Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most–a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to … to the Sea Queen and or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby–it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good–But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
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This book was so much fun! First, you have a wicked siren, who rips out a princes heart each year for her birthday! With her bare freaking hands! I loved Lira!
Then we meet Prince Elian, who isn’t just your normal boring prince, he’s pretty much a pirate! He had awesome integrity and was all about doing what it takes for humanity!
Also no insta love here. Thanks the deepest depths of the ocean! There was the perfect slow build, even with all the hate going inside of Lira. But after being transformed into a human by her witch of a mother, literally, she somehow has to find herself and maybe adapt a little to humanity as well.
Plus the octopus tentacle with that dagger on the cover!
A fantastic swashbuckling adventure with pirate princes and bloodthirsty sirens.
I loved this book. It was such a great take on The Little Mermaid, while keeping the parts that tell that story but in a wholly new way. The world building and characters were fleshed out and wonderful.
The story and writing was addictive from the first to the last word.
I really enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo. I was so looking forward to this.
One of My daughters favourite Disney movies growing up was the little mermaid and although this was about vicious Sirens and not cute princess like mermaids I was clapping my hands together in glee so excited to start this.
Stealing a prince’s heart has a whole new meaning when it is literally ripped out of your chest.
This book is a vicious tale of Killer Sirens, An evil sea witch of a mother, and a whole ship of sirens hunters led by a royal prince, Prince Elian who has made it his mission in life to rid the seas of these killers and in particular the Prince’s Bane, None other than Princess Lira herself along with her sea witch of a mother.
So after Princess Lira is punished by being made mortal and sent into the mortal world with the task of bringing her mother the Prince’s heart by her birthday it’s a whole new world with new experiences and emotions she finds herself feeling.
And after Prince Elian saves a strange girl in the ocean from drowning and brings her aboard his ship this Prince and Siren’s journey are ready to collide for an altogether better future for all.
So, this is aimed at the YA community in general and as I said earlier is a completely engrossing read.
And although a romance between Lira and Elian is anticipated the story here is more action based than romance based and is also completely clean in nature.
But be aware this is definitely not a sweet Disney story, There is actually a fair bit of violence involved here.
To “Kill A Kingdom” actually reminded me a whole lot of an Old Sinbad movie in as much as there on a quest they need to fulfil and that there are beasts beneath the ocean that are common knowledge to all, as is the magic that rebounds in this world.
I adored all the magical kingdom lore we got to experience here.
There were no great plot twists, but they weren’t really needed.
There was plenty of imagination and visual pictures portrayed by this author that I found this didn’t need any fancy twists at all.
Also, I would like to say I loved the cover image for this story it was so beautiful I’d have picked this up for that reason alone.
so, Yeh, this is a thumbs up from me, a great new imaginative YA novel which gives a whole new twist to an old favourite.
I was provided with an ARC of “To Kill A Kingdom” By Netgalley of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
We open with Lira doing what she does best…..getting the hearts of human royalty.
Then we are introduced to Prince Elian the siren killer (yes I pictured him as Prince Eric!) He has the most wonderful bond with his crew and family and I loved reading about them, especially his sister, Amara and Madrid.
Then we get their tale. A story of different cultures, old ways and rules and ultimately, learning to trust, change and love.
I did find the build up a bit slow but guess it was needed to set the scene. Then at 50% it exploded! I found myself glued, snatching moments to read just 1 more chapter whilst lifeing! It absolutely blew me away! Elian and Lira own my heart and I was cheering for them with everything I had. 4.5 stars
This was Alexandra’s debut novel but it sure as hell didn’t read like one! Her writing was magical and kept me so into the story, even when I put it down it was still on my mind. I cannot wait to see what else she writes in the future.
This book had action, so much sass, and was a dark fantasy that actually lived up to all it’s hype. If it has a hint of a retelling I’m all in. I also have been a been on a kick lately where if a book has pirates or sirens in then I have to read it.
I loved our main characters Lira and Elian!
Lira is a siren princess, also known as The Princes Bane on land. She got her name because of all the hearts she’s stolen from princes. Not in a nice way either, she literally rips out a princes heart every year for her birthday. She is also the daughter of the Sea Queen, a very evil and psychotic sea queen.
Elian is a prince, also known as the Siren Killer. He’d rather be a pirate than be at court learning before he becomes king. He has been on a mission to kill all the sirens.
When Lira’s mother makes her human as punishment for taking a heart too early, she ends up meeting Elain. They both want the eye of Keto for their own personal reasons. They both need something from the other, but will they take the risk?
It was wonderful seeing their relationship go through changes as they learned more about each other. There is a romance between Lira and Elian, but it’s more a slow burn. Lord knows I have a love/hate relationship with slow burns. I like that they get to know each other and build that relationship, but they were so perfect for each other and I wanted them to realize it already!!
Overall, I freaking loved it. This will most definitely make my list at the end of the year for my favorite books. I hate that it’s over but can’t wait to see what else she writes.
My Rating:
Type: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Magical world, Young Adult Fantasy, Mythology, Mermaids
Primary Characters: Lira, Elian
Narration: Dual POV
This is my first Alexandra Christo book. I saw this as standalone and initially thought several things may not be tied well and it may contain unanswered questions, but its all tied up well. It’s fun, easy. It has plenty of snark, banter and a really great character cast.
Lira is a Siren princess, daughter of the Sea Queen, and known amongst humans as Princes’ Bane. She is infamous for killing Princes. She has several human hearts in her collection. This is her mother’s way of proving her ruthlessness. Monstrous and inhumanly beautiful sirens only exist for power and every other feeling is considered weakness.
Prince Elian is a siren hunter and piracy adventurer. Elian feels at home in ocean and his war ship. His kingdom and his responsibilities suffocate him, so he roams the seas, hunting sirens and making the seas a safer place.
Lira disobeys her mother, the Sea Queen punishes Lira by turning her into a human. When she is drowning in sea, in unexpected turn of events, she is picked up by Elain and crew. Elain is not aware of her true identity, yet they loath each other initially. Two enemies bred in blood, two souls burdened by expectations and invisible chains, they forged an unwanted alliance, unaware that they would both change in a way they never predicted.
Story picks up pace after initial phase. I found the middle portion to be a little meandering, it got dragged back into adventure soon. It’s also fun to see all the different places they went to and how the kingdoms differ from one another; the world building is easy. Banter was good. I loved the fact that there were no cheesy dialogues.
Overall, it’s a fast and enjoyable read with lots of betrayal, lies and deception. if you’re looking for a story like that this book definitely is the right choice for you.
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What a ride. I don’t know if I loved the world or the characters more.
This is the best retelling of the little mermaid I’ve ever read.
Full of adventures and a healthy dose of action to kill a kingdom is a standalone that you can’t put aside.
The world building is amazing, i would have thought that being just one book it was going to be rushed or just mentioned but was fantastic. The different kingdoms and the legends behind them are well planned and perfectly described. The feel of the story at times dark and others full of mischief, set a perfect pace for the book.
Lira and Elian are two sides of the same coin. Natural enemies not by choice but by tradition, after all sirens must murder men and men most kill sirens.
Together they embark on a journey of deception, betrayal and sorrow that takes them through all the seas and into the crazed sea queen path.
I loved both MCs strong willed and cunning but so vulnerable at the same time. I really enjoyed their fights and how they bonded through out the book.
My only regret is that or wasn’t longer I swear I could read a room full of stories of the crew and their travels, about magic and love.
‘Oy…that was QUITE the chore to finish.
This book had been sitting on my TBR list for years. I let a random number generator decide which book I would read next from my list, and it fell on this book. I had put off reading this because I was afraid it was going to be a cheesy YA love story that was just going to frustrate me.
Totally should have listened to my instincts.
The book starts off pretty great, actually. A ruthless murderous Siren who collects the hearts of Princes on her birthday each year, earning her the moniker, the Prince’s Bane. A pirate Prince who feels more at home on his ship with his rag-tag crew of loyal sailors than he does in the golden palace of his homeland…not too shabby!
Then our savage Siren pisses of her Sea Queen of a mother and finds herself turned into a human, and that’s where it all spectacularly falls apart.
What follows is 200+ pages of cringy banter between our killer Siren and Pirate Prince. Both thinking they’re the most bad-ass heartless people on the planet who are the masters of ‘playing it cool.’ Nothing can touch them, and no one can ever understand them because they’re both oh, so deep, and completely misunderstood.
After such a great start, things slow to a crawl. I glanced down and realized I was 53% of the way through the book, and nothing had really happened yet. Their ultimate quest is crammed into the last 12% of the book.
I ended up skimming the last 25% of the book, just wanting it to be over. I was invested enough that I wanted to see how it would end (which was exactly the way I thought it would, with the clichéd rainbows and lollipops picture-perfect ending), but not enjoying it enough to give it any more if my time beyond the rest of the day.
Overall, this was just not for me. The love/hate story was something straight from the WB, and the story was weak. I LOVED the world, though. The idea of the 100 kingdoms and what little bit we got to see of them was really intriguing. I feel like that could have been expanded upon so much more. Maybe release a series of books that take place in the different kingdoms? Idk…just an idea. The setting was great. It was the character that I found to be shallow and insipid.
This was such an amazing adventure. This book took me on a whiled ride. I loved it!!!!!! This literally had me hooked from the first sentence. I love a good enemies to lovers and this one was that but with a cool twist. It was angsty and intriguing. I can not get enough of these characters. Elian and Lira and two sides of the same coin. I loved the internal struggles they both faced. They both want new words and must come together to make one. Oh my gosh this book was full of slow burning passion and fight galore. It was bloody and epic. I love the magical past that plays a huge part in the journey. This book seems very plot driven but is character driven enough to make it truly incredible. I enjoyed reading this book so much. It is interesting and fun and tension filled. I love Lira and Elian so much! They are perfect. This book just has me all up in my feels and I know it will have you feeling that way too. I definitely recommend this YA Fantasy. The story telling is magical, the characters are so unique, and the romance is so heart clenching. You all need to pick this baby up!!! I can not stop staring at my book and smiling. It was epic.
This was a fun change of pace for me
And the perfect beach read
To Kill a Kingdom gave me all the best The Little Mermaid vibes with way more action! I was impressed with the character development as well as the plot structure. I’m not going to lie; I did not expect to enjoy this book so much. It was hard to put down. I’m a sucker for YA fantasy and beautiful cover, so this will be going on my shelf!
This might be my favorite Little Mermaid retelling of all time – sharp and funny and romantic and fierce with a pirate prince and a princess who is never quite what you expect. I tore through this story in one sitting and recommend it to anyone who likes their fairy tales with a little bite.
Bravo! This is not The Little Mermaid that you know…
How do I even begin? This book was fantastic from the beginning of page 1 all the way to the end. The author did such a brilliant job of twisting the story of the little mermaid and giving it a murderous dark re-imagining. The POV was dual perspective and the voices of the two main characters were so different and complete, each had their own agency and goals, yet the story wove together well because they both had the same dark view of the world they were living in. They both felt trapped by the circumstances of the lives they were forced into.
A true enemies to lovers romance. These two characters want to kill each other with a ferocity and wildness that is hard to read at times but so captivating you can’t turn away. The world-building was eerie and multi-faceted. So rich with different cultures that it would be a shame if there were no more books or stories written within the world the author created.
The retelling was masterful, original and unique, while still hitting all of the emotional highs and lows of the original story and using parts of the original story to layer in world-building. She had a way of keeping the stakes high while varying the pace that kept me reading well into the night. I really enjoyed her take on a classic and would even say that she has written one of my favorite retellings Definitely on par with the Lunar Chronicles, maybe even better.
I saw a few readers who were unhappy with the ending and I understand the sentiment, I wasn’t particularly excited to see the story come to an end either. However, I liked that she ended the book on a hopeful note that implied a happily ever after while still leaving room for just enough doubt. That seems appropriate for the dark tone written throughout the novel.
I can’t wait to read more from this author. Well. Done.
Felt like a dark spin on the Little Mermaid. I loved it and was a little sad when it ended.
As a stand-alone, it was refreshing. I liked how the protagonist is actually really a villain of sorts. As a siren she considers it her duty to take the hearts of men and drown them in the sea. It was interesting being inside the mind of the “bad guy” as a protagonist. Overall though, I think the ending just felt rushed and left me a bit disappointed, to be honest. I feel like either there needed to be a second book or the book needed to be longer to build up to the ending. So while it was fun and refreshing read and I enjoyed the banter, the ending just felt a bit flat for me.
I’m always ready for fairytale retellings and The Little Mermaid is by far my favourite. Enemies to Lovers, the MC is a vicious character, made to question everything she knows about her way of life and I love it.
I loved every second of it. And i would recommend this to any person who loves ficton, fairytales and sea creatures
“His heart will make a fine trophy.”
Alexandra Christo’s To Kill a Kingdom was full of interesting and dynamic characters, high-seas adventure, and beautiful settings.
Lira and Elian live two very similar lives in two completely different worlds. Lira, a siren, is a princess who must take the heart of a sailor on her birthday every year. Elian is a royal prince who feels more at home as a pirate slaying the sirens that he hates so much. Both feel trapped by their destinies and the worlds to which they were born. Their worlds collide when fate intervenes, and each must decide if their differences and the hate they harbor for the other’s kind is worth continuing to live under a rule that neither wants.
Christo’s YA fantasy novel is one of the most engaging I have read this year. The story is unique, the characters exciting, and the worldbuilding exceptional. To Kill a Kingdom pulls you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very end.
This was a fun read. The world building was excellent. I saw every place and the descriptions of the people was well done. Some scenes that were supposed to be high-intensity didn’t deliver and the characters didn’t always live up to their big reputations. The siren/mermaid aspect definitely kept me intrigued to want to read on. When I got to the end, I was pleased with how it all played out. This book was bought due to the hype, and though I didn’t hate it, it wasn’t the most amazing story ever, either. For a quick beach read, this is one to consider.
Great holiday read. Unless you’re on a boat. Probably don’t read this if you’re on a boat.