-telling perfectly, with a few parallels to tangled I often spotted, and an amazing take on it. This book was perfect for me, the short chapters, dual POV told from first person perspectives, with lovable characters, perfectly carried out character arcs and enemies to lovers romance that was carried out in the best possible way. The main characters romance was carried out perfectly and I loved the tension and angst. This book also had an extremely interesting world and magic in it which I loved very much. There’s so many good things I could say about this book - I just couldn’t put it down and I loved it so much - definitely one of my favourite fantasy reads, if not the favourite of mine I feel so lucky I got to read this book before the release date, I can tell it is going to be very popular. My one critic as a few typos and there is this one chapter I think around chapter 20, told from Selestra’s perspective, when Nox and Selestra are on the king’s ship, where it mentions that Selestra sees her mother. However after this chapter she just miraculously disappears without Selestra or Nox fighting/communicating with her and with no mention that she ever left - so I think it should just be mentioned in the chapter that Selestra could no longer see her mother / that she disappeared or something as it felt edging onto a plot hole when there was no mention that she had left the king’s ship. However apart from that, this book was absolutely amazing and nothing else of it needs changing in my opinion.
I’m going to miss the characters and this book so much knowing that it’s probably a standalone - so I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it is released to re-read as this book was so good!

I really loved and enjoyed To kill a kingdom so I was quite sure that this too wouldn’t disappoint and nobody is more glad about it more than me. I really loved and enjoyed it. It was fast paced, full of excitement, action and mystery. I just can’t seem to put it down except read and finish it in a single sitting. So yeah, I loved it that much.

I am going to get the negative out of the way first so I can focus on the many things I LOVED about this book.
If I were to say the characters of this book were completely original and new I would be lying. The main plotline of overthrowing a tyranical ruler whilst the protagonists gain a new understanding of themselves and their power is almost identical to that of Christo's incredible debut To Kill A Kingdom. Furthermore, in terms of characters, Nox is practically a reincarnation of Elian, not to mention the two very similar mothers in both novels.
HOWEVER, and this is a huge caveat, I did not care one bit whilst reading this book.
The style of Christo's writing is wonderful. The story captures the reader from the first instant, there is quickfire action, witty dialogue, detailed and relatable characterisation, and incredible worlds that I long to explore. Additionally, the story was empowering and exciting and written with elegance. The descriptions brought each element to life without being overly wordy or dull as Christo's word choice was careful and well considered. Lastly, Selestra and Nox are even more lovable that Elian and Lira. Their relationship is wonderful to experience and I found myself grinning like a lovestruck teen when they finally had their first kiss.

Overall, "Princess of Souls" is wonderful addition to any YA or fantasy lovers bookshelf. I highly recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Princess of Souls, it took me completely by surprise! Princess of Souls really grabbed me and I was invested in the story and characters!

I liked the references to Rapunzel, it's loosely a retelling but has its own separate plot too. I didn't find many references to To Kill a Kingdom but I don't really remember a lot of the world from that book anyway, so I probably just didn't connect the dots. For a standalone fantasy, it was quite impressive how much plot was packed in, the pace is fast and it held my attention throughout.

I enjoyed the magic system, the death visions and taking souls for power was really interesting and I found the magic system quite easy to follow.

Selestra and Nox had the true enemies to lovers arc that I wanted in To Kill a Kingdom, right from the start Nox hates Selestra for being a witch and it takes a while for her to gain his trust. There's a lot of banter between them which was a lot of fun and the side characters, Micah and Irenya, had great personalities too.

If you like Daughter of the Pirate King, Belladonna, Fable or The Drowned Woods then I recommend giving Princess of Souls a go!

Loved loved this one!! Gripping and exciting and as always a fab read and can't wait to see what this author does next :)

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so here we go 💖

Rating: 5/5⭐️

Princess of Souls is a Rapunzel-inspired YA Romance about a witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king, and a reckless, rebellious boy whom her fate is tied.

For sixteen years, Selestra Somniatis has been trapped in a castle on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as King Seryth's right hand.
Tied by blood to steal souls for the immortal King of the Six Isles, the Somniatis Witch foretells the deaths of participants in the Festival of Predictions. To outrun your fate is to save your soul and steal the King's immortality. But if you die, your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

As a soldier in King Seryth's army, Nox Laederic is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but he has no plans to die at the hands of the King or his witches. His plan is more akin to violent revenge: steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra herself. But when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, she sees her own death alongside his--their fates are unmistakably intertwined, and Selestra is no longer safe in the only home she's ever known. Nox and Selestra will have to enter a turbulent alliance in order to survive long enough to free the Six Isles from King Seryth's clutches and escape the new fate that hunts them.

I’ve previously read another book from Alexandra Christo and I love her writing. It’s compelling, easy to follow and magical. And just like her To Kill a Kingdom, Princess of Souls also has a beautiful dark twist to a classic fairytale - Rapunzel. This dual POV is really good, both Selestra and Nox are incredibly interesting characters to know and follow so it was delightful to read both POVs at honestly, any time throughout the book!

Rich characters with rich plots and developments and if you like Romantasies with a twist of fairytale, enemies-to-lovers, courageous heroines, rebellious hero’s, found family and happy endings, then you are in for a treat!

Make sure to keep an eye on my bookstagram (@maria_bookshelf) during the release day for a special post 🌸💖

This does not directly link with To Kill a Kingdom - but it is in the same world. The rapunzel retelling is really interesting and the characters were all bewitching - I really enjoyed this dip into the world again and having another POV.

To Kill A Kingdom was a solid 3 stars for me but this book blew me away. This very Rapunzel-esque fantasy story is a truly sensational read.

A big thank you to Hot Keys Books for such a brilliant book .


The Book is a mix of Sc-Fi and Fantasy / Teen / Young Adult




Plot : Selestra has been kept in the tower for 16 years as a prisoner , she has to take her mothers place as the kings witch , as they can foretell deaths in the festival of prediction and this very useful to a immortal king ,why you ask.... well if you can outrun your fate it can earn a wish and YES have a chance to steal the king immortality, but if you die will you are doomed forever . then we get introduced to charming Nox who is a candidate ,but he has no plan to die oh no !! he planning to take out the king and his enterer court , but when Selestra touch Nox her first prediction she see her own death as well as Nox . then Nox and Selestra forced to work together to save their-self's..

My Thoughts : Now I haven't read To Kill A Kingdom but WOW!! not I really do , do don't need to read the book before though its linked by places in the story which if your fan you will love .I know I will be as I really enjoyed this story was incredible.
it is a bit of a retelling of Rapunzel which HELLO !! we all know I love a retelling that real sold me on the story but a lot darker its no Disney film its so much more .The book really lived up to it expectations and more
the book pulled the rug from under me but in the best way .
The characters oh my gosh !! they was on fire totally badasses doesn't even cover it I would say a lot of them are very morally grey in their own ways. now my favourite has to be Nox , hot and hero in his own right I know a lot of people will love Selestra I really loved her true girl power , but Nox was the one who kept me gripped ill let him come save me anytime ,

this story is going to stay with me got a very long time the magic being pulled in to a different world for a while and felling like you part of the gang was truly amazing and I'm sure of this you will to .


I give this book 5 gripping stars

4.5/5*
Loved this loose rapunzel retelling. The writing style is similar to to kill a kingdom.
Great characters (loved Micah and Nox) the villains were villainous
It had a compelling intruiging plot.
When selestria had to give a death prediction for the first time it does not go to plan and she finds herself inexplicably linked to Nox, a first soldier who wants revenge for his father. Some great banter scenes, some parts that made me laugh, parts that made me gasp and parts that made me sad.
Can’t wait to read more of this author

Sixteen-year-old, Selestra has been unwittingly trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.
Nox a soldier of the king however is determined to try and succeed. When Selestra is for the 1st time is given the task of foretelling a death, his death, she becomes inexplicably entwined and thus begins Selestra’s life changing moment, where by she betrays her family, leaves the tower with Nox and undergo their escapades to evade death.
Neither initially trusts the other, but recognising they must work together to survive, they learn to trust, like and eventually love each other. It’s a witchy journey of discovery as Selestra matures, realises she is a good person and attempts to save the Isles and end the suffering of the people. With decent battles, a sense of adventure, Nox’s wit and some intense determination, it makes for an action packed, YA adventure balanced with action and humour. Very enjoyable.

Selestra Somniatis is a witch, whose sole purpose is to be the King's heir, to help him to stay immortal and remain in power.
Nox Laederic is one of the strongest in the King's Last Army, and has spent the last few years preparing to kill the king, and avenge his father's death.

Like Christo's previous novel, this is a fairytale retelling, this time based on Rapunzel. I absolutely adored this story, it had me gripped from the start and was everything I needed, enemies to lovers, powerful female protagonist, amazing friendships.

The POV is dual so we get both Selestra's and Nox's story and it makes for a richer story. I loved seeing their relationship grow, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this brilliant book!

I adored this book so much, and I can't wait until October so I read it again!

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo, a spellbinding Rapunzel retelling full of witches and adventure 4.75/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley UK for giving me a free E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was really excited to return to the world of To Kill A Kingdom as I quite enjoyed it and this book is definitely a great improvement from that book.

The world is led by an immortal king who with the help with his witch steal the souls of people. I thought this was quite an unique concept and it was developed nicely. The writing was perfect for a YA Fantasy with lots of added humour, sarcasm and wit. The plot is fast paced as it focused on an adventure which I loved. In my opinion, Alexandra has improved on this aspect the most compared to To Kill a Kingdom. Also I loved how the trope were utilised eg found family and I am suppose to kill you.

The characters are definitely the highlight. It is dual POV so we get a great insight into the characters.
Our main protagonist Selestra, is trapped in her tower and is being be prepared to be the next witch to steal souls for the king. She goes through a great arc as she finally does accept her power and herself. I really related to her and she finds it hard to trust herself but finds it easy to trust others.
Our other main protagonist, Nox, is a solider who wants to avenge his father by killing the king. He is practically a Fylnn Rider with all his sarcasm and humour but has a deep heart and will do anything to protect Selestra. I absolutely adored him and he and Selestra’s banter and chemistry was incredible.

Overall, I had so much fun reading this book and I cannot wait for everyone to read this book on 11th October!

I have just finished this book and videoed my reaction through the last 10% of the book because what an absolute journey!

I adored this book- from the start I was gripped as I was with the author's previous novel but this one took the win in my opinion.

The characters were great- the found family vibe and the banter between our main cohort was just so heartwarming, obviously Nox is going to be everyone's next book boyfriend and I can't wait for the fan art, Selestra was everything thing I wanted in a strong female protagonist- feisty, strong, flawed. Michah and Irenya's sibling bickering is just so relatable.

The retelling or reimagining of "Rapunzel" while subtle there are lots of parts that take you back to the original tale and while we are on subtlety Alexandra Christo is so good at subtlety especially when the romance is blossoming between Selestra and Nox!

On romance it's there but there are no toxic relationship tropes and this is YA fantasy romance so it's safe to recommend in my opinion to a wider age range than traditional YA especially if you know your audience. So for those of you in to tropes we have enemies to lovers to friends to enemies to lovers this isn't linear, found family, some one bed all be it a blanket.

As I'd read "To Kill a Kingdom" I recognised the world and magic systems however this can be read as a standalone and the writing is so good that if this was my first outing I'd know the world/magic.

The pace, characters and story are so good throughout and there was at no point that I thought it was dragging however that last 10% of the book wow!
Chapter 44- heart ripped out
Chapter 45- head in hands
chapter 46-goosebumps
chapter 47- slight breather into heart ripped out again
chapter 48- head in hands, crying
rest of the book smiles, sobs- honestly just so good!

I loved this book in fact I rationed it out because I didn't want it to end - thank you so much for the opportunity to read in advance.

4.75 stars

I’m am yet to pick up an Alexandra Christo book and not instantly fall in love with it and when I say instantly I mean 1st line, she is the queen of opening lines.
POS is filled with everything you need from a book: action, adventure, great back and forth between main characters, brilliantly written villians and morally grey characters with a continuous pace there isn’t a moment of boredom. The characters are well written and you love them all and hate them all.
Following Nox and Selestra on this journey will leave you breathless from continuous adventure With an amazing clash of titans ending!!

Preliminary 5-star review. Will post a full review and adjust the rating accordingly after I finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Many thanks to Bonnier Books UK, Hot Key Books and Alexandra Christo for the advanced copy of Princess of Souls via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review.

I absolutely adored reading this YA fantasy and positively inhaled it. Whilst I’m normally a fan of series (as I like seeing characters develop over time), the depth and development of Christo’s characters in this book made it feel like I read an entire series over only one book.

I appreciated the humour, with plenty of little quips and jibes throughout the books. “Says the girl who nearly got eaten by a puddle.”

The inclusion of a bisexual/pansexual character was great, and without the usual inherent homophobia battle that is still found in most books. It’s just a given and part of the narrative. “She’s dated both women and men and always said she cares more about people than their bodies.”

Whilst this is, loosely, a retelling of Rapunzel, with frequent mentions of her tower, letting down her hair, and a symbolic cutting of her hair, this story goes much deeper. It delves deep into good vs evil, into misunderstood and twisted powers and what the quest for immortality could do to the mind.

Moods: adventurous, emotional, mysterious, challenging & inspiring
Pace: fast
Character development: strong
Plot or character driven: 50/50
Diversity: medium
Trigger warnings: death of a family member, death of a friend, murder, physical assault, violence, war theme

Overall, I give this book 5/5 and I would highly recommend this to any fantasy reader. Adored this book!

If ryou want a story about a green haired witch, who fell in love with a soilder and had magic to see a person's death, then this is the perfect book.
I loved To Kill a Kingdom and love this book even more. Enemies to lovers, secrets, betrrayl and family. You go thrrogh all the emotions.
The world building is emmense and believeable.
Alexandra's novels are a must read.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC. Physical copy already pre ordered.

This was such an amazing book! I loved everything about it. As a massive fan of To Kill a Kingdom, I was more than ready to jump back into the world with new characters and a new adventure. And, whilst this is set in the same world as To Kill a Kingdom, there's no pressure to read it as Princess of Souls is a story all its own, and both novels are standalones, with everything wrapped up by the end. This makes the book perfect for anyone just discovering Alexandra Christo, and it also gives them a brief glimpse into what to expect from To Kill a Kingdom, if they choose to read it.

Princess of Souls is easily in my ever growing list of favourite books this year. It had everything I want in a novel, from beautiful world building, to in-depth main characters, there wasn't a single flaw or area I thought needed a little more to it. It's full of magic and adventure, and each chapter alternates between Nox and Selestra's POV, giving insight into both characters and allowing them to grow and reveal more of themselves to the reader.

Princess of Souls is a rapunzel-inspired YA-fantasy set in the same universe as Christo's To Kill a Kingdom.

What drives the story is the characters and their relationships to each other, which Christo writes so well you can feel the emotions running between them yourself. The main character and her love interest have a strong enemies to lovers dynamic and it was exciting to watch their feelings change on the page as the story went on.

If you loved To Kill a Kingdom, you will love Princess of Souls as well - it's filled with action, adventure, magic and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Alexandra Christo for providing me with an e-ARC for this book. I read this book and wrote this review willingly and all opinions are my own.