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bookameme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Young Adult Fantasy: Apocalyptic, Morally Grey, Kingdom of Kids, Adults are Monsters, Witches & Wizards, Love Triangles, LGBTQ+ rep
This is:
⚜️ It’s an apocalyptic teen drama
⚜️ There’s feudal type political drama with a modern twist
⚜️ Dragons Dudes, Dragons! (Well sorta)
⚜️ Morally gray heroes and villains
⚜️ And a chaotic love triangle
⚠️ violence, blood, death, body horror, starvation, suicidal ideation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Grief, Self harm, Body horror, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Gore, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood
yuuto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cas_reads_anything's review
4.25
Overall Impressions: I genuinely could not put this down. The horror/apocalypse/event is not explored super thoroughly, because the real terror is the dystopian set up created by teenagers in its wake. You almost forget at points that this isn’t just political intrigue/a murder mystery, and then a giant monster barrels in to remind you. I never knew who I could trust or who was “right” or “wrong” throughout the whole story and I found it absolutely fascinating. Really, really enjoyably weird read.
Worldbuilding: This book is hyper focused on a very small portion of the world and never zooms out to tell you more. The main characters don’t know what happened with the rest of the world (or even beyond their own high school) so neither do you. The main characters don’t understand what creates or motivates the Growns, so neither do you. I did wish for a lot more information on them but on the other hand, I LOVE that the story just plunks you down in the middle without a ton of exposition or info dumping.
Characters: Most of the characters were unlikable (on purpose!) and utterly untrustworthy but they always kept me guessing. I really liked Kay, even when I was shouting for her to just stop talking, and Brick was probably my second favorite character even if he clearly makes flawed decisions. I wish we had learned more about Starr but ultimately the book did a great job of keeping so many POVs distinct and interesting.
Plot: A million twists and turns, and yet it all made sense in a general way. I was shocked by some of the revelations but afterward they did make logical sense.
Pacing/prose: fast paced throughout, with constant action on action on action.
Recommend/Read More? Absolutely. I am hoping this gets a sequel because there is so much left to explore in this story.
Worldbuilding: This book is hyper focused on a very small portion of the world and never zooms out to tell you more. The main characters don’t know what happened with the rest of the world (or even beyond their own high school) so neither do you. The main characters don’t understand what creates or motivates the Growns, so neither do you. I did wish for a lot more information on them but on the other hand, I LOVE that the story just plunks you down in the middle without a ton of exposition or info dumping.
Characters: Most of the characters were unlikable (on purpose!) and utterly untrustworthy but they always kept me guessing. I really liked Kay, even when I was shouting for her to just stop talking, and Brick was probably my second favorite character even if he clearly makes flawed decisions. I wish we had learned more about Starr but ultimately the book did a great job of keeping so many POVs distinct and interesting.
Plot: A million twists and turns, and yet it all made sense in a general way. I was shocked by some of the revelations but afterward they did make logical sense.
Pacing/prose: fast paced throughout, with constant action on action on action.
Recommend/Read More? Absolutely. I am hoping this gets a sequel because there is so much left to explore in this story.
jaime_of_gryffindor's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
This was such a unique dystopian fantasy that I couldn’t put down. I’m not sure what I expected when I first picked this one up, but I was definitely surprised. This book had a fast pace, multiple povs, as well as some King Arthur references. I found this to be a very well written read with so much packed into the story. I’m very curious as to what happens next in this dystopian world after how the epilogue left off.
kaavyareadsbooks's review
2.0
While I really liked the concept of the book, the structure and prose made it not work out for me. I enjoyed the characters but the story felt very repetitive and got confusing at points. Some things were worded strangely and sometimes it felt like things were missing.
bookshelvesandtealeaves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you North Star Editions and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This one was an absolutely wild ride. You’re thrown straight into the action from the beginning and it’s entirely high stakes throughout the whole story.
This is a dystopian but not quite like any other I’ve read. It reminds me of some mix of The Society combined with a zombie apocalypse, only the zombies are giant beasts made up of multiple humans combined.
I don’t really know how to describe this plot without giving anything away but it’s one that keeps you guessing. You never quite know who to trust, who’s on whose side, which way is the ‘best’ or ‘right’ way. These characters are all so complex and I truly believe they all want what’s best, at the end of the day, but the chaos of their lives has skewed that idea for more than one of these kids.
And they are just kids. I think that’s what makes this story work the way it does. These teenagers are forced to grow up, to survive in a world designed to kill them, to find ways to govern and maintain order and keep hope alive. Of course they’re messy and scared and they make so many mistakes at every turn.
I’ve not seen this advertised anywhere as the first in a series but if it is, the ending is a little frustrating. I hope we get a sequel to tie off all the loose ends.
smytester's review against another edition
4.0
TYSM to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this ARC!
I had a really great time with this book! I didn't know what expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the layered plot of political intrigue (seasoned with a heavy dose of teenage drama, of course)
I enjoyed how the large cast of characters in their various factions showed the many ways people might react to an apocalyptic event like this, especially in complete isolation between schools. On the note of different schools, would loooove to see how the other schools in town have handled everything in future books! The characters each had their own distinct voice and point of view, so the conflicts that arose made sense and genuinely seemed difficult to resolve peacefully due to their fundamental differences in worldview.
I'm not typically a love triangle person and the whole forced-Leo-dating was a liiiittle contrived for me, but all around I didn't mind (and sometimes even enjoyed!) the romance between Kay and Brick. Good for them!
Also I'm sooo excited for the messiness next time Nirali and Merlin see each other hehehe
I had a really great time with this book! I didn't know what expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the layered plot of political intrigue (seasoned with a heavy dose of teenage drama, of course)
I enjoyed how the large cast of characters in their various factions showed the many ways people might react to an apocalyptic event like this, especially in complete isolation between schools. On the note of different schools, would loooove to see how the other schools in town have handled everything in future books! The characters each had their own distinct voice and point of view, so the conflicts that arose made sense and genuinely seemed difficult to resolve peacefully due to their fundamental differences in worldview.
I'm not typically a love triangle person and the whole forced-Leo-dating was a liiiittle contrived for me, but all around I didn't mind (and sometimes even enjoyed!) the romance between Kay and Brick. Good for them!
Also I'm sooo excited for the messiness next time Nirali and Merlin see each other hehehe
tallsoyflatwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Really fell apart at the end
readingonthehorizon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lily Sparks' The Merciless King of Moore High is an adventurous and emotional delve into the post apocalyptic world where all adults have turned into mounds of flesh that ooze with death. Stuck with just their peers, the students of Jefferson High and Moore High take on differing political systems that both delve into chaos as their worlds collide. Forbidden romances bloom and hearts are broken as Kay fights to bring justice and peace to both schools, the twists and turns sure to bring you to the edge of your seat and rip your heart out.
The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood