LORE by Alexandra Bracken

“Hunt or be hunted. In modern day New York, a murderous game is about to begin: the Agon. Every seven years, for one week only, Zeus punishes the gods and makes them mortal. Forced to walk the earth, they are savagely hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines who are eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. After her family was brutally murdered by a rival line, Lore Perseous fled, turning her back on the Agon’s cruel promises of eternal glory. For years, Lore had honoured her parents’ memory by doing one thing – surviving. For years, she has pushed away dark thoughts of revenge. Until now. As the next game dawns, Lore finds Athena gravely wounded on her doorstep. The goddess offers her an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind for ever. But Lore’s decision to rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost – and may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to destroy all of humanity…”

What is the book about?

Every seven years, as a punishment for the gods, Zeus makes them mortal for one week and forces them to walk the earth where they are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines who are desperate to claim a god's divine power and immortal for their own. This ruthless game – the Agon – is about to begin in modern day New York and once again hunters and gods alike will fight to the death to try and survive this deadly week. Lore Perseus wants to be free from the Agon ever since her family was murdered by a rival line in the last Agon. She fled and turned away from the cruel promise of eternal life and glory. Lore is the last mortal of the Perseus line and has been able to honour her family's memory by simply surviving. For years Lore has been able to push away feelings of revenge and hide from the heartbreak the Agon caused her, but now she must fight once more. The arrival of a lost friend brings many emotions to the surface and Lore must find a way to survive through another Agon. At the start of the next game, Lore finds a wounded Athena at her doorstep offering her promises of allegiance and revenge, something she has been trying to avoid for so long. Lore must choose and her decision to rejoin the Agon may not be able to stop the rise of a god with the power to destroy the whole human race…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading the Percy Jackson books, I had learnt a lot about Greek mythology and discovered that I had an interest in these powerful gods and heroes. One of my friends also has a rather major obsession with books like me and so when I went to her house I found myself returning with a bag filled with magical stories I had yet to discover, and one of them was Lore. The second I saw the book I knew I was going to enjoy reading it; however there was something more that made me very intrigued to try it. The author of Lore is the same author as the Darkest Minds series, which I had really liked reading, so I was very excited to read another one of her books. The blurb was really interesting and very informative, which is getting very rare for most books, and I already had many questions before even opening the book. Once I started to read I could see the book had promise with all the extra details that were given, including a map. As soon as I started to read I completely fell in love with the story and enjoyed every second starting from the very first word. Although it was a bit confusing at the start and it took me a few chapters to refresh my memory on Greek mythology and to properly understand what happened, I soon finished the last page, even though I had wanted the book to last. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

A favourite character was very hard to choose for this book because there was something special about a lot of the characters. One character that I really liked was Miles because he was mortal. He had the choice to escape, he could have left New York, he could have been free from all the nonsense of Greek mythology, but he stayed. He didn't want to leave Lore to fight alone and he wanted to help. He chose to help his friend over his own safety and put his life on the line when he wasn't even a part of the Agon. Miles has no proper training and knew nothing about it but he threw himself into it with no hesitation and wouldn't take no for an answer. His friendship with Lore was one of the things that I loved most about the book and I really wish it was shown in more detail. Another character that really stood out to me was, obviously, Lore. She was the main character and so I learnt a lot more about her that any other character and I could also see how she felt a lot more clearly. Orphaned at a young age and forced to suffer through the pain of knowing she was responsible left Lore feeling alone, even when she was surrounded by those who loved her. She saw what the Agon could go to people and how even the most innocent, like her little sisters, couldn't avoid the torture of being born into it. All Lore wanted as a child was a chance to fight and to bring good fortune to her family, but now all she wanted was to escape the Agon and to never have to witness anything as horrible as her own family’s corpses again. Freedom was obviously not an option for her, but she never gave up and, even if it made matter for her even worse, as long as she helped her friends and saved as many people as possible, Lore didn't care if she was trapped for ever. Lore was ready for anything and she would never stop fighting for what she believed was right. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were a lot of good parts in the book and I loved basically everything, search using just one was an impossible choice. One part that stood out to me was near the end. At this part, Lore knew that everything was most likely over and she would never be free, but there was hope in her and I knew that she was ready for anything. No matter what happened Lore would find a way to be with her friends and to get back to the home that she had grown to love. She knew there was a chance that she would be alone for the rest of her Life but she was prepared for it and still believed that there was a possibility for something more. I think that it was that hope and friendship and love that led to the amazing ending of the book and that without that positive attitude things would have ended much more tragically. The ending was better than I could have ever imagined and I don't think that there are many books with an ending greater than this one.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really enjoyed reading Lore and I don't think that anything could be done to make the book any better than it already is. There were many things about the book that made me see how incredibly amazing it was but it wasn't until the end that I truly appreciated the story and realised how much I actually loved it. One thing I liked was the flashbacks. Most books that have flashbacks and give you parts of the story bit by bit are ones that I really enjoy. This is because I am always on edge waiting to receive the next clue. It's always very effective in keeping me interested because there is usually something that I wish to know and many questions that I will not leave unanswered. The flashbacks to Lore's childhood were amazing for another reason too: the character development they showed. I got to see Lore as a child and understand how the trauma she went through shaped who she was and the reasons for why she was so desperate to escape the Agon. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the romantic relationships. There was one couple (and I promise you will know who I mean the second you read about them) who literally had chemistry radiating off them. The second they spoke to each other I was already reading between the lines and sensing the possibility of romance starting up. Once the couple finally got together I was so happy I could barely keep it together. There was also another couple that I was very happy to see together but I think that the chemistry should have been a lot stronger between them. However, the romance was written very well and I enjoyed it very much. One other thing that made the book even more incredible was the amount of plot twists there were. I found myself surprised on multiple occasions and physical gasped at one point. I really love being caught off guard and being as surprised as if something actually happened in my life, and this happened quite a lot in Lore. It is something that made me see how well written the book is and how connected I was with it. The main thing that I loved about the book was the ending. I don't think I've ever read a more perfect ending. In most books I read I have always not just wanted, but needed more. Lore however, was different. I wanted to read on but I already had a sense of how things would go and the possibilities the ending provided to the characters. It was an ending full of hope and I had every one of my questions answered. I knew that it was the end and I didn't feel like there was something missing, I just felt a bit lost and lonely in my bedroom without the characters I had spent so long with. I hope to have the chance to read other books like this and experience another magical story like this one. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book for readers who enjoy Greek mythology, adventure and a lot of plot twists. I think that it is best for those over 13 and if you have some vague knowledge of the Greek gods you will find it much more enjoyable. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A ruthless hunt with twists and turns that you will never see coming. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN by Tricia Levenseller

“‘My father’s ships will be at the sirens’ mercy. We will be the ones to reach the island first and claim its treasure for ourselves.’ Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Riden, still unfairly attractive, is a constant distraction, but at least he’s under her orders this time. But when villainous Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared pirate king. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first… After all, she’s the Daughter of the Siren Queen. 

What is the book about?

Alosa’s mission is complete. After defeating Draxen and the rest of his crew she headed towards Vordan and recovered the third and final piece of the map. Now she is not only headed to indescribable treasures, but the crew that originally took her captive are now imprisoned on her own ship. This time Alosa has the control, and no one, not even Riden, can change that.  Now Riden is the one under orders, and not even his unfair attractive looks can stop Alosa from getting what she has been working towards her whole life. But when Vordan reveals a secret her father has kept from her for years, a secret that could change how Alosa sees the world, Alosa and her crew find themselves on the run from the pirate king. Alosa is in a race against the most powerful man in all the seas and she must get to the treasure first or they will never escape the reign of the pirate king. But Alosa knows they can do it, that she can lead her crew to victory because…she is the Daughter of the Siren Queen and ruling is in her blood. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Reading Daughter of the Pirate King was amazing. Everything in the book was perfect but I was desperate for more. I knew I needed to find out what happened next and how Alosa would get to the siren treasure. As soon as possible, I grabbed Daughter of the Siren Queen and started to read. Before that I read the blurb and at first I was a bit confused. The blurb listed some things that hadn’t yet happened, like getting the third piece of the pirate treasure, and I was worried that I had missed something. Luckily I found that the first chapter already answered my questions and I was soon ready for another adventure. The book started immediately with the first sentence grasping my attention. Daughter of the Pirate King had been an incredibly fast-paced book with action around every corner and I was very glad to find that the second book was exactly the same. Even though I had only just read the first book, I had missed Alosa and her crew and was very happy to get to carry on the adventure. Even from the very first word I knew that this book was going to be another added to my favourite book collection and I was ready for anything that happened. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character, like in Daughter of the Pirate King, was Alosa. The main reason why I liked her in this book was because of how she treated her crew. In the first book of the duology I was unable to see the relationship she had with the people she spent most of her time with,  but during this book I was given that opportunity. Despite being the daughter of a ruthless pirate who controlled all the sea, Alosa was nothing like him. She might have learnt a lot from him about being a pirated but she was different. To her, the crew was family and she would do anything for them. Pirates are usually seen as monsters that care about nothing except treasure and their own life – and maybe their ship – but Alosa had a bond with everyone in her crew that no one could break. She chose each one for a reason and they all held a special part of her heart. Obviously Alosa was a brave killing machine, which made her all the more likable, but when she showed that she was like every other human, that she had a heart and would put her own life at risk for any member of her crew, that was when I knew that she was the best character and that she would be an incredible pirate queen. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were a lot of good parts in the book, some shocking plot twist and heart wrenching deaths that made this an amazing book, but there was one part that was undoubtedly my favourite. Throughout the majority of the first book and most of this one I found that I was basically screaming at Alosa and Riden constantly. I could see they loved each other and they were meant to be together, Alosa’s whole crew could see that they loved each other, even the crabs under the sea could see that they loved each other, but those two stubborn idiots just wouldn’t admit it. Every single time they were close to getting together something had to get in their way, someone else or sometimes even their own stupid pride, but once it finally happened I was beyond happy. My favourite part was, of course, when they admitted their loved for each other. Technically, it was Alosa that admitted her feelings because Riden had already made those clear, but it was the first time where they were both ready to be honest to each other. The only thing that might avert my love for this part was when they kissed and knew that there was nothing that could change how they felt and that the kiss was different, new and showed that they would always be there for each other. Alosa and Riden were perfect for each other and everyone who read this duology will agree with me. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really loved reading Daughter of the Siren Queen and, just like the first book, I think it was perfect. The best thing about the book was probably that it was very fast-paced. Every second was full of action, adventure, secret and more and I was never once bored of the book. I enjoyed everything about it and I found that every single word had a hold of my attention. Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the anticipation and the nervous feelings I had throughout most of the book. The pirate king managed to keep not just the characters scared that they would be caught, but also me. I felt like I was really there and I was anticipating a huge battle and the end of the pirate kings reign, but I was also worried for Alosa and her crew. There wasn’t any part of the book that didn’t make me feel something, which leads me on to another reason why I loved the book: the emotional connection with the characters. The book was only in Alosa’s point of view but I felt a connection to all the other characters. The book made me feel like I was really a part of the crew and that I wasn’t just reading a story. The story made me want to laugh, cry, scream and do all three at the same time and it also made me want to throw the book across the room. There is only one book series that beats the stress, anger and annoyance I had while reading the book and I’ve got to tell you that I have never wanted to physically attack two characters as much as in that one series, and Alosa and Riden aren’t that far behind. Their relationship was just so annoying that I seriously wanted to strangle the two of them and force them to kiss each other. It was so obvious that they were meant to be that I just couldn’t deal with all the interruptions and their own pride. There is only one thing that ruined the experience of reading Daughter of the Siren Queen and that is that the book was not the right size. The dimensions of the book were way bigger than Daughter of the Pirate King which meant that they didn’t match. However I am not letting this change my opinion of the book as it really was amazing. I am very glad that I chose to try this book and I will never forget the experience. 

Which is your favourite book in the Daughter of the Pirate King series? (1 or 2)

This was an impossible decision because I adored reading both books equally and they both had something that made them stand out. The first book – Daughter of the Pirate King – was better because of the relationship between Alosa and Riden. I laughed so many times at the tension between the two and the attitude they both had. They were both so similar which meant it was very difficult to tell who won in a competition of cleverness, sass and sarcasm. The interrogations were the funniest thing ever and I could tell how much they liked each other, which made everything better. It was obviously annoying that they didn’t get together, which is one thing that makes Daughter of the Siren Queen better, but I really enjoyed reading about how they began to fall in love, although neither one them could tell what was happening. The reason the second book – Daughter of the Siren Queen – was better was because it connected with my emotions a lot better. In the previous book Alosa was on a hip with people she hated and didn’t care about, but in the second she was aboard her own ship and with the crew she considered family. This meant that when something happened she was connected with it on a much deeper level, which affected my own emotions. I was also incredibly tense during the whole book because of the constant threat of the pirate king being right behind them. The first book made me laugh and the second made me cry, and I don’t know which is better. 

Would you recommend this book?  

If you are looking for a fast-paced adventure filled with action, adventure and some perfect romance then read this book!!! This duology is perfect for readers who easily get bored and are looking for something new. I recommend it specifically for readers over 13 but if you are ready for an incredible pirate adventure then do not hesitate to try out this book.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The sequel to the incredible Daughter of the Pirate King that follows Alosa and her crew in a race against the strongest man on the seas. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING by Tricia Levenseller

“‘There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.’ Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map – the key to a legendary treasure trove – seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.”

What is the book about?

Seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa is the Daughter of the Pirate King and she has been sent on a mission to find part of an ancient map that will help her discover the location to a legendary treasure trove. Alosa deliberately lets herself get kidnapped by the pirates of the Night Farer, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship inconspicuously for the map. Alosa’s skills mean she is more than a match for the pirate crew, even on her own, leaving only the unexpectedly intelligent and rather good-looking first mate, Riden, standing in her way. Riden seems to believe that she actually wants to remain on the ship for an important reason and sees through many of her tricks, but Alosa is not an ordinary girl and no lone pirate has the strength to stop her. However Riden turns out to be more of a problem as Alosa begins to spend more time with him and discovers that he is not as bad as she though after all. Alosa must find the map before it’s too late, or there is no telling what will happen to her…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I was told about Daughter of the Pirate King I was really looking forward to reading it. My friend had said that she had really enjoyed the book and though that it was the better version of To Kill a Kingdom, so I was even more interested in trying it out to compare the two books. Once I started to read I knew for sure that my friend was right and that this book was definitely the better book. The blurb was very interesting and found that it really intrigued me and got me more excited to begin the story. Daughter of the Pirate King started really well and I knew it was going to be a good story almost immediately.  It was a really fast-paced book, even from the beginning and I found that so much happened in the space of just one chapter. Alosa was the perfect character to narrate the story and I could tell I would like her from the very first page. I finished the book a lot quicker than I thought I would and was soon desperate to get my hands on the sequel, Daughter of the Siren Queen, to continue Alosa’s story. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character was most likely Alosa because she doesn’t fit in to single gender stereotypes. Alosa is a pirate, and a better pirate than most men, and she is strong and brave and always ready for battle. In the book, I could see how Alosa was different to the stereotypical girl and how she had the confidence to show the world that she was a woman and yet better than most men. Even though she was a pirate, she still had a lot of feminine qualities and liked to show that just because she was a pirate, she didn’t have to always act and look like one. She like wearing pretty clothes, being clean and feeling beautiful like a lot of girls and didn’t just fit into a single stereotype, she had feminine and masculine traits and liked to show that. Another thing that I like about Alosa was her attitude. There were a lot of funny parts of the book and I enjoyed the interactions between Alosa and Riden because of how stubborn and sarcastic Alosa could be. Even though I knew that Alosa wasn’t actually a prisoner, I liked that she didn’t let being on board a ship that wasn’t her own change her personality and that she wasn’t going to give her captors the satisfaction of seeing her scared or weak. Alosa was a really strong and powerful character and she wasn’t afraid to show it. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Daughter of the Pirate King was so amazing that I found it really hard to just decide on one part as my favourite, but there was one part of the book that I really enjoyed. My favourite part of the book was probably the unexpected twist in the story. I cannot say much about it because it will ruin the book for anyone who hasn’t yet read it, but I can say what made it so incredible. Obviously, I liked the plot twist because it was very surprising and I love the feeling when you are so shocked at the story and so anxious to find out what happens next that you almost forget that it’s not real. Another thing that I liked about it was that it was when I was absolutely 100% sure that the main characters actually cared about each other and that the romance was real. I liked that they were able to show that they liked each other, even if they were both too unsure and stubborn to admit it, and that it wasn’t just a one way relationship. One last thing about this part was that it showed that it isn’t just the girls in stories that need saving but sometimes the boys too and that in a real relationship the saving goes both ways. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Daughter of the Pirate King was basically perfect and I loved every second of it. One thing that I really enjoyed about the book was that it was fast-paced but I was never even confused once. I found that it felt that I had read the book a lot quicker than I really had, although I did read it really quickly, and each chapter kept me excited for the end. Another thing that I liked about the book was the plot twists. The twists might not have been the most shocking but they were very interesting and I liked the excitement of adding a new turn to the story. One of the twists I had discovered beforehand and I absolutely loved what it added to the story, but the most amazing thing was that one of the twists was absolutely unexpected. If I had looked at the clues I would have easily discovered the truth, but it was so well hidden and I hadn’t been expecting it that it had left me completely surprised. One other thing that I really liked about Daughter of the Pirate King was the romance. The romance was really well written and I really enjoyed the relationship between them. Even though they were quick to fall in love it felt like it was slow and steady, and I could see that the characters had really grown to like each other and were clearly made for each other. Also, and I know this has nothing to do with the actual story, the book cover was really smooth and soft, the pages were thicker than normal and really nice, the book was bendy, the pages smelt great and the font on the front cover and the chapter numbers was really nice. All of those qualities are great in a book and made me love Daughter of the Pirate King even more than I already did. I thought that the book was amazing and even though it was fast-paced, it wasn’t rushed. I loved everything about it and I don’t think that there is anything that I would change as there is no way that the book could have been any close to perfection.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely recommend you read this book, particularly for reader over 13 who enjoy action, adventure and romance. If you were interested in trying out To Kill a Kingdom, I suggest reading Daughter of the Pirate King instead because it is much better and of the same sort of genre. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A fast-paced pirate adventure with incredible twists and a magical romance. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo

“‘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 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 sirenkind for good. But he has no way of knowing whether he can trust her…”

What is the book about?

Princess Lira is a siren, but not just any siren, she is the Prince’s Bane and next in line for the throne. She has always tried her best to make her mother proud and prove to her that she is worthy enough to be the next siren queen. But the Sea Queen finds her weaknesses, no matter what she does, and will do anything to keep the crown for herself. Lira has followed her rules and done her best to be the daughter her mother wants, but it’s not in her nature to be obedient and she soon finds herself in more trouble than she had though. Now Lira must steal the heart of the infamous siren killer, or remain human forever. But Lira may find that her punishment does more good to her than expected, and that what her mother thinks as weakness is really what makes her strong. Prince Elian is heir to the most power kingdom in the world, but he cares nothing about that. He is the captain of a crew of siren killers before anything else and the ocean is his home. He sets off on a new adventure to save humanity and destroy sirenkind for good, but his quests turns out to be harder than he thought. After he saves a strange drowning woman from the ocean, he discovers that she holds the answer to his problem and that she will help him with his mission to stop the murderous sirens forever. But can he really trust the girl who seems to want nothing but his death…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

To Kill a Kingdom was a book that I saw often when looking at book recommendations and was interested but I hadn’t really thought about reading it until my friend brought it to me and told me that I had to read it. Unlike all the other books my friend asked me to read, To Kill a Kingdom was one that she disliked immensely. She had also seen it recommended a lot and saw how popular it was but she hadn’t enjoyed reading it at all. She wanted to see if she was the only one who thought it was terrible, or if I would have the same opinion, and I was happy to comply. I started the book with low expectations and was happily surprised when I found that it began really well. The blurb was really interesting and I knew immediately why I had initially been interested in the story. The very first sentence already had me hooked and I thought, at first, that my friend was crazy to not have liked it. The start was full of suspense and I found myself desperate to read on. However, as I started to get nearer to the middle of the book, I quickly lost interest and found that it felt as if the author had almost given up on writing and just went with the most expected plot. At the beginning the book was amazing, just as amazing as many of the books I read, but the more I read the more disappointing the book got and I soon found that I was forcing myself to finish so that I could properly review the story. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Usually when I read a book there are so many really remarkable characters that I find choosing just one almost impossible. However, To Kill a Kingdom made choosing a favourite character impossible because there were no good characters in the book. There was zero character development throughout the book and I thought that most the characters were annoying and just plain boring. At the start I had like Lira because of her strength and power and how she needed a prince – not to love but to kill. I thought she was a very interesting character because of how she tried to impress her mother in everything she did and make her proud, which makes her very relatable because most children want to make their parents see that they are worth something. However after a little while Lira started to get a bit annoying and I thought that she switched too much between the kind-hearted side of her to the cut-throat, unstoppable, brutal side. I feel like she was sometimes two different people and that her romance with Elian was too far-fetched. I understood her protective relationship with her cousin and how that made her caring but I don’t think it seems very likely that a murderous siren could just fall in love after only a few weeks. I don’t think any character was my favourite but, if I had to look at the whole book and at my opinions throughout it all, Lira would come out as one of the top few. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

In most books I read I find this question rather difficult to answer because there are just so many amazing parts to consider as my favourite that I can’t choose between them. Sometimes I even write more than one part as my favourite because the book is just so incredible that I cannot decide. To Kill a Kingdom was the exact opposite. I cannot choose a favourite part because I basically hated the whole book and didn’t like a single bit about it. I guess if I had to really look at the book and choose a favourite part I would say it was the beginning 2 chapters, which are in Lira’s perspective. The opening sentence was amazing and it made me feel like the book was going to be marvellous – which was a bit annoying seeing as it wasn’t true. However the first few chapters were really good because they gave an interesting new view on humans and at first it felt like a twisted version of The Little Mermaid. I really enjoyed Lira’s chapters because she was nothing like the stereotypical princesses who need saving – when she was near it was the princes who needed saving, but it was impossible to help them. I feel like the book could have been much better if the romance was better or not there at all as it would have provided a story where the princess didn’t need a prince to feel complete or to save the day. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall To Kill a Kingdom wasn’t one of the best books I have read and I didn’t really enjoy it. The book started off really well and I found it very interesting at the beginning. The starting sentence – “I have a heart for every year I’ve been alive” – caught my attention really well and I enjoyed learning about the sirens. However, the more I read the less I enjoyed it and I found that I had to force myself to finish the book because I hate leaving a book without finishing it, no matter how terrible it is. I think that a book so terrible should not be allowed to have such a good first sentence because it confuses so many readers and makes them expect a wonderful book. I took literally centuries to finish this book, which is really unlikely, and found that I basically didn’t like anything about it, other than a few chapters at the beginning. It was a very stereotypical enemies to lovers romance novel, only with sirens also involved. One of the reasons why I disliked the book was because there was no character development. It was very difficult to see how Lira was changing because of Elian and how the same was also happening to him. Although their romance was expected, it was hard to tell that they were actually beginning to like each other and the start of their romance was extremely abrupt. Also their first kiss was extremely random and I thought that Lira’s personality in that part of the book was nothing like the one she had had throughout the rest of the book. Another reason why I didn’t enjoy To Kill a Kingdom was because of how everything that happened was exactly what I expected. There were no plot twists, no interesting discoveries and no surprising problems in their journey. I was able to predict basically all the events in the book before they even happened and I disliked not being surprised. This is what made the book so boring and what made me so uninterested in Lira and Elian’s story. One last reason why I didn’t like the book – probably the main reason – was because it didn’t connect with me on an emotional level. While I was reading To Kill a Kingdom I knew I was reading and I hated that. Usually when I am reading a really good book I forget that I’m reading, I forget where I am and who I am, and the only thing that is real is the fictional adventure I am going on and the fictional characters that I have met, but this book was nothing like this and I hate not having that feeling. To Kill a Kingdom didn’t make me sad, or angry, or happy – I didn’t feel anything at all for the characters – and for once it actually felt like that characters weren’t really there and were only figments of my imagination. The best thing about reading is when it makes you feel something, when you cry, or laugh, or scream, because of the characters and I missed that when reading this book. I really don’t see how To Kill a Kingdom could be such a popular book and I feel like reading it was a waste of my time. I really disliked the book but I didn’t regret reading it because at least I can stop anyone else from making the mistake of buying it. I am looking forward to reading another book that is apparently similar to To Kill a Kingdom so I will be able to compare the two siren stories. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I do not recommend reading To Kill a Kingdom, especially for people who find it difficult to concentrate on reading a slow, boring book. However if you would like to try the book out I suggest you read it from ages 13 and over and it would be best for people who enjoy fantasy and romance (enemies to lovers style).

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A slow-paced fantasy romance story full of action and adventure. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego