From the Bookshelf of Ranters and Reviewers…

To Kill a Kingdom (Hundred Kingdoms, #1)

Alexandra Christo

Start date: November 1, 2020

Finish date: November 30, 2020

Discussion: BOTM

Why we're reading this: November BOTM
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BOTM

November 2021 Series BOTM Suggestions
By Sofia , duckish things · 9 posts · 19 views

last updated Oct 21, 2021 11:56PM

October 2021 Continuation BOTM: The Wicked King
By Sofia , duckish things · 9 posts · 16 views

last updated Oct 21, 2021 11:55PM

What Members Thought

May 26, 2021 :) added it

DNF 59%

8 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2021 Divya rated it really liked it

I give this a 4.5.
DEFINITELY worth the read. I TOTALLY loved it. It just went a TEENY tiny slow at thr middle but it was not like nothing was happening. EVERYTHING was happening. Its just that I read a better book before so I...you get the idea.

I SO compare it to SOC. Its TOTALLY Grishaverse part 2. But its nothing like it at the same time lol. Idk how this book manages it. Elian is 100% the doppleganger of Nikolai Lantsov. Lira is one of a kind lol.
I totally loved the slow burn there. I loved ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 22, 2020 Laura rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy-romance, romance, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy, 2020-reads, young-adult

ooohhh boy. I didn't think it was easy to mess up a YA Little Mermaid retelling- yet here we are.

This reads like a middle grade since the author blatantly explains everything as if we don't understand the simple story. It was boring and painful since there was nothing to think about past surface level. M'aam, please don't spoon feed everything to me. I can feed myself.

Ex 1: *Lira starts to fall in love with Elian despite her being sent to kill him because he's kind and handsome and blah blah bla ooohhh boy. I didn't think it was easy to mess up a YA Little Mermaid retelling- yet here we are.

This reads like a middle grade since the author blatantly explains everything as if we don't understand the simple story. It was boring and painful since there was nothing to think about past surface level. M'aam, please don't spoon feed everything to me. I can feed myself.

Ex 1: *Lira starts to fall in love with Elian despite her being sent to kill him because he's kind and handsome and blah blah blah* <-- quite obvious and we all know the story, right?
Lira: 'I'm starting to feel more human. My heart is beating faster around him. Maybe it's because of his kindness and how he treated me?'
WOW I had no idea! Thanks for elaborating!
Ex 2: *Sea Queen has an unexpected evil plan that finally dawns on Lira*
Sea Queen/Lira's mom: "aha! I have this secret plan (explains it all) and you cannot overtake me like you thought! aha!"

The characters were bland and stale. We are constantly reminded that Prince Elian is a future king who doesn't want to rule because he wants to be fReEee on the oceans as a pirate. He makes so. many. dumb. decisions. for the sake of being a pirate. Being a pirate is literally this boy's only personality trait- (I'm serious. I can't name another memorable/distinct thing about him).
Lira was fine, rather enjoyable to read about actually.
The multiple villainous characters were such clichés, hence their actions being highly predictable. I understand if the Sea Queen is the stereotypical evil since Ursula fits that image, but as for the others. . . There was potential for complex, morally gray characters to make the story less monotone, which was completely squandered.

The pacing seemed off. We spend most of the book following Lira and Elian's adventures, but we don't see their relationship develop. It's just sassy banter and suddenly going from "I wanna kill you" to "I wanna kiss you." There was no real development so the relationship was boring and somehow felt rushed, despite them not getting together until the end.

This was painful to read. It took most of my energy to power through this short retelling of one of my favorite fairytales, so that really says something. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2021 bookishcarli rated it it was ok

Finished this awhile ago but forgot to do this till now lol oops. Anyways, I thought it was a really good idea, but was not executed well. It mostly just felt like a first draft of a book with no editing or anything.

1 like · Like · see review