Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Hey all, Dani here.

The workweek is over finally. Woohoo! I’m ready to kick back, relax, and do some more reading. Yep, that’s about all I have to say for this intro.

Oh, wait, okay, so I read this book technically for NetGalley’s #Reviewathon, though I didn’t get my review up in time, and I also read it for the NEWT’s Magical Readathon. So, I got a copy of this book from NetGalley before it was released and then I just set it aside and didn’t read it. So I actually ended up reading a hardcover copy that I bought shortly after it was released. Anyway, I’ll still go ahead and say that receiving the e-galley did not affect my rating or review.

Summary

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 the Sea Queen 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?

My Thoughts

Rating: 4 stars

Overall I liked this book, but it was fairly predictable, and I felt like it could have been a little longer to develop the plot and relationships a bit better and deeper. This just felt like a story that I’ve read a good number of times before.

Look, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy my reading experience. Like I said, this was a good book, and I read it fairly quickly. It just took me a couple reading sessions to finish. So it’s always a plus when I can finish a book in just a couple of days.

The relationship between Lira and Elian just happened a bit too quickly and without too much development so it would be more realistic, a phrase that seems a bit odd for a fantasy book, but good relationships form from time spent together and conversation together, and shared experiences. I would have liked to experience more of those moments with the main duo.

I thought the world was interesting and there was just enough world-building to make me intrigued. I would love to know more about each of the countries. Perhaps there will be more books set in this world in the future. I don’t know.

I’m glad I read this book, even if it isn’t going to make one of my favorites lists.

Where to Get a Copy

You can buy your own copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million, Book Depository, or your local independent bookstore.

You can also check with your local library.