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Magical Romantic Comedies #3
Serial Killer Princess
alternate cover edition of ASIN B07957L8KC
Why would anyone put a mermaid and a gorgon in the same room together? While Tulip enjoys being alive, her lineage brings her nothing but trouble.
Snakes eat fish, and the mer love tearing apart their serpentine nemeses with their hands and teeth. As for the gorgons… she’d rather not think about them at all.
The last thing Tulip wants is to rule the mer kingdom. First, she can barely swim. Second, she’s packing more than her fair share of her father’s genes. Third, what is a landlocked princess supposed to do with an aquatic kingdom?
If she gets her way, nothing. Add in her dirty little serial killing secret, and she’s an international disaster waiting to happen.
There’s just one small problem: her father’s bodyguard tempts her in ways no one should, and if she isn’t careful, he’ll uncover her secrets, domesticate her, and infect her with a severe case of normality.
Warning: This novel contains excessive humor, action, excitement, adventure, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.
Why would anyone put a mermaid and a gorgon in the same room together? While Tulip enjoys being alive, her lineage brings her nothing but trouble.
Snakes eat fish, and the mer love tearing apart their serpentine nemeses with their hands and teeth. As for the gorgons… she’d rather not think about them at all.
The last thing Tulip wants is to rule the mer kingdom. First, she can barely swim. Second, she’s packing more than her fair share of her father’s genes. Third, what is a landlocked princess supposed to do with an aquatic kingdom?
If she gets her way, nothing. Add in her dirty little serial killing secret, and she’s an international disaster waiting to happen.
There’s just one small problem: her father’s bodyguard tempts her in ways no one should, and if she isn’t careful, he’ll uncover her secrets, domesticate her, and infect her with a severe case of normality.
Warning: This novel contains excessive humor, action, excitement, adventure, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
279 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Blain
81 books1,304 followersRJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 19, 2022
The positives:
I like fantasy stories about hybridization. The protagonist is half gorgon, half mermaid, and fully aware of her hybrid nature. In this universe, mermaids can switch between their two-legged and aquatic forms at will, and gorgons look human except for their heads topped with serpents, so the protagonist looks entirely human. Except, as has happened with previous novels in this series, her hybrid nature makes her immune to the lycanthropy virus, but capable of shifting to another form (here, serpent) without it.
I like that the protagonist targets serial killers like Dexter. I admire benevolent killers, but more than that, it makes her a more interesting strong female lead.
The negatives:
I am growing tired with the formula of this series already. Rather, not the formula of the plot, but the weird story elements that persist. Because no matter what wacky hybrid nature the main characters start with, the author likes for the main characters to talk about their immunity to the lycanthropy virus. Or immunity to other things, like a gorgon's gaze. The author likes for the protagonist to be a virgin, but preferably lose the virginity halfway through the novel. The author likes for characters to become "shifters," but NOT lycanthropes. And then, finally, the author likes for the CDC to show up to test the main characters for their DNA and levels of immunity, and along the way help out characters with any other legal or financial problems they may have.
In a vaguely urban fantasy setting, where every mythological creature that has ever been described is likely to make an appearance, it is weird that this series is already so formulaic. This protagonist was a welcome change of pace for already knowing exactly what her hybrid nature was. And her serial killer personality was a bit of fresh air. But beyond that, I squirm uncomfortably by the recurring story elements.
Why does this author focus so much upon the idea of immunity? In Playing with Fire, the first novel in this series, immunity was the protagonist's one superpower. I understood that for her. But then the way every subsequent character has had to brag about immunity to lycanthropy is just weird.
I like fantasy stories about hybridization. The protagonist is half gorgon, half mermaid, and fully aware of her hybrid nature. In this universe, mermaids can switch between their two-legged and aquatic forms at will, and gorgons look human except for their heads topped with serpents, so the protagonist looks entirely human. Except, as has happened with previous novels in this series, her hybrid nature makes her immune to the lycanthropy virus, but capable of shifting to another form (here, serpent) without it.
I like that the protagonist targets serial killers like Dexter. I admire benevolent killers, but more than that, it makes her a more interesting strong female lead.
The negatives:
I am growing tired with the formula of this series already. Rather, not the formula of the plot, but the weird story elements that persist. Because no matter what wacky hybrid nature the main characters start with, the author likes for the main characters to talk about their immunity to the lycanthropy virus. Or immunity to other things, like a gorgon's gaze. The author likes for the protagonist to be a virgin, but preferably lose the virginity halfway through the novel. The author likes for characters to become "shifters," but NOT lycanthropes. And then, finally, the author likes for the CDC to show up to test the main characters for their DNA and levels of immunity, and along the way help out characters with any other legal or financial problems they may have.
In a vaguely urban fantasy setting, where every mythological creature that has ever been described is likely to make an appearance, it is weird that this series is already so formulaic. This protagonist was a welcome change of pace for already knowing exactly what her hybrid nature was. And her serial killer personality was a bit of fresh air. But beyond that, I squirm uncomfortably by the recurring story elements.
Why does this author focus so much upon the idea of immunity? In Playing with Fire, the first novel in this series, immunity was the protagonist's one superpower. I understood that for her. But then the way every subsequent character has had to brag about immunity to lycanthropy is just weird.
April 7, 2024
"Whatever happened to the artistry of a good premeditated murder?"
July 9, 2018
Tulip and Jason make a pretty good couple. I am surprised Tulip found anyone she likes. She does like to kill serial killers after all and Jason will help. I will be interested in see what in to come in the next book! By the way, I agree with Tulip, I love bacon too!
Read
March 17, 2019What's a princess to do, when she can't breath under water?
Well, if your mom is the queen of the underwater world, she heeps conquering island nations for you to rule. Of course, when you are a serial killer princess who keeps getting blown up (What!? She only stalks and kills other serial killers! Sheesh! ROFL) It just 'might' happen that dear old mom the mermaid sells you to dear old dad, who just happens to be the King of the Gorgons. Sigh. What's up with hat anyway? Don't fish and snakes NOT get along? Of course, our pretty peincess has her own little secret (yes, another one, shush!) That could land her smack dab in the middle af a CDC testing facility, so mum's the word on that one....
Whats a girl to do when transported to the middle of South Dakota? Does South Dakota even HAVE serial killers??
Yep.
And REALLY irritating bodyguards.....
This series of books has it all. A huge dose of humor, GREAT characters, and yes... a body count-through not in the splashy-gory of so many books. These are like candy. I preorder all of them, and gobble them up immediately. Then, iI go back and rread them all when I want a good giggle or am feeling down and need a lift for my spirit. They really are that good!
Buy these books! You will be happy, the author will be happy, and i will be THRILLED because she will keep writing them! Win all around! Thank you!
Well, if your mom is the queen of the underwater world, she heeps conquering island nations for you to rule. Of course, when you are a serial killer princess who keeps getting blown up (What!? She only stalks and kills other serial killers! Sheesh! ROFL) It just 'might' happen that dear old mom the mermaid sells you to dear old dad, who just happens to be the King of the Gorgons. Sigh. What's up with hat anyway? Don't fish and snakes NOT get along? Of course, our pretty peincess has her own little secret (yes, another one, shush!) That could land her smack dab in the middle af a CDC testing facility, so mum's the word on that one....
Whats a girl to do when transported to the middle of South Dakota? Does South Dakota even HAVE serial killers??
Yep.
And REALLY irritating bodyguards.....
This series of books has it all. A huge dose of humor, GREAT characters, and yes... a body count-through not in the splashy-gory of so many books. These are like candy. I preorder all of them, and gobble them up immediately. Then, iI go back and rread them all when I want a good giggle or am feeling down and need a lift for my spirit. They really are that good!
Buy these books! You will be happy, the author will be happy, and i will be THRILLED because she will keep writing them! Win all around! Thank you!
November 3, 2018
Enjoying this silly series - this one a tad more humorous (in a good way) than the others. Each is a standalone - you can go in any order. This is the first she mentions she plans to do a second with the same characters.
Across the series all romance is chaste - details only on the kiss.
Across the series all romance is chaste - details only on the kiss.
February 21, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author in a random drawing. I am writing this honest review by choice, not for any quid-pro-quo.
This was a fun book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the point of view of Tulip, land-locked non-mermaid Princess of the Mer-people, half-gorgon, serial killer of serial killers. It gets a lower rating than other recent reads because it didn't shake my soul or cause me to change the way I consume media about mass shootings. It's a magical romantic comedy with a body count; it's wish-fulfillment, and some catharsis and an awful lot of puns.
Tulip is charmingly straightforward about her predatory instincts; finding an acceptable way to channel them is the penultimate struggle in her life, second only to asserting her authentic personality over the proper princess ettiquitte her Mermaid Queen mother demands of her. A Dexter-like career killing only serial killers satisfies both struggles, and makes use of the only legacy she has from her mysterious Gorgon father: the ability to transform into a rather large, very toxic snake. It does leave her sadly single... Until her father & his bodyguard show up and begin disrupting her plans. Then Tulip may have someone new to hunt, if not to bite.
This was a fun book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the point of view of Tulip, land-locked non-mermaid Princess of the Mer-people, half-gorgon, serial killer of serial killers. It gets a lower rating than other recent reads because it didn't shake my soul or cause me to change the way I consume media about mass shootings. It's a magical romantic comedy with a body count; it's wish-fulfillment, and some catharsis and an awful lot of puns.
Tulip is charmingly straightforward about her predatory instincts; finding an acceptable way to channel them is the penultimate struggle in her life, second only to asserting her authentic personality over the proper princess ettiquitte her Mermaid Queen mother demands of her. A Dexter-like career killing only serial killers satisfies both struggles, and makes use of the only legacy she has from her mysterious Gorgon father: the ability to transform into a rather large, very toxic snake. It does leave her sadly single... Until her father & his bodyguard show up and begin disrupting her plans. Then Tulip may have someone new to hunt, if not to bite.
October 11, 2020
Basic Plot: A killer of serial killers meets her father and her life changes.
Out of the books I've read in this series thus far, this one is the weakest. The plot rambles, and seems more like a simple series of random events than a single, coherent conflict. The main character is interesting, but I never really connected to her fully. The romance part of this "romantic comedy" didn't even really exist until the last few pages of the book, so I am not even sure that giving it the genre label even works.
It was interesting enough to get me to finish, but I think I may be ready to move on to something new soon.
Out of the books I've read in this series thus far, this one is the weakest. The plot rambles, and seems more like a simple series of random events than a single, coherent conflict. The main character is interesting, but I never really connected to her fully. The romance part of this "romantic comedy" didn't even really exist until the last few pages of the book, so I am not even sure that giving it the genre label even works.
It was interesting enough to get me to finish, but I think I may be ready to move on to something new soon.
September 6, 2024
Tulip is half mermaid, half Gorgon Princess that has a hobby of killing serial killers.
What I enjoyed:
* Great humor. Tulip interacting with just about anyone would drive them crazy
* Justin (love interest) isn't in the story much but
What could have been better:
* If I had a nickel for every time Tulip mentioned her immunity to lycanthropy, I would be rich.
What I enjoyed:
* Great humor. Tulip interacting with just about anyone would drive them crazy
* Justin (love interest) isn't in the story much but
What could have been better:
* If I had a nickel for every time Tulip mentioned her immunity to lycanthropy, I would be rich.
May 11, 2020
Princess Tulip is the result of a mermaid and gorgon mating. She's got some wicked habits including killing serial killers. Blain's humor goes overboard with the ridiculousness of this story. Ridiculous but I laughed out loud. My only complaint - not enough interaction between the love interests. The story moves along at a good pace and is very engaging but I wanted more between the two main characters. Justin seems more like a secondary character than her actual love interest. I listened to the audio book during a road trip and enjoyed the reader.
December 17, 2021
3.3 stars. Silly fluff of a book. Story about a Dexter type killer of killers. But only if Dexter were a bubbly personality. It’s pretty light and fun but has absolutely no depth and the world building is super shallow. Not bad but could be so much better. Really great ideas here but no depth.
December 2, 2018
Not as funny as the previous books in the series but still a great read!
March 26, 2019
This one was pretty fun!
January 18, 2020
Interesting
I am glad there will be another with these characters, the story seemed to stop at the end of a chapter but not the end of the story. Looking forward to the next.
I am glad there will be another with these characters, the story seemed to stop at the end of a chapter but not the end of the story. Looking forward to the next.
August 8, 2019
Serial Killer Princess although listed third in the series has no overlap with the others. They all share the same world but only the first book Playing with Fire has a sequel. [FYI: SKP originally appeared in the fantasy anthology Sirens & Scales.]
As the title says our heroine, Tulip, is a princess. Not a willing princess admittedly but her birth certificate doesn't lie; she is the crown princess of the Mer kingdom. But she figures since Dad is a Gorgon and she can't breathe water anyway, so what kind of ruler could she be? She prefers to stick to her little 'hobby'. She kills people. Not random people mind you, she specializes in serial killers. If she worked for the FBI she'd probably be their top profiler but as an individual, and one who goes that extra mile and offs the killers – usually in the manner they specialized in using on their victims – she is as much a criminal as her victims are.
Injured in pursuit of her latest victim, her mother hands her off to her father [whom Tulip has never met] in hopes he can straighten her out, settle her down, just change her somehow! As you can guess, Tulip is not onboard with that but decides to fake it while she scouts around for serial killers in her new neighborhood and pursues Justin, her father's bodyguard, who she thinks looks luscious and has the ability to prepare her favorite food [bacon!] to perfection.
After sneaking off to check out the nearby National Forest for bodies, things really heat up! She finds bodies all right and not all of them are dead, but they are all trapped in magical labyrinth…
So this trip out the story concentrates on Gorgons and Mer people and other magical creatures. I found the image of the Gorgon ladies with each of their snakes wearing tiny hats with little veils so they didn't accidentally turn anyone into stone hysterical. And no, the snakes of the male gorgons didn't wear hats, they made do with miniature dark glasses…
Although this is currently a stand alone, there is a definite implication that someone is stalking Tulip. I expect we'll hear more about this later – I look forward to it. Tulip is definitely in a class by herself!
As the title says our heroine, Tulip, is a princess. Not a willing princess admittedly but her birth certificate doesn't lie; she is the crown princess of the Mer kingdom. But she figures since Dad is a Gorgon and she can't breathe water anyway, so what kind of ruler could she be? She prefers to stick to her little 'hobby'. She kills people. Not random people mind you, she specializes in serial killers. If she worked for the FBI she'd probably be their top profiler but as an individual, and one who goes that extra mile and offs the killers – usually in the manner they specialized in using on their victims – she is as much a criminal as her victims are.
Injured in pursuit of her latest victim, her mother hands her off to her father [whom Tulip has never met] in hopes he can straighten her out, settle her down, just change her somehow! As you can guess, Tulip is not onboard with that but decides to fake it while she scouts around for serial killers in her new neighborhood and pursues Justin, her father's bodyguard, who she thinks looks luscious and has the ability to prepare her favorite food [bacon!] to perfection.
After sneaking off to check out the nearby National Forest for bodies, things really heat up! She finds bodies all right and not all of them are dead, but they are all trapped in magical labyrinth…
So this trip out the story concentrates on Gorgons and Mer people and other magical creatures. I found the image of the Gorgon ladies with each of their snakes wearing tiny hats with little veils so they didn't accidentally turn anyone into stone hysterical. And no, the snakes of the male gorgons didn't wear hats, they made do with miniature dark glasses…
Although this is currently a stand alone, there is a definite implication that someone is stalking Tulip. I expect we'll hear more about this later – I look forward to it. Tulip is definitely in a class by herself!
March 17, 2018
Amusing, but messy
The dialogue is fast and furious and keeps a smile on your face.
There were some explanations that felt repetitive. The ‘bacon’ thing was amusing at first, but it got old.
The exploding packages were a huge issue that was almost completely unaddressed. Also, the world building was narrow; there was little to no explanation of how humans handle gorgons and mer-people. Not with any depth
I liked it. I will probably continue reading the series. I believe it could have been much better.
The dialogue is fast and furious and keeps a smile on your face.
There were some explanations that felt repetitive. The ‘bacon’ thing was amusing at first, but it got old.
The exploding packages were a huge issue that was almost completely unaddressed. Also, the world building was narrow; there was little to no explanation of how humans handle gorgons and mer-people. Not with any depth
I liked it. I will probably continue reading the series. I believe it could have been much better.
December 2, 2019
I love snakes and genuinely enjoyed the all the characters, but the main character has a tendency to dwell a lot on her inevitable death courtesy of her chosen profession, and at times can get a bit broody about it. Nowhere near Batman levels, but it is enough to get a little eye-rolly, at least for me and my general impatience for that sort of thing. Do or do not, accept your decision as the free will it is, and leave the ruminating for the cows.
December 11, 2022
too much nothing
I love several other books by this author, some of which are in this series. But this one? is not great. The twist at the end is rushed and then the book is done. The protagonist talks and talks and talks, the witty banter starting off great, but slowly becoming obnoxious and over done and quite repetitive. A few periods of lagging, at least for me. And again the end twist/romantic climax basically has no foundation
I love several other books by this author, some of which are in this series. But this one? is not great. The twist at the end is rushed and then the book is done. The protagonist talks and talks and talks, the witty banter starting off great, but slowly becoming obnoxious and over done and quite repetitive. A few periods of lagging, at least for me. And again the end twist/romantic climax basically has no foundation
May 9, 2022
I don’t know WTF this was.
This book was recommended to me which was the only reason I read it…will not be reading any more of this series.
This book was recommended to me which was the only reason I read it…will not be reading any more of this series.
July 17, 2018
Excellent book — as long as you don't take it too seriously.
I've been a fan of this author for years (almost since the beginning). Not all of her books get five star ratings from me, but all of them are good, and this one is better than most. I'm on the cusp here between four or five stars because the plot is a little thin but the character interplay is awesome. The author sets this book in a world that is built from her other "body count" novels, but besides sharing the same magical races there is no crossover so it can be read as a standalone. The world is a parallel Earth type, where magic and magical creatures are abundant but the world is still very similar to our own. There's very little actual worldbuilding done, although the world itself is very richly developed in the other books, so that's an argument for not considering it a standalone. I guess, for me it works both ways.
I saw somebody comment that this ended with a cliffhanger, so I have to add this. I abhor cliffhangers and would never recommend any book with a cliffhanger (not even Lord of the Rings). But this is not a cliffhanger. OK, so near the beginning somebody almost kills her with a bomb, and it comes out later that this has happened before. And yet somehow she isn't even the least bit curious who the bomber is or why. Apparently she takes it as part and parcel (small pun, she's a mail courier) for being a serial killer. And so, at the end, we never do find out what that's about, which can be disappointing if you take the story too seriously. But if you take it as just part of the comedy aspect (because basically, that's what it is) then it's really not a big deal. Now if she had spent half the book trying to track the bomber down and then nothing, that would be unforgivable. But nobody pays any attention to it other than as one of the ever-growing list of reasons why she should never go out in public again. To me, that's just a joke. But that's the thing about jokes. Most of them are only funny if you don't take them seriously.
Anyway...
What I like most about this book, and what Blain does exceedingly well, is the playful banter between characters. Especially between the main character and her grandfather, and also with her prospective boyfriend. In fact, to me that's the main draw of the book. Most of the rest of the book is simplistic and predictable, although still interesting enough and decidedly funny. It's not something that scholars will be mooning over three hundred years from now but it's a fun read and easily worth the time.
I've been a fan of this author for years (almost since the beginning). Not all of her books get five star ratings from me, but all of them are good, and this one is better than most. I'm on the cusp here between four or five stars because the plot is a little thin but the character interplay is awesome. The author sets this book in a world that is built from her other "body count" novels, but besides sharing the same magical races there is no crossover so it can be read as a standalone. The world is a parallel Earth type, where magic and magical creatures are abundant but the world is still very similar to our own. There's very little actual worldbuilding done, although the world itself is very richly developed in the other books, so that's an argument for not considering it a standalone. I guess, for me it works both ways.
I saw somebody comment that this ended with a cliffhanger, so I have to add this. I abhor cliffhangers and would never recommend any book with a cliffhanger (not even Lord of the Rings). But this is not a cliffhanger. OK, so near the beginning somebody almost kills her with a bomb, and it comes out later that this has happened before. And yet somehow she isn't even the least bit curious who the bomber is or why. Apparently she takes it as part and parcel (small pun, she's a mail courier) for being a serial killer. And so, at the end, we never do find out what that's about, which can be disappointing if you take the story too seriously. But if you take it as just part of the comedy aspect (because basically, that's what it is) then it's really not a big deal. Now if she had spent half the book trying to track the bomber down and then nothing, that would be unforgivable. But nobody pays any attention to it other than as one of the ever-growing list of reasons why she should never go out in public again. To me, that's just a joke. But that's the thing about jokes. Most of them are only funny if you don't take them seriously.
Anyway...
What I like most about this book, and what Blain does exceedingly well, is the playful banter between characters. Especially between the main character and her grandfather, and also with her prospective boyfriend. In fact, to me that's the main draw of the book. Most of the rest of the book is simplistic and predictable, although still interesting enough and decidedly funny. It's not something that scholars will be mooning over three hundred years from now but it's a fun read and easily worth the time.
March 7, 2025
Why did you read this book?
A friend suggested this book.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Horror, Humor and Comedy, Romance
What was your favorite part of the book?
I think my favorite part of this book was the main character’s obsession with bacon.
Who would you suggest this book to?
I think this is a good book for anyone who wants a quick dark-humor romance and is willing to turn off their brain while reading it.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
This book was all right. I was warned it was a quick and simple read, and it did turn out to be so. The characters are cute and charming, but I felt like the book lacked direction and repeated itself a lot. She keeps claiming she is a serial killer who killed bad guys, but the only people we see her kill are innocents. (They are mercy killings.) I would have liked one scene where she actually murdered a criminal. Then there was the rush storyline and often random interactions with her family and love interest. I felt like this book could have used more depth and substance in some parts. The world-building and character depth had a lot of unrealized potential. However, some of the scenes were genuinely funny. Writing humor isn’t easy. Overall, this isn’t a bad book— I would have just liked more of it so I didn’t have to turn off my brain as hard as I did to make the story logical.
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racial Profiling, Microaggressions, Prejudice
Mental Health: Suicide Idealization, Self-Harm, Trivializing Mental Illness, Romanticized Mental Illness, Controlling Parents, Drug Use, Drug Addiction, Trauma
Sexual Content: Sexual Predator
Violence and Death: Death, Animal Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Gore, Torture, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Animal Cruelty, Described Blood, Graphic Violence
Other: Kidnapping, Bullying, Profanity, Classism
A friend suggested this book.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Horror, Humor and Comedy, Romance
What was your favorite part of the book?
I think my favorite part of this book was the main character’s obsession with bacon.
Who would you suggest this book to?
I think this is a good book for anyone who wants a quick dark-humor romance and is willing to turn off their brain while reading it.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
This book was all right. I was warned it was a quick and simple read, and it did turn out to be so. The characters are cute and charming, but I felt like the book lacked direction and repeated itself a lot. She keeps claiming she is a serial killer who killed bad guys, but the only people we see her kill are innocents. (They are mercy killings.) I would have liked one scene where she actually murdered a criminal. Then there was the rush storyline and often random interactions with her family and love interest. I felt like this book could have used more depth and substance in some parts. The world-building and character depth had a lot of unrealized potential. However, some of the scenes were genuinely funny. Writing humor isn’t easy. Overall, this isn’t a bad book— I would have just liked more of it so I didn’t have to turn off my brain as hard as I did to make the story logical.
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racial Profiling, Microaggressions, Prejudice
Mental Health: Suicide Idealization, Self-Harm, Trivializing Mental Illness, Romanticized Mental Illness, Controlling Parents, Drug Use, Drug Addiction, Trauma
Sexual Content: Sexual Predator
Violence and Death: Death, Animal Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Gore, Torture, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Animal Cruelty, Described Blood, Graphic Violence
Other: Kidnapping, Bullying, Profanity, Classism
July 21, 2020
Tulip hates being a princess, even though her mother is trying to do everything within her power to make her into a proper one. She would rather use her shifter skills to be able to evade the serial killers and kill them. As a black mamba snake, she is venomous, but her skills are put to better use in hiding from her enemies.
Tulip never wants to rule her mother’s mermaid kingdom, but her mother will stop at nothing. She is even falling for her father’s bodyguard, and he is tempting her to want to simply settle down like a regular person. Nevertheless, she always wants to be an assassin.
I think I am just done with the fantasy-comedy genre. I think I genuinely despise books where it is action adventure, but it is supposed to make you laugh out loud constantly while reading it. For some reason, when I read these kinds of books, it seems like many of those authors simply decide to replace plot with jokes. The only story that properly balanced fantasy with comedy, in my opinion, was the Percy Jackson series, but even that had some flaws for me. I didn’t really even understand in this story where Tulip met the bodyguard and started falling for him because I just could not find myself connecting to any of the characters within the story.
My least favorite part of the story was definitely Tulip herself. This reminded me of In Other Lands in a way. Some authors think that “sarcastic” main characters are fun, but both of these books just had main characters that either came off as bratty or mean. Tulip could have been a princess who completed her duties and then had a secret double life as an assassin. She could have been a rebel, and run away from home to be an assassin. However, she is neither, and so guards and bodyguards are constantly running after her as she runs away from her mother and father. I don’t even think there was a single character in this book that she didn’t “humorously” insult. Some might like this kind of main character, but I thought that she was annoying.
Tulip never wants to rule her mother’s mermaid kingdom, but her mother will stop at nothing. She is even falling for her father’s bodyguard, and he is tempting her to want to simply settle down like a regular person. Nevertheless, she always wants to be an assassin.
I think I am just done with the fantasy-comedy genre. I think I genuinely despise books where it is action adventure, but it is supposed to make you laugh out loud constantly while reading it. For some reason, when I read these kinds of books, it seems like many of those authors simply decide to replace plot with jokes. The only story that properly balanced fantasy with comedy, in my opinion, was the Percy Jackson series, but even that had some flaws for me. I didn’t really even understand in this story where Tulip met the bodyguard and started falling for him because I just could not find myself connecting to any of the characters within the story.
My least favorite part of the story was definitely Tulip herself. This reminded me of In Other Lands in a way. Some authors think that “sarcastic” main characters are fun, but both of these books just had main characters that either came off as bratty or mean. Tulip could have been a princess who completed her duties and then had a secret double life as an assassin. She could have been a rebel, and run away from home to be an assassin. However, she is neither, and so guards and bodyguards are constantly running after her as she runs away from her mother and father. I don’t even think there was a single character in this book that she didn’t “humorously” insult. Some might like this kind of main character, but I thought that she was annoying.
October 9, 2019
For me, the second book was quite disjointed. I don't even know how to describe what happened with this one. Individually, a lot of the ideas are quite good- a mermaid princess that can't breathe underwater, a child of gorgon and mermaid makes a snake shifter, a supernatural uses their powers to investigate and kill serial killers that the police are nowhere near catching to give families closure and protect future victims. But all together in one book is a lot.
I wasn't a massive fan of Tulip. Considering she's meant to be a hunter of serial killers, she isn't as good at tracking an investigating as I would have liked. The investigation that she does in the book is basically just based on common sense, pure luck, and the average sense of smell of a shifter. So nothing special. Jason is a very one dimensional character. Tulip is interested in him from the start but it seemed like he couldn't care less. Until about the last chapter when he basically declared feelings for her and made them a couple. The book stops very abruptly. The plan is to have a second book, but if the book's so short that that a reader doesn't get to know the characters very well nor see a relationship develop, why would I even want to read the next book? I don't think it was the best choice.
Plot-wise, it's pretty none existent. It's basically over 100 pages of just getting to know a bit about the characters and their relationships and the rest is a serial killer den that Tulip basically stumbles across by accident.
As you can tell, I'm not massively impressed with this book. My opinions of the book series go down with each book. But I tried to be good and attempted the fourth book of the series, but I couldn't even make it halfway. Sure, the idea of each book in the series is pretty original but if I can't connect to the characters, originality isn't enough to save the book for me.
I wasn't a massive fan of Tulip. Considering she's meant to be a hunter of serial killers, she isn't as good at tracking an investigating as I would have liked. The investigation that she does in the book is basically just based on common sense, pure luck, and the average sense of smell of a shifter. So nothing special. Jason is a very one dimensional character. Tulip is interested in him from the start but it seemed like he couldn't care less. Until about the last chapter when he basically declared feelings for her and made them a couple. The book stops very abruptly. The plan is to have a second book, but if the book's so short that that a reader doesn't get to know the characters very well nor see a relationship develop, why would I even want to read the next book? I don't think it was the best choice.
Plot-wise, it's pretty none existent. It's basically over 100 pages of just getting to know a bit about the characters and their relationships and the rest is a serial killer den that Tulip basically stumbles across by accident.
As you can tell, I'm not massively impressed with this book. My opinions of the book series go down with each book. But I tried to be good and attempted the fourth book of the series, but I couldn't even make it halfway. Sure, the idea of each book in the series is pretty original but if I can't connect to the characters, originality isn't enough to save the book for me.
October 2, 2020
This one is different from the others included in the "Starter Pack", enough so that I paused this one and finished the others before starting this again! It is the same world and magic system, but as you can tell by the name it's a darker book. So when I came back it was with a different mindset, as I'd been reading a lot of humorous books, and I was able to read with a different eye the 2nd time around.
This is a truly unique story, with odd and interesting characters including yes, a serial killer princess. But she has a good reason, really! With a mermaid queen for a mother and a Gorgon father, it's a gimme that you're going to get some unique genes when they reproduce. It took me a bit to get with the flow of this, but I think it's because it truly is so different from anything else I've read! When I find an author who gave me 8 stories that I enjoyed so much I only read one book by someone else between two of them, I'm definitely going to recommend her. All books got a 4☆ rating and I'll be checking out others not in this series, hoping they're as good as these. I hope you enjoy them too.
This is a truly unique story, with odd and interesting characters including yes, a serial killer princess. But she has a good reason, really! With a mermaid queen for a mother and a Gorgon father, it's a gimme that you're going to get some unique genes when they reproduce. It took me a bit to get with the flow of this, but I think it's because it truly is so different from anything else I've read! When I find an author who gave me 8 stories that I enjoyed so much I only read one book by someone else between two of them, I'm definitely going to recommend her. All books got a 4☆ rating and I'll be checking out others not in this series, hoping they're as good as these. I hope you enjoy them too.
July 20, 2019
Well, I am not quite sure what to say. This is the 3rd book I have read by this author, and being a bit repetitive myself, I absolutely loved it!
Quirky and fun and lots of laughs. Tulip is definitely not your average princess. And OMG the family she has, the kind you wouldn't wish on anyone and at the same time you just love them to pieces. Myself, although the romance kinda entered a bit at the last quarter of the book, I found I didn't mind so much as there was just too much else going on that kept me entertained.
I appreciate that this was not a cliffhanger ending, which I absolutely hate. Though there were some questions left unanswered for me, it it no way detracted from the ending. More, it left the door open for another story to come.
I am highly looking forward to more of these lol feel good books. Keep them coming :)
Quirky and fun and lots of laughs. Tulip is definitely not your average princess. And OMG the family she has, the kind you wouldn't wish on anyone and at the same time you just love them to pieces. Myself, although the romance kinda entered a bit at the last quarter of the book, I found I didn't mind so much as there was just too much else going on that kept me entertained.
I appreciate that this was not a cliffhanger ending, which I absolutely hate. Though there were some questions left unanswered for me, it it no way detracted from the ending. More, it left the door open for another story to come.
I am highly looking forward to more of these lol feel good books. Keep them coming :)
April 12, 2021
With life being so unsettled these days, fun and laughter is just what makes my world balanced and something to look forward to. Serial Killer Princess is fun, exciting, and the Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) world so easy to immerse myself into that nothing can reach me to bother me anymore. How can you not love a black mamba shifter that's determined to catch herself, her father's seriously sexy bodyguard that fights her every step of the way! The world is well crafted and beyond interesting to visit, and the characters are all multifaceted and feel real enough that I could almost go out and knock on their doors just to hang out.
I've adored every book in this series and I'm really looking forward to more. R. J. Blain is a very talented writer that I am more than pleased to have found.
I've adored every book in this series and I'm really looking forward to more. R. J. Blain is a very talented writer that I am more than pleased to have found.
March 27, 2022
This one was fun! Tulip is 1/2 Mermaid / Gorgon, who also happens to be non-aquatic. Which has caused her mother (who happens to be Queen) to conquer a LOT islands so her daughter can be close to her territories :)
Tulip also has a little secret. She's a serial killer of serial killers. Her latest target was snatched right from under her. She's especially annoyed when her undercover delivery carrier package explodes in her face.
Her mother, tired of dealing with her ... has "sold" her to her father, who she's never met. She's definitely smitten with his bodyguard though .. who happens to be an unknown lycanthrope, and makes yummy bacon.
While investigating for her next target, she stumbles into a situation her father & body guard show up to help extract her from. She finds out Justin's shifter form. He explains he's chosen her ... and then ... to be continued...
Tulip also has a little secret. She's a serial killer of serial killers. Her latest target was snatched right from under her. She's especially annoyed when her undercover delivery carrier package explodes in her face.
Her mother, tired of dealing with her ... has "sold" her to her father, who she's never met. She's definitely smitten with his bodyguard though .. who happens to be an unknown lycanthrope, and makes yummy bacon.
While investigating for her next target, she stumbles into a situation her father & body guard show up to help extract her from. She finds out Justin's shifter form. He explains he's chosen her ... and then ... to be continued...
October 8, 2019
Serial Killer Princess is the third book in the Magical Romantic Comedy (With a body count) series by R. J. Blain.
I enjoyed Tulip Flandersmythe’s story. The avenger of justice, a righteous executor of the unsavory. Restoring the general populations safety one dead serial killer at a time. However, I found the random switch in Justin’s attitude towards her a little fishy. It did not come across as strategically planned as his character informed us it was.
Her family members like past MCs in this series were hilarious to experience. Snakes eat fish. Conquering islands on a whim. Mr. Shiny Shoes.
I’m intrigued to discover what Justin and Tulip have in store for us in the future. And see how the yellow-eyed mongoose and the black mamba come to coexist.
I enjoyed Tulip Flandersmythe’s story. The avenger of justice, a righteous executor of the unsavory. Restoring the general populations safety one dead serial killer at a time. However, I found the random switch in Justin’s attitude towards her a little fishy. It did not come across as strategically planned as his character informed us it was.
Her family members like past MCs in this series were hilarious to experience. Snakes eat fish. Conquering islands on a whim. Mr. Shiny Shoes.
I’m intrigued to discover what Justin and Tulip have in store for us in the future. And see how the yellow-eyed mongoose and the black mamba come to coexist.
February 28, 2021
Amazon have decided NOT to post here *sigh*
I have this as a set, but think I should review each book individually.
What do you get when you cross a Gorgon King and a Mermaid Queen? A prissy princes that LOVES to kill serial killers :o
The craziness of this story had me lmao.
You can't picture a princess, that gets her kicks hunting down and putting an end to other killers. But Tulip is written so well she jumps off the page and runs away with this book.
Her parents, she's never met her dad, till now, are cray cray along with her grandparents lol.
She finds the man of her dreams who can make earth shattering bacon, I know how rare those are as I have one ;)
Plus she has a little secret that not even her mother knows about ;)
Brilliant read, highly recommend these books!
I have this as a set, but think I should review each book individually.
What do you get when you cross a Gorgon King and a Mermaid Queen? A prissy princes that LOVES to kill serial killers :o
The craziness of this story had me lmao.
You can't picture a princess, that gets her kicks hunting down and putting an end to other killers. But Tulip is written so well she jumps off the page and runs away with this book.
Her parents, she's never met her dad, till now, are cray cray along with her grandparents lol.
She finds the man of her dreams who can make earth shattering bacon, I know how rare those are as I have one ;)
Plus she has a little secret that not even her mother knows about ;)
Brilliant read, highly recommend these books!
May 3, 2020
Funny funny funny. A bit shorter than the previous two. But oh did I laugh:)!
Sadly the starter pack (in which I read book 3) does not have the awesome chapter titles that I got to read in books 1 and 2.
Favorites:
I scowled at the body, which was sprawled on his front step, and heaved a sigh. Twice. One sigh simply wasn’t sufficient. It had to be two. Three was a bit too dramatic, even for me.
For not actually having a plan, it had gone off without a hitch.
“There’s a word for people like you, Tulip.” “Insane? Psychotic? Sociopathic? I have an entire dictionary of words that match my base tendencies. All of them come from a psychiatric health dictionary for some reason.”
Sadly the starter pack (in which I read book 3) does not have the awesome chapter titles that I got to read in books 1 and 2.
Favorites:
I scowled at the body, which was sprawled on his front step, and heaved a sigh. Twice. One sigh simply wasn’t sufficient. It had to be two. Three was a bit too dramatic, even for me.
For not actually having a plan, it had gone off without a hitch.
“There’s a word for people like you, Tulip.” “Insane? Psychotic? Sociopathic? I have an entire dictionary of words that match my base tendencies. All of them come from a psychiatric health dictionary for some reason.”
January 23, 2019
The serial killer princess of the title is the daughter of the Mer queen and Gorgon royalty. She's not sure where she fits. She's worked all the jobs in her mom's resorts but she takes on a variety of jobs to indulge her hobby as a serial killer of serial killers. She's the female Dexter.
I don't know if I'm getting tired of the series or if it's just going in a different direction. This novella doesn't have the laugh out loud humor of the early books. A few smiles but mostly about how to kill and the horrible things these creatures can do to each other.
I don't know if I'm getting tired of the series or if it's just going in a different direction. This novella doesn't have the laugh out loud humor of the early books. A few smiles but mostly about how to kill and the horrible things these creatures can do to each other.
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