March 2020 Standalone BOTM - To Kill a Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo

[Alaina]

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

[Esther]

I got the book and I will probably start next week.

[Keri]

Pg.38
I’m struggling to fully get into this book—Lira’s chapters started to suck me in but for some reason I’m having trouble connecting with Elian’s chapters...

[Kim]

I just got WiFi at my apartment!!! I'm tucking into this one now.

[Keri]

Pg.60/Ch.11
I’m starting to feel a little more invested now.
And since I can’t go anywhere it’s a perfect time to read more!

[Kim]

15% I’m liking this more than a thought. I could see this being my whole evening. I love the descriptions of mermaids, so different from what we are used to. I’m into this badass MC Lira. Not sure how I’m feeling about the prince yet but it’s still early.

[Kim]

53% I won’t be finishing this tonight but I’m in this! (view spoiler)[ it feels like a dark Little Mermaid with her going human to get her prince. Except Lira is trying to kill Elian not make him love her. However you can tell they are intrinsically linked, whether it’s fate or love I’m not sure yet. You can see it when they talk about mutual thought processes or when they briefly touch, something is there! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

71% / Ch.33
(view spoiler)[I’m so invested now. This is such a cool twist on the little mermaid where you can definitely see small connections but it’s all flipped and totally different—I love it.

Also, I love the jabs between Lira and Elian, and even the whole crew. I love that she saved him when she’s here to kill him. Lira’s character growth is so fun to watch. I love how she’s still herself and has her spunk and is by no means a goody two shoes but is seeing that there could be a different way than just murder and war to have strength. Of course I’m waiting for the truth to come out and everything to fall apart... (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished
(view spoiler)[well once I got into this book it really took off fpr me. I couldn’t put it down I was dying to know what would happen. I was happy enough with the ending but I was kinda hoping Lira would be human and part of the Saad crew, and make Khalia the Sea Queen or something. But if I couldn’t have that I was still happy with the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

87% only sleep deprivation is keeping me from these last pages. (view spoiler)[ I knew Lira and Elian would have forbidden love and I fully support it! also this Sea Queen mom Sakura are additional nasty ladies that i can comfortably add to my list of cool villainesses. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Finished! I'm glad I waited to finish this morning. I got to really enjoy how this book wrapped up instead of half-reading, half-sleeping.

(view spoiler)[ Elian and Lira were on Cloud Mountain when I fell asleep. Talk about leaving myself on a cliff hanger! It was so worth it though, to see the freeing of the Eye of Keto and all the battle after. I love how the author wrote about the betrayal of Elian while embracing his feelings for Lira. The inner turmoil was subtle but real, not like he completely forgot it or was this huge deal of woe is me. I liked that a lot.

I also really enjoyed the last chapter. The way the story ends was "happily ever after" enough to satisfy the Disney in me but was pragmatic enough to satisfy my logical brain. Such a great book! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]