To Kill a Kingdom Review

4 stars!!! When I first started reading this book, I really did not know what to expect. I'm not a huge fan of novels involving mermaids and I haven't had much success in finding one that really blew me away. However, I would say that this one definitely took me by surprise. Let me elaborate further. Firstly, I absolutely adored the worldbuiling. The places were described quite vividly and the novel was rather immersive. I could easily imagine each world. I also enjoyed reading about the history of the places, the magic system and the politics regarding this imagined world where the characters lived. I feel that this definitely helped in giving the story a richer context and enabled to bring the whole plot together. While, the premise of the story regarding a war between the humans and the sirens was a unique concept that reeled me in from page one. Secondly, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. As this was a retelling of "The Little Mermaid", I was expecting the usual sweetness that comes with mermaid stories but this one definitely had a unique twist. The MC Lira is a fierce and bloodthirsty siren and although beautiful are described as being very deadly. I really liked how the author portrayed her character. She is independent, brutal and lively. She is level headed and can definitely think for herself not like the usual simpering YA heroines. In addition, we also get to see her vulnerable side and the battle that rages within herself. The desire to be accepted by her mother and the extent to which she tries to gain her favour. As a reader, you get to experience all of these raw emotions. Throughout the novel, we see immense character development as she begins her journey of self discovery and comes to terms with who is really is and who she is destined to become. I also enjoyed reading about her relationship with her mother and the other sirens. It helped to make her character more relatable and likeable. With regards to the side characters, I felt they were fleshed out well enough to give the story dimension. I especially liked the description and character of the Sea Queen. She was a formidable villainess and I thought her parts were the most enchanting and deeply atmospheric, albeit in a dark sense. In terms of Elian's character, I did find him interesting enough. I liked that the author didn't make him the usual cliched male protagonist which a brooding past. He is gallant, strong and strives to forge his own path even though he is a prince. I liked how his backstory was merged with being a pirate. I think that added a nice detail to the storyline. Coupled with the dark fantasy elements made the book a real treat. However, I didn't find the romance between Lira and him that convincing. I felt it was rushed and contrived. For a killer, Lira falling for him in such a short time makes no sense. I actually feel a romance plot wasn't even necessary for this story but I guess it was done in order to keep it true to the actual fairytale. Therefore, I removed a star from my rating. Last but not least, the structure of the novel made it fairly easy to read. The story was told from the POVs of Lira and Elian. So we get a full perspective of their feelings, motives and the overarching storyline. The author, Alexandra Christo, writes beautifully and the story progression was flawless. The plot was complex and multi-layered. The undercurrent of darkness was captivating and I liked how the plot featured action, betrayal, friendship and political intrigue. The magical elements were interwoven in a seamless way and the conclusion was satisfying to say the least. The plot devices and revelations made for quick progression even though some reveals were not as jaw dropping. As a standalone YA fantasy, I would recommend the story in a heartbeat especially if you are keen on darker fantasy elements.

#darkfantasy #youngadult #sirens #retellings #fairytale #magic #AlexandraChristo #pirates