Review: TO KILL A KINGDOM // witty banter, pirates and siren goodness

Title: To Kill A Kingdom
Author: Alexandra Christo
Page count: 358
Date published: 6 March 2018
Genre: Young Adult fantasy retelling

Thank you Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending this one my way!

Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS
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.
Princess Lira is siren royalty and revered across the sea until she is cursed into humanity by the ruthless Sea Queen. Now Lira must deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer or remain a human forever.
Prince Elian is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world and captain to a deadly crew of siren hunters. When he rescues a drowning woman from the ocean, she promises to help him destroy siren kind for good. But he has no way of knowing whether he can trust her … 

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Yes, I finally read this. It was fantastic and I love The Little Mermaid!

I had the best time devouring this delicious book oh my gosh.

 
Lil ole me thought it would be a great idea to take this fantabulous book with me to the beach. And what did I do… well I was completely sucked in and couldn’t stop reading, that’s what I did. I LOVED this book and need more please and thank you.

• The witty banter was superb!!
• HATE TO LOVE is my new favourite trope okay
• Mermen, sirens and pirates and ships ahhhh!!!
• The world-building was so good
• I loved Elian and all his crew
• This book is just excellent

All I knew when I went into this was it was a Little Mermaid retelling and that it had sirens and a siren hunter who is also a prince which immediately pulled me in. I didn’t really know what our ‘adventure’ would be so I will say at first I was a bit disorientated because I had no idea where the story was going. But once I got what was going on, I LOVED IT. I love quests so of course, it was awesome. The book was really well paced and I loved the conflict between the characters. It was just so well put together which I’m super happy about.

• Kahlia: I loved that we got this character. I thought she added a great deal of depth to Lira’s character and their relationship
• Madrid: oh my gosh I cracked up SO MUCH because of her
• Kye: Kye was just so funny and I loved his and Elian’s friendship
• Torik: all of Elian’s crew is great okay.
• Sea Queen: I hated her arghhhh what a terrible mother
• Elian: this precious boy was everything. I adore Elian
• Lira: Lira is so badass, I LOVED her.

I was so pleased that the dual point of view NEVER confused to me. Alexandra gave each of them very distinct voices so I was never confused. One thing about the writing though was that I did sometimes reread sentences because I got ost but that may just have been me.
I loved the scene where Elian dives into rescue Lira and their whole first interaction. I loved all the banter.
The Sea Queen was SO EVIL. I was shocked, but then again I also should’ve expected that. I really loved how the relationship between Lira and her mother progressed and especially that conflict about not knowing your place. I thought that was really well done and I really loved that monologue.
I also loved that Lira had Kahlia and that sisterly instinct. I loved how that added a great deal of depth to Lira’s character. And that scene where she had to kill her aunt GAVE ME CHILLS.
I really related to Elian and loved how he felt he belonged on the sea because I certainly feel like I don’t fit.
The scene on Rycroft’s ship HAD ME SHOOK. I didn’t expect that plot twist and loved how Elian and Lira’s relationship grew. Because you know I’ve been rooting for them, right?! Seeing as I’m Little Mermaid trash.
The last 100 pages of this book were just twist after twist and a heck ton of anxiety okay. But I loved how it ended and how Lira and Elian got together. I just loved their relationship, it was so well done. And the last chapter was SO GOOD. This whole book just makes me feel good okay.

This book READ IT READ IT READ IT! It’s got everything you’ll want. Pirates and wit and twists and stabby goodness. It’s just delicious (how many times have I used this word now idk).

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HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? DID YOU ENJOY IT? HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE MERMAIDS AND PIRATES? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!

xo