What can I say, I loved this book from the very first sentence. The writing is flawless, the characters are amazing, and the story is unique in its own way. This is a type of retelling of the little mermaid, but a whole lot darker. Lira is a princess and a killer. She only takes the heart of princes though. Her mother is the sea queen and a vile, evil, monster. When her mother turns her human we really get to see Lira’s character come to life and I have to admit I really liked her.

Prince Elian is a pirate who doesn’t like the idea of becoming king. He spends his time at sea with his crew only going home when he has to. He is a great character, well-formed and well thought out. His crew are great too and the sarcastic witty banter that goes on between them is fantastic.

Elian rescues Lira from the sea after her mother turns her to human and here begins this amazing tale. The dialogue between Elian and Lira is great and so funny at times. I could almost hear them arguing in my head as I read. When Elian learns of an ancient object that has the power to destroy the Sea queen and all the sirens, he sets out to find it. With Lira on board his ship, disguised as a human, they set out to find the second piece of the eye of Keto and a means to rid the world of sirens.

Alexandra Christo has created a magnificent world with believable characters and a great plot. Her writing is delightful and the story is packed full of action. It dark and twisting and each page brings something new to light. It’s definitely a book I will be buying in paperback to add to my collection and one I will be recommending to everyone.

I loved the world of Lira and Elian. They are great characters with as many similarities as they have differences. Both are reluctant heirs to their kingdom's throne and both feel like they cannot live up to their parents' expectations. But while Elian has made it his life's mission to rid his world of the threat of the Sirens, Lira spends her life killing princes and stealing their hearts, earning the title Prince's Bane.
To say this is a Little Mermaid retelling is to sell it short. Though it has a vague similarity in that a mermaid (or siren in this case) loses her song, it is far more than that.
I found it intriguing realising that the Siren language Psariin is actually Greek and many of the place names have hidden meanings.

Murderous mermaids and pirate princes abound in this wonderful debut by Alexandra Christo. The writing was beautiful and engaging. Christo is a masterful writer and the world she built was crafted seamlessly and splendidly and the imagery is so impressive. The plot unfolded naturally, the characters were multi-faceted and complex and engaging and my favourite romance trope of all was handled beautifully - honestly such an entertaining relationship. The sea lore was also one of my favourite things about this book, such vivid and well done, creepy and fascinating in equal parts. This is on my list of most liked books of 2018 and I'm so glad I had a chance to read it.

I've honestly never been a fan of Little Mermaid but I do LOVE retellings. (More like obsessed with it actually.) And dammit To Kill A Kingdom... Nailed. It.

I love every bit of this book's brurality and savagery. I have a newfound obsession for sirens and pirates and I'm not even sorry. This book was so good, I don't know what to say. I was so captivated by the majestic, magical and bloody world the author created. The writing was so incredibly engrossing I was dreading the ending. I was planning on re-reading this when I was about halfway through and you bet I'm gonna go do just that once it's officially released.

I have never met two people more swoonworthy than Lira and Elian. Their first meeting wasn't exactly screaming romance but their chemistry was palpable in every jab and "insult" they throw at each other. The romance was super slow burn and I. Loved. It. Honestly I didn't think my heart could take any more of Elian and Lira being perfect for each other.

I'm not actually a huge fan of standalones. And although To Kill A Kingdom had as perfect an ending as you can get for a book about ruthless sirens, killer pirates and a siren-killing wily prince, I wouldn't complain if the author decided she wanted to continue Elian and Lira's story. (I think Madrid and Kye too would have a very interesting and exciting story to tell. On second thought I think the whole crew of the Saad deserves stories of their own.)

I fell in love with this book from start to finish. Such an amazing debut! Must-read!

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. I heard a lot about it in the book community and knew that I had to read it. I liked all the different characters and seeing that there were many sides to them and that they weren't just cruel. This was told in two different first person perspectives,Elian and Lira,I found it sometimes to be confusing on who was narrating,not because the characters were very similar but because there was no indication that the point of view had changed.I don't know if this is the case in the physical books.Though, It was easy to distinguish after the first two sentences and didn't take away from the story. I also really enjoyed the romance in this book and found it refreshing not to be the main focus. It was a really good slow-burn romance.I really liked the world that they were living in and the different kingdoms and how they interact with each other. Another thing I liked was how the sirens looked.They weren't necessarily the most beautiful and some had tentacles but you could still like them.It's what on the inside that counts,which is a very good message. One thing I disliked was that it  took a lot of time to actually get to the main plot,which made me take a bit longer to read and be not as interested in it but once the main plot was estabished,I was flying through it.Another thing is that it's a stand-alone fantasy!  No waiting for another book to come out,although I think there might be potential for another book,i'm very happy with the ending,which doesn't leave a lot unanswered.

"And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing."

Meet Lira, daughter of the sea queen, siren princess, and the Prince's Bane. Her whole life she's been hunting princes, tearing their hearts out and storing them under her bed. She's feared all over the world, by both humans and sirens alike. And soon, she will be queen.

But when Lira does something that upsets her evil mother, she's cursed to live among the humans as punishment, opening her eyes to the world she thought she knew.



Alexandra's retelling of the Little Mermaid story we all know and love, was brilliant. Her ability to put her own unique twist on the characters and the plot line really made a difference to the standard retellings we see. Lira was a feisty, independent character who's sarcasm and dry sense of humour made her likeable, and her slice of humanity is what made her easier to relate to in comparison to her mother, who was nothing but pure evil. The slight change from mermaid to siren had virtually no impact of the way in which the story could be told, and actually made it more preferable.

When we think of mermaids, we think beautiful half-human, half-fish, with no intent to harm, but with sirens, who are essentially the same thing, we think death and hypnotic songs. This alteration made the story more interesting, as instead of losing her voice, as in the original fairytale, she simply loses her song, the main way in which she can cause death.

The prince of the story, Elian, was probably my favourite character. Doomed to become king, but longing for the life of a pirate, his story is one of difficulty. He has all the charm of a prince, with all the savviness of a pirate lord, and the loyalty of some of the most fearsome people you'll ever meet. The crew dynamic worked much like that of a family, and despite the hint of romance between a couple of his shipmates, this wasn't the main focus, instead relying on their personalities and passions, making them almost breathe life from the page.

What I loved about Alex's characters was the sheer amount of diversity, with one of the main characters being a character of colour, something I feel is very rarely seen in fantasy, and especially retellings (although if you want to argue that Winter is a character of colour, as are many of the characters in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, then I would urge you to consider other retellings and come back to me then. This is not the Lunar Chronicles and shouldn't be compared as such.) But whereas in previous fantasy books, or even in other young adult novels in general, the author likes to remind you that this character is of a certain ethnicity, Alex doesn't, instead choosing the simply continue with the story.

Her writing is fluid and captivating, and at times I didn't want to put the book down. Everything was described beautifully, and it felt like the towns and cities she had created were real, and right there in my mind. From cities on the land, to cities in the sea, each and every setting was so vivid and realistic, and I found myself wanting to fall right into the pages and explore each and every one. In addition to her beautiful prose, I adored her ability to blend together some of the best loved Hans Christian Andersen tales, with references to things such as the snow queen, in the frozen wastelands in the north. These additions made the story much more enjoyable, and interlinked worlds so many people have loved over the years.

But of course, there are always some negatives, and for me it was the sheer predictability of the story. Nothing really surprised me. Of course, you kind of expect that with a retelling. Some things have to remain the same, the little mermaid will lose her voice, Cinderella will lose her shoe/foot/some lower appendage, and Rapunzel will always have long hair in the beginning. But despite the general story being the same, I wasn't surprised by the little twists the story took. Sure, Alex made it unique, and I loved her writing and the overall story, but nothing shocked me, and that's the only reason I had to deduct a star. If the characters had done something I never would have expected, or the story took a turn in a different direction, I would probably have loved this even more.

Saying that, for a debut novel, this really is a beautiful story, with a classic tale at it's core, and you should definitely give it a go. With beautiful prose, and a fantastic set of characters you'll love from page one, this is perfect for any Disney fan, or a fan of good old fashioned fairytales, and I will definitely be picking up Christo's next book.

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. I count each of them, so I can be sure none were stolen in the night. It’s not such an odd fear to have. Hearts are power, and if there’s one thing my kind craves more than the ocean, it’s power.

Kahlia breaks into a wild smile. “It’s been an age since your last kill, Lira,” she teases. “Are you sure you’re not out of practice?”“A year is hardly an age.”“It depends who’s counting.” I sigh. “Then tell me who that is so I can kill them and be done with this conversation.” Kahlia’s grin is ungodly . The kind reserved for moments when I am at my most dreadful, because that’s the trait sirens are supposed to value most. Our awfulness is treasured. Friendship and kinship taught to be as foreign as land. Loyalty reserved only for the Sea Queen.

As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to read it.

Here are my reasons:

Fantasy is always my happy place so I am always interested in new releases.
Fairy tale inspired/ retelling = bound to be a favourite. I LOVE folklore and fairy tales, the darker the better!
Two main characters seem set up to hate each other and I do like a bit of the 'enemies to friends/lovers' trope. Admit it, you do too!
Standalone - I love a good standalone. Series are great, but sometimes I just want a book that is complete in itself so I don't have to wait for ages for the next book...
Been hearing a lot of good things about this in the book-blogger community already.
AND - - bonus - - the cover is beautiful!

I am happy to report that this book fulfilled and exceeded my expectations. There was enough world-building to really give you a feel for the city states above water (reminded me of Ancient Greece) and some for the underwater kingdom, ruled by the Sea Witch. I did find myself wanting to know more about the underwater world because the majority of the story takes place above the sea - far above actually, when the characters end up climbing an impossibly-tall mountain!

I liked the politics and the fraught friendships between the royals as well as the intrigue being fermented between kingdoms.

Elian and Lira were both flawed, realistic characters and I was really glad that their mutual hatred took a long time to even remotely change into anything else. They both had motivation for their actions and didn't change themselves because of their changing feelings.

A fantastically dark and twisted fairytale re-imagining that deserves a spot on any fantasy-lover's bookshelf!

Maybe the weight Elian carries is born from the shackles of a royal life and a kingdom that is unwanted but needed all the same. It’s something I can understand. Another similarity between us that I’d be blind not to note. In the pits of our souls – if I amuse myself with the notion that I have a soul – Elian and I aren’t so different. Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother’s murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling out to us both. A song of freedom and longing.

Reflections of each other in a different kingdom and a different life. Broken pieces from the same mirror. There are worlds between us, but that seems more like semantics than tangible evidence of how dissimilar we are.

What I liked: Dark and creative - this is how fairytale retellings should be done. I liked the relationship between Lira and her cousin. I liked Elian's crew and their banter. I also found it interesting how the romance developed - no insta-love here - and how the story ended.

Even better if: I would have liked even more of Lira and Elian's snippy conversations - they were really fun to read! I would have liked to find out more about the world of the sirens and mermaids and other underwater creatures.

How you could use it in your classroom: This would be a good recommendation for secondary pupils, particularly those who have already enjoyed alternative or 'fractured' fairy tales.

Thank you to netgalley and Hot Key Books for allowing me to read an early copy of this book because I loved it. This book follows Lira who is known by a different name, ‘the Prince’s Bane’ she is a siren and royalty. Her mother, the sea queen, becomes so disappointed in her and decides to punish her in the way that would see her despised by her subjects, and makes her a human. To get back into the queen’s good graces, she must hand over the human prince’s heart but instead becomes infatuated with him but the downside is that he wants to kill all of her race. Slight downside to this relationship, I would say.

This story was so good and intriguing. I’m so glad I picked this up. This was such an anticipated read for me and I’m pleased that it did not let me down.

5 out of 5 stars.

The premise of To Kill A Kingdom was really nice. It was not the most interesting idea, as there are many fantasy stories around mermaids, sirens and the likes, Yet, I thought it could be exciting and epic if it was written well. However, I found the writing style really simplistic. Although it's a stand alone, the set up took one fifth of the book. I really couldn't find the male lead smart to be able to claim 'pirate prince' and kill the sirens. The book only got really exciting at the very end. Until then, it was a really steady pace. Also, there were too many unnecessary conversation on the ship among the staff of the ship. I couldn't understand why give so much space to this.
All in all, the epic fantasy story was not delivered. That's why I didn't find this book to my taste. Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler alert …. I absolutely adored this book. To kill a Kingdom is unlike anything I have ever read. It has sirens and Princes who just want to be pirates! Alexandra Christo you are amazing!

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
I struggled to put this book down because it was that darn good. If you love The Little Mermaid and fantasy fiction then this book is definitely for you. I cannot stress how much you will fall in love with this unique retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Lira, our main character was my absolute favorite. She's an interesting character who I fell in love with immediately. Lira, who is Siren royalty, kills and takes the hearts from human princes every year to please her evil mother, the Sea Queen. You seriously do not want to mess with her. Similar to my like of Alice in The Hazel Wood, Lira is a character that I did not expect to like but did. She's charismatic, vicious and a cinnamon bun all rolled into one. She's a super badass female who can kick butt in the sea or land and has some awesome sassy dialogue that will make you laugh.

Another awesome character to mention is, none other than Prince Elian. My opinion of him at first was that he would become the ultimate lovey-dovey prince, falling in love with Lira almost immediately. Alas, this did not happen which I was incredible happy about. Elian is in no way our normal kind of prince, his heart belongs with the sea and on board his ship, the Saad. If anything he is more pirate than prince. Elian keeps his cards close to his chest, especially when he first meets Lira. Oh, he really does not trust her at all.

The world building in this book is strong as Alexandra develops the world beautifully with her captivating words. I could imagine myself swimming in the ocean with Lira, hunting out our next victim while swaying on board the Saad, perhaps having a swig of rum to calm my nerves before the next hunt.

To Kill a Kingdom never felt boring, this story is one massive adventure that leaves you wanting to know more. It's a page turner without a doubt.

I would like to thank Feiwel & Friends and Alexandra Christo for sending me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

* Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

GUYS. This was EVERYTHING! I mean, I went in with high expectations, when I heard it was a re-telling of The Little Mermaid I was like okay I want to read this, I need this in my life. Normally when I go in with some form of expectations I’m pretty let down, but this honestly exceeded anything I could of hoped and wanted for.

So a quick overview of the book is that our female protagonist Lira is a Siren, and a deadly one at that, who is nicknamed the Princes’ Bane because she takes the hearts of a prince once a year on her birthday. The Sea Queen (major Ursula vibes) her mother has drilled this into her since a young age and any sign of a “human emotion” is discouraged and frowned upon. So from a young age, she’s forced to become a killer and not the nicest person. The backstory of how she becomes who she is when we meet her is so heartbreaking and you empathise with her because it’s through “nurture” she’s the way she is. Then we have Elian a Prince who lives for the sea and is a Pirate with a crew who is so devoted to him and would go to the ends of the earth for/with him. We see how “human” he is with his actions. However Elian isn’t any Prince… he’s a Siren killer. A good one at that! The two come to meet in a way I won’t explain because spoilers… and then the story carries on, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!

Characters

We have the siren princess <b>Lira</b> my god. I adored her. She was strong and powerful, and even when she wasn’t at her fullest she was adaptable and tried to turn things around. There was so much depth to her character and we see how she transfers from who she was to who she becomes. I love how fiercely loyal she is, and the fact that we see her develop. I loved that she was no form of damsel in distress who needed to be saved, GAH. I just love her.

Do I have another leading man in my life in the form of Elian. Hell Yes. He was sarcastic, but SO kind. There was no arrogance in him which I loved and appreciated so much. He was smart with his words and his plans (most of the time). I loved the small and special things linked in with his character that made him so appealing. I could happily have a series dedicated to Elian and it still wouldn’t be enough!

What I loved?
- The romance was so well done! I’m honestly not a fan of insta love. It’s the complete opposite in fact. They just fit together so well, they bring out what’s best in each other, it was a slow burn and at every opportunity I was just like MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW!
- The Crew! I loved the loyalty and protectiveness towards their captain. Not only that but there was a female pirate who was one of the best in the crew! Not only that but Madrid and Lira accepted each other instead of the nonsense of girls not getting along. I am here for it, and I am living.

What I liked?
- All of the little references to The Little Mermaid, some were subtle, and others not so much, but I loved it!
- We got so much representation! I was like YASSSSSS
- If the first line in the book wasn’t gripping enough, my god.
- Elians compass and sword…
- That battle. BOY was it intense
- THE WORLD BUILDING
- My heart couldn’t take little moments such as; the training with the sword, star gazing, the protectiveness. Ahhhhhh

What I didn’t like?
Not one thing. This book is now precious to my little heart.

Overall, I adored this book. I can’t wait to see Alexandra Christo does next! If you like the Little Mermaid, Fantasy, dark twists… then this is for you!

3.5 stars ⭐️

Received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I did really like it. It’s very fast paced! But that’s because there is so much to cover in one book.
I was never one for fairy tales and disney princesses but I’m finding myself leaning toward more fairy tale retellings and this was a bit dark and it was a bit brutal in places.
Only 3.5 because - some of it seemed very young (yes I know it’s YA but it felt really young)
And also I thought Elian was a bit thick - seriously all the warning signs were there that she wasn’t entirely human but hey that’s not bad for my only gripe with the the book!

DNF@50%

This sounded so good – a dark Little Mermaid, if the mermaid had been raised by the Sea Witch and was more interested in ripping out princely hearts than capturing them for romantic purposes. And it started off pretty well, with Lira proving herself to be just as dark and dangerous as promised.

Sadly, this didn’t last. Lira is vicious, but in a rather dim way, and has hints of a heart underneath it all in the way she cares for her cousin. I didn’t like her. It wasn’t because she was vicious, it was because she was boring. She has no sense of subterfuge or self-preservation and the fact she might have ever believed her mother would just hand over the crown, when clearly she’s addicted to her power, just made me like her even less. I can put up with vicious and murderous, but she needs to be smart and interesting with it.

Alas, our prince, Elian was even worse. He doesn’t want to be king so he spends his days sailing around with a crew of misfits, hunting Sirens and calling himself a pirate. He’s not, he’s an exotic fisherman who pouts about how unfair having a really privileged life is. He’s also pretty dim, because he fishes a young woman out of the sea, miles from anywhere, with no ship in sight, one who speaks the forbidden language of Sirens… and doesn’t think this is at all strange? No, he doesn’t trust her at first, but come on, not even a passing thought that she might be connected to the red-haired monster he’s been hunting for so long?

As for that whole Princes’ Bane thing… they know she only hunts princes during one month of the year, so here’s an idea: STAY OFF THE OCEAN, YOU IDIOTS! Or, you know, have more faith in your daughters and stop being misogynistic asshats.

Meh. The world building was nice, but the characters were flimsy and the plot simply didn’t have enough drive to get me through to the end. I dragged myself to the halfway point, but it was a real struggle and after I put it down for a break, I had no interest in going back for more. But clearly, I am in the minority about this, because loads of people seem to love it. Good for them. I honestly tried, but sadly, it wasn’t for me.

To Kill a Kingdom was not a book that grabbed me from the beginning. The concept was great, but for some reason I could not get into it until the final quarter, which I actually really enjoyed. 

The idea behind this Little Mermaid retelling was brilliant. It tells the story of the daughter of the Siren Queen, who is turned into a human as punishment for disobeying her mother. The only way Lira can be restored to her former glory is to do what she does best - steal the heart of a prince from his chest. Only this time, she must do it without her siren song.

For the most part the book was a 2 star read for me. I think it's very much an 'it's not you, it's me' situation, because I wanted to like this book and there wasn't anything it was really doing wrong. My problems probably started with the opening chapter which had too much exposition. It stated all the facts but it felt a little robotic, like it was trying to get all the backstory out of the way. The writing got over this within a couple of chapters but by that point I couldn't get into the flow of the story. Normally I can get over a rough start, but this time it just wasn't happening for me. 

This disengagement stuck with me for most of the book and I had to work to keep getting through it. I liked the execution of the concept but the plot felt a little slow.

To Kill a Kingdom would have stayed a solid 2 star read for me had it not been for the final chapters. The climax and battle scenes were exciting and I sped through them at twice the speed that I'd read the first 75%. It redeemed a lot of the book for me and made me want to give it an extra star.

All in all this was not a bad book, but the writing did not click with me. If vicious siren princesses and honourable pirate princes are your thing, then I'd still recommend it despite its flaws.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Warnings: blood, violence, murder, drowing, gore, mention of past slavery

This is a refreshing retelling of The Little Mermaid. From the opening sentence, I was hooked by the world of the sirens, the hunt for hearts, the intense politics, Lira's heartwrenching character development, the quest for a powerful object (hunted by all), and the tension between Lira and Elian, enemies turn to lovers turn to enemies to...the book is definitely a page turner.

While I do love that the majority of the characters are poc, I did feel...annoyed that a lot of them have blue eyes or features that are rare for a poc. I also didn't like that Sakura/Yukiko is a foil to Lira. If anything, I wish there was more women bonding with each other. Sakura/Yukiko also seems to be queer like Galina, a queen, but it's just mentioned in passing and not seen. I wish this was expanded and not thrown into the story.

Overall, the book is an enjoyable read that would sweep you off your feet or fin.

To Kill a Kingdom has an enemies-to-lovers story without focusing on the romance. It is about a siren and a siren hunter, both killers, who start to unlearn the hatred they have for the other. Lira, a siren who has been killing princes every year on her birthday, and has earned the name of Prince's Bane has been cursed by her mother, the tyrannical Sea Queen (who is sort of like Ursula, but more evil and definitely not winning any Mother of the Year awards) to become human and snag the heart (literally - not like romantically) of the golden prince of Midas, Elian, who is also a siren hunter/pirate in his free time. Elian, unwittingly lets his own target onto his crew, while hunting for a mythical artifact that would take down the Sea Queen.

The plot hinges on the nurture/nature narrative for Lira - she has been brought up as a killer from her childhood and her mother regularly tries to remove any trace of empathy from her. Lira feels a bit conflicted about it, but she also revels in the power she has from the fear. To say she is feral is an understatement. So, when Elian saves her from drowning, she is less thankful and more attack-ful. Elian, for his part, doesn't trust her fully, but he also requires her knowledge to get to the artifact he is searching for. Slowly, however the animosity between them erodes to a mutual respect for the other, and then ultimately into affection. It is a slow-slow-burn romance, ya'll, and that is only because romance does play a part in the climactic scene. Otherwise, the main story is all about them re-evaluating their life choices while having a pirate adventure on the seas.

While the story is told from an alternating dual perspective, the voice is not distinct enough to make sense of which character is speaking unless there are contextual clues. It becomes doubly confusing when they are both in the scene. There is a commonality in their circumstances, as they are both royals with the burden of royal duties to bear, only that Lira actually wants to rule and Elian prefers having adventures on the seas instead. The build-up is slow, and the plot devotes time to developing their characters from beyond blood-thirsty siren and self-righteous prince, and the mirroring of their natures. The story mostly is devoid of action, until the climactic scene, which I felt was too drawn out - it could have been shortened/edited for better flow with the rest of the plot.

The relationships between the characters is a highlight of the book, though, and it places an equal importance on other kinds of love, not just romantic. For Elian, his crew is his family, and his love for them is what drives his decisions at some points. For Lira, the love she has for her cousin, is what keeps her from becoming another version of her mother. But it's not all deeply emotional - it also shows a lighter side to their relationships. Elian and his crew frequently tease each other, and though he is their prince, they still have a more casual relationship. He and Lira also trade insults, but after reading Daughter of the Pirate King, it is as fun, or as enough.

Overall, a good retelling of the Little Mermaid, with various nods given to the original and creative twists of the thematic elements. But more importantly, an exploration of blood feuds and forging a path to peace.

I enjoyed this book but I seem to be very much in a minority because I didn't LOVE it. I don't know, I guess mermaids might not really be my thing? Pirates are my thing though, and I was promised pirates. The problem is they're not very piratical pirates, not in my book. Pirates in name only - Captain Hook certainly won't be losing any sleep!

So that was one issue I had. The world building didn't really do it for me either. It all started out feeling very typical fantasy-world-pre-industrial but then all of a sudden there was sonar, and then air ships?! There are mythological creatures in the sea, but how about on land - are there dragons, unicorns and fairies? Do some people have magic? I didn't really get a proper sense of how it all works.

Also I didn't really feel the romance. I could see where it was heading, but I didn't really feel any real attraction between the two main characters, just a sense of inevitability about the whole thing. It possibly suffered from comparisons to Sarah J Maas - she might stumble a little bit when her characters finally hook up, but man, she writes a slow burn attraction like nobody else!

All that said though, I did really enjoy it - it was a fun read that just swept me along with it.

First and foremost, I have a huge soft spot for books revolving around the ocean, whether it involves pirates, mermaids, sirens, sea creatures, or any mix of those things. When I first heard about this story, I knew that I had to request it, and I was ecstatic that it appeared in my library.

Lira is probably my favourite character out of all the books I’ve read this year (so far). She wasn’t some soft, sweet young girl on the inside: she is unapologetically vicious and coldhearted, which we quickly see is the end result of a lifetime of abuse from her mother. she’s feisty, angry, mean, and conniving, without ever going overboard enough to become genuinely unlikeable.

You might’ve guessed, but this book seems to be based a lot on ‘The Little Mermaid’ story. I’m not sure if it’s been officially confirmed, but there are a lot of parallels. This story is so much more than just a retelling or something inspired by something else: it takes an idea, chews it up, spits it out, and makes it something new. The backstory for the Sea Queen explains that the power of becoming Queen turns sirens into these terrifying creatures that are more tentacles than human but are incredibly powerful and magical. She wields her power with pure brutality – even against her own family – and it’s an exciting twist on a classic tale that also pulls in other stories and folklore, like Midas.

Elian’s crew is everything. This story emphasises the importance of found families as blood is truly nothing more than blood. The people who choose to love, support, and protect you unconditionally are your family. The story depicts beautifully how important it is for you to choose who is worthy of your time and love. The romance in this story isn’t an insta-love at all. It’s slow burn and full of good, witty banter and back-and-forth chatter between Lira and Elian that was just so fun and sharp to read. It also has an enemies-to-lovers trope that doesn’t fall into abuse territory or power imbalance that so many other books are prone to falling into. I was rooting so hard for both of them the entire time.

The world building is crafted and presented seamlessly – the entire story’s imagery is impressive, and there are so many scenes that are visually breath-taking. The sirens aren’t portrayed as these frail, beautiful creatures, no: they may be gorgeous, but they’re these powerful and wild and merciless things that can wipe out grown men with a single blow. The mermaids are inhuman, grotesque creatures that are completely different to the sirens, but they’re creepy and dark and I loved every part of the book where they were on the page.

This book had me captivated from the very first page, and I can easily imagine myself picking up over and over again.